Flight Safety Information January 7, 2016 - No. 005 In This Issue PROS 2016 TRAINING Tail Cone of Military Aircraft Lands in Mississippi Aircraft with 2 passengers ends up in ditch at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport Frontier diverts flight to McCarran over engine trouble Aviation Week - Digital Archive Launched, Chronicles 100 Years of Aerospace Achievements Indonesian airlines' low safety ratings met with criticism Shared responsibility approach to EU aviation regulation U.S., Mexico Sign New Aviation Agreement MAS urges pilots with the national carrier to put the airline first Pilot shortage the reason for recent Cape Air flight cancellations Etihad to up stake in Jet Airways via fund infusion Gevo to supply biofuel for Alaska Airlines commercial flight India's New Fighter Jet Will Make International Debut in Bahrain Indonesia, South Korea sign $1.3bn fighter jet development deal This octocopter wants to fly you at 60 mph January/February 2016 FAA Safety Briefing Embry-Riddle A³IRCON Would You Go to Mars? Meet the Four Women Astronauts Who Can't Wait to Go Upcoming Events Jobs Available Tail Cone of Military Aircraft Lands in Mississippi The tail cone of a Mississippi Army National Guard aircraft fell off during a training mission, landing in the yard of a home in Pearl. Officials say no one on the ground was injured and the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III landed safely at the Jackson airport. Lt. Col. Christian Patterson of the Mississippi Army National Guard said in a news release the plane lost its tail cone around 7 p.m. Wednesday. A witness, Wynita Smith, told WLBT-TV (bit.ly/1OQvMFL) the tail cone first hit the street and bounced into a yard. Patterson said the plane is assigned to Flowood's 172nd Airlift Wing based at Jackson-Evers International Airport. Patterson says the incident is under investigation. C-17 is a large military transport aircraft used to transport troops and cargo around the world. http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/tail-cone-military-aircraft-lands-mississippi-36138440 Back to Top Aircraft with 2 passengers ends up in ditch at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport A Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. sits in a ditch near a Savannah/Hilton International Airport taxiway after making an emergency landing shortly after taking off. The pilot and one passenger were transported to a hospital. Two people were taken to a local hospital for treatment Wednesday after a small plane crashed into a ditch at the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. Officials with the regional office of the Federal Aviation Administration reported that Cobalt Air 727, a Pilatus PC-12 aircraft, ran off the airport's Runway 1 on departure. Airport officials said the plane and its two passengers ended up in a ditch west of Taxiway F. The regional office of the FAA will investigate the incident on behalf of the National Transportation Safety Board, which will determine probable cause. The aircraft, tail number N978AF, is registered to Upper Deck Holdings Inc. of Portsmouth, N.H., and was departing Savannah for Lexington, Ky. at about 8:30 a.m., officials said. In a press release, officials with the 165th Airlift Wing, Georgia Air National Guard said they responded to the crash with three fire trucks and 11 emergency personnel. Lt. Col. David Simons of the 165th Airlift Wing said the pilot and passenger were out of the plane and standing when first responders arrived. The two were then taken to Memorial University Medical Center for treatment, airport spokeswoman Lori Lynah said. No information on the identity of the pilot and passenger or their condition was immediately available. Earlier in the day, airport officials reported on social media that all flights out of the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport had been suspended and that all flights into the airport had been diverted. Lynah said those flights resumed after a brief delay. http://savannahnow.com/news/2016-01-06/savannahhilton-head-airport-reports-incident# **************** Date: 06-JAN-2016 Time: 08:30LT Type: Pilatus PC-12/47E Owner/operator: Upper Deck Holdings Inc Registration: N978AF C/n / msn: 1078 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Savannah Hilton Head International Airport, GA (SAV) - United States of America Phase: Taxi Nature: Private Departure airport: Savannah Hilton Head International Airport, GA (SAV) Destination airport: Blue Grass (KLEX) Narrative: The aircraft ran off a Taxiway F into a large ditch. Both occupants were taken to hospital with minor injuries. http://www.aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=183166 Back to Top Frontier diverts flight to McCarran over engine trouble A Frontier Airlines flight en route to San Diego was diverted to McCarran International Airport this morning due to a reported engine problem, according to an airport spokesman. Frontier Flight 555 from Denver reported low-oil pressure in one of its engines and made a detour to Las Vegas as a precaution, according to Frontier and McCarran representatives. The Airbus A319 landed safely about 7:30 a.m. at McCarran with no reported injuries to the 133 passengers or five crew members aboard. Another plane was sent from Denver to Las Vegas, and customers boarded that flight, airline spokesman Jim Faulkner said. http://lasvegassun.com/news/2016/jan/06/frontier-diverts-flight-to-mccarran-over-engine-tr/ Back to Top Aviation Week - Digital Archive Launched, Chronicles 100 Years of Aerospace Achievements Aviation Week & Space Technology launched its 100-year digital archive today in collaboration with Boeing, the sponsor of the archive. Both companies trace their roots to 1916. The archive includes 4,500 issues and nearly 500,000 pages of articles, photos and advertising. It can be seen at archive.aviationweek.com. "Aviation Week's legendary scoops are all there," said Editor-in-Chief Joe Anselmo. "But the archives also are a treasure trove on the history of our industry that readers can dive into and will have a hard time pulling themselves away from. The breadth of information on aircraft, spacecraft and technological leaps is breathtaking, and the old advertisements are quite revealing." Aviation Week traces its roots to August 1, 1916, when Lester D. Gardner published the first issue entitled Aviation and Aeronautical Engineering to "provide the aeronautical profession with the latest and most helpful technical information." "It is really something to think that Aviation Week has been published consistently for 100 years," said Greg Hamilton, president, Aviation Week Network. "That one publication is now part of the Aviation Week Network, one of the largest aviation information companies in the world that has more than 1.2 million users."