Flight Safety Information October 6, 2015 - No. 198 In This Issue American Airlines Pilot Dies In-Flight Wreckage of Airplane Missing in Indonesia Found Robertson Safety Institute Holds Aircraft Crash Survival Investigation and Analysis Workshop Gulfstream Responds to NTSB Findings President withdraws Beverly Scott's nomination to NTSB EASA recommends better pilot training for manual flight at high altitude EASA recommends airlines to conduct a safety risk assessment for lithium batteries Air Force Vet Receives Award for Preventing Bird Strikes to Aircraft NTSB Releases Agenda, Call for Questions, for General Aviation Safety Forum AAIB Centenary Conference...'100 Years of Accident Investigation - What's Next?' PROS 2015 TRAINING Global Jet Capital to Buy GE's Corporate Aircraft Portfolio in $2.5 Billion Deal Russian woman's remarkable mission to restore Soviet jet airliner Boeing jet deliveries higher in third quarter Shutdown now possible for Transaero, Russia's No. 2 airline Business Aviation Flight Activity Tends to Spike in October iSMS - Safety Management System Training Upcoming Events JOBS AVAILABLE (New Positions) American Airlines Pilot Dies In-Flight The co-pilot diverted the flight to Syracuse. An American Airlines pilot died overnight Sunday during a flight from Phoenix to Boston, the company said Monday in a statement. The plane diverted mid-flight to New York's Syracuse Hancock International Airport in the early hours of Monday due to "pilot illness," the statement said. The cause of death is currently unknown. Emergency crews tried to revive the pilot upon landing but the pilot was "unresponsive," authorities told local news outlet CNY Central. "Syracuse, American 550, medical emergency, captain is incapacitated, request handling for runway," the co-pilot allegedly said over the radio. American Airlines Flight 550, an Airbus 320 containing 147 passengers and five crew members, landed in Syracuse at 7:13 a.m., according to the airline. "We are incredibly saddened by this event, and we are focused on caring for our pilot's family and colleagues," the company added. American Airlines sent a replacement crew to Syracuse in order to get passengers to their destination. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/american-airline-pilot_5612b743e4b0dd85030cc560 **************** Pilot Michael Johnston dies during American Airlines flight (CNN)Medical emergencies are rare, but hardly unprecedented in commercial flights. It's far less common when they involve the plane's pilot -- and that pilot dies. That's what happened Monday on an American Airlines flight between Phoenix and Boston. Captain Michael Johnston, 57, was piloting the plane when he fell ill somewhere en route. The co-pilot landed the jet safely. Crew members "took extraordinary care of Mike, each other and our customers," airline CEO Doug Parker said in a statement sent to employees. "We couldn't be more proud of the teamwork this crew showed during an extremely difficult time." American Airlines pilot dies mid-flight, co-pilot lands American Airlines pilot dies mid-flight, co-pilot lands 02:17 An autopsy and preliminary toxicology tests "showed that the death was the result of natural diseases," the Onondaga County, New York, medical examiner's office said -- without offering specifics. Johnston's wife told CNN affiliate KUTV had a double bypass surgery in 2006. She said she was told he likely died of a heart attack. "Whatever happened in the cockpit, none of us will know," passenger Frank Cacciola told CNN affiliate WCVB. Cacciola was among the 147 passengers and five crew members aboard Flight 550 when it took off around midnight, heading from the Southwest to the Northeast. Their Airbus A320 plane was being operated by U.S. Airways, which is now part of American. The pilot fell ill somewhere en route, and the flight was diverted to Syracuse in upstate New York. "Medical emergency, captain is incapacitated," someone in the cockpit told an air traffic controller, according to audio posted to LiveATC.net. "Request handling for runway." Those on board knew something was wrong when a woman's "quivering" voice came over the intercom, alerting them the pilot was sick, passenger Peter McSwiggin told WCVB. According to passenger Julia House, passengers waited for the body to be removed. They made it to Boston after noon, nearly five hours after their scheduled time. Passengers expressed sadness about what happened and gratitude they arrived safely. "If it wasn't for the copilot using a cool head," McSwiggin said, "it might have been more disastrous." http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/05/us/american-airlines-pilot-death/ Back to Top Wreckage of Airplane Missing in Indonesia Found Jakarta, Oct 5 (Prensa Latina) The wreckage of the airplane of Indonesian airline Aviastar, missing last week, were found without survivors, said official sources