Flight Safety Information November 9, 2016 - No. 223 In This Issue Space balloons inflating passenger flight hopes Will the U.S. Lead the Way in Hypersonic Flight? Meet the Regulators: FAA Top Officials' View of the Industry Iraq Upgrades Civil Aviation With the Help of Lufthansa Consulting PM orders improved PIA, aviation services (Pakistan) IATA warns Asian aviation growing too fast for region's infrastructure Gold seized from aircraft, SpiceJet crew faces wrath STUDENTS ATTEND AIR SAFETY CONFERENCE IN ICELAND Pilots report lasers pointed at airplanes near Detroit Metro Airport For China's twin-aisle dream jet, runway stretches out to the horizon BP buys jet fuel made from garbage to curb air pollution Hunt for mystery drone operator: Close encounter with LAX jet ARGUS Launches Audit Standard and Ratings Program for Unmanned Operations Space balloons inflating passenger flight hopes Artist's impression of near space balloon platform. After a string of high-profile setbacks for rocket programmes aimed at one day flying paying customers into space, a Spanish tech firm plans to send stargazers skyward using gas-filled balloons. Barcelona-based Zero2Infinity aims to harness the same technology used in helium weather balloons to float its first clients to the edge of space within two years, according to CEO Jose Mariano Lopez-Urdiales. "We are solving the problem with space access in a totally different way. We're getting outside of the atmosphere using cheap, clean, high-altitude balloons -- a technology that is well-understood and mature," he told AFP at the World Space Risk Forum in Dubai. "From there, the possibilities are endless." At a cost of 110,000 euros (around $122,000), the trip to the stratosphere will not be cheap, but Mariano believes there will be a big market for people interested in experiencing a few hours as an astronaut. "Some people want to provide connectivity so we will launch their satellites," he said. "Some people want to get married up there, so we will send them on a ride and the captain of the ship will marry them." Founded seven years ago, the company has already done over 30 test flights using prototypes to demonstrate the technology. A number of setbacks have hit other bids to achieve regular passenger space travel in recent years. In 2014, British billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic spaceship -- intended to take tourists to the edge of space -- broke up on a test flight, killing a pilot and delaying the firm's space-tourism goals. In February this year, Virgin Galactic unveiled a new commercial spaceship but underscored that commercial space flights would not be available until it was satisfied it could carry them out safely. SpaceX, a privately-funded initiative planning to launch a human mission to Mars by 2024, has suffered accidents in testing, most recently when a Falcon 9 rocket exploded on the launchpad in September. But with balloons, Lopez-Urdiales insisted, the dangers are dramatically minimised. "You don't have all the explosion risks associated with rockets and you don't have the high-speed re-entry risk," he said. "We don't even go above the speed of sound." - 'Affordable, safe' - Zero2Infinity is one of a number of companies eyeing new methods of low-cost, high-altitude flights to the edge of space. US-based company World View Enterprises also plans to float tourists using pressurised pods attached to helium balloons. It believes it can begin as soon as next year. Lopez-Urdiales said his firm first plans to launch satellites into orbit from their balloons, releasing the devices from beneath the balloon canopy. Human flights will follow, carrying passengers in a futuristic pod providing unparallelled views of the curvature of the Earth, as well as surrounding stars and planets set against the blackness of space. "You can provide the visual experience that astronauts have," he said. Rising to height of around 40 kilometres (25 miles), or three times the altitude of passenger jets, the flight will take between five and six hours -- "more than enough to really remember the experience", he added. Lopez-Urdiales said his firm is considering launching balloon flights from Dubai as well as other Gulf destinations. "We think both launching satellites and launching space tourists is going to be an activity that creates a lot of wealth and a lot of prestige for the location where this happens," he said. "That's one of the reasons why we think Dubai and (the Gulf) are a good place to come to." A growing tourist destination, the United Arab Emirates said last year it was pressing ahead with plans to send the first Arab unmanned probe to Mars by 2021. In 2014, the UAE government said its investments in space technologies topped 20 billion dirhams ($5.4 billion, 4.8 billion euros). Lopez-Urdiales said that the technology for balloon space flights has