Flight Safety Information July 8, 2015 - No. 133 In This Issue Flight attendants injured during turbulence FAA Approving 250 Drone Permits a Month Without Final Rules Airplane passenger captures amazing photo of wet microburst belting Las Vegas Swiss pilots carry $11k in cash box to cover airline costs in crisis-hit Greece PRO-ISIS AIRLINE PILOTS TRACKED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT IN SOUTHEAST ASIA Jet Emergency After Briton 'Assaults Woman' Engine Fire Forces Southwest Jet to Abort Takeoff at Midway PROS 2015 TRAINING China's COMAC says C919 commercial jet won't fly this year Jet engines are getting quieter Large Russian Aircraft Carrier Design Unveiled Aer Lingus to buy nine of 'world's most advanced aircraft' China Eastern Airlines Agrees to Buy 50 Boeing 737 Jets Upcoming Events JOBS AVAILABLE (New Positions) Flight attendants injured during turbulence Two flight attendants were being treated in hospital after suffering injuries during turbulence on a flight from the UK to Cyprus on Wednesday evening, police said. The Thomson flight carrying 328 passengers and 10 crew from Manchester landed at Larnaca airport at around 9pm. Four crew members were rushed to hospital after suffering injuries during turbulence. Two were discharged after receiving treatment while two others, a man and a woman, remained in hospital on Thursday. They were being treated for fractures to parts of their body. The man 60, was being treated for a fractured spine while his colleague, 50, sustained injuries to the pelvis. The flight returned to Manchester 30 minutes after midnight, Cyprus News Agency said. http://cyprus-mail.com/2015/07/09/flight-attendants-injured-during-turbulence/ Back to Top FAA Approving 250 Drone Permits a Month Without Final Rules The Federal Aviation Administration is issuing permits for the commercial use of drones at a rate of about 250 a month as it tries to meet the growing demand for unmanned aircraft while it develops rules for their use. Through the end of June, the agency had approved 714 permits, a 14-fold increase from 51 at the end of March, according to a database compiled by Bloomberg News using federal data. The FAA says it won't have permanent rules in place until next year but in April instituted an expedited approval process using temporary standards. "We've got more people flying, which is great," said Brian Wynne, president and chief executive officer of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International in Arlington, Virginia. "The FAA's streamlined exemption process is certainly welcomed, but regulating on a case-by-case basis is not a long-term solution." Most exemptions grant permission to capture aerial images, either by still or video camera or by using more advanced equipment such as infrared sensors and scanners. Photography and videography was listed on 50 percent of requests, followed by 27 percent for inspections and 24 percent for mapping and surveying. Most applicants listed multiple potential uses. The FAA in February proposed rules that would permit commercial flights by drones weighing 55 pounds or less. The operator must agree to keep them in sight, below 400 feet and away from airports and aircraft flight paths. The proposal bars flights to deliver goods to homes as envisioned by Amazon.com Inc., although the FAA is working with the online company and others to develop technology necessary to permit deliveries. Automatic Approvals In the meantime, the FAA said it's been able to speed issuing exemptions because in April it began granting near- automatic approval when a request is for a use that was previously authorized. "Summary grants are far more efficient because they don't need to repeat the analysis performed for the original exemption on which they are based," the FAA said in a statement. Congress in 2012 ordered the FAA to set up a waiver program for safe drone use while permanent rules were being drafted. The first waivers were granted in September to six film-making companies. Waivers for commercial use generally follow the proposed regulations, though go further and require the operator to have a pilot license. Flying drones as a hobby doesn't require a waiver. Learning Lessons Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said the agency is learning how to integrate drones into the national airspace from the waivers it is issuing. "While our proposed rule for small unmanned aircraft goes through analysis and approval, we've created a way for hundreds of these unmanned aircraft operations to occur under controlled conditions," Foxx said in a statement released by his office. Duke Energy Corp., which received authorization in late June, will use the unmanned vehicles to monitor distribution lines, coal piles, dams and other equipment. This makes inspections safer, cheaper and quicker, said Aleksander Vukojevic, a company technology development manager. "You're trying to find new technology, new ways, new processes to doing things more efficiently," he said. Prior