Flight Safety Information September 9, 2016 - No. 178 In This Issue Emirates jet hit by shifting winds before hard landing, fire State police take unruly passenger off Logan jet Dulles-Munich Flight Diverted to Boston Over Smoke in Cabin Cessna 208B Grand Caravan Mid-Air Collision (Alaska) Air China Apologizes for 'Inappropriate' Tourism Advice FAA Urges Passengers to Not Use Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on Planes ICAO tells states to form air accident probe unit (Nepal) One person killed when light aircraft crashes in Kenya PIA grounds four ATR aircraft, multiple flights to be rescheduled FAA's Relaxation of In-Flight Cell Phone Ban Divides Security Experts WRONG TURN...This is how an airplane ended up at the wrong airport Let Taiwan Join the Global Aviation Body Aer Lingus owner considers curbing aircraft-buying plans The $2.85 Million Piper M600 Executive-Grade Turboprop Aircraft Enters Service Sporty's Pilot Shop Partners with Unmanned Safety Institute to Provide UAS Training Emirates jet hit by shifting winds before hard landing, fire: inquiry An Emirates Airline flight is seen after it crash-landed at Dubai International Airport, the UAE August 3, 2016. REUTERS/Stringer/Files An Emirates jet that skidded along the runway on its fuselage at Dubai airport and caught fire last month was subjected to shifting winds as it made a failed attempt to abort a landing, United Arab Emirates (UAE) investigators said on Tuesday. In a preliminary report on the Aug. 3 incident, the UAE federal aviation authority said the pilot had tried to abandon the landing after the main wheels of the Boeing 777-300 had already touched down. A few seconds later the plane became airborne again, only to descend and sink back onto the runway as the wheels were retracting into the aircraft. Seconds later the plane caught fire as it slid hundreds of meters on its fuselage. All 300 passengers and crew were evacuated from the plane, which was arriving from Thiruvananthapuram, India. Fourteen people were admitted to hospital. One firefighter was killed in the intense blaze. The Dubai carrier's first significant accident happened shortly after UAE authorities issued a warning about windshear for all aircraft using the airport, the world's busiest international hub, the report said. During the incident the plane, flight EK521, was subjected to changing wind direction, as a headwind swung to a tailwind and then began shifting back to a headwind, it said. In a passage headlined "Safety Concerns and Actions", the report said no such concerns had been issued at this stage. A final report will issued later. The report said the sole objective of the investigation was to prevent aircraft accidents and incidents. It would not apportion blame or liability, it said. Emirates would review the report carefully, and was also conducting its own "rigorous internal investigation to proactively review what we know about the accident, and consider measures that may enhance our operations or procedures". http://www.reuters.com/article/us-emirates-airplane-report-idUSKCN11C1GK Back to Top State police take unruly passenger off Logan jet An unruly passenger caused a British Airways flight to divert to Logan Airport today, state police said. Customs and Border Protection took the 24-year-old male from Glasgow, Scotland, into custody at around 4:45 p.m., state police spokesman David Procopio said in a statement. State police assisted in the removal of the man from the plane and police said he will be summonsed for interfering with a flight crew. Police did not identify the passenger. http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_coverage/herald_bulldog/ Back to Top Dulles-Munich Flight Diverted to Boston Over Smoke in Cabin A Lufthansa Flight departing Dulles International Airport en route to Munich had to make an unscheduled landing at Boston Logan International Airport due to smoke in the cabin, reports WCVB, a locale affiliate. Lufthansa Flight 415 diverted to Logan about one hour and 50 minutes into the flight, after passengers and crew became alarmed over a smoke buildup in the cabin. All passengers were deplaned safely. The flight it set to depart depart Logan at 6am Friday. http://abcnews.go.com/US/dulles-munich-flight-diverted-boston-smoke- cabin/story?id=41969201 Back to Top Cessna 208B Grand Caravan Mid-Air Collision (Alaska) Status: Preliminary - official Date: Wednesday 31 August 2016 Time: 10:01 Type: Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX Operating for: Ravn Connect Leased from: Hageland Aviation Services Registration: N752RV C/n / msn: 208B-5088 First flight: 2014 Engines: 1 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-140 Crew: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 Passengers: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 Total: Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 Collision casualties: Fatalities: 2 Airplane damage: Damaged beyond repair Location: 10 km (6.3 mls) NW of Russian Mission Airport, AK (RSH) ( United States of America) Phase: En route (ENR) Nature: Domestic Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Russian Mission Airport, AK (RSH/PARS), United States of America Destination airport: Marshall Airport, AK (MLL/PADM), United States of America Flightnumber: 3190 Narrative: A Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX (N752RV), operated by Hageland Aviation Services, was damaged beyond repair when it crashed near Russian Mission Airport, Alaska, following a mid-air collision with a Piper PA-18 Super Cub. All three on board the Caravan and both occupants of the Piper PA-18 received fatal injuries. The Cessna 208B departed from Russian Mission Airport about 09:58, destined for the Marshall Airport, Alaska. The Piper PA-18-150 Super Cub (N82452) was operated by Renfro's Alaskan Adventures and had departed Bethel Airport about 09:07, en route to a hunting camp about 20 miles northwest of Russian Mission. Both wreckage sites, about 0.5 mile apart, were located in an area of rolling hills with heavy vegetation about 10 feet tall populated with various alder trees, spruce trees, and birch trees. https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20160831-0 Back to Top Air China Apologizes for 'Inappropriate' Tourism Advice Air China said it was sorry for the negative impact on passengers and the airlin and has removed all of its in-flight magazines. One of China's state-run airlines has gone into damage control after a diplomatic stir erupted around an article in its in-flight magazine warning travelers to avoid certain minority neighborhoods in London. Photos of the passage, shared on social media, show a paragraph on safety which told readers that precautions were needed when "entering areas mainly populated by Indians, Pakistanis and black people. We advise tourists not to go out alone at night, and females always to be accompanied by another person when traveling." Air China in a statement Thursday said the airline had removed all of its in-flight magazines. Blaming an "editorial mistake" by the company that publishes the magazines, it apologized for "inappropriate" remarks and said it was sorry for the negative impact on passengers and the airline. After reports in the British media about the article, a British Labour Party member of parliament, Virendra Sharma, said he asked the Chinese ambassador to the U.K. for an apology. On his blog, Mr. Sharma said he wrote to the ambassador, saying "I am shocked and appalled that even today some people would see it as acceptable to write such blatantly untrue and racist statements." Asked in a regular news briefing whether the Chinese ambassador had gotten involved in the situation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the ministry had noted the situation but she didn't have further information. She said the Chinese government opposes racial discrimination in any form. "We believe that relevant Chinese departments would urge Air China to conduct necessary investigation and address this issue properly," she said. London is one of the most diverse cities in the world, with "white British" accounting for less than 50% of its population, according to U.K. census data. As the photo of the passage circulated on social media, comments of outrage poured in, including from Kunal Nayyar, a British-Indian actor on American sitcom "The Big Bang Theory," who wrote to the more than one million followers of his verified Twitter account: "Really? Yeah eat poop Air China." One user of China's social-media platform Weibo, with a handle that translates as "noodle lover," thought the anger aimed at Air China was somewhat unfair: "Air China is just trying to warn passengers from some dangerous regions. However, once translated into English, it seems not politically correct." Chinese depictions of black people in marketing or corporate materials have several times been the subject of controversy. The London warning from Air China comes on the heels of a debate in May over a Chinese laundry-detergent ad that showed a black man being transformed into an Asian after he was tossed in the washer with the company's soap. And still sold in China is the Darlie-brand toothpaste, in Chinese called ????, or Black People Toothpaste. It was originally marketed as Darkie toothpaste and until a 1990 branding overhaul showed a smiling black man in a top hat. Air China is no stranger to blanket judgments about foreign locales-often laudatory. Another in-flight magazine article, entitled "Every Swede Wants a Log Cabin" and published earlier this summer, noted that previously, "Sweden was considered as a country of farmers and pirates. Now, Sweden is one of the world's happiest countries." http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2016/09/08/air-china-apologizes-for-inappropriate- tourism-advice/ Back to Top FAA Urges Passengers to Not Use Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on Planes U.S. air-safety regulator also asks that the recalled smartphones not be stowed in any checked baggage A Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphone. By ANDY PASZTOR U.S. air-safety regulators have taken the unusual step of singling out Samsung Electronics Co.'s Galaxy Note 7 smartphone as a potential airborne fire hazard, urging passengers to avoid using the devices entirely on board airliners, dealing another blow to the technology giant's smartphone recovery efforts. In a brief but strongly worded statement released late Thursday, the Federal Aviation Administration said that "in light of recent incidents and concerns" involving the smartphones, the agency "strongly advises passengers not to turn on or charge these devices" on planes and "not to stow