Flight Safety Information September 16, 2015 - No. 184 In This Issue FAA slaps Cleveland Hopkins Airport with $735K fine for unsafe runway conditions in snowstorms Aircraft conveying Nigerian pilgrims develops engine failure after 3 attempts at take off Following Delhi fire scare, Air India's fleet being audited for flight safety Caan to call ICAO to check safety measures in March (NEPAL) Flight-Plan Miscues Imperil U.S. Air Safety, Watchdog Says Five Goals for Air Safety in Indonesia Drone flew 20 feet below MacDill jet Airbus in Mobile Means Need for A320 Pilot Training FAA revises guidance for safely taxiing, towing aircraft PREVENTING FRAUD AT 30,000 FEET Hidden cameras reveal airport workers stealing from luggage PROS 2015 TRAINING Stay Current on Aviation Safety - Follow FSI on Twitter Bombardier assembly of first Global 7000 business jet nears finish Design the Jet Engine of the Future, Win $2 Million Jet Aviation Singapore Gains Chinese CAAC Mx Approval Boeing to offer ViaSat broadband service on new aircraft See Pilot Error, The Acclaimed Air Safety Film Inspired by Air France 447 Graduate Research Request iSMS - Safety Management System Training North Texas Business Aviation Association (NTBAA) Safety Show-Down 23-24 Sep. Upcoming Events JOBS AVAILABLE (New Positions) FAA slaps Cleveland Hopkins Airport with $735K fine for unsafe runway conditions in snowstorms A Continental Airlines jet takes off from Cleveland Hopkins Airport while a line of snowplows clears an adjacent runway in this February, 2003 photo. The airport faces heavy fines this week for violating an agreement with the FAA related to staffing levels on grounds crews. (John Kuntz, Northeast Ohio Media Group) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland Hopkins International Airport has been slapped with $735,000 in fines for violating an agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration to adequately staff snow removal teams and deice runways - causing unsafe conditions and forcing planes to divert to other airports. In four letters sent Monday to Acting Director of Airports Fred Szabo, FAA officials listed dozens of dates when staffing at Hopkins fell far short of requirements, leaving inches of snow and ice uncleared from the taxiways and runways. Some of the most egregious infractions stem from March 1, when the airport's field maintenance crew was understaffed on all shifts - with only four out of the required 18 maintenance operators working third shift - despite a forecast calling for several inches of snow. As a result, snow and ice accumulated on runways, pilots refused to land, reporting poor braking conditions, and one taxiway went without anti-icing chemicals until well after midnight, the FAA found. The airport also failed to alert air carriers of the poor conditions and to deter planes from taxiing or landing on slick, hazardous surfaces, according to the letter. During another snowstorm, on Dec. 29, 2013 airport supervisors violated the FAA agreement when they failed to hold over any maintenance staff to help workers clear snow during the next shift. Between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. the next day, the "City of Cleveland had no maintenance personnel to operate any equipment at CLE," the FAA reported. And no maintenance workers were on duty when United Airlines and Delta flights remained stranded on their respective taxiways, unable to use their brakes on the slick pavement, the FAA letter states. The Delta flight was disabled until workers arrived for their next scheduled shift at 3 a.m. and hand- shoveled sand around the aircraft's wheels, according to the letter. In another incident, during the early morning hours of Feb. 25, 2014 as snow accumulated and temperatures plummeted below freezing, a United Parcel Service flight could not brake on the icy runway and was diverted to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, the FAA letter states. "Two eight is the only runway we have open right now," a Cleveland air traffic controller told the pilot, according to the FAA. "But there haven't been any plows on it, we don't have any, uh, conditions on that." And on January 18, 2014, maintenance crews failed to treat one taxiway with either sand or deicing chemicals. As a result, an aircraft slid onto the runway when another flight was cleared for take off. The incident caused the airport's Movement Area Safety System to generate an alert, the FAA reported. The FAA stated that federal law permits the agency to impose civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation. But it would accept $735,000 to settle the case, the letter said. In a written statement Tuesday, a city spokesman said that city lawyers are reviewing the letters and will prepare responses. "We have been and will remain in ongoing discussions with the FAA throughout this process," the spokesman wrote. The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. reported in May that Hopkins was under investigation for a dozen safety- related incidents during the past two winters. After the first three events, Hopkins entered into a "snow and ice control plan" in November 2014, governing the number of field maintenance employees that must be on duty to clear runways and taxiways during storms. Staffing levels were based on the severity of weather conditions. But after that agreement took effect, the hazardous runway conditions persisted. While investigating one pilot's report of a slippery runway at Hopkins in March, the FAA demanded to know how many