Flight Safety Information August 24, 2016 - No. 166 In This Issue More than 90 aircraft have been targeted by high powered lasers at Manchester Airport Gulfstream G280 Flaunts Long Range on Transatlantic Flight FAA Publishes New Chart User's Guide American Airlines is sending 20 MD-80 jets to an airplane graveyard New Research Investment Aims to Shape Aircraft of the Future Jet Aviation Introduces New In-flight Dishwasher Dassault Falcon's New $58 Million Falcon 8X Business Jet Is Cleared for Takeoff This Student-Designed Aircraft Could Fly on Mars One Day PHOTO OF THE DAY GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY (1) GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY (2) GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY (3) ISASI 2016, Reykjavik, Iceland...17 to 20 October, 2016 (ISASI) DFW Regional Chapter (DFRC) Summer Meeting, September 8, 2016 More than 90 aircraft have been targeted by high powered lasers at Manchester Airport Aircraft chiefs say there should be tougher laws to protect pilots Nearly 100 aircraft were targeted by dangerous lasers pens near Manchester Airport last year. Shining the strong lights at aeroplanes can dazzle and distract pilots - and is a criminal offence. Pilots report dangerous laser attacks more than three times a DAY Last year, there were 93 complaints of laser beams being trained on craft coming in and out of Manchester Airport, according to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). And Andrew Haines, chief executive of the flight body, has demanded an outright ban on laser pens to stop troublemakers from causing potentially fatal crashes. Mr Haines believes the misuse of lasers is a tougher issue to solve than near misses involving drones because the former are "a deliberate attempt to cause harm". Under the existing Air Navigation Order 2009, it is an offence to act in a manner "likely to endanger an aircraft" and there is also a lesser offence of shining a light at an aircraft. Man City star Aguero says he WAS lasered but vows to keep taking penalties However the CAA boss wants the law to be toughened so anyone found carrying a laser pointer can be arrested. Mr Haines said: "We and Balpa, the pilots' trade union, are very keen that the Government introduces legislation which means that the mere possession of these high- powered lasers by individuals not licensed for them would be a criminal offence. "Why does Joe Bloggs walking down the street need a laser that can pop a balloon at 50 miles, that can cause permanent damage to a pilot?" He described high-powered lasers as "pieces of scientific equipment" and insisted there is "no legitimate reason" for an individual to have one in public. He said there have been cases of laser attacks causing permanent damage to pilots' eyesight and although they have not brought down an aircraft, it would be "daft to rule it out" as a possibility in the future. Police respond to one laser pen attack EVERY DAY, new figures show In July, two men who shone a laser pen into the cockpit of a police helicopter during a search for a missing person were jailed. Martin Jayes, 46, and his neighbour Oktawain Plaskiewicz, 22, both of Bateman Road, New Parks, Leicester, targeted the chopper which was circling near their homes on March 9. The pilot was forced to take evasive action and call off the search. At Leicester Crown Court, Jayes was jailed for eight months and Plaskiewicz for six months. An editorial published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology in April warned that pilots tend to focus on sudden bright lights, meaning that a laser attack can cause them to be dazzled and leave them with an after-image. The journal stated that between 500,000 and one million laser pointers, pens, and key rings are thought to have been in circulation over the past decade. It added that in recent years the nature and supply of handheld devices has changed dramatically, with many now stronger and unsuitable for sale to the general public. http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/more-90- aircraft-been-targeted-11790405 Back to Top Gulfstream G280 Flaunts Long Range on Transatlantic Flight WeatherTech founder and CEO flies midsize jet nearly 4,000 nm nonstop. Gulfstream G280 Gulfstream A Gulfstream G280 was flown on a nonstop flight from Chicago Aurora Municipal Airport to Tours Val de Loire Airport in France. A Gulfstream G280 owner recently had the chance to show off the midsize business jet's range on a nonstop flight from Chicago Aurora Municipal Airport to Tours Val de Loire Airport in France. The flight was the jet's longest to date. David MacNeil, founder and CEO of automobile accessories manufacturer WeatherTech and owner of the G280, last month flew 3,922 nm along with four passengers and one other crew member. The flight took 7 hours and 40 minutes at an average speed of Mach 0.80, according to Gulfstream. "This flight highlights the G280's long-range capability and outstanding fuel efficiency," said Scott Neal, Gulfstream senior vice president of Worldwide Sales and Marketing. "This is another example of a Gulfstream aircraft exceeding a customer's expectations." The G280, with a listed range of 3,600 nm at Mach 0.80, landed with reserve fuel in excess of NBAA requirements for IFR on the transatlantic flight. "After we considered many super-midsize jets, the G280 has far exceeded our lofty expectations for performance, comfort, safety, efficiency and range," MacNeil said. "As an experiment on