Flight Safety Information July 31, 2015 - No. 150 In This Issue Malaysia 'Almost Certain' Debris Is From Same Type Of Plane As MH370 Piece of jet wing to be analyzed in France for connection to missing Malaysian plane Allegiant Air execs at controls of flight that landed with low fuel FAA Steps Up Scrutiny of Allegiant DGCA sacks Air India air safety chief over runway incident One dead after helicopter crash in Labrador Man shoots down drone hovering over house Spirit Jet Wheel Ignites on Landing in Dallas; No Injuries American Airlines jet preparing to fly to Chicago evacuated at Dallas airport 39 accidents of defence aircraft over last 3 years (India) Russia Vetoes U.N. Tribunal on Malaysia Airlines Flight Downed Over Ukraine PROS 2015 TRAINING Embry-Riddle Names Dean Dr. Tim Brady Interim Chancellor of Daytona Beach Campus ERAU - Unmanned Aircraft Systems Workshop SIA to hire cadet pilots again after 3-year freeze Terrafugia's TF-X brings flying cars closer to reality (no airport needed) Boeing debuts fighter jet for Australian Air Force Brazil's Embraer delays cargo jet, loses revenue on defense cuts US Sending Eight F-16 Fighter Jets To Egyptian Military No joke, Facebook testing drone with 737 jet's wingspan LeTourneau and Longview ISD create aviation partnership (Texas) Auburn University partners with aviation companies, NASA ISASI 2015, Germany, August 24 - 27, 2015 Upcoming Events JOBS AVAILABLE (New Positions) Malaysia 'Almost Certain' Debris Is From Same Type Of Plane As MH370 Plane debris has been found on Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean. SAINT-DENIS-DE-LA-REUNION, France, July 30 (Reuters) - Malaysia is "almost certain" that plane debris found on Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean is from a Boeing 777, the deputy transport minister said on Thursday, heightening the possibility it could be wreckage from missing Flight MH370. The object, which appeared to be part of a wing, was being sent to offices of France's BEA crash investigation agency in Toulouse to verify if was indeed the first trace of the lost plane to be found, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said. Malaysian air investigators are due in Reunion on Friday. Malaysia Airlines was operating a Boeing 777 on the ill-fated flight, which vanished in March last year en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in one of the most baffling mysteries in aviation history. The plane was carrying 239 passengers and crew. Search efforts led by Australia have focused on a broad expanse of the southern Indian Ocean off Australia. Reunion Island, where the debris was found washed up on Wednesday, is a French overseas department roughly 3,700 km (2,300 miles) away, east of Madagascar. "The location is consistent with the drift analysis provided to the Malaysian investigation team, which showed a route from the southern Indian Ocean to Africa," Najib said in a statement. There have been four serious accidents involving 777s in the 20 years since the widebody jet came into service. Only MH370 is thought to have crashed south of the equator. "No hypothesis can be ruled out, including that it would come from a Boeing 777," the Reunion prefecture and the French Justice Ministry said in a joint statement. In this photo dated Wednesday, July 29, 2015, French police officers inspect a piece of debris from a plane in Saint-Andre, Reunion Island. PART OF WING? Aviation experts who have seen widely circulated pictures of the debris said it may be a moving wing surface known as a flaperon, situated close to the fuselage. "It is almost certain that the flaperon is from a Boeing 777 aircraft. Our chief investigator here told me this," Malaysian Deputy Transport Minister Abdul Aziz Kaprawi told Reuters. Abdul Aziz said a Malaysian team was heading to Reunion Island, about 600 km (370 miles) east of Madagascar. Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss said the object had a number stamped on it that might speed its verification. "This kind of work is obviously going to take some time although the number may help to identify the aircraft parts, assuming that's what they are, much more quickly than might otherwise be the case," he said. Investigators believe someone deliberately switched off MH370's transponder before diverting it thousands of miles off course. Most of the passengers were Chinese, and Beijing said it was following developments closely. For the families of those on board, lingering uncertainty surrounding the fate of the plane has been agony. "Even if we find out that this piece of debris belongs to MH370, there is no way to prove that our people were with that plane," said Jiang Hui, 41, whose father was on the flight. Zhang Qihuai, a lawyer representing some of the passengers' families, said a group of around 30 relatives had agreed they would proceed with a lawsuit against the airline if the debris was confirmed to be from MH370. in this photo dated Wednesday, July 29, 2015, French police officers carry a piece of debris from a plane in Saint-Andre, Reunion Island. OCEAN CURRENTS The plane piece is roughly 2-2.5 meters (6.5-8 ft) in length, according to photographs. It appeared fairly intact and did not have visible burn marks or signs of impact. Flaperons help pilots control an aircraft while in flight. Greg Feith, an aviation safety consultant and former crash investigator at the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), said his sources at Boeing had told him the piece was from a 777. Whether it was MH370 was not clear, he said. "But we haven't lost any other 777s in that part of the world," Feith said. Oceanographers said vast, rotating currents sweeping the southern Indian Ocean could have deposited wreckage from MH370 thousands of kilometers from where the plane is thought to have crashed. If confirmed to be from MH370, experts will try to retrace the debris drift back to where it could have come from. But they caution that the discovery was unlikely to provide any more precise information about the aircraft's final resting place. "This wreckage has been in the water, if it is MH370, for well over a year so it could have moved so far that it's not going to be that helpful in pinpointing precisely where the aircraft is," Australia's Truss told reporters. Robin Robertson, an oceanographer at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, said the timing and location of the debris made it "very plausible" that it came from MH370, given what was known about Indian Ocean currents. Malaysia Airlines said it was too early to speculate on the origin of the debris. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said it was working with Boeing and other officials. Boeing declined to comment on the photos, referring questions to investigators. Aviation consultant Feith said that if the part was from MH370, the bulk of the plane likely sank, while the flaperon had air pockets that allowed it to float below the water's surface. Finding the wreckage would involve reverse engineering the ocean currents over 18 months, Feith said. "It's going to take a lot of math and science to figure that out," he said. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/missing-malaysia-plane-mh370- debris_55ba1dc6e4b095423d0de552? Back to Top Piece of jet wing to be analyzed in France for connection to missing Malaysian plane The debris' discovery has raised hopes, but there's no guarantee that investigators can find any other remains of Flight 370. Gendarmes and police stand near a large piece of plane debris that was found on the beach in Saint- Andre, on the French Indian Ocean island of La Reunion, Wednesday. Reuters SAINT-ANDRE, Reunion - A barnacle-encrusted wing part that washed up on a remote Indian Ocean island could help solve one of aviation's greatest mysteries, as investigators work to connect it to the Malaysia Airlines flight that vanished more than a year ago. The surprise discovery of the debris on a rocky beach stirred hopes and emotion among families of the missing, after a year and a half of grieving and frustration at a lack of answers, despite a wide, deep and expensive multinational search effort in the southern Indian Ocean, the China Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. Even if it is confirmed to be a long-awaited first clue to the disappearance of Flight 370, there's no guarantee that investigators can still find the plane's recorders or other remains a year and a half later. The coming hours and days will be crucial. French authorities moved the plane piece from the beach to the local airport on Reunion, and will send it next to the city of Toulouse, where it may arrive Saturday morning, according to the Paris prosecutor's office. Toulouse is the hub of Europe's aerospace industry, with the headquarters of Airbus and a network of hangars and plane facilities. The plane part will be analyzed in special defense facilities used for airplane testing and analysis, according to the Defense Ministry. Air safety investigators, including one from Boeing, have identified the component found on the French island of Reunion as a "flaperon" from the trailing edge of a Boeing 777 wing, a U.S. official said. The official wasn't authorized to be publicly named. Flight 370, which disappeared March 8, 2014, with 239 people on board, is the only 777 known to be missing. The unsuccessful search for the plane has raised concerns worldwide about whether airliners should be required to transmit their locations continually via satellite, especially when flying long distances over the ocean. "It's the first real evidence that there is a possibility that a part of the aircraft may have been found," said Australian Transport Minister Warren Truss, whose country is leading the search for the plane in a remote patch of ocean far off Australia's west coast. "It's too early to make that judgment, but clearly we are treating this as a major lead," Truss said. If it turns out to be part of the Malaysian plane, that could bolster the theory that the plane deviated from its path between Kuala Lumpur and Beijing and turned south into the Indian Ocean. And it would put to rest speculation that it could have traveled north or landed somewhere after being hijacked. The discovery has changed the life of Reunion environmental worker Johnny Begue. He told The Associated Press that he stumbled across the plane part on Wednesday morning, while collecting stones to grind spices. "I knew immediately it was part of an aircraft, but I didn't realize how important it was, that it could help to solve the mystery of what happened to the Malaysian jet," Begue, 46, told The Associated Press. He said he called several of his workmates and they carried the wing fragment out of the water so that it would not be battered by the surf against the volcanic rocks that make up most of the beach. Begue also discovered a piece of a suitcase about 2.5 meters away, he said, though it's unclear whether there is any link to the plane wing. Authorities wouldn't comment Thursday on whether Begue was the first to report discovering the component. Colleague Teddy Riviere corroborated his account, and praised him for the discovery. Members of Begue's soccer team kidded him on his new fame in local media. The wing piece is about 2 meters (6 feet) long. Investigators have found a number on the part, but it is not a serial or registration number, Truss said. It could be a maintenance number, which may help investigators figure out what plane it belongs to, he said. Malaysian authorities also headed to Reunion and Toulouse. "We have had many false alarms before, but for the sake of the families who have lost loved ones, and suffered such heartbreaking uncertainty, I pray that we will find out the truth so that they may have closure and peace," Prime Minister Najib Razak said in a statement. French law enforcement authorities are on Reunion island to examine the piece, according to an official close to the investigation of the debris. A French law enforcement helicopter is scouring the waters around the island in hopes of spotting more debris, and U.S. investigators are examining a photo of the debris. The wing part was found on a desolate, rocky beach in the small town of Saint-Andre and was transferred to the civil aviation authority's offices in the island's main airport, a local police official said. Flaperons are located on the rear edge of both wings, about midway between the fuselage and the tips. When the plane is banking, the flaperon on one wing tilts up and the other tilts down, which makes the plane roll to the left or right as it turns. The piece could help investigators figure out how the plane crashed, but whether it will help search crews pinpoint the rest of the wreckage is unclear, given the complexity of the currents in the southern Indian Ocean and the time that has elapsed since the plane disappeared. The last primary radar contact with Flight 370 placed its position over the Andaman Sea about 370 kilometers (230 miles) northwest of the Malaysian city of Penang. Reunion is about 5,600 kilometers (3,500 miles) southwest of Penang, and about 4,200 kilometers (2,600 miles) west of the current search area. It was well understood after the aircraft disappeared that if there was any floating debris from the plane, Indian Ocean currents would eventually bring it to the east coast of Africa, said aviation safety expert John Goglia, a former member of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board. But the debris is unlikely to provide much help in tracing the ocean currents back to the location of the main wreckage, he said. "It's going to be hard to say with any certainty where the source of this was," he said. "It just confirms that the airplane is in the water and hasn't been hijacked to some remote place and is waiting to be used for some other purpose. ... We haven't lost any 777s anywhere else." The discovery is unlikely to alter the seabed search, said Australian Transport Safety Bureau Chief Commissioner Martin Dolan, who is heading up the hunt. Dolan said search resources would be better spent continuing the seabed search with sonar and video for wreckage rather than reviving a surface search for debris if the part proved to be from Flight 370. There is precedence for large objects traveling vast distances across the Indian Ocean. Last year, a man lost his boat off the Western Australia coast after it overturned in rough seas. Eight months later, the boat turned up off the French island of Mayotte, west of Madagascar - 7,400 kilometers (4,600 miles) from where it disappeared. If the part belongs to Flight 370, it could provide valuable clues to investigators trying to figure out what caused the aircraft to vanish in the first place, said Jason Middleton, an aviation professor at the University of New South Wales in Sydney. The nature of the damage to the debris could help indicate whether the plane broke up in the air or when it hit the water, and how violently it did so, he said. The barnacles attached to the part could also help marine biologists determine roughly how long it has been in the water, he said. But the sister of a Flight 370 passenger says she is skeptical of the new find. "It has been more than one year, and now they claim to have found debris of MH370 on an island? We don't accept this. We do not believe what they claim. The finding does not constitute anything," Dai Shuqin told The Associated Press. Her sister