today. Inspector General Pudji Hartando Iskandar, Chief of Police Regional Command in the Western Celebes province, said that the small airplane Twin Otter crashed in Bukit Pajaja, in the community of Ulusalu, in the Latimonjong mountains, according to reports issued in Makassar. Last Friday the airplane was heading Makassar, the capital city of Southern Celebes, with 10 people aboard, including three crew members. Hartando said that Adex Yudiswan, Chief of Police Command in the Luwu seaside resort, found the wreckage along with some local people and a searching and rescue team. The airplane lost contact with the control tower 11 minutes after taking off in Masamba, in Eastern Celebes, for a 70 minute flight. Following the airplane disaster, authorities banned flights of DHC6-300 Twin Otter, a measure that will be in force this week to carry out a thorough review of all Aviastar aircraft, which only fly within the country. http://www.plenglish.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4223001&Itemid=1 Back to Top Robertson Safety Institute Holds Aircraft Crash Survival Investigation and Analysis Workshop Crash SurvivabilitySeven participants from around the world, including one from Taiwan and another from Saudi Arabia, recently attended the Robertson Safety Institute's Aircraft Crash Survival Investigation and Analysis Workshop, at the Prescott Campus. The five-day course was a detailed analysis of the aircraft accident environment, emphasizing survivability factors in accidents. The participants, made up of military safety experts and federal investigators from multiple countries, explored factors and forces that cause injury and examined the injury-role played by impact forces and occupiable space compromises. The attendees also examined crashworthiness and delethalization technologies and concepts, focusing on the best ways to protect occupants during a crash. Selected aircraft accidents on the eight-acre Robertson Aircraft Accident Investigation were used as case studies. http://news.erau.edu/news-briefs/robertson-safety-institute-holds-aircraft-crash-survival- investigation-and-analysis-workshop#sthash.76HbH5pX.dpuf Back to Top Gulfstream Responds to NTSB Findings There are more than 500 Gulfstream GIV aircraft in service. Over the course of its 25-year history, the airplane has earned an outstanding safety record-until May 31, 2014, when a privately-owned GIV crashed on takeoff at Hanscom Field in Massachusetts, killing all seven occupants. In response to a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report on the cause of the accident, Gulfstream-in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-by early 2016 will offer a redesigned gust lock system for retrofit for all GIV and GIVSP jets. The pilots in control of the GIV that crashed on takeoff in Massachusetts last year, like the one shown above, neglected to perform the proper control checks and disengage the aircraft's gust lock system before attempting to take off, according to NTSB investigators. The gust lock is a mechanism adjacent to the throttles that renders control surfaces, such as the rudder and ailerons, inoperable while the aircraft is parked to prevent unexpected movements, and possible damage, from wind gusts. A gust lock that is engaged also prevents pilots from moving the control column, including the rearward pitch movements to leave the ground. There are two safety backups to guard against, say, pilots forgetting to disengage the gust lock prior to takeoff. One is an interlock, which is supposed to prevent a pilot from advancing the throttles. The other is the challenge-verification-response procedure that professional flight crews on a two-pilot flight deck are obliged to use in preparation for a safe takeoff-a checklist, basically, to verify that all systems are 'go.' On a GIV Pilot's Checklist, GUST LOCK...OFF' is the fourth bullet point. On May 4, the pilot-in-command only discovered the gust lock was still engaged when he attempted to pitch the jet upward at the moment of rotation, but he was unable to move the control yoke. Ten seconds elapsed before he applied the brakes, and another four seconds went by before the crew reduced power. By then, the fatal crash was unavoidable, according to the NTSB. Accident investigators concluded that the two pilots failed to perform the airplane's all- important checklist. A review of aircraft data also led NTSB to discover the two pilots had neglected to perform "complete control checks" prior to takeoff in nearly all of their 175 previous takeoffs in the airplane they wound up crashing, describing the oversight as "habitual and not an anomaly" on May 4. "The gust lock system didn't work as designed," the Gulfstream official said. None of the Gulfstream jets currently in production use the same gust lock system. The manufacturer has no plans to revise the training syllabus or flight manuals for the