Flight Safety Information December 5, 2016 - No. 241 In This Issue Bolivia Files a Criminal Complaint in Fatal Colombia Crash Before Deadly Crash In Colombia, Pilot Said He Was Out Of Fuel Crash: LAMIA Bolivia RJ85 near Medellin on Nov 28th 2016, electrical problems, no fuel Qatar Airways jet makes emergency landing in Azores Plane emergency lands at GRR after damage Plane makes emergency landing at SAT DOT approves contested Norwegian Air flights Indonesia police aircraft carrying at least 12 crashed in sea China Southern B738 near Lanzhou on Dec 1st 2016, the hottest phone one can get Bolivia minister: country could face US aviation downgrade Spaceflight training jets, balloons create challenges for FAA EU Renewable Energy Directive Must Prioritize Sustainable Aviation Fuels Ministry tells Indonesian airliners to hire 900 jobless local pilots Passengers 'hijack' overbooked Jet flight to Bhopal Stratos Jet Makes First Flight US Air Force Faces Shortage of Fighter Jet Mechanics ESA COMMITS TO ISS PARTICIPATION THROUGH 2024 Virgin Galactic's second SpaceShipTwo performed its first glide flight Bolivia Files a Criminal Complaint in Fatal Colombia Crash Airport employee accused of 'failing to carry out her duties as a public official' for letting plane depart Rescue teams work in the recovery of the bodies of victims of the LaMia airlines charter that crashed in the mountains of Cerro Gordo, municipality of La Union, Colombia, on November 29. SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia-Bolivian authorities filed a criminal complaint against an airport official here for allowing a charter plane to depart for Colombia even though its flight plan was in violation of international aviation safety standards. The LaMia airline plane, which was carrying a Brazilian soccer team, ran out of fuel hours later and crashed at about 10 p.m. near Medellín on Nov. 28, killing 71 people aboard. Bolivia's airport authority, Aasana, filed the complaint against Celia Castedo, an Aasana employee who reviewed the LaMia flight plan. That plan, as well as a written transcript that Ms. Castedo prepared after the crash recalling her conversation with the plane's onboard dispatcher, Alex Quispe, appear to indicate that the flight's pilot and co-owner, Miguel Quiroga, knowingly put the lives of those aboard at risk by flying directly to Medellín without stopping to refuel. Investigators say it appears the flight departed from the Viru Viru International Airport without the necessary amount of fuel, violating international regulations. The regulations, based on standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization, require commercial flights to have sufficient fuel for reaching their destination as well an additional amount for reaching an alternative airport and for a variety of other contingencies. According to a transcript of events, Ms. Castedo said she initially objected to the LaMia flight plan. She allegedly urged Mr. Quispe to change it. The plane's maximum flight range was about 41/2 hours-just barely enough to reach Medellín, the document said. "That's not OK. Go back and check. Change your flight plan," Ms. Castedo told Mr. Quispe, according to her written version of events. But Mr. Quispe, who died in the crash, allegedly brushed off her concerns. "Let it go," Mr. Quispe allegedly told Ms. Castedo. "Don't worry, Ms. Celia, that's the range they gave me. We'll do it in less time." Ms. Castedo said in the transcript that "too often flight dispatchers do not take our observations seriously." Ultimately, though, she allowed the plane to depart. Ms. Castedo, who couldn't be reached for comment, faces up to four years in jail, accused of "failing to carry out her duties as a public official." The transcript was published by Bolivian daily El Deber, on Dec. 1 then reviewed and independently verified by The Wall Street Journal. A Bolivian prosecutor declined to comment on the transcript. LaMia couldn't be reached for comment and Aasana declined to comment. An initial flight plan, drawn up the morning of the crash, included a refueling stop in the northern Bolivian city of Cobija, Freddy Bonilla, Colombia's air safety secretary and crash investigator, said Sunday. That plan was presented by the airline, LaMia, to the Bolivian authorities, who approved it along with other commercial paperwork required for international flights. LaMia then presented its approved paperwork to Colombian authorities who authorized the flight to enter Colombian air space, Mr. Bonilla said. A different and final flight plan, however, was drawn up later that day, at about 4:30 p.m., by the LaMia crew at the Santa Cruz airport in Bolivia, Mr. Bonilla said. This one didn't include a stop in Cobija, which aviation officials have said lacks lighting after dark. The direct-flight plan, which pushed the aircraft nearly to the limit of its fuel range, was approved by Aasana, the airport authority, over the apparent initital objections of Ms. Castedo, investigators said. LaMia has flown from Santa Cruz to Medellin in the past, officials said, but as far as they have learned, such flights always included a refueling stop in Cobija. They are trying to determine why the doomed plane's final flight plan didn't include that stop, and have said it may have been because of the late hour. Mr. Bonilla said investigators are looking into whether the ill-fated Avro RJ85 could have had a fuel leak that might have contributed to the crash. Jorge Cabrera, head of the Aasana employees union, said the labor group stands by Ms. Castedo. The union will present its view of the accident on Monday, he said. Roberto Curilovic, head of International programming at Corporación America, an Argentine conglomerate that operates 53 airports around the world, said "there's no way that flight plan should have been approved." "Accidents don't just happen. There was bad intent there," Mr. Curilovic said, referring to the decision to make the flight despite the risks. Bolivia's defense minister, Reymi Ferreira, said Friday that the country itself could face aviation sanctions, potentially making it more difficult for airlines to operate here. Bolivian President Evo Morales has called for an aggressive investigation into the crash, and the government has laid off several officials, including the son of one of the charter plan's directors who was supposed to oversee its operations. http://www.wsj.com/articles/bolivia-files-a-criminal-complaint-in-fatal-colombia-crash- 1480904874 Back to Top Before Deadly Crash In Colombia, Pilot Said He Was Out Of Fuel Rescue teams work on Tuesday to recover bodies from the wreckage of the LaMia charter plane that crashed in the mountains in Colombia late Monday, killing 71 people, officials say. Raul Arboleda/AFP/Getty Images Shortly before a charter jet carrying a Brazilian soccer team crashed in the mountains of Colombia, the