Flight Safety Information July 20, 2015 - No. 141 In This Issue Drones hamper US firefighting efforts FAA to Issue Airworthiness Directive for Boeing 747-8 Wing Flutter GUN-SHOOTING DRONE PROMPTS FAA INVESTIGATION Korean to be first to fit A330 runway-overrun protection Boeing concern after panel falls off plane over Shanghai Boeing aware of metal 'fragility' issues before aircraft part plunged into Shanghai factory DGCA CRACKS DOWN ON ERRING AIRLINES (India) Psychometric test at 4 levels likely for pilots (India) Plane Struck by Lightning After Takeoff From LAX Boeing Warns Passenger Airlines That Carrying Bulk Shipments Of Lithium Batteries Can Cause Major Fire Hazard Germanwings crash victims' families reject compensation offer Antonov 12BK Accident (Russia) Cessna 206 Accident (Alaska). PROS 2015 TRAINING Are air marshals keeping America safe? Airbus CEO Says A380 to Be Refreshed First FAA-Approved Drone Delivery in U.S. is Successful Aviation enthusiasts flock to Oshkosh for AirVenture New F-35 fighter jet roars into Oshkosh for EAA PILOT ERROR SPECIAL OSHKOSH EVENTS JULY 17-23 Upcoming Events JOBS AVAILABLE (New Positions) Drones hamper US firefighting efforts More than 4,250 acres have been consumed by fires in California US firefighters have condemned drone owners who flew their craft near forest fires and grounded helicopters being used to douse flames. Lives were put at unnecessary risk because helicopters could not fly, said fire department officials. The helicopters were helping to contain a large wildfire in San Bernadino county over the weekend. Five drones spotted hovering over the fire were thought to be shooting video for their owners. News footage of the fire shows people abandoning their cars to escape the flames as the fire engulfed Interstate 15 - a major road that links Los Angeles and Las Vegas. The fire destroyed 20 vehicles on the road and damaged 10 more. Warnings about flying drones near fires were issued by the US Forest Service More than 4,250 acres have been consumed by the fire which has been exacerbated by California's four-year drought. The activity of the drones meant helicopters were grounded for about 20 minutes, Eric Sherwin of the San Bernadino fire department told CNN. "Fifteen to 20 minutes were lost that could have led to another water drop cycle, and that would have created a much safer environment and we would not have seen as many citizens running for their lives," he said. Flight restriction Hobby drones posed a "pose a major safety threat to firefighting pilots and firefighters", said an official incident report into the Interstate 15 fire. "When a hobby drone is flown into a fire area, incident commanders have no choice but to suspend air operations and ground aircraft until the drone is removed from the area," it said. A collision could damage aircraft, injure the pilot, crew or firefighters below, it warned. At worst, it said, drones could cause helicopters to collide in mid-air. The fire department issued images that were shared on social media, warning drone owners to stay away from fires. "If you fly, we can't," they said. US rules governing drone use mean any pilot caught flying their craft over a disaster area that has temporary flight restrictions in place could be fined up to $25,000 (£16,000). It is not clear whether the FAA is going to investigate who was piloting the drones over the Interstate 15 fire. Drones have hindered firefighters in California at least four times before now, sometimes stopping flights for up to 90 minutes. http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-33593981 Back to Top FAA to Issue Airworthiness Directive for Boeing 747-8 Wing Flutter An industry bulletin issued by the Federal Aviation Administration announces the adopting of a new airworthiness directive for certain Boeing 747-8 aircraft after data analysis showed that in a limited flight envelope, with specific conditions, divergent flutter (a rapid and erratic vibration) could occur "during a "high g-load maneuver in combination with certain system failures," hence compromising the safety of flight. According to the bulletin, the incoming AD will require 747 operators to replace the lateral control electronic (LCE) modules and inboard elevator power control packages (PCPs), to install new external compensators for the PCPs, and the review of the maintenance or inspection programs in place. The bulletin also states that the AD seeks to "to prevent certain system failures from resulting in divergent flutter, and subsequent loss of continued safe flight and landing." Boeing fully supports the coming FAA's AD, which would make mandatory the action that Boeing recommended to operators in February 2014. Karen Crabtree, a company spokesperson, assured that although Boeing's recommendations are not binding on operators, the manufacturer "recommended operators of the 71 747-8s delivered prior to February 2014 ensure airplanes are configured with the latest certified software and system changes." The notification further indicates that operators are required to make wing repairs within the next five years to avoid potential safety issues. Repair costs are estimated around $400,000 per aircraft and may be covered by Boeing as some of these aircraft are still under warranty. Back in October 2010, the 747-8 program delayed approximately six months the initial deliveries due to flutter issues on the