Flight Safety Information July 17, 2015 - No. 140 In This Issue Fatal Crash Prompts Marines To Change Osprey Flight Rules Alaska Air flight: laser strike, lands safely in Seattle Pilots call for more information sharing on air route safety Russia amends airspace rules to increase flight safety European Pilots Slam Liberalization of the Skies Over Safety Flaws $150m spent, but 'hunt must continue for air safety's sake' European Agency Proposes Tougher Medical and Psychological Oversight of Pilots Delta jet makes emergency landing at Sea-Tac after engine fire Putin Rejects U.N. Tribunal for Downed Malaysian Jet PROS 2015 TRAINING Lockheed Martin's F-16 Jet Deal for South Korea Cleared PILOT ERROR SPECIAL OSHKOSH EVENTS JULY 17-23 NAVIGATING EAA AIR VENTURE Embry-Riddle Hosts Interactive Unmanned Experience Louisiana Delta Community College Adding Helicopter Training Upcoming Events JOBS AVAILABLE (New Positions) Fatal Crash Prompts Marines To Change Osprey Flight Rules WASHINGTON: Marine Corps leaders have issued a fleetwide order to MV-22 pilots to wave off any landing in a dust cloud they can't complete within 30 seconds, Breaking Defense has learned, a reaction to a fatal accident in Hawaii on May 17. The previous rule was 60 seconds, though experienced Osprey and helicopter pilots usually spend no more than 10 seconds or so in such risky conditions. Investigators are still studying the training flight mishap in which an MV-22B Osprey's hard landing killed two Marines aboard. They have yet to officially declare the crash's cause, but BD has learned that the plane suffered reduced power in both engines and a compressor stall that knocked the left one out entirely after spending an unusually long 45 seconds hovering over a dusty landing zone. The Marines issued the new flight rules based on tourist videos of the accident, data downloaded from onboard systems, and testimony from survivors, Osprey pilots have been ordered to monitor engine performance during Reduced Visibility Landing (RVLs) and to brief all "engine failure in a hover" procedures to all aircrew prior to flying RVL training flights or missions in which such a landing is possible.helicopter-brown-out-size0-army.mil-37598-2009-05-11-070555 RVLs, common for the tiltrotor Osprey and helicopters as well, occur when rotor downwash kicks up clouds of dust, sand, snow or other debris that obscure the crew's view of the ground. A significant number of the more than 420 U.S. military helicopters that have crashed since 2001 occurred in such conditions. The Osprey often encounters those conditions because of the powerful downwash created by its "proprotors," whose diameter is smaller and whose blades have more twist than helicopter rotors so they can serve as propellers in forward flight. Unlike all but the most modern helicopters, the MV-22B has electronic flight controls and a "glass cockpit" with a "Hover Page" and a "Flight Director" - an autopilot function - that can be coupled to help in RVLs. The Hover Page shows the pilot a "lollipop" - a circle with the aircraft at its center and a line pointing to the desired landing spot, which is designated by grid coordinates the aircrew enters in advance. To eliminate the risk of drift, a pilot with sufficient time can put the aircraft into a hover above the cloud of dust or debris kicked up by its proprotors - usually 50 feet above ground level - and couple the Flight Director to the Hover Page to automatically land the aircraft. Sometimes the Flight Director and Hover Page fail to properly couple, however, forcing pilots to repeat the procedure. V-22 engine inlet barrier filter - Bell - 2 New V-22 engine inlet barrier filter The Rolls-Royce AE 1107C engines on the Hawaii plane ingested dust or debris that left the right engine of the Hawaii Osprey too weak to keep the craft airborne - as it should have been able to do - after the left engine failed. One factor may have been that the landing was one of the several the aircraft made that day at the same dusty zone. The Osprey also was hovering "out of ground effect," which requires more power than hovering where downwash reaches the ground quickly. Also, the aircraft had 22 Marines aboard and thus was heavily loaded. The accident also appears to reflect the chronic inadequacy of the V-22's Engine Air Particle Separator (EAPS), a filter at each engine inlet that was modified years ago after suffering hydraulic leaks that caused fires and still allows far more dirt than is healthy to pass into the Osprey's engines. The EAPS may be replaced by a new filter being developed by Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., which makes the Osprey in a 50-50 partnership with Boeing Co. But that won't happen until 2017 or after under current plans. http://breakingdefense.com/2015/07/fatal-crash-prompts-marines-to-change-osprey-flight-rules/ Back to Top Alaska Air flight: laser strike, lands safely in Seattle A flight from Juneau, Alaska, reported experiencing a laser strike late Thursday night as it approached Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The plane landed safely with 75 people on board. SEATTLE - An Alaska Airlines spokeswoman says a flight from Juneau, Alaska, reported experiencing a laser strike late Thursday night as it approached Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The plane landed safely with 75 people on board. Spokeswoman Halley Knigge said Flight 66 was approaching the airport shortly before 11 p.m. Thursday. She had no immediate information on whether anyone in the cockpit was affected by the laser. The plane carried 70 passengers and five crew members. http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/alaska-air-flight-laser-strike-lands-safely-in-seattle/ Back to Top Pilots call for more information sharing on air route safety All countries are being urged to support a system to share information on the safety of air routes, on the first anniversary of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 disaster. The call came from the British Airline Pilots Association as memorial services were held to mark the shooting