pilot told air traffic control he was "out of fuel" and experiencing "total electrical failure," according to leaked audio and accounts from a survivor and another pilot. The plane was supposed to stop for fuel partway through its flight, but it didn't. It requested priority landing in Medellín, Colombia, but didn't declare an emergency, and another plane with mechanical problems was already approaching the runway. So the charter plane, LaMia Airlines 2933, entered a holding pattern - then declared an urgent fuel shortage, and crashed. The plane crash killed 71 people; there were only six survivors. (Early reports suggested 75 or 76 people had died, because authorities had inaccurate information about the number of people on the plane.) Among the dead were most of the members of Brazil's Chapecoense soccer team, which was having a "fairy-tale" year, as well as a number of journalists traveling with the team. The cause of the crash is still under investigation, but multiple sources describe a pilot panicking about a fuel shortage in the final minutes of the flight. The trip didn't go as planned from the start. The charter jet, which specialized in transporting soccer teams, wasn't authorized to pick up the team in Brazil, so the players had to take a commercial flight to Bolivia. That delayed the itinerary, Gustavo Vargas, general director of the charter plane company, told Colombian newspaper El Tiempo. From Santa Cruz, Bolivia, the team boarded the LaMia charter and set off for Medellín. Vargas says there was a planned refueling stop in Cobija, Brazil, but that the delay meant they'd have to refuel in Bogotá, Colombia, instead. It appears the pilot decided not to refuel at all. "We have to investigate the reason he decided to go directly to Medellín," Vargas told the Bolivian newspaper Pagina Siete, noting that the pilot was "very experienced." Without refueling, the itinerary might have been pushing - or past - the plane's fuel limits. From Santa Cruz to Medellín is approximately 3,000 km, or 1,850 miles. LaMia advertised the plane in question, an Avro RJ85, as having a range of 2,965 km (1,842 miles). The actual range would depend on the plane's fuel reserves and payload; Aviation Safety Network says the RJ85 could fly up to 2,343 miles under certain conditions, but just 1,239 miles with a maximum payload. International flight regulations require planes to carry enough fuel to reach their destination and then fly for at least 30 more minutes, Reuters notes. By the time LaMia 2933 reached Medellín, it was reporting low fuel, according to multiple sources, including the flight attendant who survived the crash and a pilot who overheard conversations between LMI 2933 and the control tower. Leaked audio obtained by Colombian media, including Blu Radio, corroborates those accounts. You can hear it in full on Blu Radio's site, or hear portions with translated captions at The Independent. Anonymous sources at José María Córdova International Airport in Medellín also described the situation to the Colombian newspaper El Colombiano. By all accounts, in the final minutes of the flight, the control tower in Medellín had two planes reporting problems. The LaMia charter said it had fuel problems and requested priority landing. But a commercial plane, rerouted because of a fuel leak, had already requested priority. The LaMia pilot did not appear to tell air traffic control he was in an emergency situation. The charter plane was also at a higher altitude than the rerouted commercial flight, El Colombiano reports. So flight controllers decided to allow the flight with the leak to land first. You can hear the exchange that followed on the leaked recording. Here's how the AP sums it up: "In the sometimes chaotic exchange with the air traffic tower, the pilot ... requests permission to land because of 'fuel problems' without making a formal distress call. A female controller explained another plane that had been diverted with mechanical problems was already approaching the runway and had priority, instructing the pilot to wait seven minutes. "As the jetliner circled in a holding pattern, the pilot grew more desperate. 'Complete electrical failure, without fuel,' he said in the tense final moments before the plane set off on a four-minute death spiral that ended with it slamming into a mountainside Monday night. "By then the controller had gauged the seriousness of the situation and told the other plane to abandon its approach to make way for the charter jet. It was too late." "Vectors, señorita, vectors to the runway," the pilot said, asking the controller to guide him in for a landing. She told him he was 8 miles away from the runway. "Vectors, vectors!" he said, then went silent. The disaster took eight minutes to unfold, Aviation Herald reports - from when the plane entered its holding pattern to when it disappeared from radar. As we reported on Tuesday, the crashed charter plane did not explode or catch on fire on impact, bolstering the theory that it ran completely out of fuel. And Colombian authorities have confirmed there was no evidence of fuel on the plane. But the AP reports that there might be alternate explanations - such as a leak or an intentional fuel dump - for the lack of fuel. On Wednesday night, when the Chapecoense soccer team was supposed to be playing in the Copa Sudamericana, crowds gathered at stadiums in Colombia and Brazil to mourn and pay homage to the dead. http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/12/01/503963687/before-deadly-crash- in-colombia-pilot-said-he-was-out-of-fuel Back to Top Crash: LAMIA Bolivia RJ85 near Medellin on Nov 28th 2016, electrical problems, no fuel, impact with terrain A LAMIA Bolivia Avro RJ-85, registration CP-2933 performing flight LMI-2933 from Santa Cruz (Bolivia) to Medellin (Colombia) with 68 passengers and 9 crew, was descending towards Medellin about 15-20nm southeast of Medellin in the area of La Ceja (Colombia) at 21:56L (02:56Z Nov 29th) when the aircraft disappeared from radar screens. The Airport of Medellin reported a search was initiated and the crash site has been located in the municipality of La Ceja at the slopes of Cerro Gordo (main wreckage location N5.9789 W75.4189 190m southsouthwest of the VOR RNG on the north slope of a hilltop, point of first impact at N5.9779 W75.4183 on the southern edge of the hilltop about 290m south of the VOR RNG). Authorities confirmed 6 survivors (3 players, one flight attendant, one mechanics and one journalist) and 71 fatalities. Search, Rescue and Recovery Colombia's Air Force have deployed search and rescue forces, the crash site located between La Ceja and Medellin was only accessible by land, helicopters can not operate due to low visibility due to fog. National Police reported 6 survivors. Emergency services reported the aircraft did not catch fire increasing the chances