this trip, we climbed directly to the aircraft's maximum altitude of 45,000 feet out of Chicago at maximum gross takeoff weight, and it never dipped below Mach 0.80." The jet, which features two Honeywell HTF7250G engines producing 7,624 pounds of thrust each, boasts more than 50 city-pair speed records. http://www.flyingmag.com/gulfstream-g280-flaunts-long-range-on-transatlantic-flight Back to Top FAA Publishes New Chart User's Guide Guide could be improved with practical knowledge quizzes. Aeronautical Chart Users Guide FAA The FAA has published the 12th edition of its Aeronautical Chart User's Guide. While the use of tablet computers as portable electronic flight bags (EFB) has certainly cut down on the paper most pilots carry with them these days, one item that hasn't changed in the move to electronic charting is the symbology displayed on those charts. No EFB in the world will help a pilot who doesn't possess a solid understanding of the nuances agency designers employ to present hundreds of variables within the National Airspace System. To aid with current on both VFR and IFR flight charting, the FAA recently published the 12th edition of the Aeronautical Chart User's Guide. The guide, available online, is just 86 pages long and should be required reading for every pilot from student to flight department manager. Having just completed a flight review, this Flying editor and flight instructor was reminded of just how much information can be cleverly grouped together with symbols that are easily forgotten when not regularly used. If there is a failing of the new guide however, it's that a good guide could well have been made great by adding practical quizzes on the information presented. It's only when pilots are faced with wondering to what the "*" next to the "L" in the airport information box refers that they'll realize they might be clueless. http://www.flyingmag.com/faa-publishes-new-chart-users-guide Back to Top American Airlines is sending 20 MD-80 jets to an airplane graveyard Call it forced retirement. American Airlines is sending 20 of its McDonnell Douglas MD-80s on their final flights on Tuesday. The largest US carrier by traffic is slimming its fleet to make room for newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft. The MD-80s fit that bill in the 1980s. American and other carriers stocked up on the twin-engine aircraft that burned less fuel than its predecessors, making the it a staple aircraft for domestic routes. Delta and Allegiant are among the carriers that also fly the MD-80. It's one of the largest single-day aircraft retirements ever, according to the airline, adding that its using the end of the busy summer travel season to take the MD-80s out of commission. The planes will live out their days at the Roswell International Air Center in Chaves County, New Mexico. American's MD-80s are an average of 23 years old, compared with about 10 years for the rest of the airline's fleet. The remaining 61 MD-80s will fly through the summer of 2018 and possibly longer, a spokesman said. "Certainly there will be a day when these are all gone but today is not that day," he said. http://qz.com/764560/american-airlines-is-sending-20-md-80-jets-to-an-airplane- graveyard/ Back to Top New Research Investment Aims to Shape Aircraft of the Future FILTON, UK - Renishaw is contributing its additive manufacturing expertise to a new £17.7 million project, being led by Airbus in the UK, to develop an innovative way of designing and manufacturing aircraft wings, which will encourage a "right first time approach" and reduce development time. More than 30,000 new aircraft are expected to be required in the next 15-20 years, replacing existing in-service models and also to expand airlines' fleets as the number of air travelers increases. The project, called Wing Design Methodology Validation - or WINDY - has been made possible thanks to joint industry and UK government investment from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), supported by the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI). It was one of a number of projects announced by BEIS during the Farnborough International Airshow. "Aircraft wing design is a hugely complicated process and this project will look at ways we can increase the robustness of the design and test process while also reducing the time this takes," said Airbus Chief Operating Officer Tom Williams. "Developing state-of-the-art technology will be at the heart of achieving these improvements and this investment is vital for that." The project will be led by a team from Airbus in Filton, Bristol, which is a global center of excellence for wing design, development and testing. As a key partner, Renishaw will provide its expertise in metal additive manufacturing (3D printing) and precision measurement. "This is a fantastic opportunity to work with Airbus and other project partners to develop processes that will fully test the capabilities of additive manufacturing," said Clive Martell, Renishaw's head of global additive manufacturing. "If we can highlight the design and production benefits of this technology in one of the most demanding industry sectors, then it paves the way for greater adoption of AM for serialized production in many other applications." WINDY will look at aerodynamic modelling of wings, the potential for use of complex 3D- printed components in wing structures and the possibility of innovative loads control on aircraft for better efficiency in flight. "One of the