Flight Safety Information December 17, 2015 - No. 252 In This Issue Man Dies After Being Sucked Into Jet Engine Air India staffer death at Mumbai airport puts focus on safety lapse A complete list of drones that need to be registered with the FAA Air Safety During Harmattan Season (Nigeria) Survivor of deadly copter crash signaled searchers Man in reclining-seat fight on Southwest jet charged with assault Jet lands at GSP after 'declared emergency British Airways jet that caught fire before takeoff at McCarran to fly again PROS 2015 TRAINING Airbus And Qatar Airways Debut A Carbon Fiber Plane That Curbs Jet Lag M1 launches unlimited in-flight data roaming with 18 airlines Pilots bill could help boost light aircraft manufacturing Boeing Wins $10 Billion Plane Order From China Southern Air Jet traffic linked to ice haze Study says satisfaction at U.S. airports higher in '15; Airports in Portland, Dallas, South Florida This Flying Car Just Got Approval to Move Into Test Mode Upcoming Events Man Dies After Being Sucked Into Jet Engine The tragedy reportedly happened when the jet was being moved from an airport gate and the pilot mistakenly switched on the engine. Air India plane The incident happened at an airport in Mumbai. A man working for Air India has died after being sucked into a jet engine after a "mishap". The freak accident happened as the plane pushed back for take-off at Mumbai airport, the airline said. It reportedly happened after the co-pilot of flight Al 619 to the southern city of Hyderabad mistook a signal from ground staff and started the engine. Maintenance man Ravi Subramanian, who was standing close by, was sucked into the engine and died instantly. India's national carrier said on Twitter that he had "died in a mishap during pushback of flight AI 619". Tha airline sent its "heartfelt condolences" to the man's family and its boss, Ashwani Lohani, said he was "deeply saddened". A source told the Hindustan Times: "At the moment, we are absolutely clueless on how this person was near the aircraft. "Only an inquiry can establish whose negligence it was and whether the engine should have been switched on at that time." The state-run carrier, which has not reported an annual profit since 2007, has been troubled recently by a number of technical glitches and other awkward incidents, including staff turning up late for flights. The airline made headlines in April when it was forced to ground two of its pilots after the pair started to fight just before take off. The latest incident comes a week after a turboprop plane owned by budget carrier SpiceJet skidded as it hit a group of wild boars as it came into land at Jabalpur airport in central India. http://news.sky.com/story/1607546/man-dies-after-being-sucked-into-jet-engine ***************** Date: 16-DEC-2015 Time: 20:40 Type: Airbus A319-112 Owner/operator: Air India Registration: VT-SCQ C/n / msn: 3918 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 Other fatalities: 1 Airplane damage: Minor Location: Mumbai-Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM/VABB) - India Phase: Standing Nature: Domestic Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Mumbai-Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM/VABB) Destination airport: Hyderabad-Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD/VOHS) Narrative: An Air India ground staffer was sucked in by an aircraft engine at the Mumbai-Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM/VABB). The incident took place at bay No.28 around 20.40 hours when flight AI619 was being readied for departure. http://www.aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=182381 Back to Top Air India staffer death at Mumbai airport puts focus on safety lapse Plane involved in the accident was Air India Mumbai-Hyderabad AI 619. The death of an Air India ground technician who was sucked into a jet engine of an Airbus A619 getting ready for departure at Mumbai airport on Wednesday night raised questions if it was a freak accident or a serious safety lapse. It put the spotlight firmly on whether Indian carriers have been diligently following safety procedures, although only a detailed inquiry and an examination of the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder will reveal the exact sequence of events that led to the tragic incident. The incident happened around 8.30pm when AI flight 619 bound for Hyderabad was being pushed back for departure with more than 100 passengers on board. During the manoeuvre, 1983-batch technician Ravi Subramaniam was sucked into the engine. It cannot be denied that the accident was a grave mistake of either the pilots or ground engineers. "This is a case of serious safety lapse," said an expert who did not wish to be named. The pilot's role, said an official, will be looked into. "The pilots have to ensure that both left and right sides of the aircraft is clear before they release the parking brake and push back and start the engine. After this, the parking brakes are put on again and ATC permission is sought to begin taxiing. Before the aircraft begins to taxi, the pilots need to check again if both sides of the plane are clear," an official said. If the process wasn't followed, it would amount to criminal negligence, he explained. The role of the aircraft maintenance engineer (AME) will also be examined. "Who was departure aircraft maintenance engineer (AME) when the accident occurred? Who signed tech- log prior to flight departure and what was he doing at the time of the accident. The AME has to be present on the ground, near the aircraft when it is being pushed back. If found absent, it would raise serious questions," an expert said. "It is the AME who coordinates between the pilot and the technician when the aircraft is pushed back. There is no aviation regulation that states that a technician is responsible for departure of an aircraft. However, such is the pressure that technicians are often made responsible for departuAIre of one flight whereas the AME attends to another flight. The consequence is in front of all of us," he said. The expert was of the view that if the AME was present, he should have alerted the pilots or the