Flight Safety Information July 28, 2015 - No. 147 In This Issue FAA Warning Raises More Questions About Boeing Batteries American Airlines Flight Bound for Dallas Damaged by Hail Beech M35 Accident (Wisconsin) BA flight makes emergency landing with 'pilots in oxygen masks amid cockpit burning smell' Pilot shortage at regional carrier forces flying cutbacks Pilots Who Fly Drones Into Wildfires Are Idiots. Punish Them Oil Leak Caused Marine Jet Crash in Southern California Will Aircraft Bird Strike Requirements Protect Against Small Drones? Man gets through Dallas airport security, boards plane without ticket Allegiant flight during AirSho practice caused confusion at Fargo airport PROS 2015 TRAINING Blacklisted: How to Get Banned For Life by Airlines Embraer Executive Jets Brand Ambassador Jackie Chan gets his new business jet Boeing 767 Past Its Prime? Just Don't Tell United Airlines or FedEx Tons of Countries Want to Buy Russia's Most Advanced Fighter Jet EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE SR-71 BLACKBIRD - THE FASTEST JET IN THE WORLD ISASI 2015, Germany, August 24 - 27, 2015 Aircraft Crash Survival Investigation and Analysis - Course NTSB Course: "Managing Communications Following an Aircraft Accident or Incident" Upcoming Events JOBS AVAILABLE (New Positions) FAA Warning Raises More Questions About Boeing Batteries Boeing 787 DreamlinerIt appears - two years after Boeing had fire incidents from installed lithium ion batteries that shut down deliveries of its vaunted Dreamliner 787 - that its "solution" to "vent" heat and flames outside the aircrafts has prevented any catastrophes, so far. But it hasn't alleviated concerns about the batteries' physics and makeup. Last week Boeing issued a warning to its airline customers to not carry bulk shipments of lithium- ions because if they catch fire or overheat, they're unstoppable. A spokesman told the Associated Press that the manufacturer has advised airlines not to transport the batteries "until safer methods of packaging and transport are established and implemented." Likewise, the FAA simultaneously stated that its research has found that carriage of lithium ion batteries "presents a risk." The alert was industry-wide. At a safety forum held last week in Washington by the Air Line Pilots Association, Boeing's fire protection system specialist Doug Ferguson explained what led to the decision to issue the warning. He said standard fire suppression systems employed on aircraft, called Halon 1301, are ineffective against the "thermal runaway" that bulk quantities of lithium ion batteries are known for. "Unrestricted quantities of lithium batteries that are involved in a cargo fire...can still create hazards that would effect the continued safe flight and landing of the aircraft," Ferguson said, "particularly depending on the location, the type and quantity of batteries and the time required for a safe landing." Boeing, after dismissing any fears about fires in the lithium-ion batteries that power most of the Dreamliner's systems (saying "it almost doesn't matter" what caused them), apparently had an intervention from a higher power. According to Aviation International News, the International Coordinating Council of Aerospace Industries Associations issued recommendations regarding transport of lith-ions. Boeing and fellow manufacturers Airbus, Embraer and Bombardier participated in developing the advisory, with plans to meet soon to work on packaging that can contain or mitigate thermal runaway fires. "What has happened," Ferguson added, "is that testing has shown that there are higher rates of smoke production, flammable vapor, pressures and temperatures that occur with fires that involve...lithium-ion batteries....than with ordinary Class A type combustibles - paper products for instance." So did Boeing learn something new all of a sudden? Or was the company pressed by industry groups to align with them over their serious concerns about the dangers of lithium-ion batteries? According to a physicist who has closely followed the Boeing situation, and battery fires in general, the dangers of bundled lith-ions and the shortcomings of Halon are nothing new. "It was already very well-known 5 years ago that Halon has no chance whatsoever to extinguish a fire involving significant numbers of Lithium-ion batteries in air cargo," said Lewis Larsen of Chicago-based Lattice Energy. "The notion that it would take yet another 5 years for this particular epiphany to finally dawn on them is simply not believable." At the safety forum Ferguson said in testing, the Halon controlled flames, but the thermal heat that migrated from battery to battery was unaffected. It's a phenomenon with which Ferguson and Boeing's safety team should be well experienced. Two Japanese airlines suffered battery fires on Dreamliners in January 2013, which spurred the Federal Aviation Administration to shut down operations while the incidents were investigated. And in 2006 a 787 battery explosion caused a "devastating lab fire" in Arizona, burning a 10,000-square-foot facility to the ground. Two years ago Larsen said debris from a thermal runaway event on a Japan Air Lines Dreamliner showed that heat from internal shorts reached temperatures far higher than Boeing engineers likely contemplated in their design. The evidence showed that temperatures reached to the boiling point for stainless steel and then turned into gaseous vapor. Boeing, however, was not to be deterred from its celebrated, fuel-efficient "green" Dreamliner, which is loaded with the troublesome batteries. Despite never finding out what caused the Japanese airlines' fires, the company took measures designed to vent heat and flames outside the fuselage and thus mitigate risk, rather than try to detect the cause of the fires in the first place. The FAA says the solution is good enough, but that may not instill confidence since the agency certified the airworthiness of the Dreamliner batteries in the first place. A National Transportation Safety Board investigation into the original fires determined that both FAA and Boeing failed to sufficiently oversee the batteries' manufacturing process, which opened the door to design flaws. The list of failures in the safety inspection process is reportedly lengthy. The problems haven't fully dissipated. In January 2014 Japan Air Lines suffered another malfunction with a Dreamliner battery overheating, with reported smoke and liquid coming out. Last month an Aeromexico Dreamliner made an emergency landing in Ireland due to an alert in the cargo hold, but a spokesman said there was no fire. The cause has not yet been announced. And in May the FAA issued a maintenance mandate for the Dreamliner, after testing showed the plane could lose all electrical power after being continuously powered for 248 days. Flyer, beware. http://nlpc.org/stories/2015/07/27/faa-warning-raises-more-questions-about-boeing- batteries Back to Top American Airlines Flight Bound for Dallas Damaged by Hail An American Airlines flight bound for Dallas from Beijing turned around Monday after it was reportedly damaged by weather. "American Airlines Flight 88, a flight from Beijing Capital International Airport