existed for decades. "We just want to make it affordable and safe for as many people as possible," he said. http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Space_balloons_inflating_passenger_flight_hopes_999.html Back to Top Will the U.S. Lead the Way in Hypersonic Flight? Budgetary issues have plagued technological advancement, but that could be about to change. Lockheed SR 72 Hypersonic Spy Plane Lockheed Martin A rendering of Lockheed Martin's proposed SR-72 hypersonic spy plane. Most people know the term hypersonic, but few can probably define it. Hypersonic flight occurs when an object travels at speeds in excess of five times the speed of sound, or about 3,800 mph in dry air at sea level. At last month's Forum on American Aeronautics held at the Mojave Air and Space Port, a number of speakers focused on how to create enough continual interest in the United States for NASA researchers to begin looking at the steps to create the next generation of experimental flying vehicles, some of which will operate hypersonically. U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Curtis M. Bedke told the forum, according to Space.com, "There was a period where engine technology had just sort of stagnated ... there wasn't much happening. But suddenly in all sorts of areas that apply to aerospace, things are happening." Rep. Steve Knight (R-Calif.) has taken the lead on the House Science Committee to continue nudging NASA to consider hypersonic travel, although budget issues in Washington seem to be a never-ending roadblock. Some light at the end of the tunnel came, however, when NASA last February awarded Lockheed Martin a contract to design a new experimental aircraft immune to the sonic booms that have restricted high-speed travel across the continental United States. That move is considered a first step to designing much faster flying machines. Bedke added, "It is inevitable that hypersonic technologies are going to happen. It's not inevitable that we [the United States] are going to be the country to do it first." The previous American hypersonic aircraft, the X-15, last flew in the 1960s and reached a speed of roughly Mach 6.7, a record that still stands. http://www.flyingmag.com/will-us-lead-way-in-hypersonic-flight Back to Top Meet the Regulators: FAA Top Officials' View of the Industry SOURCE: NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION (NBAA) Peggy Gilligan, associate administrator for aviation safety, and other FAA officials were on-hand at an NBAA-BACE education session titled "FAA's Meet the Regulators." The popular, standing-room-only session provided attendees with a unique opportunity to hear perspectives of top officials, getting answers to regulatory questions directly from those who make key policy decisions. Gilligan provided updates on industry/FAA data sharing programs and the General Aviation Joint Steering Committee (GAJSC), which is an industry/FAA working group. GAJSC focuses on the top risks of general aviation accidents. The group's recommendations involve both voluntary efforts implemented by the industry and changes to FAA policies and regulations. Gilligan also encouraged attendees to explore options for collecting and sharing aviation safety data. John Duncan, director of Flight Standards Service, shared the FAA's progress implementing its new compliance philosophy. The philosophy assumes individuals and companies want to comply but sometimes simply make a mistake. "Where people are able and willing to comply, we can address the issue and move on," said Duncan. "It's not a 'kinder and gentler' FAA. It's a way to address errors by improving policies and procedures with those who are able and willing to comply. For those who are unable or unwilling to comply, enforcement action can be taken. Those who are unable or unwilling to comply represent the highest risk to the NAS [National Airspace System] and need to be rehabilitated or removed from the system." Since the FAA rolled out its new compliance philosophy in 2015, overall enforcement actions decreased by over 50 percent, as more errors are addressed by corrective actions that mitigate overall risk in the industry. Duncan also described restructuring currently occurring within FAA Flight Standards. The new structure will eliminate the current regional system and instead establish four specialized subject matter areas, including air carriers, general aviation and others. Bruce DeCleene, manager of Flight Technologies and Procedures Division, provided an update on NextGen implementation and encouraged attendees to begin planning for the 2020 ADS-B equipment deadline. DeCleene said approximately 20,000 general aviation aircraft are currently equipped with about 1,000 new installations completed each month. At the current rate of equipage, demand for installations could overwhelm installer capacity as the