of survivors. There may be up to 10 survivors. Two players were already in hospital care in La Ceja. Colombian Authorities reported the search and rescue was suspended over night, 5 survivors and 25 fatalities have been recovered so far. One of the initial 6 survivors died in hospital. No further survivors have been located, 76 occupants lost their lives in the crash. Late Nov 29th 2016 Colombian Authorities, the government of Antioquia, corrected the passenger manifest reporting, that only 77 people were on board, not 81 as initially indicated. According to the boarding list 4 people listed on the passenger manifest did not travel. Six people survived, 71 people died in the crash, a seventh survivor later succumbed to his injuries. All 71 bodies have been recovered, the bodies are now being identified, it is estimated that the identification carried out by 12 teams is completed by Friday. Preparations have begun in consultation with Brazilian officials to return the victims home to Brazil. Investigation Colombia's Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA) confirmed flight LMI-2933 arriving from Bolivia crashed in the municipality of El Ceja. CAA staff including the director of the CAA have been dispatched to Medellin's Rio Negro Airport and have established a command post to address the situation. The aircraft had requested a priority landing, subsequently contact with the aircraft was lost. In the early morning hours of Nov 29th 2016 the CCAA reported, that an investigation has been opened into the crash, data and information are being collected. The head of investigation stated: "No existe evidencia de combustible en la aeronave" (there is no evidence of fuel in the aircraft). On Nov 29th 2016 the British AAIB reported that CCAA requested the assistance by the AAIB and BAe for the investigation into the crash, that occurred about 13nm south of Medellin Airport. The AAIB is dispatching three investigators specialised in operations, engineering and flight data recorders to Colombia, the investigators will be assisted by representatives from the UK manufacturer. The team is estimated to reach Colombia on Nov 30th. In the afternoon of Nov 29th 2016 the CCAA reported that both cockpit voice and flight data recorder have been recovered describing both boxes in "perfect condition". On Dec 1st 2016 Bolivia's Directorate General de Aeronautica Civil (DGCA) announced, that the Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) of LAMIA Bolivia has been suspended with immediate effect. Late Dec 1st 2016 Bolivia's Ministry of Public Services expressed their condolences to the families of those affected and announced, that: 1) the AOC of Lamia was suspended 2) an investigation has been opened into the circumstances of how LAMIA received their AOC 3) a specific investigation has been opened into the capital of the airline 4) The executive staff of DGAC (Bolivia's Civil Aviation Authority) and AASANA ( Administración de Aeropuertos y Servicios Auxliares a la Navegación Aérea, Administration of Airports and Air Navigation Services) have been changed during the investigation 5) Conduct an internal investigation into AASANA related to all events concerning administrative and operational permits 6) Coordinate with the Transparency Unit of the Ministry, the senate and the house regarding the accident In addition the Ministry of Public Services is conducting an investigation into the details of the events that occurred, the government will take all appropriate actions once the investigation determined responsibilities with the operational and technical area. Statements and Data In a press release the Airport of Medellin reported further, that the aircraft had declared emergency with Medellin's Control Tower at 22:00L reporting electrical problems. The last transponder data were received from the aircraft at 02:56Z as the aircraft descended through FL155 about 11nm southsoutheast of Medellin's Rio Negro Airport. According to ATC recordings the crew reported about their predicament: "Señorita Lamia 933 está en falla total, falla eléctrica total, sin combustible", translated, "Ma'am, Lamia 933, total failure, total electrical failure, no fuel". A VivaColombia Airbus A320-200 registration HK-5051 performing flight FC-8170 from Bogota to San Andres Island (Colombia) was enroute at FL360 about 150nm northwest of Medellin at 02:11Z when the crew initiated a diversion to Medellin, turned around and descended to FL160 on the way to Medellin. The aircraft reached the Final Approach Fix for the approach to runway 01 at 02:45Z and touched down safely at 02:51Z. CP-2933 was enroute at FL300 and started the descent towards Medellin about 80nm south of Medellin at 02:34Z. The aircraft descended to FL210 and entered a holding pattern south of La Ceja at 02:48Z, joined the approach at 02:54Z descending through FL190 and disappeared from radar at 02:56Z descending through FL155. On Nov 30th 2016 the crew of Avianca Airbus A320-200 registration N411AV performing flight AV-9771 from Cartagena (Colombia) to Medellin reported they were arriving at Medellin at about the same time the VivaColombia Airbus A320 diverted to Medellin with priority due to a suspected fuel leak and the LAMIA aircraft arrived at Medellin. They (Avianca) and the LAMIA were sent into holds while the VivaColombia received priority to land in Medellin. The LAMIA crew, told to be number 3 for the approach, queried about the estimated delay, then transmitted they were commencing the approach due to problems with the fuel, then declared Mayday due to electrical failure and contact was lost. General The aircraft was carrying the Brazilian soccer team of Chapecoense to play the finals of Copa Sudamericana 2016 in Medellin. The finals were cancelled as result of the crash. The opponent's team Atletico Nacional Medellin suggested the title should be awarded to Chapecoense. Rionegro Airport is at an elevation of 2141 meters/7025 feet. The VOR Rio Negro RNG is located on top of Cerro Gordo at an elevation of 2642 meters/8669 feet. Metars Rio Negro Airport: SKRG 290600Z 02003KT 9999 BKN015 BKN080 15/15 A3022 REDZ SKRG 290500Z 04003KT 8000 -DZ BKN015 BKN080 16/15 A3024 SKRG 290400Z 00000KT 8000 DZ BKN015TCU SCT080 16/15 A3024 RMK RERA SKRG 290300Z VRB02KT 9999 -DZ BKN015 SCT080 17/16 A3025 SKRG 290200Z 00000KT 9999 BKN015 SCT200 17/16 A3023 SKRG 290100Z 01003KT 9999 SCT017 SCT200 17/16 A3020 SKRG 290000Z 06003KT 9999 SCT017 SCT200 17/16 A3019 SKRG 282300Z 08005KT 9999 VCSH SCT017TCU SCT200 18/16 A3017 RMK TCU VCSH/SW/W http://avherald.com/h?article=4a16583c&opt=0 Back to Top Qatar Airways jet makes emergency landing in Azores Lisbon (AFP) - A Qatar Airways jet made an an emergency landing at a Portuguese military base in the Azores islands Sunday after heavy turbulence injured passengers. The Boeing 777, bound from Washington to Doha, was re-routed