airport operations and field maintenance workers were assigned to the airfield during inclement weather. All in all, the safety concerns triggered four "letters of investigation" - notices that the FAA suspected Hopkins might have violated one or more federal aviation regulations, airport officials acknowledged at the time. Then-Airport Director Ricky Smith, who left Cleveland last month to run the Maryland Aviation Administration, said in May that the incidents posed no risk to the flying public and that staffing levels were not a problem. Smith said the staffing requirements are not absolute, but a range. He added that diversions of planes are common at cold-weather airports and are influenced by other factors, such as a pilot's ability to navigate through low-visibility conditions. He discounted claims from former airfield maintenance director Abdul-Malik Ali, who said he initially reported the staffing shortfalls to the FAA in February. Smith called Ali a disgruntled employee, who "has been on a mission to create this narrative that there are safety issues at the airport." Ali filed a complaint against the city with the Department of Labor, alleging that the city unfairly demoted him for blowing the whistle on Hopkins' violation of staffing and safety requirements. Ali's attorney Subodh Chandra said in a written statement Tuesday that the FAA's imposition of penalties against the city "validates Ali's concerns about passenger safety at Hopkins." "Rather than continue to blindly fight, the city should remedy the retaliation that Mr. Ali experienced at former airport director Ricky Smith's hands for reporting these concerns to the FAA," Chandra wrote. "Mayor Frank Jackson should now focus on fixing the mess rather than doubling down on it." http://www.cleveland.com/cityhall/index.ssf/2015/09/cleveland_hopkins_airport_slap.html Back to Top Aircraft conveying Nigerian pilgrims develops engine failure after 3 attempts at take off A Boeing 747 model Aircraft with the registration number N5-MBB belonging to Max Air conveying 545 Kebbi State pilgrims to Jedda, Saudi Arabia for hajj in the early hours of today, developed technical problem after three attempts to take off from Sir Ahmadu Bello Sardauna International Airport in Birnin Kebbi. According to one of the pilgrims, Aliyu Sani Zamfarawa , the incident occured around 1:39am. "One of the engine of the plane developed fault after three attempt to take off from the airport. All the pilgrims in the airplane were in a state of shock and confusion as we all ran for safety as soon as the emergency exit was opened," he said. Chairman Committee on Flight, Kebbi State Hajj Task Force, Sani Dododo said that ,"the pilot explained to us that one out of the three engines developed mechanical problem which they are making consultation to see how the problem will be solved. "The pilot also advised that another flight be brought to lift the intending pilgrims and the effected flight will be taken to Kano for repair." Dododo urged the pilgrims to be clam, assuring that the problem encountered "will be solved within some hours." The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Atiku Bagudu,Alh. Abubakar Muazu Dakingar,i while also confirming the incident on phone, said the Governor has ordered for the immediate deployment of another aircraft for the pilgrims in order to ensure that all our pilgrims are airlifted within deadline. "The Governor has also ordered the immediate arrest of officials who shortchanged or refused to hand Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) to pilgrims," Dakingari added. Our correspondent gathered that,the aircraft was conveying seven serving members of Kebbi State House of Assembly members, All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains, some former Local Government Chairmen, Imams and the Governor's close associates as well as the intending pilgrims from Gwandu,Sakaba,Bunza and some part of Jega LGAs. It is however not clear the number of pilgrims that have been airlifted from the state so far. http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/news/aircraft-conveying-nigerian-pilgrims-develops-engine-failure- after-3-attempts-at-take-off/110993.html Back to Top Following Delhi fire scare, Air India's fleet being audited for flight safety Air India (AI) aircrafts. Air India's entire fleet of aircraft, over 100 in all, is undergoing an emergency engineering audit. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which began the audit on September 11, has told its officers to submit the audit report to it within 15 days. The audit was ordered following safety concerns that surfaced after two cases of safety scares that involved AI aircraft. On September 7, an AI-operated Airbus 320, carrying 146 passengers from Varanasi to Delhi, sprang a hydraulic leak midair. On touchdown, sparks were spotted around the plane's nose gear. This prompted an emergency evacuation in which at least six passengers were injured as they misjudged their slides off the exit chutes. A day later, the airline's engineering department reported that the tail of an aircraft carrying over 100 passengers from Jaipur to Mumbai had caught fire. "On arrival of AI 612 at Mumbai, the technicians observed tail fire and smoke during second engine shutdown," read the airline's engineering department's note to the DGCA. But the regulator said this was a minor and common incident, which occurred because of leftover fuel in the tailpipe. "The preliminary probe into the incident has thrown up doubts about