Flight Safety Information July 12, 2016 - No. 135 In This Issue Chicago-bound flight from Heathrow diverts to Edinburgh for emergency landing after fuel leak Delta Airlines Paris to Pittsburgh flight turns around because of engine issue United Airlines plane blows two tires when pilot halts takeoff in Houston Missing MH370: Ministerial tripartite meeting on Malaysia Airline plane search scheduled for next week Air New Zealand flight halted after passengers see smoke coming from engine Military aircraft crashes at Portugal's Montijo Airbase, 3 killed New bill seeks to have families sit together on airplane Hackers bombard aviation sector with over 1,000 attacks per month FAA Extension Includes Third-Class Medical Reform Qatar Airways Plans to Take 10% Stake in LATAM Airlines Airbus predicts a need for 33,000 new aircraft in the next 20 years Mitsubishi signs potential first European jet orders China aircraft maker lands $2B order for homegrown ARJ21 jet San Juan College Pursues Helicopter Flight Degree (New Mexico) ISASI 2016, Reykjavik, Iceland...17 to 20 October, 2016 Chicago-bound flight from Heathrow diverts to Edinburgh for emergency landing after fuel leak * United Airlines flight 929 took off from Heathrow at around 7.30am today * Suffered fuel issue while at 26,000 feet and began flying in holding pattern * Burnt fuel for some time then made emergency landing at Edinburgh A flight bound for Chicago has been forced to make an emergency landing in Edinburgh. The United Airlines flight UA929 had a fuel leak and declared an emergency at 26,000 ft after departing from London Heathrow this morning. It was due to land in the US at around 3.30pm today but instead touched down in Scotland at around 9.30am. A United Airlines flight UA929 declared an emergency in the air shortly after departing from London Heathrow this morning and landed in Edinburgh After reporting the fuel issue, it started a holding pattern and circled in the air to burn fuel before beginning its descent There were 119 passengers and 11 crew on board the Boeing 767 used by the airline. The plane, which has been in service since April 1991, has now stopped on the runway and the pilot has requested an inspection. A United Airlines spokesman said: 'Our customer service team at Edinburgh Airport is providing assistance to customers of flight UA929 today, which diverted to Edinburgh because of a mechanical issue. 'The aircraft landed safely at 9:45am. We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience caused.' There have been a number of emergency diversions over Britain in the last week, with one plane lading at Southend London yesterday after taking off from London City. On Thursday, another City Jet plane came down early at Southend due to a hydraulic problem with its brakes. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3686005/Chicago-bound-flight-Heathrow-diverts-Edinburgh- emergency-landing-fuel-leak.html#ixzz4EC7r23E7 Back to Top Delta Airlines Paris to Pittsburgh flight turns around because of engine issue A Delta Airlines flight destined for Pittsburgh from Paris turned around shortly after takeoff on Monday when the airplane's crew found a possible engine issue. The Boeing 757 was carrying 156 passengers and eight crew members when it landed back at Charles de Gaulle Airport without incident, Delta officials said. Passengers will spend the night in Paris before boarding another flight bound for Pittsburgh about 18 hours behind schedule. The flight originally departed at 4:15 p.m., Paris time, and was scheduled to land in Pittsburgh at 7 p.m. Maintenance crews on Monday worked to change one of the 757's engines, Delta officials said. http://triblive.com/news/allegheny/10776617-74/delta-flight-paris Back to Top United Airlines plane blows two tires when pilot halts takeoff in Houston A United Airlines plane blew out two of its tires when a pilot abruptly stopped its takeoff from a Houston airport due to concerns about a possible mechanical problem. Airport officials say the Boeing 737 was taking off from Bush Intercontinental Airport to Denver at around 6 a.m. Monday when the plane's crew spotted a possible mechanical malfunction and the pilot slammed the brakes. Two of the plane's tires blew out as the aircraft came to a stop. No injuries were reported among the 164 passengers and six crew members. Passengers got off the plane, were taken back to a terminal and later boarded another aircraft that left for Denver. It was not immediately known what mechanical problem the plane might have experienced. http://www.dallasnews.com/business/airline-industry/20160711-united-airlines-plane-blows-two-tires- when-pilot-halts-takeoff-in-houston.ece Back to Top Missing MH370: Ministerial tripartite meeting on Malaysia Airline plane search scheduled for next week Australia, China and Malaysia's Transport Ministers to meet on 18-19 July. The tripartite transport ministers meeting on the search for missing Malaysia Airline MH370 is scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur on 18 and 19 July. The meeting is aimed at setting out plans on the