deadline approaches. Corey Stephens, an operations research analyst with the Office of Accident Investigation and Prevention, gave attendees a deeper look into the work of the GAJSC, including recent work on loss of control. New developments in angle of attack indicator technology is one example of the group's successful work on loss of control. The group has also tackled the effects of over-the-counter and prescription medications on general aviation pilots and flight data monitoring for general aviation. Jim Viola, manager of General Aviation and Commercial Division, was also available to address attendees' questions. http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12277148/meet-the-regulators-faa-top-officials-view-of-the- industry Back to Top Iraq Upgrades Civil Aviation With the Help of Lufthansa Consulting Agreement Signed With Ministry of Transport to Foster the Country's Economic Growth and Develop a Modern Aviation Industry Iraq's Minister of Transport, H.E. Kadoum Finjan Al-Hamami with Dr. Andreas Jahnke, Managing Director, Lufthansa Consulting (left), and the company's Associate Partner Catrin Drawer during the Minister's visit of Lufthansa Group facilities on 2 November 2016 in Frankfurt, Germany. Photographer: Jurgen Mai (PRNewsFoto/Lufthansa Consulting GmbH) The Iraqi Government and Lufthansa Consulting are continuing their longstanding relationship in order to further enhance the aviation system in Iraq. The country's Ministry of Transport signed a comprehensive agreement for a long-term strategic advisory and implementation project that will focus on restructuring the national carrier Iraqi Airways and the civil aviation authority (ICAA) and on optimizing Iraq's airports. The latest contract aims to implement the vision of the Ministry of Transport to strengthen the ICAA in accordance with international standards and best practices to enable Iraqi Airways to become a leading carrier in the Middle East to provide a global network for the Iraqi people and the international market to transform Baghdad International Airport into a hub serving three continents. Iraq's Minister of Transport, H.E. Kadoum Finjan Al-Hamami, says: "This contract reflects the continuity of a long-lasting relationship between Iraq and Germany." "Lufthansa Consulting is proud to be chosen as an implementer and strategic advisor to the Iraqi Minister of Transport with a view to modernizing the aviation industry," states Dr. Andreas Jahnke, Managing Director of Lufthansa Consulting. "With our international expertise acquired over 40 years as an aviation consultancy and our commitment to integrity and compliance with international standards, we are well equipped to support the Iraqi authorities and institutions in enhancing the situation in the interests of the people of Iraq." The German management consulting company has been active in Iraq since 2008 and has conducted several airport and airline projects in the country. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/iraq-upgrades-civil-aviation-with-the-help-of-lufthansa- consulting-600407791.html Back to Top PM orders improved PIA, aviation services (Pakistan) Meeting briefed on financial gains of national flag carrier; plans to induct new aircraft ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday asked PIA and the authorities concerned to accelerate the process of revamping the aviation facilities and airlines for their consumers. Nawaz, who is devoting much of his time on development activities, was chairing a meeting at the PM House where the affairs of PIA and aviation industry were discussed in detail, especially the overall performance of the national flag carrier during the last six months. PIA Chairman Azam Saigol told the meeting that the existing strength of aircraft was 37 which would increase to 50 March 2018. He said the PIA was also in dialogue with Airbus for new aircraft as it planned to induct seven wide-bodied and 10 narrow-bodied new aircraft. He briefed the participants on the future plans and said a significant boost in revenue had been registered, with 26.7 per cent increase in passengers and 17.3 per cent in the capacity. According to Saigol, the domestic market share of PIA and performance of the cargo have increased appreciably. The airline now has additional frequency of flights abroad that is going to increase further in months ahead. The prime minister also reviewed the progress made in the new Islamabad airport, as he was informed that the work all the construction packages was are on track. He was confident that the new Islamabad airport would be an icon of excellence internationally and further promote the progressive image of Pakistan. The prime minister, who was also briefed on the expansion of Allama Iqbal International Airport Lahore, directed the officials to expedite the process and remove bottlenecks. He constituted a committee that will solve budgetary problems of PIA and Civil Aviation Authority, submitting detailed proposals and solutions within 15 days. During the meeting, the prime minister also ordered to complete the link road project from Rawalpindi to new Islamabad airport by March next year, while directed the National Highway Authority to monitor the quality of work according to the required standards. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Secretary to the PM Fawad Hasan Fawad, Finance Secretary Dr Waqar Masood, PM Secretariat Joint Secretary Mohayyudin Wani, Civil Aviation DG Air Marshal Aasim Suleiman, PIA Chief Executive Officer Bernd Hildenbrand and other senior government officials attended the meeting. APP adds: The prime minister, taking notice of the smog in urban areas of the country, directed the departments concerned to take long-term steps to control the environmental hazard. He asked the provincial transport and forestry departments to ensure reduction of vehicular emissions through strict inspection and to fast-track plantation in urban areas under Green Pakistan Programme for carbon reduction. https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/163481-PM-orders-improved-PIA-aviation-services Back to Top IATA warns Asian aviation growing too fast for region's infrastructure Hong Kong Airport, the third-largest in Asia, has reached terminal capacity. Photo Credit: Shutterstock SINGAPORE -- Fueled by a rising middle class and a surge in low-cost airlines, the Asia-Pacific region is the fastest-growing aviation market in the world, a trend that is already taxing the region's infrastructure and that IATA projects will continue over the next two decades. In 2015, passengers around the world flew 6.5% farther than they did in 2014, while passengers in the Asia-Pacific flew 8.2% more miles. That growth is straining the aviation infrastructure across the region, leading to expressions of concern from IATA and other industry players that basic air travel components such as runway and gate space, as well as air traffic control networks and the requisite pool of skilled laborers won't keep up with rising demand. "The situation is dire. Action is needed now," Conrad Clifford, IATA's regional vice president, Asia-Pacific, said in an email last week. According to IATA's latest 20-year passenger forecast, published last month, the Asia-Pacific region will see 7.2 billion airline passengers in 2035, up from 3.8 billion this year. If that forecast proves accurate, it will be a larger growth in terms of total travelers than the rest of the world combined. During that same time frame, China is projected to overtake the U.S. as the world's largest aviation market, while India will surpass the U.K. to take the No. 3 spot on that list. At the World Financial Symposium held here in September, Clifford delivered a speech calling on governments across the region to aggressively plan and build for the aviation market of the future. Boeing projects a shortage of 248,000 pilots in the Asia-Pacific region over the next 20 years, Clifford reported in a slideshow presented at the symposium, as well as a dearth of 268,000 industry technicians. Meanwhile, many of the region's largest airports are already pushing capacity limits. Among those is Beijing Capital. The second-busiest airport in the world behind Atlanta, it reached terminal capacity in 2013 and is expected to max out its runways in 2019, according to a report that the aviation consulting firm Intervistas prepared for IATA. Hong Kong Airport, the third-largest in Asia, has also reached terminal capacity and was projected to use up all its available runway capacity by the end of this year. What's more, Intervistas projects that major Indian airports in Mumbai and New Delhi will reach capacity limits in 2018 and 2021, respectively. Clifford said that inadequate infrastructure is already plaguing air service in several Southeast Asia destinations. "We have seen flight delays in Singapore, Manila, Jakarta and Bangkok," he wrote in an email. "In addition, delays on the tarmac and in the air result in increased fuel burn and cost for airlines. But in the end, the passenger is the one who suffers due to time wasted, lost productivity and a less-than-desirable experience in congested terminals." IATA is hardly a voice in the wilderness. At the 2015 annual meeting of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines, director general Andrew Herdman also voiced concerns about the region's aviation infrastructure. And in an interview last week, Shukor Yusof, owner of the Malaysia- and Singapore-based aviation advisory company Endau Analytics, expressed similar sentiments. "My view is that the governments -- not just China but also Indonesia and Vietnam -- haven't paid enough attention to, first, creating and building more infrastructure, and