* "Aviation Week's archive is a gold mine of inspiration and education," said John Tracy, chief technology officer, Boeing. "There's so much to learn and enjoy in this authoritative and remarkably illustrated archive - it is literally the journal of the aerospace industry and its impact on the world. For Boeing's centennial year, we aim to celebrate our rich legacy and more importantly inspire a new generation of aerospace visionaries. Helping expand Aviation Week's content into a digital format is a great example of how we are achieving that goal." The archive can be viewed by anyone who visits the site and can be searched by year, event, company, personality or author. Among the many interesting features: a Viewpoint from Orville Wright calling for "distinctly marked and carefully prepared landing places," the precursor to the airport, a letter to the magazine from Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, the revelation of "Project X," which became the Boeing 707, pilot reports on hundreds of civil and military aircraft and the Apollo 11 moon landing, which was featured on eight of the magazine's covers in the summer of 1969. View the archive online. http://aviationweek.com/century-aviation-week/digital-archive-launched-chronicles-100-years-aerospace- achievements Back to Top Indonesian airlines' low safety ratings met with criticism The Jakarta Post, Jakarta , January 07 2016 Indonesian airline safety is under the spotlight again after airlineratings.com, an independent plane safety and product rating website, named eight of the country's airlines as the least safe in the world. The rating, however, was met with skepticism from local carriers, which questioned the survey's parameters and the 407 major airlines it monitored. "INACA [the Indonesian National Air Carriers Association] seriously questions the criteria of the rating that was done by foreign media on aspects of national airline safety, considering there should be clear methodology that is measurable and accountable," the association stated on Wednesday following the release of the survey. Along with airlines from Nepal and Suriname, eight local airlines were considered the least safe, namely the biggest budget carrier Lion Air along with its full-service Batik Air and Wings Air; Citilink, the low-cost arm of national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia; Kalstar Aviation; Sriwijaya Air; TransNusa; and Trigana Air Service. The airlines received zero or one star out of a maximum seven stars based on audits from aviation governing bodies such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) as well as whether the airlines had been certified by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The survey also took into account whether airlines were on the EU's blacklist, government audits and fatality records. The safest airline was Australia's Qantas, with 148 of the airlines monitored getting the maximum seven-star safety ranking. "We don't really mind being graded, as long as it is done objectively, transparently and in an accountable way," Citilink president director and CEO Albert Burhan said, while comparing the results to a review of airlines and airports by UK-based consultancy Skytrax. Similarly, Lion Air public relations manager Andy M. Saladin questioned the rating method. Nonetheless, the ratings have served as a wake-up call for the airline industry. Indonesia's airline safety has been in the spotlight of late, particularly in 2015 when 14 airline-related incidents occurred with 208 fatalities, an increase from four accidents with 162 fatalities in the previous year, according to data compiled by airline consultant firm CSE Aviation. That included a Trigana Air accident in Oksibil, Papua, killing 54 passengers and crew. Former Indonesian Air Force chief of staff and aviation observer Chappy Hakim said airline safety issues arose from the country's national aviation authority, which remained unable to comply with required safety regulations. ICAO audits on Indonesian aviation in 2007, which spotted 121 loopholes in the country's air safety oversight system, partly led to the FAA and European Commission (EC) imposing flight bans on all Indonesian airlines, although some carriers have since been removed from the blacklist. Indonesia's aviation safety was then downgraded to Category 2, signaling a lack of regulation necessary to oversee air carriers in accordance with minimum international standards. Aviation analyst Gerry Soejatman voiced similar concerns, stating that it was the problem of the whole industry, including the regulator. _______________________________________ Facts about local airlines and air travel * 62 million air passengers travel to domestic destinations using national, international carriers from Jan. to Nov. 2015 * 12.4 million air passengers travel overseas using national, international carriers from Jan. to Nov. 2015 * INACA has 30 members consisting of 13 airlines offering scheduled flights and 17 airlines offering unscheduled flights. Airlineratings.com's Top 20 safest airlines:* American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, EVA Air, Finnair, Hawaiian Airlines, Japan Airlines, KLM, Lufthansa, Qantas, Scandinavian Airline System, Singapore Airlines, Swiss, United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Australia. Bottom 10 least safe airlines:* Batik Air, Bluewing Airlines, Citilink, Kal-Star Aviation, Lion Air, Sriwijaya Air, TransNusa, Trigana Air Service, Wings Air and Xpress Air. * in alphabetical order Source: airlineratings.com, various sources compiled by The Jakarta Post http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/01/07/ri-airlines-low-safety-ratings-met-with- criticism.html#sthash.y6Gpda9r.dpuf Back to Top Shared responsibility approach to EU aviation regulation 7 January 2016 Consultancy.uk The European aviation sector remains a key contributor to the wider EU economy. Competition from particularly Asian Pacific players is picking up however, as the region becomes a global economic powerhouse. To meet that competition, the European Commission recently sought to find ways in which to make the European aviation industry more competitive. One of which is the introduction of a shared responsibility approach to EU aviation regulation, as well as pursuing strong international regulatory frameworks and procedures that place airlines globally on a level playing field. Aviation remains an important contributor to economic growth, jobs, trade and mobility for the European Union (EU). The sector employs between 1.4 million and 2 million people directly, and overall accounts for between 4.83 million and 5.54 million jobs. The sector contributes €110 billion directly to EU GDP, while the wider impacts from the sector bring in up to €510 billion through the multiplier effect. The liberalisation of the market, as well as its rigorous safety standards, has helped