Dai Shuling and five members of her family were on the plane. Over the past 16 months, hopes have repeatedly been raised and then dashed that the plane, or parts of the plane, had been found. In the end, none of them were from Flight 370. http://www.pressherald.com/2015/07/30/malaysian-premier-says-jet-wing-debris-will-be-sent-to-france/ Back to Top Allegiant Air execs at controls of flight that landed with low fuel An Allegiant airplane takes off from McCarran International Airport on Sunday, July 26 2015. (James Tensuan/Las Vegas Review-Journal) Follow James Tensuan on Twitter Two Allegiant Air executives, the vice president of operations and the director of flight safety, were at the controls of the flight that made an emergency landing last week because it was nearly out of fuel. Greg Baden, Allegiant's vice president of operations, and Michael Wuerger, director of flight safety, government affairs and quality assurance, were flying Allegiant's Flight 426 from McCarran International Airport to the Fargo, N.D., Hector International Airport on July 23. A representative of Allegiant confirmed that Baden and Wuerger were flying the plane, adding it is not uncommon for members of operations management to take flights to maintain their pilot status. Allegiant said it is cooperating with the Federal Aviation Administration in an investigation of the emergency landing, which was complicated by the closure of the Fargo airport for a practice session of the Navy's Blue Angels precision flight team, which was preparing for an air show. Flight 426, with 144 passengers and six crew members on board, left Las Vegas an hour behind schedule and couldn't reach Fargo before closure of the airspace. While a transcript of the conversation between the Allegiant cockpit and Fargo's air traffic control center indicated the twin-engine MD-80 jet was dangerously low on fuel as it approached Fargo, Allegiant officials say the plane had 42 minutes of fuel remaining when it arrived at 1:02 p.m., Central Daylight Time. Exchange with tower The exchange between the plane and the tower, posted Tuesday on the LifeATC.net website, indicated that airline officials were trying to contact the tower by phone to get clearance to land, but were unsuccessful, leading to further conversation once the plane was within range of the Fargo tower. A portion of the conversation: Flight 426: "Our company has been trying to call and we're down circling Fargo. We don't have enough fuel to go anywhere else. Our guys are trying to get in touch with the tower manager to coordinate our landing or I'm going to have to declare an emergency and come in and land." Fargo tower: "There'll be a window opening in about 20 minutes for a landing." Flight 426: "Yeah, I don't have 20 minutes." Fargo tower: "Roger, unless there is an emergency, there's Grand Forks Airport which is 70 miles to the north." Flight 426: "Yeah, listen we're at bingo fuel here in about three to four minutes. I've got to come in and land." ("Bingo fuel" is a military slang term meaning "running on empty.") Fargo tower: "You'll have to declare an emergency for that and we would coordinate to get you in." The controller then told the pilots they should have known the airport was going to be closed before they left Las Vegas. Notices about the Fargo airspace closing were first posted in December and the FAA issued an advisory for pilots 72 hours before the closure. Pilots are required to review such notices before flying. The cockpit responded, "OK, yeah. We'll follow up on that." Allegiant said the pilot made the decision to declare an emergency, allowing the flight to land immediately at Fargo rather than continuing attempts to coordinate a landing, which would have caused the aircraft to begin burning its reserve fuel. Tower asks Navy planes to move The tower asked the Navy flight team to move out of the way of the arriving Allegiant plane. "It is unsafe for pilots to land aircraft with minimum fuel reserves, which would have been the situation had our pilot waited 20 minutes to land," an Allegiant spokesman said in an email. "In order to avoid any risk to the safety of the passengers and crew, our pilot wanted to land the plane with more than sufficient fuel available and declared an emergency in order to land as quickly as possible." Federal regulations require airlines to have enough fuel to get to their destination airport, a pre-designated diversion airport plus an additional 45 minutes of flying time. An Allegiant pilot who requested anonymity said Baden has been an advocate for the airline's flights operating with minimal fuel reserves to enable the aircraft to be lighter and more efficient. Pilots can request additional fuel for flights in preparation for diversions due to bad weather or other unexpected conditions. But pilots say acquiring additional fuel often results in an argument with dispatchers and delays, and they instead take off with less fuel than they initially wanted. The pilot said the two executives flew Flight 426 because the airline is short of qualified pilots. http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/las-vegas/allegiant-air-execs-controls-flight-landed-low- fuel#sthash.jqvxA9wz.dpuf Back to Top FAA Steps Up Scrutiny of Allegiant The budget carrier's latest flight problem involved closed airspace and fuel supply An Allegiant Air flight takes off from a Florida airport in June. Allegiant, based in Las Vegas, is the ninth- largest U.S. airline. An unusual emergency landing by an Allegiant Travel Co. flight low on fuel is drawing new scrutiny to the budget carrier after a string of other in-flight disruptions. The Federal Aviation Administration said it is gathering information about the incident, which occurred last week, when two of the airline's executives were flying an Allegiant jet carrying 150 people from Las Vegas to Fargo, N.D. The agency already had increased its oversight of the Las Vegas-based carrier because of a recent series of diversions and emergency landings, an FAA spokesman said. The July 23 flight left Las Vegas despite a public notice from the FAA that the airspace around Fargo would be closed for practice by the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels aerobatic jets. When the Allegiant jet arrived in Fargo, controllers told the pilots they would have to wait 20 minutes to land. "Listen, we're at [low] fuel in about probably three to four minutes," the pilot responded, according to air- traffic-control recordings. "I've got to come in and land." The jet landed without incident after controllers ordered the Blue Angels away from the airport. Allegiant said late Wednesday that the flight was piloted by Greg Baden, its vice president of operations, and Michael Wuerger, director of flight safety, both of whom were flying to gather cockpit time to maintain their pilot certifications. Allegiant said it is not uncommon for management to be pilots, which helps them keep a "connection to our day-to-day frontline operations." Allegiant said its dispatchers released the flight to Fargo because the FAA notice made it seem like the airport would remain open for passenger airlines. The airline said other planes that landed at Fargo during the closure apparently made the same mistake. The carrier said the aircraft landed with 42 minutes of fuel remaining. The FAA requires airliners to have 45 minutes more fuel than what its scheduled route should require. "Our captain exercised good fuel-management judgment," Steve Harfst, Allegiant's chief operating officer, said in an interview. "We have some work to do internally on flight planning and flight dispatching." Allegiant has been embroiled for years in contentious contract negotiations with its pilots union, whose