second, training people," Yusof said. "They haven't been farsighted enough." Still, countries throughout the region are not standing idly by. In China, the first section of the Beijing New Airport, which could someday become the world's largest, is slated to open in 2019. What's more, of the 29 Chinese airports that Intervistas said will be capacity-constrained in the next two decades, approximately half have already started planning or building expansions. A fourth terminal is slated to open at Singapore's Changi Airport in the second half of next year. A third runway is in the works, and a fifth terminal is being planned. In Bangkok, a passenger terminal in the works at Suvarnabhumi Airport will increase capacity from 45 million passengers per year to 65 million, and Thai authorities are already planning another terminal as well as a runway expansion. In India, where the aviation market grew by 25% in 2015, the government has plans to build 200 airports over the next 20 years, according to Intervistas, and by 2028, expansions are planned for six of eight airports facing constraint issues. Efforts to facilitate Asia-Pacific aviation networks are also transcending international borders. China and the U.S., for example, are collaborating on a pilot project designed to improve airspace use at Xianyang Airport in Xi'an in order to reduce flight delays. Addressing that issue was the No. 1 priority that China's Civil Aviation Administration had for the U.S.- China Aviation Cooperation Program, a bilateral public-private partnership, said Verinda Fike, who oversees China aviation work at the U.S. Trade and Development Agency. "They are aware of trade constraints due to airspace," Fike said "And they are very aware that there is a need to increase the efficiencies within their existing airspace." As part of the Xi'an project, the U.S. is advising Chinese authorities on the best practices to control airspace around the airport. "The more U.S. airlines have access in China, the more jobs will be created here," Fike said. Yusof praised the efforts that countries such as Singapore and India are making to keep up with the surging demand for commercial aviation. But he was critical of several others, most notably Indonesia, a country of 250 million people that IATA projects will become one of the world's 10 largest aviation markets in the next two decades. Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta Airport recently opened the first portion of a 25 million-passenger-per-year terminal, and, according to Intervistas, expansion plans are in place for Indonesia's one other airport that is currently operating at capacity. Still, Yusof said, Indonesia needs to develop more airports, come up with a proper long-range blueprint and do more to address aviation safety. "This is affecting the potential for tourism, for example, and their ability to expand infrastructure in tandem with the growth," he said. http://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/IATA-warns-Asian-aviation-growing-too-fast-for- regions-infrastructure Back to Top Gold seized from aircraft, SpiceJet crew faces wrath In the past one year, customs officials seized gold bars worth Rs 4.12 crore from SpiceJet Customs officials say maximum quantity of illegal imports is recovered from the airline The customs officials are now planning to scan the profiles of the airline staff, including the cabin crew and pilots of SpiceJet, who are operating flights from Dubai to Pune. The decision has been taken after gold bars were seized back-to-back from aircraft arriving from Dubai. On Sunday, the customs officials at the Pune airport, Lohegaon, seized one kilogram gold bar worth Rs 31 lakh. The gold bar was found beneath a seat of a Spice Jet aircraft, which arrived from Dubai. Officials claim that hiding illegal imports beneath seats of aircraft is a new modus operandi of smugglers coming from Dubai. "Within two weeks, we have recovered around 10.1kilogram gold bars worth Rs 3.11 crore from inside aircraft. This time, the gold bar was hidden below the passenger seat. On October 26, we recovered 10 gold bars worth Rs 2.8 crore, which were found inside the rear toilet of the aircraft arriving from Dubai," a customs official said. "Mostly, the passengers, who are involved in the illegal imports of gold, try to hide the bars in their handbags or trolley bags. But, in these two cases, we found that the gold bars were hidden inside the aircraft. Therefore, there are possibilities that some crew member may be involved in the smuggling," a senior customs officer deputed at the Pune airport informed. Air India, Jet Airways and SpiceJet are the three airlines that provide connectivity between Dubai and Pune. Out of these three airlines, maximum quantity of smuggled gold has been seized from SpiceJet. According to a customs official, "Since we are seizing