Flight Safety Information April 22, 2016 - No. 079 In This Issue More Probable MH370 Parts Found As Search Nears End FAA Mandates Icing Rework For GE's Upgraded 787 Engine Poor flight planning led to fatal DC-3 terrain collision Finland first EU state to use IOSA in safety oversight Aviation bosses reject safety recommendations made after part of passenger jet falls off Engine failure causes airplane heading to Israel to turn back FAA Approves First Commercial Nighttime Drone Flights How do planes fly? This animation explains everything you need to know Man who landed small aircraft on Capitol lawn gets 4 months Embraer delivers 1000th executive jet Airbus Beats Boeing in $9.1 Billion Kuwaiti Fighter Jet Deal Boeing Considering New 737 Model To Fend Off Bombardier Jet Aviation safety changes focus of bill THE SENATE'S LAME FAA REAUTHORIZATION BILL Australian Society of Air Safety Investigators -...2016 ANZSASI SEMINAR PhD Research Request Graduate Research:...Pilot Laser Study More Probable MH370 Parts Found As Search Nears End The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) says two pieces of debris recovered from beaches in Mozambique "almost certainly" came from Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. The Boeing 777-200ER has been the focus of an intense underwater search in the southern Indian Ocean since March 8, 2013, when the aircraft took off on a flight from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Beijing, and later disappeared. The Mozambique parts, discovered independently in December 2015 and February 2016, were found 120 nm apart and sent to the ATSB in Australia for analysis. ATSB investigators said one Mozambique part that initially was identified by a stenciled number is a portion of the No. 7 fairing that covers a flap track on the aircraft's right wing. The other part-initially identified from images showing the materials, construction, a fastener and a "NO STEP" stencil-is a segment of a 777 horizontal stabilizer panel. "At the time of this writing, ongoing work was being conducted with respect to the marine ecology identification as well as testing of material samples," the ATSB said. "The results from these tests will be provided to the Malaysian investigation team once complete." By summer, the underwater search is expected to be complete, and no follow-on is planned. The ATSB in an April 20 update noted that 100,000 sq. km (38,610 sq. mi.) of sea floor, 83% of the 120,000 sq.-km search area, has been combed with no success. Last July, a flaperon that washed ashore on Reunion Island was the first solid evidence that the aircraft had been destroyed, presumably on impact with the water. French officials confirmed in September that the component had been manufactured for the aircraft registered 9M-MRO, the 777-200ER that disappeared. The ATSB said two additional pieces of debris-one with a Rolls-Royce logo that was found in South Africa and the other found on Rodrigues Island in the western Indian Ocean-were brought to its labs on April 13 and are being examined "in a similar manner to the items that were found in Mozambique." www.aviationweek.com Back to Top FAA Mandates Icing Rework For GE's Upgraded 787 Engine Operators of Boeing787s powered by upgraded General ElectricGEnx-1Bs will be required to grind out additional space in their engine fan cases to prevent contact with the fan blades in the event of ice shedding or some other contact with a foreign object. The action is mandated by an FAA Airworthiness Directive (AD), which, according to GE, will require rework on 336 GEnx-1B Performance Improvement Package-2 (PIP) engines that are "twinned" on 168 787-8 and 787-9s. The work, scheduled to be completed by September, does not require removal of the engines from the wing, but will entail up to 16 hr. of grinding per powerplant. The AD was prompted by an inflight shutdown that occurred after an aircraft flew through icing conditions at 20,000 ft. on Jan. 29. The FAA said the engine encountered "a significant fan rub event . . . apparently caused by partial fan ice shedding and a resulting fan imbalance that in turn caused substantial damage to the engine and an inflight non- restartable power loss." The agency added: "The urgency of this issue stems from safety concerns over continued safe flight and landing for airplanes that are powered by two GEnx-1B PIP2 engines." GE, Boeing and the FAA believe the problem was caused by the fan rebounding forward into the abradable seal after shedding the ice, and that this will be prevented by opening up slightly more space between the fan and forward seal. The affected engines will therefore require the grinding out of an extra depth (less than 1/10th in.) of the abradable seal material running along the interior of the fan case immediately forward of the fan blades. The profile of this seal is slightly different in the PIP2 from earlier GEnx- 1Bs, but GE said any performance losses resulting from increasing the slight opening will be "immeasurable." GE, which has already issued a service bulletin to begin addressing the rework, said more than 40 aircraft have already undergone the process. "Most of this work will be performed during the regularly scheduled 'A' checks. We are working with operators to avoid airline disruption," the engine maker said. It also explained that this modification is focused on PIP2 standard versions of the GEnx-1B, and does not impact older PIP1s. The engine rework will mitigate potential buildups experienced during standard airframe and engine icing events, and is not related to the higher-altitude engine core