to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, returned to Beijing due to damage sustained by weather in flight," American Airlines told ABC News. NBC Dallas reports Flight 88, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner model, hit the hailstorm shortly after takeoff. Photos on social media show the plane's nose caved in. No injuries were reported, and pilots landed the plane safely. The Dallas Business Journal said it was the second hail-related incident involving a commercial airline over China in the past month. A Delta Air Lines 747 was damaged in a storm July 10 and made an emergency landing in South Korea. http://www.weather.com/news/news/american-airlines-flight-hail-damage Back to Top Beech M35 Accident (Wisconsin) Date: 27-JUL-2015 Time: 17:24 Type: Beech M35 Bonanza Owner/operator: Registration: C/n / msn: Fatalities: Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Polk County east of Alden Township, WI - United States of America Phase: Unknown Nature: Unknown Departure airport: Destination airport: Narrative: The aircraft impacted farm field terrain in Polk County east of Alden Township and southwest of Amery Municipal (KAHH), Airport, Amery, Wisconsin. A post-impact fire ensued. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the four occupants onboard received fatal injuries. www.aviation-safety.net Back to Top BA flight makes emergency landing with 'pilots in oxygen masks amid cockpit burning smell' A BRITISH Airways flight was forced to emergency land in London with the pilots wearing oxygen masks after they smelled burning in the cockpit. The Airbus A320 was carrying 163 passengers The BA327 flight from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris landed shortly after 10.30pm at Heathrow Airport amid reports of "technical issues" on board. Passenger Dave Luckett, 34, told Express.co.uk that the pilots were wearing oxygen masks after putting out a mayday call halfway through the 40 minute flight. He said: "The pilots came on after the plane landed and said they could smell burning in the cockpit." The Reading IT worker added: "It was quite obvious to most of the passengers that there was an emergency going on." It is thought that a part of the aircraft overheated after problems with a cooling system. Fire engines met the jet, which was carrying 163 passengers, when it arrived in London. The flight had already been delayed for two hours when it left Paris shortly before 11pm local time. Earlier reports of a blaze in the toilets onboard the Airbus A320 have since been dismissed as false. In April a British Airways flight was forced to make an emergency landing after just 11 minutes when a fire was reportedly discovered in one of the engines. http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/594240/BA327-British-Airways-emergency-flight- landing-Paris-London-Heathrow-France-plane Back to Top Pilot shortage at regional carrier forces flying cutbacks Shares in Republic Airways Holdings Inc. lost over half their value Monday, after the regional carrier warned it is having trouble staffing its cockpits and will reduce its flying for American Airlines Inc. and other big carriers. "The company has initiated discussions with our mainline partners to take the necessary actions to both temporarily and permanently reduce scheduled flying commitments for the remainder of 2015 and the first half of 2016," Republic said Friday evening. How big an impact that has will depend on how many regional flights are cut for American Airlines, American partner US Airways Inc., Delta Air Lines Inc. and United Airlines Inc. Most carriers have multiple regional partners. "American is working with Republic on some minor schedule adjustments that will have a minimal impact on our customers," AA spokeswoman Martha Thomas said. She noted that American's two regional airline names, American Eagle and US Airways Express, "have 10 regional partners operating more than 550 aircraft across our network." Republic's third-quarter fleet plan showed it operating 230 regional jets and 22 turboprops for the four carriers: 57 airplanes for American, 58 for US Airways, 66 for United and 71 for Delta. The vast majority were larger regional jets in the 69-seat to 80- seat range. Republic's shares fell $4.72 in Monday trading to close at $3.78, off 55.6 percent. That was the biggest one-day drop since the Indianapolis-based company's initial public offering in 2004. More than 10 million shares traded hands, compared with average daily volume of around 431,000 shares. Republic cited three areas that were hurting its ability to recruit and retain enough pilots: A change in federal law now requires pilots to have at least 1,500 hours of flying time before they can work for an airline. (There are some exceptions to the hour requirement.) Airlines need more pilots to fly the same schedule after the Federal Aviation Administration changed the rules on the number of hours that pilots can work and the amount of rest they must get. "The new limits became effective on Jan. 1, 2014, and immediately had the effect of reducing pilot productivity 5 to 7 percent, further exacerbating the growing pilot shortage," Republic said. Republic management is in a prolonged contract dispute with its pilots union, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. The pilots voted down a proposed contract in April 2014, and the two sides haven't reached an agreement yet. This year, the company tried to impose pay increases on the pilots so it could attract more applicants. The Teamsters on July 9 went to court to try to block the increases, saying the company cannot unilaterally change conditions of employment. Airline analyst Michael Linenberg of Deutsche Bank downgraded Republic's shares and slashed the carrier's 2015 earnings estimate by about two-thirds, from $1.05 a share to 35 cents. "At this point, we are not changing our 2016 EPS estimate of $1.50," Linenberg wrote in a Monday note, "but that could be subject to downward revision if the pilot situation is not addressed this year." Analyst Helane Becker of Cowen and Co. reduced her third-quarter estimate from 24 cents a share to 9 cents and her 2015 full-year estimate to 50 cents, down from 95 cents. "If a pilot agreement is put in place, we expect the shares to react favorably as Republic has done a great job of up-gauging to 70-seat regional jets from 50-seat aircraft," Becker wrote. "That said, without a new agreement we believe there is further downside to consensus estimates as the airline will have to continue downsizing." http://www.dallasnews.com/business/airline-industry/20150727-pilot-shortage-at- regional-carrier-forces-flying-cutbacks.ece Back to Top Pilots Who Fly Drones Into Wildfires Are Idiots. Punish Them WE'RE FASCINATED BY wildfires. So fascinated, in fact, that we can't help flying our newly bought drones into the blaze to get a better look. And that's becoming a serious problem. One of the key ways we can fight wildfires is dropping large amounts of water and fire retardant from planes and helicopters, which fly as low as a few dozen feet above the tree tops. To keep them and everyone on the ground safe, firefighters close the area to outside aircraft that can get in the way. The FAA puts the word