gold from this aircraft back-to-back, we feel that some of the cabin crew members might be hand-in-gloves with the smugglers." K Shubhendra, deputy commissioner of the customs department, said that anyone could be involved in the crime. "When the aircraft arrived, we started searching. Our officer found that the gold bar was kept underneath a passenger seat. The gold bars are seized under the provision of the Custom Act, 1962. Further investigation is still under progress. The smugglers are adopting various modus operandi to conceal gold bars and smuggle them into India." A number of cases of unsuccessful attempts to smuggle gold have been made unscrupulous elements in the recent past from Pune airport and coincidentally, such passengers arrived on aircraft coming from Dubai. In the past one year - October 2015 till now - the customs officials seized gold bars worth Rs 4.12 crore from SpiceJet. Recently, officials had also recovered branded gutkas and cigarettes which were being illegally imported into the city. When contacted, the SpiceJet corporate communication refused to comment on the issue. http://punemirror.indiatimes.com/pune/civic/Gold-seized-from-aircraft-SpiceJet-crew-faces- wrath/articleshow/55318031.cms Back to Top STUDENTS ATTEND AIR SAFETY CONFERENCE IN ICELAND Aviation safety leaders from around the world gathered in Iceland last month for the International Society of Air Safety Investigators' annual conference. Commonly referred to as ISASI, this professional affiliation includes approximately 1,600 aviation safety professionals from manufacturers, airlines, unions, educational institutions, and government agencies abroad. This year's conference, themed "Every Link is Important," hosted 309 professionals and students from 42 countries, including three students and one professor from the Daytona Beach campus. I was fortunate enough to partake in this year's conference alongside Carly Shoemake, an aviation safety minor, and Brent Curlee, a fellow Aerospace and Occupational Safety student. Anthony Brickhouse, Associate Professor of Aerospace and Occupational Safety, was also in attendance. Embry-Riddle alumni from both campuses also joined us in Iceland. Some of these individuals were employed with Delta Airlines, the NTSB, the FAA, and the Icelandic Transportation Safety Board. Other Organizations Present Airbus Boeing Embraer Southwest Airlines ICAO ALPA Transport Canada Transportation Safety Board of Canada Australian Transportation Safety Bureau Dutch Safety Board French Office of Investigations and Analysis Air Accidents Investigation Branch of the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand Every year, students are openly invited and encouraged to apply for the Rudolf Kapustin Scholarship. Named in memory of a Senior Investigator from the NTSB, the Kapustin Scholarship is awarded to a student who writes a superior essay addressing a challenge facing an air safety investigator in today's industry. This year saw five Kapustin winners, including Carly Shoemake, an aspiring air safety investigator from the Daytona Beach campus. Four other students represented the University of Southern California, Cranfield University in the United Kingdom, and the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. These students were able to discuss their topics and solutions in front of industry leaders, and field inquiries through a brief question and answer session that followed their presentations. In addition to listening to technical and industry presentations, this year's conference allowed for some magnificent exploring and adventuring. Iceland is quite unique in its landscape, weather, wildlife and culture. There are dozens of waterfalls, glaciers, volcanoes, and black sand beaches free to enjoy, all within a short driving distance from the capital city of Reykjavik. If you have a passion for aviation safety, are interested in networking, and love exploring the world, ISASI is your organization. ISASI has a student chapter for the Daytona Beach campus, which usually meets on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. in the CoA, Room 350. Guest speakers and alumni come back to share their experiences as aviation safety professionals. These on-campus networking opportunities have routinely resulted in internships and full-time jobs for students. Carly, Brent, and I will be sharing our professional experiences and Icelandic adventures on Tuesday, Nov. 8 at 1 p.m. in CoA 350. Combined dues for the student chapter and international organization total less than $100 per year. However, dues for the student chapter are only $20 per semester, and you need not be a member of the international organization to benefit from these on-campus opportunities. A student membership will also allow you to participate in field trips to Delta Airlines in Atlanta and the NTSB in Washington, D.C. The