Flight Safety Information October 24, 2016 - No. 209 In This Issue Bag catches fire at Sea-Tac Airport due to vape pen charger Couple gain 'unauthorized access' to American Airlines jet in Philadelphia Crash at Malta Airport Kills Five Sweden recommends to limit ATR-72 power ranges following unsolved engine vibrations incidents Colombian Airline Halts Some Flights After Brush With Venezuelan Jet Jet Airways pilot made 'blind' landing in Kerala (India) Pilot takes last-minute detour in Goa, averts midair collision Police: Suspected drunk driver crashes into helicopter on highway Dubai International Airport cuts aircraft landing delays Should an airline be allowed to weigh its passengers? Air India flew 1,400 kilometres extra to shave hours off its Delhi-San Francisco flight FAA SEEKS REMOVAL OF NAVWORX UATS IATA schedules aviation safety meet With his time on Air Force One short, Obama touts new airline regulations NASA wants to fold airplane wings ... while they're flying Lufthansa expands aircraft center in Budapest Unhappy American Pilots to Push Union Switch After Five Decades India launches race to build fighter jet Aviation Management Services (AMS) - Press Release These 2 Major Aircraft Gear Makers Have Agreed to a $6.4 Billion Merger Gotcha: Space Station Grabs Onto NASA's 5,100-Pound Cargo Craft VisionSafe - Lithium Battery Fires Stop By and Visit At NBAA - BACE 2016 Bag catches fire at Sea-Tac Airport due to vape pen charger Sea-Tac Airport (KOMO Photo) SEATTLE -- A United flight at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport was delayed slightly Sunday morning after a man's bag caught fire. Baggage handlers were loading luggage onto the plane, en route fro Sea-Tac to Houston, when they noticed smoke seeping out of one of the bags. Firefighters extinguished the flames and determined that the fire was caused by a battery connected to a charger for a vape pen. The owner of the bag was escorted from the plane to identify the bag. The FAA prohibits vape pens in checked baggage. Here's a complete list of items not allowed in checked luggage. http://komonews.com/news/local/bag-catches-fire-at-sea-tac-airport-due-to-vape-pen-charger Back to Top Couple gain 'unauthorized access' to American Airlines jet in Philadelphia An American Airlines plane is on a runway at the Philadelphia International Airport this year. An American Airlines flight from Philadelphia to Boston was delayed after a couple walked onto the plane unnoticed. PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- Two people gained "unauthorized access" to an American Airlines plane Sunday, delaying a flight from Philadelphia to Boston. American Airlines Flight 1655 was scheduled to depart Philadelphia International Airport at 8 a.m. But around 6 a.m., a couple, who did not speak English, walked onto the plane, left their luggage and and returned to the gate area, an American Airlines representative told WVBC-TV in Boston. The captain said the jetway door was not locked overnight, one passenger said. "Two passengers gained unauthorized access to one of our aircrafts earlier this morning," the airline said in a statement. "Out of an abundance of caution, we are utilizing a different aircraft for the flight to Boston. We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience." Passengers took off on a different plane shortly before 11 a.m. An American Airlines representative told WPVI in Philadelphia it wasn't considered a security breach because all passengers had gone through Transportation Security Administration screening. http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2016/10/23/Couple-gain-unauthorized-access-to-American-Airlines-jet-in- Philadelphia/7481477237243/ Back to Top Crash at Malta Airport Kills Five Date: 24-OCT-2016 Time: 07:20 LT Type: Swearingen SA227-AT Expediter Owner/operator: CAE Aviation Registration: N577MX C/n / msn: AT-577 Fatalities: Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Malta-Luqa Airport - Malta Phase: Take off Nature: International Non Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Malta-Luqa Airport Destination airport: Misrata, Libya Narrative: A Swearingen SA227-AT Expediter, registered N577MX, was destroyed after impacting terrain during takeoff from Malta-Luqa Airport. The aircraft took off from runway 13 and lost height in a left(?) wing down attitude, according to a dashcam video of the accident sequence. The aircraft impacted terrain just past the airport perimeter fence and burst into flames. Sky News report it was carrying 'EU border officials'. Weather reported about the time of the accident (0717 LT / 0517 Z): LMML 240515Z 08011KT 060V130 7000 BKN006 23/22 Q1018 NOSIG https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=190836 Back to Top Sweden recommends to limit ATR-72 power ranges following unsolved engine vibrations incidents The Swedish Accident Investigation Authority (SHK) recommends EASA to limit ATR-72 power ranges in specific conditions following several unsolved engine vibrations incidents. The SHK published their final report of a serious incident involving a Braathens Regional ATR-72-500 in November 2014. The aircraft operated on a domestic flight from Stockholm-Bromma Airport to Visby in Sweden with 55 persons on board. The vibrations increased in intensity and the commander reduced the rate of descent to 2,500 feet per minute. The vibrations became so severe that the cabin crew had difficulties moving in the cabin and that there were difficulties reading the instruments in cockpit. Information from the flight recorders shows that the left propeller was first feathered momentarily. The right propeller was feathered thereafter, after which the right engine (PW127M) was shut off. The flight continued with the left engine in operation. The information also reveals that the communication between the pilots did not include confirmation of which engine's power levers were manoeuvred. A number of warning signals were activated during the sequence of events. The signals were not reset during the acute phase of the event. When the commander moved the right propeller control to feather position, he was unable to push it all the way to fuel shut-off position. The control was therefore returned to the "auto" position and then pushed back via the feather position to fuel shut-off, whereby the vibrations subsided. The co-pilot explained the situation to the air traffic controller in the Visby tower and declared an emergency situation. The approach and landing were executed without problems. The SHK was unable to determine the cause of the serious incident. Since it noted that there had been six similar incidents, a recommendation was issued to EASA to "consider to impose temporary restrictions to the flight envelope or similar limits of the power ranges of the same until the problem is resolved and rectified." http://news.aviation-safety.net/2016/10/20/5506/ Back to Top Colombian Airline Halts Some Flights After Brush With Venezuelan Jet BOGOTÁ, Colombia - Colombia's flagship airline said Saturday that it had grounded all flights to Caracas, Venezuela, after a