Flight Safety Information September 3, 2015 - No. 175 In This Issue Review examines risks, responses to in-flight medical emergencies Aviation Safety Forum To Be Held at NBAA 2015 Passengers evacuated after fire at Moscow airport Texas makes changes to airport gun law Four injured after Fort Carson helicopter makes "hard landing" Brace for Impact: The Regional Pilot Shortage is Here Broken lavatories force Malaysia Airlines jet to land FAA Releases Updated Model Aircraft Guidance Model Airplane Enthusiasts Urged to Fight Anti-Drone Bill 12 Horrendous Airplane Passengers You Meet At 39,000 Feet...Don't be that person PROS 2015 TRAINING Stay Current on Aviation Safety - Follow FSI on Twitter Curt Lewis & Associates Names New VP Program Design & Learning Systems This Guy Made His Own 'Super Drone' Using 54 Propellers FAA names top unmanned aircraft execs Emirates receives four wide-body aircraft in one day Delta pilots elect new leader for contract talks SAA about to cancel order for 10 Airbus aircraft SpaceLiner: How the German hypersonic rocket jet that travels Australia to Europe in 90 minutes Upcoming Events JOBS AVAILABLE (New Positions) Review examines risks, responses to in-flight medical emergencies Reuters - An airplane in flight is one of the worst places to have a medical emergency, even if there's a doctor on board. Medical supplies and drugs are limited. There's often little space for a physician to work or for anyone to render first aid. Critical resources may be hours away. The New England Journal of Medicine has published a review for doctors of the types of urgent problems they might encounter on board and some of the challenges they'll face if they try to treat them. Fortunately, the odds of having a medical emergency on a particular flight are long - by one count, about 1 in 600. In many cases there are no clear guidelines on whether an emergency landing is warranted. Even if there is a doctor on the flight, the decision is always up to the pilot. Here's a rundown of some of the potential problems and options in that "medically austere environment," according to Dr. Jose Nable of the Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. and his coauthors. Cardiac arrest is the deadliest threat but, fortunately, the odds of seeing one during a flight are small. They account for only 0.3 percent of medical emergencies. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is one potential treatment and the medical kit all airlines are supposed to have on board contains equipment to help. Each plane is also supposed to have a defibrillator to shock an errant heart back into a normal rhythm, but unlike on TV, that often doesn't work. Thus, cardiac arrest is responsible for 86 percent of in-fight events that result in death. Heart attacks and related problems like angina represent 8 percent of in-air emergencies. On-board medical kits have aspirin, which can help break up a clot causing a heart attack. The kits also contain nitroglycerin to relieve chest pain, "though they should be used with caution," the doctors advise. There's one type of heart attack, for example, where giving nitroglycerin can drop blood pressure to dangerously low levels and lead to shock. Strokes or suspected strokes account for 2 percent of in-flight medical emergencies. Administering oxygen is one option for doctors. Giving aspirin is not because too many strokes are caused by bleeding in the brain, and aspirin can worsen that problem. However, stroke-like symptoms can also be caused by low blood sugar. If an airline doesn't carry a glucose-monitoring kit - and some don't because they're not required - passengers can be asked to loan one. "Altered mental status" covers a lot of problems and can include complications from diabetes (responsible for 1.6 percent of emergencies) along with seizures and their aftermath (5.8 percent). Unfortunately, lower in-cabin air pressure and travel to a different time zone can aggravate some existing problems. Again, a blood sugar measurement may help. Fainting or feeling faint account for 37 percent of emergencies. Lower cabin pressure and dehydration caused by the dry air in the cabin, along with altered eating patterns and fatigue from delayed flights may contribute, the doctors write. Attending to blood sugar levels or letting the passenger lay on the floor with feet elevated can help. But diverting the plane might be warranted if the person is elderly with serious heart problems and persistent symptoms. Breathing difficulties make up 12% of in-flight medical emergencies. Medical kits contain an albuterol inhaler. Psychiatric emergencies account for 3.5 percent of incidents. The stresses of flying these days don't help people with mental health issues, the doctors note. Most travelers can sympathize. "Because the medical kit does not contain sedatives, the use of improvised physical restraints might be necessary to ensure the safety of other passengers if attempts at deescalating the situation and calming the passenger are unsuccessful," Nable and his colleagues write. The good news for passengers: in many cases there is a doctor on board who can help. A 2006 survey of 191 medical emergencies found that a doctor was on the plane for 45 percent of