Flight Safety Information September 28, 2015 - No. 192 In This Issue Why airplanes could soon be flying on seeds Great Lakes Aviation defaults on loan Skidmore a Fellow of Royal Aeronautical Society (FRAeS) South Korea tightens aviation safety rules American Airlines Faces Boeing Fines Over Delayed Dreamliner Seats UKRAINE BANS RUSSIAN AIRLINES FROM AIRSPACE United's New CEO Vows to End Disunity at Post-Merger Airline United flight en route from Denver lands safely at Mitchell Airport after apparent mechanical issue TSA finds record number of guns in US airplane carry on luggage Business jet runs off runway at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport Blame an FAA Blunder for the Lack of Electric Airplanes PROS 2015 TRAINING China Eastern takes delivery of its 50th A330 aircraft Kunming Airlines to lease five aircraft from CDB Leasing flydubai receives 50th aircraft Vietjet receives its 27th aircraft IRAN TO BUY RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT AND SPACE EQUIPMENT FOR $21 BILLION Turkey's indigenous regional jet project faces local production 'crisis' Japan Said to Plan 100 Billion Yen Investment in Mitsubishi Jet Airport Wi-Fi Hacks You Need To Know Before You Fly ERAU Certificate of Management in Aviation Safety iSMS - Safety Management System Training Upcoming Events JOBS AVAILABLE (New Positions) Why airplanes could soon be flying on seeds We've come a long way since 1903, when the Wright brothers flew the world's first powered aeroplane at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. But our thirst for travel is costing more than an air ticket. Today, in the U.S. alone, more than 87,000 flights take place every day, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. According to the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG), global flights produced 705 million tonnes of CO2 in 2013. ATAG adds that the global aviation industry is responsible for roughly 2 percent of "human induced carbon dioxide... emissions." In 2012 - almost 100 years since the Wright brothers made history - another historic flight took place when the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) flew what it described as, "The first civil jet powered by unblended biofuel." The biofuel used came from what the NRC described as oilseed crops that had been commercialized by Canada's Agrisoma Biosciences. Speaking to CNBC's Sustainable Energy about the fuel produced from Agrisoma's oilseed crops, Steve Fabijanski, CEO of Agrisoma, said it was unique and behaved, "identically to petroleum." "There are no changes that need to be made with the fuel handling system or the engine and the fuel burns cleaner and is a more efficient fuel," Fabijanski added. "Since the 100% biojet flight, Agrisoma has been expanding the commercialization of the crop as well as further work on the reduction of aircraft emissions," Fabijanski added over email. "In terms of commercialization of the crop, to date more than 20,000 acres of crop have been commercially grown by over 140 innovative farmers in North America." Fabijanski also said that after extensive testing by the United States Department of Agriculture over several years, the crop was now being evaluated for commercial production in both Europe and South America. Biofuels are becoming an increasingly important and innovative part of the planet's energy mix, with the International Energy Agency stating that they could provide 27 percent of the world's transportation fuel by 2050. In the U.K., for example, London based green energy company bio-bean are taking waste coffee grounds and turning them into bio-diesel, while Edinburgh's Celtic Renewables is turning the by-products of whisky into a next generation biofuel. The oilseed produced by Agrisoma is called "Resonance carinata." Described by the company as being hardy and drought tolerant, it is a non-food crop that can be grown on fallow land that would otherwise lie unused. "This work is unique, because we are able to measure the carbon from the farmer's field all the way to the exhaust pipe of the airplane at 37,000 feet over Montreal," Fabijanski said. He also explained that a 50lb bag of seed would produce up to 8,000 litres of jet fuel, with the by-product a nutritional animal feed. http://www.cnbc.com/2015/09/23/is-this-the-future-of-aviation.html Back to Top Great Lakes Aviation defaults on loan Great Lakes Airlines crew members and passengers get off of a plane at Cheyenne Regional Airport in August 2013. CHEYENNE - Great Lakes Aviation has defaulted on a $27.5 million loan with Callidus Capital Corp., according to documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. As a result of the default, the lending company has the right to "take possession of substantially all" of Great Lakes' assets, an SEC document dated Aug. 28 reads. But Great Lakes officials Douglas Voss and Stan Gadek say they expect the problem will be resolved soon. Meanwhile, Great Lakes continues to operate as normal, both men said Friday. "It's business as usual," said Gadek, the chief financial officer for Great Lakes. The aviation company is based in Cheyenne and provides air service to Wyoming and eight other states. It provides flights to Denver International Airport from the Cheyenne Regional Airport. Officials from Great Lakes and the lending company are in negotiations to fix the problem. "I am optimistic we will have a successful outcome," Gadek said. On Aug. 28, the lending company notified Great Lakes that it had violated the loan agreement. The violation also means the interest rate on the loan will increase from 14 percent to 17 percent. The loan default occurred because Great Lakes did not meet a part of the loan agreement called the "fixed charge coverage ratio," Gadek said. An SEC document also cited that as what triggered the default. A fixed charge coverage ratio shows to investors and creditors a company's ability to make its fixed payments, says a website called My Accounting Course. The ratio basically indicates whether a company has enough money to meet its required debt payments. Great Lakes Aviation had until Aug. 28 to fix the violation but did not. Companies from time to time may