to the drone, he said Duke used helicopters for aerial inspections and workers on foot. Roof Surveys Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. won a swift FAA exemption in June, and plans to start flying drones to survey roof damage after disasters, said Glenn Greenberg, a spokesman for the Boston-based company. "Right now we send inspectors, and when it's safe to do so they get up on the roof themselves," Greenberg said. "The ability to keep our inspectors off ladders, off roofs is paramount." Several other insurers, including State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. and Travelers Companies Inc., have won exemptions to use drones for property inspections. "We've had an idea that this type of technology would benefit inspections for six or seven years," said Patrick Gee, senior vice president of claims for Travelers. Real-estate agents and farmers are also getting exemptions. Although the exemption is needed for commercial flights, many individuals are flying drones for hire without government permission at lower rates. That irks operators who followed the rules. 'Competitive Disadvantage' "It puts me at a competitive disadvantage," said Bryan Cherry, a United Parcel Service Inc. pilot who started a drone- flying service after winning an FAA exemption. Jay Puckett received permission to fly a drone, which he said he will use as part of Dronebois, a photo and video business he started with a friend in Oklahoma City. "I'm just trying to figure out the best use of the exemption," he said. Puckett said he plans to keep Dronebois after he enters the University of California at Berkeley to study engineering and work as an intern at two California-based drone companies. "I'm trying to get my foot in the door with a company that already has feet on the ground while I have this exemption," said Puckett, who in July was a couple of weeks away from earning his pilot's license. http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2015/07/09/374542.htm# Back to Top Airplane passenger captures amazing photo of wet microburst belting Las Vegas On Monday evening, this incredible storm rolled through Las Vegas, pelting the city with heavy ran and strong wind gusts. The photo shows a single strong storm that intensified as it moved east into Las Vegas, eventually pumping out this windy, wet microburst. The photo from the sky was taken by Paul Hurst during his flight into Vegas. This is what the storm looked like on radar at the time (the airport is in Paradise, south of downtown): A microburst is a sudden blast of sinking air from the downdraft of a thunderstorm. Once the microburst reaches the ground, the winds spread out in all directions and can cause severe straight-line wind damage. But microbursts actually pose the biggest risk to airplanes, since they can happen suddenly in thunderstorms - and they don't have to be severe yet before they unleash the burst. A blanket flash flood warning was issued for the entire city during the storm, which unleashed 0.83 inches of rain in just 15 minutes at one station under the microburst in the photo - a rainfall rate of over 3 inches per hour. Winds at the Las Vegas airport gusted over 40 mph. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2015/07/08/airplane-passenger-captures-amazing-photo-of-wet-microburst-belting-las-vegas/ Back to Top Swiss pilots carry $11k in cash box to cover airline costs in crisis-hit Greece As Greece negotiates a potential bailout, Swiss airline Edelweiss is taking extra precautions when flying to the crisis-hit nation. Pilots have been told to carry more than $11,000 to cover costs, as the nation is largely operating on a cash-only basis. The cash is used to pay for "kerosene, handling or landing fees," Edelweiss pilot Martin Gautschi tweeted in response to a question from Blick am Abend newspaper. "The people are very helpful, the service perfect - despite the difficult situation," Gautschi wrote. The pilot added that all transactions are being conducted in cash, "just like in the last days of Swissair." The comment references Swissair's financial difficulties when it became bankrupt in 2001 and airports would only accept cash for payment of fuel and airport services. Edelweiss is owned by Swissair and Lufthansa. Although the nation is operating in cash, money isn't easy to come by in the debt-ridden nation. Residents are limited to withdrawing €60 (US$66) a day from ATMs, but the cash machines have been running out of money and banks continue to remain closed. Receiving cash from family and friends abroad is nearly impossible, as wire services such as Western Union and Moneygram have stopped transferring money to Greece until further notice, Schweiz am Sonntag newspaper reported. Meanwhile, Greece's future remains uncertain. The country has officially asked for a three-year loan facility from the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) and agreed to quick reforms. Athens has promised to present a new plan by July 9. The requested three-year