the calls. A recommendation for an emergency landing was made in 3 percent of the cases. http://www.foxnews.com/health/2015/09/03/review-examines-risks-responses-to-in-flight-medical- emergencies/ Back to Top Aviation Safety Forum To Be Held at NBAA 2015 NBAA announced that its inaugural National Safety Forum will be conducted on the last day of the business aviation association's annual convention, which will be held November 17 to 19 in Las Vegas. The day-long forum is tailored for aviation department managers, chief pilots, directors of maintenance, safety managers, schedulers/dispatchers, cabin crew and anyone interested in improving business aviation safety. "The National Safety Forum is designed to bring together international business aviation leaders to engage in discussions with top FAA and NTSB officials so they can together address the major business aviation safety issues in an open forum," said NBAA Safety Committee chair Steve Charbonneau. Confirmed opening speakers include NTSB chairman Christopher Hart and FAA director of accident investigation and prevention Wendell Griffin. In addition, the forum will include presentations by Flight Safety Foundation CEO Jon Beatty, International Business Aviation Council director general Kurt Edwards and members of the NBAA Safety Committee focus teams. Topics to be discussed at the forum will include runway excursions, fitness-for-duty, data sharing, professionalism and procedural compliance and airport and ground handling safety. Material presented during the forum, along with the associated discussions, will enable aircraft operators to address these significant safety issues within their own operations through hazard identification, risk management and use of other safety management techniques. Participants already registered for NBAA 2015 will be admitted to the forum free of charge, but charged a $40 fee for the aviation safety networking luncheon. The National Safety Forum is designed to complement the NBAA Single Pilot Safety Standdown, which will be held on the eve of the convention on November 16. http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2015-09-02/aviation-safety-forum-be-held- nbaa-2015 Back to Top Passengers evacuated after fire at Moscow airport Dozens of flights have been delayed following a fire in the baggage handling area. A fire broke out at Moscow's Domodedovo International Airport on Thursday and was briefly evacuated. Around 40 flights were delayed after the incident in the baggage handling area. "At 8:10 a.m. (0510 UTC), the fire was total extinguished. There is no delay to arriving flights but there are (delays) to departing flights," an official from the Emergency Situations Ministry was quoted by Russian news agency TASS as saying. Around 3,000 passengers were evacuated, according to authorities, after the fire spread to cover an area measuring about 20 square meters (215 square feet) at around 7:00 a.m. local time (0300 UTC). "Once the smoke is under control and we have checked the building, the airport will be back operating as normal," said the ministry official, adding the passengers would "soon" be allowed back to their departure gates. http://www.dw.com/en/passengers-evacuated-after-fire-at-moscow-airport/a-18691110 Back to Top Texas makes changes to airport gun law Stop me if you've experienced this one before: You're making your way through the airport, sleep still in your eyes. It's an early morning flight after all. No need to print your boarding pass, as it's on your phone already. You remove your shoes and put your laptop in its tray and then...oops! You remember there's a gun in your carry-on. In perhaps the most Texas story to come out of Texas since that sorority straight-up broke the TSA with their carry-on books, a new piece of legislation says that passengers carrying concealed handguns into airports will no longer be subject to felony charges, so long as they are accidentally carrying concealed handguns. Tom Benning breaks it down for The Dallas Morning News: "Starting Tuesday, a concealed handgun license holder can avoid arrest on a third-degree felony charge for bringing a pistol into an airport's secure zone. That's so long as the person immediately leaves the area upon being told about the weapon. The thought of bringing a handgun into an airport - accidentally or otherwise - might seem ludicrous, given the focus on airport safety and the all-too-familiar nuisance of going through security. But it happens more often than you might expect." While it's pretty hard to imagine this ever happening, in 2005, the TSA did indeed discover 660 guns in carry-on bags in airports. In 2014, that number had grown to 2200. Dallas/Fort Worth counted 120 gun catches all on its own last year. And given TSA failure rates, it seems pretty possible that these numbers are low. TSA can still dole out civil fines at its discretion. The fine for an unloaded gun is $3,000 and $7,500 if it's loaded. The Dallas Morning News article in question name drops Texas State Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosaas one of those who accidentally packed heat on his way through airport security. This is real. The lesson here of course is don't mess with Texas TSA. But if you