Flight Safety Information February 9, 2016 - No. 028 In This Issue PROS 2016 TRAINING The International Society of Air Safety Investigators SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR THE JEROME F. LEDERER USTDA to provide funds for improving India's aviation safety Royal Air Maroc CEO Driss Benhima sacked over safety violations Zambian airline takes on world-class air safety standards AAPA: Aviation Safety Performance Improves In 2015 Why Micro Drone Bill Would Improve Air Safety United Airlines jet makes emergency landing at TIA Families can pre board with United Airlines -- again Gogo Adds Close to 1,100 Aircraft in 2015 Air India gives up its dream aircraft repair facility Aviation groups accuse city of making it difficult to operate at Santa Monica Airport Grumman will show off its sixth generation stealth jet fighter design during the Superbowl U.N. group agrees to aircraft standards to cut CO2 emissions Deputies: woman drunk, uncooperative on flight to RSW Montana Has A New Fire & Aviation Chief Fractional Pilots needed for PhD Research GRADUATE RESEARCH REQUEST Back to Top The International Society of Air Safety Investigators SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR THE JEROME F. LEDERER AWARD CHAIRMAN'S COMMENTS. No nominations for the award were received this past year. Usually we get one to three nominations per year. Surely there are some deserving investigators among us. Therefore, I urge ISASI members to nominate a person or persons who you believe deserves consideration for this award. The ISASI Awards Committee is seeking nominations for the 2016 Jerome F. Lederer Award. To be considered this year, your nomination letter must be received by May 31, 2016 The purpose of the Jerome F. Lederer Award is to recognize outstanding contributions to technical excellence in accident investigation. The Award is presented each year during our annual seminar to a recipient who is recognized for positive advancements in the art and science of air safety investigation. The nomination process is quite simple. Any member of ISASI may submit a nomination. The nominee may be an individual, a group of individuals, or an organization. The nominee is not required to be an ISASI member. The nomination may be for a single event, a series of events or a lifetime of achievement. The ISASI Awards Committee considers such traits as duration and persistence, standing among peers, manner and techniques of operating, and of course achievements. Once nominated, a nominee is considered for the next three years and then dropped. After an intervening year, the candidate may be nominated for another three-year period. The nomination letter for the Lederer Award should be limited to a single page. This award is one of the most significant honors an accident investigator can receive; therefore, considerable care is given in determining the recipient. Each ISASI member should thoughtfully review his or her association with fellow investigators, and submit a nomination when they identify someone who has been outstanding in increasing the technical quality of accident investigation. Additional information regarding the award can be found on the ISASI website. Nominations should be mailed, or e-mailed to the ISASI office or directly to the Awards Committee Chairman, Gale Braden, 13805 Edmond Gardens Drive Edmond, OK 73013 USA, email address, galebraden@cox.net www.isasi.org List of Winners Recipients of the ISASI Jerome F. Lederer Award * 2015 - Ladislav Mika (Ladi) * 2014 - David King * 2013 - Frank S. Del Gandio and Myron P. "Pappy" Papadakis * 2012 - Curt Lewis * 2011 - Paul-Louis Arslanian * 2010 - Michael Poole * 2009 - Capt. Richard B. Stone * 2009 - Australian Transport Safety Bureau * 2008 - Don Bateman * 2007 - Tom McCarthy * 2006 - Richard H. Wood * 2005 - John D. Rawson * 2004 - Ron Chippindale (deceased 2/12/08) * 2003 - Caj Frostell * 2002 - Ronald L. Schleede * 2001 - John Purvis and The Transportation Safety Board of Canada * 2000 - Nora Marshal * 1999 - Capt. James McIntyre (deceased 11/19/01) * 1998 - A. Frank Taylor * 1997 - Gus Economy * 1996 - Burt Chesterfield * 1995 - Dr. John K. Lauber * 1994 - U.K. Aircraft Accidents Investigation Branch * 1993 - Capt. Victor Hewes * 1992 - Paul R. Powers * 1991 - Eddie J. Trimble * 1990 - Olof Fritsch * 1989 - Aage A. Roed (deceased 1/25/03) * 1988 - H. Vincent LaChapelle * 1987 - Dr. Carol A. Roberts * 1986 - Geoffrey C. Wilkinson * 1985 - Dr. John Kenyon Mason * 1984 - George B. Parker * 1983 - C.O. Miller (deceased 10/20/03) * 1982 - C.H. Prater Houge * 1981 - Dr. S. Harry Robertson * 1980 - John Gilbert Boulding * 1979 - Gerard M. Bruggink * 1978 - Allen R. McMahan * 1977 - Samuel M. Phillips Back to Top USTDA to provide funds for improving India's aviation safety The US Technical Development Agency (USTDA) will extend funds to help India improve its overall aviation safety mechanism, including in the areas of operation, airworthiness and licensing. The funds would be for India Aviation Safety Technical Assistance Phase II and the government would pitch in with USD 446,866. The USTDA would partially fund the "assistance to the tune of USD 808,327 and contractor The Wicks Group (TWG) would share the cost of assistance at USD 75,000. "Phase II of the current project is aimed at sustaining efforts undertaken during 2014 for restoration of IASA Category 1 status and bringing in more systemic improvements in the area of operation, airworthiness and licensing. It will include components on general aviation and business aviation," an official release said today. The government's contribution would be USD 446,866 including "in-kind cost share, valued at USD 196,866 for international round trip air travel on Indian air carriers between the US and India and in-country ground transportation for the contractor during the duration of the assistance". Besides, it would cover the cash cost share of USD 250,000. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the USTDA today inked a grant agreement here for India Aviation Safety Technical Assistance Phase II. In April, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) restored India's Category 1 safety rating. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) had raised certain safety concerns about Indian aviation in its 2012 audit. Later, the FAA carried out an International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) audit in September 2013 and a review in December 2013. Post assessment, India was assigned Category 2 safety rating in January 2014. Later in March 2014, the USTDA in coordination with FAA approached DGCA and offered assistance under a grant agreement to address issues in the wake of IASA audit findings. Then, TWG assisted DGCA in addressing the issues and prepared for a reassessment by FAA in December 2014. Based on that reassessment and a follow-up visit in March 2015, India's Category 1 status was restored in April 2015. Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju a nd USTDA Director Leocadia I Zak were present while signing the grant agreement here today. http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/ustda-to-provide-funds-for- improving-india-s-aviation-safety-116020900421_1.html Back to Top Royal Air Maroc CEO Driss Benhima sacked over safety violations Riyadh: Royal Air Maroc Chairman and Chief Executive Officer President Driss Benhima has been sacked for flagrant violation of safety regulations set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation. Moroccan King Mohammed VI reportedly sacked Benhima after an amateur video showed a dog sitting among passengers on a flight from Casablanca to New York, which violated the safety regulations. According to a report in Arabic daily Al-Jazirah, Moroccan newspapers and online websites said that the dog belonged to the wife of a leading bank director. Benhima was appointed Royal Air Maroc CEO in 2006. During his tenure, Royal Air Maroc was at the centre of several controversies including its lack of punctuality as well as poor customer service. A few weeks ago, the airline made headlines after an amateur video posted on social media showed live cockroaches inside the Royal Air Maroc flight from Casablanca to Montréal. http://www.gdnonline.com/Details/65329/Royal-Air-Maroc-CEO-Driss-Benhima-sacked- over-safety-violations Back to Top Zambian airline takes on world-class air safety standards LUSAKA, Zambia - Proflight Zambia has completed the third of three workshops under the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) Implementation Training Initiative (ITI) in the airline's latest step towards the top safety accreditation standard in the global aviation industry. IOSA is an internationally recognised and accepted evaluation system designed to assess the operational management and control systems of an airline. It is based on industry proven quality audit principles and designed to ensure that each audit is conducted in a standardised manner in order to achieve consistent results. "Safety is the number one priority for all of us at Proflight, and Proflight's successful completion of this IOSA training phase which forms an important preparatory step towards undergoing an IOSA audit and subsequently achieving IOSA certification confirms that. Our team has worked hard and I am pleased to say that all participants passed their final examinations," said Proflight Zambia Director of Safety Quality and Security, Kenneth Silavwe. IATA members carry 83 percent of the world's air traffic and include the world's leading passenger and cargo airlines. The IOSA audit is a universally accepted benchmark of the standard of safety audit in the world. Attaining IATA accreditation will elevate Proflight's safety credibility so that the airline can more easily agree code-share agreements with international airlines, and possibly make a case for exemption from the EU ban list on Zambia. Proflight has in place a functional IOSA a task force and a steering committee to ensure that it attains IOSA accreditation. The benefits of IOSA certification are many: it reduces insurance premiums, allows for quicker processing of new code share agreements, increased code share opportunities, controlled system to share audit results, IATA quality assurance and brings improvement in management system and operational efficiency. There has never been any airline in Zambia that has been IOSA accredited under the IOSA safety oversight program, Proflight is in the final phase of being the first. http://www.eturbonews.com/68282/zambian-airline-takes-world-class-air-safety- standards Back to Top AAPA: Aviation Safety Performance Improves In 2015 * Asia-Pacific Carriers Reported No Major Accidents Involving Large Commercial Jets * The