Venezuelan Air Force jet intercepted one of its planes. The airline, Avianca, said it was also rerouting several flights to avoid Venezuelan airspace until further notice. "We're waiting for them to guarantee the security conditions required to operate," said Gilma Usuga, an Avianca spokeswoman. An Avianca Boeing 787 that had left Madrid for Bogotá, Colombia's capital, was flying at a high altitude on Friday near Venezuela's western border with Colombia when another aircraft was spotted on radar a short distance away. The airline pilot notified the Colombian aviation authorities and sharply diverted from the scheduled flight path. Four minutes later, the military aircraft veered away, and the passenger plane resumed its course, Colombia's Defense Ministry said in a statement. After the flight landed in Bogotá, Venezuela's air defense authorities responded to repeated calls from their Colombian counterparts to say the military aircraft was on a routine patrol. Venezuelan officials did not comment on the episode, which occurred amid a tension-filled standoff between Venezuela's president, Nicolás Maduro, and his opponents over the decision to suspend a recall referendum aimed at ousting him. Mr. Maduro frequently accuses Colombia of plotting with his critics to undermine his rule. Relations between the nations have been tested by a number of crises over the past decade as Venezuela's role as Latin America's leftist stalwart has put it in conflict with Colombia, which is traditionally a staunch supporter of the United States. Luis Carlos Villegas, Colombia's defense minister, said he had spoken to his Venezuelan counterpart, Gen. Vladimir Padrino López, who promised a full investigation. The two countries have agreed to strengthen their early warning communications systems, the Colombian Defense Ministry added. Avianca's decision affects multiple daily flights between Caracas and Bogotá and Lima, Peru, as well as flights to the Caribbean island of Barbados, which is near Venezuela. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/23/world/americas/colombia-airline-flights-venezuela.html?_r=0 Back to Top Jet Airways pilot made 'blind' landing in Kerala (India) NEW DELHI: A Jet Airways aircraft made a 'blind' landing in Kerala last August in an unprecedented seventh attempt after running dangerously low on fuel due to the six previous failed landing attempts. The extremely bad weather pushed the pilot to take this decision. The DGCA had conducted an inquiry into this case of August 17, 2015, and the report has brought out some chilling facts. The Boeing 737 on its way from Doha to Kochi had six failed landing attempts -- a first ever for aviation -- and made it only in the seventh try in Thiruvananthapuram when it was just running out of fuel. This, the DGCA report given to the government says, could have had "disastrous consequences". "Do you know where it (runway) is?" the cockpit voice recorder quotes the first officer as asking the commander, and the reply is: "Just going blindly." The pilots had no option but to land as the B-737 had very little fuel, 349 kg to be precise the DGCA has found, as there was no fuel left for another landing attempt. When the aircraft was approaching Kochi for landing in the first time, it had 4,844 kg fuel. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Jet-Airways-pilot-made-blind-landing-in- Kerala/articleshow/55025976.cms Back to Top Pilot takes last-minute detour in Goa, averts midair collision NEW DELHI: A midair disaster was averted over the Goan skies on Saturday when two aircraft came dangerously close to each other and the pilots of one of them took a last- minute detour to avoid a possible collision. The incident happened when SpiceJet's flight SG 3604 took off from Goa for Hyderabad and GoAir's G8 141 Mumbai-Goa flight was descending to land. "Seconds after taking off, the traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) alarm went off in the cockpit of the SpiceJet Bombardier Q400 (a turboprop cockpit). The system issued a 'resolution advisory' and the pilots took evasive action as directed." said a SpiceJet official. "The alertness of our crew saved the day," he said. Both the airlines did not say how many passengers were in aircraft involved in the near miss. GoAir A-320s have 180 to 186 seats and Spicejet Q400s have 78 seats. Goa airport's radar was down at the time of this incident and a notice to the airmen was issued. SpiceJet officials alleged that the GoAir crew did not follow the procedure to be adopted in such circumstances and that the Go aircraft was in a place where it should not have been. A GoAir spokesman said, " The Directorate General of Civil Aviation is conducting an inquiry in this incident." Goa airport officials also claimed that both the pilots of the GoAir Airbus A320 were expats and there may have been language problems. "All facts of the case will be studied on Monday. After that we will decide whether the crew should be grounded," a DGCA official said. The Goa airport is a naval base . Senior airline commanders said the crew of one of the airlines was at fault. "Goa Airport not having a functional radar at that time cannot be the cause of this incident. When the radar is down, aircraft take precautions like extra minimum separation while landing and taking off," said a commander. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Pilot-takes-last-minute-detour-in-Goa-averts-midair- collision/articleshow/55020529.cms Back to Top Police: Suspected drunk driver crashes into helicopter on highway Police in western New Mexico said a suspected drunk driver crashed into a medical transport helicopter that had responded to a rollover crash early Sunday. Sheriff's deputies in McKinley County, N.M., said the driver went around a barricade on a state highway near Gallup, N.M., and crashed into the helicopter, as well as a fire truck. Police arrested, Glenn Livingston, 26, of Gallup on charges of aggravated DWI, resisting arrest and other offenses, The Associated Press reported. The helicopter was unoccupied and not running at the time of the crash, KRQE-TV reported. The McKinley County Sheriff's Office said no injuries were reported. All of the vehicles involved, including the helicopter, had to be towed from the site, police said. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/10/23/new-mexico-transport-helicopter-driver-crash/92657924/ Back to Top Dubai International Airport cuts aircraft landing delays Passengers flying in to Dubai can expect more timely arrivals now that a new procedure is in place at the airport. With the new air traffic management system and optimum use of the two runways at the airport, air-traffic controllers can now accommodate more aircraft landing after larger jets such as the Airbus A380, cutting peak arrival delays by up to 40 per cent. Smaller, less heavy aircraft need to maintain a certain distance behind the big jets before they can land because of the air turbulence created in the wake of these larger craft. Dubai International Airport recently implemented the approach peak offload (APO) procedure, which has been on trial since March 1. Dubai Air Navigation Services (dans) declined to say when it was implemented. The procedure is based on scheduling a lighter aircraft, such as an Airbus A320 or Boeing 737, to one of the two runways, 30R, during peak arrival hours behind a larger aircraft. This permits the lighter aircraft to maintain a smaller distance than had previously been possible behind larger aircraft while landing. This makes for faster runway clearance and taxi to the terminal, and in turn allows flights in the queue to land quicker. Air-traffic controllers can now accommodate 34.8 arrivals on average in an hour during peak periods, up from 33.2. Dubai International has three peak periods throughout the day, whose hours change according to the season. As jets now need to spend less time waiting to land, carbon dioxide emissions have been reduced by up to 447 tonnes a month, according to dans. The implementation of APO has not affected any A380 slots or led to rescheduling of flights, dans said. "As peak arrival throughput is increased, Dubai Airports and the airlines decide whether extra flights can be added to the daily schedule," a dans spokeswoman told The National. Delays in landing due to congestion in the skies has been one of the sore points for passengers arriving in Dubai. "It is benefiting airlines who can now better schedule flights to arrive closer to their published times, despite the fact that the airport is handling more passengers and flights than ever before," said Saj Ahmad, an analyst at StrategicAero Research in London. Dubai International recorded 7.7 million passengers in August, an increase of 6.1 per cent over the same period last year. "The use of [runway] 30R for landings by non-A380 jets will allow the steady stream of A380s to come in at a consistent rate, thereby preventing backups in the sky when usually we would see smaller airplanes queuing further behind awaiting their turn for landing," Mr Ahmad said. Emirates airline has the world's largest fleet of A380s, 84, and expects to to have 117 by December 2018. Emirates declined to comment. The APO procedure was designed and developed by the operations team at dans in Dubai. http://www.thenational.ae/business/aviation/dubai-international-airport-cuts-aircraft-landing-delays Back to Top Should an airline be allowed to weigh its passengers? The Department of Transportation determined that Hawaiian Airlines has the right to seat its passengers according to weight, making the airline the third in the world to put its customers on a scale. Hawaiian Airlines has officially become the latest airline to weigh its passengers before boarding, following a controversial decision by the US Department of Transportation. Rather than allowing passengers to book seats prior to check in, the airline will now assign seats to passengers based on their weight. The new policy ensures that passenger weight is evenly distributed around the cabin, and aims to cut down on airplane fuel costs. The policy, which was approved by the Department of Transportation earlier this month, follows a voluntary six- month survey conducted by the airline, in which they found that passengers and their bags were, on average, about 30 pounds heavier than anticipated. Officials with the department defended the airline's right to weigh its passengers, arguing that a more even distribution of weight could save money and make a crash landing less risky. Recommended: How safe is flying? Take the aviation safety quiz But the policy, which makes Hawaiian Airlines the third airline to weigh its passengers, has received criticism from unhappy customers who say that the practice is discriminatory - especially given that the only people to whom the new policy applies are those on flights between Honolulu and American Samoa. "What they're saying is Samoans are obese," one critic, Atimua Migi, told the Associated Press. Samoans have some of the highest obesity rates in the world, with 91 percent of Samoan women and 80 percent of Samoan men either overweight or obese as of 2010. But a spokesman for Hawaiian Airlines called accusations from Mr. Migi and others an "entirely incorrect assumption," and the Department of Transportation determined that the policy was not discriminatory. The controversial decision makes Hawaiian Airlines the third airline to introduce weigh-ins for customers. Last year, Uzbekistan Airways announced that it would begin weighing its passengers to determine how much weight they would add to the plane. Samoa Air - which also serves a largely Samoan clientele - was the first airline to introduce such a policy when in 2013 it implemented a pay-as-you-weigh fare structure, on the grounds that people taking up more space on the plane should pay more money. "The next step is for the industry to make those sort of changes and recognize that 'Hey, we are not all 72 kilograms (about 160 pounds) anymore and we don't all fit into a standard seat,''' Chris Langton, Samoa Air chief executive told CNN at the time. "What makes airplanes work is weight. We are not selling seats, we are selling weight." The concept of putting passengers on a scale and charging according to weight has been praised as a wise business decision by some economists. "Charging according to weight and space is a universally accepted principle, not only in transportation, but also in other services," wrote Dr. Bharat P. Bhatta, associate professor of economics at Norway's Sogn og Fjordane University College, in a paper published in the Journal of Revenue and Pricing Management in 2013. "As weight and space are far more important in aviation than other modes of transport, airlines should take this into account when pricing their tickets." But some have questioned whether such policies are culturally realistic, especially in the United States. "The Samoan passengers have lost the battle with the transportation department, but they may end up winning the war that matters most to airlines: the one on the battlefield of public opinion, fought with dollars and cents," wrote one columnist for The Economist following the Department of Transportation's recent decision. "That might ultimately compel Hawaiian Airlines to come up with a different solution to meet its safety standards, one that doesn't smack of unequal treatment." http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/2016/1023/Should-an-airline-be-allowed-to-weigh-its-passengers Back to Top Air India flew 1,400 kilometres extra to shave hours off its Delhi-San Francisco flight India's national carrier just raised the stakes in the long-haul flights game. Last week, Air India reportedly set a record with its flight from Delhi to San Francisco. Instead of traveling West over the Atlantic, it flew East over the Pacific on an over 15,000-kilometre, 14-and-a-half-hour journey. In March, the record for the world's longest non-stop flight was held by Emirates with its Dubai-Auckland route that covered 14,200 km in around 16-and-a-half hours. Air India's unconventional flight traveled 1,400 km more than usual, but it took two hours less to complete, thanks to helpful