out, and commercial and general aviation aircraft stay clear. But lately, hobbyist drone pilots haven't been so well-behaved, and they're causing trouble. In June at the Lake Fire in the San Bernadino Mountains, a 10,800 gallon drop of fire retardant had to be called off because of a drone. At the Sterling Fire later that same week, two drones shut down tanker operations. Last week, air operations had to be suspended after a fire burned over Interstate 15 at Cajon Pass in California and torched more than 20 cars and trucks. These and other cases-pilots regularly spot the things flying near airports, and then there's the one that landed on the lawn of the White House-have triggered calls for ways to curtail the mischief so outright jamming may not be the best solution. The FAA has considered rules that would require hobbyists to get a pilot's license. It's a good way to guarantee someone knows the rules of aviation, like where not to fly and how to check for exclusion zones, but making someone who wants to fly a robot from the ground train in a real plane is a bit much. Militaries are hard at work on targeted jamming systems that are designed to take control of drones or zap them out of the sky with lasers. That's not a bad idea, especially for more sensitive locales like military bases, but firefighters are increasingly using drones to examine the spread of fires and determine the best ways to attack them. There are two ways to solve this problem: more education and more punishment. "Most hobbyists don't know what to do versus not," says Ella Atkins, associate professor of aerospace engineering at the University of Michigan. Drone pilots may incorrectly think if they fly low enough, they won't be a bother to firefighting aircraft. Meanwhile, going after civilians violating restricted airspace is left to the FAA, which can take weeks or months to bring down the hammer. Firefighters work at the scene near burned cars on the 15 Freeway July 17, 2015 in San Bernardino, California. "Ground-based law enforcement has to be empowered to catch and prosecute egregious violators," says Atkins. California State Senator Ted Gaines agrees, and has introduced a bill to allow local law enforcement in California to charge and arrest anyone caught flying a drone in a fire or public safety environment where aircraft have been banned. Penalties would top out at a $5,000 fine or up to six months in county jail. As a more practical measure, Gaines has introduced a second bill that would indemnify emergency personnel who accidentally (or intentionally) damage a drone during public safety actions. So if anyone follows the example of the New York firefighter who used a fire hose to shoot down a drone last month, they don't have to worry about getting sued. "Of course you want to get the word out and address the education element," Gaines says. "But there ought to be a consequence for putting people's lives in harm's way." Atkins agrees. "We need to get the drone user community to feel some responsibility and understand basic rules," she says. "Really bad stunts like flying near firefighters or runway approach paths would then be treated like reckless driving in an automobile, with a giant fine and possible jail time." "This sounds extreme but this type of warning needs to get out there ... The people who flew near the fire were idiots. I doubt they meant ill will toward the firefighters but the final result is the same." So please, if you're near a wildfire, keep your drone on the ground. Or be ready to face the consequences. http://www.wired.com/2015/07/pilots-fly-drones-wildfires-idiots-punish/ Back to Top Oil Leak Caused Marine Jet Crash in Southern California An oil leak caused a Marine fighter jet to crash in a Southern California neighborhood last year, setting several homes on fire and destroying the aircraft, it was reported Monday. The AV-8B Harrier went down on June 4, 2014, after a crack in an oil drain tank caused a leak that sparked a fire, engine failure and total loss of flight control, according to a Marine investigative report. The document was obtained by the San Diego Union-Tribune (http://bit.ly/1JMG33w) through a Freedom of Information Act request. The Harrier was developed with the ability to take off and land vertically. It has been in use for decades by the Marine Corps, which has 130 of the aging planes and is slowly phasing them out in favor of a new Joint Strike Fighter. The pilot had taken off from the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Arizona and was flying back after daytime low altitude training when the oil leak was detected. He decided to make an emergency landing at Naval Air Facility El Centro. He was about 15 miles from that runway when the plane became sluggish and lost altitude, followed swiftly by an engine fire, loss of engine power and then his ability to control the aircraft, the investigation concluded. The plane banked out of control and went down in Imperial, about 90 miles east of San Diego. Two homes were destroyed and a third was badly damaged but nobody on the ground was hurt. The pilot ejected and escaped with scrapes and bruises. The investigation didn't determine what caused the crack in the plane's oil drain tank but the Harrier has a history of mechanical problems and crashes. A month before the Imperial crash, a pilot was able to eject safely before his Harrier went down in a remote desert area near the Gila River Indian Community, south of Phoenix, Arizona. In 1999, the planes were grounded after a series of crashes, and in 2003 the Los Angeles Times won a Pulitzer Prize for a series of reports that found the Harrier was the most accident-prone aircraft in the military at that time. The Times found that during its first 31 years in service, the plane's mechanical failures, maintenance deficiencies and chronic funding problems contributed to 143 major accidents and the deaths of 45 Marines. http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/oil-leak-caused-marine-jet-crash-southern- california-32723701 Back to Top Will Aircraft Bird Strike Requirements Protect Against Small Drones? Time To Find Out. By: John Goglia While drones and manned aircraft need to be safely separated until advances in sense and avoid technology make integration in the national airspace possible, there has been much hype and little data on what could actually happen if one of the popular consumer drones - weighing four pounds or less - hit an aircraft. My observation of small consumer drones after a crash has been that much of the drone consists of frangible material that might not pose a significant danger to manned aircraft. Of course no one wants to find out except in a controlled test environment. But neither the Federal Aviation Administration nor the aircraft manufacturers have seemed willing to take on that testing. Here comes an interesting opportunity for the public to comment on why that testing is important. The Federal Aviation Administration published a notice in the Federal Register last week seeking public comment on bird strike requirements for transport category aircraft, the large airplanes and helicopters normally associated with commercial air transportation. The FAA's notice states: "we