icing issues experienced primarily by the GEnx-2B engine variant on the Boeing 747-8. In addition to the rework on the GEnx-1B PIP2 fleet, the FAA is mandating revisions to the fan ice removal procedure and crew briefing in the 787 flight manual. These will now call for crews, when in icing conditions above 12,500 ft. and with indications or warnings of engine icing, to repeatedly clear the blades of ice from each engine every 5 min. They will do this by increasing N1 (fan speed) momentarily to a minimum of 85% before resuming normal operations. As well as these revisions to procedures, the AD also prohibits operators from dispatching the aircraft unless at least one ice detector and engine anti-ice indicator is operational. www.aviationweek.com Back to Top Poor flight planning led to fatal DC-3 terrain collision Colombian investigators believe a Douglas DC-3 crew's failure to verify minimum safe altitudes during an unscheduled commercial domestic flight led to a fatal collision with high terrain. Neither the two crew members nor the three other occupants of the Aerolineas Andinas aircraft (HK-4700) survived after it struck a mountain at an altitude of 6,500ft. It had been operating a flight between Villavicencio, near Bogota, and Florencia, in southern Colombia, on 8 May 2014. Colombia's Grupo de Investigacion de Accidentes e Incidentes Aereos attributes the crash to a failure to assess hazards while planning for the visual flight. It had been received 1,050kg of fuel at Villavicencio, plus 2,540kg of cargo, giving the aircraft a take-off weight of 11,430kg. It departed the airport at 11:15 without any record of take-off clearance, the inquiry says, or a response from the crew. The crew had planned to fly a track to La Uribe, then San Vicente del Caguan, and on to Florencia. Satellite images showed cloud cover en route but adequate visibility at San Vicente and Florencia. Previous flights on the route had been carried out at a cruising altitude of 8,500ft. The inquiry says that, despite having GPS and weather radar capability, which could "guarantee" flight at safe altitude, the flight continued to operate at 6,500ft in adverse weather rather than divert or return to its departure point. GPS equipment recovered from the crash site showed the aircraft had deviated from the straight-line course. The DC-3, which was built in 1944, had been flying at a ground speed of 136kt and recorded information showed an altitude of 6,726ft before the collision in a national park on the border between the Meta and Caqueta departments. Investigators state that controlled flight into terrain tends to be the result of losing situational awareness, particularly in reduced visibility due to weather conditions, and under self-imposed pressures to complete a flight. Both pilots were highly experienced, with the captain having almost 10,000h on type. But the inquiry says there is no record of the crew's being trained in strategies to prevent controlled flight into terrain. flightglobal.com Back to Top Finland first EU state to use IOSA in safety oversight Finland will be the first European Union (EU) country to start using the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) as a tool to complement the safety oversight of Finnish aircraft operators. TRAFI, the Finnish Transport Safety Agency, signed a memorandum of understanding with IATA to that effect at this week's IATA Ops Conference in Copenhagen. Commenting on the development, IATA DG and CEO Tony Tyler said TRAFI's decision to use IOSA could help "reduce redundant audits while maintaining adherence to the global standards and recommended practices that are the basis of IOSA." The rising number of states introducing their own operational audits is causing considerable concern among airlines and a key intent of IOSA is to help reduce the number of these redundant and overlapping audits, while creating a single globally accepted operational safety standard. Tyler emphasized that "global standards are the way to go," and said IOSA had specifically been drawn up "in cooperation with safety regulators,"-who also participate on IATA's advisory panels-so that "we can all be confident that IOSA faithfully reflects ICAO standards reinforced by global best practices." He said it was "truly unfortunate" that a growing number of states are introducing their own audit programs that are not necessarily harmonized with global standards and recommended practices. The solution, he said, rested with industry "making a convincing argument." Tyler said Finland was "the first-but I hope not the only-EU member to take advantage of the ability to use IOSA to improve the efficiency of their safety oversight process." European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) executive director Patrick Ky said there were significant differences between the various audit programs currently in place-including IOSA, Safety Assessment of Foreign Aircraft, and the embryonic IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations -that made closer integration difficult. "We agree we should not overload industry with audits on the same topic and the goal at some stage must be to merge all those audits into a single risk-based audit," he said. IOSA, for example, could be very useful in the European aviation environment, but EASA needed to be more closely involved in setting standards for the program, he said. http://atwonline.com/safety/finland-first-eu-state-use-iosa-safety-oversight Back to Top Aviation bosses reject safety recommendations made after part of passenger jet falls off mid flight Gatwick Aiport AVIATION bosses have rejected safety recommendations made after part of a passenger jet fell off mid flight. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) suggested new measures to regulators including the European Aviation Safety Agency and the Federal Aviation Administration and company Boeing Commercial Airplanes after a Boeing 757-300 was forced to return to Gatwick Airport in October 2014. But company bosses said the requests to make their handbooks easier to understand were unnecessary. The wing slide unit of the Thomas Cook Flight TCX1638 plunged to the ground on October 31 while en route to Hurghada in Egypt. The aircraft left at 9am with 239 passengers and ten crew members on board. The object fell from 5,250 feet landing on Sussex and Kent border near Tunbridge Wells. Two passengers saw "something white" detach from the aeroplane and informed a member of the cabin crew, the AAIB report said. Eye witnesses described seeing an object of four metres long by a metre wide fall from the sky. Police were called in to search for it but the fault was not reported until the aircraft was flying over Belgium. The plane landed safely and no-one was injured. Thomas Cook apologised to customers for the delay and they were put on a replacement flight later that day. A probe by the AAIB was launched and a report was published in August last year. Two safety recommendations to the European Aviation Safety Agency, the Federal Aviation Administration and other regulators calling for the way door and emergency exits were described to be standardised to avoid "potential misunderstanding" between crews and emergency services during an evacuation. The agency said clear and plain wording was used in the majority of communications as well as alternatives like hand signals but there were differences between organisations. It said some services found a number system was "prone to errors" and not all had access to information on different planes in advance. It asked 30 emergency service staff for their experiences and none had experienced any safety problems during an airport incident. It added: "During an emergency, very little or no time at all is available to consult a crash card or equivalent document. As no evidence of a safety case has been reported, the agency will not impose a standard of doors numbering." Boeing Commercial Airplanes was told to amend a handbook on procedures but it "respectfully disagreed" to do so. The company said the plane could be landed safely if this sort of incident occurred and it would not affect a pilot's control of the plane. It added: "Boeing cannot find any compelling information requiring a change that would potentially limit the options available to crews for landing." The AAIB received the responses in November but has only just made them public. Background THE wing slide unit is a part of an aircraft containing an evacuation chute. This is used in an emergency after the plane lands. In this incident the object was thought to be trailing from the plane before it fell off. Passengers saw it fall off the aircraft and alerted air cabin crew. Eye witnesses also saw it fall from the sky. No one was injured and police were sent to look for it. http://www.theargus.co.uk/f_passenger_jet_falls_off_mid_flight/ Back to Top Engine failure causes airplane heading to Israel to turn back A Lufthansa plane backtracked to Munich after an engine shut down. Many Israelis including a leftist MK were on board. A Lufthansa aircraft, which was on its way from Munich to Israel, had to return to Germany after an engine shut down on Thursday. Testimonies revealed that during the takeoff, one of the aircraft's engines shut down with "an enormous bang" and the plane had to return to the Munich airport. "The passengers were frightened. There was a woman who was screaming," said MK Svetlova. "The plane was full of Israelis returning to Israel for the holiday." After safely landing the aircraft, MK Svetlova explained how the pilot "seemed agitated" as he came out of the main cabin to calm the passengers. Fire engines and ambulances met the plane on the runway, but fortunately the incident ended with no injuries. The shocked passengers were evacuated from the aircraft and have all been rescheduled to an alternative flight to Israel. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/211252 Back to Top FAA Approves First Commercial Nighttime Drone Flights Federal Aviation Administration authorities issued their first approval for nighttime commercial drone flights. The move bodes well for companies that want to ramp up drone services. Federal Aviation Administration officials signed off on the first approval for commercial drone flights at night, potentially paving the way for other companies to ramp up their drone services. "The FAA's decision is historic. Prior to yesterday, one could not operate a drone commercially at night," Kenneth Quinn, an attorney for Pillsbury, Winthrop, Shaw, and Pittman, who represented Industrial SkyWorks, told InformationWeek. He added that the more than 4,000 exemptions that the FAA had previously approved were all for daytime operations. The FAA approved a request by Industrial SkyWorks to use its drones at night for inspecting buildings and roofs, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The approval comes with a number of safety requirements that surpass those in place for flying drones during daylight hours. While the FAA approval is specific to Industrial SkyWorks, it sets a precedent that other companies may follow. "It was not easy for Industrial SkyWorks to obtain its exemption, which the FAA processed