during a storm to the Azores, a Portuguese territory in the North Atlantic, and landed at the Lajes Air Base. Officials and witnesses said the plane had dropped steeply in altitude, hurling several passengers out of their seats and causing one traveller to suffer heart trouble. "All the passengers were taken to a hotel in the evening and are due to depart on Monday morning," said an airbase spokesman, adding that several people onboard had "suffered light injuries during the turbulence". "There was a medical emergency as one of the passengers had a cardiac complaint during the turbulence," a civil protection official in the Azores said. "He was hospitalised along with two other passengers." Azad Essa, an Al Jazeera journalist who was on board, tweeted: "Some passengers bleeding after flung in the air, hitting the ceiling + landing in the aisles after plane suddenly lost altitude." https://www.yahoo.com/news/qatar-airways-jet-makes-emergency-landing-azores- 210144616.html Back to Top Plane emergency lands at GRR after damage GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - An American Airlines plane made an emergency landing after damage inside the cabin Monday evening. The incident happened on American Airlines flight 3721 that was scheduled to fly from Grand Rapids to Chicago. Flightradar24.com shows the plane leaving GRR just before 6 p.m. Minutes into the flight, the plane turns around over the Zeeland area and returns to the airport. One of the passengers on the plane, Peter Pan, said he heard three loud bangs before parts of the plane's interior began coming apart. Photos from inside the aircraft show debris on the seats and part of the planes interior shell damaged. The aircraft was part of Envoy Air, a subsidiary of American Airlines. An AA spokesperson told 24 Hour News 8 that passengers were never in any danger. The spokesperson said the damage was limited to the interior shell of the aircraft and did not impact the plane's airworthiness. In fact, he said, the flight crew went on to fly the plane to another location so the interior could be repaired. Pan said the incident caused him to fear for his life. "It was kind of a terrifying experience for us," he said. "I was just praying for my soul." After returning to GRR, Pan said the airline provided little relief for passengers. He said they were given a voucher for a meal and a hotel stay but nothing more. The AA spokesperson said the airline was working to contact passengers to make sure their customers are taken care of. Online reports from websites that track aviation incidents reported that a cracked window was the cause of the emergency landing, but the American Airlines spokesperson said that was not the case. Records show the aircraft was back in service by December 1. http://woodtv.com/2016/12/02/plane-emergency-lands-at-grr-after-damage/ Back to Top Plane makes emergency landing at SAT SAN ANTONIO - An airplane made an emergency landing at San Antonio International Airport on Sunday afternoon after reporting landing gear issues. Around 2 p.m., San Antonio International Airport received notice from SkyWest Flight 5588 regarding the landing gear under the nose of the plane. The plane had to circle the flight tower before landing safely. When the flight landed on the runway, the nose gear of the plane collapsed. The crew deployed the emergency slides and more than two dozen emergency units responded to the runway. All 51 passengers and four crew members safely exited the plane. There was one minor injury to an ankle. The flight was operating as United Express from Houston to Monterrey, Mexico. Only the affected runway is closed at this time. The airport is asking all passengers flying out Sunday afternoon to call their airlines regarding their flight information. Flight information can also be found at www.sanantonio-airport.com. http://www.kens5.com/news/local/plane-makes-emergency-landing-at-sat/362545923 Back to Top DOT approves contested Norwegian Air flights A Boeing 737-800 of low-cost airline Norwegian Air Shuttle flying near Oslo airport in Gardermoen on July 17, 2009. (Photo: KYRRE LIEN, AFP/Getty Images) WASHINGTON - The Transportation Department agreed Friday to allow Norwegian Air International to fly to the U.S., in a decision that domestic airlines, their unions and some lawmakers opposed as unfair competition. The low-cost carrier, a subsidiary of Norwegian Air Shuttle, had applied in December 2013 to serve the U.S. The parent carrier established routes at several U.S. airports with Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft and hundreds of locally hired workers while awaiting the decision. But U.S. critics, including American, Delta and United airlines, and the Air Line Pilots Association, argued that Norwegian was trying to skirt labor and safety laws, by being headquartered in Ireland and potentially hiring Asian crews for below-market wages. The department gave tentative approval in April and finalized the decision Friday. "This case is among the most novel and complex ever undertaken by the department," Jenny Rosenberg, acting assistant secretary for international affairs, wrote in the nine- page decision. "Regardless of our appreciation of the public policy arguments raised by opponents, we have been advised that the law and our bilateral obligations leave us no avenue to reject this application." In direct reference to concerns about hiring and employment practices, the decision said the airline CEO offered "a number of voluntary practices" to address the concerns. Roger Dow, CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, said the travel community was "ecstatic" at the decision. "There is zero downside to allowing more low-cost carriers into U.S. airports: it's a policy that's good for consumers, stupendous for U.S. economic and job growth, and even good for U.S. airlines because it broadens the market for domestic connector flights," Dow said. "More choices for American travelers and more capacity to bring foreign visitors and their dollars to U.S. shores is the unimpeachably correct decision, period." Critics were outraged at a decision they warned could allow airlines to mirror the shipping industry, where companies organize in countries with the least-onerous regulations. The opponents cited language in the policy called an Open Skies agreement between the U.S., the European Union and Norway, which says "opportunities created by the agreement are not intended to undermine labour standards or the labour-related rights and principles," but the DOT decision found that that didn't block approval of the flights. "DOT's decision has guaranteed a race to the bottom in our transatlantic aviation market," said Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore. "Norwegian is a virtual airline, set up under a flag of convenience to exploit weak labor laws in other countries like Singapore, save money, and undercut competition." The criticism was bipartisan. Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-N.J., also called the decision a "slap in the face." The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA condemned the decision as a double-cross of U.S. workers. "It is a betrayal to hundreds of thousands of aviation workers," said Sara Nelson, the union president. "This decision puts a rubber-stamp of approval on the 'flag of convenience model' that destroyed over a hundred thousand U.S. shipping jobs." Capt. Tim Canoll, president of the pilots' union, said the group "is considering all options to reverse this action." "This flawed action is a lasting legacy of the Obama administration and demonstrates an egregious lack of support for working men and women in this country," Canoll said. "This decision is an affront to fair competition and will ultimately result in the loss of U.S. jobs and, potentially, significant losses for the U.S. international aviation industry." But Norwegian airline officials strongly objected to being characterized as cutting corners on safety or labor regulations. Bjorn Kjos, CEO of Norwegian Group, has said the approval would be a "win-win" for consumers and the economies on both sides of the Atlantic. The company said its flights would benefit economies on both sides of the Atlantic, after ordering $18.5 billion of 787 and 737 aircraft. Airport groups in Oakland, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Washington, D.C. each urged approval of the application to gain more international flights. John Byerly, a former State Department official who helped negotiate the Open Skies agreement that allowed the application and who is now a consultant for Norwegian, has said airlines and unions were just trying to prevent competition on trans-Atlantic flights. http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/todayinthesky/2016/12/02/dot-approves- contested-norwegian-air-flights/94838292/ Back to Top Indonesia police aircraft carrying at least 12 crashed in sea A twin-engine M-28 Skytruck like the one pictured above crashed into the sea flying between Singapore and Indonesia on Saturday. The plane was carrying at least 12 people including police officers and aircraft maintenance crew and lost contact with Singapore air traffic control around 11:22 a.m.Photo by Marek Slusarczyk/WikiMedia Commons JAKARTA, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- An Indonesian police aircraft carrying at least 12 people crashed into the sea off Batam Saturday after losing contact with air traffic. Fisherman discovered the wreckage of the twin-engine M-28 Skytruck around 11:30 a.m. local time, according to the Straits Times. The plane was carrying police officers and aircraft maintenance crew, among others. There was no report of survivors. "Before it plunged, a loud explosion was heard by local residents on the ground," Tanjung Pinang Naval Base commander First Admiral S. Irawan said. The aircraft left Pankal Pinang in Singapore at 10:24 a.m., but lost contact with Singapore air traffic control at 11:22 a.m. in the middle of a one and a half hour flight to Batam scheduled to arrive at 11:58 a.m., Channel News Asia reported. Search and rescue operations were activated by Singapore and the Indonesian navy deployed three ships and two patrol boats to conduct a recovery operation. "With clearance from the Indonesian authorities, a SuperPuma helicopter and a Fokker 50 are currently on-scene supporting the Indonesians to locate the aircraft," the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore said Saturday. "Two ships are awaiting clearance by the Indonesian authorities to assist in the search and rescue efforts." http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2016/12/03/Indonesia-police-aircraft- carrying-at-least-12-crashed-in-sea/9341480770382/ Back to Top China Southern B738 near Lanzhou on Dec 1st 2016, the hottest phone one can get A China Southern Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration B-1782 performing flight CZ-6976 from Shanghai Pudong to Urumqui (China), was enroute at 9200 meters about 120nm east of Lanzhou (China) when the crew decided to divert to Lanzhou after a passenger's mobile phone turned hot and emitted smoke, no flames occurred however and cabin crew did not need to use fire extinguishers. The phone was cooled down and secured. The aircraft landed safely in Lanzhou about 30 minutes after the diversion was initiated. The aircraft remained on the ground in Lanzhou for about 2.5 hours, then continued the flight and reached Urumqui with a delay of 3 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4a1980cd&opt=0 Back to Top Bolivia minister: country could face US aviation downgrade LA PAZ, Bolivia - The U.S. could downgrade the country's aviation safety rating because of irregularities that may have contributed to this week's crash of a chartered plane carrying a Brazilian soccer team, Bolivia's Defense Minister said Saturday. As investigators probe what caused the crash that killed all but six of the 77 people on board, a string of human mistakes and irregularities have emerged, leading experts to conclude that one of the worst disasters in sports history could have been prevented. Attention has focused on why the British-built regional jet was allowed to attempt the flight between Santa Cruz, Bolivia and the Colombian city of Medellin with barely enough fuel to cover the route. According to a flight plan obtained by Bolivian media, the total flying time was set at 4 hours and 22 minutes - the same amount of time of fuel the aircraft had on board. "I've never seen a flight plan like this. The fuel on board should never, never match the estimated flight time," said John Cox, a retired airline pilot and CEO of Florida-based Safety Operating Systems, who reviewed the internationally standardized flight plan. "In a lot of countries this flight plan would not have been accepted." Questions have also been raised about how the charter airline LaMia, which was licensed earlier this year, was able to quickly amass an impressive list of clients from South America's top soccer clubs as well as the national teams of Argentina and Brazil. One of the airline's owners died in the crash while another, Gustavo Vargas, is a retired air force general who once served as Bolivian President Evo Morales' pilot. On Friday authorities revealed that Vargas' son headed the office responsible for aircraft registration at the civil aviation authority. He was immediately suspended along with several other aviation officials as authorities look into whether LaMia received favorable treatment. Defense Minister Reymi Ferreri said it was possible Bolivia could be sanctioned with a downgrade by U.S. aviation authorities. "All the information points to the airplane having crashed because of a lack