have conducted a review of bird strike data, and are considering whether to revise the requirements." Aircraft are designed and built to withstand bird strikes of between 4 and 8 pounds (depending on the location of the potential bird strike). The critical locations for aircraft bird strikes include the cockpit windshield, airframe, aircraft tail and wings. The FAA's concern arises because of the increased bird population threat, especially the threat of large birds such as Canada geese, the infamous birds that took down the Miracle on the Hudson plane in 2009. The FAA seeks comments on "the need for, and the possible scope of, changes to the bird strike requirements for transport category airplanes by submitting written data, views, or arguments as they may desire. We invite comments relating to the technical or economic impact that might result from any considerations discussed herein, as well as any alternative suggestions." Comments are due by November 17, 2015 to Todd.Martin@faa.gov. It seems to me that once the FAA is considering changing aircraft standards to deal with the threat of larger bird populations, it might be an opportune time to consider the growing number of popular consumer drones as well. Your comments to the agency on that subject could help get this important testing done. http://www.forbes.com/sites/johngoglia/2015/07/27/will-aircraft-bird-strike- requirements-protect-against-small-drones-time-to-find-out Back to Top Man gets through Dallas airport security, boards plane without ticket U.S. transportation security officials are investigating how a man was able to pass through a security checkpoint without a ticket at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and board a commercial airliner. The 26-year-old man parked his vehicle at a curbside airport terminal entrance on Sunday night, walked through a Transportation Security Administration screening area and boarded the plane of an airline. An airline agent discovered what happened before the flight departed. Read the full story here. (Fotolia) U.S. transportation security officials are investigating how a man was able to pass through a security checkpoint without a ticket at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and board a commercial airliner, airport officials said on Monday. The 26-year-old man parked his vehicle at a curbside airport terminal entrance on Sunday night, walked through a Transportation Security Administration screening area and boarded the plane of an airline, the airport said in a statement. The airport statement did not identify the man or the airline involved in the incident. An airline agent discovered what happened before the flight departed and called airport police, who arrested the man on criminal trespassing charges, the airport said. Officers searched the suspect's vehicle and "found no threat," it said. http://www.northumberlandtoday.com/2015/07/27/man-gets-through-dallas-airport- security-boards-plane-without-ticket Back to Top Allegiant flight during AirSho practice caused confusion at Fargo airport FARGO - A flight that came into Fargo minutes before the Blue Angels began practicing for their AirSho performance landed safely at Hector International Airport-but not before some confusion between the pilot and air traffic control. Allegiant Flight 426 flew on Thursday from Las Vegas to Fargo, a route the airliner makes a couple times a week. But last week during AirSho practice, a notice to pilots was posted that limited the times when flights could land and take off. Someone at Allegiant, apparently, did not get that notice. In a radio transmission between an Allegiant pilot and the air traffic control tower at Hector on Thursday, the pilot said the flight was running low on fuel. "We're down circling Fargo. We don't have enough fuel to go anywhere else, and our guys are trying to get in touch with the tower manager right now to try to coordinate our landing," the pilot said. Not hearing of the flight limitations, the pilot said he was left with few options. "I'm going to have to declare an emergency and come in and land," he said. The tower responded with a phone number the pilot can call and offered a solution. "There will be a window opening in about 20 minutes for landing," the air traffic control tower operator said. "Yeah, I don't have 20 minutes," the Allegiant pilot said. The tower then suggested the pilot fly 70 miles north to Grand Forks. "Listen, we're on Bingo fuel here in about probably three to four minutes and then I've got to come in and land," the pilot said. "Bingo fuel" is aviation shorthand for the minimum amount of fuel required for a safe landing. The tower told the pilot he'd have to declare an emergency in order to coordinate a landing. "I'm going to give them another three minutes so we can assess," the pilot said. The tower informed the pilot of the notice about flight restrictions because of the AirSho. "Your company should have been aware of this for a number of months," the operator told the pilot. The two-minute conversation ended after the pilot's reply. "We'll follow up on that," the pilot said. Officials at Hector International Airport said there was not an emergency landing on Thursday, and flight tracking software shows the flight landed at 1:02 p.m. An official with the Federal Aviation Administration said the Blue Angels, who were scheduled to practice for Saturday and Sunday's air show, had to be moved to a holding area while the plane landed. The FAA said the Allegiant flight left Las Vegas behind schedule, which contributed to the incident. The FFA official said every commercial flight is required to carry an extra 45 minutes of fuel, which he said should have been enough to for the flight to divert to Grand Forks. "Allegiant's operation center told the FAA the flight had an extra 45 minutes of fuel on board," the FFA official said. "However, as you know, the pilot said otherwise, and requested landing at Fargo." Allegiant says it's investigating the flight. The clip of radio transmissions between the tower and the pilot was posted to a popular aviation website, in a response to an article criticizing the number of emergency landings Allegiant makes. http://www.inforum.com/news/3805678-allegiant-flight-during-airsho-practice-caused- confusion-fargo-airport Back to Top Back to Top Blacklisted: How to Get Banned For Life by Airlines A look at airlines' not-so-prestigious "banned for life" club. Being asked to leave a plane before your flight certainly is dramatic. Having the police waiting for you after a flight might even get you on the news. But there's a select few in-flight misbehavers whose actions are so egregious, so over- the-top, that airlines have deployed the nuclear option against them: a ban for life. This is different from government no-fly lists designed to weed out potential terrorists. No, this is the case of a particular airline saying to particularly ill-behaved (and sometimes dangerous) passengers: "You've crossed a line, buddy, and you won't never step foot on one of our planes again." Celebrities like Snoop Dogg, Liam Gallagher, and Jonathan Rhys Meyers are rumored members of the "Banned For Life" airline club. The Internet is full of videos of people