Flight Safety Information September 30, 2015 - No. 194 In This Issue Regional Jet Scrapes Wing on Runway During Texas Landing FAA signs agreements with EASA, Transport Canada Homeland Security: Airport screening process 'disappointing and troubling' Airbus A320neo Test Aircraft Suffers Engine Damage Laser strikes an ongoing danger for Fresno pilots Laser pointed at jet bound for Ford Airport Jet that caught fire at McCarran apparently not leaving Las Vegas Ryanair to install defibrillators on all their aircraft Mechanic hit by moving airplane propeller at Troutdale Airport PROS 2015 TRAINING Flexjet gets first Embraer Legacy jet anchoring mid-size program Japan First Passenger Jet Test Flight Set for Week of Oct. 26 Unmanned aircraft used in Canadian wildlife study AAR Corp. hiring 100 plus employees, aircraft mechanics, inspectors and more XTI Aircraft Surpasses $10M During Aviation's First Equity Crowdfunding Initiative American Airlines, Rolls-Royce to end Fort Worth aircraft engine venture, affecting 600 jobs U.S.-Cuban aviation deal possible this year AirAsia Ramps Up Flight Safety and Operational Efficiency With Panasonic Avionics' Connected Aircraft Qantas Group and GE Aviation sign strategic Flight Efficiency Services agreement ERAU Certificate of Management in Aviation Safety iSMS - Safety Management System Training Upcoming Events JOBS AVAILABLE (New Positions) Regional Jet Scrapes Wing on Runway During Texas Landing An American Eagle flight tilted to its side during landing at McAllen International Airport Tuesday morning, dipping a wing onto the runway. (Published Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015) An American Eagle flight tilted to its side during landing at McAllen International Airport Tuesday morning, dipping a wing onto the runway, and the frightening moment was captured by a plane spotter. American Eagle flight 5786, a Bombardier CRJ900 regional jet operated by Mesa Airlines, departed Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport en route to McAllen International Airport in McAllen, Texas. Juan De La Garza, of Los Fresnos, Texas, tells NBC 5 he was in the area of the airport and decided to test out his new camera as a novice plane spotter. He said he watched the plane on approach through the viewfinder but noticed the right side of the plane dip toward the runway when landing. He said saw the wing make contact when he uploaded the pictures onto his computer. In a statement to NBC 5, Mesa Airlines officials said, in part: "Due to concerns about possible damage incurred on landing, the aircraft was removed from service for inspection. Passengers exited the aircraft normally and there were no reported injuries. Mesa Airlines is conducting an investigation." http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Regional-Jet-Scrapes-Wing-on-Runway-During-Landing- 330035481.html Back to Top FAA signs agreements with EASA, Transport Canada FAA has signed agreements with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Transport Canada (TCCA), which will allow the regulatory authorities to rely on each other's systems. In a statement, FAA said the agreements will eliminate duplicate processes, install safety enhancing equipment on aircraft more quickly, and save time and money. "Strong partnerships are a key to consistent safety standards around the world," FAA said. "Based on more than a decade of FAA cooperation with EASA and over 15 years with TCCA, the agencies have established confidence in each other's regulatory systems. Rooted in that confidence, the new safety agreements allow reciprocal acceptance of the majority of Technical Standard Order-approved articles. This change benefits US, Canadian and European aerospace industries organizations by eliminating the need for applications, additional validation and administrative review by each party." According to FAA, the new agreement with EASA also facilitates acceptance of the classification for basic supplemental type certificates. An audit process will ensure that technical classifications continue to meet established criteria, and make sure standards are being met, it said. http://atwonline.com/regulation/faa-signs-agreements-easa-transport-canada Back to Top Homeland Security: Airport screening process 'disappointing and troubling' TSA Administrator Peter Neffenger speaks at a news conference on security for the U.S. rail system at Union Station in Washington on Sept. 3, 2015. The most recent round of covert testing at airport security checkpoints produced "disappointing and troubling" results, according to the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general. The findings come after a June disclosure of major security failures within the Transportation Security Administration's screening process that led to the ousting of the agency's acting director. Investigators who ran tests at eight different airports during an unspecified time attributed screeners' failure to detect anomalies and potential security threats to problems with technology, human error and the TSA's own procedures. "We found layers of security simply missing," said DHS Inspector General John Roth, describing the results of the latest classified audit during a hearing Tuesday before a Senate committee. Exact details about the security failures and the airports screened were not disclosed as the information is considered classified. Newly appointed TSA Administrator Peter Neffenger said "a disproportionate focus on speed and efficiency in screening operations rather than security effectiveness" was hampering security performance across the agency. As part of the changes he has made to security since taking over the agency, Mr. Neffenger said security screeners and management have gotten renewed training that focuses on the specific failures detected in covert tests. During testimony before the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, Mr. Neffenger said TSA has put a stop to other tactics used at airport screenings that created "greater risk" to the system, including the practice of randomly allowing people who were not vetted through the TSA Precheck program to go through expedited screening. "That process has stopped as of September 12. We no longer do that," said Mr. Neffenger, noting that 14 percent of the daily traveling population was being put into expedited screening lines. The TSA also made a request that funding for security staff be kept at current levels, rather than reduced by approximately 600 employees as is currently planned for the coming year. In June, prior