wingtips, an issue solved by an award- winning software implemented by a team led by Dr. Pio Fitzgerald. This type of issues are not uncommon. After the Qantas Flight 32 incident, an inspection determined that some some rib feet, an internal wing fitting, were found with cracks. Prompted by this finding, inspections were carried out on a number of other Airbus A380 aircraft, confirming the existence of these cracks, resulting in an Airworthiness Directive that affected a total of 20 aircraft. http://airwaysnews.com/blog/2015/07/16/faa-to-issue-airworthiness-directive-for-boeing-747-8-wing-flutter Back to Top GUN-SHOOTING DRONE PROMPTS FAA INVESTIGATION CLINTON, Conn. -- Connecticut authorities say a video showing a drone firing a handgun in the woods has prompted investigations by police and the Federal Aviation Administration. Clinton police say the 14-second YouTube video was posted by 18-year-old town resident Austin Haughwout. He's the same teen who made news last year by posting a YouTube video showing him being assaulted by a woman upset about him flying a drone at a state beach. WFSB-TV reports Haughwout's father said his son created the drone with a college professor as part of a project, after making sure he wouldn't break any laws. Police say it appears no state laws were broken. FAA officials say they're trying to determine if aviation regulations were violated. Austin Haughwout didn't immediately return messages Friday night from The Associated Press. http://abc30.com/news/gun-shooting-drone-prompts-faa-investigation/862213/ Back to Top Korean to be first to fit A330 runway-overrun protection Korean Air is to be the first carrier to implement an anti-overrun system on its Airbus A330s, after the technology secured certification on the type. Approval from the European Aviation Safety Agency means that the runway overrun protection system - known as ROPS - is available across the airframer's range. Korean Air is to put the system into operation on A330s in service "in the coming months", says Airbus. The technology has been developed to reduce the risk of runway excursions. It calculates the runway length required for a safe landing, based on aircraft and environmental conditions, and compares them to that available. If the system concludes that there is a risk of overrun, it alerts the pilots in order to give them time to consider a missed approach or other mitigating actions. The technology is already available on the A380 and A350 and has been adapted for the A320 family. Korean Air will be the first operator to introduce the technology on A330s, says Airbus. The airline has ordered 30 A330s from the airframer, including 22 of the -300. http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/korean-to-be-first-to-fit-a330-runway-overrun-protection-414789/ Back to Top Boeing concern after panel falls off plane over Shanghai US aviation giant Boeing said it has asked airlines to address a maintenance issue after a passenger jet's landing gear panel fell off after takeoff and fell on a Shanghai suburb. The sheet of metal weighing 130 pounds (60 kilograms) plunged to the ground shortly after Air France Flight 111 took off from Shanghai headed for Paris on Monday, Boeing said. No one was injured in the Boeing 777 incident. "We've been working real closely with our customers and have provided guidance on how to make any maintenance required," spokesman Chris Villiers told AFP. "It does not affect the structural integrity of the landing gear nor the safety of the flight." He said Boeing was treating the incident "with utmost concern and urgency." The panel, which Villiers stressed was not part of the landing gear structure itself, is one of the parts that open and close as the landing gear deploys. Boeing has issued a service bulletin to the fleet providing instructions on how to resolve the issue. The problem has to do with the fasteners that hold the panel in place. In a statement, Boeing said: "We have implemented the change for airplanes produced in our factories." More than 1,100 Boeing 777 aircraft are in service with dozens of airlines around the world. http://news.yahoo.com/boeing-concern-panel-falls-off-plane-over-shanghai-022825809.html Back to Top Boeing aware of metal 'fragility' issues before aircraft part plunged into Shanghai factory The aircraft part that smashed into the factory on Monday. Photo: SCMP Pictures Aerospace giant Boeing has ordered airlines around the world to address a "fragility" problem after a section of landing gear from one of its 777 passenger jets broke off shortly after take-off from Shanghai last week and plummeted 3,700 metres into a city suburb. Fortunately, no one was injured, but the incident has raised concerns of a possible repeat after the airline involved - which the Sunday Morning Post can reveal was Air France - and Boeing both acknowledged they had been aware of "issues" with the section of landing gear for some time. More than a thousand Boeing 777 aircraft are in service around the world - of which Cathay Pacific operates 69. Flight 111 had just left Shanghai's Pudong airport for Paris when a sheet of metal weighing 60kg plunged down through a factory rooftop. Air France has launched a fleet-wide inspection of 66 Boeing 777 jets delivered between 1998 and 2008, after the aircraft's US manufacturer and the airline said the "fragility" of the metal attached to the plane's