getting removed from flights. Yahoo Travel looks at the traits they all have in common to bring you "The 7 Stages of Getting Kicked Off a Flight." "If you've been bad you can get on one of these lists," says author and travel writer Christopher Elliott, noting that car rental companies and hotels also issue lifetime bans in extreme circumstances. "It's not something that the companies really like to talk about." That's for sure. Yahoo Travel reached out to several airlines to ask about their "banned for life" policies and they responded with answers so vague and evasive, one would have thought they were asked about Area 51. "We don't discuss our security procedures, which are in place to protect our customers and crew members," was one airline's answer in a statement that resembled most of the others. Given the airlines' omertà regarding lifetime bans, it's probably not surprising that they rarely publicly reveal who ends up on that blacklist (although sometimes they will if they're really mad at the person they've banned). The industry trade group Airlines for America did somewhat confirm the practice of lifetime bans: "Airlines implement these measures through their reservation systems," a spokesperson told Yahoo Travel in an email. "Restricted travel is at the discretion of each individual airline if it is in the best interest of their customers and crew members in terms of safety and security. Because safety and security are always our highest priority, carriers can and will enforce measures to keep our customers and employees protected." So it seems that, yes, airlines do issue lifetime bans and reportedly have dropped that hammer on some bad, bad fliers - some famous, some infamous. Here are the top 10 ways to get banned. 1. Get a totally inappropriate (but hilarious) tattoo on your genitals and show it to everyone on the plane. It wasn't his Pinocchio tattoo that got one flier banned for life; it's where that tattoo was. (Photo: iStock) Can a tattoo get you banned from an airline? It apparently did in this case, when British airline Jet2 reportedly put a 22-year-old man on its permanent blacklist this past May for exposing his tattoo. No, the airline doesn't have an issue with body ink, but it seems the man, Tom Washington, had a tattoo of Pinocchio - the fictional puppet whose nose gets big when he tells a lie. Washington's Pinocchio tat was on his lower torso and the nose was... well, use your imagination. He allegedly went around the plane showing other passengers the explicit tattoo and, boom: instant ban. (Washington and his buddies reportedly also boarded the plane dressed as flight attendants and waved a sex toy during the safety demonstration, but that all took a backseat to the tattoo flashing.) Washington told the Daily Mail he did it all for a "giggle." We'd rather not see if he's telling the truth about that. 2. Start a brawl in a fancy VIP lounge. Surprisingly, Snoop Dogg was banned, and wasn't for weed. The rapper got on British Airways' permanent bad side when some of his 30-member entourage reportedly sparked a brawl at Heathrow's VIP lounge in 2006. Afterwards, British Airways became the rare major airline to go public about banning someone for life. "We are making sure none of this group will be allowed to travel with BA ever again," an airline spokesperson said at the time. "They are banned from now on." Now, nine years later, is Snoop Dogg still blacklisted from sippin' his gin and juice on a BA flight? When we contacted British Airways, all a spokesperson would say about the matter was: "Our customers deserve to enjoy their flights. We treat all cases of disruptive behavior extremely seriously and take action where appropriate." Our bet is that British Airways' policy still is "No Doggs allowed." 3. Harass passengers and pass out in the toilet. A man traveling from England's southern coast to the Canary Islands earlier this month turned what otherwise could have been a simple arrest into a lifetime ban from Ryanair. According to various reports, the passenger apparently antagonized other passengers, harassed women on board and at one point passed out in the toilet. As Spanish police took him off the plane, photos showed them having to wrestle the disruptive passenger to the ground - a stunt that probably sealed his lifetime ban. A Ryanair spokesperson later confirmed that the man's business will no longer be welcome at Ryanair. 4. Get drunk and try to hit on your seatmate by impersonating an air marshall and trying to set her leg on fire When most guys get shot down by a woman, they take the hint. But one man looking to pick up his pretty female seatmate reportedly picked up a lifetime ban from Delta Airlines instead. In May of 2011 Delta passenger Bryan Sisco got drunk before the Dallas-to-Atlanta flight and started talking to the woman next to him. According to Sisco's subsequent interview with the Memphis Commercial Appeal and a blog his seatmate wrote, he told the woman he was a federal air marshal (he wasn't), lit a butane lighter near her leg thinking she'd be amused (she wasn't), and claimed a large tube he was carrying contained gas "that will make anyone sleep if you open it" (it didn't). After the passenger secretly passed a note to the flight attendants informing them of her strange seatmate, the plane diverted to Memphis where Sisco was arrested and reportedly banned from Delta. He later told the Memphis Commercial Appeal: "It was stupid of me. I'm a dumbass." (He was.) 5. Threaten the pilot with baked goods. Liam Gallagher of Oasis furthered the band's legend for epic jerkery with a rowdy flight aboard a Cathay Pacific flight in 1998. Reports said band members threw items, swore at passengers, and smoked during the flight from Hong Kong to Perth. The most bizarre report from the flight claimed that Gallagher threatened the pilot with a scone; some accounts said he was upset that he didn't get one of the pastries, others said he was offended by its shape. Either way, it was enough to get him banned by the airline. Gallagher was nonplussed about it, saying he'd rather walk to Australia than fly the airline. Undoubtedly his fellow passengers on that flight would have loved to see him try. 6. Have Mexican standoff with the airline employees, and include lots of cursing. One passenger upset about missing an Air Canada flight doesn't have to worry about that ever again; the airline banned him for life. Back in 2012 the passenger, Guillaume Boutin, allegedly freaked out at Cancun's airport upon missing his flight to Montreal. The passenger claimed he'd been misinformed about the boarding time. Air Canada said Boutin was "aggressive" and used "abusive and vulgar language" to airline staff members. He must have used some choice words because the airline permanently blacklisted him and successfully defended that decision when he appealed. 