the EU secure a strong and prosperous aviation sector over the past 20 years. Passengers are now able to choose from a number of carriers, each with a level safety standard applied across the EU. Low-fare EU carriers are now amongst the top carriers both in terms of passengers and in terms of market capitalisation. European aeronautical manufacturing has been equally strong. EU aviation sector Yet while Europe has a strong internal market place for aviation, competition from the East is heating up as the Asia-Pacific region benefits from a fast-changing and developing global economy. The region's aviation sector is forecast to grow 6% annually, outstripping all other regions until 2024. As a result, China is expected to become the world's largest air transport market, overtaking the US in 2023 in terms of number of passengers carried. The European Commission commissioned a report, titled 'An Aviation Strategy for Europe', into ways of improving the European aviation sector's competitiveness in the face of Asian expansion. A number of organisations took part in the development of the final document, with consulting firm Ecorys focusing on the improvement to the safety and security side of future aviation in the EU. Aviation safety and security competitiveness Aviation safety and security is a key element of the EU aviation sector. The EU has one of the safest airspaces in the world, on the back of stringent rules around carrier safety that all EU operators must abide. The regulations also disallow a number of unsafe international carriers to enter the EU's airspace, thereby further protecting both national and international passengers. As passenger numbers are only expected to increase in the coming years, with 14.4 million flights in 2035 - 50% more than in 2012, regulations surrounding the increase and the maintenance of the security of passengers will need to be considered. To remain competitive however, the report finds that the regulatory system needs to be better equipped to deal with risks in a 'quicker and more effective manner', for which it recommends a performance-based approach to safety regulation and oversight. One such measure is the improved leveraging of resources at EU and Member States level. A framework needs to be developed that allows for the 'sharing of technical resources between the national authorities and the European Aviation Safety Agency should be put in place.' This will allow EU Member States to transfer responsibilities for the implementation of EU legislation to the European Aviation Safety Agency or another Member States. According to the report, a single European aviation authority should be the longer term ambition. The threat of terroristic activity remains high. The report highlights that regulations will need to remain in place that proportionately meet risks. However, where ever possible redundant checks that inhibit passenger flows need to be removed, and technologies that facilitate passenger flows at airports and minimise the inconvenience and delays for passengers need to be introduced. The EU, as a defender of inalienable rights, will need to carefully consider the wider implications of technologies deployed. One possible move is the introduction of a 'one-stop security concept'. This allows passengers to undergo all of the security controls at the point of origin. A further move would see the EU spread its high aviation safety standards across the globe, by helping to push for a worldwide safety standard. Finally, the report suggests that regulations are streamlined in ways to reduce unnecessary procedures that add little value in terms of safety and cost time and money, while creating opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship. http://www.consultancy.uk/news/3129/shared-responsibility-approach-to-eu-aviation-regulation Back to Top U.S., Mexico Sign New Aviation Agreement "Under the old agreement, only a limited number of U.S. carriers could operate between any given city pair. Now, that number is unlimited. Carriers will have new opportunities to serve any location in Mexico from any location in the U.S., opening up new routes for travelers. And increased carrier competition will greatly benefit Mexican and American tourists and business travelers by offering them more options, better service, and lower prices," Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx reported. U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and Mexico Secretary of Communications and Transport Ruiz Esparza signed a new air transport agreement on Dec. 18, with Foxx writing on DOT's Fast Lane blog that it resulted from more than two years of negotiations. "This landmark agreement, a key element of the U.S.-Mexico High Level Economic Dialogue, eliminates government interference in commercial airline decisions, providing open, unlimited routes between the United States and Mexico. It also expands opportunities for cargo flights between the U.S. and Mexico and strengthens our commitments to aviation safety and security," he wrote. "Now, why did we do this? First, it strengthens and expands the U.S. and Mexico's strong tourism and business links, benefiting travelers from both countries. Under the old agreement, only a limited number of U.S. carriers could operate between any given city pair. Now, that number is unlimited. Carriers will have new opportunities to serve any location in Mexico from any location in the U.S., opening up new routes for travelers. And increased carrier competition will greatly benefit Mexican and American tourists and business travelers by offering them more options, better service, and lower prices. Second, this new agreement will bolster the already strong U.S.-Mexican trade relationship. It provides new rights to all-cargo carriers, allowing them to expand their worldwide networks, establish new routes, and provide faster services at better rates for businesses and shippers. These new routes will also create new opportunities to expand the U.S.-Mexico cargo market, benefiting businesses and economies on both sides of the border. So this is a great day in U.S.