not meet a specific test in a loan agreement, Gadek said. Typically, these companies will discuss with their lenders how to fix it and whether to redefine or renegotiate the loan agreement, Gadek said. Great Lakes said in an SEC filing dated June 30 that if it is unsuccessful in changing its loan agreement, it will need to consider several alternatives. These include: additional debt and equity financing; the sale of certain aircraft; or selling aircraft and leasing them back. The same document says Great Lakes does not expect to pay its debt obligations for the next 12 months. "These factors raise significant doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern," Great Lakes wrote. Voss, who founded the company 38 years ago and is its chief executive officer, said the airline has $100 million of assets. He said it faces a pilot shortage, a crisis that is shared across the aviation industry. New federal rules that increase the number of hours that are required to become a pilot make it an impossible career for many young people to afford, Voss said. Also, the problem is compounded because older pilots are retiring. "The whole industry is collapsing," Voss said. The shortage has an indirect effect on the company's violation of the fixed charge coverage ratio, Voss said. Great Lakes has experienced a significant loss of passengers since the pilot shortage began. But critics say the company doesn't pay pilots enough to work there. As of Aug. 10, Great Lakes served 24 airports in nine states with a fleet of six Embraer EMB-120 Brasilias and 28 Beechcraft 1900D regional airliners. Great Lakes has cut service to several airports. And it has made changes in its executive team. On Sept. 2, Michael Matthews resigned as vice president and chief financial officer. The company OK'd a separation agreement in which Matthews will be available to provide consulting services to Great Lakes. The company will pay him consultation and severance of $12,500 a month for 10 months. On Sept. 8, Voss was appointed as chief executive officer, and Charles R. Howell IV was appointed as president. Howell was formerly the CEO. The company also appointed Gadek as vice president and chief financial officer. Great Lakes provides three round-trip flights a day to Denver International Airport on most days, said Jim Schell, deputy aviation manager at the Cheyenne airport. Tim Barth, aviation manager at the airport, said Friday that he did not know anything about the default. "It's another normal day at the airport," he said. The issue sounds like an internal matter with the aviation company that has "nothing to do with the airport," Barth added. "I obviously want them to continue," he said of Great Lakes. He added that the company is still open and that he hasn't seen anything out of the ordinary. The company is located next to the airport administration building. Pete Illoway is a member of the Cheyenne Regional Airport Board. "I hope that (Great Lakes is) able to get through their problems," he said. "They are a valuable member of the airport. "They have their problems, but they still fly, and I think it's important. They are an important member of the Cheyenne community." http://www.wyomingnews.com/articles/2015/09/26/news/01top_09-26-15.txt#.VgkyO_lVhBc Back to Top Skidmore a Fellow of Royal Aeronautical Society (FRAeS) Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) director of aviation safety Mark Skidmore has been named a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS). RAeS Australian Division president John Vincent presented Skidmore with his Fellow certificate at the recently concluded 2015 Safeskies conference in Canberra. Vincent said the Fellow was the highest grade of membership (FRAeS) at the RaeS and awarded to those who had demonstrated an outstanding contribution, reached a position of high responsibility in an influentional role or had a long experience of high quality in the profession of aeronautics or aerospace, adding that the CASA boss "readily met these requirements". Skidmore said it was an honour to have been recognised by the Royal Aeronautical Society as a Fellow. "I look forward to being able to support the ideals of the society and further aviation safety in this great nation of ours," Skidmore said. http://australianaviation.com.au/2015/09/skidmore-a-fellow-of-royal-aeronautical-society/ Back to Top South Korea tightens aviation safety rules South Korea says there are six foreign airlines - from Kazakhstan, Thailand and Indonesia - flying there that are classified as having safety concerns and which are being monitored by the country's Aviation Ministry with a view to restricting any planned expansion. "We will reflect the safety evaluation results by international organisations and advanced nations in banning new flights of airlines on the list and strengthen monitoring of them," the Ministry said. Foreign airlines account for about 38 per cent of international flights in the nation, according to the Ministry. http://www.impactpub.com.au/micebtn/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19564:south- korea-tightens-aviation-safety-rules&catid=15:btn-news&Itemid=50 Back to Top American Airlines Faces Boeing Fines Over Delayed Dreamliner Seats American Airlines filed a lawsuit against its long-time seat vendor Zodiac Seats of Texas. Pictured are Zodiac seats on a Delta 737-800 aircraft in 2007. Cweyer / Wikipedia Boeing has its own production schedule to meet and American's issues with seat-manufacturer Zodiac are not really Boeing's problem. One of the reasons American Airlines filed a lawsuit against its aircraft-seat vendor Zodiac Seats is that the airline is getting squeezed by Boeing and could face substantial penalties for delayed aircraft deliveries caused by Zodiac's ongoing and tardy seat-structure shipments. As detailed in American's complaint, obtained by Skift and embedded below, these potential fines of $5,000 per day and up to 25 percent of the cost of a shipset, or the items sent for installation in the cabin, drove American to cancel orders and deliveries and take legal action against its long-time seat supplier, based in Gainesville, Texas. American is seeking to recoup "all contractual damages" from Zodiac Seats, the lawsuit states. "Zodiac's untimely deliveries may also prove to be the sole cause of late fees that may be imposed by an airframe manufacturer upon American. American will use reasonable commercial efforts to mitigate those charges, but if such fees are imposed, American will seek reimbursement from Zodiac," the complaint states. American has stated that its move to cancel orders from Zodiac Seats relate to business class seats slotted to be delivered for its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners in 2016, and some of the seats that were to be installed as part of its retrofit program on Boeing 777 aircraft. The dispute does not just come down to financial penalties and delayed deliveries but also relates to the intense competition among legacy carriers and even relatively newer entrants such as JetBlue to woo business travelers with lie-flat seats and other amenities to improve the passenger experience. Per the terms of contract between American and Zodiac, Zodiac is obligated to pay penalties for the late deliveries that American has claimed and Zodiac has failed to pay, according to the lawsuit. American references in the lawsuit Paragraph 5(c) of the Purchase Agreement, which states: "Supplier agrees to pay American a sum equal to five thousand U.S. dollars ($5,000) for each day any shipset or partial shipset is delayed beyond the scheduled delivery date, subject to a maximum of twenty- five percent (25%) of the shipset price." American's complaint also states: "Supplier shall reimburse American for all late charges imposed upon American by airframe manufacturers provided that Supplier is the sole reason for delay and provided that American uses reasonable commercial efforts to mitigate such airframe manufacturer charges." American has demanded payment from Zodiac Seats for the "liquidated damages for those late deliveries, but Zodiac failed and refuses to pay the liquidated damages it owes," American's lawsuit alleges. American formally notified Zodiac of default under the contract on June 11, 2015 and gave the manufacturer 30 days to "cure..delays" that are "material breaches," which American alleges Zodiac has failed to do. "Zodiac also made numerous material representations about its ability to perform its contractual obligations. Based on the evidence accumulated over the term of the Agreement, several of those material representations have proven to be untrue as of the date they were made," states the claim. American states that these breaches justify these cancellations of orders and future deliveries with Zodiac. In addition to order cancellations and penalties for failure to meet contractual commitments, American expects Zodiac to reimburse it for the costs of replacements. "Because the Purchase Agreement was partially terminated for cause, American is entitled to procure products similar to those that remain to be delivered or produced under the Purchase Agreement, and Zodiac is obligated to reimburse American for the costs incurred in doing so," the claim states. Specifically, American's petitions the court to declare that it properly terminated the Purchasing Agreement with Zodiac Seats and that: "Zodiac must reimburse American for the costs in excess of what American would have paid Zodiac incurred by American to procure products similar to those that remain to be delivered under the Purchase Agreement." American also seeks damages that "exceed $1 million," - and likely could be much more - attorneys fees and "all other relief to which it may be entitled." The airline seeks to bring its claim before a jury. These types of penalties are fairly common, though suppliers often can negotiate a recovery plan to avoid such legal action by an airline. Zodiac's stated yesterday that such a recovery action was under way, but a look at the complaint filed by American would indicate that line has already been crossed. Industry sources have said that Boeing has exerted strong pressure on American to take delivery of the 787-9 aircraft as previously scheduled. As seats are the full responsibility of the airline, sources say, Boeing could ask American to take the 787-9 aircraft whether or not seats have been installed. American therefore finds itself forced to immediately identify a substitute seat vendor. There is speculation several seat suppliers who could fill the gap with seats that could substitute for Zodiac's model. American has said it has not yet identified a replacement vendor. But industry sources indicate that B/E Aerospace in Winston-Salem North Carolina is the likely candidate to step in at this point. The manufacturer is large enough to meet demands, located within the U.S., and has a long-standing relationship within the new American Airlines Group as a supplier to US Airways. http://skift.com/2015/09/26/american-airlines-faces-boeing-fines-over-delayed-dreamliner-seats/ Back to Top UKRAINE BANS RUSSIAN AIRLINES FROM AIRSPACE Starting October 25, Ukraine will not allow any Russian airlines to fly in their airspace. The ban includes major airlines Aeroflot and Transaero. "In accordance with a decision by the Security Council, the government of Ukraine is adopting a decision to ban flights by Russian companies, primarily Aeroflot and Transaero, to Ukraine," stated Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. "Airlines with the Russian tricolor have no reason to be in Ukrainian airports." The government also said they will ban any flights "if they contain military goods, dual use or Russian military manpower." "Only when and if Aeroflot receives official notification from the aviation authorities of Ukraine that flights have been canceled will the company inform passengers and explain the rules on ticket reimbursement," stated the airline in an official statement. The former Soviet republic has been at war with Russia since March 2014 when the Kremlin annexed Crimea and invaded east Ukraine. The Russian government quickly fired back at Ukraine. "Suspension of air service between Russia and Ukraine would be another act of insanity," said Dmitry Peskov, the spokesman for President Vladimir Putin. "Looking back at the