planned strike in April was halted by a federal judge. In recent months, the pilots union has publicly alleged the airline is cutting corners at the expense of safety. Pilots say "they are forced to fly aircraft that barely passes acceptable safety standards," the union said in one report. Mr. Harfst attributed the union's allegations to bargaining tactics, and said they "are completely unfounded." From September to March, Allegiant had at least 65 incidents, including aborted takeoffs and diversions, because of maintenance-related issues on aircraft, according to the union. From June 8 to July 6, Allegiant had at least an additional 28 such incidents, the union said. Neither the airline nor the FAA makes such data public, so it is difficult to compare the rate of incidents at Allegiant to its peers. In one case in June, the FAA said passengers climbed onto a jet's wings via the emergency exits after it landed in Boise, Idaho, because a fuel leak was sending fumes into the cabin. Mr. Harfst didn't dispute the union's tally of recent incidents but added that this year's number of disruptions is similar to past years. "If we can't run a safe airline, we shouldn't be in the business," he said. Allegiant has a relatively high number of diversions because it doesn't have mechanics in most of its cities and often has to send flights back to its hubs when maintenance issues arise, he said. "That presents a unique challenge when it comes to customer service, but if anything, it's an example of our focus on safety," he said. Allegiant is the ninth-largest U.S. airline, accounting for 1.5% of the 76 million domestic airline seats scheduled in July. The discount carrier's strategy centers on using inexpensive, used jets to ferry vacationers between smaller cities and tourist hot spots, like Las Vegas and Orlando. Allegiant has one of the industry's highest profit margins, and on Wednesday it reported second-quarter profit increased 62% to $54.3 million from a year prior. Air-safety experts said Thursday's emergency in Fargo was extraordinary because dispatchers sent a plane into closed airspace and an aircraft ran short on fuel, something that should happen only in extreme circumstances. "There are a lot of questions about this one," said air-safety consultant John Cox, a former airline pilot. "With the number of incidents this year, increased scrutiny is understandable." http://www.wsj.com/articles/faa-steps-up-scrutiny-of-allegiant-1438275547 Back to Top DGCA sacks Air India air safety chief over runway incident Sources say the regulator was not happy with AS Soman's response The Directorate General of Civil Aviation on Friday ordered the removal of Air India chief of air safety Captain AS Soman for not maintaining flight monitoring data, sources said. Soman was appointed Air India's air safety chief in January this year. The move comes after an runway incident involving Air India's Bangalore-Hyderabad flight on June 28, when the pilot touched down but immediately took off again without stopping. According to DGCA's inquiry, the pilot had reported bad whether but when the agency asked for the data it was found that no surveillance had been done for the flight. DGCA had issued a showcause notice to the airline's chief of air safety Captain AS Soman after the incident came to its notice, sources said. However, "his response was found unsatisfactory as he had put the blame on the engineering department," sources said. Air safety chief of an airline is responsible for maintaining this data. As a result of this, the DGCA was not able to conduct its investigation as no data furnished by the airline. According to the norms, a scheduled airline has to monitor data for every flight, which has to be preserved for six months. After this incident, the DGCA had decided to conduct surprise checks of all airlines to make sure they are fully monitoring flight data. http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/dgca-sacks-air-india-air-safety-chief-over-runway- incident-115073100486_1.html Back to Top One dead after helicopter crash in Labrador A helicopter crash in northern Labrador has left one man dead and two others injured. The chopper went down Thursday in a remote area, close to the community of Rigolet. RCMP say the commercial helicopter was helping a work crew in the area when the accident occurred. The two injured men were taken to the local clinic for treatment, and are in stable condition. Rigolet's AngajukKâk. or mayor, Jim Shiwak, told CBC News that the injured people were still at the clinic Friday morning. He said weather has been poor in recent days, with thick fog in the area. Police, the Transportation Safety Board, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner are involved in the investigation. The RCMP said more details could be released Friday afternoon once the initial investigation is complete. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/one-dead-after-helicopter-crash-in-labrador- 1.3174981 ****************** Date: 30-JUL-2015 Time: Type: helicopter Owner/operator: Private Registration: C/n / msn: Fatalities: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 3 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Rigolet in Labrador - Canada Phase: En route Nature: Private Departure airport: Destination airport: Narrative: The helicopter crashed under unknown circumstances. One occupant died, two were injured. Sources: www.aviation-safety.net Back to Top Man shoots down drone hovering over house This article, Man shoots down drone hovering over house, originally appeared on CNET.com. Technically Incorrect offers a slightly twisted take on the tech that's taken over our lives. Man shoots down drone hovering over houseWilliam Merideth, drone shooter. WDRB-TV screenshot by Chris Matyszczyk/CNET We need to talk anti-aircraft weaponry. More and more so-called enthusiasts are sending drones into the sky. This means that more and more normal humans are becoming enthusiastic about shooting them out of the sky. Especially, as in the case of William H. Merideth, the drone is hovering over your house. Merideth, 47, lives in Hillview, Kentucky. As WDRB-TV reports, a neighbor heard gunshots and called the police. Merideth allegedly told the police that a drone was hovering over his house, where his teen daughter (he has two) was sunbathing. So he pulled out his gun and gave it a merry death. The drone's owner, police say, said he was flying it to take pictures of a neighboring house. However, Merideth told WRDB: "Well, I came out and it was down by the neighbor's house, about 10 feet off the ground, looking under their canopy that they've got under their back yard. I went and got my shotgun and I said, 'I'm not going to do anything unless it's directly over my property.'" And then it allegedly was. Merideth explained: "I didn't shoot across the road, I didn't shoot across my neighbor's fences, I shot directly into the air." He says that shortly after the shooting, he received a visit from four men who claimed to be responsible for the drone and explaining that it cost $1,800. Merideth says he stood his ground: "I had my 40 mm Glock on me and they started toward me and I told them, 'If you cross my sidewalk, there's gonna be another shooting.'" There appears not to have been another shooting. However, Merideth was arrested for wanton endangerment and criminal mischief. There is, apparently, a local ordinance that says you can't shoot a gun off in the city, but the police charged him under a Kentucky Revised Statute. I have contacted both the Hillview Police Department and the FAA to ask for their view on proceedings. I will update, should I hear. The FAA's recommendations include not flying above 400 feet and "Don't