future of the search for MH370. A tripartitie meeting involving top-level officials from Malaysia, China and Australia was held in Kuala Lumpur on 20 and 21 June. However, the outcome of the meeting was not made public, leaving family members of othose on board the missing plane no closer to finding out what will happen to search operations once the designated sea bed area has been scoured. The search operations is nearing its end, with so far more than 110,000 square kilometres of the seafloor searched. In its latest update on 6 July, the Australia Transport Safety Bureau which is leading the search in the southern Indian Ocean has warned that due to ongoing poor weather conditions, the search operations may see a delay of around six to eight weeks. "In the event of further poor weather, or delays as a result of unforeseeable problems such as equipment failure or crew incapacity, searching the entire 120,000 square kilometre search area may continue well beyond the winter months," ATSB said in its operational update. Australia's Transport Minister Darren Chester told AAP that the ministerial-level meeting will go on as scheduled. Martin Dolan, the former chief commissioner of the ATSB and the person who oversaw the search for the missing plane until his recent retirement, told News Ltd that he would like for the search to continue. He said that he would feel regretful if the plane was never found but acknowledged that resources were limited and might run out. The Boeing 777 was on a routine flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on 8 March 2014 with 239 passengers and crew ob board when it vanished without a trace. The fuselage of the aircraft is yet to be found, although various debris has been confirmed to have been part of the aircraft. http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/ Back to Top Air New Zealand flight halted after passengers see smoke coming from engine An international flight at Auckland Airport was delayed after smoke and an "acrid smell" filled the cabin. An Air New Zealand flight from Auckland to Sydney has been forced to return to the gate after an engine started smoking. TVNZ reporter Andrea Vance, a passenger on the NZ103 flight, described a "strange acrid smell" in the cabin before the plane ceased its taxi. Vance reported smoke coming from the right engine, and said fire crews were following the plane. Another passenger, Eve Tyson, said the smell was detected just after the safety video had finished playing. "All of a sudden there was a strong smell of smoke, a bit like the smell that comes after you've let off a firearm or firecrackers. It lasted at least a couple of minutes," she said. Tyson said the crew kept passengers calm and they did not realise a fire crew had come out to meet the plane until it was parked. They were waiting for another flight, due to take off at 11.30am, she said. Air New Zealand said in a statement NZ103 returned to the gate after an "engineering issue" was detected while the aircraft was taxiing to the runway. The aircraft was being inspected by engineers, the airline said. "We are currently working through options for reaccommodating customers booked to travel on this service." Flight tracking website, Flight Radar, showed the airplane returning to the terminal. http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/travel-troubles/82009141/air-new-zealand-flight-aborted-after-passengers- see-smoke-coming-from-engine Back to Top Military aircraft crashes at Portugal's Montijo Airbase, 3 killed A Lockheed C-130 Hercules airplane has caught fire and crashed at the Montijo military base in Portugal. At least three people were killed in the accident, while the condition of three more crewmembers is being verified, local media report. The four-engine military transport aircraft caught fire during take-off on Monday, Portugal's RTP broadcaster reported. At least three Portuguese Air Force personnel have died, a source in the National Medical Emergency Institute told Lusa news agency, adding that the authorities are still reviewing the status of the other three crewmembers. Observador newspaper reported there were seven people on board the cargo plane, all of them military. With three fatal victims, at least one more person was seriously injured, it said. The incident happened around noon local time. Dozens of emergency teams have been mobilized following the crash. Portugal's Defense Ministry has not yet commented on the incident. Three transport squadrons and one helicopter search and rescue squadron are located at the Montijo Airbase. The crashed aircraft was part of one of the cargo squadrons, providing logistic support to the Portuguese Navy. The turboprop C-130 Hercules model has been produced for over 60 years, making it one of the longest continuously-manufactured military aircraft. The cargo plane serves as the main tactical airlifter for many military forces in the US, Europe and other parts of the world. https://www.rt.com/news/350650-portugal-hercules-montijo-crash/ ************* Status: Preliminary Date: Monday 11 July 2016 Time: ca 