GIV and GIV-SP. "If the procedures that exist had been followed, this tragedy would never have happened," the official said. The company has issued a reminder to operators emphasizing the importance of following the pre-fight check list procedures in place. http://www.forbes.com/sites/businessaviation/2015/10/02/gulfstream-responds-to-ntsb- report/ Back to Top President withdraws Beverly Scott's nomination to NTSB President Obama has withdrawn his nomination of former MBTA chief Beverly Scott to the National Transportation Safety Board, abruptly ending her controversial bid to the $155,000- a-year post, the Herald has learned. Obama officially rescinded her nomination today, according to a White House document viewed by the Herald. A White House spokesman said tonight Scott requested that her nomination be withdrawn "due to personal reasons related to her family." Efforts to reach Scott were unsuccessful. Bay State senators had given news of Scott's nomination a lukewarm reception after it was announced in July, the Herald reported then. U.S. Sen. Edward J. Markey, who sits on the committee tasked with vetting the nomination, and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren were both non-committal when asked if they supported Scott's nomination., However,though one committee member, Nebraska Republican Sen. Deb Fischer, said she was "deeply troubled" by the T's failures last winter during Scott's tenure. Her problem-plagued tenure as the head of the MBTA culminated when the entire system collapsed at the height of last winter's snowstorms. Perhaps the lasting image of Scott as MBTA chief was a bizarre press conference on Feb. 10 in which she at times paced, banged her hand on a podium, and referred to herself in the third person. She announced her resignation from the agency in February and officially stepped down in April. https://www.bostonherald.com/ Back to Top EASA recommends better pilot training for manual flight at high altitude The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued recommendations regarding the training of pilots for unreliable airspeed indications at high altitude and the manual handling of the aircraft at high altitude. This recommendation was issued following accidents and incidents, Air France flight 447 among others, in which the autopilot and autothrottle/autothrust disconnected following a loss of airspeed indication en route at high altitude. This led to a reversion to manual control and the temporary or permanent loss of control of the flightpath by the flight crew, particularly when operating close to the aircraft's maximum operating altitude. Recommendations: EASA strongly recommends that operators and training organisations of aeroplanes with max cruising altitude above FL300 provide pilots with briefing material, theoretical knowledge and practical training on the following elements, at the earliest possible opportunity and regularly thereafter, during their recurrent training. EASA strongly recommends that the same elements are included, by ATOs, in initial type rating training for the same category of aeroplanes. Basic flight physics principles concerning flight at high altitude, with a particular emphasis on the relative proximity of the critical Mach number and the stall, pitch behaviour, and an understanding of the reduced stall angle of attack when compared with low altitude flight (see EASA SIB 2015-07). Interaction of the automation (AP, FD, ATHR) and the consequences of failures inducing disconnection of the automation. Consequences of an unreliable airspeed indication at high altitudes and the need for the flight crew to promptly identify the failure and react with appropriate (minimal) control inputs to keep the aircraft in a safe envelope. Degradation of FBW flight control laws/modes and its consequence on aircraft stability and flight envelope protections, including stall warnings. Practical training, using appropriate simulators, on manual handling at high altitude for all pilots in normal and in non-normal flight control laws/modes, with particular emphasis on pre- stall buffet, the reduced stall angle of attack when compared with low altitude flight and the effect of pitch inputs on the aircraft trajectory and energy state. The requirement to promptly and accurately apply the stall recovery procedure, as provided by the aircraft manufacturer, at the first indication of an impending stall. Procedures for taking over and transfer manual control of the aircraft, especially for FBW aeroplanes with independent side-sticks. Task sharing and crew coordination in high workload/stress conditions with appropriate call- out and acknowledgement to confirm changes to the aircraft flight control law/mode. More information: EASA SIB No.: 2015-17 (PDF) http://news.aviation-safety.net/2015/10/01/easa-recommends-better-pilot-training-for- manual-flight-at-high-altitude/ Back to Top EASA