down of the Boeing 777 over Ukraine with the loss of 298 lives. The UK pilots union called for the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to take the lead in decision-making regarding overflying areas of conflict in the wake of the crash. Those calls were answered and a system for sharing information was set up. "But it is only as good as the information put in and a year after the crash not all counties are contributing data and using the information," Balpa said today. "This work must develop and grow to enable nation states to share knowledge for the good of all air operators, their passengers and crew." Balpa flight safety specialist, Stephen Landells, said: "Pilots need enough information to assure themselves the flight they are about to fly is safe. "Passengers and pilots want an open and uniform level of safety, not one that is decided in secret and in different ways by airlines and countries. "This new system for sharing information is in its infancy and the UK is leading the way in making it happen. Now the aviation community worldwide needs to work together to share information. "We would like ICAO and the UN to use their influence to encourage all nation states to take advantage of this unique resource to ensure the safety of the travelling public worldwide." http://travelweekly.co.uk/Articles/2015/07/17/55965/ Back to Top Russia amends airspace rules to increase flight safety The Russian government has made several amendments to its airspace use rules, which will increase flight safety and conform to ICAO standards and recommendations. The rules establish horizontal separation procedures and horizontal separation spacing, or Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM). According to a government statement, the amendments will also increase opportunities for using Russian air space. In 2011, the Russian government announced full- scale RVSM implementation. China implemented RVSM in 2007 to prepare for the Beijing Olympics. In 2012, Eurocontrol announced Europe's RVSM program-which went into effect in 2002, saved aircraft operators an estimated €3.9 billion ($5.05 billion) annually in cost benefits. http://atwonline.com/air-traffic-control/russia-amends-airspace-rules-increase-flight-safety Back to Top European Pilots Slam Liberalization of the Skies Over Safety Flaws Pilots in Europe are up-in-arms over plans to liberalize global air transport, which they say could imperil safety in the skies. The European pilots union, ECA, has said plans to liberalize air transport have raised serious concerns over aviation safety. They fear that liberalization could lead to pilots from outside the European safety regulatory environment - and therefore unchecked - taking control of aircraft. Letter Box Airlines The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the Air Transport Regulatory Panel is currently considering a proposal to "develop a long-term vision for international air transport liberalization." But the ECA says that a small group of countries is pushing hastily for full liberalization of the global airline industry, without safeguards, or consideration of the impact of such a move. It says the drafting approach is focused on reducing the economic regulatory 'burden' on airlines, removing government involvement in decisions and operations deemed to be commercial, and minimizing the use of regulation. Dirk Polloczek, President of the European Cockpit Association said: "This is a TTIP for aviation, but at a global level - full scale, instant, worldwide liberalization that would change the aviation industry overnight." "This lack of such provisions clearly demonstrates how the original mandate of the two working groups set up by the panel 'to ensure respect for the highest levels of safety and security' continues to be flagrantly ignored," he said. At issue is the proposal to change the rules on ownership and control of airlines, which could lead to the setting up of "letter box" companies which, in turn, could leave some airlines setting up in countries they deem to have more relaxed aviation regulations. ECA believes the liberalization deal and its safety implications has been covered up, Polloczek, said: "The fact that you don't hear many voices against this agreement is not because there is a consensus, but because there is a deliberate and partisan effort to keep this deal off the radar." On a separate matter, the ECA is co-operating with the investigation into the Germanwings disaster in the French Alps on March 24, 2015 which brought calls for a review of air safety after investigators discovered the co-pilot Andreas Lubitz had locked himself alone in the cockpit and deliberately crashed the aircraft. Following the crash, the EU transport commissioner Violeta Bulc asked the European Aviation Safety Agency to establish a task force to assess the preliminary investigation report on the causes of the crash by the French Civil Aviation Safety Investigation Authority. The task force is expected to produce a report with recommendations at the end of July, after which the European Commission will have to decide whether to update aviation safety rules. http://sputniknews.com/europe/20150715/1024654837.html#ixzz3g9L9qBXQ Back to Top $150m spent, but 'hunt must continue for air safety's sake' Japan Coast Guard's Mr Koji Kubota was one of those who participated in the search over the southern Indian Ocean for debris after Flight MH370 went missing in March last year. UN aviation body chief says it is the responsibility of Malaysia, China and Australia to see to it that the plane is found The search for a Malaysia Airlines plane which was presumed to have crashed more than 16 months ago has already cost about €100 million (S$150 million), or more than €200,000 a day. The search expenses are being borne mainly by Australia, Malaysia and China, whose citizens accounted for more than six in 10 passengers on board the ill-fated flight. They do not include indirect costs such as assistance rendered to families of the passengers, said Mr Raymond Benjamin, secretary-general