fly near people or stadiums." The FAA adds: "You could be fined for endangering people or other aircraft." For his part, Merideth says he will sue the drone's owners. He told WRDB: "You know, when you're in your own property, within a six-foot privacy fence, you have the expectation of privacy. We don't know if he was looking at the girls. We don't know if he was looking for something to steal. To me, it was the same as trespassing." It is, indeed, hard to know whether things that buzz in the sky have positive or negative intentions. Amateur drones disrupted efforts to fight recent California wildfires to such a degree that there's now a $75,000 reward for anyone who identifies those responsible. A Southern California lawmaker has created a bill that would make it legal for the authorities to shoot these drones out of the sky. https://www.yahoo.com/tech/s/man-shoots-down-drone-hovering-000032027.html Back to Top Spirit Jet Wheel Ignites on Landing in Dallas; No Injuries No injuries were reported after a tire on a landing gear on a Spirit Airlines jet caught fire while landing at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Airline spokeswoman Paul Berry says Spirit Flight 407 was arriving shortly before 1 p.m. Thursday from a three-hour flight from Orlando, Florida, when the tire on a landing gear ignited. Airport fire units extinguished the fire quickly and passengers deplaned at the gate. Perry says the Airbus A-320 had 178 passengers on board. The fire was the second incident to involve a flight arriving at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport on Thursday. An American Airlines flight was evacuated after smoke was detected in the cabin as the plane prepared to leave the airport. Three passengers were injured slightly when the plane was evacuated using emergency slides. http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/spirit-jet-wheel-ignites-landing-dallas-injuries-32790480 Back to Top American Airlines jet preparing to fly to Chicago evacuated at Dallas airport Three passengers were slightly hurt while evacuating a Chicago-bound American Airlines jet after smoke was detected in the plane as it prepared to leave Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. American spokeswoman Andrea Huguely says the crew of Flight 1658 deployed the emergency slides during Thursday's incident. Huguely says American officials are trying to determine the source of smoke in the cabin of the MD-80 preparing to fly to O'Hare International Airport. There was no fire. Maybe the source of the smoke is that the MD-80 is a 'industry relic'. Can't remember how long it took AA to retire all the Fokker-100's but I'm sure they are going to fly the MD-80s until the wheels fall off - didn't want to say they will fly them until the... Huguely says the jet, with 146 people on board, had just pulled back from the gate when the incident happened. She had no immediate information on how the three passengers suffered minor injuries during evacuation. Huguely says the jet was taken out of service and another plane would transport the passengers to Chicago. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-flight-to-chicago-evacuated-20150730-story.html Back to Top 39 accidents of defence aircraft over last 3 years (India) Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said in Lok Sabha that since 2012, 39 defence aircraft have crashed. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. (Source: PTI) As many as 39 defence aircraft, including 14 helicopters, of the defence forces have crashed since 2012 in which 36 personnel have lost their lives. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said in Lok Sabha that in 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15 and till July 27 this year, 39 defence aircraft, including two trainer aircraft and 14 helicopters of the defence forces, have crashed. "36 defence personnel have lost their lives in these accidents. No civilian was killed. The loss to civilian property assessed so far is estimated at Rs 4,43,800," he said during Question Hour. Parrikar said the number of accidents of defence aircraft has come down significantly over the last four decades, from an average 29 accident per year during 1970s to 17 per year during 2001-10. It has further come down to just nine accidents per year during 2011-15, he said. The Defence Minister said the average helicopter accidents has too come down from five per year a few years ago to just 1.4 per year now. Parrikar said every aircraft accident is thoroughly investigated by a Court of Inquiry to ascertain the cause of accident and the recommendations of the completed Court of Inquiry are implemented. http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/39-accidents-of-defence-aircraft-over-last-3-years- manohar-parrikar/#sthash.Hk4N2pO0.dpuf Back to Top Russia Vetoes U.N. Tribunal on Malaysia Airlines Flight Downed Over Ukraine U.N. Resolution would have established international criminal tribunal to probe downing of MH17 Russia-backed separatist APC, with a flag of the self-proclaimed Federal State of Novorossiya, rides by a memorial to victims of the Malaysian Airlines MH17 plane crash at the crash site near the village of Hrabove, eastern Ukraine, on July 16. NEW YORK-Russia vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution that would have established an international criminal tribunal to investigate the downing of a Malaysia Airlines flight in July 2014 over eastern Ukraine that killed 298 on board. The Security Council "sent the wrong message" to the families of the victims, Malaysia's Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai told the council after the vote Wednesday. "We are sending a message of impunity to the perpetrators and endangering the safety of civilian air travel over conflict zones in the future," he said. Vitaly Churkin, Russia's U.N. ambassador, said Moscow "seeks justice" in the downing of Flight 17, but said the resolution was politically motivated by "interested states" that acted "outside" the council in collusion with Ukraine. Russia has introduced its own draft resolution that calls for a "transparent international investigation" that has "nothing to do with impunity" in which Russia would have more input than it has been allowed into the Dutch-led probe, which is yet to be completed, Mr. Churkin said. The mechanism to "try those responsible" would be considered after the Russia-proposed investigation was over, he added. The Russian envoy said the U.S. downing of Iran Air flight 655 in 1988 by the U.S. warship Vincennes wasn't considered a crime, and that the Security Council didn't see it as a threat to international security. The U.S. paid compensation to the victims' families. The defeated resolution on Flight 17 declared the incident a threat to international security, which is the legal basis for council involvement in such an issue. Mr. Churkin said there was no mention of such a threat by Western nations in the months after Flight 17 went down, but it has "suddenly" been invoked in the resolution that Russia vetoed. Russia also believes ad hoc U.N. criminal tribunals on former Yugoslavia and Rwanda were expensive and subject to political pressure, Mr. Churkin said. The International Criminal Court was established in 2002 to replace such courts, but there has been no move to bring the Flight 17 case to The Hague. Ukraine isn't a member of the ICC but could sign up to the treaty in full and approve retroactive jurisdiction. Western diplomats have blamed Russia-backed rebels for downing the plane with a Russia-supplied surface-to-air missile. The Dutch investigation hasn't yet established what weapon was used. The veto "cannot and will not deny the victims