7. Ignore those pesky "no smoking" signs. Hint: never smoke on an airplane (Photo: iStock) All airlines take in-flight smoking seriously, but Ryanair proved it doesn't mess around. Back in 2004, the airline announced it was issuing lifetime bans on eight passengers who smoked on board its flights in separate incidents. And forget the secrecy: the airline slammed them for "stupidly and recklessly persist[ing] in endangering the safety of others by smoking on board." Ouch! 8. Get drunk and make a simple flight Mission: Impossible A reported ban on United is one of the many reported past troubles of actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers. (Photo: iStock) For actor and Mission: Impossible III star Jonathan Rhys Meyers, an impossible mission reportedly is boarding a flight on United Airlines. According to a report on Radar Online, he went into a drunken rage in May of 2010 after he was denied boarding on a flight to L.A. Radar reports the airline responded with a lifetime ban but the airline hasn't publicly confirmed that. 9. Tweet jokes about hacking the airline's computer system United, however, was much more forthcoming about the fate of Chris Roberts - a computer security expert who has publicly warned that airlines potentially are vulnerable to malicious hackers. He got United's attention, in a bad way, when he tweeted a joke about hacking the computer systems of the airplane he was about to board this past April. No one laughed; he was met by the FBI when his plane landed. The airline subsequently banned him, telling Yahoo Travel, "We've decided it's in the best interest of our customers and crew members that he not be allowed to fly United." 10. Pull a Naomi Campbell Like Liam Gallagher, Naomi Campbell's meltdowns were the stuff of legend for a time. Back in 2008, she reportedly flew into a rage on a British Airways flight over a piece of missing luggage. She was fined and given 200 hours of community service for the incident, and she was also banned from British Airways. At the time it appeared to be a lifetime ban. But in 2013, the Daily Mail reported the ban was lifted and Campbell was allowed to board a British Airways flight. Even in the face of lifetime bans, it's almost comforting to know that redemption is possible. https://www.yahoo.com/travel/blacklisted-how-to-get-banned-for-life-by- 125181311247.html Back to Top Embraer Executive Jets Brand Ambassador Jackie Chan gets his new business jet Embraer received the Validation of Type Certificate (VTC) for its Legacy 500 executive jet from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), which gives the green light to operations of the model in the Chinese market. Embraer Executive Jets Brand Ambassador, Jackie Chan is the first person to receive the midsize business jet. His aircraft features his iconic "Dragon" livery. While the USA is, and will continue to be the largest market for the Legacy 500, Embraer expects the aircraft to be popular in China, despite a preference for long-range and large cabin types in the country until now. The Legacy 500 is a midsize business aircraft with a range of 3,000 nautical miles with best-in-class six-foot flat-floor cabin, which is wider than some aircraft in the super midsize category. Eight club seats may be berthed into four beds, and the in-flight entertainment system consists of a high definition video system, surround sound, multiple audio and video input options, a cabin management system, and three options for voice communications and connectivity. The Legacy 500 is the first midsize business jet with Full Fly-By-Wire technology, featuring side stick flight controls, a state-of-the-art Pro Line Fusion avionics suite on four 15-inch high resolution LCD displays, and capable of paperless operations, with graphical flight planning, and options electronic Jeppesen charts and maps, and the E2VS (Embraer Enhanced Vision System). http://ftnnews.com/aviation/27997-embraer-executive-jets-brand-ambassador-jackie- chan-gets-his-new-business-jet.html Back to Top Boeing 767 Past Its Prime? Just Don't Tell United Airlines or FedEx NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- The Boeing (BA - Get Report) 767, once presumed to be an aircraft with little future, has a new lease on life. Two airlines, FedEx (FDX - Get Report) Express and United (UAL - Get Report) , are renewing their commitments to the aircraft, which was introduced in 1982. Last week, FedEx ordered 50 767-300F freighters. Meanwhile, United said that next month it will begin conversion of its 21 three-class Boeing 767s to two-class. On its Web site, industry consultant Air Insight noted on July 22 that "in about five weeks time the 767 program will be 33 years old. Yet the program just got its biggest order to date. FedEx ordered 50 and 50 options. "The FedEx order is a strong vote of confidence," the publication said. "It certainly looked like the aircraft was past its prime. This order is truly old airplane revenge." United, in an internal publication for technical operations employees, said last week that the modifications it will make to its 767s "include many behind-the-scenes but vitally important improvements that should extend the life of the fleet by years and improve reliability." In an interview, Brian Znotins, United's vice president of network, said refurbishing 767s makes sense because of the low cost basis and the high consumer satisfaction level. It can be better to use an older, paid-for airplane than a newer one that is more fuel- efficient. "We plan long-term fleet at $3 fuel," Znotins said. (In the second quarter, United's mainline average fuel price was $2.12 a gallon). "With the low ownership of airplanes already in the house, they are pretty competitive with next generation airplanes, and you don't want to pay for more than you need," he said. "Why pay for an 8,000-mile (range) airplane if you only need a 6,000-mile airplane?" Recently, United has been increasing its 767 use on trans-Atlantic routes, freeing 757s for use on trans-continental routes. "We were going to retire the 767s and use 777s on the Atlantic, but in the last few years we have watched the demand level on the Atlantic and it hasn't grown," he said. Additionally, he noted, the 767s score high in United passenger consumer ratings. United, which polls passengers by email and gets 8,000 responses a day, has found that the Boeing 767s with remodeled interiors are the second most popular widebodies, after the 787s. "Inside, they look brand new," Znotins said. http://www.thestreet.com/story/13232946/1/boeing-767-past-its-prime-just-dont-tell- united-airlines-or-fedex.html Back to Top Tons of Countries Want to Buy Russia's Most Advanced Fighter Jet Russia's state-owned media is reporting that a number of different countries are interested in buying its most advanced fighter jets. According to Sputnik News, Russia is negotiating with numerous countries over the sale of its Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jet, and a number of these deals "are coming to fruition." Citing "sources close to the talks," who were interviewed by a Russian-language newspaper, Sputnik reports "that the sticking point between the Russian and Chinese negotiators over the size of the order is nearing a resolution, and expects a compromise order of 24 fighters for China's Air Force." Russia and China have been negotiating the sale of the Su-35 for years. Russia had previously been insisting that China purchase at least 48 Su-35s over fears that Beijing will reverse engineer the jet. China has a history of purchasing a few Russian warplanes only