of fuel, no mechanical errors," Ferreri told journalists from Santa Cruz, where he was on hand to receive the bodies of four members of the aircraft's all-Bolivian crew. "One of the dangers from the investigations are sanctions for civil aviation." Bolivia in 2001 regained a category 1 rating from the Federal Aviation Administration after having lost the top status in 1994. If the category is downgraded, the South American country would join only a handful of nations including Bangladesh and Thailand deemed as not meeting international aviation standards. Such a move could limit the ability of state-run carrier Boliviana de Aviacion to expand its service to the U.S. The airline currently operates a single flight between Santa Cruz and Miami. The FAA declined to comment except to say that Bolivia's status had not been changed. Investigators were being helped in their probe by the six survivors' accounts of what happened. The first of those survivors to be released after the accident, crew member Erwin Tumiri, arrived Saturday in his hometown of Cochabamba in central Bolivia, where an ambulance took him to a local hospital. Speaking from a stretcher and immobilized by a neck brace, he briefly thanked the many people who prayed for his recovery. "I'm very happy to have arrived," he said. http://www.phillyvoice.com/bolivia-minister-country-could-face-us-aviation-do/ Back to Top Spaceflight training jets, balloons create challenges for FAA Commercial spaceflight support can include high-performance jets, balloons and hybrid jet/rocket systems An F-104 aircraft privately operated by Starflighters flies over the Shuttle Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral. Starfighters offer training missions assessing sub-orbital flights and have worked with NASA to assess launch trajectories and sonic booms. Credit: Reuters As the commercial space flight industry grows, the need for proper training and certification of support personnel and aircraft - which can include all manner of high- performance jets, balloons and hybrid jet/rocket systems - is going to be regulatory challenge for the Federal Aviation Administration. A recent report from the Government Accountability Office said companies they interviewed had received standard aircraft certification for their space support vehicle, but for others the standard certification process is lengthy and not designed for the type of vehicles they would like to use, such as unique, single-production aircraft or retired military jets. +More on Network World: 26 of the craziest and scariest things the TSA has found on travelers+ "In addition, FAA regulations do not let companies receive compensation for carrying people or property on an aircraft operating under an experimental certificate. As a result, some of the companies we interviewed have training operations in other countries where they can receive payment for the activity," the GAO wrote. The GAO also said that FAA regulations do not let companies receive compensation for carrying people or property on an aircraft operating under an experimental certificate. As a result, some of the companies the GAO interviewed have training operations in other countries where they can receive payment for the activity. "Further, FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST)-the office that regulates commercial space activities-is only authorized to regulate commercial space activities, such as launches, focusing on the safety of third parties. According to FAA officials, a statutory or regulatory change would be needed to allow companies to use space support vehicles that do not meet the FAA's Office of Aviation Safety standard certification requirements for compensation," the GAO wrote. AVS oversees civil aviation in the United States and therefore regulates aircraft that may be used for space support activities. How soon regulatory changes will be needed is also an issue as it isn't entirely clear how big the market for these support flight systems will get, the GAO stated. "The U.S. commercial space-launch industry generated $617 million in revenue in 2015 and has experienced significant growth in the past half-decade. FAA reported that its licensed launches have increased 60% and industry revenue has increased 471% since 2012. Customer satisfaction = company success. Smart companies view the customer experience as a strategic, C-level initiative. According to FAA officials, the commercial space transportation industry is evolving and the agency has worked with companies individually to determine how they can legally operate within the current regulatory system. "However, FAA officials acknowledge that this issue is potentially growing as more companies try to figure out how to cost-effectively provide what they see as a potential market-supporting commercial space transportation. The FAA has taken steps to assess the licensing and permitting process for hybrid launch vehicles; however, it has not assessed whether space support vehicles are needed to meet the potential research, training, and other needs of the commercial space transportation industry, and if it should propose changes that would accommodate all aircraft that could be used as space support vehicles," the GAO stated. http://www.networkworld.com/article/3144191/security/spaceflight-training-jets- balloons-create-challenges-for-faa.html Back to Top EU Renewable Energy Directive Must Prioritize Sustainable Aviation Fuels Geneva - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) welcomed the European Commission's revision of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) to incentivize sustainable fuels, and urged policy-makers to go even further in prioritizing their use for air transport. The largest user of renewable fuels, the road transport sector, has increasing options to move towards electrification; however, aviation has no technological option but to continue with liquid fuel at the present time. Therefore, there is a strong case for sustainable fuel policies to prioritize air transport, in order to boost supply and reduce costs. "Aviation is on a path towards carbon-neutral growth and ultimately to reduce emissions in half. Sustainable fuels are an essential element of our carbon-cutting strategy, with the prospect of an 80% decrease in carbon compared to traditional jet fuel. Policies to incentivize the production of such fuels have been successful in the United States and elsewhere. Europe has an opportunity to take the lead in sustainable fuel production if the revised RED contains the right measures," said Michael Gill, IATA's Director, Aviation Environment. The European Commission's stated aim is for Europe to become the leader in renewable energy, and the revision of the RED offers just such an opportunity. The current challenge with sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) is to boost