bailout is estimated to be over €51 billion ($56 billion), although an exact amount has not been confirmed. On Sunday, Greek citizens voted against accepting a proposal from creditors that would have meant more austerity measures. Greece has previously received two bailouts, totaling $266 billion in loans. http://rt.com/news/272455-edelweiss-airline-cash-greece/ Back to Top PRO-ISIS AIRLINE PILOTS TRACKED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT IN SOUTHEAST ASIA Featured photo - Pro-ISIS Airline Pilots Tracked by Law Enforcement in Southeast Asia Prior to September 2014, the Facebook profile for Ridwan Agustin appeared to be that of any proud pilot and aviation enthusiast: He posted pictures of himself in front his plane, by the engine, on the tarmac, with his crew, inside the cockpit and in various stages of flight. Sometimes he is accompanied in the photos by his wife, a flight attendant, and their children. Along the way, between jaunts around East Asia, he documented his training and career, which included a trip to the Airbus office in Toulouse, France, with his AirAsia team in 2009; graduation from AirAsia Academy in January 2010; and then his life as pilot for AirAsia, where he flew international flights to Hong Kong and Singapore, as well as domestic routes. Then in September 2014, something changed. Interspersed with photos of pristine white sand beaches, motorcycle rides and goofy tarmac photos with his colleagues came postings in support of the Islamic State. He began friending and interacting online with other pro-ISIS profiles - including Indonesian foreign fighters documenting their battles in Syria or Iraq. Agustin changed his profile name to Ridwan Ahmad Indonesiy and expressed interest in joining the fight in Kobani. While Agustin was indicating an interest in joining ISIS in Syria, he was interacting with another Indonesian pilot for a different airline who also increasingly began posting in support of the Islamic State. By mid-March 2015, Agustin posted his current location as Raqqa, Syria. The apparent radicalization of these two Indonesian pilots and their potential threat to national security was the subject of a March 18, 2015 operational intelligence report compiled by the Australian Federal Police and distributed to their law enforcement partners in Turkey, Jordan, London and the U.S. It was also sent to Europol. A copy of the document, "Identification of Indonesian pilots with possible extremist persuasions," was obtained by The Intercept. "Both [pilots] appear to be influenced by pro-IS elements including extremist online propaganda by well-known radical Indonesia outlets and a suspected Indonesian foreign terrorist fighter who is likely to be in either Syria or Iraq," the report states. "Pilots, air crew and others with access to and within the aviation environment can pose obvious threats if these persons are radicalized. Their access and knowledge of security and safety regimes provides the ability to attempt attacks as witnessed by past global events," warns the report, which also notes that a recent issue of Inspire, the magazine published by Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, encouraged attacks by those involved in aviation. "It makes a lot of sense that the Australians would be extremely nervous," said Sidney Jones, director of the Jakarta-based Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict. Jones, whose organization has tracked the recruitment of Indonesian foreign fighters by ISIS, says there appears to have been a sharp increase in the number of Indonesians fighting with ISIS in the last few months. Between March 1 and June 1, 2015, 44 Indonesians have been killed in Syria and Iraq, according to estimates compiled by Jones' institute and shared with The Intercept. Among those recently killed is an associate of Heri Kustyanto - a well-known militant Agustin was interacting with on Facebook, according to photos of since-deleted posts included in the AFP report. Kustyanto, also known as Abu Azzam Qaswarah Al Indonesy, is one of just three Indonesians trained as elite ISIS forces, according to Jones. One of Kustyanto's elite forces associates was Maskur, the Indonesian who appears as an executioner in the video of the beheading of U.S. aid worker Peter Kassig. He was killed in May, according to IPAC's tally. There are about five different centers or nodes where recruitment is taking place in Indonesia, Jones says, including one that was responsible for the 2002 Bali bombing, which killed over 100 people. Historically, Indonesians could not go to Syria or Iraq to join ISIS unless they knew someone who was already there, according to Jones. Recruitment was done through several groups that largely centered on two major radical clerics and their followers. "Up to now, most of the data we have is from people we have affiliated with radical associations," she said. Jones said she hadn't previously heard of pilots being recruited. The Australian document shows that ISIS appears to be "recruiting skill sets, professional groups" she said, after The Intercept shared details of the report. The apparent recruitment of pilots and other aviation workers comes as Indonesia struggles to counter the ever-increasing numbers of foreign fighters heading for Iraq or Syria - some of whom have recently carried out domestic attacks after returning home. According to the U.S. State Department's annual country report for 2014, Indonesia expanded its counterterrorism cooperation with countries including the U.S. last year, but has failed to stem the flow of Indonesians fighting abroad. "The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) became a major impetus for further counterterrorism efforts. The emergence in July of a recruitment video calling for Indonesians to join ISIL focused the attention of the government and civil society and religious groups on countering the ISIL threat," the report says. "Indonesian government officials have estimated that up to 300 Indonesians may have traveled to the Middle East since 2012 to engage in terrorist activities." More recently, the Indonesian government has said that number is now 518 foreign fighters, according to Jones. Her organization's list of documented names runs just over 200. According to a National Counter Terrorism Center Weekly report from March 3-10, 2015, Malaysians and Indonesians have formed their own unit based in Raqqa, Syria, called Majmu'ah al'Arkhabiliy, which is commanded by the Islamic State. "Upon arriving to Syria, the men received a month of weapons training and the families stay in apartments," the report states, basing its information on a local media report. One of these foreign fighters, authorities believe, is Ridwan Agustin, who is now in Syria, according to the Australian report. The whereabouts of his wife, Diah Suci Wulandari, who was also an AirAsia employee, and also shared posts from groups supporting the Islamic State, is unknown. In recent months, after several changes to his profile name, The Intercept saw Agustin friend more than one hundred profiles of what appear to be foreign fighters from all over the world now fighting on behalf of the Islamic State. (Their profiles show photos with guns, videos of battles and indications that they are likely fighting with the Islamic State.) AirAsia spokesperson Audrey Petriny would only say: "Please be informed that Ridwan Agustin and Diah Suci Wulandari are no longer employees of AirAsia Indonesia. Therefore, we are unable to comment further on either individuals." AirAsia would not provide dates of employment or answer any of The Intercept's questions about Agustin and his wife's flight routes. He may no longer be working as a pilot, the intelligence report says, but he "would still possess requisite skills to fly and together with his wife's previous employment, they would have current contacts within the aviation sector." Indonesia's aviation sector has attracted negative attention over the past year following two fatal accidents, including last week's crash of an Indonesian military airplane that is believed to have killed at least 135 people. In December last year, an AirAsia Airbus 320 en route to Singapore crashed into the Java Sea, killing 155 passengers and crew members. The report on that crash is expected later this summer. The Second Pilot The Australian report also highlights the apparent radicalization of an online associate of Ridwan Agustin, identified as Tommy Hendratno, also a pilot from Indonesia, according to his social media posts. According to the report, Hendratno also goes by Tomi Abu Alfatih. His current Facebook profile gives his name as Abu Alfatih Hendratno. Hendratno is a former member of the Indonesian military who trained in Paris and worked at a major Indonesian flight school, according to the report, as well as his social media posts and photos. Most recently, he flew private charter and commercial flights for Premiair, an aviation company that specialized in charter and VIP flights. Hendratno's online profile says he attended flight school training in the United States as recently as February - one month before Australian authorities identified him in their report. In an emailed response to The Intercept, Norman Sukardi, the quality and safety manager for Premiair, confirmed that Hendratno had stopped working for the company on June 1. Sukarki declined to provide any details about Hendratno's routes, or U.S. flight training while at the the company. Sukarki said there were "no compaints and employment issues" related to Hendratno, but declined to provide a reason for why he stopped working at the company last month. "We heard that he is a symphatism [sic] of ISIS. But we do not know that he actively publish his articles and did some meetings or trainings with ISIS Organization. Otherwise the police or other competent organziation in the government already told us about his involvement in ISIS," Sukarki wrote. According to numerous photos and posts on his Facebook profile discovered by The