landing gear known as the "drag strut door" was known to them. It remains unclear how the problem will be "addressed". Aviation expert David Learmount, of Flight Global, said: "Air France is aware of it, Boeing is aware of it. Boeing is probably looking for some kind of fix, then it looks at it and says a fix will be so costly we'll have to charge the fix to the airlines as well. Actually, having the odd failure - since the failures are so few - does that justify the expense of making a modification which itself might have its problems?" Air France spokeswoman Cecile Baudin-Hardin said: "Other airlines have also experienced problems with the fragility of this part." However, Boeing spokesman Christopher Villiers said: "Boeing is aware of this issue, and we are actively engaged with our customers. We have advised customers how to address this issue, and we have implemented the change for airplanes produced in our factories." Cathay Pacific said it had been given "relevant advice" by Boeing. The airline said it was in talks on providing "specific measures" to other operators of 777 jets. "Cathay Pacific has not experienced a similar incident," a spokeswoman said. Air France confirmed that the aircraft lost a "removable panel shortly after take-off" and that a probe by the airline and Boeing is under way to determine why. "The loss of this panel did not affect the aircraft's airworthiness ... The flight continued to Paris without incident," it said. http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1841219/boeing-aware-metal-fragility-issues-aircraft-part-plunged-shanghai Back to Top DGCA CRACKS DOWN ON ERRING AIRLINES (India) The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered a "surprise surveillance" of all Indian carriers to ensure that they are following flight safety rules. The order follows a July 7 HT report on an incident on Air India's (AI) Bengaluru-Hyderabad flight 513 that allegedly had a narrow escape when the pilot did a "touch and go" after bouncing on the runway during landing. "A one-time surprise surveillancems will be carried out," said a DGCA official. Following the HT report, DGCA ordered a probe into the incident and asked AI to submit details of the aircraft's digital flight data recording (DFDR), which all airlines have to mandatorily preserve for six months. "In a shocking revelation, AI informed us that it didn't have the DFDR records of the flight. This is a serious safety violation. We have served a show-cause notice to Captain AS Soman, AI's chief of flight safety," said a DGCA official. DGCA will also call for questioning the pilots who operated the flight and is in touch with Hyderabad airport officials to get more details of the incident. Sources said AI has suspended an aircraft maintenance engineer responsible for transferring the DFDR content. The incident came came to light after a passenger, Wing Commander Venkataramana Mantha, filed a complaint saying the pilot's decision to take off again had seriously jeopardised flight safety. "The flaps are down in the landing condition and the speed is absolutely low because you have touched down. We managed to escape as there were hardly 40-45 passengers," Mantha, a retired Indian Air Force flight test engineer, had told HT. "Had there been 130-140 passengers, the aircraft would have dropped like a stone from a height of 200 feet and we would have had a crash on the run of all airlines to check whether they are complying with the Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) nor http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/dgca-to-crack-down-on-erring-airlines/article1-1370487.aspx Back to Top Psychometric test at 4 levels likely for pilots (India) A three-member panel set up by directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) chief M Sathiyavathy has submitted its final report to her for approval. DGCA examining high cancellation charges of airlines, may step inDGCA steps in to curb high ticket-cancel chargesDGCA inspectors take free ride, call it 'on duty'DGCA asks airlines to tape pre-flight alcohol test NEW DELHI: Following the Germanwings crash caused deliberately by its co-pilot this March, India may soon adopt a four-level psychometric test for pilots. The process will start from the time a student wants to become a pilot as he or she will have to clear the same first to be eligible to join a flying school. The other three stages at which pilot will have to undergo and clear the tests are: at the time of joining an airline or charter company; at the time of being promoted to commander and whenever they exhibit any abnormal behaviour like picking fights in the cockpit. A three-member panel set up by directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) chief M Sathiyavathy has submitted its final report to her for approval. The panel has recommended this four-stage test. "We have suggested the levels at which these tests should be conducted. To finalize the specific nature of tests that need to be carried out at each stage, the DGCA is in consultations with Indian Air Force, psychologists, defence research and development organization and the Institute of Aviation Medicine, Bengaluru," said a senior DGCA official. The first stage has been recommended to avoid situations where middle or lower middle class families spend anywhere up to Rs 40 lakh to get their child trained as a pilot only to be