technician. "But it seems he was missing. You cannot leave the aircraft at the mercy of a technician." Fingers were pointed at the directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA), the nation's air travel safety watchdog. "The safety management system (SMS) should have been implemented. Had the SMS been strictly put into practice by the DGCA, the accident would never have occurred," said an official. Air India chairman and managing director Ashwini Lohani offered his condolences to Subramaniam's bereaved family. "We are deeply saddened and regret the tragic incident at Mumbai airport. The incident is being investigated." This is not the first time such an incident had happened and it is not reassuring that such gruesome deaths are not unprecedented. But miracles do occur as a US Navy serviceman survived after being sucked into a jet engine on an aircraft carrier in 1991. http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/air-india-jet-engine-death-at-mumbai-airport-puts-focus-on-safety- lapse/story-4eujOIz7S2eMAKyYeO4iYI.html Back to Top A complete list of drones that need to be registered with the FAA FAA Drone Registration Complete List Just in time for the holidays, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) earlier this week donned their Grinch costume and announced that individuals with drones that weigh more than half a pound (.55 pounds or 250 grams, to be exact) will have to register it with the FAA. On top of that, the registration process requires drone owners to fork over $5. It may sound like your everyday email scam at first glance, but rest assured that the FAA's new guidelines are legit and are set to go into effect on December 21. To encourage drone registration, the FAA is willing to waive the aforementioned $5 fee if users register by January 20, 2016. DON'T MISS: You need to try Google's crazy new Star Wars Lightsaber game at least once "Registering unmanned aircraft will help build a culture of accountability and responsibility, especially with new users who have no experience operating in the U.S. aviation system," U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said this week. "It will help protect public safety in the air and on the ground." And lest you think this is some registration you can gleefully ignore, the penalties for not registering eligible drones are stiff, and include civil fines in the $27,000 range, criminal fines as high as $250,000, and up to three years in prison. All that said, if you're at all curious if you need to register a drone you might have in your possession, Wired has come out with an exhaustive list detailing which drones from which manufacturers need to be accounted for. Suffice it to say, if you have a drone that can take video footage, you're going to have to register. On the flipside, most drones that can fit inside your hand will likely pass muster. Drones that must be registered include the following : 3DRobotics 3DR 3DR Solo (with gimbal) 3DR Solo (without gimbal) DJI DJI Inspire 1 DJI Inspire Pro DJI Phantom 3 Advanced DJI Phantom 3 Professional DJI Phantom 3 Standard Helimax RC Helimax FORM500 Helimax Voltage 500 Parrot Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 (Elite Edition) Parrot Bebop Parrot Bebop Yuneec Yuneec Typhoon G Yes Yuneec Typhoon Q500 4 Yuneec Typhoon Q500+ Amazon Hubsan x4 FPV Hubsan x4 Pro BH Photo UDI U818A-1 Discovery HD UDI U842 Falcon Drones that do not need to be registered include the following: Parrot Rolling Spider minidrone from Parrot Sky Viper s670 Stunt Drone Syma X5 Syma X5C Hubsan x4 camera Hubsan x4 Nano Hubsan x4 (H107L Extreme Fliers Micro Drone 2.0 Air Hogs Millenium Falco Helimax 1SQ No Helimax RC $100 0.07 Helimax 1SQ V-cam No Helimax RC $130 0.07 Helimax 1Si (with camera Helimax 230Si (with camera) Parrot Airborne Cargo minidrone Parrot Airborne Night minidrone For more context, the FAA has a page up with a few illustrative examples indicating which type of drones are likely to need registration and which ones don't. Of course, if you just google the weight of any drones you own, you should be good to go. http://bgr.com/2015/12/16/faa-drone-registration-complete-list/ Back to Top Air Safety During Harmattan Season (Nigeria) Penultimate Thursday, only one, out of three airlines that fly to Enugu from Lagos was able to operate. The other two cancelled their flights owing to poor terminal visibility caused by the current harmattan haze. Harmattan haze disrupts flight operations in Nigeria. In Nigeria, during Harmattan season, many flights are delayed, diverted or cancelled due to bad weather conditions; whereas airlines still fly at the height of the winter in Europe. Modern aircraft have been built to land at zero visibility with corresponding landing aides. The Harmattan haze lowers visibility below sometimes-acceptable weather minima, depending on the airport. But never a time does it spread full darkness on the horizon or spread a sheet of dark fogs in the atmosphere, but each airline has its minimum acceptable visibility level, below which the airline could cancel flights. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has its minimum standard visibility between 700 to 1000 feet, depending on the airport. But industry experts who met on Tuesday at the 1st Anniversary Colloquium of Nigeria Travel Smart, an online medium, broached the effect of the Hammattan haze on travel and came to the conclusion that NCAA has failed to review its rule on visibility minima in response to technological advancement being recorded in air travels. They reasoned that regulatory body should look at the equipment of each airline and grant some of the airlines that have Next Generation aircraft the right to operate under low visibility, using the modern equipment in their aircraft. But the snag really is on landing aids. Only four, out of the 22 airports in Nigeria have airfield lighting and these are the airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt. There have been efforts made over the years to install airfield lighting at some airports in the country but such efforts end woefully as they were usually followed by scandals of huge sums of money diverted by government