the airline's maintenance records. Hence the audit is being conducted," said a senior DGCA official, requesting anonymity. The audit would be conducted across all four AI bases, that is, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Kolkata. The Air India spokesperson did not respond to requests for a comment. The airline issued a statement that said, "Air India planes are maintained as per regulatory requirements without any compromise on safety." The audit will gauge how well the AI fleet is being maintained and whether spare parts are available, particularly in the case of the Airbus 320 aircraft, which are the oldest serving ones with AI. The aircraft involved in last week's mishap, the 26-year-old VT-EPB, is one of these. HT has previously reported that the airline's Airbus fleet pilots' union had in March warned DGCA to ground the snag-prone fleet. http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai/following-delhi-fire-scare-air-india-s-fleet-being-audited-for- flight-safety/article1-1390617.aspx Back to Top Caan to call ICAO to check safety measures in March (NEPAL) Sep 15, 2015- The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (Caan) has said that it plans to invite the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) revalidation mission in March 2016 to audit the corrective measures taken by Nepal to address the significant safety concerns (SSC) relating to operations and other aspects. This means that the country's low safety rating awarded by the UN agency will continue for at least another year. It also means that Nepali carriers will not be removed from the European Commission (EC) blacklist unless the SSC is eliminated. The mission is normally invited by a state when it is fully confident that it has fulfilled all the compliances with international safety standards. In a bid to remove the SSC, Caan officials said that they had amended Civil Aviation Regulation 2002 to address the deficiencies of primary aviation legislation and issued Accident Investigation Regulations 2014. Likewise, a human resource policy and training programme for 2014-18 have been developed. According to Caan, new air operators were certified in accordance with the new certification manual fully complying with ICAO provisions. Unsatisfied with Nepal's progress, ICAO had given the SSC tag to Nepal's aviation sector in its audit report in August 2013 after conducting an on-site audit from July 10-16, 2013. ICAO has grave concerns about Nepal's air safety, and has placed it among the 13 worst performing nations, namely Botswana, Kazakhstan, Congo, Sao Tome and Principe, Angola, Djibouti, Eritrea, Haiti, Lebanon, Malawi, Papua New Guinea and Thailand. Thailand was the latest country to join the list. Nepal has been red-flagged on "operations", among the eight critical elements of safety oversight. "We have planned to invite the ICAO revalidation mission by March next year. We have addressed a number of deficiencies pointed out by the ICAO audit, and we are confident that Nepal will be out of the safety list," said Sanjiv Gautam, director general of Caan. According to him, a mission from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) will be providing technical assistance to Nepal to remove the SSC tag given by the ICAO. The assistance team is scheduled to arrive here in the first week of October. "They will assist us in the areas where we are performing poorly." Meanwhile, another ICAO team recently concluded its visit to Nepal after working in a number of areas related to air safety. ICAO monitors Nepal's aviation safety oversight capabilities through the ICAO Coordinated Validation Missions (ICVM). International airlines and travellers hesitate to travel to a country whose air safety has been questioned by ICAO. Caan officials claimed that significant improvements had been made in pilot licensing and the air operators' certificate requirement, the major safety concerns pointed out by the audit. Nepal has performed poorly in effectively implementing air safety oversight systems, appearing way down in the 37th position out of 46 Asian countries, according to the safety audit report of ICAO. The audit report shows that Nepal has received a rating of 55.1 percent, much below the Asian average. Among South Asian countries, Nepal is ahead of the Maldives (which has a rating of 54.7 percent), Bangladesh (50.5 percent) and Bhutan (38.3 percent). However, Nepal trails behind Sri Lanka (87.3 percent), Pakistan (84.6 percent) and India (79.1 percent). On December 5, 2013, the EC had put all Nepali carriers in its bad books for the worst record of air safety oversight based on ICAO's safety audit. The EC has asked European operators and travel agents to inform European travellers who will have a right to reimbursement if they had booked a seat on a Nepali carrier as part of a journey to Nepal and decide not to use it. http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2015-09-15/caan-to-call-icao-to-check-safety-measures-in- march.html Back to Top Flight-Plan Miscues Imperil U.S. Air Safety, Watchdog Says By: Alan Levin Duplicate flight plans let commercial pilots veer off course FAA grapples with `increasing trend' of mistaken filings The aviation system is plagued by erroneous data on flight plans that may confuse pilots and controllers, putting safety at risk, according to an U.S. investigative agency's report to the White House and Congress. Hundreds of times a day, multiple routes filed for the same flight can exist in the Federal Aviation