past 20 months, we cannot deny a hypothetical possibility of such acts of lunacy on the part of Kiev." Maxim Sokolov, the Russian Transportation Minister, said the "authorities will be compelled to take countermeasures" while insisting the "Ukrainian citizens would suffer first and foremost." Christopher Miller at Mashable reports Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko will meet in Paris with French and German leaders on October 2. Both will be present at the UN General Assembly in New York next week, but they do not plan to meet then. However, President Barack Obama and Putin will set aside time to speak next week. "Given the situations in Ukraine and Syria, despite our profound differences with Moscow, the president believes that it would be irresponsible not to test whether we can make progress through high-level engagement with the Russians," claimed White House officials. http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2015/09/27/ukraine-bans-russian-airlines-airspace/ Back to Top United's New CEO Vows to End Disunity at Post-Merger Airline Oscar Munoz, chief executive officer of United Continental Holdings Inc. Munoz says he's heard employees' frustrations under Smisek `It's time for a new day,' carrier's chief writes in letter United Continental Holdings Inc.'s new chief executive officer, who was installed after his predecessor's ouster, pledged to unite a workforce that's still divided almost five years after the merger that created the airline. In a letter to employees, Oscar Munoz promised consultations with workers before adopting any cost cuts and scrutiny of the use of management consultants. He said he's heard workers' skepticism in meetings since he succeeded Jeff Smisek on Sept. 8. "I recognize that the journey hasn't always been smooth and it won't be fixed in a day," Munoz said. "This is a marathon with a running start. I'm ready to take this team forward. It's time for a new day. Come with me." Smisek had been the company's only CEO since leading the 2010 tie-up between former United parent UAL Corp. and Continental Airlines. During his tenure, United trailed a benchmark industry stock index, couldn't reach unified contracts for flight attendants and mechanics, struggled with on-time arrivals and suffered flight disruptions from computer failures this summer. Already a United director, Munoz became president and CEO after the board replaced Smisek amid a government probe and an internal investigation into the airline's dealings with the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey. The agency runs New Jersey's Newark airport, a United hub. Munoz's letter related workers' frustration at the company's spotty performance in recent years, including an anecdote from a 25-year-veteran flight attendant who was near tears as she told him she was "tired of having to tell people I'm sorry." The CEO is new to running an airline but not to the intricacies of dealing with a large, unionized workforce. He previously served as president and chief operating officer of railroad giant CSX Corp. United had 84,000 workers as of June 30, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. "We've heard that you want to be empowered to do good work with effective tools," Munoz wrote. "We will give you the right tools to deliver the service and reliability I know we are capable of." http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-09-26/new-united-airlines-ceo-vows-end-to-disunity-in- employee-letter Back to Top United flight en route from Denver lands safely at Mitchell Airport after apparent mechanical issue MILWAUKEE - A General Mitchell International Airport spokeswoman tells FOX6 News United Flight 5330 en route to Milwaukee from Denver landed safely Sunday evening, September 27th after experiencing an apparent mechanical issue while on the taxiway. The aircraft landed safely as scheduled around 7:00 p.m. Once the aircraft landed, we're told the pilot reported an apparent mechanical issue while the plane was on the taxiway. The plane then stopped and passengers disembarked from the plane onto a shuttle bus and were transported to the United terminal. It is unclear at this point what sort of mechanical issue affected the plane. The aircraft is a CRJ200 made by Canadair - a SkyWest plane. Airport officials say this was NOT an emergency landing. No one was injured. http://fox6now.com/2015/09/27/united-flight-en-route-from-denver-lands-safely-at-mitchell-airport-after- apparent-mechanical-issue/ Back to Top TSA finds record number of guns in US airplane carry on luggage 67 firearms found in week ending 17 September - 56 of them loaded Record comes after Congress opens hearing on security test failures A Glock 17 9mm semi-auto pistol. US airport security agents discovered a record 67 firearms in luggage passengers intended to carry on to airplanes during one week in September, according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). US airport screenings fail to detect mock weapons in 95% of tests Of the 67 firearms found during the week ending 17 September, 56 were loaded and 26 had a round in the chamber, the TSA reported. The tally set a new weekly record. The prior record was 65 firearms found during a week in May 2013, the TSA said. For the most recent week, ending 24 September, the TSA said it found 64 firearms in carry on bags at airports. Of those, 55 were loaded and 22 had a round chambered. In July, new TSA administrator Peter Neffenger told a congressional panel that his top priority would be to close security gaps at airport checkpoints. Lawmakers opened a House of Representatives hearing after a Department of Homeland Security report that found TSA airport screeners did not detect banned weapons in 67 of 70 tests at dozens of airport checkpoints. Guns in airplane luggage have been found all around the country. The TSA said its agents stopped a man on Thursday at a Greater Rochester International Airport checkpoint in New York, when they detected a gun in his carry-on bag. The day before, TSA agents found a loaded firearm in a passenger's carry on bag at the Des Moines International Airport in Iowa. Nationwide, TSA officers have found more than 2,000 firearms at airport security checkpoints so far this year. Weapons including firearms, firearm parts and ammunition are banned from carry on bags but can be transported in checked bags if they are unloaded and declared to the airline. Passengers who bring firearms to the checkpoint face possible criminal charges and civil penalties up to $11,000. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/27/tsa-record-number-guns-us-airplane-carry-on-luggage Back to Top Business jet runs off runway at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport MANATEE -- A business jet ran off the runway at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport about 8:30 p.m. Sunday. The passenger and pilot suffered minor scratches, and the front nose gear of the plane was damaged, said Lionel Guilbert, manager of airport operations. The aircraft was identified as a Cessna Citation 2. "The pilot said there were some brake problems," Guilbert said. The 1978 model plane, owned by WSW Rental Of Sarasota LLC, a Longboat Key company, is based at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. http://www.bradenton.com/2015/09/28/6014508/business-jet-runs-off-runway-at.html#storylink=cpy Back to Top Blame an FAA Blunder for the Lack of Electric Airplanes THERE'S A KIND of beauty in electric planes you don't get from their gas-powered counterparts. They're quiet. They don't vibrate or require expensive fuel. They're great for training pilots. So you'd think we'd have lots of battery-powered airplanes on the market by now, but we don't. The reason, according to industry insiders, is not because of technological issues or safety concerns. It's because of a single phrase in the government's seemingly endless list of rules that must be followed to certify a new airplane design as safe to fly. The rule was written before electric powerplants for aviation were taken seriously, but the government won't change it. In 2004, the Federal Aviation Administration created a new category of airplanes, called Light Sport Aircraft (LSA), to make it easier and cheaper for manufacturers to certify simple, fun-to-fly airplanes. The new rules have allowed for the creation of dozens of new two-seat airplane designs. None of these are electric, however, because in the preamble to the rule, the FAA wrote that all planes in this class must have "a single, reciprocating engine, if powered." The point of the rule, FAA officials acknowledge, was to keep more powerful turbine engines out of the picture. The banning of electric powertrains is unfortunate collateral damage. "This is the thing that has scuttled electric aircraft's significant development, for years," says Dan Johnson, president of the Light Aircraft Manufacturing Association, a trade group. "Just by changing six or eight words, you could undo the problem - but we can't get there." Manufacturers are ready to move forward, pilots are ready to buy. The small two-seat sport airplanes are light enough to be powered by batteries similar to the ones in cars. The costs to develop and certify new aircraft are manageable; and the market is big enough to support those costs. The barrier to progress is that one clause. There's plenty of interest from buyers and from manufacturers, Johnson says, but they're stymied by that rule. The FAA is a bulky, slow-moving bureaucracy, where rules can take years to change, but Johnson says this issue, given the wide interest and the fast-developing technology, is especially frustrating. And while Johnson and others in the industry say the FAA employees they interact with are generally supportive of their electric ambitions, the official FAA position is not so innovation-friendly. "LSAs were meant to be simple, two-place, recreational aircraft that are simple to operate and maintain, and therefore do not require design or production approval," the FAA says. "The technological and training issues for certification and operation of electric engines go beyond the intent for simple, easy-to-maintain, recreational aircraft." Bigger private airplanes, with four to six seats or so, are certified under different, more complex rules, called Part 23. Those certification costs ring in around $10 million or more, compared to about $200,000 in the sport category. So it's no surprise progress has slowed. "It's gotten more and more difficult to innovate," says Greg Bowles, of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association trade group. "The rules have kind of frozen innovation ... It's hard to make the business case." But paradoxically, major revisions now in the works for Part 23 may end up allowing the bigger airplanes to use electric powerplants sooner than the sport planes. Bowles hopes the revisions will be done in two or three years. "These new rules will allow us to evolve the way we should be evolving," he says. "We're removing unintended consequences while keeping safety in place." Meanwhile, innovators continue working to develop electric technology for airplanes. Ultralight and experimental aircraft already are allowed to use electric powerplants, but those products appeal to a smaller niche of pilots. In Europe, a number of small electric airplanes already are on the market, with Pipistrel leading the way. Airbus is working on two new designs, including a four-seat hybrid. Aero Electric Aircraft Corp., based in Denver, is working to certify its two-seat Sun Flyer under a seldom-used part of the FAA rules for "primary airplanes," which allows for electric powerplants but requires a more complex and costly certification process than the LSA category. Bowles is hopeful the revised Part 23 rules now in the works will free up the pace of innovation. "The good news is, we're going to see significant improvements in safety, in utility, and in the variety of aircraft on the market," he says. While pure battery-electric flight may be a ways off for these bigger airplanes, there's a lot of interest in developing hybrid systems once the new rules are in place. Those who value the experience of flight as something more than just getting from A to B aren't going to give up, and one way or another, they'll find a way forward. "I've flown in an electric experimental