four major airline accidents last year included two events which involved deliberate acts. * The fatal accident rate of one in five-million flights marks 2015 as the safest year ever for commercial aviation. * The commercial air transport industry operated more than 40 million flights and carried over 3.5 billion passengers across the world in calendar year 2015. There were four major accidents involving large western-built jets operated by commercial airlines last year, which resulted in a total of 374 fatalities. These losses included the Germanwings and Metrojet events which are understood to be the result of deliberate acts of unlawful interference. Asia Pacific carriers reported no major accidents involving large western-built commercial airline jets. The global fatal accident rate of one in five-million flights marks 2015 as the safest year ever for commercial aviation, as the industry reaffirmed its commitment to delivering continuous improvements in air safety performance. The major accident loss rate has more than halved over the past five years. Turboprop operations have also maintained a very good safety record, with fewer major accidents being reported in 2015, but continue to experience somewhat higher accident rates compared to larger jet aircraft operations. Particular challenges include operating in remote geographical areas, and technical limitations involving the available airport and air navigation infrastructure. The aviation industry's excellent safety record reflects the benefits of close collaboration amongst the various stakeholders, including airlines, aerospace manufacturers, airports, air navigation and other service providers, working closely with national regulatory authorities in accordance with established International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) global standards. "Flying today is extraordinarily safe, and aircraft accidents are now increasingly rare events," said Andrew Herdman, director general of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA). "Indeed, the 2015 accident rate is the lowest ever recorded, but we can never afford to be complacent." Air transport links are a key driver of economic and social development, Herdman noted, and demand for air travel is expected to continue expanding year on year, not least in the Asia Pacific region which is already the world's largest aviation market. "Governments have an important role to play in ensuring that the necessary aviation infrastructure, including effective regulatory oversight, keeps pace with the expected growth," he added. "AAPA's safety objective is to deliver further positive improvements in safety performance, recognizing that this can only be achieved through the joint efforts of the region's operators, working in close partnership with regulators and other involved stakeholders." http://www.globaltrademag.com/global-trade-daily/news/aapa-aviation-safety- performance-improves-in-2015 Back to Top Why Micro Drone Bill Would Improve Air Safety John Goglia CONTRIBUTOR Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. If you are concerned about drone impacts on aviation safety, ignore the confusing proposal of the FAA reauthorization bill - a poor cut and paste job of old law and new - and focus on the very reasonable micro UAS proposal in the bill introduced by Congressman Earl Blumenauer of Oregon. This bill would legalize commercial operations of drones weighing 4.4 pounds or less with a few sensible operating requirements. This bill would cover many of the most popular models, including the enormously popular DJI Phantom series of drones. The bill would do away with the FAA's cumbersome exemption process currently in place for these micro UAS. And eliminate many of the expensive and totally unnecessary requirements (from a safety perspective) of the exemption that have turned many a commercial drone operator into a scofflaw in the eyes of the FAA. The bill would eliminate the requirement for a manned aircraft pilot's license - one of the more absurd FAA requirements and totally unnecessary from a safety perspective - along with dozens of other detailed and also unnecessary requirements and replace them with just these five. The drone would have to operate at: "(1) less than 400 feet above ground level; "(2) at an airspeed of not greater than 40 knots; "(3) within the visual line of sight of the operator; "(4) during daylight; and "(5) at least 5 statute miles from the geographic center of an airport as denoted on a current aeronautical chart published by the Federal Aviation Administration, except that upon notice to the airport operator and air traffic control tower, such airport operator may allow an individual to operate a micro UAS within 5 statute miles of a tower-controlled airport. In my opinion, this bill is extremely important in changing the safety culture for these small drone operators. Reasonable rules encourage voluntary compliance which has always been a cornerstone of aviation safety. Instead of being forced to operate outside the safety system, these operators could come out of the shadows and join the larger community of aviation operators. Once out of the shadows, these operators could openly demonstrate their safety commitment by complying with these sensible rules. And they would also be free to openly participate in safety programs, without fear of FAA