Administration's computers, which has led pilots to mistakenly fly off course, the Office of Special Counsel said in its report. The flaw was identified by five FAA controllers in Detroit who sought whistle-blower protection from the office. The flaw, which FAA has been attempting to correct since 2012, was confirmed by the Department of Transportation and the special counsel, according to documents released Tuesday. "The investigation found that duplicate flight plans introduce a safety risk into the air traffic control system with potentially conflicting information being acted upon by controllers and pilots," Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a letter to special counsel in May 2014. Earlier attempts by the FAA to fix the issue "had little impact," in part because senior officials didn't recognize its significance, the agency told investigators. Increasing Trend The agency renewed its efforts in May 2014 and developed a plan to address the issue, the agency said in a statement. In January, the FAA determined that the safety risks of multiple flight plans was low, according to the statement. A December notice to airlines and other flight operators from the FAA said the agency had found an "increasing trend" of mistaken flight plans and urged them to take more care when filing updates. Multiple flight plans occur when a last-minute change is made to an existing route without deleting the earlier plan, according to the FAA. The Office of Special Counsel and the FAA's own investigation found this happens because the aviation agency doesn't have rules or enforcement tools to prevent duplicate filings. In one incident, an Boeing Co. 777 leaving New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport in July 2014 began flying an unapproved route because airline dispatchers had altered its flight path without properly notifying the FAA, according to the agency's December notice. The Office of Special Counsel investigates allegations of misconduct from federal employees who fear retribution if they come forward. "The whistleblowers in Detroit deserve our deep gratitude." the office's chief Carolyn Lerner said in an e- mailed release. "While more work needs to be done, their actions reignited efforts to address the problems." http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-09-15/flight-plan-miscues-imperil-u-s-aircraft-safety- watchdog-says Back to Top Five Goals for Air Safety in Indonesia Improving aviation safety should be a priority in a country with a record of air disasters, but it will require time, money and coordination-all in short supply. Here's Transportation Minister Ignasius Jonan on the job ahead. 1 Make improvements on the ground The first focus, Mr. Jonan said, will be improving runways, navigation systems, operational devices, aprons, taxiways and terminals at 50 or more of the 181 airports controlled by the ministry. Fencing and x-ray systems also need upgrading, he added, as do security checks. Mr. Jonan said he is aware of issues revealed in a Wall Street Journal examination that found several airports it visited lack important navigation and weather-safety equipment. 2 Improve airline finances Mr. Jonan, a former banker, took on airline finances as part of efforts to improve safety following a deadly AirAsia crash in December. To prevent scrimping on safety, the ministry tried forcing low-cost carriers to raise prices, a much-criticized policy, since abandoned. But Mr. Jonan said he's standing by a rule forbidding airlines from having loans that exceed their assets. The 12 carriers in violation must improve their balance sheets by the middle of October, or stop operating. 3 Put safety before speed To accommodate a jump in passenger traffic, Indonesia is set to add 15 airports by 2019, and expand others. But "we will not jeopardize the safety standards," Mr. Jonan said. "If we tell them [the government] that we are not finished, we are not finished." Improvements are behind schedule, he said, largely because those making the upgrades are learning as they go. "If we want to have an airport let's make sure the airport is built and operated properly, or we just don't need an airport," he said. The remains of a passenger recovered from the site of August's Trigana Air crash 4 But know when to crack the whip The pace of the ministry's air-navigation unit, though, has been too slow, said Mr. Jonan, threatening to change management if it doesn't pick up. He wants an upgrade "as soon as we can" from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration-which after a series of deadly accidents in 2007 downgraded Indonesia to Category 2, meaning its airlines can't expand or add service to the U.S. The European Union admits only four of Indonesia's dozens of airlines. The FAA Building in Washington 5 And then cooperate and compromise Indonesia has made some improvements in recent years, say aviation experts. To continue on that path the transportation ministry will have to work closer with, among others, the finance ministry and state- owned Ankasa Pura I and II, which manage 26 of the country's airports. Mr. Jonan isn't worried, he said, as long as others in the cabinet are willing to compromise "at least two-thirds of their ideas. I think that's good enough." Transportation Minister Ignasius Jonan and Director General for Air Transportation Suprasetyo http://blogs.wsj.com/briefly/2015/09/15/5-goals-for-air-safety-in-indonesia/ Back to Top Drone flew 20 feet below MacDill jet Tampa, Florida -- We're finding out about an encounter