do mess with Texas TSA, that's okay now, too. Just so long as it's an accident. http://www.wtsp.com/story/travel/2015/09/01/texas-makes-changes-airport-gun-law/71543094/ Back to Top Four injured after Fort Carson helicopter makes "hard landing" The injuries were not life-threatening. Four Fort Carson soldiers were injured after a Blackhawk helicopter from the post made a hard landing in a wooded area in Douglas County Wednesday afternoon. The soldiers were part of the 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson said in a news release. The helicopter was on a routine training mission when the incident happened. At a press conference in Castle Rock Wednesday night, officials for Douglas County and Fort Carson did not release the conditions of the injured, though none of the injuries were considered life-threatening. All were taken to Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs. Two were released Wednesday evening and the other two were being held overnight. "At least four members of our Armed Services today are very, very lucky," said Steve Johnson, a deputy chief with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. The hard landing was reported about 4 p.m. The helicopter went down in U.S. Forest Service land south of Colorado 67 and Rampart Range Road, said Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock. Douglas County emergency responders got word of the incident from the military flight dispatch center, Spurlock said. One of the four on board the helicopter had a cell phone and called for help. But the remoteness of the area and spotty cell phone coverage made it difficult to pinpoint the site. Once they found the site, rescue teams hiked for about 30 minutes before locating the chopper. Two medical helicopters were "frantically searching" for the downed chopper, Johnson said. The area is close to where Douglas, El Paso and Elbert counties merge. http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_28747076/helicopter-crashes-elbert-county-emergency-response- ongoing **************** Date: 02-SEP-2015 Time: 04:30 p.m. Type: UH-60 Black Hawk Owner/operator: US Army, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade Registration: C/n / msn: Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: near Rampart Range - United States of America Phase: En route Nature: Military Departure airport: Fort Carson Destination airport: Fort Carson Narrative: The helicopter went down during a training exercise under unknown circumstances. All four occupants were injured, two severely. www.aviation-safety.net Back to Top Brace for Impact: The Regional Pilot Shortage is Here The idea of a looming pilot shortage is a myth. That is the message which came out of the Boyd Group International Aviation Forecast Summit in Las Vegas this week. Sitting on a panel Chuck Howell, CEO of Great Lakes Airways and Jeff Jones, VP of Strategic Planning for Republic Airways made that point very clear. The shortage is not looming; it is here right now and it is going to get worse in a hurry. Both executives, each representing a slightly different portion of the regional airline industry, were spectacularly blunt about the challenges they face to recruit, train and retain qualified and competent candidates as pilots. And, while the challenges are slightly different, there is also some concern that the ultimate result is that it is not only the regional carriers which will be affected; it could very quickly scale up into the mainline carriers as well. A Great Lakes Airlines B1900D. leaving Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. (Photo credits: Daniel Betts) For Great Lakes the solution was more of a stop-gap approach. The company removed 10 seats from its Beechcraft 1900 aircraft to drop the passenger count below 10 and change the FAA regulations under which the carrier operates. This allows it to hire pilots with less experience and train them up to the 1500 hour minimum necessary for operating larger aircraft. Howell notes that this has worked, at least in the short term but also that "Outside of EAS it is not a business model that is long-term sustainable." And the company struggles to retain those pilots they've invested in training. Howell explained that the "rigor and the time and the money involved in taking that pilot from day 1 and putting them on the flight line that they start actually carrying passengers is a major investment" which pays off: the end result is well trained pilots. But, "because they're well trained everyone else in the industry wants them." Great Lakes is a feeder in to the larger regional operators just as those airlines feed the mainline carriers. And as the number of available pilots dries up at the bottom tiers the upper levels will feel pressure. Jones has a similar view of the industry, though Republic is one rung about Great Lakes in the pilot hierarchy. Much like Howell he recognizes that the costs of becoming a qualified pilot are far outstripping the pay scale those pilots see coming in to the industry. And he believes that the obligation to act on that front is shared with the mainline carriers: Our whole basis of dealing with the [mainline] partners that we have is based on low profit margins which are