covert security test results were leaked and showed that undercover investigators were able to smuggle mock explosives or banned weapons through checkpoints 95 percent of the time. Investigators also found that 73 people were able to obtain federal approval to work in secure areas at airports despite having unspecified connections to terrorism. The investigations led Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson to reassign TSA Director Melvin Carraway and to demand that the TSA come up with new screening procedures aimed at fixing the "specific vulnerabilities" that the inspector general found. On Tuesday, Mr. Neffenger said that the latest round of training for TSA security officers has already done a lot to address the specific issues raised and that he is also working to develop a process to maintain strict security standards. "The day you set a security system and say 'I got it right' is the day you begin to lose its effectiveness," he said, noting the evolving nature of terrorism threats. He said the TSA is also exploring new "queue management" techniques that can help keep the flow of airline passengers moving without compromising security. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/sep/29/dhs-airport-screening-disappointing-troubling/ Back to Top Airbus A320neo Test Aircraft Suffers Engine Damage Previous problem with Pratt & Whitney engine delayed test program earlier this year A file picture of the new Airbus A320neo aircraft taking off for its first flight from the airport of Toulouse- Blagnac, southern France, last year. By ROBERT WALL and JON OSTROWER Airbus Group SE said on Wednesday that one of its A320neo test aircraft has suffered engine damage, a sign of further pressure on the European plane maker to meet an end-of-year deadline to bring the latest model of its ubiquitous single-aisle jetliner into commercial service. The A320neo test plane was undergoing hot-weather testing in the Middle East when the incident occurred in Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates. Airbus found damage to one of the plane's two engines last week at the end of the trial, a spokeswoman said. The extent of the damage is still being assessed, Airbus said. The PW1100G geared turbofan engines are built by Pratt & Whitney, a unit of United Technologies Corp. Pratt & Whitney couldn't immediately be reached for comment. Airbus said a replacement engine is on its way, requiring the idling of the test plane for a few days. The company is confident it could work with Pratt & Whitney to resume flight tests of the grounded plane "soon," the spokeswoman said. "Our target to start the A320neo delivery stream in 2015 remains unchanged," the spokeswoman said. Qatar Airways is first in line for the new aircraft, with delivery scheduled this year. The test program has been running behind plan, though, after some of the test aircraft were idled for about three months earlier this year because of a previous problem with the Pratt & Whitney engine. The flaw in one of the engine components ensured Airbus wasn't able to debut the A320neo plane at the Paris air show in June, a big event for aerospace suppliers to showcase their products. The A320neo, for new engine option, is an enhancement of the aircraft currently in service, promising greater fuel economy. The new plane has quickly become Airbus's fastest selling jetliner, with more than 4,200 orders. The aircraft is powered by engines from Pratt & Whitney or CFM International, a consortium of General Electric Co. and France's Safran SA. The first of the GE-Safran powered planes is due for its first customer delivery next year. Four other A320neo test planes remain flying, the spokeswoman said. Two of those planes are powered by Pratt & Whitney engines and the other two by the rival turbine. The test planes have logged more than 840 flight hours in more than 280 flights, Airbus said. http://www.wsj.com/articles/airbus-a320neo-test-aircraft-suffers-engine-damage-1443602561 Back to Top Laser strikes an ongoing danger for Fresno pilots Fresno, Calif. - It's a serious crime that could put you in jail. Police are cracking down on people who shine lasers at local planes and helicopters. It's an ongoing problem in Fresno, the light from those lasers can temporarily blind pilots. It's a federal crime to aim a laser at a plane, or helicopter, but as powerful lasers have become more affordable and easier to acquire pilots flying above Fresno know the danger can strike at anytime. The goal for Fresno Police helicopter pilots is to assist ground officers by positioning themselves to shed light on crime scenes from above, but it's the lights being shined back at them that has police pilots like Seargent Larry Hustedde nervous. "You have to understand that when someone points a laser pointer at the helicopter they see a little speck, but to us it's about that big around. So when it hits our helicopter it lights up the whole cockpit," said Sgt. Hustedde. That laser strike happens fast and immediately puts the pilot, his crew, and people below in danger. "When you're in pitch black and someone takes a picture and the flash blinds you. That's called flash blindness and you kind of look away and close your eyes. That's what we have to do when someone hits us with a green laser," said Sgt. Hustedde. Last year 150 laser strikes were reported in the Valley and police dealt with the latest case just a few days ago. All this, as Fresno pilots try to stay focused on other crimes unfolding below them. Sitting behind the controls, pilots are trained on evasive maneuvers, but lasers pose a constant risk. "We try to look at where the source is without looking directly into the light. It's not safe, but at the same time we're trained on how to not take a prolonged direct hit," said Sgt. Hustedde. In the last two years judges have sent two men from the Valley have to jail for shooting a laser at helicopters, one in Clovis and one in just recently in Bakersfield. If you see someone shooting a laser at a helicopter or plane authorities ask you to call 911. http://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/laser-strikes-an-ongoing-danger-for-fresno-pilots Back to Top Laser pointed at jet bound for Ford Airport CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - A pilot reported a laser beam was pointed at his cockpit as he was about to land at Gerald R. Ford International Airport on Tuesday morning. The cargo jet was on approach to the airport in Cascade Township near Grand Rapids at about 5:30 a.m. The pilot spotted the