12:00 Type: Lockheed C-130H Hercules Operator: Força Aérea Portuguesa Registration: registration unknown C/n / msn: First flight: Crew: Fatalities: / Occupants: Passengers: Fatalities: / Occupants: Total: Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 7 Airplane damage: Destroyed Airplane fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Montijo Air Base ( Portugal) Phase: Takeoff (TOF) Nature: Military Departure airport: Montijo Air Base (LPMT), Portugal Destination airport: ? Narrative: A Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport plane crashed on takeoff from Montijo Air Base, Portugal. A fire erupted. At least three occupants are reported to have been killed. https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20160711-0 Back to Top New bill seeks to have families sit together on airplane Bill especially aimed at younger kids WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Los Angeles Times reported that a bill has been added to funding legislation for the Federal Aviation Administration to help accommodate families traveling together on the plane. The bill, introduced by Reps. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) and Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), calls for provisions that will require airlines to ensure children under 13 years of age sit with another family member who is 13 years old or older. "The Families Flying Together Act will put an end to the absurdity of toddlers sitting separate or unattended on an airplane - requiring airlines to plan ahead so that families with young children can fly together," Nadler said in a statement. "Traveling with young children can already be very stressful for parents and when you can't sit together on a flight, it only makes this process more difficult." Davis said in statement. "All we're asking is for airlines to do a better job of accommodating parents ahead of time so we can make flying a better experience for families and other passengers aboard." Nadler and Davis previously introduced H.R. 3334, the Families Flying Together Act of 2015, to direct airline carriers to notify passengers traveling with minors if there are no seats next to each other to accommodate them and ensure, if possible, that families are seated together on flights. The current bill would allow airlines to charge passengers an additional fee if they are placed in higher- priced, roomier seats. http://www.krmg.com/news/news/local/new-bill-seeks-have-families-sit-together-airplane/nrwgY/ Back to Top Hackers bombard aviation sector with over 1,000 attacks per month According to experts, on-the-ground management systems offer more vulnerabilities than the plane systems. As airlines and airports increasingly become targets of cyber attacks, the EU's aviation safety agency has urged taking cyber threats "seriously" by launching a common strategy. In the US, Turkey, Spain, Sweden and recently in Poland, aircraft infected with malware or security breaches have provoked delays, loss of information and a wave of growing concern among public authorities, regulators and the industry. The fear is that one day terrorists, clicking on a laptop, will be able to crash planes or make them disappear from radar screens. "We have to be prepared always for the worst," said Luc Tytgat, Director of Strategy and Safety Management at the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), an EU agency. In one of the clearest indications to date of the magnitude of the challenge, Tytgat said aviation systems were subject to an average of 1,000 attacks each month. "We have to take it seriously," he told a recent event in Brussels, urging all EASA partners and cyber experts in member states to develop a "common understanding" of the risk management procedures and the information sharing mechanisms required to minimise risks. "We do not have much time," he insisted. In an industry that knows no borders, devising a common strategy to tackle cyber threats has become a top priority over the last years, particularly in Europe and the United States which are home to the world's two biggest plane makers. Brian Moran, Boeing's Vice-President of Government Affairs for Europe, highlighted the "importance" of transatlantic cooperation on the matter. "It is absolutely essential," he stressed during the same debate, saying "there is a great willingness to cooperate". EU's new cyber centre At European level, the response will take shape in EASA's new cybersecurity centre, Tytgat indicated. The Aviation Computer Emergency Response Team (AV-CERT) will help understand the nature of the threats, collect evidence of previous cyber attacks, identify security flaws and vulnerabilities, analyse and develop responses to cyber incidents or vulnerabilities - whether workarounds, recommendations, or technical solutions. Those European efforts mirror recommendations by the high-level advisory committee set up in June 2015 by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the US. The aim of this committee is to identify risk areas and reach a consensus on international design and