key aims of the ATI's UK national aerospace strategy is to sustain and grow the UK's global leadership in aircraft wings," said Simon Weeks, CTO of the Aerospace Technology Institute. "The WINDY project is a key element of this aim, securing essential wing design and integration capabilities in the UK and opening the way to innovative 3D- printed wing components. These will lead to lighter and more efficient wings, which will be needed for future generations of greener airliners." The Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) was established in 2013 to develop a technology strategy for UK aerospace and to ensure that industry and Government get the best economic return for the UK economy from their joint investment in aerospace R&D. The UK aerospace industry is the No1 in Europe and second globally only to the United States, with particular strengths in wings, engines and advanced systems and helicopters. The sector supports more than 3,000 companies distributed across the UK, directly employing 116,000 people, 4,100 of which are apprentices and trainees and supporting many thousands more in adjacent sectors. Since 2010, the sector has grown by 5% each year, spurred on by the Aerospace Growth Partnership (AGP), which brings industry and Government together to tackle barriers to growth, boost exports and grow high-value jobs. For further information on additive manufacturing, visit www.renishaw.com/additive. http://www.qualitymag.com/articles/93480-new-research-investment-aims-to-shape- aircraft-of-the-future Back to Top Jet Aviation Introduces New In-flight Dishwasher Jet Aviation ADW 600 dishwasher Jet Aviation has installed its first in-house-designed advanced in-flight dishwasher, the ADW 600. It was fitted into a private A330-200ER at its Basel MRO facility. The company is also working on the smaller ADW 450 dishwasher for midsize business jets. (Photo: Jet Aviation) Jet Aviation has installed its first "advanced" in-flight dishwasher-the ADW 600, developed in-house at its Basel facility-in a private Airbus A330-200ER. The installation was performed through the EASA Part-21 DOA minor modification approval process. The ADW 600 has a three-minute wash cycle and uses a "gentle, eco-friendly" soap suitable for both silver and aluminum, unlike traditional industrial dishwashers that use corrosive chemicals. According to Jet Aviation, the washer allows carriage of fewerdishes on board, opening up storage space, and it can be used to heat dishes before meals are served. "We are finalizing development of the ADW 450, a lighter 450-mm-wide model, which will fit all midsize and super-midsize business jets," said Johannes Turzer, senior vice president and general manager of Jet Aviation's Basel maintenance center. The dishwasher can be installed during scheduled maintenance or combined with other refurbishments, modifications or upgrades at Jet Aviation's MRO facility in Basel. http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2016-08-23/jet-aviation- introduces-new-flight-dishwasher Back to Top Dassault Falcon's New $58 Million Falcon 8X Business Jet Is Cleared for Takeoff The $58 million Dassault Falcon 8X, the upgrade of the Falcon 7X, has ascended to its place as the flagship of the Dassault Falcon fleet, with full certification in hand from both U.S. and European regulators. The French aircraft manufacturer company is now preparing to start deliveries of the ultralong-range business jet, and the first examples are expected to be in owners' hangars early this fall. The Falcon 8X provides every traveler with what they crave-a bigger cabin and a longer range-and aims to keep flight crews happy with a state-of-the-art fly-by-wire cockpit that relieves pilots of the repetitive tasks Dassault reportedly calls "monkey work" and lets them be "flight managers" instead. Like all Falcon jets, the 8X is equipped with three turbofan engines, which provide the flexibility needed to take off from short runways and to operate at airports in high elevations or hot climates. New winglets also reduce drag, increasing efficiency. The cabin of the Falcon 8X stretches almost 43 feet long and 7.6 feet wide, with 30 possible layouts to choose from. Every passenger's need-from a full galley to a comfortable workspace to a restful night's sleep and a shower-can be accommodated. In all configurations, passengers benefit from a low noise level (just 52 dB or less) and a low cabin altitude of just 3,900 feet, even while cruising at up to 40,000 feet. The Falcon 8X can travel up to 7,422 miles nonstop and reach speeds of up to 425 mph. (dassaultfalcon.com) http://robbreport.com/aviation/dassault-falcons-new-58-million-falcon-8x-business-jet- cleared-takeoff Back to Top This Student-Designed Aircraft Could Fly on Mars One Day The Preliminary Research Aerodynamic Design to Land on Mars, or Prandtl-M, during a test flight at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center. Over the past two summers, students worked on the concept leading to successful flights. Credit: NASA Photo / Lauren Hughes NASA student interns have successfully flown a prototype of a tiny, remotely controlled aircraft that could one day glide through Martian skies and send information back down to Earth. The group of students, who come from community colleges, spent their summer designing the aircraft at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. On Aug. 11, they put their design to the test. Last summer, a different group of student interns initiated