beam about seven miles southwest of the airport, somewhere in the area of 84th Street and US-131. The plane landed safely. A similar incident happened in 2013. An 11-year-old playing with a laser pointer was believed to be involved in that incident. Dan Olthoff, a former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot and current West Michigan Aviation Academy instructor, said the incident Tuesday morning came at a crucial time for the crew of the aircraft. He said it is the time in a flight when everyone in the cockpit fixates on anticipating what could go wrong and on getting the plane down safely. "Big picture, you want the aircrew focused solely on the job. It's kind of like getting your game face on," Olthoff said. While the effects of a laser are usually temporary, it's what could happen next that worries pilots. "Your training is there, but if you're distracted by something else in addition to the laser light, now you've got to take that time to recognize what's going on and you're not necessarily 100 percent in the game," Olthoff said. The Federal Aviation Administration says incidents involving lasers and aircraft have increase more than tenfold since 2006, rising from 384 then to 3,896 last year. The devices, often used in PowerPoint demonstrations, are cheap and easy to get. When it come to pointing lasers at an aircraft, the intent isn't usually malicious. Olthoff said getting the public to understand the risk is key to solving the problem. Tuesday, his ninth grade Introduction to Aviation Class at the Academy was just the captive audience he needs to get that message out. "If their friends talk about, 'Hey, I heard this' or 'I saw your school on the news,' don't say high five, my school's awesome. Tell them what you learned," Olthoff said. The Kent County Sheriff's Department is investigating, but hasn't yet found whoever pointed the laser. Investigators with the FBI were notified, but Kent County Undersheriff Michelle LaJoye-Young tells 24 Hour News 8 the incident appeared to be isolated. The feds usually don't get involved unless a patterns develops, like repeated cases that may signal there some kind of malicious intent. http://woodtv.com/2015/09/29/official-laser-pointed-at-plane-landing-at-ford-airport/ Back to Top Jet that caught fire at McCarran apparently not leaving Las Vegas A British Airways passenger jet is parked on the runway after an onboard fire broken out at McCarran International Airport on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2015. The Boeing 777-200 was headed to Gatwick Airport in London on flight 2276. The British Airways Boeing 777-200ER jet that caught fire during an aborted takeoff from McCarran International Airport earlier this month seems destined to stay in Las Vegas for awhile. Now parked near McCarran's air cargo facility east of Terminal 3, the jet, sources say, is no longer airworthy. The airline is being charged $375 a day for parking. British Airways, insurer American International Group, Boeing and the National Transportation Safety Board haven't confirmed that the airliner suffered a "hull loss" - a term for an aircraft that is too uneconomical to repair - and officials haven't determined yet how they would get the 304,000-pound jet off airport grounds if it can't fly. On a Sept. 8 flight to London's Gatwick International Airport, British Airways Flight 2276 began its takeoff roll at 4:14 p.m. and when it was about one-third of the way down Runway 7 Left, an uncontained left engine failure occurred and the pilot aborted the takeoff. Emergency response crews were on the scene of the fire within about a minute and quickly doused the flames. Observers said their quick action prevented a worse tragedy. Several minor injuries were reported to 14 of the 158 passengers and 13 crew members who escaped from the burning jet in an evacuation after the incident. National Transportation Safety Board and airport investigators collected several 7- to 8-inch pieces of the engine's high-pressure compressor spool from the runway and towed the aircraft to its present location in order to reopen the runway. The Jet Airliner Crash Data Evaluation Centre, which maintains a database of airline accidents, reported the incident as "a possible hull loss." If that's true, it would be the airline's fourth within 24 years with none of them involving loss of life. It was the 136th safety occurrence for a Boeing 777, the 15th safety occurrence at McCarran and first for that specific aircraft, Germany-based JACDEC said. In the days immediately following the incident, crews removed the engine from the wing and had it shipped to a General Electric engine plant in Evendale, Ohio, just outside Cincinnati. Rick Kennedy, a spokesman for GE Aviation, said the company is working with Boeing and the NTSB to try to determine why the engine case didn't contain the compressor spool debris or push it out of the back of the engine as it was designed to do. He and Boeing spokesman Paul Bergman referred further questions to the NTSB. An NTSB inquiry routinely takes months to complete and the agency will occasionally issue updates about a pending investigation. Eric Weiss, a spokesman for the NTSB, confirmed that GE officials are tearing down the engine to try to find a cause of the incident. It's unclear whether the agency will need the plane any longer in its investigation. "You never know when you may need to have another look at something in the middle of an investigation," Weiss said in a telephone interview. The two companies that would know whether the plane is an insurance write-off had little to say. "British Airways is continuing to work alongside Boeing, GE and the NTSB to review the damage," said airline spokeswoman Caroline Titmuss. "Since the assessment is still underway, we do not have final decision on what will happen to this aircraft." "We have no comment," Matthew Gallagher, a spokesman for insurer AIG, added in an email. The timeline for having the aircraft parked at the airport will depend on that decision. "From our perspective, there isn't much to say," said Chris Jones, public affairs and marketing manager at McCarran. "It's basically here until it isn't." But Jones did confirm that British Airways is paying the standard rate of $375 a day to park the plane at McCarran. "As to how they'll get it out of here, that'll be up to the airline to work out a plan," Jones said. "If it's not deemed airworthy, I would imagine it could be disassembled and trucked out, but again, I have no insight into what will actually occur with this