recommends airlines to conduct a safety risk assessment for lithium batteries Lithium battery fire on a laptop (CAA) The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) recommends airlines to conduct a safety risk assessment when transporting lithium batteries. Lithium batteries may have been the cause of, or contributed to, uncontrolled fires in cargo that lead to the loss of 3 freighter aircraft between 2006 and 2011: 8 February 2006, UPS, DC-8-71F at Philadelphia International Airport, U.S.A. 3 October 2010, UPS, Boeing 747-400F, near Dubai, U.A.E. 28 July 2011, Asiana Airlines, Boeing 747-400F, off Jeju, South Korea Subsequently, the FAA performed tests that led to the decision of the ICAO Dangerous Goods Panel to prohibit the carriage of lithium metal batteries as cargo on passenger aircraft. This prohibition does not include lithium metal batteries contained in, or packed with equipment. Lithium metal batteries can continue to be transported in freighter aircraft, and lithium ion batteries can be transported as cargo both in freighter and passenger aircraft under certain provisions. Since high density shipments of lithium batteries is still considered a possible risk, ICAO continues working to find a suitable solution to appropriately address these risks with the aim of improving the packaging and shipping provisions contained in the Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air. EASA meanwhile issued the following recommendation: "Operators are responsible for the acceptance, loading, and actual transport of dangerous goods in accordance with the Technical Instructions. Until safer methods of packaging and transporting are established and implemented, EASA strongly recommends that operators, before engaging in the transport of lithium batteries/cells as cargo in passenger or freighter aircraft, conduct a safety risk assessment in order to establish whether the risk is manageable. Such an assessment should contain information on the types and quantities of lithium batteries/cells being transported, as well as on their state of charge, and consider the very limited capability of aeroplanes cargo compartment fire protection systems to control a lithium battery fire. In performing the assessment, the possibility that lithium batteries/cells may be affected by fires originating from other sources shall be considered. EASA also recommends National Aviation Authorities to include this element in their oversight programme." More information: EAS SIB 215-19 (PDF) http://news.aviation-safety.net/2015/10/05/easa-recommends-airlines-to-conduct-a-safety- risk-assessment-for-lithium-batteries/ Back to Top Air Force Vet Receives Award for Preventing Bird Strikes to Aircraft A view of Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan from the Air Traffic Control Tower's catwalk after a recent rainstorm. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Craig Seals)A view of Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan from the Air Traffic Control Tower's catwalk after a recent rainstorm. An Air Force veteran originally from Fisher, Minn., has received an Air Force Award for Civilian Achievement. Dionne Beiswenger Orr, who is employed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Wildlife Services in Lincoln, Neb. was honored for developing a comprehensive safety plan to reduce the risk of bird strikes to military aircraft. Orr, a former Air Force medic, volunteered to travel to Afghanistan last fall, where she spent five months with the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, Bagram Airfield in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Freedom's Sentinel. The hangar and airfield attracts a lot of different birds, including mynas, pigeons, sparrows, larks, gulls and raptors, according to a news release. "While deployed, Orr was able to disperse or remove more than 60,000 birds from the airfield, which contributed to the lowest bird strike rate in Bagram Airfield's history. This allowed the wing to safely fly 5,800 combat missions," according to the the release. USDA-Wildlife Services is part of the department's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). "We use habitat manipulation, exclusion," Orr said in a telephone interview. "We harass them, trying to get them to move out of the area. A lot of what we do is just common sense. You remove the trash, remove their source of food, remove any source of shelter. You make it unattractive to be there, so they choose to go someplace else." While some commercial companies do similar work in the U.S., APHIS is the only agency that performs the tasks at military airports in the U.S., Orr said, working in all 50 states, as well as two military bases in Afghanistan and one in Kuwait. "It's especially important over there," she said. "Over here, they have resources to fix it faster and have back-up aircraft at the ready. If a bird strikes