for over 16 months and required a detailed safety assessment," Quinn told InformationWeek. "The FAA put us through the ringer, but this decision certainly should help pave the way for others to operate their drones safely and responsibly, at night." Previously, the FAA had postponed the ability of drone operators to fly unmanned aircraft after sunset until further tests and formal rules were established, according to the Wall Street Journal. The FAA decision also comes on the heels of the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2016, Senate Bill 2658, which passed on Tuesday in the US Senate. Under the bill, which still needs approval from the House of Representatives, the FAA would be allowed to grant case-by-case exemptions for commercial and research and development drone flights that occur at night. It would allow the FAA not to require that the drone operators maintain a visual line of sight with the unmanned aircraft. If the FAA Reauthorization Act ultimately passes in the House, the FAA would be mandated to follow its requirements. Meanwhile, according to an FAA spokesman, the agency is currently finalizing a proposed framework of regulations that would address routine use of drones in the US. The FAA expects to "finalize the rule by late spring," the FAA spokesman said. Under the FAA's Industrial SkyWorks approval, Quinn said FAA is requiring: That the company install anti-collision lights on the drone that are visible to manned aircraft up to 5,000 feet. That it have a certified pilot of manned aircrafts who must be the operator of the drone. (Certified pilots are required to obtain a medical certificate that they can fly and are required to undergo nighttime flight training) That the operator would need to keep the drone within his or her line of sight. That the drone operator be required to notify the FAA before operating the drone. That the drone needs to automatically provide its precise location and altitude to the drone pilot. That the drone operator would immediately halt or land the device if a serious technical problem arose or an unexpected person, aircraft, or vehicle suddenly enters its area. In issuing its decision on Industrial SkyWorks, the FAA, according to the Journal, noted, "operations at night pose a higher safety risk because the reduced visibility make[s] it more difficult for the remote pilot to visually locate" the drone, or to assess the relative distance to other aircraft to avoid mid-air collisions. Are you prepared for a new world of enterprise mobility? Attend the Wireless & Mobility Track at Interop Las Vegas, May 2-6. Register now! The agency, however, pointed to the company's experience with drone night flights in other countries, as well as to the fact that drones will be departing and landing from illuminated flight paths and taking pre-programmed routes, according to the Journal. With Industrial SkyWorks FAA approval for night flights, companies like Amazon.com may benefit in the future. The online retailing giant is currently testing drone deliveries for its Amazon Prime Air in the Netherlands, UK, and Canada, according to a Fortune report. A number of other companies are interested in getting their drones deployed for commercial use, and some for the benefit society. http://www.informationweek.com/government/faa-approves-first-commercial-nighttime- drone-flights/d/d-id/1325222 Back to Top How do planes fly? This animation explains everything you need to know Lots of us have ridden on planes before, but how many of us could really explain how airplanes lift themselves off the ground and stay in the air? Well don't worry, because a neat animation explains everything you need to know about what makes a plane take off and maintain altitude for hours at a time before landing. If you're familiar with the intricacies of flying, you've probably heard the terms drag, thrust, lift, weight, pitch, yaw, and many others. But do you understand how they work? A YouTube clip posted by the Rocket Science channel that's just over six minutes long explains these concepts, and they show how they affect every stage of a flight, from take- off to turning and stabilizing the aircraft once it's in the air to landing. It's all pretty simply laid out, and it doesn't sound like rocket science - pun intended. Check out the full clip below. http://bgr.com/2016/04/21/airplane-flying-explained-science/ Back to Top Man who landed small aircraft on Capitol lawn gets 4 months Douglas Hughes arrives at the Federal Courthouse in Washington, Thursday, April 21, 2016. Hughes, from Ruskin, Fla., flew a gyrocopter into restricted airspace over Washington, D.C., and is scheduled to be sentenced today.(AP Photo/Cliff Owen) A Florida man who piloted a one-person gyrocopter through some of the most restricted U.S. airspace and landed on the lawn of the Capitol in Washington in 2015, was sentenced Thursday to 120 days in jail. Douglas Hughes, 62, was sentenced in federal court in Washington by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly. Hughes has said his April 15, 2015, flight in the bare-bones aircraft was a way to call attention to the influence of big money in politics. The former mail carrier from Ruskin, Florida, was carrying letters for each member of Congress on the topic of campaign finance and the tail of his aircraft had a postal service logo. Hughes pleaded guilty in November to a felony of operating a gyrocopter without a license. Prosecutors had asked for 10 months in prison, arguing that his flight from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to the nation's capital put countless