of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), a United Nations arm which oversees global commercial aviation. Flight MH370 went missing about an hour after it left Kuala Lumpur for Beijing on March 8 last year, with 239 people on board. Despite intensive search efforts in the Indian Ocean into which the plane is believed to have plunged, no physical trace of the Boeing 777 jet has been found. WHY PLANE MUST BE FOUND We don't know what exactly happened in the cockpit so we don't know if it was a security issue or a safety issue. We have never had a situation where an aircraft flew for seven hours before crashing. MR RAYMOND BENJAMIN, secretary-general of the International Civil Aviation Organisation In an exclusive interview with The Straits Times on Friday, Mr Benjamin said the aircraft, which allegedly flew for hours without any contact with the ground before it ended its journey, had to be found if the mystery of its disappearance was ever to be resolved. "We don't know what exactly happened in the cockpit so we don't know if it was a security issue or a safety issue. We have never had a situation where an aircraft flew for seven hours before crashing." Mr Benjamin, who was in Singapore for an aviation cyber-security conference organised by the Transport Ministry, said it was important to know the cause of an accident to prevent a repeat. "Without the aircraft wreckage, we don't know." But with little clue as to its location and the consistently rough seas and high winds in the areas being searched, the odds have been stacked against search teams. As the plane is thought to be in Australia's search and rescue zone, it agreed soon after the incident to lead the hunt for the plane. But the country, which lost six nationals in the tragedy, is starting to buckle under the financial strain. The cost to date is already more than three times the amount that was spent, over two years, in the hunt for Air France's Flight AF447, which crashed into the Atlantic Ocean in 2009. Australia, which has forked out more than any other country, has now asked for support from other Indian Ocean coastal nations and gone to the ICAO for clarity on the country that should take ultimate responsibility for such deep-sea search operations. Singapore, deploying air and naval resources, was one of many nations involved in the initial phase of the search. National University of Singapore professor of aviation law Alan Tan said there are no international agreements on the country or party that should bear the costs of an aircraft search. The Chicago Convention, which regulates global aviation, says that when a plane crashes into international waters, the country of registry - in this case, Malaysia - takes the lead and can request the nearest state to assist. Prof Tan said: "Australia's financial commitment is voluntary and would have been offered as a matter of diplomatic relations. "Australia is a wealthy country and that is partly why the search has gone on for so long. But even then, there is clearly a limit to how long the Australians can continue to conduct and finance the search." In the case of the Air France crash, the aircraft manufacturer, Airbus, contributed to the costs of the search. "But that itself was highly unusual, and in a case like MH370, where it is still a mystery whether the plane's mechanics had anything to do with its loss, it would be difficult to force the manufacturers to pay search costs," Prof Tan said. "The reality, then, is that the question of who foots the bill will probably be left to individual states and how they negotiate this diplomatically," he said. Even as the ICAO has said it would review global conventions following Australia's concerns, Mr Benjamin does not foresee that the hunt will be called off. "I do not believe the search will be stopped. It will continue for some time," he said, adding it was the responsibility of Malaysia, China and Australia to see to it that the plane is found. Mr Benjamin said: "For the moment, there is a strong will on the part of all of these parties to continue and, in particular, China and Malaysia." http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/150m-spent-but-hunt-must-continue-for-air-safetys-sake Back to Top European Agency Proposes Tougher Medical and Psychological Oversight of Pilots PARIS - Europe's top air safety regulator on Friday called for a series of measures aimed at strengthening the medical and psychological oversight of the region's commercial airline pilots, including random drug and alcohol testing of flight crews. The report with the recommendations, which has been presented to the European transportation commissioner, Violeta Bulc, for review, follows more than two months of discussions led by the regulator, the European Aviation Safety Agency, after the March 24 crash of a Germanwings airliner. The flight's co-pilot had a history of severe depression and had shown suicidal tendencies. If accepted by the European Commission officials, the changes could take effect within the next year. But officials said they were prepared for delicate negotiations over the coming months with European pilots' unions, which have until now resisted such monitoring as overly intrusive and only minimally effective in improving safety. "If improvements are to be made in the European safety and security rules or in their implementation, in order to help prevent future accidents or incidents, we will take the necessary action at E.U. level," Ms. Bulc said in a statement. Aside from its new medical oversight proposals, the task force said it would maintain its recommendation that two crew members be present in the cockpit at all times. The so-called two-person rule, which was standard in the United States and other parts of the world after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, was not widely adopted in Europe before the Germanwings crash. The Federal Aviation Administration in the United States is also conducting its own review of existing standards and procedures for pilot medical oversight and cockpit door security. Its findings are expected to be published by the