-Mexican relations and for continued prosperity in both of our nations." Foxx explained that Assistant DOT Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs Susan Kurland and the U.S. government negotiating team, with representatives from the Departments of Transportation, State, and Commerce, deserve credit for helping to negotiate the agreement, which the two countries will work to implement next year. https://ohsonline.com/articles/2015/12/21/us-mexico-sign-new-aviation-agreement.aspx Back to Top MAS urges pilots with the national carrier to put the airline first Malaysia Airlines has no intention of making its pilots redundant. PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Airlines has no intention of making its pilots redundant but with restructuring plans, some aircraft type are being retired while at the same time routes are also being cut. An airline official said by the end of the month, MAS will stop flying to Paris and Amsterdam and therefore there will be pilots who will not have aircraft to fly. "We are doing our very best to place our pilots with other airlines where there is demand for their skills. We are talking to several carriers at the moment," he said. The official said before the pilots started flying the Boeing 777-200s, they were pilots on the Boeing 737 and others were co-pilots of the Boeing 747s, which are no longer in service. He added that all the pilots had to be retrained to fly the B777-200s. "The pilots have the option of being seconded to another airline, take unpaid leave and do something else or remain with the airline and wait for a pilot slot to become available," he said. He said the airline has ordered the new Airbus 350s but they will only come into service at the end of 2017. "We will ask our pilots to return and be retrained to fly these new aircraft. But will be up to each individual pilot to make the decision whether they want to return to MAS," he said. He added that if they want to remain with their seconded airline or continue doing other things they can do so. The official hoped that everyone will understand the sacrifices needed for the national carrier to move forward. He said the pilots must also be ready to face the challenges the airline is undergoing. "MAS is already suffering and undergoing tremendous changes. Everyone must be ready to adapt to changes for the future of the airline," he said. The official said most MAS pilots fly an average of 60 hours a month whilst there are pilots with other airlines who fly to their limit of 100 hours a month, with permission of the Department of Civil Aviation (a pilot can only fly 1,000 hours a year but DCA will give them permission to fly an additional 200 hours). He pointed out that for 300 hours an airline will only need three pilots, MAS needs five pilots for the same number of hours. He urged pilots with the national carrier to put the airline first. http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1658888 Back to Top Pilot shortage the reason for recent Cape Air flight cancellations Passengers board a filled to capacity Cape Air Cessna 402 in Sidney in April 2014. A pilot shortage has grounded 16 Cape Air flights in recent days in and out of the Billings Logan International Airport. Cape Air officials said Tuesday that a pilot shortage is the cause of a spate of recent flight cancellations at Billings Logan International Airport. Hyannis, Mass.-based Cape Air provides $52 flights between Billings and five other Montana communities - Sidney, Glasgow, Glendive, Wolf Point and Havre. According to its online schedule, five daily flights are offered from Billings to Sidney, and two each to the other four destinations. Trish Lorino, Cape Air's vice president for marketing and public relations, said 16 flights have been cancelled in recent days due to the pilot shortage. The airline has brought in pilots from other markets it serves and is teaming with Jet Blue and seven universities to get pilots the hours they need to receive certification aboard Cape Air Cessna aircraft. "We are sorry for the impact this has had on the community," she said. "We have had some challenges here. The pilot shortage is truly a significant one - not only for Cape Air, but for all carriers. It is definitely something that has affected our completion rates." Lorino said she'd just completed a conference call with the company's pilot group and others to discuss the continuing ramifications of higher co-pilot qualification standards implemented by the Federal Aviation Administration following a 2009 crash near Buffalo, N.Y., that killed 50 people. Ensuing rule changes designed to boost safety have increased the qualification requirements for first officers, also known as co-pilots, who now must earn an Airline Transport Pilot certificate and have logged 1,500 hours total time as a pilot. Before the rule, announced in 2013, first officers were required to have a commercial pilot certificate, which requires 250 hours of flight time. It can be arduous for young pilots to log that much flight time, Lorino said. "It is truly leading to pilot attrition," she said. "People don't want to pursue it because it is expensive and time-consuming." As part of the federal government's Essential Air Service program, Cape Air and others have been, since airline deregulation in 1978, subsidized to provide air service to what would otherwise be underserved communities. Kevin Ploehn, the city's aviation and transit director, said that low salaries paid by the nation's smaller, regional carriers "are a disincentive for people to go get their (commercial pilot's) license." "Flight school might cost you $200,000, but you start at $20,000 a year," Ploehn said. He said Essential Air Service airlines put a premium on not cancelling their flights. "If they are not flying, they are not getting paid the subsidy," he said, "and that's way more than the ticket price." A recent study projects more than 14,000 pilots reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65 between 2015 and 2022, Ploehn said. "The good news is that the major airlines are making tons of money," so they'll be able to fill those retirements, Ploehn predicted. "The bigs can fill those, but it's killing the regionals," he said. Some pilots at smaller providers, he said, will elect to move into the cockpits of the nation's major regional airlines, including SkyWest Airlines and Republic Airways. Cape Air flights in Montana always have a first officer on board, Lorino said. The airline's Gateway Program partnership with Jet Blue allows first officers to log the time they need on Cape Air flights before going on to a career at Jet Blue. "We did it proactively," Lorino said, "in light of the shortage coming on hard." In some cases, management pilots have "left their desks" to help fill the pilot gap, and some officers have been allowed to pick up extra flights on their day off, she said. People concerned about pilot shortages should write their congress member, Lorino said. "Write your congressperson and ask them to take a look at first officer qualifications," she said. "It is so limiting. It's affecting the big carriers and it's putting a crimp on air travel." http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/pilot-shortage-the-reason-for-recent-cape-air-flight- cancellations/article_448e3e10-d9ed-5584-bb85-1b833374192f.html Back to Top Etihad to up stake in Jet Airways via fund infusion Etihad to up stake in Jet Airways via fund infusion Negotiations on valuations are currently on between the parties and the deal is expected to be closed by March 31, 2016, a source said. Jet Airways is neck deep in debt and has once