Intercept, Hendratno trained at Flight Safety International, a flight school in St. Louis, Missouri, on at least three separate occasions over the last three years, most recently between February 1 and 7, 2015. During that time his Facebook postings about St. Louis and simulator training were interspersed with videos of ISIS beheading hostages, among other terrorism propaganda. Photos posted in August 2013 show Hendratno posing in front of a Flight Safety International sign and in front of the St. Louis arch, wearing a "Gateway to the West" T- shirt. At this time, his profile consists of frequent postings about his flights - to Bali, Malaysia, Dubai - and he shared photos of himself inside a cockpit, and with his co- pilot and crew at their home base airport or elsewhere around the world. A spokesperson for Flight Safety International did not respond to multiple emails requesting confirmation of Hendratno's training at their St. Louis facility. On Monday, when reached by phone, the company spokesperson, Steve Phillips, said: "I don't really know anything about this so can't comment." When pressed to confirm the dates of attendance in Hendratno's social media postings, he told The Intercept, "We don't disclose names of our customers. You sent us a whole variety of names so I'm really unable to help you." (The Intercept had sent three names.) Like Ridwan Agustin prior to September 2014, Hendratno mostly documented his travels around East Asia and the Middle East. By mid-2014, his postings, like Agustin's, began to address grievances about the plight of Muslims across the world. By December 2014, he was posting pro-Islamic State material, around the same time he says he returned to the U.S. for more certification training. One post described police as "ansharu thagut," which the Australian report says is a term often used by Jihadists "to describe police as helpers of the oppressive government." He soon began posting Islamic State-related posts nearly every day, often multiple times a day. Many of the posts share video and images from Islamic State media groups, including photos of currency to be introduced for the Islamic State - and the group's opening of English language schools for children in Syria. Often, other apparent pilots supported his comments and posts by sharing or liking the post in the same way Hendratno initially supported Islamic State posts by Ridwan Agustin. On social media - including Instagram and Facebook - the two pilots belong to a larger group of about 300 pilots, flight attendants, flight instructors, radar and air traffic control operators, and grounds crew in Indonesia, Australia, Malaysia, Switzerland, Germany, France, the Middle East, the United Kingdom and the United States. Hendratno recently updated his Facebook profile to say that he left Premiair on June 1. Premiair did not respond to repeated requests for comment. Agustin's profile has been removed from Facebook and he could not be reached for comment. Agustin's wife and Hendratno did not respond to messages sent to their Facebook accounts. Australian Federal Police declined to provide any information in response to questions about the report. "The AFP does not comment on matters of intelligence," said an AFP spokesperson in response to The Intercept's request for comment. "The AFP maintains strong relationships with its domestic and foreign law enforcement partners to ensure the ongoing safety of Australians both within Australia and abroad," the spokesperson added. The FBI, which is noted on the report's distribution list, also declined to comment. https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/07/08/australia-tracking-indonesian-pilots-supporting-isis/ Back to Top Jet Emergency After Briton 'Assaults Woman' Police say the man had to be restrained on a transatlantic British Airways flight, which was forced into an unscheduled landing. The jet landed at Logan International Airport before continuing its journey A British man has been arrested in the US after allegedly attacking a woman who was travelling with him on a flight from London. The Houston-bound British Airways jet had to be diverted to Boston, where police at Logan International Airport detained Darren Halliwell on Wednesday. The 48-year-old, from Aspull in Wigan, Greater Manchester, had to be restrained on the plane by several passengers, police said. He allegedly assaulted a woman who was with him, and has been charged with interfering with a flight crew. His relationship to the alleged victim has not been disclosed. Authorities said more charges could be filed and he was expected to appear in a Boston court on Thursday. The plane continued to Houston after Halliwell was arrested. http://news.sky.com/story/1515791/jet-emergency-after-briton-assaults-woman Back to Top Engine Fire Forces Southwest Jet to Abort Takeoff at Midway No injuries among the 140-plus passengers on the late Wednesday flight. A Southwest Airlines flight departing Midway Airport for Boston late Wednesday was reportedly forced