rejected by airline at induction screening process on psychometric grounds. Recently, Air India rejected 56 out of 278 pilots who appeared for job interviews after they failed this test. Asked what are the 'aberrations' that may trigger off this test for serving pilots, the official said: "These could be instances like we have witnessed in recent times. A fight in the cockpit where a co-pilot flared up on being called 'uncle' by a commander who was younger to him. Or, a pilot slapping a flight engineer in the cockpit when the latter tore the newspaper on the windshield. Any irregular or unwarranted behaviour that puts the psyche of the pilot in doubt could be the reason for subjecting him or her to this test," said the official. Airline pilots, while welcoming these tests, also want the DGCA to focus on factors that affect their psychology. "Even perfectly normal persons with a positive attitude will be adversely affected if their airlines fail to pay them on time or invoke pay cuts for no rhyme or reason. For the past few years, cockpit conversation in a few airlines has been limited to financial issues and whether their airline will survive or not," said a senior commander. Three major factors are causing stress among pilots of Indian carriers - merger issues between employees of two different airlines now working for one entity; pay cut and career progression. "The DGCA should not overlook these factors. Stress caused by these factors is a major impediment to safety," said a pilot. In fact, the issue is so critical that a profitable Indian airline - which has so far paid its people on time and given them raises every year - has this written on the cockpit doors of all its aircraft: "Flying is a serious business. Leave your worries behind before entering it." http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Psychometric-test-at-4-levels-likely-for-pilots/articleshow/48139129.cms Back to Top Plane Struck by Lightning After Takeoff From LAX, Makes Emergency Landing The L.A. area has been hit by an unlikely storm over the weekend. An Alaska Airlines plane carrying 159 passengers made a safe emergency landing in Los Angeles after it was struck by lightning. Airline spokeswoman Bobbie Egan says the flight left Los Angeles International Airport around 12:40 p.m. Saturday and returned within the hour. The flight had been heading to Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C. Egan says passengers on board didn't feel anything when the lightning struck, and that the Boeing 737 is designed to withstand lightning. She says a maintenance crew is inspecting the plane. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/plane-struck-by-lightning-takeoff-809743 Back to Top Boeing Warns Passenger Airlines That Carrying Bulk Shipments Of Lithium Batteries Can Cause Major Fires Onboard An Air India Boeing 777 taking off from JFK airport in New York on Sept. 14, 2009. Boeing released a statement Friday suggesting airlines refuse large quantities of lithium-ion batteries for shipment until better and more flame-resistant packaging is created. Alberto Riva Boeing, one of the world's largest aircraft makers, warned passenger airlines about the dangers of carrying bulk shipments of lithium-ion batteries. Boeing saidin an email to the Associated Press li-ion batteries can cause fires that are capable of destroying planes. Boeing spokesman Doug Alder said airlines should not transport the batteries in their cargo "until safer methods of packaging and transport are established and implemented." The warning, issued Friday, suggests tighter regulations are coming for international battery shipments. Boeing has, in the past, given similar advice to individual airlines -- but only if they requested technical advice. This statement, however, marked the first time the company has released an across-the-board recommendation that airlines refuse large quantities of the power source until better, more protective packaging is created and shipping standards are improved. Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are often found in cell phones, power tools and laptop computers, along with many other electronic devices, and they are frequently shipped in large numbers on airliners. One of the dangers in shipping them comes from the potential for what is called a "thermal runway," when thousands of li-ion batteries explode in a chain reaction. These types of batteries are commonly shipped with tens of thousands in a single shipping container, and tests conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration have shown fire-retardant chemicals on planes can't put out some of the blazes, Wall Street Journal reported. Most other types of batteries have not been shown to explode at high temperatures at the same frequency as li-ion ones do. Sony's lithium-ion battery for its digital camera is seen during a photo opportunity at its showroom in Tokyo, Nov. 28, 2012. Reuters/Kim Kyung-Hoon Lobbyists for the global battery industry have long tried to prevent additional regulations on the transport of li-ion batteries, but Boeing's latest statement signals the company may be prepared to join the growing number of industry players who are calling for sweeping changes to policy regarding the transport of lithium batteries on commercial aircraft. A team of international safety experts is set to debate changes to packaging and regulatory safeguards