tailwinds. By flying over China and the North Pacific Ocean, instead of the Atlantic, flight AI173 was able to take advantage of jet streams flowing in that direction, boosting its ground speed and allowing it to travel a longer distance in a shorter time, according to flight tracking service Flightradar24. Flying westwards would have meant facing these winds head-on, slowing down the speed and adding to the time taken for the journey. Air India currently runs flights on the Delhi-San Francisco route three times a week but its growing popularity has prompted the airline to double this from November, flying east each time for the next six months. The success of the route is great news for the beleaguered airline which has struggled with losses and bad press for nearly a decade. Air India's record comes as airlines around the world try to one-up each other to cover longer distances. Qatar Airways had plans to top Emirates' earlier record with its own ultra long-haul flights from Doha to Auckland and to Santiago. And Singapore Airlines has said it plans to re-launch its Singapore-New York route in 2018, which would cover around 15,300 km. But it looks like Air India got there first. http://qz.com/817225/air-india-flew-1400-kilometres-extra-to-shave-hours-off-its-delhi-san-francisco-flight/ Back to Top FAA SEEKS REMOVAL OF NAVWORX UATS PROPOSED AD AFFECTS 800 ADS-B UNITS By Mike Collins The FAA proposed an airworthiness directive (AD) on Oct. 20 that would require removing certain NavWorx Inc. model ADS600-B remote-mounted universal access transceivers (UATs) from the aircraft in which they have been installed, and would prohibit their installation on any aircraft. The products provide Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Out and In on the 978-MHz frequency. The FAA estimates that approximately 800 U.S.-registered aircraft would be affected by the proposed AD. This NavWorx ADS600-B Universal Access Transceiver has been installed in the tail of a Cessna 152. Photo by Mike Collins. The AD comes on the heels of an unapproved parts notification issued by the FAA on Oct. 14 affecting specific NavWorx UATs. The unapproved parts notification and proposed AD arose from the same issue. The FAA says that the WAAS GPS receivers in some NavWorx UATs are not certified, and that when NavWorx revised its software to behave as though the GPS receivers were certified, the ADS-B units no longer complied with Technical Standard Order (TSO) C-154c. "NavWorx has implemented a design change by revising its software for ADS-B units, Model ADS600-B part number (P/N) 200-0012 and 200-0013 and Model ADS600-EXP P/N 200-8013," the FAA stated in the notice of proposed rulemaking that would establish the AD. "The design of the units includes an internal uncertified GPS source. ADS-B units with an uncertified GPS source are required to broadcast a SIL [Source Integrity Level] of 0. The software revision (version 4.0.6) resulted in the units broadcasting a SIL of 3. This design change was not approved by the FAA and rendered the units noncompliant with TSO-C154c. Because the ADS-B unit incorrectly broadcasts a SIL of 3 instead of 0, the unit could communicate unreliable position information to ATC and nearby aircraft, resulting in an aircraft collision." NavWorx ADS-B units with part numbers 200-0112 and 200-0113 do comply with TSO C-154c, and are not subject to the proposed AD, the FAA said. The proposed AD would require removing affected ADS-B units from aircraft before further flight, and prohibit their installation on any aircraft. UATs subject to the proposed AD include all model ADS600-B units with part numbers 200-0012 and 200-0013, and model ADS600-EXP with part number 200-8013. The unapproved parts notification only applied to part numbers 200-0012 and 200-0013 with software release 4.0.6 through 4.1.0. The notification recommended that affected NavWorx UATs installed in an aircraft "not be operated, and should be removed or deactivated." "We disagree with the FAA's position that the units supposedly communicate unreliable position information," the company said in a statement provided by NavWorx President Bill Moffitt late Oct. 20. "The FAA has never shared with us any instance of our units doing so, there is no support for this claim in the docket, and we are unaware of any unit doing so. In fact, for two and a half years the FAA had no problem with the ability of our units to correctly communicate the position of aircraft with the units." Because of a March 2015 FAA notice that it would in January 2016 deny TIS-B access to ADS-B units that were uncertified and broadcasting with a SDA of 0, the company said, it implemented a minor software change so the units would broadcast a SIL of 3, to ensure continued access to TIS-B data. "The proposed AD would deny these units access to TIS-B data," the statement said. "The units subject to the proposed AD are neither uncertified nor do they broadcast with a SDA of 0." The company said it intends to file comments on the NPRM and encourages its customers to do the same. "In the meantime we continue to work with the FAA to resolve our disagreements." "This is a commercial matter that NavWorx needs to address with its customers," said Justin Barkowski, AOPA director of regulatory affairs. "AOPA will be providing comments to the FAA in response to the proposed AD before the deadline. In the meantime, if a member has installed an affected ADS-B unit, we recommend the member immediately deactivate the unit and wait for resolution of the proposed AD from the FAA." On Oct. 20, the ADS600-B was not available for purchase in the NavWorx online store. The full text of the proposed AD is available online. The FAA will accept comments on the proposal until Dec. 19. Instructions on how to comment are included in the notification. https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2016/october/20/faa-seeks-removal-of-navworx-uats Back to Top IATA schedules aviation safety meet The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is organising an aviation safety conference with the theme "A Decade in Review and the Vision Forward". It will be hosted by the United Arab Emirates General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and Etihad Airways and will take place in Abu Dhabi, October 25-27, 2016. "Safety is the number one priority for all involved in aviation. A commitment to global standards has contributed to making flying the safest form of long distance transportation the world has even known, and we are committed to making it ever safer. This conference is a unique opportunity to facilitate the sharing of experiences from the first decade of Safety Management-successes and challenges. That will allow us to collectively develop programs and strategies to maximise the benefits of safety management today and into the future," said Gilberto López Meyer, IATA's senior vice president Safety and Flight Operations. The event will allow safety management stakeholders to meet and collaborate for the improvement of both SMS and State Safety Program (SSP) implementation. The forum will feature discussions