officials. Ideally, runway construction goes with airfield lighting; so when the contract for runway is being awarded it is done simultaneously with the runway lighting project and as the runway is being worked on, the contractor for the airfield lighting would be installing underground cables. The idea of having runways without lighting system is an aberration and a later development, which signposts how low the country has fallen. Industry experts opined that as a regulator of the industry, NCAA should bar flight operations in any airport that does not have airfield lighting. They argued that if such directive was in place, it would have prompted concerned authorities to prioritise the installation of runway lightings at the airports. But NCAA was too generous and allowed many airports in the country to operate without airfield lighting. The agency even allowed airports built by state governments to operate without runway lights. A few years ago, NCAA inspected the runway at the Asaba airport in Delta state and even with the shortcomings at the runway, including unevenness of the surface, the regulatory body directed that the undulating topography around the runway should be removed for greater clearance. It thereafter approved that the airport should become operational without airfield lighting though it instructed that only small aircraft, turboprops should operate to the airport. During the Yuletide season, many of the airports in Nigeria are very busy because many Nigerians return from overseas and from their working places in Nigeria to visit their kith and kin to celebrate the Christmas. Many Nigerians who plan to travel by air may not travel as scheduled because of Harmattan haze, which may lead to flight cancellations. The consequence is that a passenger who is billed to fly to any destination may not be sure whether the flight would take place or it would be cancelled. Airlines lose huge resources to these cancellations and because flights cannot land in these airports beyond 6:00 pm, many passengers are left stranded at the airports. Some experts who spoke at the colloquium said NCAA could solve this problem by making it compulsory that every airport must have runway lighting. A former head of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) told THISDAY at the colloquium that to prevent further cancellation of flights because of the Harmattan, NCAA should within the next seven days review the weather minima at the airports. He noted that with instrument landing system (ILS) and the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) and terminal aids like Voice Ominidirectional Radio Range (VOR), weather minima could be reduced to 800 meters in some airports. One of the resource persons at the event, who is also a pilot said that when modern aircraft are programmed, they could land at the centre of the runway even at the lowest visibility, but in Nigeria weather minima is determined by avoidable obstacles and clearance limit and that explains why every airport has a different level of visibility. The review by NCAA, the source said, should be done so that weather minima would be made to appropriately match the available infrastructure at the airport. What this means is that air travellers in Nigeria suffer terrible anguish due to the failure of concerned authorities to provide necessary infrastructure that could enable aircraft to land and take off even in low visibility caused by Harmattan haze. "Harmattan cannot be a hazardous weather with the available technology. Airfield lighting is the major problem, if the problem of airfield lighting is solved, Harmattan would stop being a hindrance to flights during the Yuletide. But this problem should be solved because the airlines lose a lot of money," an industry source said. http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/air-safety-during-harmattan/227637/ Back to Top Survivor of deadly copter crash signaled searchers According to officials, the helicopter crashed in very rugged terrain in the Superstition Mountains PHOENIX -- A medical helicopter crashed in rugged terrain east of Phoenix, killing two crew members and seriously injuring a third, who was still able to use a flashlight to signal search aircraft, a sheriff said Wednesday. Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu said the medical helicopter crashed Tuesday evening on a cliff or mountainside about 12 miles north of Superior, a mining community outside Phoenix. Air Methods, which owns the company operating the aircraft, said the chopper was carrying a pilot, a paramedic and a nurse. No names were released. Air Methods spokeswoman Christina D. Brodsly said in an email that no patients were on board. Babeu said the helicopter was flying from a Mesa airport east to Globe, but he said he didn't have any more information on the purpose of the flight. "We are deeply saddened by the news that two of our crew members were taken from us, and our hearts go out to their family and loved ones," Brodsly said in a statement, according to CBS affiliate KPHO-TV. Babeu said an aerial search began after the helicopter was reported missing around 6 p.m. and that he knew of no radio transmission from the aircraft before it went down or any report from the public about a crash in the Tonto National Forest. A military aircraft rescued the survivor at about 10:15 p.m., and that person was taken to a trauma center in the Phoenix area in "very serious, critical condition," Babeu said. A Native Air helicopter first spotted the wreckage at about 8:30 p.m. and an Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter located it about a half-hour later, but neither was able to land because of rugged terrain. "From what I understand it's in a precarious situation," he said of the crashed helicopter. The DPS helicopter crew saw the survivor signaling with a flashlight, Babeu said. The crash scene was sealed off overnight to preserve evidence before National Transportation Board Safety investigators arrive later Wednesday, Babeu said. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/at-least-2-dead-in-medical-chopper-crash-east-of-phoenix/ Back to Top Man in reclining-seat fight on Southwest jet charged with assault Southwest Airlines in April announced that in the future planes will have seats that are a bit wider and C- shaped to give passengers in the next row a smidgen more knee room. A Richmond man was indicted this week by a federal grand jury on charges he assaulted a woman over a reclined seat during a Los Angeles- to-San Francisco flight on Oct. 18. Photo: Southwest, Associated Press Photo: Southwest, Associated Press Southwest Airlines in April announced that in the future planes will have seats that are a bit wider and C- shaped to give passengers in the next row a smidgen more knee room. A Richmond man was indicted this week by a federal grand jury on charges he assaulted a woman over a reclined seat during a Los Angeles- to-San Francisco flight on Oct. 18. A Richmond man was arrested Wednesday on charges he choked and punched another passenger on a Los Angeles-to-San Francisco Southwest Airlines flight in October during a dispute that erupted over a reclined seat, officials said. Lawrence Wells, 54, was indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury in Los Angeles on a charge of assault. According to the indictment, he choked and punched a woman on a late-night flight bound for San Francisco from Los Angeles International Airport on Oct. 18. The incident began shortly after takeoff and was so extreme that the pilot turned the plane around because of what Southwest that day called a "rapidly escalating situation." Passengers using social media described a scene where a man reacted violently after a woman in front of him reclined her seat. Several police cars were waiting when the jet touched down on the runway. The indictment charges that Wells "intentionally assaulted" the victim, identified only by the initials M.D., by choking and punching her with a closed fist, "resulting in serious bodily injury." If he is tried and convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Wells appeared in court in Los Angeles on Wednesday, but was not asked to enter a plea. http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/East-Bay-man-charged-in-assault-on-Southwest-6703544.php Back to Top Jet lands at GSP after 'declared emergency,' officials say GREER, S.C. -A commercial regional jet landed at Greenville Spartanburg International Airport after a "declared emergency" Wednesday afternoon, according to officials. The crew of the regional jet reported an electrical smell in the cockpit, leading to the landing. Emergency vehicles were called to GSP to prepare for the plane's arrival. The plane landed safely just before 3:30 p.m. Rosylin Weston, with GSP, said the jet was a Delta flight from Roanoke to Atlanta. The emergency landing at GSP is categorized as a diversion, since that was not its destination. "These are always nerve-racking," Weston said. "But the good news is we have a great team of first responders -- policemen, firemen -- who are trained to spring into action and they do. And fortunately today was good practice for them." http://www.wyff4.com/news/jet-lands-at-gsp-after-declared-emergency-officials-say/36996184 Back to Top British Airways jet that caught fire before takeoff at McCarran to fly again The British Airways Boeing 777 that aborted a takeoff at McCarran International Airport with 157 passengers and 13 crew members aboard in September will fly again. A representative of the London-based airline said Wednesday that crews would be dispatched to McCarran and that work would begin "shortly" to repair the aircraft's hull to make it airworthy. Noting that "safety is always British Airways' top priority," a company spokeswoman said in an email, "The airframe was inspected by a team of highly experienced engineers from Boeing who concluded that the damage was limited and suitable for repair. "A team from Boeing will carry out the repair work, which will be certified to the same high standards as if the aircraft was brand new," she said. She did not give a timetable for repairs or when the plane would be flown, but the work is expected to begin next month. The company did not elaborate on the repair process or how much it would cost to fix the plane. While the jet is parked at McCarran, British Airways is paying $375 a day in fees and by the end of 2015, the bill will reach about $31,000. The jet, a twin-engine Boeing 777-200ER, was scheduled to fly as British Airways Flight 2276 from McCarran to London's Gatwick International Airport on Sept. 8. Midway through its takeoff run, before the plane lifted off the ground, the jet's left engine experienced an uncontained failure that started a fire. Debris spewed out of the engine and onto the runway. The pilot shut down the engine and aborted the takeoff and while McCarran's emergency response crews sped to the burning plane, passengers began evacuating on emergency slides. A preliminary National Transportation Safety Board report in October said the "left engine and pylon, left fuselage structure and inboard left wing ... were substantially damaged by the fire." Officials reported 14 people suffered minor injuries, most of them a result of a rough ride down the emergency chute. The runway was closed for four hours. Aviation experts said they expected the plane's insurers to declare the aircraft a "hull loss," meaning that it was too damaged for repair and that it would be disassembled for parts. Wednesday's email from the company was the first indication that British Airways would instead put a different engine on the plane, repair the hull and fly the plane to a maintenance facility for additional work. http://www.reviewjournal.com/business/british-airways-jet-caught-fire-takeoff-mccarran-fly-again Back to Top Back to Top Airbus And Qatar Airways Debut A Carbon Fiber Plane That Curbs Jet Lag THE SKIES JUST GOT FRIENDLIER. From labyrinthine security checkpoints to cramped seats and scant overhead storage space, air travel ranks among the most grueling experiences out there (unless you're one of the rarefied few who spring for first class). With its A350 XWB jet, Airbus integrates the latest design and engineering tricks to quell many of the headaches for flyers, carriers, and pilots. Chief among