lives at risk. In a court document they filed ahead of the sentencing hearing, they argued Hughes' flight "put unsuspecting people in real danger, disrupted operations at the United States Capitol, and demonstrated a profound disrespect for the law and the legitimate rights of others." Hughes "craved attention" and "violated important public safety laws because he wanted people to pay attention to his political views," prosecutors wrote. Hughes' attorneys had said that he should be allowed to remain out of jail. In a statement to the court they underscored that no one was injured as a result of Hughes' flight. They called the stunt an "act of aerial civil disobedience" and a "freedom flight" and said it "was in the nation's proud tradition of nonviolent civil disobedience." "The attention his flight gained, Mr. Hughes hopes, will force the nation to finally confront the issue of campaign finance rather than continue to ignore the problem. For this reason, Mr. Hughes should be considered a hero for his conduct," his attorneys wrote. Hughes' attorneys and prosecutors disagree about how much danger the public was in as a result of his flight. Prosecutors wrote Hughes had "close encounters" with several aircraft and flew "dangerously close" to a commercial flight departing a Washington-area airport. Hughes said that wasn't true. http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/04/21/man-who-landed-small-aircraft-on-capitol-lawn- gets-4-months.html Back to Top Embraer delivers 1000th executive jet Embraer Executive Jets has delivered its 1000th business jet, with US fractional ownership operator Flexjet taking delivery of its fourth mid-size Legacy 500. The Flexjet buy is part of a larger order including Legacy 450s and 500s. The company has been a long-time Embraer customer, also operating the Phenom 300. Embraer entered the business jet market in July 2000 with a design based on the ERJ-135 regional airliner. The Legacy 500, which entered service in 2014, was the first midsize business jet with digital flight controls, based on full fly-by-wire technology, with side-stick controls. "Delivering 1,000 business jets to more than 60 countries in just over a decade reflects our strong ability to listen to our customers and respond to them with innovative solutions for different needs," said Marco Tulio Pellegrini, President and CEO, Embraer Executive Jets. "Embraer's Legacy midsized aircraft are a natural progression for us since they meet a growing demand for jets with larger cabins, longer range capabilities and industry-leading operating economics," said Michael Silvestro, Flexjet's Chief Executive Officer. http://www.aviationbusiness.com.au/news/embraer-delivers-1000th-executive-jet Back to Top Airbus Beats Boeing in $9.1 Billion Kuwaiti Fighter Jet Deal With a 46% interest in the Eurofighter consortium, Airbus stands to reap big gains from this sale. Eurofighter Takeoff In America and in Europe, the respective defense divisions of Boeing (NYSE:BA) and Airbus (NASDAQOTH:EADSY) are struggling. With contracts for mid-range-priced fighter jets drying up, things are so desperate, in fact, that a couple of years ago the two companies even entertained the possibility of teaming up to develop a new Euro-American fighter jet to compete with Lockheed Martin's F-35 stealth fighter. Nothing ever came of that idea, however. And today, it looks like the failure to cooperate is going to cost Boeing -- big-time. Last week, The Wall Street Journal reported that a big fighter jet deal in the works between Kuwait and Airbus -- a deal that Boeing itself had bid on -- is at long last getting the go-ahead. Kuwait is said to have preferred buying a mix of Boeing F-18s and Eurofighter Typhoons, but feared it could not get the sale approved fast enough. In fact, the Pentagon and State Department did finally sign off on the sale just this week -- but too late. According to the Journal, Kuwait went ahead last week and signed a definitive contract to acquire 28 Eurofighter Typhoon jets from Finmeccanica, the junior partner of the three companies (including Britain's BAE and Airbus) that own the Eurofighter consortium. Eurofighter's deal, in the works since at least last year, is believed to be worth about $9.1 billion to the winner, and throws a financial lifeline to the members of the Eurofighter consortium. At the same time, it costs Boeing a big sale that could potentially have saved it from having to shut down its St. Louis, Missouri, F-18 plant. According to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence, it would also have produced revenue sufficient to cover more than eight months' worth of Boeing's Military Aircraft business. Granted, there's still a chance that the late-breaking approval of an order for two dozen F- 18s, valued at $3 billion, could result in a sale. But with Typhoons in hand, it's also possible that Kuwait will now pass on the offer to buy F-18s. The other side of the coin Bad news for Boeing is, of course, good news for its archrival Airbus. Commenting on the sale, Airbus Defence and Space head Dirk Hoke exulted that winning this business will help Eurofighter keep its production lines open. What's more, in the defense business, success tends to give rise to even more success. By adding scale to an aircraft producer's business, one sale helps to spread development costs over a larger base. This, in turn, permits a plane maker to offer customers its next batch of airplanes at a lower price -- thus helping it to win the next sale. And if on top of lower costs Airbus is gifted with the loss of a rival, if Boeing is forced to