Flight Safety Information June 8, 2016 - No. 029 In This IssueKenyan airspace certified safe by ICAO standards.. Incident: Canada A333 at Brussels on Feb 5th 2017, rejected takeoff due to wheel separation Incident: India A319 at Bhopal on Feb 6th 2017, bird strike creates fuel shortage Saab 340 Runway Excursion (Bahamas) Airbus A319 Runway Excursion (Denmark) British police say PIA jet diverted because of disruptive passenger Flexjet Earns Fifth Consecutive ARG/US Platinum Safety Rating Kenyan airspace certified safe by ICAO standards FAA Warns To Watch Class B Boundaries NMSU drones advance unmanned aviation. GARMIN G5 GETS EASA APPROVAL. Ethiopian Airlines doing well financially despite Trump's travel ban complications Quest Delivered a Record 36 Aircraft in 2016 Congress' inability to pass a budget is hurting the (Navy) fleet, leaders say Air Force chief seeks to lower commercial flight-hour requirement FAA challenged by growing commercial space industry FATIGUE MANAGEMENT NBAA COMPENSATION SURVEY. Incident: Canada A333 at Brussels on Feb 5th 2017, rejected takeoff due to wheel separation An Air Canada Airbus A330-300, registration C-GFAJ performing flight AC-833 from Brussels (Belgium) to Montreal,QC (Canada) with 179 passengers, was accelerating for takeoff from runway 07R when the crew rejected takeoff at high speed (about 90 knots over ground). The aircraft slowed safely and vacated the runway via taxiway C1 about 2200 meters down the runway before becoming disabled after a number of right hand main tyres deflated. The airline reported the aircraft sustained damage to its wheels when it rejected takeoff. On Feb 7th 2017 the Canadian TSB reported the crew heard a loud bang and received a BRAKE ECAM message, rejected takeoff at 82 KIAS, declared PAN. Deceleration did not occur as expected due to one thrust reverser not deploying as result of the loss of green hydraulic system. The aircraft vacated the runway via runway C1. Debris was found scattered along the full length of the runway including intersection with runway 01, the forward outboard right hand main wheel had failed and separated. There was damage to the #1 engine nose cowl, the right hand main wheel bogie needs to be replaced. http://avherald.com/h?article=4a48146a&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: India A319 at Bhopal on Feb 6th 2017, bird strike creates fuel shortage An Air India Airbus A319-100, registration VT-SCJ performing flight AI-436 from Bhopal to Delhi (India) with 122 passengers and 7 crew, was climbing out of Bhopal's runway 30 when a bird impacted the aircraft. In the absence of abnormal indications, obviously even remaining unaware of the bird strike, the crew continued the flight, climbed the aircraft to FL320, but about 5 minutes after levelling off at FL320 descended the aircraft to FL270. The crew decided to divert to Jaipur (India) indicating they were diverting due to the adverse weather conditions in Delhi. While on approach to Jaipur the crew reported being low on fuel. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on Jaipur's runway 27. After landing a fuel leak from one of the engines (CFM56) was detected. Jaipur Airport reported the crew never mentioned a bird strike. Only on approach the crew requested priority which was immediately provided. The airline confirmed maintance found evidence after landing that the aircraft had received a bird strike, the airline investigates why the crew remained unaware of the bird strike in flight. The passengers were rebooked onto other flights out of Jaipur. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Jaipur about 19 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4a48d162&opt=0 Back to Top Saab 340 Runway Excursion (Bahamas) Status: Preliminary Date: Tuesday 7 February 2017 Type: Saab 340 Operator: Western Air Registration: registration unknown C/n / msn: First flight: Crew: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Total: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Airplane damage: Unknown Location: Freeport-Grand Bahama International Airport (FPO) ( Bahamas) Phase: Landing (LDG) Nature: Domestic Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Freeport-Grand Bahama International Airport (FPO/MYGF), Bahamas Destination airport: Nassau-Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS/MYNN), Bahamas Flightnumber: 708 Narrative: Western Air flight 708, a Saab 340, suffered a runway excursion after landing rollout at Freeport-Grand Bahama International Airport, Bahamas. According to a statement by Western Air, the crew received a warning regarding the electrical system shortly after takeoff from Freeport. The aircraft returned to land as a precaution. As the aircraft was preparing to turn onto the taxiway, the left main landing gear malfunctioned, causing the aircraft to swerve off the runway. https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20170207-0 Back to Top Airbus A319 Runway Excursion (Denmark) Date: 07-FEB-2017 Time: 10:05 Type: Airbus A319-131 Owner/operator: British Airways Registration: G-EUPM C/n / msn: 1258 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: None Location: Billund Airport (BLL/EKBI) - Denmark Phase: Taxi Nature: International Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Lond Destination airport: Billund Airport (BLL/EKBI) Narrative: British Airways flight BA804, an Airbus A319, slid off the taxiway at Billund Airport, Denmark and became stuck. The aircraft had just landed on runway 09 and had vacated the runway via taxiway M. It was turning towards taxiway K when the incident happened. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=193400 Back to Top British police say PIA jet diverted because of disruptive passenger A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) aircraft which was intercepted and escorted by fighter jets to Stansted airport northeast of London was diverted because of reports of a disruptive passenger, British police said on Tuesday. "This is not believed to be a hijack situation or terror matter," Essex Police said in a statement. "The plane is currently at the airport and officers are making enquiries." The Ministry of Defence had earlier said Typhoon jets had intercepted the aircraft, which had been en route to London's Heathrow Airport, and escorted it to Stansted. "The authorities received an anonymous phone call and then followed standard operating procedure by diverting the plane," a PIA spokesman said. "Security clearance is underway and the aircraft will be cleared soon afterwards. All passengers on board are safe." http://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-airliner-pakistan-idUSKBN15M1UH Back to Top Flexjet Earns Fifth Consecutive ARG/US Platinum Safety Rating Flexjet LLC, offering travelers access to the world's most luxurious fleet of private jets, today announced it has again received the most prestigious aviation safety rating in the United States, the Aviation Research Group/US (ARG/US) Platinum Safety Rating. Flexjet, which flies some of the youngest aircraft among large operators, has now earned the biennial Platinum Rating for five consecutive two-year periods since 2008. The ARG/US rating is the result of independent assessments and a multi-day, onsite audit that measures companies against the aviation industry's best practices for safety. "Of all the awards and distinctions Flexjet has received through the years, none means so much to us as the ARG/US Platinum Safety Rating, which goes to the heart of our mission: The safe passage of our Owners, clients and flight crews," said Flexjet Chief Executive Officer Michael Silvestro. "Earning this award for the fifth time is the result of the dedication of our pilots and flight crews, our operations staff and our maintenance and ground crews." ARG/US, an independent aviation research firm, provides safety ratings for aircraft operators based upon onsite audits and analyses using recognized benchmarks. Companies that have achieved the very highest safety standards earn the Platinum Rating. The ARG/US audit requires that an air carrier have a well- developed safety management system, a clear and workable emergency response plan, effective policies and procedures as well as documented records for all major aspects of operations and maintenance. "The ARG/US Platinum Safety Rating is earned by only a relative handful of aircraft operators that meet or exceed strict standards for equipment, maintenance, flight crew experience and other factors that contribute to safety," said Flexjet Chief Safety Officer Alan W. Ray. "We are proud of this distinction and the culture of safety it reflects, and work to earn it every single day." Out of the nation's 2,159 commuter, charter and on-demand aviation companies, only 6 percent are rated Platinum by ARG/US. Companies can earn the safety rating, first offered by ARG/US in 2000, through a biennial assessment of seven demanding industry best practices including historical safety ratings, current aircraft and pilot background checks and passage of a rigorous on-site safety audit that takes several weeks to complete. The Platinum Rating is awarded only to experienced operators who meet the criteria for Gold and pass the ARGUS Platinum onsite safety audit. With Flexjet's growing fleet of ultra-long range aircraft, the company also pursued and completed the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) audit and is registered as complying with the global standard. IS-BAO is a global, voluntary code of best practice with a safety management system at its core. Tailored specifically for business aviation operators, it is built upon and consistent with the standards and recommended practices of the International Civil Aviation Organization. This compliance is essentially an international standard of excellence in safety programs. In addition to the ARG/US Platinum Safety Rating, Flexjet was the first fractional jet ownership program to meet the increasingly strict Industry Audit Standard of the Air Charter Safety Foundation, perhaps