airplane, and they're kind of magical," Johnson says. "You can hear things on the ground, while you're flying." http://www.wired.com/2015/09/blame-faa-blunder-lack-electric-airplanes/ Back to Top Back to Top China Eastern takes delivery of its 50th A330 aircraft SHANGHAI, China - With one of the largest A330 fleets in the world, China Eastern Airlines has consolidated its position by taking delivery of its 50th aircraft. Powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines, the Dash-200 model features a two-class cabin layout seating 30 passengers in Business Class and 203 in Economy. China Eastern said the arrival of its 50th A330 symbolized its 30 years of partnership with Airbus. The airline began operating the aircraft in 2006 and also has a fleet of more than 200 single-aisle A320s. China Eastern is one of mainland China's three major carriers and the country's second-largest airline by passenger numbers. It is based at Hongqiao International Airport in Changning District, Shanghai, and is a member of the Sky Team alliance with subsidiary companies including Shanghai Airlines, China United Airlines, China Cargo Airlines, Jetstar Hong Kong and Joy Air. http://www.eturbonews.com/64234/china-eastern-takes-delivery-its-50th-a330-aircraft Back to Top Kunming Airlines to lease five aircraft from CDB Leasing Illustration of Kunming Airlines Boeing 737 MAX© Boeing Illustration of Kunming Airlines Boeing 737 MAX Kunming Airlines (KY, Kunming Changshui) has signed an agreement to lease five unspecified aircraft from CDB Leasing, a subsidiary of the China Development Bank Corporation. The deal was signed during the recent 4th China Air Finance Development (DFTP) Summit in Tianjin. A subsidiary of Shenzhen Airlines (ZH, Shenzhen), Kunming Airlines operates a fleet of six B737-700s and six B737-800s on flights to twenty-eight destinations throughout China. http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/40562-kunming-airlines-to-lease-five-aircraft-from-cdb-leasing Back to Top flydubai receives 50th aircraft The airline will receive a further 11 737-800s between 2016 and 2017 Low cost carrier flydubai has received its 50th aircraft, completing an order of 737-900s made at the 2008 Farnborough Air Show The airline will receive a further 11 737-800s between 2016 and 2017, followed by 100 737 MAX's between 2017 and 2023. In the six years since its launch, the carrier has built a network of 94 destinations, including 67 new routes with no direct air links to Dubai previously. "We are recognised by our passengers for providing reliable travel services and have helped to change the way people travel across our network. This aircraft represents the fulfilment of the vision set for the airline in 2008. It has been a remarkable journey," said flydubai CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith. Strategic Aero Space Research chief analyst Saj Ahmad said the airline's expansion speaks volumes about the market void for low cost travel. "Having had its sukuk oversubscribed last year, flydubai has become the fastest growing low cost airline in the world - it's commencement of flights from Dubai World Central next month will see its footprint and organic growth rise even further." He also said the 737-800 aircraft and the carrier's business class product gave it an advantage over A320- operating rivals with fewer seats. This included more varied and higher yielding fares to destinations in southern Europe and CIS states. "It's been a fast and furious growth spurt - but as flydubai matures with age, its propensity to carve out and build on its profitability will become more prevalent," he added. http://gulfbusiness.com/2015/09/flydubai-receives-50th-aircraft/#.VgkplPlVhBc Back to Top Vietjet receives its 27th aircraft Vietjet's brand-new aircraft, an A320 (coded VN-A662), landed at 5 p.m. September 25 (local time) at Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Ho Chi Minh City after flying from Toulouse in France. The aircraft - an A320 with Sharklet wingtips - is the eighth of the milestone agreement between Vietjet and Airbus for purchasing and leasing 100 aircraft. The aircraft with advanced design which helps reduce fuel costs, CO2 emissions is expected to boost the carrier's efficiency and protect environment. To welcome the new member of its fleet, the carrier will give away 500,000 promotional tickets for booking from midday to 2 p.m. Tickets on domestic routes and international connections to South Korea, Myanmar, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand can also be snapped up for incredible prices (VND199,000; VND299,000 and VND399,000) for travel from now until April 22, 2016. With this addition to its fleet, Vietjet is now operating 27 brand-new and modern A320s and A321s, helping the new-age airline to improve service quality and further develop its network in Vietnam and across the Asia-Pacific region. http://www.thanhniennews.com/business/vietjet-receives-its-27th-aircraft-51816.html Back to Top IRAN TO BUY RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT AND SPACE EQUIPMENT FOR $21 BILLION - COUNTRIES BARGAINED SANCTIONS AND NUCLEAR PROGRAMS TOO? Iran will soon buy Russian aircraft and related equipment. A mega-deal worth $21 billion has been signed that may also see reductions in sanctions as well as regression of the nuclear program. Manouchehr Manteghi, the managing director of Iran Aviation Industries Organization, confirmed that Tehran has signed a $21 billion deal with Russia to procure advanced aircrafts and satellite related equipment. He added that the deal was inked at the MAKS-2015 air show, which was held in Russia last month, reported Press TV. At the heart of the deal are multiple units of Sukhoi Superjet 100. The versatile jets can accommodate anywhere between 8 to 108 passengers with ease. Available at competitive rates, the Superjet has ultra- modern manufacturing and assembly units that can quickly churn out multiple planes within a short span of time. A short delivery-schedule is quite important in aviation industry. Coupled with commendable fuel- economy, lower operating costs, and high cruising speeds, these jets are steadily being