justice," U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power told the council. "While we are outraged by the outcome of this vote, no veto will stand in the way of this heinous crime being investigated and prosecuted." http://www.wsj.com/articles/russia-vetoes-u-n-tribunal-on-malaysia-airlines-flight-downed-over-ukraine- 1438253293 Back to Top Back to Top Embry-Riddle Names Dean Dr. Tim Brady Interim Chancellor of Daytona Beach Campus DAYTONA BEACH - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has announced the appointment of Dr. Tim Brady, currently Dean of the College of Aviation at the Daytona Beach Campus, as Interim Chancellor of the campus effective Aug. 15. "Dr. Brady has been a catalyst for legitimizing aviation as an academic discipline as exemplified by his leadership in forging the nation's first aviation Ph.D. program," said Embry-Riddle Interim President Dr. John R. Watret. "We look forward to his continued contributions as leader of the Daytona Beach Campus." Dr. Brady saw active duty with the U.S. Air Force from 1958 to 1980 as a pilot and was twice decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross in addition to several air medals. Before joining Embry-Riddle, he was chairman of the aviation department at Central Missouri State University and dean of Institutional Advancement and External Programs at Parks College of St. Louis University. Among his many accomplishments, Dr. Brady is the only person to serve as president of both the University Aviation Association and the Aviation Accreditation Board International and led Embry-Riddle in the development of the first Ph.D. in Aviation program in the United States. He has been called on to represent the national collegiate flight training community at crucial times in the evolution of training technologies, education pedagogy and regulatory practice. Through testimony to Congress, participation in FAA aviation rulemaking committees and outreach to colleagues, he has illuminated the issues surrounding the preparation of first officer aspirants for aviation careers. "I am deeply honored to have been considered and selected for this role," Dr. Brady said. "As Interim Chancellor of the Daytona Beach Campus, I look forward to working with faculty, staff and students to help the institution achieve its goals." Dr. Brady holds a Ph.D. in Education from St. Louis University, an M.S. in Management from Abilene Christian University and a B.S. in Social Science from Troy State University. Media Contact: Mary Van Buren, Assistant Director of Communications, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.; Office: (386) 226-6525; mary.van.buren@erau.edu. About Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the world's largest, fully accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace, is a nonprofit, independent institution offering more than 75 baccalaureate, master's and Ph.D. degree programs in its colleges of Arts & Sciences, Aviation, Business, Engineering and Security & Intelligence. Embry-Riddle educates students at residential campuses in Daytona Beach, Fla., and Prescott, Ariz., through the Worldwide Campus with more than 125 locations in the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and through online programs. The university is a major research center, seeking solutions to real-world problems in partnership with the aerospace industry, other universities and government agencies. For more information, visit www.embryriddle.edu, follow us on Twitter (@EmbryRiddle) and facebook.com/EmbryRiddleUniversity, and find expert videos at YouTube.com/EmbryRiddleUniv. http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12096146/embry-riddle-names-dean-dr-tim-brady-interim- chancellor-of-daytona-beach-campus Back to Top UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS WORKSHOP Professional education seminars for aviation practitioners The Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) course is designed to identify the key concepts, attributes, and challenges of UAS operations. The UAS sector is one of the fastest growing and most dynamic segments within aviation industry. Currently the majority of UAS growth has been in support of military and security operations however, recent congressional mandates have unlocked a bourgeoning civilian market with interest in a broad range of uses such as aerial photography, precision agriculture, mapping, monitoring climate and environmental conditions, and public safety. Who Should Attend: This course is designed for UAS Engineers, Transitioning Military UAS Operators, Mission Coordinators, Entrepreneurs, Field Service Representatives, UAS Technicians, UAS Program Managers or others wishing to obtain further knowledge of UAS operations. Attendees will gain knowledge of: * UAS System Components and Classification * Regulatory Environment for UAS * Issues Associated with UAS Airspace Integration * Future and Current Trends Affecting the UAS Industry Course Topics: * The UAS Market * UAS Systems Design and Development * UAS Sensors Packages * UAS Navigation Systems * National Airspace System Integration DECEMBER 8 - 10 REGISTER TODAY Embry-Riddle Increases Its Commitment to Continuing Education Embry-Riddle is a premier university for aviation training and education; join us for your professional development needs. UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS WORKSHOP Course Dates: December 8-10, 2015 Course Location: ERAU Daytona Beach Campus, FL Course Fee: Early Bird Fee: $1,300 (Prior to Sept. 16, 2015) Standard Fee: $1,400 SAVE THE DATE - DECEMBER 8 THRU 10, 2015 CONTACT: Sarah Ochs, Director of Professional Programs Email: case@erau.edu Phone: (386) 226-6928 www.daytonabeach.erau.edu/uas Back to Top SIA to hire cadet pilots again after 3-year freeze Singapore Airlines is resuming cadet-pilot recruitment after a business slump forced a freeze on this more than three years ago. 80 to 100 cadets will be recruited to meet future operational needs Singapore Airlines (SIA) is resuming cadet-pilot recruitment after a business slump forced a freeze on this more than three years ago. The first hiring exercise since the last batch of cadets was admitted in early 2012 will be launched in the coming weeks, said the airline's spokesman, Mr Nicholas Ionides. Between 80 and 100 cadets will be recruited to meet future operational requirements, he added. The airline's existing pool of about 2,000 pilots is enough to meet current needs as well as some of the future Airbus 350's requirements, Mr Ionides said. SIA has ordered 63 of the twin- aisle A-350 planes, which will start arriving from early next year. It typically takes about three years to train a cadet pilot. The decision to start hiring cadets again is a turnaround from the slew of initiatives in the last few years to trim excess manpower at the airline. In 2013, SIA told its 76 expatriate pilots that they would have to leave before their three-year contracts expired. It also cut the flying hours of crew and asked pilots to take voluntary unpaid leave. Mr Ionides said that while there is still a surplus of pilots, the various initiatives have managed to reduce the excess. He, however, did not provide actual figures. The last few years have been challenging for SIA, which faces intense competition from other premium carriers like Emirates and Cathay Pacific, as well as budget carriers moving in on its regional turf. But things are improving for the SIA group, which has taken key steps to diversify its business to strengthen its position, industry analysts said. In the year ended March 31, the airline reported a 2.5 per cent increase in profits to $367.9 million on a 2.1 per cent increase in turnover to $15.6 billion. The group's