based on long-held rates. The next step for us is dealing with our major partners in how can we get down to help share in the right costs, raising the starting pay enough that [young pilots] can see their student loans being paid in the long run? Yes, it would seem that the answer is easy: Just pay more. But it may be too late for that to be an effective solution to head off the shortage. Renegotiating contracts is far from a trivial task and, even if it happened quickly. Current growth at regional operators often comes in the form of pilots leaving other regional operators. The true growth is not sufficient to replace the pilots moving up to the mainline carriers. The pipeline to get a sufficient number of pilots to the minimum hour requirements is compressing and these executives question whether enough pilots can be trained to 1500 hours quickly enough. As Howell opined: Quantity of time does not mean quality of time. A kid banner-towing getting 1500 hours is not going to have the same skill set as a kid flying in all-weather conditions and complex equipment. ... How do you get that time? There is nothing scalable right now in the industry for the volume [needed]. Ultimately the challenge is very real. Republic Airways has already reported to its mainline carriers that it may fail to operate schedules as promised. Great Lakes is able to survive for now, but that may not be a plan which is viable long-term. And, in the middle of it all are the consumers - and airlines - insisting on lowering costs. It is a very real challenge and the tipping point may have already passed, even if we have not really seen it yet. http://airwaysnews.com/blog/2015/09/02/brace-for-impact-the-regional-pilot-shortage-is-here/ Back to Top Broken lavatories force Malaysia Airlines jet to land KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia Airlines said one of its jets made an unscheduled landing in India on Thursday due to broken lavatories while flying the same route as flight MH17, which was shot down over Ukraine last year. Malaysia Airlines said one of its jets made an unscheduled landing in India due to broken lavatories while flying the same route as flight MH17, which was shot down over Ukraine last year. A spokeswoman said MH19 -- the new flight code after "MH17" was retired following the tragedy -- landed in Chennai on a scheduled flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. "The plane had to land due to inoperable lavatories," she said. It was to land in Kuala Lumpur later Thursday morning. The unexpected landing came just two days after the carrier touted the formal launch of a new holding company, Malaysia Airlines Berhad -- part of efforts to turn the page on last year's tragedies. MH17 was blown out of the sky, killing all 298 aboard, by a suspected ground-to-air missile over Ukraine in July 2014. Four months earlier, flight MH370 disappeared with 239 passengers and crew aboard. Flight-tracking websites showed MH19 making two wide turns over India before landing. The spokeswoman attributed this to a lack of immediate parking slots in Chennai, and the standard practice of burning excess fuel before unexpected landings. http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asia/679536/broken-lavatories-force-malaysia-airlines-jet-to-land Back to Top FAA Releases Updated Model Aircraft Guidance September 2 - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today published updated guidance on model aircraft operations that reflects current law governing hobby or recreational use of unmanned aircraft. Advisory Circular (AC) 91-57A replaces the previous guidance that, as written in 1981, did not reflect the rules Congress wrote into Section 336 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012. The updated advisory circular details the 2012 law's description of a "model aircraft operation": The aircraft is flown strictly for hobby or recreational use; The aircraft operates in accordance with a community-based set of safety guidelines and within the programming of a nationwide community-based organization (CBO); The aircraft is limited to not more than 55 pounds, unless otherwise certified through a design, construction, inspection, flight test, and operational safety program administered by a CBO; The aircraft operates in a manner that does not interfere with, and gives way to, any manned aircraft; and When flown within 5 miles of an airport, the operator of the model aircraft provides the airport operator or the airport air traffic control tower (when an air traffic facility is located at the airport) with prior notice of the operation. Model aircraft operators flying from a permanent location within 5 miles of an airport should establish a mutually agreed upon operating procedure with the airport operator and the airport air traffic control tower (when an air traffic facility is located at the airport). The guidance stresses model aircraft operators must comply with all Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR), that they may not fly in any type of restricted airspace without prior authorization, and that they should be aware of Notices to Airmen (NOTAMS) that address flights near federal facilities, stadiums, and other public and industrial