testing standards to counter cyber attacks. ICAO priority Reflecting growing international concern for the topic, cyber security will be on the agenda of the International Civil Aviation Organisation's general assembly in September 2016. The UN body had already flagged cyber security as a "major concern" in 2012 but the issue has gained in emergency since then. ICAO is expected to adopt a resolution urging member countries to align cyber security responsibilities within respective governments and adopt a flexible, outcome-focused approach to deal with this new kind of risks. According to Tytgat, the EASA and the FAA are drafting a common position "very urgently" as a contribution to ICAO's proposal. Hackers turned into cybersecurity advisors have played a major role in bringing the issue under the spotlight. Chris Roberts, an IT expert, shocked the aviation sector and security agencies when he claimed that he hacked repeatedly a passenger jet through the entertainment console of his seat. He said he was capable of manipulating the plane's engines during a flight. THE EVER-EVOLVING CYBER THREAT TO PLANES Hackers and cyber-terrorists present an ever-evolving threat to airlines, with experts constantly testing for new vulnerabilities - including the fear that drones could be used to throw a plane off course. EurActiv.com His comments triggered an FBI investigation and US warning to all its airlines' personnel to watch out for passengers attempting to connect their laptops to devices on board. But according to Hugo Teso, a Spanish hacker and pilot, it is not necessary to get a computer on board. Teso, now a reputed advisor for aviation companies, stunned participants in a closed-door meeting back in 2013 when he suggested he could take over an aircraft's steering system with a mobile phone. "In modern planes, there are a whole series of backdoors, through which hackers can gain access to a variety of aircraft systems," he warned. But Boeing's Moran was less alarmist, arguing that today's aircraft are "secured" against such intrusions. Instead, he stressed the importance of better protecting the ecosystem in which aircraft operate - from the maintenance systems to on-the-ground management systems and the cockpit. Risks on the ground Experts tend to agree with him. Currently, the main vulnerabilities are identified with on-the-ground networks connected to planes that upload or download flight-related information. EASA points out that these systems are less secure than those installed on the aircraft. Nowadays, hardware used by passengers during the flights, such as the Wi-Fi connection or entertainment consoles, are physically separated from critical onboard safety systems. That is the reason why experts questioned Roberts' claim about the manipulation of the jet's engines. But the effects of cyber attacks against on-the-ground systems have already shown their effects. In June 2015, an attack grounded around 1,400 passengers when the flight plan system of 10 planes went down for around five hours at Warsaw's Chopin airport. CYBERATTACK GROUNDS POLISH AIRLINE CARRIER A cyberattack against Polish flagship carrier LOT grounded more than 1,400 passengers at Warsaw's Frederic Chopin Airport in what an airline spokesman described as the "first attack of its kind". EurActiv.com Hackers used a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack, a malicious technique commonly used on the Internet to overload an organisation's system with multitude of simultaneous communication requests. The attack took by surprise many actors, including the affected companies. "This is an industry problem on a much wider scale, and for sure we have to give it more attention," LOT chief executive Sebastian Mikosz told a news conference after the incident. "I expect it can happen to anyone anytime," he said. While many airlines and airports have robust systems in place to tackle cyber attacks, "they haven't always taken a holistic approach to the IT environment or considered the broader threat to the aviation system," warns the International Air Transport Association (IATA). "The next 9/11 will be caused by computer hackers infiltrating aircraft controls, not suicide bombers", Dr. Gabi Siboni, director of the Cyber Security Program at Israel's Institute for National Security Studies, said in a conference this year. https://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/hackers-bombard-aviation-sector-with-more- than-1000-attacks-per-month/ Back to Top FAA Extension Includes Third-Class Medical Reform House and Senate iron out a compromise that could reach the White House within weeks. A bill that reached a compromise between the House and Senate to extend FAA authorization includes provisions for third-class medical reform. A deal being brokered by the House and Senate to keep the lights turned on at the FAA beyond July 15 includes third-class medical reform language, which has already passed in the Senate but has been held up in the House over the contentious fight to privatize ATC. GA forces remain staunchly opposed to the ATC privatization plan, but