one, nor do I know when such a decision will be made." The option of repairing the plane to make it airworthy is problematic because the area where the jet is parked is not suitable for maintenance activities. In fact, British Airways requested the plane be stored inside a hangar - but there are no hangars available at McCarran. Maintenance is limited to designated areas at the airport, primarily because of potential environmental concerns with capturing oil and fluid runoff from the plane. "Depending upon the scope of the work, McCarran might require the 777 to be towed to another site here that is better suited to maintenance purposes," Jones said. http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/las-vegas/jet-caught-fire-mccarran-apparently-not-leaving-las-vegas Back to Top Ryanair to install defibrillators on all their aircraft following tragic death of woman on flight BUDGET airline Ryanair are to install lifesaving defibrillators on all their planes after a woman died on one of their flights. Boss Michael O'Leary confirmed their fleet of 400 planes will carry the devices from next year. The move follows the death of Davina Tavener, 47, from Bolton, who collapsed three hours into a flight to Lanzarote in November last year. Airlines don't have to carry defibrillators by law, but in July a coroner called on authorities to make them a requirement following an inquest into Davina's death. The Record's Heart Start campaign, which began last year, has led to more defibrillators being introduced to sports grounds, workplaces and public buildings. O'Leary said: "There's a gut instinct that says if only you had defibrillators then anyone with a heart condition would be saved, but that's not the case. "But we're going to fit our aircraft with defibrillators from next year." Major airlines such as British Airways, KLM, Royal Dutch Airlines, Air France and Virgin Atlantic already carry the devices. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/ryanair-install-defibrillators-aircraft-following-6542760 Back to Top Mechanic hit by moving airplane propeller at Troutdale Airport TROUTDALE, OR (KPTV) - A Troutdale Airport mechanic was taken to the hospital after being hit by a moving airplane propeller. Emergency crews responded to the airport at around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. Firefighters said a mechanic was working on a twin-engine plane, with the engines running. The airplane was secured, however investigators said a second mechanic inside the plane adjusted the controls, causing the plane to lunge forward. The mechanic on the outside was struck in the left arm by the propeller. His injuries were described as severe, but they are not believed to be life-threatening. Firefighters said the man, who is in his mid-20s, was conscious and talking while he was being treated at the scene. http://www.kptv.com/story/30144358/mechanic-hit-by-moving-airplane-propeller-at-troutdale- airport#ixzz3nDWsp3Ym Back to Top Back to Top Flexjet gets first Embraer Legacy jet anchoring mid-size program Employees work on a new jet Embraer Legacy 500 in Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Flexjet, which offers fractional ownership and leasing of private jets, is counting on Embraer's new Legacy 450 and 500 for the bulk of a mid-size business jet program that could grow beyond a quarter of its fleet, Chief Executive Mike Silvestro said on Tuesday. Flexjet received its first Legacy 500 this week and expects four more by the end of the year, Silvestro said in a telephone interview. Deliveries of the Legacy 450 start in June 2016. Both Brazil-based Embraer and Flexjet, the second-largest company selling shares of private aircraft after Warren Buffett's Netjets, declined to reveal the size of the Legacy order. Flexjet turned to the Legacy 450/500 to anchor its mid-size fleet after Bombardier Inc suspended development of its Learjet 85 in January. Flexjet had placed 60 firm orders for that aircraft. Silvestro said the Learjet order "remains intact" until Bombardier gives further guidance, but Flexjet customers are free to migrate their deposits to other aircraft. Flexjet already flies smaller business jets, including "dozens" of Embraer's Phenom 300s, and recently added long-range Gulfstream aircraft from General Dynamics Corp . Silvestro said the Legacy 450/500 will now anchor Flexjet's move into the mid-size segment, which could eventually make up "at least 25 percent" of the company's fleet, as it does for the rest of the industry. Flexjet's fleet is expected to reach 150 business jets by the end of the year. The company has placed 207 firm orders with Bombardier, Gulfstream and Embraer since private investment firm Directional Aviation Capital acquired a majority stake in 2013. Including options, the investment from Directional Aviation could top $8 billion and expand Flexjet's fleet to 445 aircraft. http://www.businessinsider.com/r-flexjet-gets-first-embraer-legacy-jet-anchoring-mid-size-program- 2015-9 Back to Top Japan First Passenger Jet Test Flight Set for Week of Oct. 26 Japan's first homegrown passenger jet will make its debut flight in the week of Oct. 26-30, placing it on course for delivery to its first customer after repeated delays. A further announcement will be made one day before the flight, Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp., the manufacturer, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., its parent, said in a statement Wednesday. Mitsubishi is attempting to break the dominance of Bombardier Inc. and Embraer SA in the global market for small passenger jets as travel demand increases. The planemaker has won orders from SkyWest Inc. and Trans States Airlines Inc. in North America, as well as from ANA Holdings Inc. and Japan Airlines Co., the country's two largest carriers. The Mitsubishi Regional Jet is scheduled to be handed to ANA in 2017. The plane will come in 78- or 92- seat models, with the larger one set to debut first. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-09-30/japan-first-passenger-jet-test-flight-set-for-week- of-oct-26 Back to Top Unmanned aircraft used in Canadian wildlife study Biologists integrate unmanned aircraft technology in longstanding Canadian wildlife study In a portion of Manitoba, Canada, so remote you have to fly in by helicopter, a research team led by the University of North Dakota and the American Museum of Natural History spent the summer in the polar bear capital of the world deploying the latest tool - Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) -- in a nearly five- decade-old ecological study. As part of the "Hudson Bay Project," a collaborative research program that includes partners from the U.S. and Canada, the group conducted nearly 90 test flights from Wapusk National Park to show that UAS can be used to study noninvasively the overabundant geese in the region and their impact on the tundra landscape. In addition to combining effectiveness and efficiency, the single unmanned aircraft used by the team generated more than 80,000 detailed images last June and July-UAS studies are also safer than foot surveys that put researchers at risk of encounters with bears. "This technology has propelled us well into the 21st century," said Robert Rockwell, a research associate in the Museum's Department of Ornithology and a senior scientist of the Hudson Bay Project. Rockwell, who has been counting geese in the area since the late 1960s, teamed up last year with UND biologists Susan Ellis-Felege, Robert Newman, Chris Felege, UAS expert Michael Corcoran, and students Andrew Barnas and Sam Hervey to explore the use of UAS at the remote Canadian camp. "We have been able to enhance and extend our geographical coverage, and to do it in a way that precludes potential disturbances of the very ecosystem we are studying," Rockwell said. "It also helps us avoid confrontation with the ever-present bears, the region's top predators. The first year's operations were a grand success by any measure, and I look forward to expanding our efforts in 2016 and beyond." The team is the first to be given permits to develop UAS technology in a national park in Canada. The new tool allows freedom to monitor the ecosystem from the air and greatly extends the range of monitoring activity, providing the kind of view and access previously only afforded by helicopters, but with much less noise and expense. The researchers' vehicle of choice is a 5.5-pound Styrofoam flyer that launches via catapult and is programed to follow transects while taking photos at one-second intervals. The imagery is then stitched together to form a picture of the ground below. From about 250 feet up, the aircraft's belly camera clearly captures snow geese (blue and white varieties) and their goslings, different types of vegetation and damaged areas, and other bird species like sandhill cranes, tundra swans, bald eagles, and herring gulls. To gauge how the local wildlife responds as the aircraft flies nearby, the researchers placed video cameras near goose and eider duck nests. They found that the animals generally ignored the aircraft, even when in close proximity to the launch sites. "Once we're set up, the birds didn't seem to pay attention to the aircraft," said Ellis-Felege. "But to confirm nesting bird responses, we are now reviewing camera footage and sound recordings from the nests to determine if they show any responses to this small aircraft flying above them." That is important not only to the nature of the work, but also to the park managers and the indigenous people who have a "don't touch and don't disturb" philosophy, said Rockwell. "Using UAS allows us to respect those wishes and cultural considerations," he said. Before starting the study, the team underwent extensive training to receive a Special Flight Operations Certificate. The flights are conducted through the approval of both Parks Canada and Transport Canada. "Flight crews, including the biologists, initially received factory training that instructed them how to professionally operate the air vehicle, and they continue to build their science and aviation skills as the project moves forward," Corcoran said. The technology does have limitations: the vehicle must be in sight at all times during flight, so helicopters are still necessary to transport the equipment to areas of interest that are far away from the electric- fence-protected camp. But based on their initial tests, the researchers expect that UAS will be extremely beneficial in learning more about nesting and nest failure in the region-an increasingly important topic as the changing Arctic climate is causing bears to consume alternative food sources like geese and their eggs. Unmanned aircrafts also could be used to study the area's predators by identifying "day beds," flattened grass areas that mark where polar and grizzly bears rested on land. Researchers can then go on targeted field trips to collect hair left in the beds for genetic testing that provides details about the local population. Funding for the study was provided by the North Dakota Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) program, UND College of Arts and Sciences, UND Office of the Provost, Parks Canada and Wapusk National Park, the Central and Mississippi Flyway Councils, the Arctic Goose Joint Venture, and Anne Via. http://www.valleynewslive.com/home/headlines/Unmanned-aircraft-used-in-Canadian-wildlife-study- 330027971.html Back to Top AAR Corp. hiring 100 plus employees, aircraft mechanics, inspectors and more OKLAHOMA CITY -- Attention aircraft mechanics: Around 150 jobs are open at AAR Corp out at Will Rogers. That's a lot of positions to fill. The business focuses on aircraft maintenance, making sure our flights are safe. Last year, the company made a strategy to grow their business. The strategy worked, but now it's putting them in a crunch for more employees. There are 400,000 square feet of hanger space at AAR Corp. They have the planes and they have the work. Now they just need the people to fill the jobs. "What we do here is repair and maintain, what is known as MRO: maintenance, repair and overhaul of commercial aircraft," said Greg Dellinger, AAR Corp. Director of Government Affairs. AAR is looking for aircraft mechanics, inspectors, support staff, and more. "Don't be afraid to get dirty," said Melissa Wood. Melissa Wood is an Aircraft Sheet Metal Technician. She went through an aviation program at Francis Tuttle. Three months later, she landed this certified job. "I'm a very mechanically inclined, so my passion comes from working on my car," said Wood. Her job with AAR Corp. is helping her to support and even inspire her 5-year-old daughter. "She's like, 'Mommy can we go on the airplane, this is so cool. Can I work on airplanes when I get older?'" In Oklahoma, aviation is a booming economy. More than 120,000 employees work in the aerospace or defense sector. However, there are struggles to finding people to fill the skilled jobs. Greg Dellinger, with AAR, said there's currently a strong anti-manual work bias in the United States. "Young people, for