enforcement. Voluntary safety programs have been a critical part of aviation safety in the manned aircraft world for decades and would surely benefit the commercial drone community. If you care about drone safety, write your congressional representatives and support this bill. http://www.forbes.com/sites/johngoglia/2016/02/06/why-micro-drone-bill-would- improve-air-safety/2/#43026ca61598 Back to Top United Airlines jet makes emergency landing at TIA The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating an emergency landing at the Tucson International Airport. Officials with TIA say United Airlines pilots reported smoke in the cockpit just after takeoff at around 6 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 7. The CRJ700 aircraft was headed to Los Angeles and after a short time in the air, the plane made an emergency landing. 77 people were on board. Jessie Butler with TIA said, "Passengers were still on the runway when officials decided to evacuate the plane and shuttle everyone off." Officials report no one was hurt. The plane was moved to another gate at TIA while investigators worked to figure out what happened. There were no reports of fire in the aircraft. http://www.tucsonnewsnow.com/story/31166523/united-airlines-makes-emergency- landing-this-weekend-at-tia Back to Top Families can pre board with United Airlines -- again Families board early on United United Airlines has revised its boarding policy to let families with children two or younger board early. (Scott Olson / Getty Images) Four years ago, United Airlines told families with small children that they had to wait to board like everyone else. But the Chicago-based carrier is reversing that boarding policy. Starting Feb. 15, families with children age 2 or younger can board before other passengers, except for those with disabilities and active-duty members of the military in uniform. The change brings United in line with most major airlines that have already adopted a family-board-early policy. The airline says it made the change because letting families pre-board was a top recommendation that came out of an October survey of employees and passengers. But Seth Kaplan, managing partner at the trade publication Airline Weekly, noted that airlines often test new boarding policies to try to find the fastest way to load a cabin without upsetting too many fliers. At O'Hare, United experiments with reducing gate standing times "They are constantly coming to different conclusions when trying to balance between being efficient and making people happy," he said. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-families-pre-board-united-airlines-20160205- story.html Back to Top Gogo Adds Close to 1,100 Aircraft in 2015 CHICAGO, Feb. 8, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Gogo (NASDAQ: GOGO), the global leader in providing broadband connectivity solutions and wireless entertainment to the aviation industry, announced today that it added nearly 1,100 commercial and business aircraft with broadband connectivity technologies to its installed fleet in 2015. "Gogo's operational capabilities are second to none. Whether that's navigating the regulatory environment, installing equipment on a wide range of fleet types or servicing those aircraft wherever they might fly around the globe, we've built an organization around operational excellence that's unmatched in the industry," said Michael Small, Gogo's president and CEO. "We will continue to make significant investments in our operational capabilities." In addition to a record number of installs in 2015, Gogo has also grown its awarded backlog of 2Ku aircraft to more than 800 aircraft. The company is ramping-up installations and expects to have most of those aircraft installed by the end of 2018. "I couldn't be more pleased with the performance of 2Ku," added Small. "2Ku's position as the premiere technology for global aviation is playing out in the market. We've been getting a great reaction from global airlines as they fly and experience this proprietary solution." Across commercial and business aviation, Gogo operates more than 11,000 connected aircraft systems all over the world. About Gogo With more than two decades of experience, Gogo is the leader in in-flight connectivity and wireless entertainment services for commercial and business fleets around the world. Gogo connects aircraft, providing its aviation partners with the world's most powerful network and platform to help optimize their operations. Gogo's superior technologies, best-in-class service, and global reach help planes fly smarter, our aviation partners perform better, and their passengers travel happier. Today, Gogo has partnerships with 12 commercial airlines and is installed on more than 2,500 commercial aircraft. More than 6,800 business aircraft are also flying with its solutions, including the world's largest fractional ownership fleets. Gogo also is a factory option at every major business aircraft manufacturer. Gogo has more than 1,000 employees and is headquartered in Chicago, IL, with additional facilities in Broomfield, CO, and various locations overseas. Connect with us at www.gogoair.com and business.gogoair.com Safe Harbor Statement Certain disclosures in this press release include certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws that are based largely on our current expectations and