again turned to Etihad to raise funds, but, this time the stakes could be higher. Sources with direct knowledge share that Jet Airways is in talks with Etihad to raise $300-400 mn via convertible bonds. On conversion Etihad could raise its stake in Jet up to 49% from 24% currently. Negotiations on valuations are currently on between the parties and the deal is expected to be closed by March 31, 2016, a source said. People in the know also shared with ET Now that the conversion of bonds could be in 2018-19 period. Jet Airways has debt of $1.7 bn or Rs 11,000 cr and is under pressure to de-leverage its balance sheet. Jet intends to use the funds largely to pare down debt and a part of it could be used for expansion in operations, sources indicated. An expert pointed out that even though 49% FDI is allowed in the aviation sector, this deal will need regulatory approvals considering it's a sensitive sector. Aviation industry expert also suggested that Etihad has faced some regulatory issues in Europe while trying to increase its stake in other airlines. A Jet Airways spokesperson said, "As a policy we do not comment on speculation." Etihad Airways said, "Reports that Jet Airways is in talks with equity partner Etihad Airways on raising investment levels are totally speculative. We categorically do not comment on speculation." http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/etihad-to-up-stake-in-jet- airways-via-fund-infusion/articleshow/50464562.cms Back to Top Gevo to supply biofuel for Alaska Airlines commercial flight DENVER BUSINESS JOURNAL - Alaska Airlines says it will will partner with Gevo Inc., a leading maker of plant-based jet fuel, as the Seattle-based airline progresses from previous demonstration flights using Gevo's aviation biofuel to commercial flight sometime this year. Parent company Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK), which is looking at multiple biofuel possibilities, signed an agreement with Douglas County-based Gevo (Nasdaq: GEVO) because of the promise of its alcohol-based fuel technology, said Carol Sim, director of environmental affairs for Alaska Airlines. Alaska already has done several biofuel demonstration flights, but says this will be its first-ever commercial flight using so-called alcohol-to-jet fuel. The Gevo process turns a range of plant products into an alcohol called iosobutonal, from which the company can then make jet fuel. Read more at the Denver Business Journal: http://bit.ly/1JuWg3r http://www.9news.com/story/money/business/2016/01/06/gevo-alaska-airlines-flight/78380332/ Back to Top India's New Fighter Jet Will Make International Debut in Bahrain The Tejas fighter jet will perform a flight demonstration during the Bahrain International Air Show in January. India's Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) will conduct a flight demonstration during this year's Bahrain International Air Show held from January 21-23, The Business Standard reports based on information obtained from India's Ministry of Defense. "The show will witness flying demonstration of the 'Tejas', the latest and state of the art Light Combat Aircraft, the 'Four-plus' generation and highly cost effective fighter aircraft," a defense ministry spokesperson said on January 1. The display and flight demonstration of the Tejas fighter jet can be interpreted as a direct response to Pakistan's attempt to sell its jointly-developed Pakistan Aeronautical Complex/Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (PAC/CAC) JF-17 Thunder combat aircraft on the international arms market. However, whereas Pakistan has already inducted the JF-17 into the Pakistan Air Force, only one fighter aircraft has been delivered to the Indian Air Force so far. "A fighter participating in an international air show is scrutinized like a Miss Universe contestant. Every mole of the Tejas will be scrutinized in Bahrain," cautions an Indian military aviation expert interviewed by The Business Standard. The Tejas LCA, developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency in cooperation with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), only achieved initial operational clearance in December 2013. As I reported previously, the supersonic, single-seat, single-engine multirole light fighter aircraft has been under development for the past three decades. The date for final operational clearance was originally December 2015. However, this date has been postponed to March 2016. New Delhi has recently offered its Tejas supersonic jet fighter to the Sri Lanka Air Force, in an attempt to outdo Islamabad, which had offered its JF-17 fighter jet to Colombo last year (See: "Outwitting Pakistan: India Offers Sri Lanka Its Newest Fighter Jet"). Adding to the pressure, China and Pakistan may already have their first international customer, with a deal purportedly signed during last year's Dubai Air Show with an unidentified Asian country (See: "Groundhog Day: China-Pakistan JF-17 Has its First Buyer"). Yet it remains unknown whether in fact the contract was signed and how many aircraft were sold. To make matters worse, a May 2015 report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India - the Indian government's principal oversight body - points to a number of shortfalls in the Mark-I version of the Tejas LCA, including inadequate electronic warfare capabilities, problems with the onboard radar system, and reduced internal-fuel capacity. The Indian Air Force also abandoned plans to develop an upgraded Mark-II Tejas LCA and instead will field an improved Mark-I Tejas LCA - dubbed Tejas Mark-IA - in which the technical problems of the Mark-I version outlined in the May 2015 government report will be addressed. The first 20 Tejas LCA are slated for induction in 2017 or early 2018. http://thediplomat.com/2016/01/indias-new-fighter-jet-will-make-international-debut-in-bahrain/ Back to Top Indonesia, South Korea sign $1.3bn fighter jet development deal The programme is aimed at producing new, homegrown fighter jets to replace the Souths aged fleet of F-4 and F-5 fighters imported from the US The programme is aimed at producing new, homegrown fighter jets to replace the South's aged fleet of F- 4 and F-5 fighters imported from the US (AFP Photo/Kim Jae-Hwan) Seoul (AFP) - Indonesia signed a $1.3 billion deal with South Korea Thursday to jointly develop Seoul's next-generation fighter jets, the South's aircraft manufacturer said. Under the deal signed with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), Indonesia's defence ministry will invest about 1.6 trillion won ($1.3 billion) in the Korean Fighter Experimental (KF-X) programme. The programme is aimed at producing new, homegrown fighter jets to replace the South's aged fleet of F- 4 and F-5 fighters imported from the US. A consortium of KAI and the US aerospace giant Lockheed Martin last March won a 8.6 