later this month. The team of experts, which was assembled by the aviation sector of the United Nations, has considered everything from tougher packaging to reductions in the electrical charge inside rechargeable batteries that are set to be shipped aboard an aircraft. George Kerchner, the executive director of the Rechargeable Battery Association, released a statement saying the group looks "forward to continuing our engagement with Boeing and other aircraft manufacturers, the airline industry and regulators" at the meeting in late July "to discuss battery transportation issues, specifically a new and unprecedented lithium ion battery standard and packaging criteria," the Wall Street Journal reported. The Rechargeable Battery Association is a leading battery trade group. This statement suggests the group is considering giving in to demands for stricter packing criteria after years of opposing additional regulations. http://www.ibtimes.com/boeing-warns-passenger-airlines-carrying-bulk-shipments-lithium-batteries-can-cause-2014787 Back to Top Germanwings crash victims' families reject compensation offer Several relatives of those killed in the Germanwings crash have rejected an offer from the airline of 25,000 euros compensation for their suffering and loss. One of the lawyer's representing the victims families, Christof Wellens, said he had notified the German carrier's parent company Lufthansa that the offer was inadequate. "With the one-sided actions by Lufthansa and Germanwings you achieve nothing. There must be cooperation with the relatives and there are international standards. There were aircraft accidents in other countries, such as Air France's Concorde or even other airplanes that crashed. There you can measure it and you feel treated unfairly, when it's been measured differently to other disasters." Another lawyer representing the 34 families said they were seeking a six-figure sum and that scope of those eligible for compensation should be widened. Lufthansa has offered a payment of 25,000 euros, plus 10,000 euros for each immediate next of kin. This is on top of a 50,000 euros payment made to families immediately after the crash to cover any material costs. The March crash killed 150 people, including the pilot, who prosecutors say deliberately downed the plane. http://www.euronews.com/2015/07/19/germanwings-crash-victims-families-reject-compensation-offer/ Back to Top Antonov 12BK Accident (Russia) Status: Date: Friday 17 July 2015 Time: 14:56 MSK Type: Antonov 12BK Operator: Russian Air Force Registration: RF-94291 C/n / msn: 8345806 First flight: 1968 Crew: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 7 Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 7 Total: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 14 Airplane damage: Substantial Location: Chelyabinsk Airport (CEK) ( Russia) Phase: En route (ENR) Nature: Military Departure airport: Omsk Airport (OMS/UNOO), Russia Destination airport: Chkalovsky Airport (CKL), Russia Narrative: An Antonov 12BK transport plane sustained substantial damage in an emergency landing at Chelyabinsk Airport (CEK), Russia. The airplane was en route between Omsk and Moscow-Chkalovsky when three of the four engines failed. The flight crew decided to carry out an emergency landing at Chelyabinsk Airport (CEK). The aircraft landed on the grass close to the runway and bogged down. www.aviation-safety.net Back to Top Cessna 206 Accident (Alaska) Date: 19-JUL-2015 Time: 07:00 p.m. Type: Cessna 206 Owner/operator: Private Registration: C/n / msn: Fatalities: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: near Trapper Creek, Alaska - United States of America Phase: En route Nature: Private Departure airport: Destination airport: Narrative: The landing gear of the plane struck some trees, resulting in a crash of the plane. The pilot died in the crash. www.aviation-safety.net Back to Top Back to Top Are air marshals keeping America safe? Federal air marshals are described as the "last line of defense" against terrorist attacks in the sky, but whether they are living up to their billing is being challenged. Dwindling ranks, bureaucratic inefficiency and scandal have dogged the agency over the past several years. And lawmakers want proof if the service tasked to "detect, deter and defeat hostile acts" in the air can keep Americans safe, especially as the Islamic State wreaks havoc overseas and terror threats increase at home. "Is a federal air marshal capable of preventing an IED from being detonated?" Rep. John Katko, R-N.Y., asked at a recent House Transportation Security Subcommittee hearing. "The terrorists are constantly adapting their tactics, and we need to make sure we are not protecting ourselves against yesterday's threats and ignoring the threats of tomorrow." Unable to give clear examples of when air marshals have stopped terrorist attacks, deputy assistant administrator Roderick Allison told lawmakers that the service, in collaboration with other federal agencies, has played a role in minimizing threats. "We have thwarted a lot of terrorist attacks. I can tell you, it is known across the world that we have federal air marshals on aircraft." But to fight terrorists, air marshals have to be present in the air. And currently they are estimated to be on only about 1 percent of U.S. flights, and their ranks are shrinking. "There are a number of concerning issues with