areas. The guidance also makes it clear that model unmanned aircraft operations that endanger the safety of the nation's airspace, particularly careless or reckless operations and interference with manned aircraft, may be subject to FAA enforcement action. View AC 91-57A http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12110427/faa-releases-updated-model-aircraft-guidance Back to Top Model Airplane Enthusiasts Urged to Fight Anti-Drone Bill Enthusiasts who fly model airplanes and small drones are being asked to fight a state bill that could subject weekend hobbyists to lawsuits and civil actions. The Academy of Model Aeronautics, a 79-year-old organization with 176,000 members nationwide, is urging its California members to ask Gov. Jerry Brown to veto Senate Bill 142. "While originally intended to address privacy concerns, the bill was amended in late June and, as such, now potentially subjects model aviation enthusiasts to possible law suits and civil sanctions for even an inadvertent excursion over the property of a neighbor that borders their flying field, schoolyard, park, or even their backyard," the organization said in an urgent email Wednesday to members. The bill, which was sponsored by Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson from Santa Barbara, was sent to the governor last week. Brown has until Sept. 12 to either sign or veto it. Jackson says the intent of her bill is to "prohibit remotely operated aerial vehicles known as drones from trespassing on private property without permission." Hobbyists can can us an online form at http://amagov.modelaircraft.org/18534/californiasb142/ to send a letter to Brown. http://timesofsandiego.com/politics/2015/09/02/model-airplane-enthusiasts-urged-to-fight-anti-drone- bill/ Back to Top 12 Horrendous Airplane Passengers You Meet At 39,000 Feet Don't be that person. There are behavior rules for life -- and despite what some passengers may think, these rules do NOT disappear once you hit the sky. In fact, there is a higher standard of etiquette for airplanes, considering you're in a tighter-than-tight space with dozens of complete strangers. Don't be that person... or any of these 11 people, for that matter. 1. The sudden seat recliner If you're gonna suck up legroom, then at least give some warning. 2. The "what are earphones?!" movie watcher The rest of the plane does not need to hear the film blaring from your tablet. Please invest in some headphones. 3. The smelly burger eater... with fries We'd looove the smell of your burger at a backyard BBQ, we really would. But on a plane, keep it in the bag. 4. The snorer For your sake and ours, find a way to take care of this problem before you take to the skies. 5. The chatterbox That story about your pet guinea pig was nice. But please don't continue for another six hours. 6. The armrest hog This space is meant for both of us, ya hear? 7. The REALLY loud laugher We're all for the pursuit of happiness, but not when that happiness comes at ten zillion decibels. 8. The creeper Please don't look over our shoulders while we answer emails or write in a journal. It's awkward. 9. The coach class passenger with a first class mind We know you think you're the only one who needs a drink RIGHT NOW. But guess what? There are other people on this plane, too. 10. The yogi Your fellow passengers don't enjoy watching you stretch in the aisles. And it turns out that flight attendants don't, either. 11. The aggressive seat poker Every time you jab the TV screen, our entire seat jiggles... and turbulence is all the jiggling we need, thank you very much. 12. The carry-on crammer You can stop trying to fit your entire life into that tiny box... it's clearly not happening. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/plane-passengers_55e4a8fee4b0aec9f35425c6 Back to Top Back to Top Stay Current on Aviation Safety Follow Flight Safety Information on Twitter https://twitter.com/curtllewis01 Back To Top Curt Lewis & Associates Names New VP Program Design & Learning Systems FORT WORTH,Texas-Curt Lewis & Associates (CL&A), LLC, today announced the appointment of Dr. Lynda Foley as vice president, Program Design & Learning Systems. Dr. Foley will oversee education and development opportunities at CL&A, along with managing on-site safety training courses. Dr. Foley has extensive aviation experience at AMR: American Airlines & AMR Services, and Legend Airlines. Most recently, Dr. Foley has 10 years' experience in airport operations at Title 14 CFR Part 139 compliance. As the Director Safety, Training & Environmental, and Director of Safety & Compliance, she has conducted operational and airfield safety compliance audits for the airlines. Most recently, Dr. Foley developed regulatory coursework both classroom and online learning for DFW International Airport. She oversaw all the CFR Part 139 training and developed safety training programs for the contractors and stakeholders. She's also a professor at Embry-Riddle University, certified to teach Human Resource Development, Aviation Safety, and Airport Management. Dr. Foley has extensive management experience in air operations, including ramp and airfield operations. She worked closely with the FAA, ICAO, IATA National Safety