student chapter's primary objective is to connect students with industry professionals. Please consult Professor Brickhouse, the ISASI Advisor, for inquiries regarding the student chapter or how to join the international organization. ISASI's next annual conference will be held in August 2017 in San Diego, California. Details about ISASI, how to apply for the Kapustin Scholarship, and information regarding the annual conference can be found at isasi.org. http://theavion.com/students-attend-air-safety-conference-in-iceland/ Back to Top Pilots report lasers pointed at airplanes near Detroit Metro Airport 6 airplane crews report incidents DETROIT - Police and airport officials are investigating after pilots reported lasers pointing at airplanes near Detroit Metro Airport. Sources said the incidents were reported about 20 miles east of the airport. Six pilots and crews reported incidents. The affected planes were flying into Detroit. The laser light was green, just like the one that was pointed at Local 4's chopper last month in Southfield. A commercial airline pilot said the lasers light up the entire cockpit, which is distracting. "It's stupid," he said. "It's just so dangerous. I don't know." Kelly Sutphin and her husband put their daughter on a plane to Australia and they said any added distraction for pilots is concerning. "(It's) very worrisome, whether you're putting family on there or your own lives," Sutphin said. "It's people not paying attention to other people or the consequences of their actions. An airport spokeswoman said pointing a laser at an aircraft is a federal crime. She said finding the origin of the incidents can be difficult, but when offenders are tracked down, they face a potential $11,000 federal fine plus jail time. "Be smart," Sutphin said. "Don't be foolish. Think of other people's lives. The FAA said in a statement that it notified local law enforcement of the reports, which came in Monday night. No injuries were reported. Airport police are working with local and federal officials in the investigation. http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/pilots-report-lasers-pointed-at-airplanes-near-detroit-metro-airport Back to Top For China's twin-aisle dream jet, runway stretches out to the horizon Visitors walk past a Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (Comac) C919 model plane at the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, China, on Tuesday. (Qilai Shen/Bloomberg) China's state-owned aircraft manufacturer is setting its sights on developing a long-haul plane to take on Airbus' A350 and Boeing's 787, but it has a long way to go. Fresh from firming up the first orders for its short-haul C919 at last week's Zhuhai Air Show, China's state- owned aircraft manufacturer is setting its sights on a more glittering horizon: a twin-aisle, long-haul plane to take on the Airbus A350 and Boeing's 787. There's a problem with horizons, though: The closer you get, the more they seem to recede. That's certainly the case in the commercial-aerospace market, where products can take decades to develop and decades more to sell. The proposed aircraft will carry 280 people for7,500 miles and begin deliveries in about 10 years, according to Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China, or Comac, which plans to develop the planes alongside Russia's United Aircraft Corp. China has two major advantages in developing an indigenous commercial-aerospace industry, and two big drawbacks. Its domestic aviation market is growing fast and will be the world's biggest by 2035. In addition, the dominance of airlines owned by the same state agencies that control Comac means a local manufacturer is well placed to twist arms with potential buyers. Commercial aircraft, and the engines that power them, are some of the most complex objects ever manufactured. Pratt & Whitney's PurePower Turbofan jet engines spent some 25 years in development before entering service in 2013. Airbus and Boeing are already wearing themselves out trying to keep up with each other's advances into new materials technologies. Both the 787 Dreamliner and the A350 XWB are made up of about 50 percent composite materials such as carbon fiber. The C919 will have less than the A320 - a model range that dates back to the 1980s - according to a 2014 article posted on Comac's website. Life for challengers to the big two is even harder. Canada's Bombardier planned to demolish the short-haul duopoly of Boeing's 737 and Airbus' A320 when it started developing its C Series jet in 2004. More than a decade on and with only a tiny slice of the market, the program drove Bombardier to seek a $1 billion bailout from Quebec's provincial government this year. While the C919 has been plagued by delays and is already almost three years behind on its first test flight, it's probably not the aircraft to bet