on: * Safety data and safety information protection and sharing. * Emerging risk assessment strategies, including behavioral, statistical and predictive modelling. * Safety culture and human factors. * A performance-based approach to safety management. "This conference will bring together safety experts from airlines, regulators, airports, aircraft manufacturers, air navigation service providers, ground handlers and others to share experiences, best practices and lessons learned in the implementation of SSP and SMS programs. Through a unified industry-wide approach, we can work together to shape the next decade of aviation safety management," said López Meyer. http://www.impactpub.com.au/micebtn/85-news/btn-news/18698-iata-schedules-aviation-safety-meet Back to Top With his time on Air Force One short, Obama touts new airline regulations President Obama touted new regulations on the airline industry on Saturday, saying consumer protection rules like refunds for delayed bags are "another example of how government can be a force for good." Obama, now just three months away from having to fly commercial airlines for the first time in nearly a decade, told a Saturday radio audience that he understands the hassles of air travel and thinks government can play a role in making it easier. "I'm going to be honest with you - one of the best parts of being president is having your own plane. And I'm going to miss it. A lot," he said. "Because up until I ran for this office, I was mostly flying coach. So I know what a pain the whole process can be - from searching for the best prices to that feeling you get when the baggage carousel stops and yours still hasn't come out." Obama extolled new regulations that he said would increase competition among airlines and ensure those airlines are treating customers fairly. They include: * A rule requiring airlines to refund checked bag fees if their bags are delayed, "because you shouldn't have to pay extra for a service you don't even receive," Obama said. The Department of Transportation is still hashing out the details about how late a bag has to be, however. * A requirement that airlines publish more information about their on-time arrivals and lost baggage. Those regulations will go into effect in 2018. * More protections for travelers with disabilities, who face obstacles like handicapped-inaccessible bathrooms and in-flight entertainment that doesn't provide adaptions for blind or deaf passengers. But the Department of Transportation is also moving to limit the use of emotional support animals. * A proposal to require more transparency for online ticket platforms "so sites can't privilege one airline over another without you knowing about it." Some airlines, including Southwest, don't make fares available for comparison, and the Department of Transportation is seeking comments on whether they should be required to do so. Airlines oppose many of the new rules, saying that they will interfere with marketing strategies that help them differentiate themselves from the competition. The U.S. Department of Transportation rolled out the series of rules this week under an Obama executive order pushing agencies to promote more competition in the industries they regulate. Saturday's radio address was the first time Obama discussed the new rules directly. "All of this should help you make better decisions for yourselves and your families - and hopefully avoid a few headaches, too," Obama said. "That's what this is all about - taking steps, big and small, that can make your life a little bit better." http://www.cnbc.com/2016/10/22/with-his-time-on-air-force-one-short-obama-touts-new-airline-regulations.html Back to Top NASA wants to fold airplane wings ... while they're flying "We are revisiting folding-wing aircraft," says NASA's Matt Moholt, "because new technologies that did not exist... When a hawk folds its wings, it plummets to the earth in a controlled high-speed dive. Not exactly the kind of scenario we'd imagine being ideal for modern aircraft. But in flight wing folding can have advantages and NASA wants to make it happen. The idea here isn't to create controlled dives, of course, but to increase the efficiency and capabilities of aircraft. The space agency calls this the Spanwise Adaptive Wing (SAW). So far, articulating wings on airplanes have largely been for parking purposes, to allow planes to take up less space on an aircraft carrier's decks or fit into smaller hangars. A few very large aircraft have articulating wings to allow them to taxi between infrastructure at an airport. What NASA is working on is very different from all of this. Of course, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration isn't new to aircraft design experimentation. They've been working on a lot of similar things for years. The Environmentally Responsible Aviation project, for example, has been working on bendable wings. Another project under the SAW umbrella is using these wings to reduce or eliminate the vertical tail fin on a plane. This would have obvious environmental benefits by greatly reducing drag and aircraft weight, thus reducing fuel use. Supersonic aircraft and very heavy aircraft both require vertical stabilizers for yaw control during flight. NASA says that smaller, more precise wing articulation and control is now possible thanks to advancements in the actuators required to move the wings. Most wing articulation is currently accomplished with heavy, bulky actuators that are usually hydraulic rather than electric. This has been because hydraulic actuators are the most time-tested physical movement option on aircraft today. There hasn't been much change in how they work since the 1960s. NASA plans to test these ideas on the scale model PTERA (Prototype-Technology Evaluation and Research Aircraft)... "We are revisiting folding-wing aircraft," says NASA's Matt Moholt, "because new technologies that did not exist in the 1960s allow actuation to be put in tighter wings, in smaller volumes." This allows a much thinner wing and a thinner portion of the wing to become articulable. Namely the tips of wings, which are normally rigidly fixed. One example of the use of this technology would be for supersonic aircraft. When flying at very high speeds, aircraft create a lot of lift, but have less yaw control as a result. Folding the ends of the aircraft's wings up or down would add stability by creating more vertical surface to augment the rear tailfin. Yet the plane would not lose critical lift during the difficult takeoff and landing stages because the wings could then be straightened to add the lift surface to flight. Moreover, NASA says, the adjustable wing ends would be able to change position dynamically, creating mixtures of lift and yaw control as needed during different flight conditions. NASA plans to test these ideas on the scale model PTERA (Prototype-Technology Evaluation and Research Aircraft) in the spring of 2017. That will coincide with ground-based tests of full-sized actuators capable of scale wing articulation. The objectives of this testing will be the validation of tools and the