whatever reason, don't want to use hand tools and they'd rather do something else. And I'm raising my hand saying the help wanted sign is out," said Dellinger. Hiring is happening right now and will stay open until the 100 plus jobs are filled. http://kfor.com/2015/09/29/aar-corp-hiring-100-plus-employees-aircraft-mechanics-inspectors-and- more/ Back to Top XTI Aircraft Surpasses $10M During Aviation's First Equity Crowdfunding Initiative Equity crowdfunders from around the world have reserved shares for more than $10 million to support development of XTI Aircraft's TriFan 600 through crowdfunding platform, StartEngine. XTI 1The TriFan 600 will be the world's first commercially certified vertical takeoff airplane. It will have the speed, range and comfort of a business jet and will take off and land like a helicopter. In development for two-and-a-half years, the six-seat aircraft will provide true door-to-door travel. XTI Vice Chairman Jeff Pino stated: "The public response has been tremendous so far. We will file with the SEC in the next few months and, once approved, will allow participants to turn expressions of interest into share purchases." XTI has been assessing public interest since August 25, 2015, under the terms of Regulation A, or Reg A+, of the JOBS Act. The company is also raising funds through venture capital, private equity and accredited investors while finalizing diligence on its technical solution and continuing discussions with vendors that will lead to building a prototype. XTI is backed by highly accomplished aviation leaders, including Founder and Chairman David Brody, Pino, the former president and chief executive of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Charlie Johnson, the former president of Cessna Aircraft Company, and other accomplished industry veterans. http://www.crowdfundinsider.com/2015/09/75056-brief-xti-aircraft-surpasses-10m-during-aviations-first- equity-crowdfunding-initiative/ Back to Top American Airlines, Rolls-Royce to end Fort Worth aircraft engine venture, affecting 600 jobs American Airlines and Rolls-Royce will dissolve Texas Aero Engine Services LLC, a Fort Worth joint venture that employs 600 workers who repair and overhaul aircraft engines, the companies announced Tuesday. Shrinking demand and lack of future growth opportunities caused the demise of Texas Aero Engine Services, a 50-50 joint venture between Rolls-Royce and Fort Worth-based American Airlines Group, the companies said in a news release. Texas Aero Engine Services, an aircraft engine partnership between American Airlines and Rolls-Royce, will close, affecting 600 employees. Rolls-Royce requested the closure, and American Airlines (Nasdaq: AAL) agreed. "Rolls-Royce has concluded that declining future volumes of overhauls for Trent 800 and RB211 will no longer support a commercially viable operation," Simon Burr, chief operating officer for Civil Large Engines, Rolls-Royce, said in a prepared statement. Texas Aero Engine Services was established in 1998 to work on Rolls-Royce aircraft engines operated by American Airlines including the Tay 620/650, RB211 and Trent 800. The Tay engine left American's fleet completely in 2004 and RB211 work is declining as planes from American's Boeing 757 fleet are retired. About 600 American Airlines employees currently work at Texas Aero Engine, including 500 who are represented by the Transport Workers Union of America. The airline also employs about 100 management and support employees at this facility. American will provide continued employment opportunities for all 500 frontline mechanics and TWU- represented employees throughout its system, and is also creating more than 100 TWU-represented jobs in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to offset the facility's closure, said David Seymour, senior vice president for Technical Operations at American Airlines. "In addition to ensuring all of our frontline mechanics and other frontline employees at (Texas Aero Engine Services) have continued employment opportunities if they want them, we will also support our management team located at TAES," Seymour said in a news release. "Those in management and support functions affected by this closure will be offered a competitive severance and outplacement package if other opportunities within either Rolls or American are not available." Work currently done at Texas Aero Engine for American and other airlines will begin moving to other Rolls- Royce approved facilities, and final closure is expected by January 2016. The loss of Texas Aero Engine Services, at 2100 Eagle Pkwy. in north Fort Worth, is a second somewhat recent hit for Alliance Airport. American Airlines in late 2013 terminated its lease and closed its Alliance maintenance facility as part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2015/09/29/american-airlines-rolls-royce-to-end-fort-worth.html Back to Top U.S.-Cuban aviation deal possible this year, official says A vintage car drives next to the U.S. embassy in Havana September 17, 2015. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins Cuba and the United States advanced toward restoring scheduled airline service during two days of talks that concluded in Havana on Tuesday, with the potential to reach a deal this year, a U.S. official said. "One more meeting might be enough to finalize an arrangement. I can't be sure," said the U.S. official, who was familiar with the talks and spoke on the condition of anonymity. The two sides planned to meet again, possibly before the end of this year and most likely in Washington, the official told Reuters. Scheduled commercial airline service has been suspended for decades as a result of Cold War animosity, but both sides quickly made resumption a priority upon detente last December. Charter flights have long connected the United States and Cuba. Then Washington initiated new rules in January that more easily permit U.S. airlines to fly to Cuba. However, U.S. and Cuban officials first need to negotiate a new arrangement before restarting scheduled service in which customers could book travel directly with airlines. After that informal deal is reached, the two sides have agreed to work on updating a 1953 civil aviation agreement that is still valid but obsolete. Officials from six U.S. government agencies met with counterparts from the Cuban Foreign Ministry and the Cuban Institute of Civil Aviation on Monday and Tuesday, the official said. Safety and security cooperation was well advanced, largely because existing charter flights already meet U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) standards, the official said. General U.S. tourism to Cuba is banned by the U.S. trade embargo of Cuba but certain Americans are allowed to go on specially sanctioned travel. U.S. President Barack Obama has relaxed those restrictions, leading to a boom in U.S. citizen travel to Cuba, which is up more than 60 percent this year with 106,607 Americans arriving as of Sept. 20. The market would grow further if the U.S. Congress were to lift either the tourism ban or the embargo. "We don't have a deadline. We're eager. Our carriers are eager," the U.S. official said about reaching a deal. "Both sides see it as positive in and of itself but positive also as a signal of progress in the broader relationship."Major U.S. airlines including JetBlue Airways Corp, American Airlines Group Inc, Delta Air Lines Inc and United Air Lines have all expressed interest in scheduled service to Cuba. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/30/us-cuba-usa-aviation-idUSKCN0RU04M20150930 Back to Top AirAsia Ramps Up Flight Safety and Operational Efficiency With Panasonic Avionics' Connected Aircraft Applications Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic) has been chosen by AirAsia to equip its aircraft with FlightLink®, its industry-leading aircraft tracking and flight deck communications system. Additionally, Panasonic will be providing their new AirMap suite of products enabling Aeronautical Operation Control (AOC) fleet communications, management, and aircraft tracking. FlightLink will be initially installed on 90 Airbus A320s to ensure the aircraft will be connected to the airline's ground operations 24 hours a day. Anaz Tajuddin, Group Head of Engineering for AirAsia said, "Given our unique route structure, we needed a single supplier that could provide both the hardware and service needed to maintain constant contact with our aircraft everywhere we fly. Ensuring the highest level of safety and operational efficiency is our top priority and Panasonic's FlightLink service was the best choice for ubiquitous communications and flight tracking our fleet of A320s." Panasonic's FlightLink uses Iridium's global satellite-based communications system to support flight deck voice and data communication, as well as autonomous GPS-based flight tracking, in all areas AirAsia flies. Additionally, the system provides fully integrated data communications for the aircraft's ACARS system and Electronic Flight Bags (EFBs). AirAsia is also installing Panasonic's Tropospheric Airborne Meteorological Data Reporting (TAMDAR) atmospheric sensor, the aviation industry's most advanced airborne weather instrument, enabling improved flight planning and situational display of atmospheric conditions, including icing and turbulence. Panasonic Avionics CEO Paul Margis said: "Our decade old vision of the connected aircraft has become a reality. This collaboration with a forward-looking airline like AirAsia is the proof of the business and safety improvement potential of our suite of services. Together, we're ensuring constant situational awareness and communications with AirAsia's aircraft - no matter where they fly." Margis continued, "This is a perfect example of how an airline can look to us to satisfy their critical communications and situational awareness needs, while concurrently improving their operational safety and efficiency. Panasonic is uniquely positioned to offer both the hardware and service provision of Iridium's satellite communications." As part of the overall solution, Panasonic has partnered in this offering with UTC Aerospace Systems (UTAS). UTAS is supplying key enabling components to the EFB installation on these aircraft, including the onboard Aircraft Interface Device (AID), Tablet Interface Modules (TIM), and associated EFB mounting hardware and brackets. About Panasonic Avionics Corporation Panasonic Avionics Corporation is the world's leading supplier of inflight entertainment and communication systems. The company's best-in-class solutions, supported by professional maintenance services, fully integrate with the cabin enabling its customers to deliver the ultimate travel experiences with a rich variety of entertainment choices, resulting in improved quality communication systems and solutions, reduced time-to-market and lower overall costs. Established in 1979, Panasonic Avionics Corporation, a U.S. corporation, is a subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation. Headquartered in Lake Forest, California with over 4,100 employees and operations in 80 locations worldwide, it serves over 300 customers worldwide and provides IFEC systems on over 6,000 aircraft. For additional information, please visit http://www.panasonic.aero. SOURCE Panasonic Avionics Corporation http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/airasia-ramps-up-flight-safety-and-operational-efficiency- with-panasonic-avionics-connected-aircraft-applications-529992511.html Back to Top Qantas Group and GE Aviation sign strategic Flight Efficiency Services agreement Flight Operations Quality Assurance, Fuel Management and Navigation Services SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Qantas Group and GE Aviation have signed a comprehensive agreement for GE's Flight Efficiency Services, which will help Qantas and Jetstar increase operational flexibility and fuel efficiency and reduce carbon emissions by drawing on GE's industry-leading navigation services, data and analytics expertise. The agreement includes flight efficiency and Flight Operations Quality Assurance (eFOQA) analytics, as well as renewal of a long-standing relationship for the supply of Required Navigation Performance (RNP) procedures across many airports in the Qantas network. "We are pleased to expand the agreement with Qantas to cover our Fuel Management solution" The agreement will support one of the Asia-Pacific's largest airline groupings, which includes Qantas, Qantas Freight, QantasLink and the Jetstar Group, operating almost 300 aircraft to 85 destinations. "We are pleased to expand the agreement with Qantas to cover our Fuel Management solution," said Alan Caslavka, president of Avionics & Digital Systems for GE Aviation. "GE is no newcomer to solving complex problems, whether it is for Aviation, Power & Water, Healthcare, Software or other industries. GE has utilized the same time-tested experience and expertise to develop an effective and reliable solution for Aviation. GE invested heavily to develop a new way to manage the complexities of airline