Flight Safety Information January 1, 2016 - No. 001 In This Issue HAPPY NEW YEARS from FLIGHT SAFETY INFORMATION PROS 2015 TRAINING Safety board reminds people to wear seatbelts after 21 hurt in turbulence FAA Proposes Fixes to Boeing 767 Emergency Escape Slides Allegiant Air flight makes emergency landing in Tennessee Crack in cockpit windshield diverts United Airlines flight bound for Newark NTSB considers investigation of Alaska Airlines pilot's mistaken landing on Sea-Tac taxiway Texas airports get ready for state's new 'open carry' gun law Nigeria's air safety has improved, says AIB PIA, Shaheen Airlines likely to lose licenses owing to CAA's outstanding dues (Pakistan) AI hikes penalty for pilots leaving early to Rs 50 lakh Commercial Jet Orders to Close 2015 Sharply Below 2014 India crowned world's fastest growing aviation market in 2015 as economy takes off South Africa: Ambitious Goals for Aviation Sustainability FedEx Corp. commits to buy 16 Boeing 777s Airbus Wins All Nippon as Customer for A380 Superjumbos TAG Aviation adds G650 to UK AOC Potential delay for first test flight of India's spaceplane demonstrator Upcoming Events Jobs Available Safety board reminds people to wear seatbelts after 21 hurt in turbulence The cabin of Air Canada Flight 088 is shown in this image provided by passenger Helen Zhang to members of the media. Passengers are describing a Toronto-bound Air Canada flight that was diverted to Calgary on Wednesday as a terrifying roller-coaster ride. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Helen Zhang CALGARY - The Transportation Safety Board is reminding air passengers to wear their seatbelts after 21 people on an Air Canada flight that was diverted to Calgary were injured by turbulence. The board is investigating Wednesday's mishap that sent three children and 18 adults to hospitals with injuries ranging from minor sprains to serious chest and neck trauma. Air Canada said three passengers remain in hospital in Calgary after they were injured on the flight from Shanghai to Toronto. The airline said flight AC088 continued on to Toronto last night and all but a few remaining passengers were to fly out of Calgary Thursday. The safety board posted the seatbelt warning Thursday on Twitter and followed it up with another tweet that linked to a report about 16 passengers and crew being injured on an Air Canada flight in 2011. In that case, a Boeing 767 flying over the North Atlantic pitched up and down for 46 seconds as it dodged another aircraft. The report notes that some passengers were not buckled up despite being briefed to wear their seatbelts, and that the seatbelt sign was on at the time. Airline safety expert John Pottinger said people should always wear a seatbelt, just like they would in a car. "At any time slight little bumps can be huge," said Pottinger. "So of course it's important because just the slightest thing can cause damage." He said many passengers are lulled into a feeling of safety by an industry that doesn't want to scare people, as well as an aircraft that isolates the senses. "You're travelling at a speed that our mind is not absorbing," said Pottinger. "Because in this tube it all feels so nice and calm and we even get up and walk around. But we're still doing 450, 500 miles an hour." Elaine Parker, an aviation expert at Beyond Risk Management, said the safety records of the airlines makes it hard to get passengers to wear their seatbelts. "It's because we've made it such an incredibly safe mode of transportation that people's awareness and their concern for their own safety is actually quite low," said Parker. "We're, as an industry, almost hindered by our success." She said some frequent flyers have also become desensitized to seatbelt instructions after turbulence warnings don't lead to major bumps, but added passengers should still listen to the attendants. "The only time the crew is going to tell you to put your seatbelt on is when they are unsure that it will remain calm and so they are trying to protect you," said Parker. Transport Canada issued a statement Thursday clarifying the rules around seatbelt use on planes. "The Canadian Aviation Regulations require passengers to wear their seatbelts during taxi, takeoff, landing, when the seat belt sign is on and whenever directed to do so by crew members," the department said in an email. "It is recommended that passengers keep their seat belts fastened during the entire flight." Turbulence injuries are a risk on airlines, however small. In the United States about 58 people are injured every year by turbulence while not wearing their seatbelts and between 1980 and 2008 at least two people died after not wearing their seatbelts in turbulence. http://www.news1130.com/2015/12/31/tsb-reminds-air-passengers-to-wear-seatbelts-after-21-people- hurt-in-turbulence/ Back to Top FAA Proposes Fixes to Boeing 767 Emergency Escape Slides Preliminary directive