supply and cut costs. Greater production will help to reduce prices, and reduced prices will encourage greater demand, thus boosting production. To break into this virtuous circle, the RED must strengthen its policy framework to incentivize production of SAF. "Airlines are absolutely committed to the highest sustainability standards for alternative fuels, to ensure no interference with biodiversity, food production, or clean water resources. We are ready and willing to invest in these fuels and the revision of the RED offers a unique opportunity for Europe to demonstrate what can be achieved when policy- makers and industry combine for a genuinely coordinated approach to climate action and business innovation," said Gill. http://www.iata.org/pressroom/pr/Pages/2016-11-30-01.aspx Back to Top Ministry tells Indonesian airliners to hire 900 jobless local pilots On transportation: Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) advisory council head MS Hidayat (left) speaks with Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi (second left), Kadin vice chairperson for transportation Carmelita Hartoto (second right) and Kadin vice chairperson for culture-based traditional industries Putri K. Wardhani during a national work meeting (Rakernas) of Kadin's transportation division organized in Jakarta, recently. (JP/Jerry Adiguna) The Transportation Ministry has said as over 900 Indonesian pilots having not been able to gain employment with local airliners, the ministry is planning to impose a new obligation to ensure higher absorption of local pilots by the airline industry. "This is a big problem. At least 900 [local] pilots have no jobs. This will be our homework, to create opportunities for them," Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said as quoted by tribunnews.com on the sidelines of the Air Transportation Safety Campaign at the ministry's office on Sunday. Budi said his ministry would require local airliners to employ local pilots, while promising that the ministry would also help improve the competence of the pilots through further training. "There has to be an obligation [for local airliners to take on local pilots]," he added. In addition, the ministry would give impose stricter requirements to foreign pilots working at local airliners. "We should impose certain requirements for foreign pilots working in Indonesia," he added. Reportedly, 564 foreign pilots are currently working in the country. (dmr) http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/12/05/ministry-tells-indonesian-airliners-to- hire-900-jobless-local-pilots.html Back to Top Passengers 'hijack' overbooked Jet flight to Bhopal The plane was delayed for more than two hours at the city airport as irate passengers got into a verbal duel with each other as well as the airline staff, and did not allow the flight to takeoff. A Jet Airways flight from Mumbai to Bhopal had a "near-hijack type" situation after a technical glitch resulted in the airline's ticketing system allowing booking beyond the capacity, with a family booking 80 tickets in bulk. The plane was delayed for more than two hours at the city airport as irate passengers got into a verbal duel with each other as well as the airline staff, and did not allow the flight to takeoff. The issue took place on Jet flight (9W 7083) to Bhopal on Friday. The matter was finally resolved after the overbooked passengers (a large family headed for a wedding in Bhopal) were denied boarding and the airline compensating them. A statement from Jet said, "A technical glitch resulted in Jet flight 9W 7083 (S2 4621) BOM-BHO on December 2 being overbooked above the norm. This resulted in certain confirmed guests on the flight being denied boarding. "The offloaded guests - part of a larger group refused to accept our compensation/ re-accommodation on alternative flights, and together with other members of the group, proceeded to hold the flight for 90 minutes, resulting in some confirmed guests being denied boarding," it said. The airline said subsequently all the offloaded guests were duly compensated as per DGCA guidelines, and the technical glitch identified and corrected for subsequent bookings. A video posted by a passenger shows the fliers shouting at each other, especially the group of family, and also at the staff for not calling in the security. The wedding group had apparently blocked the aircraft doors to prevent it from shutting. A passenger claimed that a few members of the marriage party even tried to bribe the cabin crew to make some other passengers de-board, so that their family members could fly. Media reports said the family concerned was connected to a powerful state minister. http://indianexpress.com/article/india/passengers-hijack-overbooked-jet-flight-to-bhopal- 4408650/ Back to Top Stratos Jet Makes First Flight New single-engine very light jet is expected to fly beyond 400 knots. The Stratos 714 jet takes off on its first flight. Last week, the four-seat Stratos 714 jet took to the skies for the first time from the company's headquarters at the Roberts Field Airport in Redmond, Oregon. The plan for the flight, which lasted only 10 minutes, was to evaluate the general stability and systems operation of the single-engine jet. Test pilot Dave Morss was satisfied with the overall handling and provided feedback to the development team after the flight. The initial flight was limited to 128 knots and 3,700 feet agl with the gear extended and flaps at 24 degrees. Once the test program is complete, the Stratos 714 is expected to fly at speeds around 415 knots and as high as 41,000 feet. The maximum range is projected at 1,500 nm. The airplane is powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada's JT15D-5, rated at 2,900 pounds of thrust. The company plans to pursue type certification for the jet once the initial flight testing is complete, said Michael Lemaire, CEO of Stratos Aircraft. Although the company is not accepting orders, potential customers can register on the Stratos website "for airplane availability updates and investment opportunities," said chief sales officer Kevin Jordan. Stratos plans to bring the 714 jet to the EAA AirVenture 2017 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, set to take place July 24 through 30. http://www.flyingmag.com/stratos-jet-makes-first-flight Back to Top US Air Force Faces Shortage of Fighter Jet Mechanics The United States Air Force has a shortage of mechanics to provide support for its fighter airplanes. VOA recently reported that the Air Force has 725 fighter pilots less than the 3,500 it is permitted to have. It is training about 135 more fighter pilots this year than in 2014. But it will be a long time before they are ready for action. Pilots must train for years -- at a cost of millions of dollars -- before they have enough experience to fly fighter jets. The fighter pilot