them? Jet lag. "The design process was about optimization, pushing the constraints, and opening up the box of solutions," Alain De Zotti, chief engineer of the A350 XWB program at Airbus, says. The manufacturer debuted the design in early 2015, but the first aircraft to land in the United States arrived courtesy of Qatar Airways last week. With the A350, De Zotti's team devised ways that they hope make flying more energy-efficient, aerodynamic, and comfortable. On top of that, they had to ensure that the plane could be just as technologically sound today as at the end of its projected 30-year lifespan. With $15 billion worth of research and development under its belt, Airbus is hoping that its no-nonsense approach to design and engineering will help it best the competition-namely the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 777 long-distance planes. A Lighter Ride One of the biggest differences in the Airbus A350 compared to older models is its composition. Over 50% of the structure is made from carbon fiber-reinforced plastic for lightweight strength and durability. (The composite is less susceptible to corrosion than traditional aluminum planes.) The material has been deployed in aircrafts in the past, but not in such large proportions. The lighter the plane, the less energy you need to propel it. To help with aerodynamics, the engineers designed the wings to be much larger in size (about 20% bigger than previous generations of planes) and span (about 10% wider) and to have a shape that was inspired by birds' wings. This reduces drag and noise and improves performance at low speeds. The engineers also improved the flap system-typically the flaps follow wind direction but the A350's flaps follow the flight path direction- which makes the ride smoother. These measures-plus ultra- efficient Rolls Royce engines-result in fuel economy that Airbus claims is 25% better than similarly sized planes from competitors. Eliminating Jet Lag Qatar Airways currently flies its fleet of A350s to Europe, the United States and Asia-journeys that traverse many time zones. To alleviate the physical toll and stress of screwing with a body's internal clock, the plane is fitted with LED lights that change their color temperature to mimic the sun's natural glow and are timed with natural circadian rhythms. To keep air from feeling stale, the plane's filtering system changes over the air in the plane every two to three minutes. The cabin is pressurized to 6,000 feet, which Airbus claims makes it more comfortable for passengers. More Room (Thank God) The fuselage is wider to accommodate larger passenger seats in economy class-just an extra inch over the standard width-and easier movement down the aisles. Because the seat configuration varies from carrier to carrier and the competition for the best business and first class cabins is so fierce-"Business class is now like first class was and first class is like little apartments," De Zotti says-Airbus designed the interior to be adaptable so that carriers can swap out seats and tweak configuration much more easily than in the past. This philosophy extends to the way computer hardware integrates with the design, making avionics and software upgrades are less cumbersome. "We're trying to make the jet relevant for the future," De Zotti says. "There's an open architecture that can evolve to welcome new functions and can cope with the evolution of technology." Qatar Airways is one of the first carriers to introduce the A350 to its fleet. Its trip to New York was the first time the plane landed stateside. Heading back to Doha, the plane abruptly aborted takeoff due to a short runway. Though no problems-other than lengthy delivery times-have been reported with the new A350 design, much can go wrong with planes. For example, Boeing's 787 Dreamliner has suffered from technical and mechanical problems since its launch. After the 787's launch and popularity with carriers, Airbus retooled its approach with the A350. Let's hope that any kinks in the design were ironed out during its 2,600 hours of test flights. http://www.fastcodesign.com/3054686/terminal-velocity/airbus-and-qatar-airways-debut-a-carbon-fiber- plane-that-quells-jet-lag Back to Top M1 launches unlimited in-flight data roaming with 18 airlines Singaporean telco M1 has partnered with airlines including Singapore Airlines, British Airways, and Emirates to offer passengers unlimited in-flight data roaming. Singapore's third-largest telecommunications company M1 has partnered with 18 airlines to offer unlimited in-flight data roaming from SG$25. Singapore Airlines, British Airways, and Emirates are some of the airlines where the in-flight connectivity will be available when the airlines are logged on to M1's in-flight network, OnAir. Roaming subscription customers will be charged SG$0.20 per 10KB before they're capped at SG$25 per day. Meanwhile, pay-per-use customers will be charged SG$0.24 per 10KB and capped at SG$30 per day. P. Subramaniam, M1 chief marketing officer, said in a statement that people can now stay connected even when they're flying. "With our affordable in-flight data roaming service, travellers can stay in touch with their loved ones, answer important email or simply get the latest social media updates," he said. The company added that the in-flight network is integrated with its Network Lock feature aimed to protect customers from unintended usage and charges on non-preferred network. But M1 aren't the only ones offering connectivity to customers. Travellers on short-haul flights across Europe travelling with German carrier Lufthansa can expect onboard Wi-Fi services from 2016. The airline will be partnering with Inmarsat to give customers the option to use "superior applications" and streaming through their mobile devices. In addition, flyers will be allowed to send and receive text messages "for the transfer of data based on their own mobile phone contract". Lufthansa said it plans to offer the Wi-Fi platform, called BoardConnect, to other airlines in the future, following a trial flight programme conducted together with Deutsche Telekom. Meanwhile, Air China flights that travel between Beijing and Chengdu