operations via GE's Flight Analytics System." Qantas and GE will collaborate on specific initiatives to support the transformation strategy such as flight crew awareness, procedure compliance, operational insights and airspace utilization improvements. GE's support will include access to its full suite of analytical tools as well as process improvement, six sigma, change management and other domain expertise. "We're delighted to be expanding the long-standing relationship between Qantas and GE with a renewed focus on fuel efficiency," said Alan Milne, Qantas' Head of Fuel & Environment. "Greater fuel efficiency is an operational, financial and environmental priority for the Qantas Group, and at the heart of the biggest transformation of our business for two decades. We're big admirers of GE's innovation in this area and we look forward to working even more closely together in years to come." GE Aviation's Flight Analytics System is the only product on the market that integrates flight data with operational data (flight logs, flight plans and load sheets), weather data, trajectory correction, navigation databases and terrain data. This will deliver innovative ways to monitor and improve the operation (how the aircraft is flying and how it is being flown) and the operational domain (where it is operating to). "Qantas is a leading customer of our new digital product offering which offers the most extensive analytics experience in the industry, with more than 40 million flights and 120 million flight hours processed," said Michael Thompson, general manager of Digital Solutions for GE Aviation, "GE currently provides analytics for more than 4,500 aircraft worldwide, processing data from all the major fixed wing manufacturers from wide-body to corporate jets. Qantas and GE pioneered the B737-800 fleet's use of Required Navigation Performance in Queenstown, New Zealand in 2004. Since then, Qantas has progressively implemented RNP procedures at over 20 airports in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. The new agreement will improve the airline's operational flexibility by expanding RNP access to all suitably qualified and equipped fleets in the Qantas Group. Qantas, QantasLink and Qantas Freight have been customers of the GE eFOQA solution since 2011, with Jetstar taking up this service in April of 2015. The new agreement will give Qantas Group access to the latest eFOQA product features and capabilities. The Qantas Group has a strong focus on fuel efficiency and carbon emissions reduction as a cornerstone of its AU$2bn transformation strategy. GE will provide access to its Fuel Management product offering, which includes world-class operational efficiency data analytics and process improvement capabilities. GE Aviation's flight efficiency and digital solutions is harnessing the power of the Industrial Internet and using software and analytics to make its machines smarter and more efficient. GE is using data analytics to identify ways to reduce operating costs, increase aircraft utilization, optimize the design of terminal area navigation procedures and improve the business of flight. Qantas Group The Qantas Group is a diverse global aviation business, comprising Qantas Domestic, Qantas International, the Jetstar low-cost carrier group and Qantas Loyalty. Its fleet numbers almost 300 aircraft with an average age of around seven years - the youngest in two decades - including the acclaimed Qantas A380 and the Jetstar Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Qantas Group airlines carry around 50 million passengers each year. www.qantas.com GE Aviation GE Aviation is an operating unit of GE and a world-leading provider of jet engines, components, avionics, digital and integrated systems and navigation services for commercial and military aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings. For more information, visit us at www.geaviation.com. GE (NYSE: GE) is the world's Digital Industrial Company, transforming industry with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive. GE is organized around a global exchange of knowledge, the "GE Store," through which each business shares and accesses the same technology, markets, structure and intellect. Each invention further fuels innovation and application across our industrial sectors. With people, services, technology and scale, GE delivers better outcomes for customers by speaking the language of industry. www.ge.com http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150929006374/en/Qantas-Group-GE-Aviation-sign-strategic- Flight#.VgvDBPlVhBc 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 Back to Top ADVERTISE WITH FLIGHT SAFETY INFORMATION and AVIATION MAINTENANCE AND TECHNOLOGY EXCHANGE Flight Safety Information (FSI) Newsletters has been publishing timely aviation safety news for over 20 years. FSI has over 52,000 aviation subscribers on a globally basis. For advertising information, please contact: Advertising@curt-lewis.com Back to Top Stay Current on Aviation Safety Follow Flight Safety Information on Twitter https://twitter.com/curtllewis01 Back To Top Curt Lewis & Associates, LLC - Services Curt Lewis, PhD, CSP, FRAeS curt@curt-lewis.com PH: 1-817-845-3983 Web: www.curt-lewis.com Back to Top Follow Flight Safety Information on Twitter https://twitter.com/curtllewis01 Contact Information "Flight Safety Information" is a free service of: Curt Lewis, PhD, CSP, FRAeS CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC (Targeting Safety & Risk Management) curt@curt-lewis.com www.curt-lewis.com www.fsinfo.org PH: 817-845-3983 Fax: 682-292-0835 Twitter: curtllewis01 Skype: curt.lewis2 Curt Lewis & Associates, LLC is an international, multi-discipline technical and scientific consulting firm specializing in aviation and industrial safety. Our specialties are aviation litigation support, aviation/airport safety programs, accident investigation and reconstruction, safety & quality assessments/audits, system safety (PRA), human factors, Safety Management Systems (SMS) assessment/implementation & training, safety/quality training & risk management, aviation manual development, IS-BAO Auditing, airfield/heliport lighting products, patent infringement/invalidity expert testimony and Technical Support. Forward email This email was sent to fgae@club-internet.fr by curt@curt-lewis.com | Update Profile/Email Address | Rapid removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | About our service provider. Curt Lewis and Associates, LLC | Post Office Box 976 | Burnet | TX | 78611-0976