concerns slides possibly opening during normal operations An American Airlines Boeing 767. By ANDY PASZTOR Federal aviation regulators are proposing safety fixes affecting more than 300 Boeing 767 jetliners to prevent the unexpected deployment of emergency escape slides. The preliminary Federal Aviation Administration directive, which would apply directly only to 767 aircraft operated by U.S. carriers, was prompted by what the agency described as "multiple reports of uncommanded escape slide inflation." Foreign carriers flying hundreds of other 767s, however, eventually would be expected to comply with the FAA's final mandate. The FAA's proposal is unusual because it concerns slides possibly opening during normal operations, not problems with deployment during emergencies. The agency typically has ordered airlines to inspect or fix suspect slides on various aircraft because they may have a propensity to deploy improperly, or fail to deploy altogether, in emergency situations. There have been numerous such mandates over the past 15 years affecting Boeing aircraft, along with those covering models manufactured by other plane makers. During that period, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board has repeatedly weighed in to urge FAA action to ensure that all slides inflate and are positioned as required in actual aircraft evacuations. A number of high-profile commercial aircraft accidents around the world, including an Asiana Airlines Boeing 777 that crashed on approach to San Francisco International Airport in July 2013, have shown that evacuation slides often don't operate as desired. In the Asiana crash, which killed three passengers, a pair of slides malfunctioned due to impact forces. But this time, the FAA is addressing a different problem. The agency wants airlines to replace certain valves that could cause premature or unwanted deployment of escape slides on 767s "during normal airplane maintenance or operations." The result, according to the FAA document, could be "injury to passengers and crew, damage to equipment, and the slide becoming unusable in an emergency evacuation." The proposal requires modifying valves that help control slides attached to several different doors on 767 aircraft. The FAA didn't elaborate on the details of the earlier unwanted deployments, but the document didn't indicate they occurred while planes were airborne. The proposal is subject to industry and public comment before it becomes final. The FAA apparently doesn't consider the problem to pose an imminent hazard, because the agency envisions giving some airlines nearly four years to make the fixes. Boeing issued a nonbinding service bulletin in April, advising airlines world-wide about the problem and including instructions for completing the fixes. According to the FAA document posted on the Federal Register website Thursday, Boeing also issued an earlier service bulletin in November 2014. http://www.wsj.com/articles/faa-proposes-fixes-to-boeing-767-emergency-escape-slides-1451607836 Back to Top Allegiant Air flight makes emergency landing in Tennessee CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) - An Allegiant Air flight made a safe emergency on landing Thursday at a Tennessee airport, officials said. Chattanooga Airport spokesman Albert Waterhouse said Allegiant Air Flight 760 landed around 8:30 a.m. after reporting an engine problem. No injuries were reported. Allegiant Air said in a statement that the plane has been taken out of service and will be inspected to find out what caused the problem. The statement said the flight, which was headed from Orlando, Florida, to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, had 150 passengers and six crew members. Allegiant says a replacement aircraft was used to take passengers on to Iowa. Three other Allegiant Air flights from Orlando have made emergency landings since Christmas Eve. One landed on Dec. 24 at Jacksonville International Airport due to a faulty indicator light. On Dec. 28, a flight landed in North Dakota after having a mechanical problem with its deicing equipment. A third emergency landing occurred in Rhode Island on Wednesday after passengers reported an abnormal smell that ended up being from a leaking air duct. "All three diversions were for very different and unrelated reasons," the airline said in the statement. "Our pilots are highly trained and Allegiant safety protocols emphasize putting the safety of passengers foremost in making any decision of this type." It said all the incidents were resolved safely and passengers received help getting to their final destinations. The airline said the flights were among 212 that originated in Orlando in the past seven days. http://news.yahoo.com/allegiant-air-flight-makes-emergency-landing-tennessee-155420737.html?nf=1 Back to Top Crack in cockpit windshield diverts United Airlines flight bound for Newark NEWARK, N.J. - A