in China have been offering passengers free Wi-Fi since April last year in partnership with telecom equipment maker ZTE. http://www.zdnet.com/article/m1-launches-unlimited-in-flight-data-roaming-with-18-airlines/ Back to Top Pilots bill could help boost light aircraft manufacturing The Pilots Bill of Rights 2 measure would eliminate costly, third-class medical examination renewal Eliminating the expense could retain and attract more recreational pilots and drive light aircraft demand Measure still needs House approval before it becomes law Pilots groups on Wednesday were applauding the Senate's passage Tuesday night of the Pilots Bill of Rights 2 measure, a big part of which would eliminate the need for most recreational pilots to get a third- class medical certificate more than once. But the measure, which still has to pass the House before it's signed into law, also could benefit the manufacturers of light, piston-engine aircraft, industry officials said Wednesday. That would include Wichita-based Textron Aviation, whose Cessna and Beechcraft products include single- and twin-piston engine aircraft. FOR THOSE WHO ARE ON THE PISTON END OF THE INDUSTRY, IT'S VERY GOOD. Pete Bunce, president and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association "For those who are on the piston end of the industry, it's very good," said Pete Bunce, president and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. What the bill the Senate passed would do is take away the Federal Aviation Administration requirement for recreational pilots to have a medical examination by an FAA-designated Aviation Medical Examiner on a recurring basis: every two years for pilots older than 40 and every five years for pilots under 40. Instead, new recreational pilots would have to get a one-time, third-class medical examination and follow that up with a physical examination by their personal physician every four years. Pilots who have had a third-class medical examination within 10 years of the date of the law taking effect would not have to undergo the examination again, while those who haven't had one in more than 10 years would have to take the third-class examination one more time. Pilots who develop certain medical conditions after receiving their third-class medical certificate - such as specific cardiac, mental health or neurological conditions - will have to get a FAA special issuance medical, but only once. As it is now, some pilots with special issuance medicals have to be seen by an Aviation Medical Examiner as often as every six months, depending on their medical conditions, industry officials said. Examinations for a third-class medical certificate typically cost more than a physical examination by a pilot's personal physician, and the costs are generally not covered by health insurance, said Jack Pelton, Experimental Aircraft Association chairman and CEO. In addition to receiving a medical exam from their personal physician every four years - which would be required to be documented for the FAA - pilots would have to take a free, online course every two years that would address medical factors that could affect their ability to fly. WE BELIEVE, IF THIS BECOMES LAW, IT WOULD HELP THE NEGATIVE TREND OF PEOPLE LEAVING GENERAL AVIATION. Jack Pelton, Experimental Aircraft Association chairman and CEO "We believe, if this becomes law, it would help the negative trend of people leaving general aviation," Pelton said. "It's just one more of those things we hope would help temper the downward trend of pilots ... and maybe get more people interested in general aviation." That goes to why Pelton and others think the measure could help light aircraft manufacturers. "It's one less thing that a company like Cessna has to deal with in convincing people" to get into general aviation and buy its light aircraft, said Pelton, a former Cessna Aircraft CEO. Bunce, of GAMA, said he thinks the measure will increase safety as well because the online education requirement might provide information to pilots that they would not otherwise know, such as what kinds of medications are not compatible with flying. "We'll actually get some safety benefit from this," Bunce said. http://www.kansas.com/news/business/aviation/article50180285.html#storylink=cpy Back to Top Boeing Wins $10 Billion Plane Order From China Southern Air China Southern, Xiamen Air unit to buy total of 110 737 planes Boeing earlier agreed to set up an assembly plant in China China Southern Airlines Co., Asia's largest carrier by number of passengers, ordered 110 planes worth about $10 billion from Boeing Co., adding more efficient aircraft to its fleet with China set to become the world's largest travel market in the next 20 years. The Guangzhou-based carrier will buy 30 737NG and 50 737MAX models, valued at $7.24 billion at list prices, the company said in a statement Thursday. The prices are before the discounts that are typical in the industry. China Southern's Xiamen Airlines unit also agreed to buy 30 737MAX planes for a total of $2.88 billion before discounts, China Southern said in a separate exchange filing. "China Southern's commitment is a solid endorsement of the popularity of the Next-Generation 737 and 737 MAX," Ihssane Mounir, Boeing Commercial Airplanes's senior vice president for Northeast Asia sales, said in an e-mailed statement. China Southern said the order was in line with its strategy under the country's 13th five-year plan, which takes effect next year. Asian air travel growth is lifting orders for planemakers Boeing and Airbus Group SE, with China forecast to surpass the U.S. as the world's largest aircraft market within the next two decades. The country's economic expansion is making air travel affordable to more people, prompting carriers such as China Southern and Air China Ltd. to boost their fleets. China is also forecast to become the world's biggest air- travel market, according to Boeing. Thursday's deal comes nearly three months after Chinese President Xi Jinping signed an order for 300 jets worth $38 billion on a state visit to the U.S. Boeing also signed a deal to build a 737 completion center in China, partnering with Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China Ltd., known as Comac. It's not immediately clear whether Thursday's announcement is part of that agreement. Sell Back China Southern said it will also sell back to Boeing 16 planes -- 13 757s and three 733s -- 13 engines and other aerospace materials for $104 million over three years, starting in 2016. Boeing will pay costs involved, which are expected to total $1.9 million, China Southern said. China Southern expects to take delivery of the 737NG planes between 2017 and 2018 and the 737MAX jets from 2017 to 2021. The carrier said the order boosts its capacity by 11.7 percent. Xiamen Airlines, based in southern China's Fujian province, will take delivery of its planes between 2018 and 2021. The carrier also plans to convert the last nine 737NG planes in another 40-plane deal signed in August 2012 to 737MAX models, under the same terms as the deal signed Thursday. China's total fleet of planes will surge to 7,210 by 2034 from 2,570 last year, Boeing said in August. The Chicago-based company forecast China will need 6,330 new planes worth $950 billion in the next two decades. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-12-17/china-southern-xiamen-airlines-unit-buy-110- planes-from-boeing Back to Top Jet traffic linked to ice haze Contrails over San Francisco, as seen from the space station Planes may be making a high-altitude icy haze that is brightening US skies, according to a group of scientists. They have been looking for a reason why the total amount of solar radiation reaching the surface has been increasing over time. Their studies suggest that part of the story is that jet exhausts could be generating a layer of ice crystals that promotes a more diffuse type of light. This is giving clear blue skies more of a whitish tint. The scientists have been discussing their thinking at the American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco. Chuck Long, from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa), said that if his thinking was correct then what was occurring was an example of "accidental geoengineering". "If you look up the definition of geoengineering, it includes large-scale manipulation of parts of the climate system or the environment, and I believe this ice haze from jet traffic does satisfy that requirement," he told reporters. It has been noted that skies are brighter now than they were in the 1970s and 1980s. The change has been attributed to environmental legislation that has removed a lot of the pollution particles that used to be emitted into the air by vehicles, industry and power generation. These would have dimmed skies by reflecting or absorbing sunlight. But Dr Long and colleagues argue that the observed changes are not as simple as they first appear. Yes, the light reaching the surface has increased but not in the way expected, he said in his press conference here. Instead of seeing a simple increase in direct shortwave radiation, a more diffuse version of this light is being detected. This indicates something must be scattering the light as it falls on the Earth. Plant profit And Dr Long's analysis suggests this "something" is high-altitude ice particles, and he links their production to the water and other emissions in aircraft contrails. "You have to have a mechanism to generate the ice crystals and there is nothing in nature up there necessarily that we can identify that would consistently produce these ice particles, except the very well correlated and well documented increase in the commercial air traffic over the continental United States," he told BBC News. The team does not think the "sub-visual contrail-generated ice haze" has a major effect on global warming. It may, though, have some significant effects on biology, says Prof Martin Wild, from of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, who commented on the work. Plants preferred diffuse light, he explained: "If you have a canopy structure, the direct light is absorbed by the uppermost leaves. Everything below is shaded and so misses out on that energy. But diffuse light can travel deeper into the canopy and can be absorbed by the plants lower down. So in that sense, if you have more diffuse light those lower plants will profit. And Dr Long said there were implications for solar power systems, too: "For solar renewable energy - they have two types. They have photovoltaic panels that they kind of slant to catch most of the direct sun; and then they have concentrator systems that use the actual sunlight - they track the Sun. "If you're decreasing the direct light, then you're decreasing the energy available for those concentrator systems." Dr Long cautioned that more analysis was needed to close his hypothesis, but said the circumstantial evidence linking planes to the ice haze looked strong. http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-35109198 Back to Top Study says satisfaction at U.S. airports higher in '15; Airports in Portland, Dallas, South Florida rated best Portland International Airport was rated the highest in overall satisfaction this year among large U.S. airports, while Dallas Love Field and Southwest Florida International Airport tied for the top spot among medium-sized airports. The 2015 North America Airport Satisfaction Survey by J.D. Power and Associates ranked Portland International Airport in Oregon as the highest-rated among large U.S. airports. The airport scored a 791 out of a possible 1,000 in six major factors -- terminal facilities; airport accessibility; security; baggage claim; check-in/baggage check; and retail shopping. Photo by David Gaylor/Shutterstock WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., Dec. 16 (UPI) -- Travelers who passed through U.S. airports in 2015 may be the most satisfied they've ever been, according to new aviation market research published Wednesday by J.D. Power and Associates. In its North America Airport Satisfaction Study for 2015, the research firm said surveys conducted at dozens of U.S. airports indicate a "major cultural shift" in the industry that seems to be focused more than ever on improving travelers' experiences. "Most airports have really made a tremendous