reflect various estimates and assumptions by the Company. Forward- looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, trends and uncertainties, many of which may be beyond our control, that could cause actual results and achievements to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements.Such risks, trends and uncertainties include those described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on February 27, 2015. The words "may," "might," "will," "could" "should," "estimate," "project," "plan," "anticipate," "expect," "intend," "outlook," "seek," "designed," "assume," "implied," "believe" and similar expressions generally identify forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are being made as of the date of this press release. Any forward-looking information presented herein is made only as of the date of this press release and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news- releases/gogo-adds-close-to-1100-aircraft-in-2015-300216550.html SOURCE Gogo http://www.aviationpros.com/news/12167108/gogo-adds-close-to-1100-aircraft-in-2015 Back to Top Air India gives up its dream aircraft repair facility Engineering staff from Mumbai and Delhi don't want to relocate to Nagpur. Air India has decided to give up its state of the art aircraft Maintainence, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Nagpur after it was unable to convince its engineering staff to relocate. On Sunday, the airline invited bids from private players to run the Rs 600 crore facility. Air India first announced plans for the facility a decade ago, but the MRO was delayed because of an incomplete taxi-way. The repair unit was finally declared open by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in June 2015. The facility has only received two Boeing 777 aircraft-the first in May 2015 and the other last week. An engineer working at the facility confirmed that most facility employees were hired on contract after retiring from Air India. "We are all put up at a hotel next to the facility. Since it was declared open there has not been much work," he said. Air India staff from Mumbai and Delhi have been unwilling to relocate to the facility, which is around 16 kilometres away from Nagpur. The MRO, spread over 50 acres, was built by Boeing at a cost of US$ 100 million. This was the result of an agreement between Air India and Boeing after the national carrier placed a massive order for dreamliners with Boeing in 2006. Touted as one of the most modern MROs in the subcontinent, the facility will service B-737s, B-777s and dreamliners of both domestic and international carriers. While an Air India spokesperson said that the airline was inviting private player bids for only airframe part of the facility, which works on the body of the aircraft, MRO officials were quick to point out that the airframe facility is the only one that has been built. "A facility that will look at the jet engines of the airplanes is still coming up," an official said. The Air India spokesperson sought time to answer a mail sent by Mumbai Mirror. The Deputy General Manager (Engineering) and Chief Maintenance Manager (CMM) of the MRO, S S Quazi seemed clueless about the invites to private players. He said, "We will have the entire staff of 61 service engineers, eight tradesmen and 10 aircraft engineers in place for the complete checkup of aircraft. We have already shortlisted 50 service engineers and 12 are already working for us. The aircraft engineers who have just retired from Air India are undergoing a refresher course." The facility will be able to perform a complete check-up of Boeing 777s from February 15. "The complete check-up lasts for 30 days. Once we do that at the Nagpur facility, we will have regular inflow of planes" Quazi said, adding that a third aircraft will be arriving at the end of February. A complete check-up is mandatory for any aircraft that has operated for about 3000 days, which could mean about nine years of operation. "The MRO facility is currently in its first phase of operation, where it will undertake checks for Boeing 777s. In the second phase, it will do checks for A-320 Airbuses. And in the third phase, it will be able to service foreign aircraft," Quazi added. http://www.mumbaimirror.com/mumbai/others/Air-India-gives-up-its-dream-aircraft- repair-facility/articleshow/50909829.cms Back to Top Aviation groups accuse city of making it difficult to operate at Santa Monica Airport In the ongoing battle over the fate of Santa Monica Airport, a group of aviation organizations and businesses has accused the coastal city of imposing illegal landing fees, diverting airport funds to non-aviation uses and setting unfair leasing policies to force out aeronautical tenants. In a complaint filed late Friday with the Federal Aviation Administration, the group alleges that the city has pursued plans for years to make it increasingly difficult for aviation businesses, pilots and aircraft owners to operate at the famous airport that was once home to Douglas Aircraft Co. "Simply put, the city has created a financial structure which imposes enormous, ongoing, unsustainable - and clearly impermissible - financial burdens and deficits on the airport, which historically has operated on a break-even or near-break-even basis," the complaint says. The action is being taken by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Assn.; the