them in any checked baggage." Identifying a specific brand or model as a potential hazard is a highly unusual move for the FAA, though agency officials previously issued warnings about the overall dangers of checking any kind of cellphones, other battery-powered electronic devices or spare batteries in the holds of airliners. The lithium-ion batteries that typically power such mobile devices can short-circuit or otherwise heat up and cause fires. The statement comes less than a week after Samsung, the world's largest smartphone maker by shipments, announced a global recall and replacement program for millions of Galaxy Note 7 devices because of batteries exploding or catching fire. The FAA's statement didn't cite any specific incidents. Samsung said Friday it was discussing the FAA move internally and declined to comment further. South Korea's air-safety regulator said it has no plans to ban Galaxy Note 7 devices on airlines or take measures to prevent passengers from using or charging the device during flights. Shares in the company fell 2.7% following the news. Samsung has said it shipped 2.5 million units of the Galaxy Note 7 since its launch on Aug. 19. In the U.S., the phone has a suggested retail price of more than $800. Samsung has used its popular Galaxy phones to boost its mobile business, which has been struggling for more than two years amid strong competition from Apple Inc. and Chinese rivals. In recent years, the FAA, numerous foreign air-safety regulators and airlines around the globe have started cracking down on spare batteries or battery-powered mobile devices placed in any bags that end up being loaded into aircraft bellies. Most airlines have a specific ban on putting such devices or batteries inside checked baggage. Some airlines and regulators also have ramped up efforts to keep track of incidents on board planes involving electronic devices that smolder or catch fire. Such events have caused numerous diversions of aircraft. Spurred by the sharp increase in the total number of devices passengers bring on board planes, some carriers, regulators and independent safety experts also have been reconsidering the safest and most efficient ways to fight such cabin fires. Separately, regulators, airlines and battery-makers are devising safer packaging techniques for bulk shipments of lithium batteries transported in the holds of cargo carriers. In Australia, flag carrier Qantas Airways Ltd. and its budget unit Jetstar, as well as competitor Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd., are telling passengers not to use or charge the devices. http://www.wsj.com/articles/faa-urges-passengers-to-not-use-samsung-galaxy-note-7- on-planes-1473381966 Back to Top One person killed when light aircraft crashes in Kenya A policeman looks at the wreckage of a light plane that crashed in Sanctuary farm, killing one Polish woman and injuring five others including the pilot, in Naivasha, Kenya, September 8, 2016. A Polish national was killed and five other people, including the pilot, were injured when a light aircraft they were flying in on a tour over Lake Naivasha crashed on Thursday, police said. The light airplane was flying across the lake, some 104 km (65 miles) northwest of the capital Nairobi, when the accident occurred at around midday. Civil aviation authority investigators were trying to establish the causes of the crash. Apart from the dead person, who was a woman, the other occupants were the Kenyan pilot and four passengers from Britain. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-kenya-crash-idUSKCN11E2A4 ************** Date: 08-SEP-2016 Time: Afternoon Type: Cessna 210L Centerion II Owner/operator: Registration: 5Y-CKK C/n / msn: 21059950 Fatalities: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 6 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Naivasha, Nakuru County - Kenya Phase: Take off Nature: Departure airport: Naivasha Airstrip Destination airport: Narrative: Preliminary reports indicate an aircraft crashed and burst into flames near an airstrip at Naivasha, Kenya. Of the 6 onboard: one fatality, one serious injury, four minor injuries. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=189905 Back to Top Penang-bound aircraft collides with van at Hong Kong airport HONG KONG: A commercial aircraft collided with a van at the Hong Kong International Airport today as it was preparing to depart for Penang. Dragonair Flight KA691 had just pushed back from its parking bay when one of the Airbus A330's engines rammed into the roof of a service van. The van driver sustained injuries on the head and shoulder in the 4pm incident. An airport spokesman said the van belonging to China Aircraft Services and the aircraft collided at Apron 25. A Hong Kong police spokesman said the van driver was sent to the North Lantau Hospital for treatment. In a statement, Dragonair confirmed the incident. The airline said all passengers were transferred to another aircraft before continuing their journey. "There were no injuries reported among the 295 passengers and crew," said the airline. http://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/09/171865/penang-bound-aircraft-collides-van- hong-kong-airport **************** Date: 08-SEP-2016 Time: ca 16:07 Type: Airbus A330-342 Owner/operator: Cathay Dragon Registration: B-HLL C/n / msn: 244 