discontinue F-18 due to lack of clients...? Why, that would be one fewer competitor Eurofighter has to worry about, or compete against on price. Hello, profits! What's next for Airbus... and for Boeing? Not surprisingly, therefore, the Journal reports that Saudi Arabia and Oman are also in talks to acquire more Typhoons. Meanwhile, Qatar has signed up to buy Rafale fighter jets from Dassault Aviation -- another European rival to Boeing. Increasingly, Boeing and its defense business appear to be getting left behind in the crucial Middle East market. Something big just happened I don't know about you, but I always pay attention when one of the best growth investors in the world gives me a stock tip. Motley Fool co-founder David Gardner (whose growth- stock newsletter was the best performing in the world as reported by The Wall Street Journal)* and his brother, Motley Fool CEO Tom Gardner, just revealed two brand new stock recommendations. Together, they've tripled the stock market's return over the last 13 years. And while timing isn't everything, the history of Tom and David's stock picks shows that it pays to get in early on their ideas. http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/04/21/airbus-beats-boeing-in-91-billion- kuwaiti-fighter.aspx Back to Top Boeing Considering New 737 Model To Fend Off Bombardier Jet Proposed plane would seat around 150 passengers in two classes Boeing Co. is considering another version of its new single-aisle jetliner to fend off competition from a new Bombardier Inc. passenger jet, according to people familiar with the situation. The proposed plane would seat around 150 passengers in two classes and replace the smallest version of the Boeing 737 Max, which is due to enter service in 2019. The first model of the Max, an update of the best-selling workhorse jet, is currently being tested and is due to enter service first with Southwest Airlines Co. next year. Internally dubbed the Boeing 737 Max 7X, the plane would fly significantly further and carry more passengers than the 126-seat model which it would replace, the people said. Boeing needs to win backing for the plan from United Continental Holdings Inc., which recently purchased 45 current-generation 737s, and Southwest, which is also due to take the first of the smallest model, according to a senior industry executive. The smallest version has only garnered 60 orders. The proposed new model would include major portions of the 162-seat Max 8, including a shortened version of its fuselage. The concept is a less-expensive option than customizing parts such as the wings. Sharing components lowers development and production costs, which Boeing can use to cut sale prices. A Boeing spokesman declined to comment, citing company policy. Mike Van de Ven, Southwest's chief operating officer, said on an investor call that he'd "heard rumors" about a new 737 version. "Absolutely we'd want to go out and consider different options out there," he said, adding that "there have been no thoughts of adjusting" the 30 firm orders Southwest has for the smallest version of the Max. Boeing has employed a similar strategy to make a version of the Max with 200 seats. The company has already signed up low-cost carrier Ryanair Holdings PLC for that plane, which is the same size as the Max 8, but includes two new exit doors to accommodate an increase in the jet's cabin capacity. Reworking its single-aisle jet lineup reflects the traction Bombardier is getting with its CSeries jets. Boeing was forced to offer United steep price concessions to win orders this year in the face of competition from Bombardier. Delta Air Lines Inc. is expected to complete a deal with Bombardier for up to 125 aircraft later this month, according to people familiar with both campaigns. In addition to being used to court airlines, the design could also serve as a military platform or an ultralong range business jet, said one of the people familiar with the study. http://www.wsj.com/articles/boeing-considering-new-737-model-to-fend-off-bombardier- jet-1461259670 Back to Top Aviation safety changes focus of bill WASHINGTON (AP) - From package delivery drones to bomb-sniffing dogs, a bill approved by the Senate on Tuesday makes extensive changes to aviation safety, security and consumer programs and policies. It would: AIRLINE PASSENGERS -Require the Department of Transportation to issue regulations standardizing how airlines disclose fees so consumers can better comparison-shop for tickets. -Make airlines automatically refund checked-bag fees if bags arrive more than six hours after a domestic flight lands and more than 12 hours after an international flight. -Require airlines to automatically refund fees for services not provided, such as early boarding that didn't happen or a seat that was unavailable despite an advance assignment. -Require that passengers traveling with young children are seated together at no extra charge. -Require airlines to permit early boarding of pregnant women and to set aside rooms for nursing mothers. SECURITY -Expand the Transportation Security Administration's PreCheck program to include more travelers in an effort to prioritize screening time on travelers who haven't been vetted, shortening security lines. -Authorize an increase from 30 up to 60 in the number of TSA "viper teams" that stop and search suspicious passengers in airport public areas outside the security perimeter, often using bomb-sniffing dogs. -Enhance vetting of employees who have access to secure areas of airports, and tighten access to those areas. -Require all newly manufactured airliners to have