low-cost unit, Scoot, continues to expand, while subsidiary Tigerair is consolidating its business. In January, SIA started Vistara, a New Delhi-based carrier it jointly owns with Indian conglomerate Tata. Next month, SIA will launch its premium economy product, offering travellers more space and comfort for a higher fare. Citing the push to diversify and "unlock new avenues of growth", aviation think-tank Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation said in a recent report that this will be "a key year" for the SIA group. Profits which have been "very modest" the last four years should gradually start to rise again, the report said. http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/sia-to-hire-cadet-pilots-again-after-3-year-freeze Back to Top Terrafugia's TF-X brings flying cars closer to reality (no airport needed) When was the last time you were stuck in traffic and wished you could press a button on the dashboard, turn your car into a helicopter and soar away from the rush-hour snarl at, say, 200 miles per hour? Yesterday, perhaps? With so much talk these days about the seemingly imminent arrival of fully-automated, self-driving cars in showrooms, people might not realize how close we are to parking flying cars in our driveways. At least that's how Terrafugia Inc. sees it. The Woburn, Massachusetts, company has been working on flying-car projects for a decade and has revealed a design that takes off vertically - eliminating the need for airports altogether. Terrafugia chief executive Carl Dietrich told TODAY.com the TF-X is still a concept, but building such a machine would be possible with current off-the-shelf technology. The vehicle reflects the latest developments in self-driving cars and the probable future of increasingly automated airborne personal transport, but is most likely a decade or more away, Dietrich said. The TF-X - unveiled at AirVenture, an aviation industry gathering in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, last week - is called the TF-X and uses battery-powered rotor blades to lift off and moves into forward flight using a gasoline-powered propeller-like fan for thrust. It carries four people and cruises at 200 mph and flies to a destination that the driver punches into its navigation system. Operating the TF-X will not require a pilot's license because the craft will fly itself. As with autonomous cars, small aircraft that fly themselves are considered safer than those operated by humans. So far Terrafugia is showing computer-generated videos and scale models of the TF-X, a revised version of a vehicle it first revealed in 2013. For now, though, Terrafugia is betting on its slightly more conventional Transition, a flying car with folding wings and traditional manual controls that is close to gaining Federal Aviation Administration approval and could go on sale in a year or two. The Transition has already been through years of flight and road testing and appears to work well. Terrafugia said it has dozens of deposits from customers who want one. Still, it remains unclear whether it can succeed where others have failed. Past attempts at marketable flying cars, including the Fulton Airphibian and Waterman Aerobile, never caught on, mainly because of design limitations that tend to plague any airplane-car combination. "A flying car is such a compromise that it doesn't do a good job as a car or as an airplane," said Bob van der Linden, curator of aeronautics at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. The museum has an Airphibian, an Aerobile and a Stout Skycar in its collection. "It's cheaper to own a good airplane and a good car," van der Linden said. http://www.today.com/money/terrafugias-tf-x-brings-flying-cars-closer-reality-no-airport-t35586 Back to Top Boeing debuts fighter jet for Australian Air Force The first of 12 fighter jets Boeing will manufacture for the Australian Air Force. Hazelwood's Boeing plant debuted the first of twelve expected new fighter jets to the Australian Air Force on Wednesday. Australia is the first county outside of the United States to receive the new Growler fighter jet. Recently the production of growler planes has been slowed down to two per month, in order to keep the Hazelwood production line running. "The E-18 Growler program, both for the U.S. Navy and Australia, is a key part of what we do at Boeing and in St. Louis. The program employs over 60,000 people in 44 states, 800 supplies and several thousand in St. Louis that are directly working with the growlers today," said Dan Gillian, vice president of F/A-18 and EA-18G programs. Boeing said the Hazelwood production line will continue to make planes through 2020. http://www.kmov.com/story/29672660/boeing-debuts-fighter-jet-for-australian-air-force Back to Top Brazil's Embraer delays cargo jet, loses revenue on defense cuts (Reuters) - Brazilian planemaker Embraer SA said on Thursday it will delay development of a military cargo jet and forgo $300 million of revenue this year due to Brazil's weaker currency and defense spending cuts, triggering the biggest drop in its shares in nearly four years. Embraer now plans to deliver its first KC-390 cargo aircraft to the Brazilian Air Force in the first half of 2018 rather than the end of 2016, the company said in its quarterly earnings report. The plane is the biggest Embraer has made. Second-quarter profit fell 10 percent from a year earlier due in part to its flagging defense unit, whose contracts have been cut back and stretched out due to a government austerity push aimed at shoring up Brazil's investment-grade rating. Domestic defense contracts are also contributing less revenue in U.S. dollars due to a 20 percent plunge by the Brazilian real this year. Embraer is listed in New York and Sao Paulo and reports earnings in dollars. Embraer shares fell almost 8 percent in Sao Paulo, on track for their biggest daily loss since August 2011. Chief Executive Frederico Curado said he did not expect defense revenues to rebound next year, but that there should be no "new surprises" from the government forcing Embraer to scale back contracts again this year or next. Defense operations contributed over 23 percent of sales last year, but fell to just 14 percent of revenue last quarter. Embraer has invested heavily in a diversified defense unit, winning contracts to develop the KC-390 cargo plane, refurbish old fighter jets, launch a Brazilian satellite and set up a border monitoring system in the Amazon rainforest. Curado said defense cuts were concentrated on the KC-390 and the fighter jet upgrades, which would be reduced in scope. Following a first flight in February, the KC-390 test campaign is now scheduled to start in the third quarter and last 18-24 months, with certification in the second half of 2017. The government still owes about $370 million in accounts receivable that Embraer is working to collect, Curado said. Embraer lowered its 2015 revenue outlook by $300 million to between $5.8 billion and $6.3 billion. Embraer kept its targets for operating profit as a stronger dollar should boost export margins. The company reported a quarterly net profit of $129 million, above the average forecast of $96 million in a Reuters poll of analysts. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/30/embraer-results-guidance-idUSL1N10A0R320150730 Back to Top US Sending Eight F-16 Fighter Jets To Egyptian Military The United States agreed to send eight F-16 fighter jets to the Egyptian military. Pictured: an Egyptian jet in Cairo, Jan. 30, 2011. Reuters The United States will deliver eight F-16 fighter jets to Egypt in an effort to help the country fight extremism and to bolster security in the region, according to a statement on Thursday from the U.S. Embassy in Cairo. The aircraft are part of a $1.3 billion plan to upgrade Egypt's military amid increased extremist threats. The jets are being flown to Egypt and will become a part of the country's air force, which already features U.S.