a plane over there, there is no quick back-up. So it's critical that they sustain no major damage." Orr, a 1988 graduate of Fisher High School, served as an Air Force medic from 1991 through 1997. After a few years of working at various jobs in the medical field, she returned to school, earning a degree in wildlife biology for wildlife damage management. "I chose wildlife damage management because you still will be helping people, helping people deal with wildlife conflicts," she said. Orr, who has been stateside since March, has volunteered for another tour to Afghanistan. She'll leave in November for a year-long deployment. "It's pretty neat. We're totally imbedded over there," she said. "We stay at the base, take meals with them, sleep in the same accommodations, have they same access to resources. They really appreciate us over there." http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015/10/05/fisher-native-recieves-air-force-award- preventing-bird-strikes.html Back to Top NTSB Releases Agenda, Call for Questions, for General Aviation Safety Forum WASHINGTON-The National Transportation Board has released the final agenda, including the participants' names and affiliations, for its forum, Humans and Hardware: Preventing General Aviation Inflight Loss of Control. The event, which was announced earlier this month, will be held on October 14 in Washington, D.C. In addition, the NTSB is inviting pilots and others in the aviation safety community to send their questions related to inflight loss of control issues to LOCForum@ntsb.gov. To be considered for inclusion, questions must be submitted via email not later than 3:00 pm ET on October 13. "Understanding questions that pilots have will be critical to the forum's success," said NTSB Member Earl Weener, who will chair the event. The forum will include panels on four broad areas of discussion: - Industry and Government Perspectives and Actions; - Human Performance and Medical Issues; - Pilot Training Solutions; and - Equipment and Technology Solutions. An end-of-day roundtable beginning at 4:05 p.m. will bring back panelists from throughout the day to discuss crosscutting issues and the day's takeaways. This year's forum offers participants a new level of digital accessibility. The forum webpage includes links to add individual panel sessions or the entire forum to calendars on computers and mobile devices. Pilots can also share the forum page with other pilots or student trainees through email or social media. "We've added the new digital functionality to make it easy to share the event with other pilots," said Weener. "Those with compatible calendar software can also save the date and time directly to their device." The forum, which will be held in the NTSB Board Room and Conference Center in Washington (429 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Washington D.C.) will run from 9:00 am ET to 5:00 pm ET. The agenda, including names of panelists and NTSB forum staff, is available at http://go.usa.gov/3tfse. More information about the forum can be found at http://www.ntsb.gov/LOCforum. The forum is free and open to the public. There is no registration for this event. Directions to the forum site are available at http://go.usa.gov/3tfBB. The event will also be webcast live. An archive of the webcast will be available on the NTSB website after the event. A link to the webcast is available at http://www.capitolconnection.net/capcon/ntsb/ntsb.htm. RELATED MATERIAL General Aviation Inflight Loss of Control on NTSB Most Wanted List: http://go.usa.gov/3tfZJ PRESS RELEASE (9/8/15): NTSB to Hold Forum Addressing Inflight Loss of Control in Fixed- Wing General Aviation Aircraft: http://go.usa.gov/3tfZ9 ************ Contact Information Office of Public Affairs 490 L'Enfant Plaza, SW Washington, DC 20594 Peter Knudson peter.knudson@ntsb.gov (202) 314-6100 Back to Top AAIB Centenary Conference '100 Years of Accident Investigation - What's Next?' Royal Aeronautical Society, London - 14 October 2015 To mark the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) centenary year and to celebrate 100 years of safety investigation in the UK, the AAIB is holding a one-day conference on 14 October 2015, entitled '100 Years of Accident Investigation - What's Next?'