considered by many aviation companies. Without revealing the number of aircraft being bought by Iran, Manteghi said the following. "There is a large share of contracts for the purchase of this type of aircraft." Apart from buying complete aircraft, the countries have also agreed to jointly work on aircraft engine and its various iterations for varied purposes. Elaborating the concept, Manteghi added the following. "We plan that we will carry out joint projects in the areas of design, production and promotion of platforms for a new generation engine for further economic exploitation." The two countries have been increasingly working together since the ISIS has been wreaking havoc in the Middle East, reported HNGN. In fact, Iran and Russia have been helping Syria and Iraq put up a comprehensive and tactile intelligence center in Baghdad, which will not just offer advanced monitoring capabilities, but also act as a forward reconnaissance base to keep a close watch on the ISIS. However, there could be more than what meets the eye. Tehran had signed a very crucial deal with six world powers about two months back, which accorded the country significant relief from crippling sanctions. In return, Iran appears to have agreed to scale back its nuclear program, which was viewed as a threat to the world. Subsequent to the deal, the cooperation between Russia and Iran appears to have surged, only to be further boosted by the ISIS insurgence. With a primary aim to boost economies and ties, Iran could also be buying aircraft from Russia to bolster its aging fleet and gain new technologies. It seems terrorism and an aggressive nuclear program was the reason Iran is collaborating so intimately with Russia. http://www.inquisitr.com/2452202/iran-to-buy-russian-aircraft-and-space-equipment-for-21-billion- countries-bargained-sanctions-and-nuclear-programs-too/ Back to Top Turkey's indigenous regional jet project faces local production 'crisis' The TRJet program to build Turkey's first indigenous regional jet faces problems as the U.S.-based Sierra Nevada Corp. (SNC), a partner in the jet program, has been asked to produce at least 70 percent of the jet's parts in Turkey by the Undersecretariat for the Defense Industry (SSM), according to company representatives, noting that a final agreement has been not inked yet. The TRJet program was first launched in a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu just 10 days before the June elections, but the project already has obstacles. The SSM has asked that 70 percent of the plane parts be made in Turkey by SNC, which has undertaken the project. This, however, is not possible, according to company representatives. "It is now asked from us to meet the target of 70 percent of local production in the project. It is very difficult to meet this target. The aircraft engine and the electronic systems already constitute most of the parts of the aircraft, and all of them are produced abroad. This should be applied not for the TRJ328 with the capacity of 32 passengers, which needs to be produced at the first stage and to be submitted in three years, but for the TRJ628 with the capacity of 70 passengers, which is planned to be submitted until 2023," said company chairwoman and president, Eren Özmen. The TRJ328 and the TRJ628 will be based on Dornier 328 and Dornier 628, respectively. "This is $1.5 billion-worth of business. The acquisition of Dornier's intellectual property rights, the production of 50 new TRJ328s and the first design of TRJ628," said company CEO Fatih Özmen. No 'final agreement' yet However, Fatih Özmen has made a critical point about the project. "In the launch ceremony in May, we signed only a memorandum of understanding with Turkish government and Turkish defense company STM, a majority of which is owned by the government, with the support of Prime Minister Davuto?lu." The required decision was made in June 2015 by the Defense Industries Execution, according to Fatih Özmen. In the case that "Turkey says 'no' to the deal, we'll say we have acquired a good company, Dornier, despite some investment losses," he noted. He said the agreement is planned to be signed this year. "I hope there will be no change in plans. We want to say this is not a political project. I mean politics have an effect, of course, but this is mainly Turkey's project," he added. "We consider this investment in a long-term perspective, not in short-term. We also view what will be contribution to the economy. The contribution of aviation to economy is calculated as one-to-seven, when high technologies and training dimensions are included into the equation. This project is a historic move that will make great contribution to making Turkey one of the world's 10 biggest economies," Eren Özmen said. However, she added, "The point is to make this project in global standards...Turkey needs to make a decision here: Does it want to produce its indigenous airplane or a global airplane? There is not anything that is 100 percent local in this sector...Even Boeing does not produce everything by itself. On the contrary, many different parts are used in its new 787 from many parts of the world." She noted the main priority for the SSM as ensuring national control. "In case of any war outbreak, the SSM wants to have local means to be able to control its economics. It does produce parts and doesn't need any certification. The certification, however, matters for us. If we will sell this airplane on the global scale, we need to think about its certification," she noted. Fatih Özmen said their company has focused on three priorities in the project: Certification, market choice and branding. "First of all, as Dornier doesn't have any certification problem and we can use its engineering infrastructure with SNC," with Turkey having the technological rights as well. He added, "We have set a suitable competition field by targeting the production of a new regional jet for markets with 4,000 airplanes and a capacity of 30-70 passengers, for which there is not any big producer in the world." Dornier's established name would help Turkey sell its regional brand in the global markets, he said, adding, "Besides, Dornier has