the Martian airplane project, dubbed Preliminary Research Aerodynamic Design to Land on Mars (Prandtl-M). This year, the second group of students continued on the project by improving on the design, before ultimately testing its flight capabilities. "The first successful flights felt like a huge relief," John Bodylski, an engineering student at Irvine Valley College in California, said in a statement. "While we still plan to perfect the design, it is a pretty exciting feeling to realize that the aircraft is working." Derek Abramson, Justin Hall and Alexander Flock position the Prandtl-M glider aircraft onto the Carbon Cub that drops it from an altitude of 500 feet (150 meters). Derek Abramson, Justin Hall and Alexander Flock position the Prandtl-M glider aircraft onto the Carbon Cub that drops it from an altitude of 500 feet (150 meters). Credit: NASA Photo / Lauren Hughes To test how the aircraft would perform in Mars' atmosphere, the team attached it to a balloon that carried it to about 100,000 feet (30,500 meters) in altitude. Here, the air is about as thin as it would be in Mars' atmosphere. The aircraft is about the size of a kite, with a wingspan of only 2 feet (0.6 m). "What we like about small prototypes and this student program is, this is real research, real cutting-edge technology development," said Dave Berger, manager of education activities at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center. The students "can work on all the major areas of aerospace engineering, such as controls, aerodynamics, structures and instrumentation, encapsulated in one project," Berger said. "The program is small enough that we can design and fabricate very fast, and we can try something that no one has ever done before," he added. Al Bowers, chief scientist at NASA Armstrong, said the team still has some work to do before the aircraft would be ready to go to Mars, but they hope to see their glider hitch a ride to the Red Planet on the next rover mission, Mars 2020. http://www.space.com/33832-mars-airplane-student-prototype-test-flight.html Back to Top PHOTO OF THE DAY Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY (1) Dear Colleagues, I am a university student completing my master degree at the University of South Wales in the UK and I'm conducting a research for my dissertation on aircraft maintenance cost reduction. I would appreciate it if you could complete my survey below: survey link http://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/837F5/ Thank you, Ali khlifa Abushhiwa Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY (2) Dear Colleagues, My name is Hamed Aljahwari, and I am a student from City University London. I would like to take few minutes of your time to answer the following questions. The survey is addressing helicopter Engineers and helicopter Operators in the Middle East. This survey is approved by the Ethics Committee of City University London and is only intended to support my research. Please follow the link below to complete the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/72GN8RM The impacts of operating helicopters in harsh environment Survey www.surveymonkey.com Thank you, Hamed Aljahwari Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY (3) Manual Flying Skills Online Survey Dear fellow Aviators, I kindly ask you to take part in a short online survey concerning the topics of automation and manual flying skills. Besides flying Boeing 737s in Europe, I am enrolled in the MSc Air Safety Management part-time programme at City University London. At the moment, I am working on my thesis - topic: 'Manual Flying Skills - Airline Procedures and their Effect on Pilot Proficiency' - required for the award of the MSc degree next year. By means of this thesis, I intend to investigate the effects different policies or procedures regarding automation (and the resulting manual flying opportunities) can have on pilots' manual flying skills. Recent incidents and accidents involving manual flying deficiencies have brought this issue to wider attention, especially regarding loss of control in-flight (LOC-I) accidents. The survey displays a core element of my work as I would like to combine pilots' subjective views and experiences with current literature and scientific research. It addresses all pilots flying in a commercial environment world-wide and can be found at: https://de.surveymonkey.com/r/manualflyingskills It would be great if you could spare roughly 8-10 minutes of your valued time for this survey. Moreover, it would help me considerably if you could share the survey with friends flying around the world - in order to represent a wide range of different procedural environments in my research. Thank you very much in advance, highly appreciated! Moritz Hanusch Back to Top The International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI) will hold their 47th annual seminar at the Grand Hotel Reykjavik, Iceland, from October 17- 20, 2016 Up to date program details, links to the registration program and the hotel can be found at www.esasi.eu/isasi-2016 or www.isasi.org Dates to Remember Cut off date for the seminar rate at the hotel is September 10, 2016. Reservations made after that date will not be guaranteed the seminar rate. Cut off date for the early registration fee is September 25, 2016. We look forward to seeing you in Iceland Back to Top RSVP by contacting Erin Carroll, DFRC President by September 1 Email: erin.carroll@wnco.com or Telephone: (214) 792-5089 Curt Lewis