the current state of the Federal Air Marshal Service. First and foremost, the dwindling ranks of the service," Rep. Kathleen Rice, D-N.Y., said at last week's hearing. This year alone, the Federal Air Marshal Service has seen a staff turnover rate of 6 percent. That and a four-year hiring freeze put the agency in a precarious situation. Allison told lawmakers "the first thing on [our] wish list in big bold letters would be the ability to hire." He lamented that his workforce is getting older, and he expects many of the marshals to be "walking out the door" in 2020 or 2021. For some, the worries over shrinking staff may not add up. Before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the nation had only about 30 air marshals. That number ballooned after federal legislation in 2002 allowed for the hiring and training of 600 more marshals in just a few months. But others see the dwindling numbers and the increasing terror threats as a need for the agency to beef up again. Rice said aviation threats are increasing and the service needs to match them. "We must ensure that our Air Marshal Service is also evolving and maintaining the strength needed to counter these threats and keep passengers safe," Rice said. "The 9/11 attacks made it clear that we needed a much greater presence on commercial aircrafts to counter the threat of individuals attempting to gain access to a cockpit." But the jump in the numbers of marshals also brought bureaucratic struggle and scandal. In 2008, more than a dozen air marshals spoke out about cronyism and accused the service of discrimination based on age, sex and race. Earlier this year, employees told the Center for Investigative Reporting that air marshals were having flights rearranged so that they could have sexual trysts. The scrutiny has districted lawmakers from examining the air marshals' most important task, ensuring safety in the air. At last week's hearing, Katko questioned whether the air marshals are still needed to meet that task, citing increased efforts by airlines and airport security. He's not alone in his skepticism. In one of his final reports as a senator before he retired, Oklahoma Republican Tom Coburn expressed similar concerns. In his January 2015 report, Coburn wrote it's "unclear to what extent the [Federal Air Marshal] program is reducing risk to aviation security, despite the more than $820 million annually that is spent on the program." In addition, Coburn wondered if other enhanced security screening and safety precautions undertaken by the TSA and airlines have made the air marshals irrelevant. "For example, a would-be hijacker attempting a plot similar to what occurred on September 11 would likely be stopped by the various screening mechanisms before he is able to board the plane," Coburn wrote. "If he defeated these screening mechanisms, he would encounter a locked cockpit door and potentially an armed pilot in the cockpit, should he attempt a hijacking." Allison told lawmakers that the need for air marshals is just as important as it was after Sept. 11, despite other safety enhancements. "No one layer stands on its own," Allison said of aircraft security. "We are starting to think elsewhere where we can be effective and make changes." He said the service is looking at creating a more enhanced model of assessing the risk of individual flights, and how it assigns its marshals to them. He highlighted the agency's efforts to close four of its 24 field offices by the end of 2016. It closed offices in San Diego and Tampa, Fla., last year in attempts to consolidate the service's field operations in areas with busier airports. And while the further consolidation holds promise, lawmakers are waiting for proof that air marshals are fighting off terrorists. For now, lawmakers will have to take Allison's word. http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/are-air-marshals-keeping-america-safe/article/2568451 Back to Top Airbus CEO Says A380 to Be Refreshed Fabrice Bregier, the chief executive officer of Airbus Group SE's airliner unit, said the planemaker plans to offer an improved version of its A380 for service by 2025 although no decision has been made on whether to offer new engines. Airbus plans to move to an "A380 neo type" for introduction between 2020 and 2025, Bregier told London's Sunday Times in an interview. The executive said the planemaker would likely pick just one engine type, not two, as with the current A380, for any new A380 with new engines. Airbus is still considering which elements of the plane will change when it comes out with a more-efficient version of the A380, Airbus spokesman Justin Dubon said in an interview today. Dubon, who was present at the interview, said no decision has been made on whether to offer new engines and that Bregier has said new engines are one possibility of several for improving the plane. At the Paris Air Show in mid-June, Bregier said in an interview with Bloomberg television that stretching the A380 into an even-longer superjumbo is among possible options being considered to help reboot a plane that has struggled to win new buyers. "It's clear that one day we'll have to invest in an evolution of this family," Bregier said. "As the market doubles in size every 15 years, we'll also need a light stretch, and this aircraft is capable of it. It all depends on market conditions." Emirates, the A380's biggest customer, has pushed Airbus to rejuvenate the superjumbo and wants the company to add more fuel-efficient engines, something Airbus has said it won't do for just one customer. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/airbus-ceo-says-a380-refreshed-173203573.html Back to Top First FAA-Approved Drone Delivery in U.S. is Successful We're still quite a ways away before an unmanned drone will be allowed to deliver your Amazon packages. First Drone Delivery A medicine-delivering drone from Flirtey completed the first-ever FAA-approved package delivery on Friday, bring supplies to a rural hospital in southwest Virginia. Said trip normally takes 90 minutes of driving (on winding roads) to ferry supplies from an Oakwood, VA-based staging area to the Remote Area Clinic in Wise County, VA. In this case, two aircraft were used instead. A larger aircraft basically piloted from the ground (though using a real-life pilot for takeoffs and landings) took the medical supplies on a 20-minute flight from the staging area to Lonesome Pines Airport in Wise County, VA. From there, a smaller drone was going to make six separate flights to get the supplies from this secondary staging area to the clinic-a three-minute trip (plus whatever time it took took to load and unload said drone's payload). The multi-step, multi-aircraft journey does feel a bit less impressive if you were assuming that a drone automatically carried and dropped supplies across a 35-mile distance. Unfortunately, that just wouldn't work due to the battery life required for the trip. (Perhaps someday, just not today.) However, the drone's first two (shorter) flights were so successful that organizers decided to just go ahead and cram four additional flights' worth of supplies onto a single load and deliver that in one go-saving even more time than expected. Drone deliveries are currently banned by the Federal Aviation Administration, and it's unclear just how the FAA might loosen its grip on drone regulations over the next year. A series of proposed rules released in February basically shot down any plans that Google and Amazon had for unmanned drone deliveries across a large distance. However, it's certainly possible that trials like these-approved by the FAA as a one-off item-could help show the usefulness and safety of drone delivery. "What we're trying to do is not only develop the technology, but [develop] the public's trust in the technology," said Frank Jones, deputy director of NASA Langley's Research Services Directorate, in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. Given the comprehensive logistics involved for said drone flight, one could argue that a truck could have likely made the final leg of the medical supplies trip pretty easily. Still, every bit counts for those looking to one day delivery packages, items, and other important goods from the sky. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2488014,00.asp Back to Top Aviation enthusiasts flock to Oshkosh for AirVenture People sit on the flight-line watching the airplanes arrive to AirVenture on Sunday, July 19, 2015. People begin to scope out the plans that have arrived People begin to scope out the plans that have arrived Bulletins were being posted on an AirVenture Information Vintage planes park near the Vintage Hangar arriving People sit on the flight-line watching the airplanes Forums and workshops areas were getting their daily Joshua Cobbs moves a stage lighting set working for Marty King from Texas takes time for a memory photo People put planes in place preparing on Sunday for People search out the latest in aeronautic technology Airplanes are moved to a display spot for vendors upon Departure Briefing co-chair Henry Hartman wears a cap Pilot Bob Michie begins his week of volunteering during Thousands of airplanes arrive to the EAA grounds to An emergency crew rushes to a minor tail dragger landing A Wipline 8750 Grand Amphibian is towed into place Volunteers sit-in on a Departure Briefing meeting headed Plane after plane arrive on the runway to the EAA AirVenture Rob Schroer from Texas takes a look at the airplanes Paul Mather with M-Squared Aircraft based out of Alabama Larry Morris and Jacque Nawojski ride their electric Aeronautic enthusiasts begin to gather at the greatest Oshkosh's Wittman Regional Airport once again has become the world's busiest airport this weekend as tens of thousands of people came flocking in for the Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture 2015. "Welcome to Oshkosh, and have a great day," was the familiar greeting from the control tower as hundreds of aircraft from around the globe touched down Sunday on the EAA grounds. For many, the experience is a long-standing tradition. Among those who arrived Sunday, July 19, was Wayne Hagan, 80, of Paducah, Kentucky, a retired U.S. Navy commander turned civilian pilot who flies an experimental biplane and has been attending AirVenture for 14 years. "My father was a pilot and taught me to fly," Hagan said. "As I was watching these guys land today, I was in awe at the amount of judgment and decision-making that go into it, and I like that challenge." Just to the south of Runway 27, Barry Hammarback and his daughter, Arriety Lowell, both of River Falls, were taking in the view in the shade of their Huey D/H helicopter as aircraft touched down Sunday afternoon. A regular AirVenture attendee since 1972, Hammarback