the toughest standard for Part 135 air carriers. Just this month, Flexjet earned the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) coveted Diamond Award of Excellence for the 18th consecutive year, more than any other provider of private jet travel. The Diamond Award is the FAA's highest honor for maintenance training and recognizes a carrier's commitment to excellence in maintenance, a crucial component of safety. Flexjet also is an active participant in the FAA's innovative Part 5 Safety Management System. About Flexjet Flexjet first entered the fractional jet ownership market in 1995, and celebrated its 21st anniversary in May 2016. Flexjet offers fractional jet ownership and leasing. Flexjet's fractional aircraft program is the first in the world to be recognized as achieving the Air Charter Safety Foundation's Industry Audit Standard, is the first and only company to be honored with 18 FAA Diamond Awards for Excellence and upholds an ARG/US Platinum Safety Rating. Flexjet's fractional program fields an exclusive array of business aircraft-some of the youngest in the fractional jet industry, with an average age of approximately six years-including their LXi Cabin Collection consisting of the Learjet 75LXi, Challenger 350, the Embraer Legacy 450 and 500, Global Express, the Gulfstream G450, G500 and G650, and the Aerion AS2 supersonic business jets. In addition, the overall jet collection includes the Embraer Phenom 300, Challenger 300 and Challenger 605. Flexjet is a member of the Directional Aviation family of companies. For more details on innovative programs and flexible offerings, visit www.flexjet.com or follow us on Twitter @Flexjet. https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/17/02/b9005248/flexjet-earns-fifth-consecutive-argus-platinum- safety-rating Back to Top Kenyan airspace certified safe by ICAO standards The Kenyan airspace has been certified safe according to International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards. Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) Director General Gilbert Kibe made the announcement at a workshop attended 60 Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) delegates in Naivasha yesterday. Mr Kibe said Kenya's score last year of 78.40 per cent in ICAO's safety compliance category was partly a result of technical workshops and steering committee meetings initiated by Comesa. REVAMPED AVIATION He said air transport played a pivotal role in regional integration, hence the need for continuous dialogue between partner states and stakeholders within the industry. Nineteen Comesa member states were represented at the Naivasha workshop, which deliberated on creating a seamless airspace for the trading bloc. Kibe said enhanced air safety had seen Kenya's aircraft movements increase by 5 per cent to 322,504 last year, while passenger traffic registered a 6.2 per cent increase to 9.4 million. A revamped industry also led to an increase of 9,062 aviation personnel in last year, up from 6,719 in 2012 (34.9 per cent), while aircraft registrations rose to 1,388 from 1,165 in 2012 - an upswing of 19.1 per cent. The cargo sector, however, had hitches. "Cargo handling dropped by 17.5 per cent to 255,000 tons from 309,000 tons in 2012, largely as a result of new restive regulations in European countries on the quality of products reaching their markets," Kibe said. The drop, according to the director general, was also caused by reduced capacity after national carrier Kenya Airways sold off some of its wide-bodied aircraft. But aerodromes and airstrips increased by 2.9 per cent from 450 in 2012 to 463 in 2016, said Kibe. Equally encouraging was the increase in the number of aviation training organisations from five in 2012 to 22 in 2016. In a speech read on his behalf by Kibe, Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Principal Secretary Irungu Nyakera added that Comesa stood to gain from an integrated, seamless and economically efficient air transport industry. He said strategic investment in communications, navigation, surveillance and air traffic management would boost air safety, while helping achieve regional integration. https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/article/2001228171/kenyan-airspace-certified-safe-by-icao- standards Back to Top FAA Warns To Watch Class B Boundaries Pilots should be wary when operating close to the boundaries of Class B airspace, the FAA said recently in a Safety Alert for Operators. Flight crew who are on a visual approach may sometimes stray outside the boundaries of the designated airspace, the FAA said. In addition, the published approaches may sometimes take an airplane temporarily outside the airspace. At the same time, GA pilots may be operating close outside the boundaries without talking to ATC, as they depend more and more on inflight navigation aids such as GPS moving maps. That proximity increases the risk of a near-midair collision, the FAA says. The solution is for all pilots, whether flying inside or