end of this year. Patrick Ky, the European Aviation Safety Agency's executive director and chairman of the task force that issued the report, said in a telephone interview from Brussels that most of the recommendations were "common sense." "We will never find a magic set of tools or solutions that can prevent every kind of accident," he said, "but let's try to do our best to maximize our chances of preventing this kind of thing from happening again." French investigators say that the 27-year-old co-pilot of the Germanwings flight, Andreas Lubitz, deliberately crashed the Airbus A320 after locking the captain out of the cockpit on a flight to Düsseldorf, Germany, from Barcelona, Spain. Mr. Lubitz and the 149 other people on board were killed. Investigators have not uncovered any evidence that Mr. Lubitz used illegal drugs or alcohol, but members of the task force identified drug and alcohol abuse as "one of the disorders potentially affecting the mental health of pilots for which screening tests are readily available," the agency said in a statement. The task force included a dozen representatives from airlines, pilots unions, medical advisers and regulators. Although Mr. Lubitz was a high-profile example of pilot suicide, his was not an isolated case. Over the past two decades, at least a half-dozen fatal airline crashes have been attributed to deliberate actions by the pilot. Other episodes and close calls have been quietly played down by investigators. Until now, none have led to significant changes in the regulation of the psychological health of pilots. The task force cited a 2013 report by the Civil Aviation Authority of Britain that found that of the 31 air accidents caused by a pilot medical issue between 1980 and 2011, 20 were "of psychiatric cause." The highest proportion of the psychiatric causes - 60 percent - was linked to drug or alcohol use. A number of countries, including the United States and Australia, require airline pilots to submit to random tests for the use of alcohol and certain controlled substances, including amphetamines, cocaine, marijuana and opiates. Flight attendants, aircraft mechanics, air traffic controllers and others in "safety sensitive" roles are also subject to drug testing. Some European countries, notably in Scandinavia, routinely test pilots, but there is no uniform standard that applies to the roughly 65,000 commercial pilots based in the 28-member European Union. "We need to have a European mandate on this, because it doesn't make a lot of sense to have individual national laws," Mr. Ky said. Mr. Ky said the European requirements would be modeled on the current policy of the F.A.A., which randomly selects 25 percent of aviation industry personnel for drug testing and 10 percent for alcohol testing every year. Initially, such testing would only apply to pilots, although it could eventually be extended to other employees who are critical to maintaining safety, he said. In the weeks after the Germanwings crash, Carsten Spohr, the chief executive of Lufthansa, the parent company of Germanwings, proposed that regulators also consider screening pilots for the presence of antidepressants or other psychiatric drugs. That idea was rejected, and Mr. Ky said that there were no plans to test for prescription medications. "If we extend the scope, we run the risk of too many false alarms," he said. Random drug and alcohol testing has long been opposed by pilots' unions, who have tended to view such policies as inefficient: less than 0.49 percent of the roughly 50,000 American airline pilots who were screened tested positive for drugs or alcohol in 2013, the most recent year for which F.A.A. statistics were available. "It produces very few positive outcomes," Capt. Martin Chalk, the president of the International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations, said in a recent interview. "Those who want to stay below the radar can do so." He added: "In the case of alcohol and drugs, it is quite clear that if you look around the world, peer-support or intervention are both cheaper and more effective." Many pilots' unions and large airline groups, including Lufthansa, already have programs in place where pilots with drug, alcohol or other mental health problems can confide in specially trained colleagues, who can steer them toward professional help without risking their jobs. Pilots can also confidentially report others who they suspect may have a problem, in order to encourage them to seek treatment. The task force's report urges airlines to augment drug testing with such "nonpunitive" support and peer-reporting programs for pilots with substance abuse or mental health problems. Mr. Ky said regulators would regularly review such programs as part of their mandatory periodic inspections of airline operations. "We want to be given evidence that this exists and is not facing any undue constraints that make it unworkable," Mr. Ky said. The report also calls for the creation of a central European Union database, which would be maintained by the European Aviation Safety Agency, containing basic information about pilots' medical certification status and contact details for the flight doctor who conducted their most recent exam. Airline pilots are generally free to choose their own flight doctors, in the same way that most people choose their own personal physicians. The lack of a central repository for pilots' records creates a loophole, medical experts say, and could allow a pilot to hide a previous diagnosis of a physical or mental health condition. But bowing to the concerns from some member states with strict laws governing medical privacy, notably Germany, the task stopped short of requiring that the full details of a pilot's medical records be included in the database. In the case of Mr. Lubitz, who had an episode of depression in 2009, there was a note in his German medical file that required flight doctors to check for any signs of a recurrence during his regular annual exam. Under the task force's proposal, such information would not appear in the new database. In its report, the task