to abort takeoff due to engine trouble. Flight 3299 was scheduled for a 10:10 p.m. takeoff and due to arrive at 1:15 a.m. at Boston Logan International Airport. The engine overheated and caught fire, according to the Chicago Fire Department. A local news photographer tweeted an image of the jet at Midway surrounded by Chicago Fire Department emergency vehicles. An EMS Plan 1 was issued, with six ambulances and fire trucks responding. The fire department checked out 144 passengers, who were returned to the terminal by bus, and no injuries were reported between 11 p.m. and midnight. https://patch.com/illinois/beverly-mtgreenwood/southwest-airlines-jet-makes-emergency-landing-midway-0 Back to Top Back to Top China's COMAC says C919 commercial jet won't fly this year BEIJING, July 9 (Reuters) - Chinese state-owned aircraft maker Comac said its C919 commercial jet would not make its maiden flight this year, confirming a Reuters report that had said the programme was delayed because assembly was taking longer than expected. Comac wants the narrow-body C919, which will be China's only home-grown commercial jet, to rival the Airbus A320 and the 737 jets from Boeing. The jet was originally scheduled to fly by end-2015, but a Shanghai-based Comac spokesman said the first aircraft would now roll off the assembly line at the end of the year. The timing of the maiden flight will be announced after that, he added. The spokesman did not give a reason for the delay but people familiar with the matter had told Reuters in May there were delays in the final assembly process. The sources had also said the maiden flight had been postponed to the first half of 2016, with deliveries scheduled for 2018 slipping to as late as 2020. Further delays will make it harder for the plane to make an impact beyond its home market, industry analysts say. http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFL3N0ZP21320150709 Back to Top Jet engines are getting quieter Run silent, run high. Credit: Christian Lagerek/shutterstock.com With no sign of our appetite for air travel diminishing, we need to create quieter aircraft that are easier to live with. In fact, while those living near airports may beg to differ, data included in the Airports Commission report into a new runway for London shows a very significant reduction in aircraft noise over several decades. The noisiness of an individual aircraft at departure and approach is described by its Effective Perceived Noise Level (EPNL). This is measured when the aircraft enters service, and is used to track noise improvements between successive generations of aircraft. As this Airports Commission report chart shows, EPNL has fallen since modern turbojet and turbofan engines were first introduced - roughly a halving of radiated acoustic energy per decade. This is a remarkable technical achievement - a 95% reduction in the sound power generated by aircraft jet engines since their introduction. However, over the same period there has been an explosion in air travel and the number of flights and passengers has risen exponentially. The issue then is not whether aircraft are getting quieter, but whether they are doing so sufficiently quickly to compensate for the fact that there's so many more of them. The answer also depends upon how quickly older, noisier aircraft are retired from service. In the UK, the net effect has been positive - aircraft are becoming quieter at a rate that outweighs the increase in traffic and the Airports Commission expects this trend to continue. When air is too loud Aircraft noise is generated by turbulent flows of air over and around surfaces. This includes air going into and out of the engine, and air flowing around the airframe - fuselage, wings and other aerodynamic surfaces such as flaps, slats and landing gear. Jet engines are getting quieter Noise levels have, despite what some may feel, been falling. Credit: Airports Commission/Crown Copyright What has brought about the continuing reductions in aircraft noise since the 1970s? The largest factor driving down aircraft noise has been a move towards higher and higher "bypass ratios" - originally sought after for greater engine efficiency, but which fortunately generate lower noise too. The bypass ratio is the proportion of the air which enters the engine inlet but bypasses the turbojet and exits at low speed, in comparison to the hot, high-speed jet coming from the engine core. This ratio has risen - all the air entering turbojet engines of the earliest airliners passed through the engine. In the turbofan designs of the 1960s and early 1970s this fell to around a third, while the engines powering large modern aircraft today such as the Airbus A380, Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 draw only a tenth of the air into the engine core. These engines have larger, more slowly-rotating fans with fewer blades - all features that reduce the aircraft's noise profile. Quieter engines This process still has some way to run. Turbofan engines in smaller