National Business Aviation Assn.; Kim Davidson Aviation Inc.; Bill's Air Center; Justice Aviation Inc.; and Mark Smith, a local pilot and aircraft owner. Their attorney is Richard K. Simon. They allege the city has violated FAA regulations, the terms of its federal airport improvement grants and a 1948 agreement that transferred the airport from the U.S. government back to the city after World War II. Under the later agreements, the general aviation hub must remain open at least until 2023 if not longer. The far-reaching complaint triggers an administrative process in which both sides present evidence to the director of the FAA's Office of Airport Compliance. Any ruling can be appealed twice within the FAA and later in federal court if necessary. Santa Monica Deputy City Atty. Ivan Campbell, who handles airport matters, declined to comment, saying the complaint was still under review Monday afternoon. The group contends that the city set excessive and unreasonable landing fees for Santa Monica-based aircraft in 2013 based on improper methodology, impermissible charges for airport expenses and other inadequately documented costs. It claims the city approved the fees without economic justification or adequate notice to airport tenants, denying them the opportunity to be heard. The complaint notes that the city has made millions in loans to the airport, much of them at interest above market rates and restrictions set by the FAA. The interest, which reached as high as 8%, allegedly resulted in the illegal diversion of airport funds to city coffers. The group further contends that the documentation for airport loans was often missing and inadequate. In one example from the complaint, the city purportedly charged the airport interest for borrowings made more than six years before the date claimed in the loan documents. In addition, the city has denied long-term leases to aviation-related businesses at the airport while granting them to non-aviation users at lower rents, such as Santa Monica College. According to the complaint, certain aviation tenants now rent on a month-to- month basis, leaving those businesses without any formal leases since July 2015. The group has asked the federal government to force Santa Monica to return all diverted revenue to the airport and put the city on notice that it could lose its federal transportation funding. http://www.latimes.com/local/westside/la-me-airport-complaint-20160209-story.html Back to Top Grumman will show off its sixth generation stealth jet fighter design during the Superbowl Northrop Grumman appears poised to show off its Sixth generation fighter during Super Bowl Sunday. The defense titan released a new commercial online Friday. Northrop Grumman provided a first look at its vision for the sixth-generation fighter in December. One of the most complicated parts, analysts have noted, is that if the stealthy planes include lasers, they will need to be built in a way in which the heat doesn't give them away on enemy radar. The United States Air Force and United States Navy are anticipated to field their first sixth-generation fighters in the 2025-30 time frame. The USAF is pursuing development and acquisition of a sixth-generation fighter through the F-X program to replace the F-22 Raptor, and the U.S. Navy is pursuing a similar program called the Next Generation Air Dominance to replace the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet The sixth-generation fighters are expected to use advanced engines such as Adaptive Versatile Engine Technology to allow longer ranges and higher performance. Risk reduction began in 2012 so that engine development can start around 2020. An engine is to be ready when fighters are introduced by the Navy in 2028 and the Air Force in 2032 In September 2011, Boeing unveiled a sixth-generation fighter concept for the U.S. Navy and Air Force. It is planned to have supercruise and fly faster and further than the F-35 Lightning II. Boeing is self-funding the project until an official fighter program starts to have a design ready. Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works division has revealed a conceptual next-generation fighter design that offers the first hints of an ambitious, long-term technology strategy for the new class of tactical aircraft that will emerge after 2030. The concept was published in a 2012 calendar, which was distributed to journalists. Lockheed Martin has called for greater speed, range, stealth and self-healing structures. In January 2015, Northrop Grumman revealed it had stood up teams dedicated to developing a sixth-generation fighter and that it would compete for the next fighter. Individual teams were created to focus on the specific separate requirements for the Navy and Air Force. The company indicates it is looking at a supersonic tailless jet, something never created before due to complexity; it may also be optionally manned. SOURCES - Washington Post, Wikipedia, Youtube http://nextbigfuture.com/2016/02/grumman-will-show-off-its-sixth.html Back to Top U.N. group agrees to aircraft standards to cut CO2 emissions People are silhouetted past a logo of the Airbus Group during the Airbus annual news conference in Colomiers, near Toulouse January 13, 2015. Global aviation experts agreed on Monday to the first emissions-reduction standards for aircraft in a deal that will take