outside the Class B space, to become familiar with the vertical and lateral boundaries, the FAA said. In addition, the SAFO notes, during busy times, pilots and flight crew might follow a controller's instructions that cause them to exit the Class B airspace, but the crew is not aware of the excursion because the controllers are too busy to advise them. All pilots should "maintain external vigilance," avoid distractions, and apply see-and-avoid practices anytime they are operating near Class B airspace boundaries, according to the SAFO. Class B airspace surrounds the nation's busiest airports. http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/FAA-Warns-To-Watch-Class-B-Boundaries-228459-1.html Back to Top NMSU drones advance unmanned aviation A look inside America's first drone test center LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KRQE) - A small gray plane revved its engine on Runway 22 at Las Cruces International Airport. Quickly, the propeller on its tail pushed it faster and faster past the white lines on the asphalt. It soon broke ground and climbed skyward. The only difference between this plane and the others that operate at the Las Cruces airport each day is the fact that on this plane, there is no pilot on board. The pilot sits in a control room at the side of the runway, using computer programs and electronic screens to tell the plane where to go. This time, it heads 50 miles west, near Deming, and back. The aircraft is what has become commonly known as a drone. The Federal Aviation Administration officially calls the single-engine Aerostar an 'unmanned aircraft,' or UAV. It's part of a small fleet of UAVs from New Mexico State University's Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Flight Test Center, or FTC. In 2007, NMSU became America's first FAA-approved civilian UAS test center, and has been busy ever since helping advance the technology. "There are so many different types of unmanned aircraft systems," said Dennis Zaklan, Deputy Director of the FTC. "You have multi-rotors. You have helicopters. You have fixed wing, and various sizes, shapes, speeds and abilities." The university's FTC often uses its fleet of unmanned aircraft to test new kinds of electronics that are intended to make drone flight safe. The primary industry goal is to eventually win the right to operate drones freely across all public skies. To do that, manufacturers and operators must first prove to the FAA that unmanned aircraft can be operated safely over populated areas and in the vicinity of other aircraft with people on board. A key FAA requirement is that unmanned aircraft be able to both detect, and autonomously avoid, any other aircraft. "Obviously an unmanned aircraft has nobody in it so nobody can 'see' out of the aircraft," said Tim Lower, FTC Flight Operations Manager. The NMSU team helps test new electronic systems designed to allow drones to sense and avoid other traffic. "There's been some strides made improving that," he said. But no system has yet been approved by the FAA. "UAVs are here to stay, whether you call them unmanned aircraft systems or drones," Lower added. He feels they are especially helpful in particular missions. "Some of the just monotonous flights where to have a manned aircraft would be in the air too long." NMSU is authorized by the FAA to fly its drones from public airports and in the vicinity of manned aircraft across most of southwestern New Mexico. To do that safely at present, a manned chase plane is required to fly alongside the NMSU drone. The crew of the chase plane watches for other traffic and advises the remote control pilot back at the airport if a course change is required. NMSU also hosts other unmanned aircraft from private companies. Vanilla Aircraft, a UAS manufacturer from Falls Church, Virginia, tests its aircraft here. The spindly wide- winged plane looks like a glider with a propeller on the tail. It is designed to fly non-stop for 10 days. Jobs might include weather research, ocean monitoring, surveillance or environmental studies. Vanilla Aircraft is anxious for the development of the electronic "sense and avoid systems" that will allow them to fly more freely in the national airspace. "Lightweight synthetic aperture radar is coming out. There's vision systems. There is a whole host of technologies that are being tested right now," said Jeremy Novara, Vanilla co-founder. NMSU researchers believe the day is coming soon when drones do fly the skies freely and safely. "I truly believe they're going to be integral in society," Zaklan said. http://krqe.com/2017/02/07/hold-for-monday-nmsu-drones-advance-unmanned-aviation/ Back to Top GARMIN G5 GETS EASA APPROVAL The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has approved Garmin's G5 electronic flight instrument for installation in certain certificated fixed-wing general aviation aircraft in Europe, Garmin announced Feb. 7. Garmin has received European Aviation Safety Agency approval for its G5 electronic flight instrument. It can be installed