aircraft have lower bypass ratios than those in larger, wide-bodied aircraft, but development of new engines is underway for the venerable Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 families, and newer jets such as the Bombardier CSeries and the Mitsubishi MRJ. Such narrow-bodied jets constitute 70% of the commercial fleet, so this will have a profound impact on noise levels as they replace older jets. Better engines for larger aircraft are coming too, based on the same turbofan technology. Using a gearbox to uncouple the fan and the low pressure turbine will improve performance and reduce noise. A market leader here is the Pratt and Whitney PW1000G geared turbofan developed over the last decade and due to enter service, is anticipated to lead to larger, quieter and more fuel-efficient engines with bypass ratios approaching 15:1. Jet engines are getting quieter Lockheed Tristar, a classic airliner of the 1970s. Credit: Jon Proctor Other techniques to quieten engines include acoustic liners on the inner walls of the intake and bypass ducts which absorb acoustic energy, and improved aerodynamic fan design and outlet vanes. Both of these have been made possible by the power of modern computers to accurately simulate airflow dynamics - there is scope for further advances in this area. Quieter airframes Reducing airframe noise is more challenging. The use of flaps and slats and deploying of landing gear at approach are necessary to slow the aircraft while maintaining lift, but they all create additional noise. It's hard to have one without the other. Perhaps the most effective means to ensure both will come from new, improved aerodynamic aircraft designs that can provide better low-speed performance without sacrificing fuel efficiency at cruise. Jet engines are getting quieter Computer simulation of acoustic energy streaming out of a turbofan intake at different fan speeds. Credit: Z Rarata/University of Southampton, Author provided In the longer term, after 2050, completely new aircraft geometries that use blended wing designs, and even morphing geometry - aircraft that change shape - will potentially lead to major reductions in airframe noise, greater efficiency and improved environmental impact. All just as well, as by then there'll be many more people still wishing to fly. http://phys.org/news/2015-07-jet-quieter.html Back to Top Large Russian Aircraft Carrier Design Unveiled A scale model of a large aircraft carrier on display at a maritime and defense show in St. Petersburg, Russia. (Photo: Vladimir Karnozov) A design for a large, nuclear-powered aircraft carrier was unveiled at the seventh maritime and defense show (IMDS'2015) held last week in St. Petersburg, Russia. The Krylov State Research Center-a government-owned scientific institute specializing in marine technologies-showed a scale model of a "multipurpose aircraft carrier" that was comparable in size to the U.S. Navy Nimitz class. The Russian ministry of defense is funding Krylov's work under Project Shtorm (Storm). The carrier measures 95,000 to 100,000 metric tons by displacement, with a length of 330 meters (1,082 feet) and a width of 40 meters (131 feet). It has a "twin island" layout similar to that found on the new British Queen Elizabeth-class carriers. In addition to the big ski jump in the bow, characteristic of previous Russian carriers, the Shtorm comes with a second, smaller, one at the end of the angled deck. According to Krylov's leaflet, the carrier is outfitted with two catapults. The scale model showed four. Other visible characteristics include four arrestor wires, four aircraft elevators, two cranes and several multi-tube rocket launchers. The carrier would have a crew of 4,000 to 5,000, and an air wing of 80 to 90 aircraft. The scale model included combat aircraft on the flight deck that were reminiscent of a navalized version of the Sukhoi T-50 PAKFA fifth generation fighter with folding wings and empennage; AWACS aircraft that resembled a single-tailed American E-2C Hawkeye; and Kamov Ka-27 series helicopters. Vice admiral (ret.) Vladimir Pepelyaev, head of R&D ship design and programs division at the Krylov's center, told AIN that "we determined the ability of the industry to build such a ship...the associated risks and costs...as well as development potential of such a project." Pepelyaev described the model exhibited at IMDS'2015 as "an export version...a derivative of the main one developed for the Russian navy." He said that a key design target for the carrier was the ability to launch multiple aircraft-a mix of air defense fighters and heavily loaded strike aircraft-using several catapults and ski jumps. Russian industry has built and trialled an experimental electro- magnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS), but the Russian Navy has not yet confirmed whether it is an option for the new carrier. Local media outlets estimated the construction cost of such a ship at 160 billion Roubles (nearly $3 billion), not including the air wing. The high