trillion-won contract to provide 120 fighter jets to Seoul's air force. The investment from Indonesia will account for about one fifth of the total cost of the project, with up to 100 Indonesian workers taking part in development and production, KAI said in a statement. Indonesia will be given one prototype plane and gain access to some technical data and information involving the project, it added. The South Korean military plans to put the new fighter jets into service by 2025 to guard against threats from the nuclear-armed North Korea. http://news.yahoo.com/indonesia-south-korea-sign-1-3bn-fighter-jet-083033100.html Back to Top This octocopter wants to fly you at 60 mph The EHang 184 AAV is designed to fly a passenger for a trip lasting up to 23 minutes. Think Amazon delivery drones are a radical idea? A Chinese startup called Ehang has used the same technology to build an aircraft to carry a passenger more than 20 miles. The EHang 184 AAV is a one-person pod lifted by eight rotors mounted in pairs on four folding arms -- thus the number 184. Announced Wednesday at the CES tech show in Las Vegas, the battery-powered aircraft is designed to carry a passenger for 23 minutes at about 60 miles per hour. The machine pilots itself. For decades, people have dreamed of soaring over traffic jams with jetpacks, flying cars and other personal aircraft. Some of designs are more traditional, like the two-person Icon A5 that lands on water or dry ground, and some are more futuristic, like the Terrafugia Transition, meant for both roadways and airways. Regardless, making that personal aviation dream a reality means working through difficulties intertwining cost, safety, engineering and regulations. "The 184 provides a viable solution to the many challenges the transportation industry faces in a safe and energy efficient way," said EHang Chief Executive Huazhi Hu in a statement. Though it's initially aimed at commuters and adventuresome people, "EHang will make a global impact across dozens of industries beyond personal travel," he said. Before that can happen, EHang's whirlybird ambitions will have to reckon with sharp regulatory constraints. "It isn't going to be that you get one under the Christmas tree, take it outside, and go flying. You're still talking about what amounts to a manned aircraft," more like a helicopter than a drone, said Mark Dombroff, an aviation attorney for law firm Dentons, who previously represented the Federal Aviation Administration and Justice Department. "They're not going to be able to sell this without having some sort of airworthiness certificate, probably experimental." EHang said that it's working with multiple governments around the world and that no pilot's license will be required to use the 184 AAV. Passengers navigate by tapping a destination on an electronic map on the aircraft's tablet interface, and the 184 handles the rest. https://www.yahoo.com/tech/octocopter-wants-fly-60-mph-210112806.html Back to Top January/February 2016 FAA Safety Briefing http://www.faa.gov/news/safety_briefing/2016/media/JanFeb2016.pdf Back to Top Embry-Riddle A³IRCON Brings Air Safety, Passenger Satisfaction and Unmanned Vehicle Experts to Phoenix A3IRCONWHAT: The 2016 Aviation, Aeronautics and Aerospace International Research (A³iR) Conference, presented by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU), will feature dozens of presentations on the following topics: Diversity in Aviation and the Employment Shortage Commercial Space Emergence Unmanned Aerial Systems and UAVs - Research and Collaboration Opportunities UAS/"Drone" Certification and New FAA Registration Requirements Current State of Airlines - Airline Management and Operations Future of Business and Corporate Aviation Decline of Passenger Satisfaction Emergency Response Human Factors/Aviation Psychology Virtual Reality/Simulation Cybersecurity and the National Airspace The annual event, now in its third year, will include demonstrations from the ERAU Autonomous Eagles, interactive panel sessions, peer reviewed presentations and more. Keynote speaker this year is Ryan Hartman, President and CEO of Insitu, a pioneer in the design, development and manufacturing of high-performance, low-cost unmanned aircraft systems used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in military and commercial applications. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy, Hartman also is a graduate of Embry-Riddle. Following Hartman's keynote address will be an opening panel that includes special guest Sy Liebergot, a longtime NASA flight controller on Apollo 8-15 (including Apollo 13 in which three astronauts safely piloted the crippled aircraft to Earth following an explosion in space) and author of "Apollo EECOM - Journey of a Lifetime." Dr. Mary Niemczyk, Associate Professor and Chair of the Aviation programs at Arizona State University will moderate. Also participating will be last year's keynote speaker, the Honorable Robert Sumwalt of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB); Nancy Graham, former Director of ICAO's Air Navigation Bureau; James Malecha of the Federal Aviation Administration; the Honorable Earl Weener, former NTSB member; and Suzanne Kearns, President of the University Aviation Association and Associate Professor at Western University. Sumwalt will also lead a panel session during the conference that includes discussion on noncompliance of checklist use by pilots resulting in a crash. Limited registration is still available for attendees, exhibitors and sponsors. Complete daily conference agenda, participant registration and more information are available online at commons.erau.edu/aircon/2016/. Follow the event on Twitter @A3IRCON. WHEN: January 14-17, 2016 Members of the news media are invited to attend any of the presentations. WHERE: Crowne Plaza San Marcos Resort in Historic Old Town Chandler, Arizona (near Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport). PARTICIPANT CONTACT: Dawn Marcuse, Office of the Dean, College of Aviation, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, Ariz.; Office (928) 777-6621; dawn.marcuse@erau.edu - See more at: http://news.erau.edu/top-news/embry-riddle-aircon-brings-air-safety-passenger- satisfaction-and-unmanned-vehicles-drones-experts-to-phoenix#sthash.R5BVj30X.dpuf http://news.erau.edu/top-news/embry-riddle-aircon-brings-air-safety-passenger-satisfaction-and- unmanned-vehicles-drones-experts-to-phoenix Back to Top Would You Go to Mars? Meet the Four Women Astronauts Who Can't Wait to Go Would you take the trip? The average temperature on Mars is 81 degrees below zero. But scientists say that in 15 years, we may be able to visit, even live there. Pictured here, four who'd love a ticket: astronauts Nicole Aunapu Mann, Anne McClain, Jessica Meir, and Christina Hammock Koch, photographed at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. In