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 295 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Minor Location: Hong Kong-Chek Lap Kok International Airport (HKG/VHHH) - Hong Kong Phase: Taxi Nature: International Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Hong Kong-Chek Lap Kok International Airport (HKG/VHHH) Destination airport: Penang International Airport (PEN/WMKP) Narrative: Cathay Dragon flight KA691, an Airbus A330-342, hit an airport delivery van with the no.1 engine as it was taxiing to the runway. The aircraft had been parked at stand S23 and was pushed back at 16:06 hours local time. Immediately after it started moving on taxiway H7, the collision occurred. CCTV images of the occurrence show the van driving towards the plane and turning right into the air linet cowling of the engine. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=189906 Back to Top PIA grounds four ATR aircraft, multiple flights to be rescheduled PIA temporarily grounds four ATR-42 aircraft to implement revision in Manufacturer Engine Overhaul Protocol KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) grounded four ATR 42 turbo-prop aircraft on Thursday, as a result multiple flights are likely to be affected. A statement issued by PIA spokesman Danyal Gilani confirmed that the aircraft have been temporarily grounded to ensure compliance with the latest engine overhaul protocols. During this period PIA's flights to Gilgit, Skardu, Chitral, Sukkur, Moenjodaro, Gwadar, Turbat, Panjgur, Nawabshah and Multan are likely to be affected. PIA has been overhauling Pratt and Whitney Engines of its ATR fleet in accordance with overhaul protocol Revision-32. However, Pratt and Whitney recently issued new protocols, Revision-33 and Revision-34, and has advised PIA to comply with the new protocols with immediate effect. In line with PIA's commitment of keeping passenger safety a top priority, the four ATR 42 aircraft will not be available for flight for the next few days. Chairman and CEO PIA have instructed PIA Engineering Department to complete the compliance of engine overhaul protocol revision as soon as possible so the aircraft may return to operation at the earliest. The airline's management has directed all relevant department to ensure alternate arrangements are made for passenger convenience by readjusting flight schedules for the period the four aircraft will be grounded. Expressing regret for the inconvenience, the airline has requested that passengers recheck the status of their flights to these areas from PIA's call center. https://www.geo.tv/latest/114115-PIA-grounds-four-ATR-aircraft-multiple-flights-to-be- rescheduled Back to Top FAA's Relaxation of In-Flight Cell Phone Ban Divides Security Experts Is it safe to be on your cell phone in midair? The FAA says yes, but security experts disagree. Since 9/11, the Federal Aviation Administration has implemented many air security protocols with varying degrees of success-we examined the agency's work in general here. There's one FAA initiative, however, that still troubles some security experts: the increased use of cell phones on planes. The agency initially banned passengers from using cell phones on board aircraft after 9/11, fearing the devices posed a cybersecurity threat and could interfere with aircraft navigation. But the FAA relaxed those standards in recent years, allowing customers to now use cell phones, e-readers and tablets provided the devices are in airplane mode. Broadband companies seized on this opportunity (the most well-known is Gogo, which has worked with airlines since 2008) and consumers were thrilled that they could stay connected (Louis C.K. raved about airplane Wi-Fi on Late Night with Conan O'Brien). When the FAA announced its most recent Wi-Fi expansion of cell phone service in 2013, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said the decision was made because of "consumers' increasing desire to use their electronic devices during all phases of their flights." As the Observer has previously reported, however, most in-flight wi-fi networks (including Gogo) lack strong encryption, compromising users' security and exposing them to cyberattacks. When we asked our panel of security experts about this issue, some downplayed the risks-Kenneth Button, a professor of transportation policy at George Mason University, pointed out that cyberattackers are more likely to carry out operations remotely, while Ty Osbaugh, principal of aviation at architecture firm Gensler, asserted that a new ban wouldn't do any good. 9/11 "If I'm intent on causing that level of chaos in the air, I'm going to ignore the warnings and do it anyway," Osbaugh said. "That won't stop a threat." Richard Blech, founder and CEO of the cybersecurity firm Secure Channels, rejected this view, however-he said that giving passengers extra layers of protection was more important than letting them read email at 30,000 feet. "It's a huge convenience to travelers, but the security risk is far too great," he said. "That may sound like a pretty draconian approach, but that's the world we're living in." Particularly worrisome is the fact that passengers have access to private messaging services like WhatsApp and Viber, along with more common social networks like Facebook-any of these can be used to communicate with someone on the ground and get the go-ahead to