.The conference will take place at the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) at 4 Hamilton Place, London. The programme includes speakers from government investigation agencies, regulators, aircraft and engine manufacturers, operators, the media, academia and the legal profession. Places are limited. To find out more about the programme or to register click: http://aerosociety.com/Events/Event-List/1994/100-Years-of-Accident-Investigation-Whats- Next Back to Top Back to Top Global Jet Capital to Buy GE's Corporate Aircraft Portfolio in $2.5 Billion Deal Financial-services firm bets companies, wealthy individuals more likely to rent planes than buy them Global Jet Capital said Monday it would buy General Electric Co's $2.5 billion corporate jet unit, expanding a year-old business with a novel twist. It expects more companies and wealthy individuals to rent rather than buy plush planes worth as much as $75 million. The Boca Raton, Fla., financial-services firm is owned by a unit of Blackstone Group LP and three other private-equity firms to finance jets for international buyers. It was launched to finance jets for international buyers, but after financing just a handful of planes, Global Jet Capital is set to acquire GE's portfolio of more than 300 aircraft, most of them with U.S. customers. The proposed deal is one of the largest ever involving corporate aircraft, which have traditionally been funded with loans or finance leases rather than the rental agreements increasingly used by commercial airlines. Global Jet Capital is focused on larger planes with roomy cabins and longer ranges from makers including Gulfstream Aerospace and Bombardier Inc., a segment where orders and aircraft values have been more robust than for smaller jets as the industry continues an uneven recovery from the last financial crisis. Gulfstream is a unit of General Dynamics Corp. With the prices of these planes ranging from $25 million to $75 million, customers are looking for alternatives to using their own cash, said Shawn Vick, Global Jet Capital's executive director. The firm, which is also backed by Franklin Square Capital Partners, the Carlyle Group and AE Industrial Partners, started informal talks with GE at the start of the year, accelerating discussions when the conglomerate announced plans to dispose of most of its financing operations. GE is shrinking its finance arm to focus on its $45 billion commercial aircraft and helicopter portfolio and funding its energy-related business, though it also has a nascent ship finance operation. GE's move "takes the business to scale," Mr. Vick said in an interview, with GE adding a portfolio of aircraft loans and finance leases, as well as the rental deals more commonly known as operating leases. While most of the GE business jet assets are in the U.S., Mr. Vick said he remained confident in the outlook for international business, even though some manufacturers have pointed to recent softness in the large-cabin jet market as the strong U.S. dollar and falling commodity prices dented demand in once-booming segments such as the Middle East, Russia and parts of Asia. With the corporate aircraft portfolio deal, expected to close over the next several months, GE Capital said it has had a total of $97 billion in deals this year. The transaction is expected to contribute roughly $300 million toward GE's dividend target of $35 billion under the divestment plan. A team of GE employees linked to the business also will be retained by Global Jet Capital. http://www.wsj.com/articles/ge-to-sell-corporate-aircraft-portfolio-in-2-5-billion-deal- 1444052979 Back to Top Russian woman's remarkable mission to restore Soviet jet airliner Tu-104A cockpit. Russian woman's remarkable mission to restore Soviet jet airliner Using her own money and with help from other volunteers, she's hoping to restore it to its former glory The Tu-104 was at one time the world's only operational jet liner -- a matter of great Soviet pride (CNN)For nearly three decades, an old Soviet airliner lay abandoned on a small airfield deep inside Siberia. Years of neglect under the harsh Siberian climate had reduced the Aeroflot Tupolev Tu-104A to little more than a decaying wreck. Until Maria Karmanova came into the picture. On hearing about the old Tupolev rusting away at her local aerodrome at Berdsk, near Novosibirsk, she set herself the challenge of restoring it to its former glory. Mathematician with a purpose Karmanova, 31, holds a doctorate in mathematics and works at the Sobolev Institute of Mathematics in Akademgorodok, one of Russia's so-called "science cities." She became an aviation enthusiast while making long air journeys to scientific conferences all over the world. Becoming keenly interested in old Soviet-made airplanes, she traveled around Russia, the former Soviet Union and beyond, in order to locate and fly them. She soon ticked off aircraft such as the Lisunov Li-2, the Ilyushin Il-14, Il-18, Il-62 and IL-76, the Tupolev Tu-134 and Tu-154B-2, the Antonov An-12 as well as the Mil Mi-2 and Mi-17 helicopters. However, her most intense and fulfilling aviation adventure was awaiting near home: the derelict Tupolev Tu-104A at Berdsk. Legendary aircraft Tupolev plane The Tupolev Tu-104 was one of the most legendary airliners of its time. Launched in the mid-1950s, the Tu-104 was briefly the world's only operational jet airliner -- a symbol of Soviet technological prowess at a time when Western aircraft manufacturers were still struggling to come up with a viable jet