between a drone and an Air Force jet in the skies over the Tampa Bay area that's one of the closest calls reported this year anywhere in America. It comes from a new report that tells us about two incidents involving drones near South Tampa's MacDill Air Force Base this year. The first happened March 3rd, when a drone crashed just outside the perimeter fence that surrounds the base. No damage was reported, according to the Tampa Tribune. It's not clear whether that aircraft was a military or civilian drone. An encounter between a drone and an Air Force jet over Tampa Bay is one of the closest calls reported in US this year. Then on April 17th, a drone buzzed an Air Force jet in midair as it was getting ready to land at MacDill. According to our news partners at the Tampa Bay Times, the plane was one of the big gray refueling jets that you see flying over Tampa Bay all the time -- a KC-135 Stratotanker. On its way in to land at MacDill, the crew spotted a drone flying just 20 feet below it. Even a small drone getting sucked into a jet engine could bring down a plane like that. And this plane was right over neighborhoods full of houses at the time. According to the Tribune, the FAA says the jet was about 1,600 feet up, and around 10 miles east of MacDill, which would put it above Riverview. The owner of that drone was never found. The FAA can fine people up to $25,000 if they fly drones improperly and don't follow their drone rules. That is, unless you have special permission: No flying drones higher than 400 feet. No flying within five miles of an airport. Stay well clear of any manned aircraft. But the FAA relies on local law enforcement to track down those operators. And as we've told you before on 10 News this Morning, there is no reliable way for local police to search out these people. One potential new law that's being considered right now in Washington could address that. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-New York) is pushing a law that would force drone makers to program their products' GPS systems so they cannot fly near airports, parades, or sporting events. http://www.wtsp.com/story/news/local/2015/09/15/report-drone-flew-20-feet-below-macdill-air-force- base-kc-135-jet/72296198/ Back to Top Airbus in Mobile Means Need for A320 Pilot Training With more Airbus A320 aircraft soon to be rolling off a new U.S. assembly line, one company is gearing up to train more pilots to fly them. News 5 traveled to Miami to visit the Pan Am International Flight Training Center, where pilots from around the world get certified on a number of different aircraft, including the A320. In August, Pan Am installed its newest state-of-the-art simulator for the A320 aircraft. Inside, it is an exact replica of the A320 cockpit. This type of simulator is now the way most pilots are trained. Its PC based software is modeled directly from the manufacturer to reflect the aircraft capability under various conditions, providing realistic flight training. It's much more cost efficient than having to certify airline pilots on real aircraft. The maker of the simulator is TRU Simulators, a division of Textron which also owns Bell Helicopters, Cessna and Beechcraft brands. http://wkrg.com/2015/09/15/airbus-in-mobile-means-need-for-a320-pilot-training/ Back to Top FAA revises guidance for safely taxiing, towing aircraft Washington - The Federal Aviation Administration has published new guidance aimed at keeping workers safe as airplanes are taxied and towed. FAA's updated "advisory circular" includes newly defined items such as airport operations areas and non- movement areas, and offers guidance for towered airports regarding non-pilot workers and equipment in the runway safety area. Airport operators are responsible for setting safety policies and procedures for workers who transport aircraft. The agency offers several recommendations on maintaining a safe control program, including: Develop a tiered identification badging system to easily recognize a vehicle operator's permitted driving area privileges. Establish policies for turning in permits when a vehicle is no longer authorized. Create a system to manage commercial or delivery truck activity into and out of the movement and safety areas of the airport. Develop training for commercial drivers who are permitted access. Set up a "progressive penalty policy" for violators. http://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/12964-faa-revises-guidance-for-safely-taxiing-towing- aircraft Back to Top PREVENTING FRAUD AT 30,000 FEET. ARE THEY PILOTS, OR ARE THEY CASHIERS?EVENTING FRAUD AT 30,000 FEET. ARE THEY PILOTS, OR ARE THEY CASHIERS? Texting and driving is a bad combination. Typing up passengers' payment card information while flying a plane doesn't sound like a great idea, either. But, according to a report by the Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS), that's exactly what Korean Air Lines Co. ordered its pilots to do, in order to prevent fraudulent in-flight purchases. According to the report, Korean Air was requiring its pilots to validate payment card information for all inflight purchases over $500. The process required pilots to start up the validation program and enter the payment card information, often while preparing to land the aircraft. Considering that South Korea recently went through its largest payment card data theft in history, it makes sense that the nation's largest airline was taking measures to prevent fraudulent charges. Last year, a massive breach of records maintained