attack. "There's a chance for an incident because you've got live, real time communication," Blech said. "We can't make changes after an event as a reaction to something that could've been prevented. We have to think about it now. The more exposed we are, the more incidents could occur." http://observer.com/2016/09/faas-relaxation-of-post-911-cell-phone-ban-divides- security-experts/ Back to Top WRONG TURN This is how an airplane ended up at the wrong airport Getting off at the wrong exit on the highway is one thing. Landing at the wrong airport is another. In both cases, human error is usually to blame. Such was the case when an AirAsia plane that took off from Sydney ended up landing in Melbourne instead of its scheduled destination of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, according to an investigation (pdf) by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau released today (Sept. 7). The captain of the Airbus A330 on March 10, 2015, "inadvertently" entered in the wrong coordinates for the aircraft, putting it on a course for an area off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa. "This adversely affected the onboard navigation systems however, despite a number of opportunities to identify and correct the error, it was not noticed until after the aircraft became airborne and started tracking in the wrong direction," said the report. The plane lacked a system that would override or recognize the error, according to the report. The captain tried to return to Sydney airport but poor weather prevented the plane from landing there and they ended up landing in Melbourne instead, 850 kilometers away. "This occurrence highlights that even experienced flight crew are not immune from data entry errors," said the government agency. "However, carrying out procedures and incorporating equipment upgrades recommended by aircraft manufacturers will assist in preventing or detecting such errors. The incident was a case of how an attempt to make life easier by computerizing a key process of air travel backfired. Plenty of other airlines and thousands of passengers have had a taste of that recently. http://qz.com/775903/this-is-how-an-airasia-airplane-ended-up-at-the-wrong-airport/ Back to Top Let Taiwan Join the Global Aviation Body "To ensure the highest standards of air safety worldwide, ICAO cannot afford to exclude Taiwan." The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is scheduled to hold its triennial meeting September 27-October 7 in Montreal. Due to its status, Taiwan is not a recognized member of ICAO. However, Taiwan has been soliciting support from the United States for its participation as an observer in the 39th Session of the ICAO Assembly. The United States must come forward as it did in 2013 to support Taiwan's effort to participate, no matter how Beijing reacts. The ICAO is the body that regulates and supervises civilian aviation around the world. The ICAO endorsed a global strategy for strengthening aviation security worldwide post 9/11, stating that the success of the initiative lies in a uniform approach to establishing consistent standards. Deficiencies in any part of the system are a threat to the whole, with the ICAO position that these must be addressed through bolstering international cooperation in aviation security and harmonizing implementation of security measures. Taiwan's civil aviation authorities have full responsibility for administering the Taipei Flight Information Region (FIR) - one of the busiest air transport hubs in Asia. But Taiwan is forced to obtain updated standards and other ICAO information indirectly through other nations, nongovernmental organizations, neighboring FIRs, and private companies, a complicated and needlessly time-consuming process. This situation impacts Taiwan's ability to smoothly implement the latest Standards and Recommended Practices (SARP). It also means that the country must spend more time, money and effort than ICAO members on improving aviation safety and security. Aviation safety and security transcends national borders. To ensure the highest standards of air safety worldwide, ICAO cannot afford to exclude Taiwan from participation in its activities. It is very important and necessary that Taiwan participates in relevant organizations, especially since the Taipei FIR covers 180,000 square nautical miles and borders four other FIRs (Fukuoka, Manila, Hong Kong, and Shanghai). It is located off mainland China's eastern seaboard and between Japan and the Philippines. In 2015, the Taipei FIR provided services to nearly 1.53 million controlled flights carrying 58 million travelers entering, leaving, or transiting through Taiwan. Every week, between Taiwan and the United States, there are 541 direct flights. In 2009, 365,000 Americans traveled to Taiwan for business and leisure, and in 2008 Taipei International Airport was ranked the world's 15th largest airport by cargo volume. Aviation safety in Taiwan is in the best interests of both U.S. economic and civil activity. Furthermore, on a weekly basis, there are roughly 150 scheduled flights to and from Europe; 660 to and from Japan; and over 1,200 across the Taiwan Strait. Not being a member of ICAO, Taiwan sometimes doesn't have access to even its technical information. As a key international transport hub, Taiwanese airspace is critically important to the