against. As long as Comac can make the thing fly, it can hope for an almost guaranteed market within China - enough on its own to deal a severe blow to Airbus and Boeing. The proposed twin-aisle jet is a trickier proposition. To sell a plane overseas, Comac will have to convince aviation regulators in other countries that its planes are safe to fly over major cities, then persuade foreign airlines to order them. Purchasing a new model of plane isn't as simple as buying a new car: Pilots and engineers must be retrained and maintenance supply chains set up, so airlines will want to see a strong track record before taking the plunge. Airbus was around for 17 years before it won its first order from a major U.S. airline. It didn't win a deal with a major Japanese carrier until 2013. Given all that, and the fact that aircraft manufacturers aren't very profitable anyway, you'd be tempted to wonder why Comac would bother if it wasn't for national pride. It took Airbus three decades to become a serious challenger to Boeing. There will probably be a similarly long runway before Comac's ambitions get airborne. http://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/for-chinas-twin-aisle-dream-jet-runway- stretches-out-to-the-horizon/ Back to Top BP buys jet fuel made from garbage to curb air pollution BP Plc will invest $30 million in Fulcrum BioEnergy Inc., which makes biofuel from garbage, in a new partnership designed to curb airplane pollution. The London-based oil-producer also signed a 10-year deal to buy 500 million gallons (1.9 billion liters) of biofuel from Fulcrum's North American plants, according to a statement by BP on Tuesday. BP will distribute the aviation fuel to planes through its unit Air BP Ltd., which sells about 7 billion gallons of aviation annually. Airlines facing pressure to clean up their pollution last month brokered a landmark deal in Montreal. Their accord created a global system that requires them fund environmental initiatives from 2020 that may cost as much as $24 billion annually by 2035. "We have a deep understanding of our customers' challenges to achieve their lower carbon goals," said Jon Platt, Air BP chief executive in the statement. "Securing this supply helps secure the future competitiveness of Air BP, and our place as a leader in the industry." This deal is Fulcrum's fourth major corporate investment, following similar agreements with United Airlines Inc., Waste Management Inc. and Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd., according to a statement by Fulcrum. "Entering into this strategic relationship with a global oil and gas company enhances the value of Fulcrum's waste to fuel platform," said E. James Macias, Fulcrum's president and chief executive officer, in the statement. http://fuelfix.com/blog/2016/11/08/bp-buys-jet-fuel-made-from-garbage-to-curb-air-pollution/ Back to Top Hunt for mystery drone operator: Close encounter with LAX jet The operator of a mystery drone flying near a commercial jet at LAX was at large Tuesday, and a federal official said the incident highlights safety concerns raised by the remote-controlled tiny aircraft. "We are concerned with the increasing number of drone sighting reports we're getting from pilots nationwide," said Ian Gregor of the Federal Aviation Administration. "We have a comprehensive effort to educate drone operators about the importance of flying safely." The crew of a departing WestJet Boeing 737 spotted the drone 1,500 above the ground midday Monday, according to Gregor. The jetliner was departing Los Angeles International Airport on runway 24L when the remote-controlled, unstaffed aircraft was sighted, Gregor said. "The crew did not provide a description or proximity and did not take evasive action," he said. It was not clear if the two-engine jet was in any danger. There was no immediate word if the drone operator could face legal action if located. "When air traffic controllers get a drone sighting report from a pilot, they notify the appropriate law enforcement agency," Gregor said. "The agency may start looking for the drone operator if they have the time and resources." However, he said, he had "no new information" about the case. "One of our key initiatives is the drone registration requirement, which includes an education component," Gregor said. "To date, more than 550,000 people have registered their drones." The FAA spokesperson cited the FAA's work in a "number of education partnerships with drone industry representatives and other stakeholders." He said that among safety efforts is the "B4UFLY" initiative and app. "The app, which is a free download, tells people whether it's safe to fly in their current or planned locations." He said more information is available at www.faa.gov/uas. http://mynewsla.com/crime/2016/11/08/hunt-for-mystery-drone-operator-close-encounter-with-lax-jet/ Curt Lewis