by the Korea Credit Bureau compromised more than 105.8 million accounts containing personal information, including names, credit card and bank information, passport numbers, addresses and phone numbers. Korean Air went through a public relations fiasco last year, caused by the company chairman's daughter's "nut rage incident." Soon after the SBS report went public, Korean Air quickly went into PR-disaster- mitigation-mode and said that it would change its policies. http://www.bna.com/preventing-fraud-30000-b17179936066/ Back to Top Hidden cameras reveal airport workers stealing from luggage * TSA received more than 30,000 claims of missing valuables between 2010-2014 * Most of the missing valuables were packed in checked luggage * Miami-Dade police set up hidden cameras as part of sting Miami (CNN)Inside a plane at Miami International Airport, baggage handlers are going on a shopping spree with passengers' bags. What they don't know is that they are being recorded on a hidden camera. The Miami-Dade Police Department set up the camera as part of an ongoing police investigation into luggage thefts by the very airport workers who are supposed to get bags safely onto planes. "It's a problem we all face," said police Lt. Pete Estis. "We will continue to be proactive until we can see that the claims of pilfering through luggage will actually decrease." Miami Aviation Director Emilio T. González said the insider theft cases "are indeed the exception among the thousands of decent, hardworking employees at MIA, and they have been prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for their crimes." And these insider thefts just don't happen in Miami. A CNN analysis of passenger property loss claims filed with the TSA from 2010 to 2014 shows 30,621 claims of missing valuables, mostly packed in checked luggage. The rest occurred at security checkpoints. Total property loss claimed: $2.5 million. John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York topped the list of airports with the most claims of thefts from luggage, followed by Los Angeles International, Orlando International and Miami International, according to the data. http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/13/us/airport-luggage-theft/index.html?eref=rss_latest Back to Top Back to Top Stay Current on Aviation Safety Follow Flight Safety Information on Twitter https://twitter.com/curtllewis01 Back To Top Bombardier assembly of first Global 7000 business jet nears finish Bombardier's new Global 7000 business jet will seat 17 passengers and have a range of 7,300 nautical miles. Bombardier Courtesy illustration Bombardier Business Aircraft is moving toward completion of its first Global 7000 flight test aircraft - and the first flight of its large-cabin, long-range business jet. The Canadian parent of Learjet in Wichita said it has mounted the engines on FTV1, or flight test vehicle 1, and has joined all the major structures of the airplane. That includes the fuselage, wings, landing gear and vertical and horizontal stabilizers. The Global 7000 and 8000 are Bombardier's newest business jets. They also will be the biggest. The 7000 is expected to have capacity for 17 passengers in standard configuration, and a range of 7,300 nautical miles. The 8000 will seat 13 in standard configuration and have a range of 7,900 nautical miles. Those jets, along with the CSeries CS100 and CS300 airliners, are the remaining new aircraft development programs at Bombardier. In January, the company paused the development of the Learjet 85 midsize business jet, resulting in the layoff of 620 Learjet workers in Wichita and 380 others in Mexico, and a pretax charge of $1.4 billion. The Global series of jets are Bombardier's largest business aircraft while Learjet is the smallest. In July, as part of the company's second-quarter 2015 earnings release, Bombardier announced it would push back by nearly two years the entry into service of the Global 7000, to the second half of 2018. A Bombardier Business Aircraft spokeswoman on Tuesday declined to say when the first Global 7000 flight test jet is expected to make its first flight, citing competitive reasons. The company said it has three other Global flight test aircraft in various stages of production. It's likely that one or more of the Global flight test aircraft will make a Wichita appearance. In addition to building Learjets in Wichita, Bombardier also operates a flight test center at its facilities on the west side of Wichita Eisenhower National Airport. Its Wichita service center also recently expanded its aircraft maintenance and repair offerings to include service on Bombardier Challenger and Global jets, both of which are assembled and completed at Bombardier factories in Canada. http://www.kansas.com/news/business/aviation/article35373096.html#storylink=cpy Back to Top Design the Jet Engine of the Future, Win $2 Million An artist's depiction of the new engine in use. An artist's rendering of what the small, fuel-efficient turbine engine might look like on a drone. The U.S. Air Force is offering $2 million to whoever can design a new and improved engine to power its airplanes. The competition, known as the Air Force Prize, is open to American citizens and permanent U.S. residents age 18 and older, as well as corporations and research institutions in the United States. The goal of the contest is to speed up the development of a lightweight, fuel-efficient turbine engine, or jet engine, to power the aircraft of the future. This is the first time the Air Force, or