crack in the cockpit windshield forced a Newark-bound United Airlines flight to be diverted to Canada Thursday morning, an official with United said. After United flight 162 took off from Glasgow, the crew reported a crack in the windshield of the flight and diverted the plane carrying 164 customers and eight crew members, according to a United Airlines spokeswoman. The Boeing 757 landed safely at Canada's Gander International Airport, the spokeswoman said. The airline is working to get a new aircraft to take the customers to their final destination, she said. There was no estimated time of when that would happen. http://pix11.com/2015/12/31/crack-in-cockpit-windshield-diverts-united-airlines-flight-bound-for-newark/ Back to Top NTSB considers investigation of Alaska Airlines pilot's mistaken landing on Sea-Tac taxiway The National Transportation Safety Board is reviewing an incident on the Dec. 19 when a pilot landed an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 jet on a Seattle-Tacoma International Airport taxiway instead of a runway. The regulatory agency has not yet opened an investigation. Meanwhile Alaska Airlines (NYSE: ALK) is conducting its own investigation into the incident, as is the Federal Aviation Administration. The Tango taxiway, where the pilot landed, is the strip of concrete between the third or right runway, bottom of photo, and the center runway. Both runways have dark strips from tire impacts while the taxiway is white. Nobody was hurt in the incident in which the Alaska pilot seemingly mistook the taxiway for a parallel runway while approaching the airport from the north. The mistake could have been a disaster had another aircraft been on the taxiway. The runway and taxiway are the same length - about 9,400 feet - and are only 600 feet apart. The newly paved center runway would not yet have accumulated the dark tire marks characteristic of a heavily used runway, and so the light-colored concrete may have looked similar on both. Spokesman Peter Knudson said a decision on whether the NTSB will open an investigation could be weeks away. The regulatory agency has not yet determined the Dec. 19 incident is something it will look into, but "anything is possible," Knudson said. Alaska Airlines spokeswoman Bobbie Egan said the airline will release more information once its own investigation is completed. She declined to further discuss the incident or the status of pilots involved. "We'll be looking at everything involved in this situation," she said. In 2011 the NTSB closed a previous investigation about a 2004 incident in which an Air Canada turboprop aircraft landed on the same Sea-Tac taxiway, named Tango, after mistaking it for a nearby runway. Early on in that investigation, Sea-Tac marked the taxiway with a giant "X" so pilots would know not to land there. Since then, Sea-Tac has built a third runway - opened in 2008 - to the right of the Tango taxiway when approaching from the north. In May 2011, the NTSB had concluded that the existence of the third runway had clarified for pilots which was the "right-hand runway" and that markings were no longer necessary to make that clear. Sea-Tac removed the "X" and the taxiway is currently unmarked. The runways are marked as runways. Part of the confusion in 2004 was the pilot thought he was landing on the most right-hand runway because the Tango taxiway was actually to the right of what is now the center runway. "Finally, a parallel runway to the west of TT (Tango Taxiway) was built, named Runway 16R, which helped ensure proper identification of runway surfaces for arrivals," wrote the NTSB investigator in 2011. "I believe that the FAA has effectively addressed this safety recommendation, and I consider our actions complete." Sea-Tac's own operations staff reviewed all the signage and markings on the airfield after the Dec. 19 incident, and has reported all information to the FAA, said airport spokesman Perry Cooper. The NTSB would only make recommendations, while the FAA is the agency with the power to require changes at Sea-Tac, if any are required, Knudson said. TAA spokesman Allen Kenitzer would only say that the "The FAA is investigating." http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2015/12/30/ntsb-considers-investigation-of-alaska-airlines.html Back to Top Texas airports get ready for state's new 'open carry' gun law Signs like this are now posted at Houston George Bush Intercontinental and Hobby airports. (Photo: Houston Airport System) Airports in Texas are posting signs and issuing memos in advance of the state's new "open carry" law, which goes into effect tomorrow, Jan. 1, 2016. The law allows legally licensed handgun owners to openly carry a holstered gun in public but, as the Houston Airport System notes, "there still are some restrictions in certain locations, including at airports." A statement outlining what the new state rules mean for passengers and