force called on member states to reconsider national regulations that prevented doctors from sharing information about a pilot's fitness to fly. "The implementation of data protection rules should balance the need to protect patient confidentiality with the need to protect public safety," the report said. "Unless national rules are changed, this will continue to be a risk." The task force acknowledged the "limitations" of the database as a tool for flight doctors, but called it a "first step" toward what could eventually develop into a "full aeromedical records system." The task force's report also calls for mandatory and comprehensive psychological screening by a qualified specialist of all prospective pilots either during their initial training or before they are hired. While such comprehensive tests are standard at many European flight schools and airlines - including Lufthansa, where Mr. Lubitz was trained and eventually hired - this is not a legal requirement across the European Union. The result of that exam would form part of a pilot's permanent medical record, Mr. Ky said. Most airline pilots today receive only cursory mental health screening when they apply for their license, annual medical exams that are often conducted by general practitioners with no psychiatric expertise. Even in the United States, more extensive psychological checks are normally ordered at the discretion of a flight doctor. The European task force urged national regulators to improve psychological training programs for flight doctors and to encourage the development of peer networks that would allow doctors to learn from one another. "We want to enable medical examiners to share information - not about individual cases, but best practices and experiences," Mr. Ky said. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/18/world/europe/germanwings-pilot-safety-aviation-eu.html Back to Top Delta jet makes emergency landing at Sea-Tac after engine fire The plane was undergoing inspection at this Delta facility at Sea-Tac Airport after a cockpit light indicated an "engine surge." SEATAC, Wash. (AP) - A Delta Air Lines flight heading from Alaska to Georgia had to make an emergency stop at the Seattle airport early Thursday after one of its engines caught fire, officials said. Airport spokesman Perry Cooper says Flight 2469 landed at 2:24 a.m. Thursday, but the fire was out before the Boeing 767-300 touched down. There were no reported injuries. Cooper says the pilots were able to get the problem resolved in the air. Cooper says they reported a fire in the No. 2 engine but said they shut the engine down and put out the blaze with the cold air. Fire crews stood by when the plane landed, but they were not needed. Delta spokesman Morgan Durrant says the problem appeared to be an engine surge, which is rare. When the surge happens, the air and fuel mixture in the engine produces a flame that shoots out the back. The flight crew followed procedures and throttled back the engine and landed at the nearest airport, which was Seattle. Durrant says the 255 passengers who had been headed to Atlanta were rescheduled on flights Thursday morning. http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Delta-jetliner-makes-emergency-landing-at-Sea-Tac-315802531.html Back to Top Putin Rejects U.N. Tribunal for Downed Malaysian Jet MOSCOW - President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia pushed back forcefully on Thursday against calls for an international tribunal to investigate the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine last year, even as other world leaders were demanding accountability for the deaths of the 298 people aboard the plane. In a telephone call with Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the Netherlands, Mr. Putin "explained in detail Russia's position on what it sees as an untimely and counterproductive initiative by a number of countries, including the Netherlands, to establish an international tribunal for criminal prosecution of individuals responsible," the Kremlin said in a statement. Mr. Putin also complained about unidentified officials suggesting in "overtly politicized" leaks to the press that the Russian military was to blame, calling such leaks "unacceptable." The Malaysian jet was widely believed to have been destroyed by a surface-to-air missile fired from territory controlled by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. The United States has publicly blamed those forces. And a number of journalistic investigations, including one by the Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, have indicated that the missile system used to shoot down the aircraft was supplied by the Russian military. Russian authorities, including officials from the Defense Ministry, have put forward numerous alternative theories, generally blaming the Ukrainian military and in some cases, suggesting that the airliner was attacked midair by a Ukrainian fighter jet. Most of the victims were Dutch. The Netherlands is leading the international investigation into the cause of the crash at the request of Ukraine, which technically should be responsible because the plane was destroyed in its airspace. Dutch prosecutors are also conducting a parallel criminal inquiry. A formal report in the safety investigation is expected to be made public in October, but an initial draft is already circulating among some governments. The report is expected to confirm the initial suspicions of separatist involvement. Ukraine, the Netherlands, Malaysia and Australia have called for the creation of a United Nations tribunal, but Russia has rejected the idea. In the call with Mr. Rutte, Mr. Putin said that before turning to such "judicial mechanisms," first a "thorough and objective, independent and comprehensive" international investigation must be concluded. Despite Mr. Putin's remarks, Russia and the Russian-supported separatists in eastern Ukraine have not cooperated fully so far. Last month, for instance, leaders of the self-declared separatist republic in Luhansk blocked an effort by Dutch investigators to gather