-made F-16 aircraft. "The F-16s provide a valuable capability that is needed during these times of regional instability," said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Charles Hooper, the U.S. Embassy's senior defense official in Cairo. "America's commitment to a strong relationship with Egypt is demonstrated by continued cooperation and capability-sharing between our two countries. Extremists threaten regional security and these weapon systems provide a new tool to help Egypt fight terrorism." Egyptian forces have frequently battled with militants in the Sinai Peninsula region during July, including a rocket attack Saturday that killed a solider and injured five more, the Associated Press reported. The militant group Wilayat Sinai has pledged its allegiance to the Islamic State group and is growing in its abilities, the newspaper Hareetz reported. The group carried out its deadliest attacks in early July, with 17 soldiers and 100 militants killed during the fighting, the BBC reported. http://www.ibtimes.com/us-sending-eight-f-16-fighter-jets-egyptian-military-2032562 Back to Top No joke, Facebook testing drone with 737 jet's wingspan MENLO PARK, California -Facebook says it will begin test flights later this year of a solar-powered drone with the wingspan of a Boeing 737, the next stage of its campaign to deliver Internet service to remote parts of the world. Engineers at the giant social network say they've built a drone with a 140-foot wingspan that weighs less than 1,000 pounds. It will use lasers to send Internet signals to stations on the ground. The project is part of a broader effort by Facebook that also contemplates using satellites and other high- tech gear to deliver Internet connectivity to hundreds of millions of people living in regions too remote for conventional service. Facebook rival Google is experimenting with high-altitude balloons and satellites in a program that has similar goals. http://www.kcci.com/news/no-joke-facebook-testing-drone-with-737-jets-wingspan/34445816 Back to Top LeTourneau and Longview ISD create aviation partnership (Texas) Longview (KYTX) - Letourneau University and Longview Independent School District (LISD) announced a new partnership Wednesday. Longview's incoming freshmen will have the option of attending college classes at Letourneau free of charge. Wednesday's partnership will give students interested in aviation a chance to work toward a bachelor of aviation management. It is a part of LISD'S new "Early College High School" program, which provides students the costs of their tuition, textbooks and transportation to the university campus. Letourneau University President Dale Lunsford said the partnership will give students unprecedented direction. "It's all about focus," Lunsford said. "For a student to decide, 'I see this path for my life' is great. Here's an industry I want to work in. In this case, today, we're talking about aviation. There's a lot of different careers. You can be a pilot. You can be an air traffic controller. You can be a technician. You can be an engineer. this kind of focus helps a student get through high school and gives them, of course, a head start at finishing their college degree." Longview High School is one of 44 schools this spring to receive the Texas Education Agency designation as an "Early College High School" and is the only one in Gregg County. Lunsford said this is the perfect district for this designation. "LISD is going to do this right," Lunsford said. "They've decided to do it in a quality way so the students will get a great experience. Again, I think partnering with a recognized four-year university like LeTourneau adds to this high-quality experience." A student in this program has the potential to save as much as $50,000 in college related expenses. to learn more about this partnership and program, you can visit www.letu.edu/_Academics/Aero-Science . http://www.tylerpaper.com/TP-News+Local/222335/letourneau-and-longview-isd-create-aviation- partnership Back to Top Auburn University partners with aviation companies, NASA John Mason, vice president for research and economic development (left) and Patrick Scheuermann, director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (right), sign the research agreement. (Evan McCullers | Sports Reporter) Officials from Auburn University and NASA signed a Space Act Agreement on Thursday, July 30. The partnership will allow both parties to develop a cost-saving method of manufacturing in the form of additive manufacturing, or 3-D printing. John Mason, Auburn University vice president for research and economic development, said the agreement is the beginning of a mutually beneficial relationship with NASA. "Additive manufacturing is a major advancement for the future direction for the nation's industries," Mason said. "The partnership with NASA is an excellent opportunity to engage and leverage each other's capabilities and technical expertise." The signing took place at the university's forum on additive manufacturing, which was co-sponsored by Auburn University and the city of Auburn Industrial Development Board. The forum drew professionals from the private sector, academia and government officials. Local representatives included Auburn University trustee Jimmy Sanford, President Jay Gogue and Auburn Mayor Bill Ham Jr. Sanford and Ham introduced the morning's keynote speaker, Greg Morris, general manager of additive technology at GE Aviation. Morris described the process of additive manufacturing, as well as the future of the industry. GE Aviation has a 300,000-square-foot plant in Auburn that produces jet engines. Ham said the impact the company has on the Auburn area cannot be overstated. "We're very proud of our relationship with GE Aviation," Ham said. "Our collaborative efforts with GE are paramount." The Space Act Agreement is designed to include students and faculty members in NASA missions and allow Auburn and NASA to share facilities and knowledge. Patrick Scheuermann, director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, was NASA's representative at the event. Mason said working with NASA and GE Aviation will give Auburn students and faculty opportunities that would not be possible with the university alone. "We are establishing partnerships with highly innovative businesses and organizations to spur economic growth throughout the state and region," Mason said. "These relationships benefit students with learning experiences, while companies benefit from the practical, applied solutions developed through research conducted by faculty and students." http://www.theplainsman.com/article/2015/07/auburn-university-partners-with-aviation-companies-nasa 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 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 AViCON - Aviation Insurance Conference September 10th and 11th, 2015 Stevensville, MD 21666 http://www.rtiforensics.com/news-events/avicon 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/ Safeskies 2015 Aviation Safety Conference 22 to 24 September 2015 Realm Hotel, Canberra www.SafeskiesAustralia.org Back to Top JOBS AVAILABLE: Fatigue Risk Management Systems (FRMS) Program Advisor Virgin Australia http://careers.virginaustralia.com/cw/en/job/496246/fatigue-risk-management-systems-frms-program- advisor Head of Safety Qantas http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/job-search-current-vacancies/global/en 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