at the expense of quick passage of other measures many pilots want adopted ASAP - and at the top of that list is third-class medical reform. The compromise bill agreed upon earlier this week would require the FAA to replace medical exams with pilot self-certification and recurrent online aeromedical training, meaning many pilots may never need to see an Aviation Medical Examiner again. The House and Senate are expected to pass the extension legislation before Congress adjourns next week. Once the president signs the bill into law, the FAA will have up to one year to craft formal regulations before the third-class medical provisions become effective. "Including third-class medical reform in this package is great news for general aviation, and we're very pleased that the House has included it as part of the FAA extension," said AOPA President Mark Baker. "We appreciate the efforts of general aviation advocates in both the House and Senate. This is a vital issue for the general aviation community, and it's long past time to get it done." http://www.flyingmag.com/faa-extension-includes-third-class-medical-reform Back to Top Qatar Airways Plans to Take 10% Stake in LATAM Airlines Gulf-based carrier will subscribe to LATAM's new fundraising round as part of deal Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways, boards a jet on the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow 2016 in Farnborough, U.K. Mr. Al Baker said his company is planning a significant investment in LATAM Airlines as it seeks to expand its investment in other carriers. FARNBOROUGH, ENGLAND-Qatar Airways Tuesday said it plans to take a stake of up to 10% in LATAM Airlines Group as it continues to expand its investment in other carriers. Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al Baker said the airline would invest $613 million in the struggling Latin American carrier, which has been hit by weak local demand. Mr. Al Baker said he and his company "recognize short-term localized challenges," but remained confident in LATAM's long-term prospects. Under the terms of the deal LATAM would also hold a fresh fundraising round, to which Qatar Airways would subscribe. Qatar Airways is a oneworld alliance partner with LATAM, and is also the largest shareholder in British Airways parent International Consolidated Airlines Group SA, also a member of the alliance. LATAM shareholders still have to approve the investment at an extraordinary shareholder meeting, which will take place before Sept. 2. "We believe this investment will allow us to explore new possibilities to connect South America with the Middle East and Asia and strengthen our financial position," LATAM chief executive Enrique Cueto said. Qatar Airways also is considering a stake in Italy's Meridiana airline, though Mr. Al Baker Monday expressed concern talks with unions weren't progressing as hoped. Qatar Airways may have to walk away from the investment, he indicated. http://www.wsj.com/articles/qatar-airways-plans-to-take-10-stake-in-latam-airlines-1468317573 Back to Top Airbus predicts a need for 33,000 new aircraft in the next 20 years Airbus' Global Market Forecast has predicted that in the next 20 years, there will be a need for over 33,000 new aircraft, with a need for higher capacity aircraft. The forecast has predicted passenger traffic will grow by 4.5% each year, causing the need for the new aircraft valued USD5.2 trillion. The global aircraft fleet is predicted to double to almost 40,000 aircraft, and 13,000 aircraft replaced to more fuel-efficient types. It is predicted that by 2035, 62% of the population will live in cities, and the number of aviation mega cities will rise from 55 to 93, which will account for 35 percent of world GDP with daily long haul passengers travelling to, from, or via aviation mega cities, increasing to 2.5 million. "We are ramping up production to meet market demand for our leading aircraft products and we will also ramp up our customer service offerings to meet the increasing demands of air transportation," said John Leahy, Airbus, chief operating officer, Customers. Airbus is also set to expand its global services business over the next 20 years as a requirement for one million pilots and engineers (560,000 new pilots, 540,000 new engineers) to fly the and maintain new aircraft. http://www.arabianaerospace.aero/airbus-predicts-a-need-for-33-000-new-aircraft-in-the-next-20- years.html Back to Top Boeing Expects A 'Wave of Replacement Demand' For New Aircraft $5.9 trillion worth of planes over the next two decades The world's airlines will need 39,620 new aircraft worth $5.9 trillion over the next 20 years, U.S. planemaker Boeing BA 1.50% forecast on Monday, up 4.1 percent on its estimate last year. This will be driven largely by the growth of low-cost carriers and emerging markets, Boeing said on the first day of Britain's Farnborough Airshow. The company said 28,140 new single-aisle airplanes such as its Boeing 737 and rival Airbus' A320 will be delivered in the 20 years to 2035, up 5 percent from its forecast last year. Airlines will need 9,100 