global community. Allowing Taiwan to participate in ICAO will ensure that it has access to the technical information it needs to continue to conform its civil aviation practices to evolving international safety standards. This will help guarantee the safety of travelers and airliners from the United States as well as from other countries around the globe. According to the resolutions adopted by the 38th ICAO Assembly, important and closely related issues to be discussed at the 39th Assembly-including safety, navigation services, security, environmental protection, and economic matters-require close cooperation among countries. This further demonstrates the need for Taiwan to attend the Assembly on a regular basis, enabling it to keep up-to-date with important matters and assist the Assembly in ensuring the safe, secure, and sustainable development of international civil aviation. Taiwan is too big to ignore and the time has come for allowing the government of Taiwan observership, which will ensure that it has access to the technical information it needs to conform its civil aviation practices to evolving international safety standards. Closing the Taipei FIR hole in ICAO's global information network will benefit travel industries and economic development, which is in ICAO's basic interests. Since Taiwan's participation in international organizations hinges on China's amity, it is extremely important that the United States show more convincing support for Taiwan's participation in ICAO. After all, Taiwan's attempts have been moderate and reasonable, but China does not have much incentive to budge if there is not a certain level of U.S. pressure. Moreover, the United States remains Taiwan's best friend and its actions set the benchmark for the level of support of others. A supportive U.S. stance has the potential to push China to emulate U.S. policy and has a wide sphere of influence in Beijing. Taiwan's international status has been in limbo for decades. I strongly urge that U.S. to come forward as it did in 2013 to support Taiwan's effort to participate at global aviation body, no matter how Beijing reacts. Kent Wang is a Research Fellow at the Institute for Taiwan-America Studies. He publishes frequently on the Taiwan issue in Sino-American relations, as well as other topics on East Asian international politics and regional security. http://thediplomat.com/2016/09/let-taiwan-join-the-global-aviation-body/ Back to Top Aer Lingus owner considers curbing aircraft-buying plans Economic slowdown behind IAG's reassessment of purchasing plans, says Willie Walsh IAG chief executive Willie Walsh, speaking on Thursday. Photograph: Bloomberg IAG, the owner of Aer Lingus and British Airways, is considering reining in fleet plans as worldwide economic growth slows and the company grapples with the effects of Brexit. "Without doubt all airlines, including airlines within IAG, are reassessing their requirements for new aircraft,"as the outlook for growth has "softened", chief executive Willie Walsh said on Thursday. "I don't think we're going to see growth rates that were anticipated." The comments reflect a tougher sales environment for aircraft-makers. Airbus Group and Boeing racked up their lowest tally of aircraft orders in six years at the aviation industry's annual showcase this summer. While both Airbus and Boeing sit on huge order backlogs, that cushion could provide little protection if headwinds continue and airlines start to feel the pinch from lower fares. Cut spending IAG, which also owns Spanish carrier Iberia, ordered 20 single-aisle Airbus A320neo aircraft a year ago, and Mr Walsh outlined plans earlier this year to buy used wide-body Boeing 777s and lease Airbus's double-decker A380s for British Airways. Following the UK vote in late June to quit the European Union, Mr Walsh said IAG would have to cut spending amid a plunge in the pound's exchange rate and a slowdown in traffic growth as business customers scaled back travel in response to the referendum. Corporate customers are still holding off on business trips as they analyse how the Brexit vote will affect Britain's economy and currency, Mr Walsh said on Thursday. Another question carriers must consider with plane orders is the drop in the price of oil in recent years, and "whether it's worth buying this new-technology aircraft to get the fuel-cost advantage," he said. As IAG studies potential orders, "We'd look at how we would finance those aircraft: whether we'd buy them or whether we'd lease them," so there are "a lot of options for us," he said. http://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/aer-lingus-owner-considers- curbing-aircraft-buying-plans-1.2784152 Back to Top The $2.85 Million Piper M600 Executive-Grade Turboprop Aircraft Enters Service Piper Aircraft M600 turboprop The new Piper Aircraft M600 turboprop has been approved by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and deliveries are underway. The aircraft provides a roomy cabin with newly styled premium-leather club seating for four, plus plenty of creature comforts for travelers-big windows, USB charging ports, cup holders, executive folding tables, and folding seats. Interior choices include vanilla or black leather for the seats, and a selection of elegant wood-grain and glossy finishes for the tables and woodwork. The M600 is powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-42A turbine engine that produces speeds of up to 315 mph over distances of up to approximately 1,700 miles. The cockpit utilizes Garmin's G3000 touchscreen avionics suite, with a new pilot interface design that maximizes ergonomic comfort and minimizes pilot workload. The airplane's new enhanced safety features include emergency descent mode, electronic stability protection, level mode, and underspeed and overspeed protection, providing an extra level of electronic oversight to prevent accidents. The aircraft sells for $2.85 million. If you want one, get your order in soon. The company has limited production to just 35 aircraft per year, and this year's lot is already sold out. (piper.com) http://robbreport.com/aviation/285-million-piper-m600-executive-grade-turboprop- aircraft-enters-service Back to Top Sporty's Pilot Shop Partners with Unmanned Safety Institute to Provide UAS Training Sporty's Pilot Shop and Unmanned Safety Institute (USI) will now offer two online courses, the UAS Ground School Course and the UAS Safety Awareness Course, which provide comprehensive training for individuals involved in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). The UAS Ground School Course is a comprehensive training program, perfect for commercial operators and pilots of larger UAS. More than 24 hours of training covers all the essential topics, including: parts of a UAS; responsible operations; concept of operations; human factors and crew resource management; identifying hazards; aeronautical decision making; and emergencies. Each segment includes a video introduction, followed by narrated slides with pictures, animations and key information. Following the lesson, assignments help apply the knowledge just learned, from reading relevant FAA documents to listening to live ATC. Then, assessments help review essential information with quizzes and essays. The UAS Safety Awareness Course makes a great introduction to the world of UAS, ideal for operators of smaller aircraft or as a refresher course. Over three hours of training covers personnel; systems; environmental and operational hazards; preventing injury; airspace and flight planning; and a section dedicated to learning from mistakes. Each section is broken down into a series of brief lessons with narrated slides, animations and pictures. This lesson is followed by review quizzes to reinforce learning. "The Unmanned Safety Institute UAS training courses are much more than 'Drone 101' videos; these courses emphasize good decision making and a safety culture. UAS flight instructors are even available to answer questions," says President of Sporty's Academy, Eric Radtke. "Now that FAA Part 107 mandates a Remote Pilot Knowledge Test for commercial operations, these two courses, although not specifically test prep, provide the knowledge necessary to pass the written test," says Radtke. "Drones are here to stay, and they provide a fascinating new community for GA pilots." USI President Aaron Greenwald remarked "USI is proud to partner with Sporty's and offer our industry-leading UAS flight safety products to their many loyal customers. The importance of high-quality safety education and training is more important than ever with Part 107 now in effect. Our approach to UAS education is based on time-honored aviation safety practices, and we are thrilled to offer our digital education in partnership with Sporty's". Both courses are compatible with Windows and iOS, with an internet connection required. The courses also come with a completion certificate, which meets some insurance requirements and may even make pilots eligible for premium savings. The UAS Ground School Course is available for $399 and the UAS Safety Awareness Course is available for $199. Each course may be ordered at www.sportys.com. About USI: The Unmanned Safety Institute is the industry's most widely recognized leader in flight safety solutions for individuals, enterprises, and organizations focused on integrating and operating Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for civil or commercial purposes. To learn more about USI, please visit www.UnmannedSafetyInstitute.org, e- mail info@unmannedsafetyinstitute.org, or call 1-877-535-SAFE. USI is a portfolio company of ARGUS International, Inc., and is headquartered in Orlando, FL with safety assurance offices in Denver, CO. Founded in 1995, ARGUS International is headquartered in Cincinnati, OH, and actively engaged with business activities in North America, Europe, Australia, Asia, South America and the Middle East and Africa. About Sporty's: Now in its 55th year, Sporty's has grown from a one-man operation launched by Hal Shevers to the world's largest pilot shop and an iconic general aviation brand. Sporty's operations extend to airport management, avionics installation and repair, aircraft maintenance, a residential airport community, new aircraft sales and flight training, including for the University of Cincinnati's professional pilot program. Located at Clermont County/Sporty's Airport (I69), Sporty's is philanthropically dedicated to expanding the general aviation community with both pilots and skilled technicians. http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12254923/sportys-pilot-shop-partners-with- unmanned-safety-institute-to-provide-uas-training Curt Lewis