widespread parts and logistics support networks, which will provide great opportunity to us." The idea for a Turkish jet was first introduced by then-PM Recep Tayyip Erdo?an in May 2013 during a trip to San Francisco. "He then asked for our help in meeting Turkey's target to produce a local airplane. We then started to talk about this issue... An ambitious and quick-to-proceed program was made in October 2014 when Lütfi Elvan was transport minister," said Fatih Özmen, with the acquisition of Dornier completed in February 2015. http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkeys-indigenous-regional-jet-project-faces-local-production- crisis.aspx?pageID=238&nID=89053&NewsCatID=345 Back to Top Japan Said to Plan 100 Billion Yen Investment in Mitsubishi Jet The Mitsubishi Regional Jet passenger aircraft, developed by Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. State-owned bank wants to support nation's plane development Investment to be used for jet mass production and maintenance The Development Bank of Japan is in talks with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. to invest 100 billion yen ($831 million) in its development of the nation's first passenger plane in more than 40 years, two people familiar with the situation said. The state-owned bank wants to help stimulate Japan's aviation industry and will make a decision by the end of March, said one person, asking not to be identified because they aren't authorized to speak on the matter. The Mitsubishi Regional Jet is set to make its first flight next month, as it competes with Embraer SA and Bombardier Inc. in the market for small passenger planes. So far the company has won 407 orders for the regional jet, including options and purchase rights. The funds will also be used to build maintenance facilities and supply spare parts for the jet, one person said. The Nikkei newspaper reported the investment yesterday. Hideo Ikuno, a spokesman for Mitsubishi Heavy, said the company is looking into financing options for the jet but nothing has been decided. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-09-28/japan-said-to-plan-100-billion-yen-investment-in- mitsubishi-jet Back to Top Airport Wi-Fi Hacks You Need To Know Before You Fly Airports are the worst. Food is overpriced, people are rude, and the TSA procedures remind you of that nightmare you had after you watched Se7en. Normally, browsing through Facebook and the grossest subreddits known to man would ease the pain of this experience, but you've got better luck getting cheap, reliable Wi-Fi at the Vatican than an airport. So, to make sure you're never stuck in another terminal staring longingly at your screen, here are some hacks to help you get back on the Internet. Click on Boingo's partner pages to get past the paywall Airport Wi-Fi systems often have partner pages, free sites you can use to get unlimited Wi-Fi access. If the airport is using a Boingo hotspot, go to the homepage > The Good Stuff > click on one of the free pages > open a new tab. Leave the first tab open and browse to your heart's content. Trick the network into resetting your time limit Airports know how long you've been on their Wi-Fi based on a Media Access Control (MAC) address, a specific number assigned to your computer or device. If you run out of time and get booted from the network, download the Technitium MAC Address Changer for Windows or Linkliar for OS X to change your MAC address, fooling the network into thinking you're using a different computer. Type "?.jpg" at the end of the URL This is an old trick, but it still works at some airports. If you add ?.jpg to the end of the URL of the site you're trying to visit, you can get around the Wi-Fi restrictions. Keep in mind, this hack only does its job if the network allows images without a redirect. To find out 3 more hacks that'll make finding airport Wi-Fi a breeze, get the full story at Thrillist.com! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/thrillist/airport-wi-fi-hacks-you-n_b_8189660.html Back to Top CERTIFICATE OF MANAGEMENT IN AVIATION SAFETY Professional education seminars for aviation practitioners Embry-Riddle will host a variety of aviation safety focused executive education courses at its Daytona Beach Campus; all courses are offered in a face-to-face traditional classroom setting taught by subject matter experts from the aviation industry. Who Should Attend: These courses are tailored for industry professionals involved in the operations, management, and supervision of aviation organizations. What You Will Learn:The certificate is designed for participants interested in obtaining a strong safety foundation; the objective is to produce aviation industry professionals who are skilled in providing expertise in safety management and technical guidance on FAA, OSHA, DOT and EPA Compliance Issues. The certificate requires completion of three 5-day courses in Occupational Safety and Health & Aviation Ground Safety, Aviation Safety Program Management & Aircraft Accident Investigation and Management. REGISTER TODAY ONLINE ERAU FALL 2015 CERTIFICATE OF MANAGEMENT IN AVIATION SAFETY SERIES: OCT. 19-23, 2015: OSHA & Aviation Ground Safety Oct. 26-30, 2015: Aviation Safety Program Management Nov. 2-6, 2015: Aircraft Accident Investigation LOCATION: DAYTONA BEACH CAMPUS, FLORIDA CONTACT INFORMATION: Ms. Sarah Ochs, Director of Professional Programs Email: case@erau.edu Phone: (386) 226-6928 www.erau.edu/cmas iSMS - Safety Management System Training Back to Top Upcoming Events: 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 2016 DTI SMS/QA Symposium January 3, 4, & 5 2016 Disney World, FL 1-866-870-5490 www.dtiatlanta.com Back to Top JOBS AVAILABLE: *IOSA FLT Auditors *Experienced Trainers in the area of Safety Management Systems *Quality Control Specialist *Manager Quality Assurance and Quality Control Aviation Quality Services GmbH www.aviation-quality-services.com Flight Training Human Factors Specialist Emirates www.emirates.com/careers Manager Group Safety Management Systems Virgin Australia Location: Brisbane, Australia http://careers.virginaustralia.com/cw/en/job/496413/manager-group-safety-management-systems Curt Lewis