first grade Jessica Meir made a drawing of herself standing on the moon. Turns out she underestimated her own ambition: Today, at 38, Meir could become the first human to touch down on an even farther destination: Mars. A next step for man? Yes, and a giant leap for womankind. The mission itself is at least 15 years away-it will take that long to build and test every last piece of equipment. But it's already the most hotly anticipated space-exploration effort ever. Governments around the world-in China, Europe, and Russia-have plans in the works to at least land robots on Mars, while in the U.S., private companies like SpaceX are partnering with NASA on a human mission and plotting their own commercial trips. And unlike the 1960s race to the moon, this time women are playing pivotal roles- building rockets, designing space suits, and controlling the remote rovers that are already sending momentous insights back from Mars. A human landing will not, to put it mildly, be easy. The shortest route to our planetary neighbor is 35 million miles. Just getting there will take six to nine months; a round-trip, two to three years. "This will be the longest, farthest, and most ambitious space-exploration mission in history," says Dava Newman, Ph.D., NASA's deputy administrator. Once they've landed, the astronauts will have to navigate giant dust storms, temperatures that can plummet to minus 284 degrees Fahrenheit in winter, and an atmosphere filled with cancer-causing galactic radiation. If their equipment fails? NASA won't hear an SOS for 10 minutes. And there's no turning back. "It's not like the moon; that's a three-day trip," says Jason Crusan, director of advanced exploration systems at the agency. "When you go to Mars, you're going. You can't abort." And yet the pull is irresistible: The rovers have revealed a land of swooping red dunes and craters. Evidence of water-not just ice, but actual flowing water-has surfaced, and water is often considered a sign of possible life. "Mars can teach us so much about the past, present, and future of our own planet," says Meir. "That's a phenomenal thing." Also phenomenal? For the first time NASA's latest class of astronauts is 50 percent female. A fearless group, Meir and her colleagues Anne McClain, 36, Christina Hammock Koch, 37, and Nicole Aunapu Mann, 38, have already flown combat missions in Iraq, braved the South Pole, and dived under thick layers of ice in Antarctica. Last fall they gave Glamour exclusive access to watch them train at NASA's facilities in Houston-and talked about their epic adventure. "I can't recall not wanting to be an astronaut." NASA inducts a new class of prospective astronauts every four or five years, and competition is fierce. From application to acceptance, the process takes a year and a half and includes intensive psychological and medical testing. When these women were chosen for the class of 2013, NASA announced that they could be selected for an inaugural trip to Mars. Anne McClain: There were more than 6,100 other applicants for our class of eight, and I'd made my peace with not getting in. I still remember getting the call that I'd been selected. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't talk. I started crying. I grew up in Spokane, Washington, and I can't recall ever not wanting to be an astronaut. I learned a lot [serving 15 months] in Iraq, flying attack helicopters at the front of the front lines. I joined the Army out of a deep sense of duty, but wanting to be an astronaut feels more like my destiny. With so much conflict in the world, space exploration can be a beacon of hope. No one cares about race or religion or nationality in space travel. We're all just part of Team Human. Jessica Meir, Ph.D.: I had a fantastic view of the stars from the teeny town in Maine where I grew up. Maybe that's why I wanted to be an astronaut from such a young age. I've always been drawn to remote places-and extreme challenges. While doing research on emperor penguins for my Ph.D. in marine biology, I lived and worked in Antarctica, where I also went scuba diving under several feet of ice. Christina Hammock Koch: My bedroom wall in Jacksonville, North Carolina, was covered in posters of the space shuttle alongside ones of New Kids on the Block. I had always set my sights on working with NASA, but I didn't want to get there by checking the usual boxes, like learning to fly and scuba dive. I wanted to get there because I was passionate about science and the next frontier. When the opportunity to spend a year at the South Pole came up, I took it. There I was in charge of more than 10,000 gallons of liquid helium to keep the telescopes supercool. Our motto was "When the South Pole isn't cold enough, call us." Nicole Aunapu Mann: I'm probably one of the few astronauts who didn't know that's what I wanted to do as a kid. "Astronaut" seemed like a far-fetched dream. I'm from Penngrove, California, and it wasn't until my first tour in Iraq flying fighter jets with the Marine Corps that I realized one day I might actually be a good candidate. Going into space will be the absolute coolest thing in the world. "You never forget the first time you're weightless." During their two years of training, astronaut candidates learn space skills: flying T-38 supersonic jets that can go 20 miles per minute to practice operating a spacecraft; mastering tasks under 40 feet of water in a massive pool called the Neutral Buoyancy Lab to get used to weightlessness; and surviving what they call the vomit comet. Koch: The most exciting part for me has been the T-38. As an engineer I'm used to going into my office to think through a problem. But in a supersonic jet, you don't have that luxury! Meir: For me one of the most rewarding things has been spacewalk training. When you put on the suit, you weigh around 400 pounds. Two people help you into it, and a crane lowers you into the pool. The whole six-hour session is incredibly physically challenging. Your arms stand out at awkward angles because you're inflated; your gloves are bulky and pressurized. Each motion, even just making a fist, requires so much effort. You learn pretty quickly that trying to rush really gets you nowhere. (As they always say, in the suit "slow is fast.") At one point I saw a classmate in a space suit, and I thought, Oh my God, he's really an astronaut. And then it hit me: After 30 years of wanting this so badly, I'm an astronaut too. Mann: The vomit comet totally blew my mind. Meir: It's a large plane that's hollowed out. When the pilot is at the top of the parabola and free-falls back down toward the ground, you're weightless for about 25 seconds. You repeat that cycle 30 or 40 times. A lot of people get sick, hence the name. You never forget the first time you're weightless. I loved it. McClain: We try to prepare [for everything]. Let's say you get a toothache-will someone