widebody planes such as Boeing's 787 and 777 models, with the company saying a wave of replacement demand will come in the 2021-2028 time-frame. Large widebody planes like its four-engined 747-8 and Airbus' A380 will account for only 530 deliveries, said Boeing. Analysts have predicted a slowdown in aircraft purchases after Boeing and Airbus booked a record numbers of orders over the last few years. Falling oil prices also mean airlines are likely to keep older less fuel-efficient planes in their fleets for longer than before, given the lower operating costs. Boeing, however, predicts passenger traffic will grow by 4.8 percent over the next two decades and that will help to double the global commercial aircraft fleets in that time. "Despite recent events that have impacted the financial markets, the aviation sector will continue to see long-term growth with the commercial fleet doubling in size," said Randy Tinseth, vice president of marketing, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, in a statement. There will be 15,130 deliveries to Asia, the largest geographic segment, said Boeing. Low-cost carriers and full-service airlines have been adding planes and increasing services to cater for demand from a rising middle class in Asia eager for both leisure and business travel. North America will account for 8,330 new deliveries and Europe 7,570 new aircraft, said Boeing. Boeing also forecast demand for 930 new freighters and 1,440 converted freighters on the back of a projected 4.2 percent annual growth in cargo traffic. http://fortune.com/2016/07/11/boeing-aircraft-demand/ Back to Top Mitsubishi signs potential first European jet orders Swedish leasing company Rockton signed a letter of intent for orders of Japan's first domestically produced passenger jet, the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ) FARNBOROUGH, England - Japan's Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp on Monday said it had signed a letter of intent for orders of its new regional passenger plane with Swedish leasing company Rockton, in what would be its first European sale. The deal is for 10 firm orders with an option for an additional 10 and the two companies said they expected a definitive agreement "in the near future" in a statement on the sidelines of the Farnborough air show, southwest of London. Deliveries are set to begin in 2020. Hiromichi Morimoto, president of Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp, said the deal would give the MRJ90 program a "burst of momentum to expand customer base in Europe". The MRJ90 is Japan's first domestically-made commercial aircraft for about half a century. Japan-and its MRJ jet-are competing with other regional passenger jet manufacturers such as Brazil's Embraer and Canada's Bombardier. Mitsubishi unveiled the jet-which is 35 meters long and seats about 80 passengers-in October 2014. The short-to-medium-haul plane was backed by the Japanese government and a consortium of major firms including Toyota. "We find the MRJ airliner to be an exceptional product," Niklas Lund, president of Rockton, said in the statement. "This new aircraft will provide crucial economic benefits to airlines looking to operate in the 70-90 passenger size segment," he said. http://www.japantoday.com/category/business/view/mitsubishi-signs-potential-first-european-jet-orders Back to Top China aircraft maker lands $2B order for homegrown ARJ21 jet China's state-owned aircraft maker has signed a deal to sell up to 60 of its new regional jets to a leasing company in a deal worth up to $2.3 billion. FILE - In this June 28, 2016, file photo, people wave Chinese flags and take photos as a Chengdu Airlines ARJ21-700 regional jet is taxied after landing at the Hongqiao Airport in Shanghai. China's state-owned aircraft maker signed a deal to sell up to 60 of its new regional jets to a leasing company in a deal worth up to $2.3 billion. In a joint statement released late Monday, July 11, 2016, Commercial Aircraft Corp. said the agreement signed with China Aircraft Leasing includes a confirmed order for 30 ARJ21-700 jets and an option to buy 30 more. China's state-owned aircraft maker has signed a deal to sell up to 60 of its new regional jets to a leasing company in a deal worth up to $2.3 billion. In a joint statement late Monday, Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China Ltd., or COMAC, said the agreement signed with China Aircraft Leasing Group, a Hong Kong-listed company, includes a confirmed order for 30 ARJ21-700 jets and an option to buy 30 more. The companies said the aircraft will be leased to an unidentified Indonesian airline that one of China Aircraft Leasing's shareholders, Friedmann Pacific Asset Management Ltd., plans to invest in. The ARJ21-700 is part of efforts by China, one of the world's biggest and fastest-growing air travel markets, to develop a homegrown aviation industry. It's a rival to aircraft made by Bombardier Inc. of Canada and Brazil's Embraer SA. The ARJ21 took its maiden commercial flight last month, which came a decade behind schedule because of technical