any other branch of the U.S. military, is offering a prize to stir up technological innovation among the general public, said Lt. Col. Aaron Tucker, deputy chief of the turbine engine division at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). http://www.livescience.com/52176-air-force-prize-turbine-engine-contest.html Back to Top Jet Aviation Singapore Gains Chinese CAAC Mx Approval The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) granted Part 145 maintenance facility approval to Jet Aviation Singapore. The designation expands the company's maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities to support Chinese operators of Bombardier and Gulfstream aircraft. For Gulfstreams, the scope of permissible work is to the largest possible checks on the GV (192 months) and GIV (144 months). According to Jet Aviation Singapore, it and the Gulfstream Aerospace Service Center in Savannah, Ga., are the only two service centers to hold that degree of CAAC approval. The authorization also extends to Bombardier Global Express series up to 20-year inspections and Challenger 604/605s up to 24-year inspections. In addition, interior services and approved outsourcing for paint are allowed. "I am extremely proud of my team for their collective efforts and dedication toward obtaining this Certificate," said John Riggir, vice president and general manager of Jet Aviation Singapore. "This approval marks the start of a new era of Gulfstream support solutions for operators in the region and we look forward to working closely with them...to provide the highest service levels possible." Jet Aviation Singapore provides scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, aircraft repair, defect troubleshooting and rectifications, aircraft modifications, interior refurbishment, avionics modification and exterior painting services. http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2015-09-15/jet-aviation-singapore-gains- chinese-caac-mx-approval Back to Top Boeing to offer ViaSat broadband service on new aircraft Boeing signs a technical agreement to offer ViaSat's broadband connectivity as an option on all new commercial aircraft Airlines will be able to have satellite broadband terminals installed on new aircraft as a factory option, after satellite broadband supplier ViaSat signed an agreement to make its in-flight Wi-Fi connectivity system available on all new Boeing commercial airliners. Under the terms of the deal, ViaSat's Ka-band airborne satellite hardware will be evaluated as a factory option for Boeing aircraft prior to delivery, which means aircraft will come off the production line with broadband connectivity ready for immediate service. For airline customers, this means they will no longer have to take aircraft out of service for post- production retrofitting of connectivity equipment, which more and more are now offering. ViaSat said its agreement would also guarantee flight crews and passengers a best-in-class in-flight internet experience thanks to the first service level agreement in the aviation sector, regardless of how many devices or aircraft are connected to its network. "Our agreement with Boeing is an important milestone, giving our airline customers the ability to get the best onboard Wi-Fi system delivered with the latest aircraft," said Don Buchman, vice-president and general manager of commercial mobility at ViaSat. "Airlines can differentiate their in-flight internet service with a flexible, sustainable business model that will continue to create value as more passengers use the service," he said. John Craig, chief engineer of cabin and network systems for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said: "In initiating the evaluation process with long-time partner ViaSat, we now look to add ViaSat airborne terminals to our line-fit factory options. This will give Boeing's commercial airline customers a new cost- and time-effective high-bandwidth connectivity choice for their airplanes." ViaSat's in-flight Ka-band service is currently operational on approximately 500 aircraft worldwide, with jetBlue in the US a major customer. As one of the fastest in-flight internet options currently available, it is capable of hitting speeds of around 40Mbps down. The two firms have been working together to offer ViaSat's Flexible Broadband System, which couples ViaSat's high-capacity ViaSat-2 satellite payload design with Boeing's 702SP (Small Platform) satellite bus. The partners say this brings down barriers of entry for regional satellite service providers, which can now focus capacity to match bandwidth demand and scale their infrastructure as required. Boeing previously attempted to introduce its own in-flight internet service called Connexion, which used Ku-band satellites. However, it was shuttered in 2006 due to lack of interest from airlines. http://www.computerweekly.com/news/4500253513/Boeing-to-offer-ViaSat-broadband-service-on-new- aircraft Back to Top See Pilot Error, The Acclaimed Air Safety Film Inspired by Air France 447 Image of Vimeo Trailer Link https://vimeo.com/110034584 with clickable link Now Available on DVD at pilot-errormovie.com/pilot-error-dvd/ View the trailer at https://vimeo.com/110034584 (231) 720-0930. Email info@pilot-error.com Upcoming Screenings with training pilot talkbacks: Minneapolis-St. Paul Twin Cities Area: Elk River Cinema September 16 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. with veteran airline and business jet training pilots. Spring Green, Wisconsin (near Madison): Gard