Council, and NTSB. Additionally, Dr. Foley has served on aviation industry committees at the National Academy of Sciences: Transportation Research Board - Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) * * Synthesis 15: Identification of the Requirements & Training to Obtain Driving Privileges on Airfields * * ACRP Synthesis Project 11-03 Airport Ground Handling Practices * * ACRP Synthesis S06-04 Adapting New Maintenance Hire to the Airport Environment According to Curt Lewis, principal of CL&A, Dr. Foley will focus on learning programs and course development services for CL&A. Additionally, she will strengthen CL&A's product and service offerings, particularly in safety training and safety management system services. "The depth of experience that Dr. Foley brings is virtually unmatchable," says Lewis. "We are extremely fortunate that she will be a part of our team." Dr. Foley will begin her duties at CL&A immediately. For more information, contact Curt Lewis. About Curt Lewis & Associates,LLC Curt Lewis & Associates, LLC is a multidiscipline technical and scientific consulting firm specializing in aviation and industrial safety. The firm, established in 2005, targets system safety audits and safety training programs, risk management, accident investigation and litigation support. For more information, visit www.curt-lewis.com. Contact Information: Curt Lewis 817.845.3983(cell) curt@curt-lewis.com(e-mail) Back to Top This Guy Made His Own 'Super Drone' Using 54 Propellers Technology blogs have been circulating a YouTube clip of a man who appears to be going for a ride in a type of aerial vehicle that looks like it is made out of a bunch of parts that would normally be found in a drone. A description of the footage posted by a user named "gasturbine101" on the video-sharing platform claims the monstrosity can "lift" up to 361 pounds, is made up of "54 counter-rotation propellers" and can stay in the air for about 10 minutes. http://time.com/4020800/54-propeller-super-drone/ Back to Top FAA names top unmanned aircraft execs The FAA has named Marke Gibson and Earl Lawrence to two executive positions that will lead the agency's integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into U.S. airspace. Gibson has been named the senior advisor on UAS integration. This position was "established to focus on external outreach and education, inter-agency initiatives and an enterprise-level approach to FAA management of UAS integration efforts," the agency said. Gibson will report to the FAA deputy administrator. Gibson, a retired Air Force major general, previously served as executive director of the NextGen Institute that provides professional services to the UAS Joint Program Development Office. He also has owned an aviation consulting firm and has held many senior command and staff positions during his 33-year military career. Lawrence previously served for almost five years as director of the FAA Small Airplane Directorate. In that position, he was responsible for 17 aircraft certification and manufacturing district offices in 21 states. Before coming to the agency in 2010, he had served as vice president for Industry and Regulatory Affairs at the Experimental Aircraft Association. Gibson and Lawrence are expected to begin their new positions in September. http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2015/September/02/FAA-names-top-unmanned-aircraft- execs Back to Top Emirates receives four wide-body aircraft in one day Emirates has taken delivery of four wide-bodied aircraft today in a company record. The arrivals of two B777-300ERs, one B777 freighter and one A380 marks the 150th Emirates B777 delivery and takes its B777 fleet to 147 and its A380 fleet to 66. The Guld carrier is the world's largest operator of both the B777 and the A380. It received its first B777 in 1996, and has since retired three older B777 aircraft from service. Tim Clark, Emirates' president, said: "The Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 are two of the most advanced, efficient, and spacious commercial aircraft in the skies today. "They are the mainstay of the Emirates fleet, giving us versatility in our route planning, and also the ability to offer our customers the latest features and comforts onboard." The four new aircraft are valued at $1.5 billion and underwent pre-service maintenance checks before being put into regular service. The maiden flights for the two B777-300ERs took passengers from Dubai to Kuwait and Mumbai, while the first flight for the new A380 took off from Dubai to Dusseldorf. The B777 freighter was scheduled to fly directly from the Seattle area, where it was manufactured, to Hong Kong to pick up 103,000 kg of cargo. Emirates has received 14 new aircraft so far in 2015, which include nine A380s, four B777-300ERs and one B777 freighter. During the same period, the airline retired eight aircraft, comprised of four A340-500s, three A330-200s and one B777-200. Including the most recent deliveries, the total number of aircraft in the Emirates fleet stands at 238 with an average age of 6.5 years, representing one of the youngest fleets in the skies. The airline has 270 additional aircraft on order, worth a total of $129 billion at list