shift over the past six years and are now focused on managing the end-to-end experience for their travelers," J.D. Power's travel and hospitality practice analyst Rick Garlick said. "It's no longer just about getting travelers from Point A to Point B as efficiently as possible; it's about making the airport experience enjoyable." The firm questioned more than 21,000 North American travelers for the satisfaction survey and ranked large- and medium-sized airports in the United States based on most of the responses. Researchers said the survey, conducted between July and October, focused on six factors -- terminal facilities, airport accessibility, security, baggage claim, check-in/baggage check, and retail amenities. And the report indicates travelers are happier than ever with their experiences in those elements. "Travelers now are substantially more satisfied with retail experiences in their airport," J.D. Power Vice President of Utility & Infrastructure Practice Jeff Conklin said. "Airports that have responded to this demand by offering a variety of food, beverage, merchandise, and other attractive services and amenities are realizing significant gains in overall customer satisfaction." Among large U.S. airports, Portland International Airport was rated the highest with an overall score of 791 out of 1,000. Tampa International was second (776) and McCarran International in Las Vegas (759) third. Orlando and Salt Lake City rounded out the top five. Among medium-sized airports, Dallas Love Field and Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers tied for the No. 1 rank -- each with a score of 792. Indianapolis (789), Raleigh-Durham, N.C., (789) tied for third and Jacksonville, Fla., (787) was fifth. The worst-rated medium-sized airport was Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, which received a score of 698. The lowest-rated large-sized airport was New Jersey's Newark-Liberty International Airport, with a score of 646. Chicago's O'Hare and Los Angeles' LAX -- the third- and second-busiest American airports -- also scored in the bottom five with 680 and 670, respectively. The overall satisfaction score average at all airports was 725, the survey said -- an improvement over 2010 (690), the last time the research was conducted. The average was 719 at large airports and 752 at medium airports. J.D. Power and Associates also noted the following observations from the satisfaction survey: - Check-in and security screening make or break airport satisfaction. - Younger travelers are more satisfied and typically spend more money at airports. - Gate cleanliness was a critical factor in overall terminal satisfaction. - Travelers who use ride-share to get to the airport are more satisfied than those who are driven by a friend, relative or colleague. - Dissatisfied travelers are more vocal than satisfied travelers. http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2015/12/16/Study-says-satisfaction-at-US-airports-higher-in-15- Airports-in-Portland-Dallas-South-Florida-rated-best/6301450317830/ Back to Top This Flying Car Just Got Approval to Move Into Test Mode It's a bird! It's a plane! Nope, it's a flying car. The Federal Aviation Administration has authorized flying car company Terrafugia to start testing out prototypes of a flying car that could some day fit right into a one-car garage, wings and all. And the company says its flying car test flights could start whizzing around the Northeast in the coming months. But don't go clearing any space out in the garage just yet-Terrafugia's only been approved to test mini versions of their TF-X flying car. The TF-X is a 4-seater that "will look like a large car with wings," Terrafugia spokeswoman Dagny Dukach says. The roughly 35-member team based in Woburn, Mass., is building out their ~2 ft. long FAA- approved models now, and they hope to have them flying around the company's home base (just outside Boston) soon. The test cars also have a weight restriction: No more than 50 pounds. While flying cars have been a dream of carmakers (like Henry Ford) and engineers (like Paul Moller) for decades, no one's really been able to get out of prototype mode and into the consumer market yet. One French government-sponsored company has plans for a commuter plane called the "Xplorair." They unveiled their half-size prototype at the Paris Air Show in 2013 (and are planning to show off a full-size model in 2017). But Xplorair seems a bit more drone-like than car, and seats just one. Terrafugia's been working on their own models and prototypes for roughly the past decade. Their TF-X is being engineered with semi-autonomous flight-the idea being that the flying car will require less training to fly than a professional airplane. Making the car a reality is going to require some new techniques in battery technology too. The company is planning to build the car as a plug-in hybrid-electric, but the battery technology for flying cars hasn't been perfected yet. And of course, any full-scale model testing will require more rounds of approvals from the FAA. "It's really going to revolutionize the way that everybody gets around," Dukach says. Once it gets off the ground, that is. http://fortune.com/2015/12/16/terrafugia-test-flights-faa/ Back to Top Upcoming Events: 2016 DTI SMS/QA Symposium January 3, 4, & 5 2016 Disney World, FL 1-866-870-5490 www.dtiatlanta.com 6th European Business Aviation Safety Conference 2016 February 23-24, 2016 Frankfurt, Germany www.ebascon.eu 2016 Air Charter Safety Symposium | Safety: A Small Investment for a Rich Future March 8-9, 2016 | NTSB Training Center | Ashburn, VA http://www.acsf.aero/events/acsf-symposium/ CHC Safety & Quality Summit | Back to Basics: Prioritizing Safety in a Challenging Economy April 4-6, 2016 Vancouver, BC www.chcsafetyqualitysummit.com BARS Auditor Training Washington, DC Tuesday-Thursday 5-7 April http://flightsafety.org/bars/auditor-training Back to Top JOBS AVAILABLE: Manager Flight Operation FedEx Express https://www.appone.com/MainInfoReq.asp?R_ID=1186411 Deputy Director of Flight Operations & Technical Services Helicopter Association International https://www.rotor.org/AboutHAI/Employment.aspx Curt Lewis