effect with new models in four years, but environmental groups said the carbon dioxide cuts did not go far enough. The standards are aimed at makers of small and large planes alike and will apply to all new aircraft models launched after 2020, the Montreal-based United Nations aviation agency said. They will also be phased in for existing aircraft built from 2023, with a cut-off date of 2028 for planes that do not comply with the new standard. The standards, agreed to after six years of talks, must still be approved by the International Civil Aviation Organization's governing council later this year. The standards would become mandatory for national aviation authorities around the world. Negotiators from 22 countries have been trying to come up with the world's first carbon dioxide emissions standards for aircraft as part of the industry's contribution to efforts to combat climate change. Aviation was not included in the global climate deal reached at a U.N. conference in Paris in December, but ICAO had been trying to nail down the standard as the first of a two- part strategy after six years of talks. The White House welcomed the outcome. "The U.S. pushed hard for a strong standard and I think we are very pleased with the result," a senior administration official told reporters. Estimates for carbon emission reductions from applying the new standards vary widely. The White House said in a fact sheet it would reduce 650 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions between 2020 and 2040. Environmental group Transport and Environment, however, estimated reductions closer to 300 million tonnes over the same period, while the International Council on Clean Transportation projected even fewer emission cuts. "The proposal will only require CO2 reductions from new aircraft of 4 percent over 12 years, when market forces alone are predicted to achieve more than a 10 percent efficiency gain in the same time frame," Drew Kodjak, ICCT executive director said in a statement. The standards would not apply to existing aircraft in service but would require future planes to be light and fuel efficient. That will not affect planemakers Boeing (BA.N) and Airbus' (AIR.PA) newest models, such as the 737 MAX or A320neo, since those already exceed the standards. Older planes still in production, such as the 747 and A380 jumbo jets or A330 and 777, would either need to be phased out by 2028 or made more efficient. "It will influence the R&D budgets at the plane and engine makers that already are focused on fuel burn and make sure that remains a continued emphasis," said one industry expert. COMMERCIAL JETS Sources familiar with the process said ICAO may exempt some aircraft types, but those exclusions may not happen until the autumn. Boeing welcomed the announcement and said its new commercial airplanes "have been designed to meet and even exceed challenging emission requirements." Airbus said it was "investing heavily" to reduce "fuel burn, emissions and noise significantly on current and future aircraft." Planes weighing 60 tonnes or more, which include commercial passenger jets, generate the majority of carbon dioxide emissions from the aviation sector. Commercial aircraft account for 11 percent of carbon emissions from transportation worldwide. "This outcome was the minimum needed from ICAO for a credible first start," said Bill Hemmings, aviation director for the Brussels-based Transport & Environment. ICAO is due to finalize a market-based mechanism for all airlines later this year. Environmental groups say that measure will result in much deeper emission cuts. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-climatechange-aviation-idUSKCN0VH1XA Back to Top Deputies: woman drunk, uncooperative on flight to RSW FORT MYERS, Fla. - A woman on a flight into Southwest Florida International Airport was arrested and charged with disorderly intoxication and interference with aircraft operations after she was belligerent and uncooperative when her flight landed in Fort Myers. Veronica Crisan, 56, was aboard a Southwest Airlines flight when an arrest report says she was slurring her words and had a strong odor of alcohol on her breath. The flight crew told deputies they found out she had been drinking Bloody Marys before the flight, and was served four more on the plane. Crisan started using foul language and when the plane landed, she began cheering and unbuckled her seatbelt. The report said her husband tried to pull her back into her seat, but Crisan got up again and was pushing people out of the way, nearly knocking over an elderly passenger. When flight attendants told Crisan specifically to get back to her seat, she responded with "get outta here." Deputies tried to get Crisanto sit when she became disruptive and started to use profanities, repeatedly telling officers she needed a cigarette. The report also said she even got in one officer's face. Deputies struggled to detain Crisan, eventually taking her to the ground to put her under arrest. While transporting her out of the airport, she repeatedly told deputies her husband was a lawyer and used the F-word. Once in the patrol car, Crisan was kicking the cage inside then told officers "Your people get what you deserve." Fox 4 reached out to Southwest Airlines to get information on their in-flight alcohol service police. A Spokesperson said: "A passenger onboard