airliner. Capable of flying up to 115 passengers over distances of 1,500 nautical miles, it remained the workhorse of Soviet civilian aviation until well into the 1970s. The aircraft at the center of this story (registration number CCCP-42382) was delivered to Soviet flag-carrier Aeroflot in 1958 and remained in service for 20 years. First it flew international routes out of Moscow's Vnukovo airport to destinations beyond the Iron Curtain. Later it was transferred to Pulkovo airport near St.Petersburg (Leningrad at the time) and then Novosibirsk Tolmachevo airport, before decommissioning in 1978 saw it shipped to Berdsk. In retirement, it was initially used by the local aero club as a classroom to train skydivers and glider pilots, but progressively fell into a state of disrepair exacerbated by vandalism and equipment theft. Karmanova heard about the Tupolev in 2009 and headed to Berdsk to make inquiries. The restoration project started to take shape and before long she was fully committed. The challenge was daunting. She had no experience of restoring or repairing aircraft, no idea what parts were needed or where they went, and no blueprints to work from. Missing parts Tupolev Karmanova embarked on a quest to gather as much information as possible about the configuration of the Tu-104A cockpit. At the local aero club, they advised her to contact the Administration of Civil Aviation of Western Siberia, where former pilots might be able to provide some guidance. Bingo! This way she met a former Tu-104 co-pilot who, in addition to offering some personal insights, volunteered a Tu-104 Flight Crew Operating Manual. He also helped her contact another former Aeroflot employee who'd worked as a flight engineer on the same aircraft type. He, in turn, gave her the aircraft technical manuals -- a real breakthrough. Once she had enough details about the the Tupolevīs cockpit and components, Karmanova began scouring the secondhand market for missing parts. Surprisingly, many Tu-104 spares can be found throughout Russia and neighboring countries, via the Internet. And so one piece at a time, using her own money, Karmanova is reassembling the aircraft. "The cockpit is currently about 60 to 70% restored to its original condition, but there's still much to do," she states proudly. Although she started her journey single-handed, she was joined after one year by aviation maintenance worker Vladimir Chebotnikov. He helps her install heavy equipment and restore many items. Another three people have joined the project more recently, helping locate some of the missing parts and work on restoring some of the electrical system. Aviation enthusiasts Tupolev Karmanova is realistic about the ultimate goals of her project. "Of course, my dream is to make this aircraft fly," she says. "But this would require so much money, paperwork and a huge amount of technical work that I don't think it's going to happen in the foreseeable future." A more limited but feasible goal is to repair some of the electric equipment so that lights and communications equipment come back to life. Ultimately, the idea is to turn the aircraft into a museum within the grounds of Berdsk airfield. It's already possible to visit the aircraft during spring and summer. Once restoration is complete, the aircraft will be properly adapted to receive visitors, turning it into a local attraction. Who knows, one day it might inspire a new generation of enthusiasts devoted to preserving aviation's historical heritage. http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/06/aviation/russian-plane-restorer/ Back to Top Boeing jet deliveries higher in third quarter, year Boeing 737 fuselages are lined up on the production floor at Spirit AeroSystems. Boeing on Monday reported higher deliveries of airplanes in the third quarter of 2015, led by the 737. Boeing Co. said Monday it delivered 13 more jets in the third quarter of 2015 and 52 more jets for the first nine months of the year. Boeing delivered a total of 199 airliners for the third quarter and 580 through the three quarters of 2015. That compares with 186 in the third quarter of 2014 and 528 in the first nine months of 2014. Deliveries in the quarter and the year were highest for its smallest jet, the 737 - the fuselage of which is manufactured by Wichita's Spirit AeroSystems. Boeing delivered 126 of the models in the third quarter and 375 year-to-date. That compares with 120 in the third quarter of 2014 and 359 for the year. Deliveries also were up for its newest jet, the 787. Boeing delivered 37 787s in the third quarter of 2015 and 101 for the first nine months of the year. That's up from 31 and 79 deliveries for the same periods last year, respectively. Boeing delivered more 767s in both periods, as well: five in the third quarter and 14 for the year. That compares with two in the third quarter and three in the first nine months of 2014. Boeing