a second barrier between the passenger cabin and the flight deck that can be closed to prevent anyone from the cabin entering the cockpit when the cockpit door is opened. -Require TSA to resume passenger screening at small airports where it was previously reduced after cutbacks in airline service. DRONES -Require the FAA within two years to authorize package deliveries by drones and to create a small-drone "air carrier certificate" for operators of drone delivery fleets, similar to the safety certificates granted to commercial airlines. -Establish criminal penalties for the reckless use of drones to deter their operation near airports. -Require the FAA to publicly disclose information about government and commercial drone operations, including what types of personal information is gathered by the drones. -Require the operators of all drones weighing more than a half pound pass an FAA- approved online safety test. OTHER PROVISIONS -Simplify requirements for private pilots to receive an FAA medical certificate attesting to their health, and reduce the frequency of doctor visits needed to renew the certificate. -Speed the process by which new types of small airplanes receive safety certification from the FAA. -Require the FAA to develop standards for tracking airliners when the planes fly over remote areas out of the range of radar, a response to the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 two years ago. -Extend to flight attendants the same scheduling rules to prevent fatigue and provide time off for rest that apply to passenger airline pilots. http://thedpost.com/Aviation-safety-changes-focus-of Back to Top THE SENATE'S LAME FAA REAUTHORIZATION BILL A FSI COMMENTARY By Roger Rapoport Contributing Editor Washington D.C.- "This bill is the most pro-passenger, pro-security reauthorization bill we've seen in literally a generation," said Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune (R- S.D.) this week as the Senate passed a bill setting policy and funding for the FAA. Has Senator Thune or any of his fellow committee members been on an airplane lately. If so, what were they smoking? While the airlines reap billions in windfall profits thanks to historically low gas prices, seats get narrower, carriers add on preposterous change fees, force passengers to pay exorbitant fees for checking baggage, require some parents to pay extra for the privilege of sitting next to their children on crowded flights, and let children under 2 fly without seat belts. Here's an example. On a recent Southwest flight I took from Chicago to Tampa, the captain, wary of a line of thunderstorms, required all passengers and cabin crew to remain seated During an hour of rock and rolling, which several flight attendants and fellow passengers called the roughest flight of their lives, everyone on board was belted with just one exception, an infant in arms who could easily have turned into a flying missile. The FAA's flimsy excuse for allowing infants to fly unbelted is the notion that an unbelted child in a plane is safer than a child belted into a car seat. The airlines support this idea because they worry that forcing families to buy seats for their under two children will discourage them from traveling. Senator Thune and his colleagues remain silent on this critical public safety issue. The truth, as FSI readers know, is that unbelted children have been killed and badly injured in crashes and turbulence. When it comes to security every single passenger should be safely belted. Carriers could easily use some of their profits to protect their youngest passengers by offering reduced fares and provide approved car seats. All it would take is an act of Congress. The decision of air carriers to charge for checked luggage, means packed overhead bins that turn flight attendants into baggage handlers who require passengers to gate check their carry-ons. At a time when they should be focused on security and safety, they are busy sending luggage down into the hold. This distracts them from the job they were hired to do. It is also a negative for passengers because their bags were not scanned into the tracking system at the last minute. Should their bag be misplaced, particularly during a transfer, the tracking process will be less efficient. I have spoken to many flight attendants and pilots who voice concern about crowding more seats onto aircraft with less legroom. All of this raises questions about potential evacuations in the event of an emergency. Packing more passengers onto planes reduces mobility, particularly for special needs passengers. The best way to solve these problems would be for Congress to protect the rights of passengers by forcing the airlines to require all passengers to use a seat belt restraint system, no exceptions. No child should ever be prevented from sitting next to his or her parents. Congress's failure to address this problem is inexcusable. In the interest of security all passengers should be allowed to check his or her bag for free. This would effectively eliminate the "gate check loophole" where bags are thrown into the hold at the last minute. Since airlines don't have enough room in their overheads to handle every carry-on, checking baggage should be free. On a related note Congress should also eliminate change fees, Southwest Airlines has demonstrated conclusively that change fees up to $200 are a disincentive. This airline has proven that a carrier can be profitable without bilking customers over changes that are often unavoidable. Copyright Roger Rapoport. All Rights Reserved. Roger Rapoport is the producer of the feature