employees at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) and Ellington Airport (EFD) - and presumably other airports in the state - says gun owners with properly licensed and displayed guns (as well as gun owners with licenses for concealed weapons) "can have their gun in public areas only, like baggage, ticketing, garages and public sidewalks or walkways." Federal law still prohibits passengers from bringing weapons to or past airport security checkpoints and the TSA is permitted to issue fines to travelers found with loaded or unloaded guns. But an amendment to the Texas handgun licensing law that went into effect in September says a passenger found with a licensed gun at an airport checkpoint won't be subject to felony charges as long as the gun was taken to the airport accidentally (the explanation the TSA says most everyone caught with a gun at an airport seems to give) and as long as the passenger immediately takes their gun away from the secure area when it's found. "The Houston Airport System does not anticipate a discernible impact on our day-to-day operations with the implementation of the state's new open carry law," said Bill Begley, public information officer for the Houston Airport System. "State public safety officials have put in place requirements that are designed to ensure the safe use of firearms, and Houston's airports will follow those regulations and safeguards to ensure everyone who comes to one of our airports feels safe and comfortable." No new signs will be posted at Austin Bergstrom International Airport to remind or alert travelers to the new state gun law. "Previously, a passenger could only bring a gun into the airport if they had a concealed permit or were checking it in as checked luggage with their airline," said Jason Zielinski, spokesman for Austin Bergstrom International Airport. "Now, if they have a license, they can open carry in the airport's public areas, ticketing and bag claim, but cannot open carry through security screening, while boarding an aircraft or in any Air Operations Area." The TSA issues a weekly report of the number of firearms (and other prohibited items) found at airports checkpoints and does an annual year-end tally. Three Texas airports - DFW and both George Bush Intercontinental and Hobby Airport in Houston - were in the TSA's list of "Top 10 Airports for Gun Catches in 2014." Open carry laws in many other states already permit licensed gun owners to bring firearms into the public areas of airports and in June a man dropping his daughter off at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International made national news by walking through the airport carrying an AR-15 rifle. http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/todayinthesky/2015/12/31/texas-airports-open-carry-gun- law/78131864/ Back to Top Nigeria's air safety has improved, says AIB The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) on Thursday said air safety had improved in the country in the last 10 years. The bureau's spokesman, Mr Tunji Oketunmbi, said this during an interactive session with aviation correspondents in Lagos. Oketunmbi said that about 63 per cent of the bureau's safety recommendations had been closed in the past 15 years while 14 others were partially closed. "Right now, a lot of safety recommendations have been implemented while others have been partially implemented. "Since Year 2,000, we have issued 158 safety recommendations and 63 per cent of them have been closed; 14 per cent partially closed and 23 per cent still open. "That is the current status of implementation of our safety recommendations; it is very ingenious for anybody to continue to use a data of one year or two years ago to talk about the current status,'' Oketunmbi said. According to him, the AIB has no statutory powers to enforce compliance on its recommendations. He, however, said that the bureau has the mandate to ensure a safety monitoring exercise to confirm compliance with such recommendations. He said that the bureau would continue to carry out its investigative functions toward ensuring the safety of Nigeria's airspace in 2016. http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/2015/12/nigerias-air-safety-has-improved-says-aib/ Back to Top PIA, Shaheen Airlines likely to lose licenses owing to CAA's outstanding dues (Pakistan) Authorities have warned of revocation of licenses if the companies fail to make the payments KARACHI (Dunya News) - Licenses of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Shaheen Air International are likely to be revoked owing to billions of outstanding dues to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). A report compiled by departmental account committee states that PIA owes Rs 18 billion to the aviation authority while Shaheen owes Rs 2 billion. Authorities have warned of revocation of licenses if the companies fail to make the payments. Shaheen