prices. Its order book includes 46 B777-300ERs, 115 B777-9Xs, 35 B777-8Xs and 74 A380s. emirates.com http://www.businesstraveller.com/news/emirates-receives-four-wide-body-aircraft-in-on Back to Top Delta pilots elect new leader for contract talks The pilots' current contract runs through the end of the year. The pilots union at Delta Air Lines has elected a new chairman as it prepares for a second attempt at negotiating a labor contract. It's a name familiar to many Delta pilots and executives: John Malone headed the Air Line Pilots Association unit at Delta from 2003 to 2005. The pilots union also elected a new chairman for its negotiating committee, with Steve Uvena stepping into that key role. The changes in union leadership come after Delta pilots in July voted against a proposed contract that the union leaders at the time said would make them the highest-paid in the industry. Of the pilots who cast ballots, 65 percent voted against the deal. While the proposal included a series of pay raises, opponents were concerned by a reduction in profit- sharing, as well as by productivity requirements including changes to the sick leave policy. The union chief at the time of the vote, Mike Donatelli, stepped down a few days after the proposal was defeated. Delta's current pilot contract runs through the end of the year. Even if the two sides don't have a firm deal by then, it will remain in effect under airline labor law, which aims to prevent disruptions. Federal mediators could eventually be involved if the parties don't reach a pact on their own. http://www.ajc.com/news/business/delta-pilots-union-elects-new-leader-for-renewed-c/nnXBz/ Back to Top SAA about to cancel order for 10 Airbus aircraft South African Airlines (SAA) is close to finalising the cancellation of a contract to supply 10 Airbus A320 aircraft as part of plans to get the national carrier back to profitability, its chief financial officer said. The cancelled aircraft will be replaced with five new Airbus A330 aircraft from early 2016, said CFO Wolf Meyer, as part of a fleet overhaul to help the company reduce a costly fuel bill. "We need to get the final approval from the board who can sign the documents and then we're done," Wolf Meyer told reporters at a parliamentary briefing, adding that approval was expected within days. The A320 contract was originally for 15 aircraft and was renegotiated in 2008 for a total of 20 aircraft. So far, only 10 have been delivered, with the first delivery made in 2013. The original contract had escalation clauses and the price of the aircraft went up, Meyer said. "It was hurting us," he said. He said the loss-making SAA, which falls under the National Treasury, has renegotiated more favourable leases for its A340 aircraft and may even consider selling the two it owned. The company has achieved savings of 2.2 billion rand in savings since 2013 as it looks to reduce staff and cancel unprofitable routes, Meyer added. SAA, which has received two government bailouts totalling 10 billion rand, is in the middle of a turnaround strategy after the government rebuffed another cash injection. http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/2015/09/02/SAA-about-to-cancel-order-for-10-Airbus-aircraft Back to Top SpaceLiner: How the German hypersonic rocket jet that travels Australia to Europe in 90 minutes works Germany's space agency is currently working on a hypersonic jet powered by rocket technology that will be able to carry passengers from Europe to Australia in just 90 minutes, at 25 times the speed of sound. The SpaceLiner is an ultra-fast form of transport that makes use of existing space rocket technology so as to avoid the many technical problems that make hypersonic aircraft currently impossible. On top of this, the scientists at the DLR Institute of Space Systems in Bremen are also working on technologies to make the jet 100% eco-friendly and reusable, which is currently not possible in space rockets. The SpaceLiner has been conceptualised since 2005 and after a decade of research, the DLR scientists are now moving into the next phase of their project, and believe that the aircraft will fly by 2045. How the SpaceLiner works After 10 years of research, this is the streamlined Version 7 of the SpaceLiner. With 30 years to go, the scientists feel certain they can create a super-fast hypersonic aircraft safe enough for human passengers(DLR Institute of Space Systems) The vehicle consists of two stages - a booster stage consisting of nine rocket engines and fuel tanks, and the actual passenger aircraft, which contains a cabin that is able to hold 50 passengers and two crew members, as well as two rocket engines and fuel tanks. To take off, all 11 rocket engines fire to launch the SpaceLiner vertically into the air like a conventional space rocket. Then, about four minutes into the flight, the booster stage separates from the passenger stage. Using a new technology known as "in-air capturing", the booster stage is then picked up in mid-air by a specially-designed plane, which tows the booster back to the launch site, where the booster uses its wings to perform an autonomous landing. Meanwhile, the passenger stage uses its two engines to accelerate slightly beyond Mach 