in select certified fixed-wing general aviation aircraft in Europe, according to the company. Photo courtesy of Garmin. The G5 received FAA approval for installation with a supplemental type certificate in U.S. fixed-wing single- and twin-engine aircraft in July 2016. It was approved as a primary source for aircraft attitude or turn coordinator information, and as a secondary source for altitude, airspeed, and vertical speed in a single instrument. One quote doesn EASA installation approval is accomplished via STC with a comprehensive approved model list of more than 500 aircraft models. The G5 is approved for VFR and IFR flight. "We are grateful for EASA's recent efforts and their dedication to implement simpler, scalable regulations that are economical and allow aircraft owners to more easily install modern flight instrumentation, which ultimately improves safety among many aircraft under 2,700 kilograms throughout Europe," said Phil Straub, Garmin executive vice president, managing director of aviation. Working with EASA and the FAA, Garmin is "eager to seek more cost-effective avionics upgrade paths that increase safety for aircraft owners," he said. AOPA has worked closely with Garmin, the FAA, and others in the industry to demonstrate the need for affordable avionics and other safety systems for older airplanes. Garmin supplied a G5 for the panel of the AOPA Sweepstakes 172, and it was one of the first to be installed in a certificated aircraft. Visitors to EAA AirVenture 2016 got to see the instrument in the airplane's refurbished panel. You can see the Sweepstakes 172 at the Sun 'n Fun International Fly-In and Expo in Lakeland, Florida, April 4 through 9. https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2017/february/07/garmin-g5-gets-easa-approval Back to Top Ethiopian Airlines doing well financially despite Trump's travel ban complications Ethiopian Airlines is performing well financially despite recent travel ban complications by the US President, Donald Trump. The state-owned operator's chief executive, Tewolde Gebremariam, said on Tuesday that Trump's executive order - which has been suspended by a federal judge - was creating confusion for some of its passengers but was not having much impact overall on its operations. The order of January 27 temporarily halted immigration from seven Muslim-majority states out of which three were in Africa; Ethiopia's neighbours Somalia, Sudan and restive north African nation of Libya. The CEO also told Reuters the airline's revenues were up 10.3 percent at 54.5 billion birr ($2.43 billion) in the 2015/16 fiscal year, while passenger numbers rose 18 percent to 7.6 million. The national flag carrier was in 2016 adjudged Africa's best airline for a fifth successive year by the African Airlines Association (AFRAA). Ethiopia's flag carrier adjudged Africa's best airline for fifth straight year Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) has been adjudged the continent's best airline for the fifth year in a row by the African Airlines Association ... Ethiopian is the largest Airline Group on the continent and has been applauded for its outstanding financial performance, technological leadership and investment in modern fuel efficient fleet, exemplary cooperation with other African carriers. It is also the fastest growing Airline in Africa. In its seven decades of operation, Ethiopian has become one of the continent's leading carriers in terms of efficiency and operational success. They command the lion's share of the pan-African passenger and cargo network operating the youngest and most modern fleet to 95 international destinations across five continents. http://www.africanews.com/2017/02/07/ethiopian-airlines-doing-well-financially-despite-trump-s-travel- ban/ Back to Top Quest Delivered a Record 36 Aircraft in 2016 2016 was a record for deliveries at Quest Aircraft, which shipped 36 of its Kodiak 100 turboprop singles to customers last year. (Photo: Quest Aircraft) Quest Aircraft delivered a record 36 Kodiak 100s last year, including the 200th copy of the utility turboprop single, in December. Aircraft shipments at the Sandpoint, Idaho-based company have ramped up steadily since 2012, as worldwide demand for the Kodiak has grown. "2016 was Quest's strongest year to date," the company's new CEO, Rob Wells, said. "We saw increased production levels and deliveries, as the demand for the Kodiak grows. The increasing demand required a 25 percent expansion of the production facility, a project that was completed in September. This will allow us to efficiently support production growth in the coming years." The 200th Kodiak went to Sky Trek, the Japanese membership-based private travel service that signed a large fleet order with Quest in November. Other significant milestones at Quest last year included the completion of a 5,000-sq-ft research and development facility. It also received more aviation agency certifications for the Kodiak 100, bringing the total to 33 countries at