to reverse engineer the jets and produce an indigenous version. This is what happened, for instance, when China purchased the Su-27 and then unveiled a domestically built variant, the J-11. Moscow has evidently caved on its demand that Beijing buy at least 48 Su-35s in the initial order. The Sputnik report said that Russian negotiators "are also negotiating safeguards in the event that China makes a copy of its plane," without elaborating further. Among the other potential buyers, the report said that Pakistan and Brazil were interested in purchasing the Su-35 fighter jet from Russia. Selling Pakistan the Su-35 would be a huge reversal, as Moscow has traditionally been one of India's largest military suppliers, while relations have been much cooler with Islamabad. That being said, in recent years Russia has sought to cozy up more with Pakistan, and there have been reports that Moscow has been willing to sell Islamabad some military hardware. Indeed, earlier this month, Vladimir Kozhin, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, reportedly told reporters that Russia might sell a few units of the Su-35 to Pakistan. On the other hand, Russia has long been trying to entice Brazil to purchase its Su-35, going so far as to offer Brazil the joint development of a fifth-generation aircraft if Brazil agreed to purchase the Su-35. Under its F-X2 project, the Brazilian Air Force is currently looking to purchase about 36 foreign fighter jets for roughly $4 billion. Brazil announced in 2013, however, that it had selected Saab's Gripen jet for that competition, a decision that appears to still stand. The Sputnik report also listed Vietnam, Venezuela and Indonesia as other potential buyers of the Su-35. In fact, the report said that "figures from manufacturer Polet, which makes parts for the Su-35, showing increased production of its onboard system in order to fulfil orders for a total of 60 aircraft from Vietnam, Venezuela and Indonesia." India and South Korea have also recently been linked to the Su-35. In February of this year, Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov, said of a prospective deal with India: "We have been negotiating and have signed the intention protocol for the Su-35. Now we are working on designing ideas for this contract and on creating a manufacturing platform for the aircraft of the fifth generation." North Korea has also reportedly asked Russia to purchase the Su-35, although that seems unlikely. The Su-35 is currently the Russian Air Force's most advanced fighter jet. Moscow refers to the airplane as a 4++ generation fighter jet because it incorporates fifth-generation technology, such as radar absorbent material. "It's a great airplane and very dangerous, especially if they make a lot of them," one senior U.S. military official with extensive experience on fifth-generation fighters told The National Interest of the Su-35 back in December of last year. "I think even an AESA [active electronically scanned array-radar equipped F-15C] Eagle and [Boeing F/A-18E/F] Super Hornet would both have their hands full [fighting the Su-35." http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/tons-countries-want-buy-russias-most- advanced-fighter-jet-13432 Back to Top EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE SR-71 BLACKBIRD - THE FASTEST JET IN THE WORLD Ever since Germany began creating the first rocket-powered aircraft in the late-1920s, mankind has developed an immense infatuation with building jets capable of hitting supersonic speeds in the blink of an eye. While most found use during wartime to outrun missiles or spy on the enemy, others were simply built out of a creator's obsession with velocity and getting from point A to point B as quickly as possible. However, because jets are perhaps some of the most exciting vehicles on the planet, their popularity extends beyond just those who manufacture them. People all over the globe remain absolutely enthralled with jets and most notably, jets which kick some serious ass when it comes to the speed department. To help fuel said fascination, we've tracked down the fastest manned aircraft ever assembled and combed through its impressive resume to see what made it so special. What follows is the story of the fastest jet known to man. The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird Developed and manufactured in the 1960s, this monster of a jet plane's primary goal was to engage in highly classified reconnaissance missions, and to just generally fly faster than anything else of its time. Its best-recorded speed came in July of '76 at Beale Air Force Base in California, clocking in at an astounding 2,193.2 miles per hour - a healthy 100 miles per hour faster than any other air-breathing manned aircraft. Piloted by Eldon W. Joersz and George T. Morgan, the official time broke an 11-year record previously set by a similarly constructed Lockheed YF-12A, which recorded a top speed of 2,070.1 miles per hour. Lockheed developed the line of SR-71 jets because of a request from the CIA for a reconnaissance plane which could essentially outrun anti-aircraft missiles and operate at high altitudes. Previous Lockheed jets like the U-2 and the A-12 served as precursors to the Blackbird, with some of the technology native to those former aircraft reappearing in the newly built model. During production, manufacturers intended the SR-71 to fly at speeds above Mach 3 - roughly 2,280 miles per hour and higher - and though the fastest recorded time clocks in just under Mach 3, an SR-71 pilot named Brian Shul claims to have taken the aircraft much faster. In a 1994 book titled The Untouchables, Brian Shul writes about his experience as a pilot of Lockheed's SR-71 - he even refers to the position as being a sled driver. While the book doesn't offer up much in the way of groundbreaking or classified information, Shul does mention one particular mission in Libya in which he claims to have flown in excess of Mach 3.5 while avoiding a missile. While it's hard to know if he's telling the exact truth or a version thereof, details on most missions involving an SR-71 remain classified, just like its actual velocity. The SR-71 saw a brief retirement in 1989 before the U.S. government revived the aircraft in 1993 amid concerns of threats stemming from the Middle East and North Korea. After serving for several more years, the Air Force officially retired the SR-71 in 1998 with NASA following suit in 1999. Over the course of its impressive career, the SR- 71 Blackbird logged tens of thousands of hours in flight, with about a quarter of its total hours spent flying at Mach 3 or above. Though the military recorded 12 SR-71s as missing during its tenure, the craft holds the impressive distinction of never succumbing to enemy fire during any of its missions. It is worth noting the Air Force discontinued fly-overs of the USSR in the 1980s after the Soviet's developed the MiG-31 interceptor of which they armed with a missile capable of traveling at speeds up to Mach 4.5. Soviet pilots also claim a MiG-31 intercepted the SR- 71 in 1986, however, the interceptor did not engage the aircraft. Even after its second retirement, many believed the U.S. government never fully unleashed