an aircraft who appears to be intoxicated during flight must not be served more alcohol. Flight attendants are required to advise the rest of the crew and fulfill FAA required reporting obligations." http://www.fox4now.com/news/deputies-woman-drunk-uncooperative-on-flight-to-rsw Back to Top Montana Has A New Fire & Aviation Chief Mike DeGrosky is Montana's new Fire and Aviation Bureau Chief. The State of Montana has a new Fire and Aviation Bureau Chief. He was hired last month, and is keeping a close eye on this winter's weather. Mike DeGrosky replaces Ted Mead, who retired from the state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation in December. DeGrosky has almost four decades of wildland fire and incident management experience under his belt. His job will be to lead and coordinate Montana's wildland fire services. How challenging that job is from year to year depends a lot on how much snow and rain Montana gets. DeGrosky says he's been pleasantly surprised by this winter's precipitation: "Up until last week I was thinking, 'We're looking pretty good. This isn't really what I was expecting from this El Niño year. We're getting snow, we have decent snowpack.' It's not exactly what I had envisioned." But what a difference a week can make. "The difference between what I saw driving up the Clearwater River last week compared to what I saw up the Clearwater River this week left me a little concerned. It feels like spring's coming on awfully early." Montana's fleet of firefighting helicopters aren't allowed to attack fires on federal land. The Forest Service says it doesn't use state helicopters because they don't meet the agency's safety standards. Last year Governor Steve Bullock made that an issue, pressing the Forest Service to use state helicopters. DeGrosky says that hasn't been resolved yet. "It's an ongoing issue and we're still working on it with the Forest Service. It's probably all I can say about it at this point because it is an ongoing issue and we're negotiating between agencies." DeGrosky hopes the issue is resolved before the start of this year's fire season. http://mtpr.org/post/montana-has-new-fire-aviation-chief Back to Top Fractional Pilots needed for PhD Research Dear Fractional Jet Pilot, Fractional jet pilots have achieved an amazing safety record over the last 25 years. Research shows that your pilot group has achieved significantly better safety results when compared with similar jet pilot groups. This research investigates why are fractional jet pilots better than these other pilot groups? Is it due to training/skills, safety culture, union or company leadership? Safety culture has been studied for over a decade at the commercial airline level, and has consistently demonstrated a predictive capability. In recent years, safety culture has been concluded to predict safety performance. Safety culture is an important factor to investigate. My name is Kevin O'Leary and I am a Ph.D. candidate at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. I am completing my dissertation by researching the safety culture of fractional jet pilots. This research has the potential to begin the understanding of why fractional pilots have a superior safety record. Due to the nature of this research, the survey respondents have been required to be pre- qualified to participate in this survey. Please follow the link below and fill out the pre-qualification form so that your pilot status can be verified. After verification, an untraceable survey link will be emailed to your email address. This link will be completely separate and remain separate from your pilot verification data. Your identity will never be disclosed and is not connected with the survey answers you provide. The research survey you will receive after completing the pre-qualification form will not include any identifiable data about the pilot, pilot's place of employment or the aircraft primarily flown. The research survey will take about 11 minutes. Please note that these responses will generate a donation to the Corporate Angel Network and potentially improve general aviation safety. https://www.research.net/r/Curt-Lewis-PreQual Thank you very much for your help! Principal Researcher Kevin O'Leary Ph.D. Candidate Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University 617-600-6868 Olearyk1@my.erau.edu Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH REQUEST I am originally from South Africa where I worked as a Multimedia Designer and Lecturer for over a decade. I moved to Dubai, UAE in 2013 and am currently pursuing a career in Aviation Safety. My father is in aviation, my wife is in aviation along with all our friends. I finally got the hint. I will be completing a MSc. in Aviation Safety with this final research project. The scope of the research is: 'Evaluating the perception of stress among air traffic controllers in the United Arab Emirates as a safety risk to operational performance'. I am interested in the views of ATC operators from around the world to help establish a baseline for the research and gain further insight into the ramifications of stress in this sector on a global scale. The link to the survey is as follows: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/InternationalATCStress I look forward to the feedback. Kind Regards, Gary Peck MSc Aviation Safety Emirates Aviation University Curt Lewis