information about cellphone towers and systems there. President Petro O. Poroshenko of Ukraine, in an interview with CNN, called for justice in the case and urged the creation of the investigative tribunal, which Russia could block using its veto in the Security Council. "We strongly support the international criminal tribunal which should be adopted by the Security Council," he said before adding a dig at Mr. Putin. "And we think if anybody wants to stop this process," Mr. Porosheno said, "he should take the responsibility on himself." The effort to hold Russia responsible for the downed Malaysian jet is complicated by the Kremlin's repeated denials of military activity in eastern Ukraine. For Russia to admit any role in destroying the jet, would be to admit to violating Ukraine's sovereignty and to lying repeatedly about Russian military intervention. At a news conference on Thursday, Russia's foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, accused the United States of rushing to judgment. He said that "if Washington knows everything" and has actively supported the creation of a tribunal, then it is clear "what goal this tribunal will pursue." http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/17/world/asia/putin-rejects-un-tribunal-for-downed-malaysian-jet.html Back to Top Back to Top Lockheed Martin's F-16 Jet Deal for South Korea Cleared Per a media release, major defense contractor Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT - Analyst Report) has won U.S. Government approval to upgrade 134 U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets for South Korea. The foreign military sales ("FMS") contract is valued at approximately $2.5 billion. South Korea intends to upgrade the F-16 jets with modular mission computers, scanned array radar, friend or foe identification systems, navigation systems and radar warning systems, among other features. South Korea had initially chosen the U.S. division of UK-based BAE Systems Plc (BAESY - Snapshot Report) for the deal. However, it backed out and cancelled the deal in November last year due to a rise in the estimated $1.7 billion cost. In September last year, the Republic of Korea agreed to purchase 40 F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft from Lockheed Martin for its F-X fighter acquisition program, which aims to beef up its stealth capability in response to North Korea's growing nuclear threat. The deal marked South Korea's biggest-ever weapons purchase, under which it will pay about $7.1 billion (7.3 trillion won) for the F-35 jets. Deliveries are slated to start in 2018 and will run through 2025. (Read More: Lockheed Martin to Finalize $7.1B F-35 Deal with South Korea) A continuous inflow of high-value contracts speaks volumes about Lockheed Martin's inherent strength. FMS remain a key growth engine for its top line. Approximately 20% of Lockheed Martin's 2014 revenues came from international customers, including FMS. The growing international mix is expected to rise further and the company reiterated its plan to increase that to 25% of total sales in the upcoming years. Lockheed Martin currently holds a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Other favorably placed stocks in the aerospace and defense space include Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC - Analyst Report) and The Boeing Co. (BA - Analyst Report), both carrying the same rank as Lockheed Martin. http://www.zacks.com/stock/news/181985/lockheed-martins-f16-jet-deal-for-south-korea-cleared Back to Top PILOT ERROR SPECIAL OSHKOSH EVENTS JULY 17-23 Meet veteran airline training captain and accident investigator Bob Hesselbein, filmmaker Roger Rapoport and composer Garth Neustadter at exclusive Oshkosh Cinema events before and during EAA July 17-23. This up to the minute feature film, inspired by the true story of Air France 447, has been hailed by air safety experts for its up to the minute look at the story of a jet that disappears in the Atlantic for nearly two years. Eerily similar to Malaysia Air 370, the film has been hailed by faculty at top aviation universities who are booking it for special campus events from Oklahoma to London Based on five years of research and interviews with more than 200 air safety experts and pilots, the film makes a strong case for more hands on stick and rudder training, better transoceanic weather forecasting, and more simulator time for flight crews. See the trailer at https://vimeo.com/110034584. More event details at pilot-errormovie.com/oshkosh. DVD available at http://www.pilot-errormovie.com/pilot-error-dvd/ Stream the film (outside the United States) at: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/piloterror/105185122 231 720-0930 info@pilot-error.com Back to Top NAVIGATING EAA AIR VENTURE By Roger Rapoport With many special events of interest to the air safety community, EAA Air Venture makes Oshkosh an appealing destination this coming week. With a week long schedule of events beginning July 20 at venues like the FAA Aviation Center, the show is an ideal place to catch up with the best and brightest innovations in flight safety. Navigating Oshkosh itself, is another matter. With over half a million visitors and thousands of aircraft descending on this college town on the shores of Lake Winnebago, it can be a challenge to make a last minute trip affordable and convenient. Here are a few handy tips to make your visit a winner, particularly if you're coming at the last minute. GETTING THERE: If you're not flying your own plane you may be landing at Green Bay, Appleton, Milwaukee or Chicago and renting a car. For the budget minded Amtrak, Greyhound and Megabus also provide convenient service to Milwaukee. Another handy way to get to travel west to Wisconsin is across Lake Michigan via the Lake Express from Muskegon to Milwaukee or the Badger which makes the trip to Manitowoc. These ferries avoid the Chicago bottleneck and it's possible to rent cars at either Wisconsin port. WHERE TO STAY: Housing is tight and can be expensive at the last minute. A good solution is the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh that provides on campus housing in a variety of student accommodations. The dorms offer convenient shuttle service to EAA, meeting space and affordable breakfast, lunch and dinner options. This college experience also puts you within walking distance of many of the city's good restaurants, museums and other attractions. For details call (920) 424-3226 or https://gcc.housing.uwosh.edu/ email uwoeaa@lists.uuwosh.edu Another good source of last minute information is Visit Oshkosh at 877 303-9200 or visitoshkosh.com DINING: Waits can be long. It's good to make reservations for popular restaurants like Fratello's Waterfront Restaurant and Brewery, Kodiak Jack's Steak & Seafood, and a breakfast favorite, Pilora's Cafe. Other restaurants worth checking out are Gardina's Wine Bar and Cafe, Wendt's On The Lake, Becket's and for roller skating car hops don't miss Ardy & Ed's Drive In Restaurant. RAINY DAYS: Bad weather creates a good opportunity to see some of the great museums in and around the Fox River valley communities of Oshkosh and Appleton. Locally the Paine Art Center and Gardens are a best bet. In nearby Neenah the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass is worth a visit and Appleton, just 20 minutes away is the city where Harry Houdini came of age and was Bar Mitzvahed. His story is featured at The History Museum at the Castle. Football fans won't want to miss the Green Bay Packers Stadium Tour (The Hall of Fame is currently closed for renovation). DAY TRIPS: If you're coming or going through Milwaukee, take time to see the city's memorable Art Museum. Now in the midst of renovation, you can enjoy Modern Rebels featuring artists from Van Gogh to Jackson Pollock at the Quadracci Pavillion designed by Santiago-Calatrava. One of the world's great architecture tours is Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin in Spring Green, about two hours from Oshkosh by car or half an hour in your own plane. Still under construction more than a century after the architect began his master work, this legendary home perched above the Wisconsin River may be the greatest remodeling project of all time. A few miles away is an outstanding repertory company, American Players Theater. FINAL NOTE: While EAA is all about aviation be sure to take time out to get to meet and chat with the wonderful people who work and live here. Arguably the friendliest city on earth, Oshkosh is all about midwestern hospitality. See for yourself and you'll understand why so many discerning aviators come back again and again. Roger Rapoport is the producer of the feature film Pilot Error which screens July 17-23 at Oshkosh Cinema. He'll be at most screenings. Details at pilot- errormovie.com/oshkosh. See the trailer at https://vimeo.com/110034584. Look for his updates from EAA this coming week. Back to Top Embry-Riddle Hosts Interactive Unmanned Experience, Aerobatic Pilot Matt Chapman at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015 attendees can get hands-on experience at the controls of unmanned flying machines as part of the Small Unmanned Aerospace System (sUAS) Challenge during this year's fly-in at the 63rd annual Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) convention. The sUAS Challenge, which will include both obstacle and speed courses for the unmanned flying vehicles commonly referred to as drones, will be part of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's aviation mobile interactive exhibit, the Embry-Riddle Experience. The competition is open to participants ages 12 and older with previous experience flying unmanned systems. With a maximum of 15 competitors registered each day on a first-come, first-served basis, each day's challenge will be held separately at the drone cage at Aviation Gateway Park, beginning with an afternoon operators' meeting followed by competition from 3 to 5 p.m. Qualification flying will be followed by an elimination bracket for the final four competitors each day. The 53-foot trailer known as the Embry-Riddle Experience also includes unmanned aircraft demonstrations, aviation and unmanned simulators, a virtual crash lab and information about the university's more than 75 degree programs, with presentations on how Embry-Riddle students, staff and faculty are leading the way into the future of aerospace and aviation. Simulators in the Embry-Riddle Experience provide a variety of fixed-wing, rotary and multirotor aircraft models in realistic operating settings such as airfield and steep soaring slope locales in the bayou, desert and mountains. Another unique feature of the Embry-Riddle Experience is the Virtual Crash Lab (VLAB), which was developed in conjunction with the university's Aircraft Accident Investigation curriculum and is designed to allow participants to interactively inspect a crashed commercial aircraft. Operators can move and survey the crash site, inspect the fuselage and debris and take photos with the use of Oculus Goggles. Also scheduled is an appearance by world-renowned aerobatic performer Matt Chapman sponsored by Embry-Riddle. Chapman has been performing in air shows and competitions since 1984. Autograph signings throughout the week at the Embry-Riddle Experience will be scheduled. Those who wish to participate in the sUAS Challenge must register in advance at thirtyad@erau.edu or during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh at the Embry-Riddle Experience exhibit at Aviation Gateway Park before 2 p.m. the day of the challenge. Unmanned aircraft will be supplied for competitors courtesy of Hobbico and Horizon Hobby LCC including Blade 180QX HD or Dromida Ominus systems. Weather or other factors may cause alterations or cancellation of each day's competition. WHEN: July 20-26, 2015; Daily sUAS Challenge competitions will be held beginning July 19, the day before AirVenture's opening day, through July 26. Matt Chapman performs July 20-26 (check daily schedule for times). WHERE: Wittman Regional Airport, 1145 W. 20th Ave., Oshkosh, WI 54902. The Embry-Riddle Experience will be located at Aviation Gateway Park within event property. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's information and alumni booth will be located at booths 49, 50, 59, 60 and 61. INFORMATION: - EAA AirVenture/Oshkosh: eaa.org/en/airventure - sUAS Challenge: registration form and official rules - Matt Chapman: mattchapman.com - Embry-Riddle unmanned and other degree programs: erau.edu/degrees CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION - Embry-Riddle Alumni Relations and events: alumni.erau.edu About Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the world's largest, fully accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace, is a nonprofit, independent institution offering more than 75 baccalaureate, master's and Ph.D. degree programs in its colleges of Arts & Sciences, Aviation, Business, Engineering and Security & Intelligence. Embry- Riddle educates students at residential campuses in Daytona Beach, Fla., and Prescott, Ariz., through the Worldwide Campus with more than 125 locations in the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and through online programs. The university is a major research center, seeking solutions to real-world problems in partnership with the aerospace industry, other universities and government agencies. For more information, visit www.embryriddle.edu, follow us on Twitter (@EmbryRiddle) and facebook.com/EmbryRiddleUniversity, and find expert videos at YouTube.com/EmbryRiddleUniv. About EAA AirVenture Oshkosh EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is "The World's Greatest Aviation Celebration" and EAA's yearly membership convention. Additional EAA AirVenture information, including advance ticket and camping purchase, is available online atwww.eaa.org/airventure. EAA members receive lowest prices on admission rates. For more information on EAA and its programs, call 1-800-JOIN-EAA (1-800-564-6322) or visit www.eaa.org. Immediate news is available atwww.twitter.com/EAA. http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12092713/embry-riddle-hosts-interactive-unmanned-experience-aerobatic-pilot-matt-chapman-at-eaa-airventure-oshkosh Back to Top Louisiana Delta Community College Adding Helicopter Training to Agriculture Aviation Program A helicopter in flight at the Louisiana Delta Community College Bastrop Campus airport. BASTROP -- Aviation in agriculture isn't new, but instead of the traditional crop dusters, another machine is a growing trend in farming. The Vice President of Flight Operations at Flying Tigers Aviation, Robert Garrett, says,"Helicopters have been a growing sector of agriculture aviation as a result of the push for precision agriculture." What is precision farming? Here is an example. If only a few acres of a crop need to be sprayed for pests, farmers can use a helicopter to treat the necessary area as opposed to a crop duster, which would blanket all of the crops with chemicals. "Precision agriculture is being used to increase yields and be a more cost effective method in growing crops," says Garrett. Since more farms are in need of helicopter pilots, Louisiana Delta Community College is now offering classes to train students to use choppers for agriculture. Dr. Barbara Hanson, Chancellor at the college, says,"This a multi-billion dollar industry in Louisiana. This is the right time, the right place to be and the right programs to offer." Officials say this is the only agriculture aviation program in the world offering helicopters, and instructors say the classes are geared toward pilots of all experience levels. Flying Tigers Aviation Rotary Flight Training Director Mike Felcher says,"This program is the best jump start you could get into flying in agriculture. Flying a helicopter is addictive from the very first flight." Louisiana is home to a large farming industry and the college believes these classes can help boost employment in that area. "These are really good jobs. Those who are certified in rotary blade can expect a starting salary of $50, 000 to $70,000 dollars, so you may have to put a little investment into it on the front end, but the pay off if you really love it is worth it." Louisiana Delta Community College has teamed up with Flying Tigers Aviation, a major agriculture flight school, to offer the five new courses at their Bastrop campus. Here is a list of the courses: Helicopter Basic Ag Course (HBAG) - $15,725 25 hours dual instruction Schweitzer 300C Helicopter Commercial Add-On- $28,700 60 hours dual in Schweitzer 300C Helicopter Commercial Add-On/HBAG Combo- $42,500 85 hours total in Schweitzer 300C 60 hours dual instruction for commercial add-on 25 hours dual instruction for HBAG Zero Time-Helicopter Commercial and HBAG- $63,650 175 hours total: 90 hours dual/solo Cessna 172 Airplane Private Pilot Instrument Rating 85 hours dual Schweitzer 300C Helicopter Commercial Add-On Helicopter Basic Ag Zero Time-Fixed Wing & Rotary Wing Commercial, plus Basic Ag & Helicopter Basic Ag- $88,450 250 hours total: 90 hours dual/solo Cessna 172 Airplane Private Pilot Instrument rating 85 hours dual Schweitzer 300C Helicopter Commercial Add-On Helicopter Basic Ag 30 hours dual/solo Citabria, Piper Pawnee, Cessna 188, Grumman Ag Cat Tail Wheel Endorsement Basic Ag Course 35 hours solo Citabria Time building 10 hours dual Mooney M20C Commercial Prep More information: Financial assistance is available for those who qualify. Rates and length of training depends on the student's current level of certification. For further information contact Bob Hammack, Delta's Executive Director of Economic and Workforce Development, at 318-362-5418 or by emailing bhammack@ladelta.edu. http://www.myarklamiss.com/story/d/story/louisiana-delta-community-college-adding-helicopte/17677/gjM4dWbOe0WSDdLE6PNKaw 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: Director, ICAO Liaison International Business Aviation Council DILpost@ibac.org Auditor Quality Assurance JetBlue https://careers.peopleclick.com/careerscp/client_jetblue/external_general/gateway.do?functionName=viewFromLink&jobPostId=5760&localeCode=en-us 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