Airlines regular public transport, charter air transport and aerial work licenses are going to expire today. On the other hand, PIA will need to renew its licenses on April 2 2016. National airlines General Manager Daniyal Gilani said that the dues would be paid. He vowed to not let PIA's licenses revoked. http://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/315616-PIA-Shaheen-Airlines-likely-to-lose-licenses-owin Back to Top AI hikes penalty for pilots leaving early to Rs 50 lakh A batch of 25 fresh commercial pilot licence holders (CPL) joining the airline in the coming days will be made to sign a bond and give a bank guarantee that will collectively amount to Rs 50 lakh (approx. $75,000 USD). NEW DELHI: Air India has hiked the penalty for pilots leaving the airline within five years of joining from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 50 lakh. The move is aimed at checking the mass exodus of pilots and ensuring the cash- strapped Maharaja recovers the cost it incurs on training them. A batch of 25 fresh commercial pilot licence holders (CPL) joining the airline in the coming days will be made to sign a bond and give a bank guarantee that will collectively amount to Rs 50 lakh. "We will soon make the combined bank guarantee-cum-bond amount Rs 50 lakh for type-rated pilots who join us and up to Rs 1 crore for non-type rated pilots," AI chairman Ashwani Lohani told TOI. "This will be clearly mentioned in our future job ads." Non-type rated pilots are CPL holders who require additional training to be certified to fly an aircraft such as the Airbus A-320 or Boeing 737 in case of narrow bodies or B-777 or 787 and A-330 in case of wide bodies. Once trained and certified to fly a certain type of aircraft, pilots are called type-rated. AI, which has about 1,500 pilots, has seen 173 of them resign in the past four years - that is, on average, almost four pilots leave the airline for greener pastures every month. A majority of those who have quit are from erstwhile Indian Airlines, which had a fleet of A-320. While 72 pilots of A-320 have quit since 2012, 38 pilots each of Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Boeing 777, eight of Boeing 747 and 17 of Boeing 737 fleet quit between 2012 and October 2015. The type rating cost for every Boeing and Airbus pilot is about Rs 23 lakh. In addition, there are annual recurring training charges of up to Rs 4 lakh. AI, which hires pilots on contract for five years, had last year started making them sign a bond or give bank guarantee of Rs 10 lakh that would be invoked if any pilot leaves before five years. But this did not prove to be a deterrent. In the past 12-14 months, AI trained and inducted 78 pilots after making them sign the Rs 10 lakh bond. Almost 50 of them were poached by a big Indian carrier that offered to pay their bond amounts and also give a Rs 1 lakh raise to them. After this, Lohani - who joined as CMD recently - decided to work on a twin-pronged strategy. He is addressing the root cause of why pilots are leaving in droves by promising to implement pay parity between pilots of erstwhile Indian Airlines and erstwhile AI. This is expected anytime now. And then, by introducing the provision of hefty bond-cum-bank guarantee amounts to act as a deterrent to pilots wanting to leave. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/AI-hikes-penalty-for-pilots-leaving-early-to-Rs-50- lakh/articleshow/50401448.cms Back to Top Commercial Jet Orders to Close 2015 Sharply Below 2014 At the end of November, the commercial aircraft division of Airbus had taken net new orders for 2015 totaling 1,007 jets. Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) said last week that it added a total of 166 net new orders to its November total, bringing its full-year 2015 total to 743. That's a total of 1,750 net new orders in 2015, more than 1,000 fewer than the 2014 total of 2,888. The good news is that total deliveries in 2015 are on track to set a new record of around 1,400 commercial jets. Boeing had set a target of 750 to 755 commercial plane deliveries for 2015 and should easily top that total, having delivered 705 through the end of November. Airbus has struggled with deliveries in 2015 and has shipped out just 556 new planes. In order to meet its target of 630 deliveries, Airbus needs to roll out 74 new planes in December. That's possible, but unlikely. In addition to its delivery target, Boeing had set a target of maintaining at least a one-to-one book-to-bill ratio in 2015, and the company appears to be close to that, but could end up just a bit short. 