cost of aircraft carriers has previously discouraged the Russian navy, whose only operational carrier-the Admiral Kuznetsov-was commissioned in 1990. The Shtorm is roughly 1.5 times larger the Kuznetsov, and twice the size of the INS Vikramaditya that Russia delivered to India in November 2013. In Pepelyaev's view, Russia and India can cooperate in executing their national carrier programs. Perhaps the main idea behind the Shtorm design is not so much about the Russian navy but about keeping India's and China's interest in military-technical cooperation. Both countries have ambitions to develop powerful blue-water fleets. But they lack experience, technologies and knowledge, which the Kremlin is eager to sell to its largest international customers for weapons. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2015-07-08/large-russian-aircraft-carrier-design-unveiled Back to Top Aer Lingus to buy nine of 'world's most advanced aircraft' Aer Lingus have ordered nine Airbus A350s and say three will go into operation each year between 2018 and 2020. A new Airbus A350X WB passenger plane stands on the tarmac at Munich Airport during a presentation of the new plane by Airbus officials on February 27, 2015 in Munich, Germany. The A350 is a long-distance passenger plane that Airbus has developed to compete against the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The Airbus A350 visited Dublin. ©Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images) The aircraft features an advanced WIFI system, special lighting designed to reduce jet lag and increased leg room. The Airbus A350 also has an alleviation system which makes for a quieter, smoother flight. Qatar Airways and Vietnam Airlines are currently the only companies using the aircraft. A spokesperson for Aer Lingus confirmed the purchase saying: "The A350 is a bigger aircraft, more fuel efficient and offers more advanced technology and features." The new fleet will replace the A330 which Aer Lingus currently use for transatlantic and long distance flights. The A350 was visiting Dublin Airport on Wednesday to mark AerCap moving its commercial centre from Los Angeles to Dublin, which created 100 jobs. Aengus Kelly CEO of AerCap gave a breakdown of the planes credentials: "IT'S THE MOST ADVANCED AIRCRAFT IN THE WORLD. THERE IS ABOUT 4 OF THEM OPERATING GLOBALLY IN THE WORLD BUT YOU'LL BE FLYING THIS FOR THE NEXT 25 YEARS AND BEYOND." Aengus Kelly CEO of AerCap AerCap, who lease aircraft, are the largest owner of commercial aircraft in the world. Kelly also spoke of how AerCap's move to Dublin has "cemented Ireland's position as global leader in aircraft leasing." http://utv.ie/News/2015/07/08/Aer-Lingus-to-buy-nine-of-worlds-most-advanced-aircraft-40653 Back to Top China Eastern Airlines Agrees to Buy 50 Boeing 737 Jets State carrier China Eastern Airlines Corp. (0670.HK) agreed to buy a total of 50 single-aisle passenger aircraft from Boeing Co. ( BA), as it seeks to expand into the budget-airline market. China Eastern Airlines said Thursday that the 50 Boeing 737 series narrow-body jets will be operated by its unit China United Airlines, a Beijing-based domestic carrier that is transforming itself into a low-cost airline. The deal has a combined list price value of up to $4.56 billion, though airline customers typically get large discounts from aircraft manufacturers for bulk purchases. The carrier plans to take delivery of the jets between 2017 and 2019. China Eastern's latest purchase comes as the country's airlines continue expanding their networks to cope with rapidly growing demand for air travel, while at the same time speeding up retirement of older and less fuel-efficient aircraft to reduce operating costs. http://www.nasdaq.com/article/china-eastern-airlines-agrees-to-buy-50-boeing-737-jets-20150709-00078#ixzz3fOnh5ZOB Back to Top Upcoming Events: 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 Fundamentals of IS-BAO August 25, 2015 Denver, CO USA https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1737105 IS-BAO Auditing August 26, 2015 Denver, CO USA https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1737126 Fundamentals of IS-BAO August 30, 2015 Casablanca, Morocco https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1725994 IS-BAO Auditing August 31, 2015 Casablanca, Morocco https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1725997 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: Deputy Director of Flight Operations and Technical Services Helicopter Association International https://www.rotor.org/AboutHAI/Employment.aspx Manager Safety Risk Management in Seattle Washington United States Alaska Airlines https://tam.alaskaair.com/psc/asjobs/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_CE.GBL?Page=HRS_CE_JOB_DTL&Action=A&JobOpeningId=25776&SiteId=10&PostingSeq=1 ? Engineering & Operations Manager Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), https://jobs-alpa.icims.com/jobs/1192/manager%2c-engineering-%26-operations/job Curt Lewis