shortage is happening at a time when private airline companies are adding pilots. Private airlines pay more and their pilots spend less time away from home. Two Air Force generals told VOA that the military is still able to meet the demands for fighter jet support. But they added that unless more pilots choose a career in the Air Force, the service will soon be unable to meet the demands of top commanders. They warn that this could possibly affect both U.S. troops and civilians. But even if the Air Force can train and keep jet fighter pilots, it must have enough mechanics to maintain the jets. And right now it has a shortage of more than 3,000 of these maintainers. Mechanics at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in the state of Virginia have much work to do. They help keep F-22 Raptor jets flying. They also work on the T-38 Talon -- a jet that is about 50 years old and must often be repaired. This Air Force fighter pilot says the mechanics work hard. "Maybe once a day to once every other day we'll bring back a jet that needs, has some kind of issue that needs to get fixed by our maintenance before it can get launched back up. So even at night when we're not flying, they're workin' on the planes and making sure that they're ready to go for the next day." This senior airman is one of the mechanics. "We all understand that the whole '(do) more with less' is, is happening, but I mean it, regardless, jets have to fly. So we're gonna make it happen, but yeah there's, there's definitely pain in that process." Air Force Lieutenant General John Cooper works on ways to train and keep pilots and mechanics. "We were livin', you know, on the edge with our maintainers for a long time, but we were able to accomplish the mission." Now, General Cooper says budget cuts have made his job much harder. But he says the Air Force has begun enlisting and training new fighter jet mechanics. And he says if the budget does not get smaller, the shortage will end in 2021. http://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/us-air-force-faces-shortage-of-fighter-jet- mechanics/3616357.html Back to Top ESA COMMITS TO ISS PARTICIPATION THROUGH 2024 The International Space Station, as seen by the departing crew of the Space Shuttle Atlantis during the final mission of the program, STS-135. Photo Credit: NASA At a two-day meeting in Lucerne, Switzerland, the European Space Agency's 22 member states approved a commitment to extend European participation in the International Space Station (ISS) program to 2024. ESA is the final partner agency to do so. "I'm excited all the International Space Station partners have now joined us in committing to [the] operation of this invaluable resource through at least 2024," said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden in a statement on ESA's commitment. "The European Space Agency contributions to station are essential, and we look forward to continuing to work with ESA, the Canadian Space Agency, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and Roscosmos for extended operations, and to collaborating with other nations to push the boundaries of human exploration, and extend our reach farther into the Solar System as part of the ongoing Journey to Mars." Funding for ESA's extension will amount to about 807 million euros ($861 million) on usage and 153 million euros ($163 million) for science projects involving the space station. This will also allow for more ESA astronauts to visit the ISS. According to Space News, ESA is currently building the service module for the EM-1 Orion spacecraft in a bid to offset its 8.3 percent annual share of the station's common operating costs through 2020. With the recent decision to extend ISS operation to 2024, this means Europe will build a second service module. The station's notional end-of-mission was originally planned for this year, 2016. However, soon after station assembly was completed in 2011, the ISS partners quickly agreed to extend the operation of the outpost through 2020. By 2014, the White House signaled it wanted NASA to continue operating the space station through at least 2024. Over the next two years, each partner agency has committed to do the same, with ESA being the last. Both the Russian Energia and American Boeing companies, the prime contractors for much of the ISS hardware, are currently assessing if the station can be safely operated through at least 2028. Some of the modules have been in orbit since 1998 and 2000. It remains to be seen if the international partners will commit through the end of the 2020s. Additionally, NASA has been discussing the possibility of handing over operation of the outpost to a private organization by 2024 in a bid to save money. How realistic this would be is unclear as NASA spends some $4 billion each year on operating costs and transportation - 20 percent of the agency's budget. http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/missions/iss/esa-commits-to-station-participation- through-2024/#GJ2Q9LzOEMTC8eVe.99 Back to Top Virgin Galactic's second SpaceShipTwo performed its first glide flight There are more glide tests to go before the rocket test, though Virgin Galactic's spaceplane, SpaceShipTwo, went on its first free flight on Friday, performing an unpowered glide over the Mojave Desert. The vehicle, named VSS Unity, was dropped from its carrier plane, WhiteKnightTwo, and flew for 10 minutes on its own before landing successfully at the Mojave Air and Space Port. The flight comes more than two years after the company's first SpaceShipTwo experienced a failure mid-flight - killing its pilot and injuring its co-pilot. It marks a major step forward for the company, which has been working to launch sub-orbital flights for several years. Virgin Galactic unveiled SpaceShipTwo earlier this year, and received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration back in August to begin test flights. This was the fifth time that VSS Unity and WhiteKnightTwo have flown together, but this is the first time that it's been separated from WhiteKnightTwo. Before the drop test, Richard Branson addressed the crowd, saying that he hoped "to see out here a lot over the next few months." According to the company, the "data as well as feedback from our two pilots indicate that today's flight went extremely well," but also indicated that it will be examining the data that was collected closely. With this week's success, the company will conduct several additional glide tests before moving on to the next phase of testing, where the rocket engine will be ignited in the air. Since its accident in 2014, the company has worked to correct the problems that contributed to the breakup of the aircraft, which included design and pilot errors. http://www.theverge.com/2016/12/4/13830490/virgin-galactic-second-spaceshiptwo- performed-first-glide-flight Curt Lewis