vetting of the system's theoretical vehicle control law evaluation. Analysis of airworthiness and potential fuel savings will also be undertaken. Source: NASA http://newatlas.com/nasa-folding-wing-spanwing/46074/ Back to Top Lufthansa expands aircraft center in Budapest Lufthansa Technik AG, Germany's leading aircraft maintenance and engineering company, opened a new Aircraft Engineering Services Center at Budapest's Ferenc Liszt International Airport on Friday, according to a press statement issued by operator Budapest Airport. Expanding its existing aircraft maintenance center at the airport, Lufthansa Technik, which has been operating in Budapest for over 15 years, has created approximately 50 new high-tech aviation engineering jobs with the launch of the new center. The range of activities of the new engineering center will be connected to the Boeing 737 type of narrow-body aircraft, including aircraft system engineering, maintenance program management, and job cards engineering. In addition, Lufthansa will transfer several services not related to the specific aircraft type to the Budapest center, such as aircraft electrical load analysis, aircraft flight data and reliability data compilation, as well as technical documentation services. Any industry-related investments, especially those such as Lufthansa Technik's new Engineering Services Center in Budapest which create job opportunities for highly qualified local engineers, are warmly welcomed by the Hungarian government, emphasized Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó. Hungary appreciates the presence and expansion of the Lufthansa Group here and the Hungarian government remains very open to supporting any future cooperation as well, the minister added. "During our analysis phase, Budapest had to contend with some other European locations and finally fulfilled our demanding selection criteria," commented Marcus Knoth, Lufthansa Technik Manager Aircraft System Engineering & Modification. "Thanks to the availability of highly qualified and motivated personnel, good infrastructure, good accessibility of the location, and - last but not least - great support on site, the decision for the Budapest location was made easy," he added. "Opening of the new aviation engineering center of Lufthansa Technik is yet another major step for Budapest Airport as it creates high-tech jobs at the airport, which is also beneficial for the Hungarian economy," said Jost Lammers, CEO of Budapest Airport. "We are proud and happy to see the development of Lufthansa Technik, which widens the range of services at Hungary's gateway and makes Budapest attractive to the international business environment," he added. http://bbj.hu/budapest/lufthansa-expands-aircraft-center-in-budapest_123801 Back to Top Unhappy American Pilots to Push Union Switch After Five Decades * Current independent Allied Pilots Association formed in 1963 * Pilots point to pay that will soon lag behind competitors' A group of American Airlines Group Inc. pilots is preparing a push to give up their 53-year-old independent union and join the larger Air Line Pilots Association, after peers at rival carriers secured tentative contracts with better pay and benefits. Resolutions calling for creation of an Allied Pilots Association committee to evaluate the issue will be introduced in at least two pilot bases over the next two weeks, according to interviews with aviators supporting the change. The proposals could go to the union's board for approval, with the goal of merging APA into ALPA, they said. Frustration has been building over the past two months among APA members after pilots at Delta Air Lines Inc. and Southwest Airlines Co. agreed to tentative terms that would boost their compensation above that in a contract American aviators reached last year. If Delta pilots approve their accord, a provision in United Continental Holdings Inc.'s labor agreement would increase pay at that carrier to the same rates. United Parcel Service Inc. and FedEx Corp. aviators also have gained new contracts since last year. "There's a well-founded belief that APA, as an independent union, underperforms," said Mitch Vasin, an American first officer based in Phoenix. "It can't compete with a national union with the resources and political connections and the size of ALPA. This has been at a simmer, and when the Delta pilots reached their tentative agreement, it turned the heat up a lot." 'Simply Unacceptable' Supporters of the merger also say APA's structure, with a 22-member board, makes reaching consensus difficult and slows decisions. While ALPA represents Delta, United and FedEx pilots, Southwest and UPS have independent unions similar to APA. "Our pilot compensation will soon likely rank a distant fifth or sixth in the industry," APA President Dan Carey told the union board last week. "As the largest pilot group in the world, employed by the most profitable airline in the world, that's simply unacceptable." Carey told members "it's time to have the debate" about closer ties to the larger union, although he didn't call for a combination. The two unions have worked together in the past, including APA's use of an ALPA expert in contract negotiations. "We believe that all pilots would greatly benefit through single representation," Tim Canoll, ALPA president, said in an e-mailed statement. "With a strong, unified voice, pilots would be even better positioned to secure valuable improvements to advance our profession and further strengthen aviation safety and security." Forgotten Reason APA represents 15,000 pilots from four carriers that have merged into one since 2001: American, US Airways, America West and TWA. ALPA has more than 54,000 pilots at 31 airlines in the U.S. and Canada. APA split off from ALPA in 1963, and "pretty much everyone has forgotten any reason why," said Mitch Groder, an American first officer based in Philadelphia. Some pilots oppose the return to ALPA out of concern that dues would rise and that the bigger national structure is inefficient. Also, the larger union represents regional airline pilots, whose interests don't always line up with those of the bigger carriers. Exclusive insights in your inbox, from our technology reporters around the world. Get Fully Charged, from Bloomberg Technology. Joining ALPA would provide many benefits, advocates say. Besides gaining lobbying clout in Washington on regulatory, safety and security issues, it would give American pilots access to the larger union's legal, economic, financial and other experts. A stronger ALPA could take on issues like overhauling the federal law governing airline labor and how union contracts are treated in bankruptcy, said Neil Roghair, a former APA vice president who advocated a merger when he left office in February. American pilots also could influence ALPA, he said in an online posting, noting they would account for more than 20 percent of the combined union's total membership. "The debate ought to happen," said Vasin, the American first officer. "If it doesn't go through, at a bare minimum we can identify things that can be changed at APA