24/7 Wall St. We noted earlier this month that Airbus had passed Boeing in net new orders for wide-body planes, a category that Boeing has traditionally dominated. New orders for the Airbus A330, A350 and A380 have pushed the European maker's total for net new wide-body orders to 127, compared with 113 net new wide-body orders for Boeing's 747, 777 and 787. Airbus's share of the narrow-body market is nearly 70%. http://247wallst.com/aerospace-defense/2015/12/31/commercial-jet-orders-to-close-2015-sharply-below- 2014/ Back to Top India crowned world's fastest growing aviation market in 2015 as economy takes off Falling fuel prices and booming domestic demand are lifting the country's airline industry India was the world's fastest growing aviation market in 2015, expanding more than 20pc as economic growth on the subcontinent picked up. The country's air travel industry outpaced the 10pc growth registered in China and 5pc increase in the United States, according to International Air Transport Association. Strong domestic demand and high manufacturing activity helped India's economy to grow 7.4pc between July and September, overtaking China as the world's fastest growing major country. It is widely expected that the South Asian nation will clock 7.3pc to 7.9pc growth in 2016. That's good news for the local airline industry, which is also enjoying higher profits thanks to a sharp fall in oil prices. India's economy is booming India's carriers have lost $10bn in the past seven years as they offered base fares as low as 1 rupee (1p) in a nation where provincial taxes make jet fuel prices the most expensive in Asia. However, the nation's oil retailers cut fuel prices, which make up as much as 60pc percent of an Indian airlines' cost, by 10pc today to the lowest in five years as Brent, the benchmark for half of the world's crude trading, plunged. That sents shares in Indian-based airlines higher. Jet Airways climbed 8.2pc to its highest since January 2011, making it the best performing share on the Bloomberg Intelligence Global Airlines Valuation Peers Index in the past month. InterGlobe Aviation, the owner of Indian budget airline IndiGo, advanced 8.8pc in Mumbai, while SpiceJet rose 9.4pc. India budget airline IndiGo is expanding rapidly as demand for air travel grows "A sharp reduction in fuel prices remains a key trigger for margin expansion," said Rashesh Shah and Devang Bhatt, analysts at ICICI Securities. "Given improving macro factors like healthy industry passenger traffic growth coupled with lowest fuel rices, we expect Jet to report healthy revenue growth along with better margins." India is forecast to have almost 30m outbound tourists by 2018, according to IGATE Research. India and China are among the fastest-growing markets for aircraft manufacturers Airbus and Boeing, which forecast that Asia will overtake the US as the world's biggest plane market in two decades. Indian airlines will need 1,740 new planes valued at $240bn over the next 20 years, according to Boeing. That has lured Singapore Airline and AirAsia to start Indian units in recent years. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/12077311/India-crowned-worlds-fastest-growing-aviation- market-in-2015-as-economy-takes-off.html Back to Top South Africa: Ambitious Goals for Aviation Sustainability The aviation industry should find a balance between growth, which brings significant economic and social benefits, and acting in an environmentally responsible manner," according to Michael Gill, director of aviation environment at the International Air Transport Association (Iata). Currently the aviation industry contributes about 2% of all human carbon emissions in the world - about 700 million tonnes per year. He said the first goal of the aviation industry should be to improve fuel efficiency across fleets by an average of 1.5% per year until 2020. The industry is actually ahead of this goal, he said, with an average fuel efficiency improvement of 2.9% per year. He pointed out that many countries are aiming to create carbon neutral aviation growth to ensure sustainable trade and tourism in the future. According to Gill, the aim of the aviation industry is to half its carbon emissions by 2050 compared to 2005 and, according to Iata, aviation partners are already working together to put in place the building blocks to achieve this goal. Gill said there are four pillars that underpin the aviation industry's approach to sustainability. These are investing in new technology, using more efficient operational techniques to make individual flights more efficient, building and using more efficient infrastructure and using effective global market-based measures. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is, for instance, developing a certification standard for carbon emissions of aircraft. "Our industry has set itself ambitious goals with necessary strategy to achieve them," said Gill. "Any form of mandatory carbon offsetting should deliver environmental integrity, be simple and transparent and be cost effective to the industry." http://allafrica.com/stories/201512310123.html Back to Top FedEx Corp. commits to buy 16 Boeing 777s Memphis-based FedEx Corp. has committed to buying 16 Boeing 777s as part of a fleet modernization program - a potential investment of an estimated $5 billion. According to Boeing Co., the current price tag for a 777 averages about $318.7 million - a 2.9 percent price increase from 2014's average of $309.7 million. At the current rate, an order of 16 would cost about $5 billion. However, it's possible a large order would come with a discount. While FedEx did not make an announcement about buying the 777s, the company is committed to purchase 16 of the aircraft, from Boeing, according to FedEx's Q2, FY 2016 Stat Book. Representatives for FedEx say they have been committed to these aircraft for some time and included them in the company's 2015 Annual Report, published in August. Fulfillment of the 16 additional aircraft order will begin in 2020, with an anticipated delivery of three planes that year and three in 2021. In July, market intelligence fueled airline industry rumors about FedEx upping its order of 767 Freighters from Boeing and adding an order of up to 10 additional 777 Freighters. FedEx confirmed that it agreed to purchase 50 additional 767s, bringing the total order to 106 through fiscal 2023. At the current average price of about $199.3 million, that comes to $9.9 billion in additional investment for the 767s. http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2015/12/31/fedex-commits-to-buy-16-more-boeing- 777s.html?ana=yahoo Back to Top Airbus Wins All Nippon as Customer for A380 Superjumbos * A380 sale to ANA would be first to a major Japanese carrier * ANA purchase would form part of broader strategic revamp Airbus Group SE won an agreement from ANA Holdings Inc., Japan's largest airline, to buy three of its A380 superjumbos, said a person familiar with the plan, giving the European planemaker a welcome vote of confidence for an aircraft that hadn't won a new airline customer in three years. The parent of All Nippon Airways Co. will take delivery of the planes from 2018, with plans to use them on its Tokyo to Hawaii route, a popular destination for Japanese tourists, another person said. The order will form just a piece of a larger strategic plan, to be unveiled at the end of this month, calling for fleet renewal. The people asked not to be identified because an announcement is planned for later this month. Airbus has suffered a dearth of orders for its largest plane, whose list price is $428 million and typically seats about 525 passengers, but can carry over 800 depending on the configuration, as many airlines have favored somewhat smaller twin-aisle planes, including Airbus's A350 and Boeing's 777. While the order is only for three planes, enough to serve one route, success on that route could lead to further orders, one person said. "I'd expect to see more," said Addison Schonland, an analyst with AirInsight Inc. in Baltimore. "Nobody ever bought three A380s; that's enough to try the plane on one route." Airbus spokesman Justin Dubon said the manufacturer had no comment. ANA spokesman Ryosei Nomura said by phone: "We are currently formulating the next medium-term management strategy and considering various options for planes." He declined to comment specifically on the A380. Nikkei reported the deal earlier. Any order for Airbus in Japan is a special victory given that the market for decades has been heavily dominated by Boeing. Since 2000 when it started marketing the A380, Airbus has said Tokyo would be a key airport for the plane. Airlines including Air France SA, Deutsche Lufthansa AG and Emirates have all flown their A380s into Tokyo. Airbus in 2013 won its first order from Japan Airlines Co., securing a commitment for 18 widebody, twin- engine A350-900 planes, and 13 larger A350-1000s. Airbus had won an earlier victory in Japan when getting Japanese low-cost carrier Skymark to order six A380s, though the deal turned sour in 2014 after Skymark proved unable to pay for the planes, and ended up filing for bankruptcy. ANA Holdings, which owns 16.5 percent of Skymark, is sponsoring a rehabilitation plan for Skymark that would see ANA support the carrier through code-sharing, joint purchases, flight operation management and aircraft maintenance. Airbus is better off having a "strong airline, rather than a weak one," operating the plane out of Japan, Schonland said. "This is an amazing time to buy extra capacity because fuel prices are so low," said Mark D. Martin, founder of Dubai-based Martin Consulting LLC, by phone. "Your operating costs are at one fourth of what it used to be two years back, and you can recover the investment you make in the aircraft." Martin said, however, that he didn't think winning ANA as a customer would substantially change the fortunes of Airbus for the A380. "This deal is a short-term phenomenon, some more A380s may sell, but you can't say sales will be buoyant from now on," he said. "This is more an isolated case." In November at the Dubai Air Show, Airbus sales chief John Leahy said that two potential customers were considering orders for the double decker, with one looking at between 10 and 12 orders, and another as many as 20 aircraft. Royal Air Maroc and Saudi Arabian Airlines have also said they're interested in the superjumbo, which Airbus once suggested would dominate long-haul travel for decades. Emirates, the plane's biggest customer, has the lion's share of the A380 orderbook after requesting 140, more than a third of the 317 ordered in total. The airline won't buy any more unless Airbus commits to a re-engined Neo version of the plane to reduce fuel costs, Tim Clark, the airline's president, said in an interview at the Dubai Air show in November. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-01-01/airbus-said-to-win-all-nippon-as-customer-for- a380-superjumbos?cmpid=yhoo.headline Back to Top TAG Aviation adds G650 to UK AOC TAG Aviation (UK) Ltd has added a Gulfstream G650 business jet to its UK AOC. Following the successful completion of the AOC proving flight, TAG Aviation UK has now received full UK CAA approval to operate this ultra-long aircraft commercially. The granting of the AOC for the G650 type aircraft is the culmination of several months of dedicated planning and reaffirms the ability of TAG Aviation to operate the latest revolutionary business jets aircraft to the highest possible standards. "TAG Aviation's number one priority is the safety, security and the well-being of passengers at all times." Florent Sériès, vice president Aircraft Management and Charter Services, TAG Aviation Europe said: "TAG Aviation's number one priority is the safety, security and the well-being of passengers at all times. Receiving full UK AOC approval means that we can look to now attract other Gulfstream G650 aircraft-type owners with a view to operate their aircraft under a management contract for charter when the aircraft is not being used by them. This has the added attraction of allowing aircraft owners the opportunity to offset some of the operational costs against their own personal flights." TAG Aviation now manages seven Gulfstream G650 aircraft, making it one of the world's largest fleet. Globally, TAG Aviation manages a fleet of over 120 aircraft, with around 50 available for charter. http://corporatejetinvestor.com/articles/tag-aviation-adds-g650-to-uk-aoc/ Back to Top Potential delay for first test flight of India's spaceplane demonstrator The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) may have to delay the first test flight of its experimental Reusable Launch Vehicle-Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD) spaceplane. The unmanned sub-orbital spacecraft, which is similar in design to the US Air Force's X-37B, was scheduled to be launched in February, but technical difficulties may put back the flight to the first week of April. According to a report in the New Indian Express, a minor leak in the flight systems of the RLV-TD led to the potential setback. K Sivan, director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), where the craft is being developed, told the paper that the spacecraft needed to be reassembled, which could cause a significant delay if more problems occur. The RLV-TD is a two-stage scaled prototype of India's Avatar spacecraft designed to drastically reduce the cost of launching payloads into orbit from US$5,000 per kilogram (2.2 lb) to US$500. RLV-TD is a winged technology demonstrator for testing flight and propulsion systems that will allow the completed Avatar to return to Earth for a controlled landing like a conventional aircraft. A series of flights of the will test the RLV-TD's ability to carry out hypersonic flight, landings, return flight, and scramjet propulsion before a full-sized vehicle is built. The demonstrator will lift off atop a conventional rocket booster, which will accelerate it to Mach 5 (3,800 mph, 6,125 km/h). After separation, the winged craft will coast to an altitude of 100 km (62 mi) before making a controlled reentry. When the atmosphere is thick enough, the flight surfaces take over and the RLV-TD will glide to the recovery area for a splashdown in the Bay of Bengal. The sea recovery is necessary because the spaceplane requires a 5 km- (3.1 mi-) long runway, which India does not currently possess. This is the third delay for the program, which had an initial launch date in mid-2015. http://www.gizmag.com/india-spaceplane-launch-delay/41087/ 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 IATA OPS Conference April 18-20, 2016 Copenhagen, Denmark http://www.iata.org/events/Pages/ops-conference.aspx ICAEA Workshop: Aviation English Training for Operational Personnel April 29-30, 2016 Santa Maria Island, The Azores, Portugal www.icaea.aero Back to Top Jobs Available: Deputy Director of Flight Operations & Technical Services Helicopter Association International https://www.rotor.org/AboutHAI/Employment.aspx Curt Lewis