Theater September 23 at 7 p.m. and September 27 at 1 p.m. with costar Deborah Staples and Robert Hesselbein Ann Arbor, Michigan: Quality 16 September 23 at 7 p.m. and September 24 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. with filmmaker Roger Rapoport Lakeland, Florida: Polk Theater, October 22 with filmmaker Roger Rapoport, with experts John Leenhouts, Robb Williams and Debbie Schaum. Dewey Decimal Productions 1487 Glen Ave. Muskegon, MI 49441 231 720-0930 rogerdrapoport@me.com www.pilot-errormovie.com "Like" us on FACEBOOK! www.facebook.com/PilotErrorTheMovie Watch our TRAILER! https://vimeo.com/110034584 Back to Top Graduate Research Request Greetings, my name is Ken Spears and I'm working on a research project for my Master's degree at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The research topic is the use of RFID technology in the aviation supply chain and the utility for preventing unapproved parts entering the aviation supply chain. If you have any experience with, knowledge of, or opinions about RFID usage in the supply chain or other applications of RFID in the aviation industry I would like to talk with you. My contact information is spearb50@erau.edu or by telephone 757-753-3142. Thank you, Regards, Ken Spears Back to Top iSMS - Safety Management System Training Back to Top North Texas Business Aviation Association (NTBAA) Safety Show-Down 23-24 Sep 3RD ANNUAL SAFETY SHOW-DOWN AND GOLF OUTING SEPTEMBER 23 & 24, 2015 NBAA CAM Approved! ***Early Bird Registration Now Open*** Dr. Mark Maier, Ph.D. - Keynote Speaker "Leading with Integrity...Creating a Climate for Open Communication." Additional breakout sessions from industry leading presenters covering... "Maintaining Your Composure When You Want to Strangle Someone" "Renegade Cowboys or Important Skills for Professional Pilots" "Strategic Alignment: Balancing Service and Risk Management" "Maintaining Your Professionalism with the FAA" "Decision Making Under High Stress" "Leadership for Professional Aviators" "NTSB Most Wanted List" Sponsorshipsavailable! Static Display Featuring the Falcon 2000LX, Embraer Legacy 450, Gulfstream G150 and G280 Show-Down 2015 Details!! On behalf of the flight operations personnel represented on the North Texas Business Aviation Association Board of Directors, we want to personally invite you and your department to the 3rd Annual NTBAA Safety Show-Down and Golf Outing on September 23-24, 2015. "You can learn about dealing with the FAA...keeping your temper and your certificate." -Kent Jackson, Aviation Attorney and 2015 NTBAA Show-Down Session Presenter The NTBAA Safety Show-Down is an information packed, safety focused event that brings some of the best subject matter experts presenting on topics exclusively for pilots, flight attendants, schedulers, maintenance technicians, and flight operations personnel. This NBAA CAM Certified event will be located at the Addison Texas Conference Centre (across the street from Addison Airport) on September 23rd and will feature 8 different breakout sessions to choose from throughout the day, including a keynote presentation by internationally renowned writer and producer, Mark Maier, Ph.D. His presentation, "A Major Malfunction..." The Story Behind the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster, has been adopted by over 800 institutions in 23 countries, including many of the nation's leading aerospace firms and Fortune 500 companies. "All of us have the responsibility to lead and make a difference whenever and wherever you can." -Mark Maier, Ph.D. Chapman University and 2015 NTBAA Show-Down Session Presenter In addition to the educational sessions, the Safety Show-Down will also include an aircraft static display, a fire simulator/trainer, and numerous vendor booths. Many flight departments from North Texas and surrounding areas will be in attendance, making this a great opportunity for networking and connecting with others in the aviation community. Various giveaways will occur throughout the day and breakfast, lunch, and snacks are all included! "Do you know how aware you are of your thoughts and behaviors, and of the intentions and actions of others during those times of stress or fatigue?" -Dr. Shari Frisinger, Behavior Analyst and 2015 NTBAA Show-Down Session Presenter Lastly, don't miss out on the NTBAA Golf Outing held at the Cowboys Golf Club in Grapevine TX on September 24th. The Cowboys Golf Club is the premier resort-style golf course in Texas. As the world's first NFL themed golf course, this is the ultimate NTBAA Golf Outing to unwind after the Safety Show- Down. Special "Early Bird" registration discounts and package deals are available for the Safety Show-Down and Golf Outing, visit: www.ntbaaonline.com to register. Back to Top Upcoming Events: Safeskies 2015 Aviation Safety Conference 22 to 24 September 2015 Realm Hotel, Canberra www.SafeskiesAustralia.org Fundamentals of IS-BAO October 1, 2015 Farnborough, UK https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1661564 IS-BAO Auditing October 2, 2015 Farnborough, UK https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1661567 Fundamentals of IS-BAO November 2, 2015 Hong Kong, China https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1724162 IS-BAO Auditing November 3, 2015 Hong Kong, China https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1724176 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: Vice President Flight Operations FEDEX Express https://www.appone.com/MainInfoReq.asp?R_ID=1120042 Curt Lewis