to make it better." https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-10-24/unhappy-american-pilots-to-push-union-switch-after-five- decades Back to Top India launches race to build fighter jet Deal to supply air force rates among world's most lucrative A Rafale fighter jet at an Indian airshow © Reuters India has kick-started a race to supply fighter jets for its air force in what could be among the world's most lucrative military aerospace contracts, with international defence companies lining up to pitch for as much as $10bn worth of business. Companies worldwide have received letters in the past few days from the Indian government asking whether they would be willing to partner with an Indian company to produce a fleet of single-engine fighter jets for the Indian air force. A letter was sent via Indian embassies to both Saab of Sweden and Lockheed Martin of the US, while industry executives say letters were also received by Germany, Italy and Russia. It is unclear, however, whether the latter three were handed the same request, given none of those countries makes modern military fighter aircraft of the required single-engine type. The move indicates that in its haste to replace its ageing fleet of jets, India is willing to upend its normal tendering process and do a deal more quickly. Randall Howard, director of the integrated fighter group at Lockheed Martin, said: "There is a sense of urgency from the Indian air force because its need is so great. This would be one of the largest fighter jet orders ever made." He added: "We received the letter in the past few days and we have started conversations with the air force to ask what they are looking for and what are their requirements." The request comes just weeks after India signed a contract with France to buy 36 twin-engined Rafale jets built by French company Dassault. New Delhi had originally asked for 126 aircraft, but negotiations fell apart over disagreements over how much of the manufacturing would be done in India - something the Indian government has been pushing for more of under the campaign "Make in India". The reduction in the deal has left the air force well below the capability its chiefs say is needed as its current fleet of MiG 21s reaches the end of its life. The Rafale deal will take the force from 33 squadrons (of between 16 and 18 aircraft) to 35, but senior officers say it needs another 10 squadrons, especially with tensions on the Pakistan border once more on the rise. The letter appears to confirm that government officials have accepted that there is a capability gap that needs filling quickly, and already companies have begun to lobby officials in New Delhi. Sweden's Saab has said industry estimates at the time of the previous tender had suggested that there could eventually be demand for up to 200 aircraft, while Lockheed Martin said it would like to supply at least 100 to achieve economies of scale. Neither company will say how much they expect for such an order, but experts say it is likely to be well above the €8bn Dassault will receive for its 36 jets. Speaking from New Delhi, Mr Howard said: "There are 3,200 F-16s being flown around the world today and they would all be supplied [with components] from India, as well as new ones being built there." He added:"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the Indian defence industry." Meanwhile Saab, whose Gripen jet is the main competitor to the F-16, is also promising to transfer the skills and technology that would allow Indian companies to manufacture the bulk of the fighters needed on their own, as it has done in Brazil. An initial batch would produced by Saab with Indian partners, as part of the transfer. Both are so-called "fourth generation" fighter jets. Robert Hewson, a spokesman for Saab, said: "India would get the ability to design and build a combat aircraft, optimised for Indian requirements, from the ground up. We are fully aware of the need to follow the Make in India rules to the letter and we are ready." Saab's case is built partly on cost, with the Gripen having the lowest operating costs of any western combat aircraft, according to IHS Jane's, the defence consultancy. Saab also believes it would be easier for India to integrate its own weapons systems on to the Gripen as it will not come with as many export restrictions as US aircraft. The Indian government's apparent desire to buy single-engine aircraft appears to leave both Dassault and Eurofighter with little hope of securing the contract, despite having been the final two companies in the bidding during the last tender process. Both the Rafale and Eurofighter's Typhoon jet are twin-engined jets and so do not fit New Delhi's requirements. Whatever New Delhi does eventually decide, it is likely to transform either the company involved or the Indian defence industry, or both. Walter Ladwig, a lecturer in international relations at King's College, said: "This is a globally significant deal whichever way India goes. "Building the entire world's fleet of F-16s would put India in a very important position as a global supplier and could help it leapfrog other countries with new technology. But for Saab, selling that many would be huge, it would make India by far its largest and highest-profile customer." https://www.ft.com/content/e02019f0-95c2-11e6-a1dc-bdf38d484582 Back to Top Back to Top These 2 Major Aircraft Gear Makers Have Agreed to a $6.4 Billion Merger The firms have little overlap: One is best known for avionics, the other for aircraft interiors. After two years of looking to expand, aircraft component maker Rockwell Collins has struck a deal to buy aircraft interior maker B/E Aerospace for $62 a share in cash and stock, the companies said on Sunday. The acquisition, valued at $6.4 billion plus the assumption of $1.9 billion in debt, expands the range of products Rockwell Collins supplies to major commercial and business aircraft and broadens its customer base internationally. Rockwell COL 0.99% on Sunday also reported a 14% increase in profit to $1.58 a share in its fiscal fourth quarter ended Sept. 30, on a 4% rise in sales. The acquisition, which is expected to be completed next spring, allows both companies to sell to each other's customers and to deploy Rockwell's capability with onboard connectivity to make internet-enabled seats, galleys, lavatories and other cabin systems that B/E Aerospace provides. "B/E is very strong in relationships with airlines," Rockwell Chief Executive Officer Kelly Ortberg said in an interview. "We're stronger with aircraft makers as well as business aviation operators and the military. We'll be able to sell our respective products into a much broader market base than either of us could do independently." B/E Aerospace BEAV -0.08% plans to use Rockwell's dealer network and relationships with business jet owners, for example, to know when jets are coming in for avionics upgrades. "Having that information and time to market directly to the owners of the aircraft is a tremendous opportunity that we're looking to take advantage of," said Amin Khoury, B/E Aerospace founder and