problems. The deal, which was signed at Britain's Farnborough International Airshow, is the biggest single commercial order for the jet since its debut, the companies said. The aircraft will be delivered over the next five years and the deal's value is based on the plane's list price. Hong Kong-based Friedmann Pacific, an investment firm specializing in aviation, plans to operate the Indonesian airline solely using ARJ21 planes. In 2012, China Aircraft Leasing placed an order for another jet COMAC is developing, the C919, a long- range airliner aimed at competing with planes from Boeing and Airbus. The C919, which has also been beset by delays, is due to enter service in 2019. http://www.sunherald.com/news/business/article89036887.html#storylink=cpy Back to Top San Juan College Pursues Helicopter Flight Degree (New Mexico) FARMINGTON -- San Juan College officials are pursuing a new degree program for helicopter flight training that could get off the ground as early as next spring. During a presentation to the college board at Tuesday's work session, Vice President for Learning Barbara Ake and Vice President for Administrative Services Ed DesPlas updated the board on progress college staff have made toward offering an associate of applied science degree in aviation technology. Discussions about a potential helicopter flight training degree have been underway for a number of years. Ake and college President Toni Pendergrass gave a presentation to the board on Jan. 6, 2015, about a meeting they had in December 2014 with representatives from Guidance Aviation about opening a possible location in Farmington. Right now, the college is developing a request for proposals document for companies interested in partnering with the school to operate the program, DesPlas said. The request could be issued in August or September. After that, the board could vote on the proposal at its Oct. 4 meeting. If the board approves the measure, DesPlas said the program could start in the strong 2017 semester. The program would be similar to an airplane pilot program that San Juan College and Mesa Airlines operated from 1989 to 2010. Depending on negotiations, the flight school partner would likely be responsible for operating flight simulators and two to four helicopters at the Four Corners Regional Airport, as well as assisting in recruiting adjunct flight instructors for the first several semesters that the program operates, according to DesPlas' presentation. College staff are working to develop the curriculum for the program, which will need to be approved by the New Mexico Higher Education Department, the Federal Aviation Administration and the New Mexico branch of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The college or its flight school partner will lease or sublease hangar and classroom space at the Farmington airport, according to DesPlas' presentation. Airport manager Mike Lewis said a large hangar recently vacated by Great Lake Airlines would provide more than enough space for the program. He also said the program could contribute to economic development in the area by bringing new employees and students to the area. Enrollment in the program would primarily consist of veterans because benefits offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs cover tuition and program fees for helicopter flight training, DesPlas said. The projected tuition cost for the two-year program is about $175,000. The VA benefits can be used if no more than 85 percent of the enrolled students are veterans. San Juan College is seeking a waiver to that rule that would extend the benefits even if more than 85 percent of the enrolled students are veterans. Changes to VA benefits set to go into effect on Aug. 1 will benefit San Juan College, DesPlas said. The new rules state that for a flight training program to receive funding from the VA for tuition and fees, it must be administered by a higher learning institute, instead of a vocational program or third-party vendor, Ake said. DesPlas said that change will impact private flight schools and potentially put San Juan College in a more competitive position. "Because of the change in the veterans' rules and benefits, the market has changed and made it much more attractive to us, because there is not as much competition out there now," DesPlas said. http://www.aviationpros.com/news/12230800/san-juan-college-pursues-helicopter-flight-degree Back to Top ISASI 2016, Reykjavik, Iceland 17 to 20 October, 2016 The International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI) will hold their 47th annual seminar at the Grand Hotel Reykjavik, Iceland, from the 17 to 20 October 2016. The seminar theme is: "Every link is important" Papers will address this theme in conjunction with other contemporary matters on aviation safety investigation, including recent case studies, new investigation methods and aviation safety trends or developments. Registration and details of the main seminar, tutorial and companion programmes are available at www.esasi.eu/isasi-2016. We look forward to seeing you in Iceland Curt Lewis