the SR-71 to its potential and questioned the decision to send it to the sidelines. Considering the military remains keen on unmanned aircraft in the 21st Century, it seems the SR-71's retirement was an inevitable one. The view from inside an SR-71 at 73,000 feet Perhaps one of its greatest achievements came in 1990 when an SR-71 broke four new speed records during a cross-country trip from California to Chantilly, Virginia. During the flight, the SR-71 set the record for fastest West Coast to East Coast time (67 minutes, 54 seconds); fastest Los Angeles to Washington D.C. time (64 minutes, 20 seconds); fastest Kansas City, Missouri to Washington D.C. time (25 minutes, 59 seconds); and fastest St. Louis, Missouri to Cincinnati, Ohio time (8 minutes, 32 seconds). For comparison sake, a typical passenger plane has the ability to make the trip from Los Angeles to Washington D.C. in roughly 4 and a half hours - not counting take- off or landing times. No matter if the U.S. Air Force actually pushed the SR-71 to its limit or not, Lockheed's impressive jet has a resume any other aircraft of its kind blushes at. With a clocked speed of some 100 miles per hour faster than its closest competition, along with a personal account of the jet traveling upwards of Mach 3.5, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird is the fastest jet on the planet - and it's not even a close race. http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/the-fastest-jet-in-the-world/#ixzz3hBUXUBzY Back to Top ISASI 2015, Germany, August 24 - 27, 2015 "Independence does not mean isolation". The International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI) will hold their 46th annual seminar at the Kongress am Park, Augsburg, Germany, from August 24 - 27, 2015. For all current information including the link to the registration and hotel pages please go to www.esasi.eu/isasi-2015 Note: Cut off dates for hotel reservations are June 23rd for the Dorint & July 23rd for the Ibis & the Intercity For questions regarding Sponsorship please contact Ron Schleede - ronschleede@aol.com or Steve Hull - steve.hull@rtiforensics.com Exhibitors should contact Steve Hull or Ann Schull - isasi@erols.com Back to Top Aircraft Crash Survival Investigation and Analysis * When: Sept. 21-25, 2015 * Where: Embry-Riddle Prescott, AZ Campus, Robertson Aviation Safety Center I * Early Bird Fee (Before August 1, 2015): U.S. $1,750 * Standard Course Fee: U.S. $2,000 * CEUs: 2 * Register Online: http://proed.erau.edu/programs/aviation-safety-accident- investigation/aircraft-crash-survival-investigation-and-analysis/index.html This exciting 5-day course entails a detailed analysis of the aircraft accident environment with particular emphasis on survivability factors. It explores factors and forces that cause injury and examines the injury-role played by impact forces and occupiable space compromises. The students will examine crashworthiness and delethalization technologies and concepts with a focus on the best ways to protect occupants during a crash. Selected aircraft accidents will be used as case studies, including use of the nation's largest full-scale investigation laboratory, the Robertson Aircraft Accident Investigation Lab. An in-depth review of basic kinematics and development of injury- related information will be completed. Back to Top Title Managing Communications Following an Aircraft Accident or Incident Co-sponsor Airports Council International - North America (ACI-NA) Description The course will teach participants what to expect in the days immediately following an aviation accident or incident and how they can prepare for their role with the media. ID Code PA302 Dates, Tuition and Fee October 22-23, 2015 $1034 early registration, by September 19, 2015 $1134 late registration, between September 20 and October 19, 2015 $100 processing fee will be added to tuitions for all offline applications. A tuition invoice can be ordered for a $25 processing fee. Note: payment must be made at time of registration. Times Day 1: 8:30am - 5pm Day 2: 9am - 3pm Location NTSB Training Center * 45065 Riverside Parkway * Ashburn, Virginia 20147 Status OPEN. Applications are now being accepted. Apply to Attend SIGN UP FOR THIS COURSE HERE CEUs 1.3 Overview * How the National Transportation Safety Board organizes an accident site and what can be expected in the days after an aviation disaster from the NTSB, FAA, other federal agencies, airline, airport, media and local community * Strategies for airline and airport staff to proactively manage the communication process throughout the on-scene phase of the investigation * How the NTSB public affairs officers coordinate press conferences and release of accident information and what information the spokespersons from the airport and airline will be responsible to provide to the media * Making provisions for and communicating with family members of those involved in the accident * Questions and requests likely encountered from the airlines, airport staff, family members, disaster relief agencies, local officials and others > Comments from course participants > See the 219 organizations from 28 countries that have sent staff to attend this course Performance Results Upon completion of this course the participant will be able to: * Be better prepared to respond to a major aviation disaster involving a flight departing from or destined for participant's airport * Demonstrate greater confidence in fielding on-scene questions about the many aspects of the investigation and its participants, including what types of specific information may be requested * Identify the appropriate Public Affairs roles for the various organizations involved in an accident investigation. * Be more productive in the first few hours after an aviation disaster by understanding which tasks are most important and why * Perform job responsibilities more professionally and with greater confidence given the knowledge and tools to manage the airport communications aspect of a major aviation disaster Who May Attend This course is targeted to who, in the event of an aviation disaster, will need to provide a steady flow of accurate information to media outlets and/or other airport, federal or local authorities. Accommodations Area hotels and restaurants Airports Washington Dulles International (IAD): 10 miles Washington Ronald Reagan National (DCA): 30 miles Baltimore/Washington International (BWI): 60 miles More Information Email TrainingCenter@ntsb.gov or call (571) 223-3900 Courses, forums and symposia are added to the schedule throughout the year. Subscribe to the e- newsletter to learn about upcoming events and new programs:http://app.ntsb.gov/trainingcenter/list/list_mw020207.htm Back To Top Upcoming Events: 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: Safety Specialist Netjets www.netjets.com/careers Business Aviation Regional Sales Manager ARGUS International, Inc. https://home2.eease.adp.com/recruit/?id=18211162 Manager Airline Safety Cathay Pacific http://www.cathaypacific.com/careers Airline Safety Manager - SMS (ASM-SMS) Cathay Pacific http://www.cathaypacific.com/careers Director, ICAO Liaison International Business Aviation Council DILpost@ibac.org Curt Lewis