25, travelling at speeds of up to 7.3km per second, or rather 26,280km per hour, and it will be able to carry six tonnes of weight. When taking off in a conventional airplane, passengers often feel a very slight amount of gravity, which is usually only 1.2G during take-off and landing. At the moment, hypersonic aircraft is not considered to be safe for passengers, but DLR says that passengers on the SpaceLiner will only feel a maximum g-force of 2.5G. To give you a comparison, the gravity you feel from sitting on a roller coaster hurtling downwards is 8-9G. The passenger stage cabin also functions as a rescue capsule and will have a solid propulsion system with little engines of its own that activate in case of emergency. Who will ride on this jet? The SpaceLiner will cost €30bn (£22bn, $33bn) to develop and is targeted at First Class and Business Class passengers, but the scientists believe that there is demand for ultra-fast transport, in the same way that aircraft manufacturers now see a future in supersonic aircraft. "If you put it into context, the Concorde was about €9bn, and the Airbus A380 cost about €14bn, so we think that in 30 years, this will be a feasible price to pay," Olga Trivailo, a research scientist with the German Aerospace Centre at the DLR Institute of Space Systems told IBTimes UK. "But it's not just for passengers. In terms of cargo, this would be relevant for the transportation of human organs for transplants and other short-longevity goods." However, although the ticket prices will initially be quite pricey, the scientists' goal is to make space more accessible by developing technologies in the SpaceLiner that could one day allow it to travel into lower- Earth orbit to launch satellites, carrying a payload of 20 tonnes of weight. Advanced, green technologies Streamlined design of SpaceLiner makes hypersonic possible The design of the SpaceLiner has been streamlined to make it possible to carry tanks of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen as a fuel propellant, which expel the harmless and non-toxic emission of water vapour(DLR Institute of Space Systems) The technologies will hopefully also make space travel and air travel cheaper and more environmentally friendly, as the SpaceLiner is completely powered by a propellant made from liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen, so the only emission is water vapour. By carrying water on the jet, the liquid can also be used as an active-cooling system to cool the leading edges of the nose, wings and the fin of the passenger stage, as hypersonic aircraft suffer from friction in the air and high heat loads caused by the extreme compression of hypersonic flow since the aircraft is going so fast. "We're currently in the technical development stage but we know that the market for this exists. At the moment, everyone else is focused on hybrid engines or rocket technology, but this is classical rocket technology that has been around for a long time," said Trivailo. "Having been in the pipeline for the last 10 years, this is the most advanced concept of its time. At the moment, it's a closed loop whereby production of spacecraft is very low and it's very expensive, and so there is low demand. We want to break that cycle and make high quantities of production possible." DLR is looking to partner with other research institutions and commercial partners. A smaller model of the passenger stage will be tested at the DLR Arc-heaters Facility in Cologne, and the scientists are also looking into having passenger chairs that swivel and are able to absorb gravity forces. http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/spaceliner-how-german-hypersonic-rocket-jet-that-travels-australia-europe-90- minutes-works-1518222 Back to Top Upcoming Events: Fundamentals of IS-BAO September 15, 2015 St. Louis, Missouri USA https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1660854 IS-BAO Auditing September 16, 2015 St. Louis, Missouri USA https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1660878 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 Southern California Aviation Association "Safety Standdown" September 14, 2015 Carlsbad, CA http://tinyurl.com/pg2yh4g 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 BARS Auditor Training October 6-8, 2015 Dubai, United Arab Emirates http://flightsafety.org/bars/auditor-training OSHA & Aviation Ground Safety Training Course (ERAU) Oct. 19-23, 2015 Daytona Beach, FL www.erau.edu/cmas Aviation Safety Program Management Training Course (ERAU) Oct. 26-30, 2015 Daytona Beach, FL www.erau.edu/cmas Aircraft Accident Investigation Training Course (ERAU) Nov. 2-6, 2015 Daytona Beach, FL www.erau.edu/cmas Aviation Safety Management Systems (SMS) Seminar (ERAU) Nov. 17-19, 2015 Daytona Beach, FL www.erau.edu/sms Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Seminar (ERAU) Dec. 8-10, 2015 Daytona Beach, FL www.erau.edu/uas New HFACS workshop Las Vegas December 15 & 16 www.hfacs.com 'DTI QA & SMS Workshops are Back in Town!' (Toronto, Winnipeg, Vancouver, Melbourne FL, and YOUR town just contact us) www.dtitraining.com Back to Top JOBS AVAILABLE: Staff Engineer ALPA https://jobs-alpa.icims.com/jobs/1193/staff-engineer/job Curt Lewis