film Pilot Error . Back to Top Australian Society of Air Safety Investigators - 2016 ANZSASI SEMINAR ANZSASI 2016 - NOVOTEL BRISBANE 3 - 5 JUN NOTE: EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION CLOSES AT THE END OF THIS MONTH The cut-off date for the discounted 'early-bird' registration is FAST approaching so complete your Seminar registration and book in your travel and accommodation requirements for ANZSASI 2016 NOW! OVERVIEW We believe that the annual ANZSASI Seminar is without doubt the best value for money Aviation safety Seminar held in Australia. * This year the Seminar will be held in Brisbane at the Novotel Hotel, Creek Street, from Friday to Sunday June 3-5 (2016). The Novotel Brisbane, in Creek Street, is ideally suited being centrally located, and adjacent to public transport. It is a short walk from Central Station allowing easy access from the airport and the Brisbane rail network. The registration fee includes a welcome cocktail reception on the Friday evening and delegate's dinner on the Saturday night. The Seminar also includes two full days of presentations on Saturday and Sunday. * On the Saturday morning Mr Martin Dolan (ATSB Chief Commissioner) will open the Seminar as our Keynote speaker. Our program also includes presentations from Prof Geoff Dell (CQU), Prof Graham Braithwaite (Cranfield University, UK), and representatives from the ATSB, TAIC (NZ), DSTA, Safety Wise Solutions, UNSW and a number of other key speakers from industry. A wide range of subjects will be covered at the Seminar including: * Human Factors, UAV, Rotary wing, Underwater recovery, Aircraft tracking, Cabin air quality, Noise cancelling systems, Safety auditing, Airline training, Weather, Investigative challenges, Runway excursions, Runway misalignment and, Investigating parachute accidents. SEMINAR REGISTRATION AND HOTEL RESERVATIONS The draft Seminar program will be available shortly. Information on the Seminar, Seminar registration and accommodation at the Novotel Brisbane are available on the ASASI website, just follow the following link: www.asasi.org * Note: Once you open the link, you will see the internal links to the Seminar on the right hand side of the ASASI home page. Click on the separate links for the registration details and the hotel bookings. * You can register now for the Seminar with 'early bird' rates running up to 01 May. So if you register now you can receive a significant discount. * The Novotel is also offering discounted accommodation rates to Seminar attendees. (Be sure to include the applicable discount code when making bookings). ANZSASI 2016 WILL PROVIDE AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO LEARN FROM EXPERTS AND LEADERS IN THE FIELD OF AVIATION SAFETY AND SAFETY INVESTIGATION Back to Top PhD Research Request Fellow Helicopter Crewmember, This is a request for you to participate in a research study for my doctoral degree. The purpose is to study the relationship between safety management systems, incidents and accidents, and company performance for small helicopter companies with less than 5 aircraft and in the last 10 years. This research is in conjunction with safety efforts by the US Helicopter Safety Team and the Helicopter Association International. There are series of questions regarding safety management systems, incidents and accidents, and company performance. To participate, you must be between age 21 to 60, had some aircrew experience with a small civil helicopter organization (less than 5 aircraft) and in the United States in last 10 years. Current helicopter student pilots can participate. Please follow the link below and fill but if you start, please finish the survey. It will only take about 12 minutes to complete. The survey does not include any identifiable data about the crewmember, places of employment, or OEM. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5VPCZZ5 Thank you very much for your participation! Principal Investigator Scott Burgess Doctoral student at Northcentral University S.Burgess4793@email.ncu.edu Back to Top Graduate Research: Pilot Laser Study Over the last few years, laser strikes occurring in commercial aviation have significantly increased. As little research has been done in this area, we are interested in conducting research on the impact this is having on pilots. According to the UK Civil Aviation Authority, the number of reported incidents have increased ten-fold in the past decade. This trend looks like it could continue as handheld lasers are rapidly increasing in power and decreasing in price. Pilots who have experienced a laser strike while operating an aircraft have raised concerns ranging from distraction, to not being able to fly the aircraft due to blindness. The reporting requirements currently for laser strikes vary from country to country and data is limited. The objective of this study is to determine what occurred during the incidents and how pilots have been affected by a laser strike(s). The data will be analysed and then shared with airline industry officials, regulatory bodies and various stakeholders. The objective is to provide research that can help us avoid or prepare for these types of incidents. The survey is completely confidential and no personal information will be shared. The survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes and your participation can make a big difference in an area of growing concern. Thank you in advance for taking the time to complete this important survey. https://city.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/pilot-laser-study Balbir.chopra@city.ac.uk Curt Lewis