on the crew be trained as a dentist? When you get there [after nine months], how sure on your feet will you be? But I have no doubt NASA will find solutions. Walking out to the launch pad, would there be that fear? Absolutely. But if you don't face your fears, the only thing you'll ever see is what's in your comfort zone. Learning to spacewalk: "Getting into a space suit is like getting into a small aircraft-it's hard work," says McClain, here trying on a prototype. "A Mars trip has all the ingredients for falling in love." For the next 15 years, the astronauts will be honing their skills both on Earth and in outer space-even, likely, flying the Mars mission's small blastoff capsule to an asteroid near the moon as a test run. Once it begins, the actual mission will go something like this: The four crew members selected (potentially from this class and others) will spend two to three weeks in the launch capsule, then rendezvous with a larger spaceship-a.k.a. "home"-for the rest of the months-long journey. Once on Mars, they'll live up to a year in a structure that will have already been built by robots before returning to Earth. That's a long time for four people to be hermetically sealed together. Will they fight? Get romantic? In one series of NASA-funded studies known as HI-SEAS, six men and women spend up to a year in a 1,300-square-foot biodome on the side of a Hawaiian volcano to help answer those questions. Suzanne Bell, Ph.D., a NASA-funded psychologist researching group dynamics on extended missions: A Mars trip has all the ingredients for falling in love, and researchers have seen the danger of that in simulated environments. In one incident a man made unwanted sexual advances toward a woman in the other group, and they decided to shut the hatch between the two groups. It's something NASA has to think about if they're going to send men and women to space together for three years. Martha Lenio, Ph.D., 35, a former HI-SEAS volunteer who hopes to become an astronaut for Canada: We did have conflicts, like whose turn it was to vacuum, but nothing we couldn't work out. In general what I most worried about-like getting bored with the food since everything is freeze-dried or dehydrated-wasn't a problem at all. We'd compete on how creative we could get with taco and pizza nights. By the end of the eight months, some of my crew mates were really ready to get out, but I could have stayed longer! Sheyna Gifford, M.D., 37, a doctor in St. Louis who is currently living in the HI-SEAS dome for a year: The researchers "back on Earth" (we consider ourselves "simulated astronauts" in "simulated space") are giving us tools to deal with the isolation. We have some virtual reality [VR] games that our loved ones at home can play too, so we can leave each other notes and photos or have treasure hunts. Another researcher is going to use VR to "send us to the beach" for a few minutes a week. That may prove very transportive! "My son's life will change while I'm gone." For a mission to Mars, crew members may be able to take only two shoe boxes' worth of personal belongings. But the hardest thing to leave behind? Family. Three of the astronauts are married, and two are mothers. Koch: I'd definitely miss my husband. When I was at the South Pole, I packed boxes of things to take with me and opened one every few months, so I had something to look forward to. For Mars I'd ask my family and friends to make small surprises for me to open on designated dates. A handwritten card when you've been away 15 months can be the best thing imaginable. McClain: [For a long-term mission today,] I'd want a way to video chat with my three-year-old son and my partner. Leaving them is the only downside to space travel; they are my everything. I'd also bring my son's stuffed monkey. He would dig seeing it floating in space. Meir: I'd need music-the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I would definitely request mixes from a few specific friends, and I'd try to get access to The New York Times. Mann: If I get tapped for the mission, I'll talk to my son about what I'll be doing. He's almost four now but will be a teen or in his twenties by then. His life will change while I'm gone. And that's a big sacrifice. "From space you can't see borders." If chosen for the expedition, these women and their fellow astronauts will make many big sacrifices. But they will also go on what could be humankind's greatest exploration to date-an experience those who came before them can only begin to imagine. Richard Garriott de Cayeux, 54, a private astronaut who has traveled to the international space station: When you're floating in a slightly stale-smelling, noisy tin can, you have this experience astronauts call the overview effect: From space you can see how weather forms and moves, you can see Earth's tectonic plates' seams and deserts and oceans. And suddenly this place you've always thought of as vast looks small and fragile. It's impossible not to feel an urge to protect our environment and our planet. Tracy Caldwell Dyson, Ph.D., 46, an astronaut who lived at the space station for almost six months: Every night I'd spend 90 minutes watching as we orbited Earth. You're passing it at 17,500 miles per hour, so you have only a moment to soak in the view before you're looking at something else. The most intense experience? My first spacewalk to repair a cooling pump that had failed. I understood how enormous and potentially dangerous it was to be stepping out into the vacuum of space [in nothing but a space suit]. I'm thrilled for the women who are coming after me. I can't wait to see where they go and what they do. McClain: If we go to Mars, we'll be representing our entire species in a place we've never been before. To me it's the highest thing a human being can achieve. Meir: What are people capable of? That idea of exploration has always been a part of the human experience. Trying to understand our place in the universe is what drives me more than anything. McClain: Also, from space, you can't see borders. What you see is this lonely planet. Here we all are on it, so angry at one another. I wish more people could step back and see how small Earth is and how reliant we are on one another. Mann: Just thinking about it gives me chills. http://www.glamour.com/inspired/2016/01/nasa-women-astronauts-first-trip-to-mars Back to Top Upcoming Events: Embry-Riddle A³IRCON January 14-17, 2016 Phoenix, AZ http://commons.erau.edu/aircon/2016/ 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/ 50th Annual SMU Air Law Symposium March 31 - April 1, Dallas, TX http://smulawreview.law.smu.edu/Symposia/Air-Law.aspx 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 3rd International Accident Investigation Forum 19-21 April 2016, Singapore Aviation Academy http://www.saa.com.sg/iaif2016/ 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