saw flat deliveries of the 777 between the third quarters of 2015 and 2014: 27. But it delivered two more 777s year-to-date in 2015 than in 2014, for a total of 77 of the twin-aisle, long-range jetliner. Deliveries of the 747 were lower in the third quarter, four in 2015 compared with six in 2014, but higher in the first nine months: 13 in 2015 compared with 12 in 2014. http://www.kansas.com/news/business/aviation/article37791186.html#storylink=cpy Back to Top Shutdown now possible for Transaero, Russia's No. 2 airline Transaero aircraft are seen in an image provided by Transaero Airlines. MOSCOW (AP) - Russia's second-largest airline, Transaero, is in crisis after two creditors on Friday said they will file bankruptcy proceedings following the collapse of a takeover plan. Transaero has been struggling with debt and last month a government commission arranged for most of the company's shares to be taken over by the country's largest carrier, state- controlled Aeroflot. However, the takeover has collapsed in recent days and on Friday two major Russian lenders, Sberbank and Alfa Bank, announced their intention to bring bankruptcy proceedings against Transaero, according to statements on a Russian federal company register. The Russian government now considers that bankruptcy is "the only possible option," economy minister Alexei Ulyukaev was quoted as saying by the state-owned RIA Novosti news agency. He blamed "ineffective management" at Transaero for the company's troubles. Transaero shares fell by over 40% in Moscow trading Friday and traded at less than 10% of their value compared to eight months ago. The Russian airline sector as a whole has suffered from lower demand for foreign travel due to the fall in the value of the ruble over the last two years. On Friday, Aeroflot's general director Vitaly Savelyev was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying Transaero could stop all flights Oct. 15, and that between 5,000 and 6,000 of Transaero's roughly 11,500 staff could be offered jobs with Aeroflot. Some scheduled Transaero services to destinations such as the western Russian city of Kaliningrad and the Crimean city of Simferopol on Friday and Saturday were listed as canceled, while others were operating. Transaero had said Thursday it was revising its schedule. Aeroflot led Russian airlines by transporting 17.28 million passengers on domestic and international routes in the first seven months of the year, compared with 9.36 million for Transaero, according to Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency. The next biggest airline, S7, transported 5.45 million passengers. http://www.usatoday.com/story/todayinthesky/2015/10/02/shutdown-now-possible-for- transaero-russias-no-2-airline/73225790/ Back to Top Business Aviation Flight Activity Tends to Spike in October Business aviation flight activity in the United States tends to rise as fall takes hold during the month of October, according to an analysis by ARGUS International Inc. At the NBAA Regional Forum in St. Louis, Travis Kuhn, associate product manager for ARGUS's TRAQpak, identified several reasons why flight activity recorded by the FAA spikes in October: 1. Businesspeople plan around the holidays. Travel that could be done in November or December shifts back into October, the last full month before the holiday season. Compared to October, business aviation dips in November and December in the United States because business aviation travel is very light around Thanksgiving and Christmas, which, with Independence Day, are two of the three lightest travel periods for business aviation. 2. There is much business to be done in October. It is the first month of the fourth quarter, and it is a traditional time for year-end planning and business strategy. 3. The weather cooperates. The Southeast region of the United States, which is the busiest for business aviation overall, tends to have favorable weather during October. Fair weather is conducive to more flights. 4. Work and play collide. Six major sports leagues - MLB, NASCAR, NFL, NBA, NHL and MLS - are in season. Team and team owners' planes fly to away games and races. 5. October has 31 days. One extra day to travel can add another 7500 flights to a month's flight activity statistics. (All other things being equal, October 2015 could have a particularly strong flight activity number because this October has five Thursdays, one of the top travel days for business aviation. In fact, seven of the 10 most active days for business aviation during the previous 12 months were Thursdays, Kuhn said.) http://aviationweek.com/bca/business-aviation-flight-activity-tends-spike-october Back to Top iSMS - Safety Management System Training Back to Top Upcoming Events: 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 Washington DC? Tuesday-Thursday 5-7 April 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 Curt Lewis