chairman. "It's not something we can do on our own." The combination is expected to produce cost savings of about $160 million, with 90% captured in the first full year of the acquisition, and provide a double-digit percentage boost to per-share earnings in the first full year, the companies said. They also anticipate it generating more than $6 billion in free cash flow over five years. The cost savings come from eliminating public company administration at B/E Aerospace, greater buying power with suppliers, consolidating information technology system and using low-cost factory labor across the combined company, Ortberg said. Little Product Overlap Rockwell agreed to pay $34.10 a share in cash and $27.90 in shares of Rockwell Collins stock, a 22.5% premium to B/E Aerospace's closing price on Friday. The purchase will curb Rockwell's appetite for big deals for about three years, but the company will still be looking for smaller acquisitions while paying down debt, Ortberg said. The companies have little product overlap. Rockwell is best known for avionics, flight control systems and cabin connectivity, while B/E Aerospace is a major provider of aircraft seats, galleys, lighting and other systems. Rockwell, based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has market value of about $11 billion, more than twice the size of Wellington, Florida-based B/E Aerospace, which has a market value of $5.1 billion. The offer represents a 22.5% premium to B/E Aerospace's closing price on Friday. B/E Aerospace brings more aftermarket and aircraft retrofit business to Rockwell, which is mainly focused on new equipment, and also adds exposure to twin-aisle aircraft, said Richard Aboulafia, an aerospace analyst at the Teal Group. Combined sales will be about evenly split between the U.S. domestic market and international markets, Ortberg said. Pricing pressures from Boeing Co and Airbus are one driver of such a deal. "But it's also a pretty clear indicator that the market has peaked in terms of deliveries and orders," Aboulafia said of new aircraft sales. "In this environment, consolidation is inevitable as a cost-control move." Ortberg said that while cost was a factor, "It's really the transition to the digital airplane that's creating the perfect timing to bring these two entities together." Rockwell's board set up a committee two years ago to examine whether to grow by expanding into new markets or partnering to use existing sales channels. "We thought that (latter strategy) was a much better approach," he said. Courtesy of Rockwell Collins http://fortune.com/2016/10/24/rockwell-collins-be-aerospace/ Back to Top Gotcha: Space Station Grabs Onto NASA's 5,100-Pound Cargo Craft The Cygnus resupply craft slowly approaches the International Space Station - and its waiting robotic arm, the Canadarm2 - Sunday morning. NASA TV Astronauts used the International Space Station's robotic arm to grapple the Cygnus cargo spacecraft early Sunday morning, starting the process of bringing more than 5,100 pounds of supplies and research equipment aboard. The cargo's experiments include one thing astronauts normally avoid: fire. "The new experiments include studies on fire in space, the effect of lighting on sleep and daily rhythms, collection of health-related data, and a new way to measure neutrons," NASA says. Aboard the station, NASA's Kate Rubins and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Takuya Onishi snagged the Cygnus craft just before 7:30 a.m. ET; at the time, it was about 250 miles above Kyrgyzstan. The second phase of the rendezvous will begin at 9 a.m., when the cargo craft, built by aerospace company Orbital ATK, will be attached to the bottom of the ISS's Unity module. It's been a busy weekend for the space station. On Friday, three astronauts - two Russians and one American - docked at the ISS, opened their hatch, and were greeted by the trio that was already aboard, giving the station its normal six-person crew. Cygnus will stay at the station until mid-November - when it'll be packed full of trash and cut loose so that it can burn up on reentry into Earth's atmosphere. During that final trip, NASA says, a "large-scale fire" will be ignited inside Cygnus, with measurements and images beamed back to Earth. Here are more details from NASA's description of the scientific projects Cygnus is carrying: * "Low-temperature fires with no visible flames are known as cool flames. In previous combustion experiments aboard the space station, researchers observed cool flame burning behaviors not predicted by models or earlier investigations. The Cool Flames Investigation examines low-temperature combustion of droplets of a variety of fuels and additives in low gravity. Data from this investigation could help scientists develop more efficient advanced engines and new fuels for use in space and on Earth. * "The Lighting Effects investigation tests a new lighting system aboard the station designed to enhance crew health and keep their body clocks in proper sync with a more regular working and resting schedule. The system uses adjustable light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and a dynamic lighting schedule that varies the intensity and spectrum of the LEDs in tune with sleep and wake schedules. Research has shown that enhancing certain types of light can improve alertness and performance while other types can promote better sleep. * "A user-friendly tablet app provides astronauts with a new and faster way to collect a wide variety of personal data. The EveryWear investigation tests use of a French-designed technology to record and transmit data on nutrition, sleep, exercise and medications. EveryWear has potential for use in science experiments, biomedical support and technology demonstrations. * "Astronauts aboard the space station are exposed to space radiation that can reduce immune response, increase cancer risk, and interfere with electronics. The Fast Neutron Spectrometer investigation will help scientists understand high-energy neutrons, part of the radiation exposure experienced by crews during spaceflight, by studying a new technique to measure electrically neutral neutron particles. * "The new experiments will include an investigation that looks at fuels that burn very hot at first, and then appear to go out, but actually continue to burn at a much lower temperature with no visible flames. A second planned large-scale fire inside Cygnus will be ignited after it leaves the space station to help researchers understand how fire grows in microgravity and design safeguards for future space missions. Cygnus also is carrying a new station research facility that will enable a new class of research experiments by allowing precise control of motion in the microgravity environment aboard the station." http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/10/23/498872046/gotcha-space-station-grabs-onto-nasas-5-100- pound-cargo-craft Back to Top Back to Top Stop By and Visit At NBAA - BACE 2016 DATE November 1-3, 2016 LOCATION Booth 1482 Orange County Convention Center Orlando Executive Airport Orlando, FL Curt Lewis