missed only a few years when his children were little. "Don't let me be your excuse," Lowell said with a laugh. Thousands of airplanes arrive to the EAA grounds to attend the greatest spirit of aviation gathering seen on Sunday, July 19, 2015. The family will spend the week in Oshkosh but unlike their usual practice, they flew in on the Huey and joined its vintage military cousins just north of Warbird Alley, instead of the Seaplane Base on Lake Winnebago. "It's fun to come here and see what all resources are out there," Hammarback said. "I enjoy every bit of it." For Lowell, a physics lecturer at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, her enthusiasm and passion for aviation started at a young age. "I'll forever be thankful to my parents for helping and supporting my passion," she said. "I remember sitting at the Phoenix Air Force Base and crying because I wanted to fly the planes. I've been flying ever since." Taking what she learns at AirVenture, Lowell said she's able to return to UW-River Falls and help her department better prepare students who want to find jobs in the aviation industry. http://www.thenorthwestern.com/story/news/local/oshkosh/airventure/2015/07/19/aviation-enthusiasts-flock-oshkosh-airventure/30392215/ Back to Top New F-35 fighter jet roars into Oshkosh for EAA The military's long-awaited, years-in-development F-35 fighter jet will roar across the skies of Oshkosh this week in its first civilian U.S. air show appearance. Military aircraft have long been a staple at EAA AirVenture, but this year visitors can see the brand-new F-35 Lightning II as well as rare World War II planes such as a Royal Air Force de Havilland Mosquito and a Canadian Lancaster bomber, which will take part in commemorations of the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. "The F-35 has not been publicly shown at a civilian air show anywhere. It's a big coming out party" at Oshkosh, said EAA Chairman Jack Pelton. Versions of the F-35 are planned for the Air Force, Marines and Navy; the plane coming to Oshkosh will be an F-35A based at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida with the Air Force's 33rd Fighter Wing. The F-35A will be used by the Air Force for conventional takeoffs and landings, while the Navy will fly the F-35C, which features larger wing surfaces and reinforced landing gear to withstand aircraft-carrier launches. Capable of short takeoffs and vertical landings, the F-35B will replace Marine AV-8B Harriers and F-18 Hornets and is designed for amphibious ships and airfields in support of Marine ground forces. The F-35A is scheduled to arrive on Monday with flybys and static display throughout the week. Also landing for the first time at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh: a B-52 bomber. Though the B-52 has flown over AirVenture in previous years, it's expected to land on the 150-foot-wide runway on Sunday and will be parked on the Boeing Plaza in the center of the sprawling convention. Because the B-52 is 147 feet from wing tip to wing tip, "it will be a tight maneuver to get in and land. It's an enormous bomber," Pelton said, adding that a restored B- 29 bomber will be positioned next to the B-52 on the ramp. "Two of the most prestigious bombers in history will be parked right next to each other." Other aircraft scheduled to appear at AirVenture - aside from thousands of antique, amphibian, warbird and home-built planes - include an F-22 Raptor; the only flying Consolidated PB4Y-2 "Privateer"; the first appearance at AirVenture of an F-100F Super Sabre; the Goodyear blimp; an Airbus A350 test plane; and the new Perlan Project glider, built to explore Earth's upper atmosphere and ozone layer. For the third year, an Honor Flight for 100 Vietnam veterans will take off from Oshkosh on Friday morning for a one-day trip to Washington, D.C., before returning to a heroes' welcome in the afternoon. Other highlights include a reunion of Apollo 13 astronauts and flight control officials including Jim Lovell and Gene Kranz, a salute to aviation design pioneer Burt Rutan and an attempt to break the world sky-diving record with 108 people. EAA is in the third year of a seven-year contract with the Federal Aviation Administration to pay about $500,000 for travel expenses of flight controllers and supervisors who handle the takeoffs and landings of thousands of planes during AirVenture. Air traffic control operations are funded through aviation fuel taxes, but in 2013 during the federal sequestration, the FAA stunned AirVenture officials by demanding EAA pay for controllers to travel to Oshkosh. If you go What: EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015 When: Monday through Sunday. Gates open at 7 a.m. each day. Exhibit buildings open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Air shows are held each afternoon. A night air show is scheduled to start about 8:15 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday, followed by fireworks. How much: Daily rates for non-EAA members are $45 for adults; $24 for students 6-18; and free for children 5 and younger. Parking is $10. For more information: www.eaa.org/en/airventure http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/new-f-35-fighter-jet-roars-into-oshkosh-for-eaa-b99536536z1-317059811.html 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 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