year-end. http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2017-02-06/quest-delivered-record-36- aircraft-2016 Back to Top Congress' inability to pass a budget is hurting the (Navy) fleet, leaders say WASHINGTON - The U.S. Navy's F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet strike fighters are the tip of the spear, embodying most of the fierce striking power of the aircraft carrier strike group. But nearly two-thirds of the fleet's strike fighters can't fly - grounded because they're either undergoing maintenance or simply waiting for parts or their turn in line on the aviation depot backlog. Overall, more than half the Navy's aircraft are grounded, most because there isn't enough money to fix them. Additionally, there isn't enough money to fix the fleet's ships, and the backlog of ships needing work continues to grow. Overhauls - "availabilities" in Navy parlance - are being canceled or deferred, and when ships do come in they need longer to refit. Every carrier overall for at least three years has run long, and some submarines are out of service for prolonged periods, as much as four years or more. One submarine, the Boise, has lost its diving certification and can't operate pending shipyard work. Leaders claim that if more money doesn't become available, five more submarines will be in the same state by the end of this year. The Navy can't get money to move around service members and their families to change assignments, and about $440 million is needed to pay sailors. And the service claims 15 percent of its shore facilities are in failed condition - awaiting repair, replacement or demolition. Fix the Fleet! US Navy Makes Maintenance Top Priority The bleak picture presented by service leaders is in stark contrast to the Trump administration's widely talked about plan to grow the Navy from today's goal of 308 ships to 350 - now topped by Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson's new Force Structure Assessment that aims at a 355-ship fleet. Richardson's staff is crafting further details on how the growth will be carried out - plans congressional leaders are eager to hear. It seems to many as though the Navy will be showered with money to attain such lofty goals. Yet, for now, money is tight, due to several years of declining budgets mandated first by the Obama administration, then Congress, and to the chronic inability of lawmakers to provide uninterrupted funds to the military services and the government at large. Budgets have been cut despite no slackening in the demand for the fleet's services; and the Navy, to preserve shipbuilding funds, made a conscious choice to slash maintenance and training budgets rather than eliminate ships, which take many years to build and can't be produced promptly even when funding becomes available. Congress has failed for the ninth straight year to produce a budget before the Oct. 1 start of fiscal 2017, reverting to continuing resolutions that keep money flowing at prior year levels. CRs have numerous caveats, however, and many new projects or plans can't be funded since they didn't exist in the prior year. There is widespread agreement that CR funding creates havoc throughout the Pentagon and the industrial base that supports it - often substantially driving costs higher to recover from lengthy delays. Yet, like the proverbial weather that everyone talks about but no one can change, there seems to be little urgency in Congress to return to a more businesslike budget profile. The current continuing resolution through April 28 marks the longest stop-gap measure since fiscal 1977 - outstripping 2011 by only a couple weeks, noted Todd Harrison, of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, in a post on Twitter. This also marks the first CR situation during a presidential transition year. And while the talk about building dozens of more ships grabs headlines, it is not at all clear when or even whether Congress will repeal the Budget Control Act - sequestration - which, if unabated, will continue its restrictions to 2021. Meanwhile, some details are emerging of the new administration's efforts to move along the budget process. In a Jan. 31 memorandum, Defense Secretary James Mattis described a three-phase plan that included submission by the Pentagon of a 2017 budget amendment request. The request would be sent to the White House's Office of Management and Budget by March 1. Under the plan, the full 2018 budget request is due to OMB no later than May 1. The third phase of the plan involves a new National Defense Strategy and FY2019-2023 defense program, which "will include a new force sizing construct" to "inform our targets for force structure growth," Mattis said in the memo. The services will make their case to Congress this week when the vice chiefs of the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps testify in readiness hearings before the House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday and the Senate Armed Services Committee the following day. The new Navy secretary is inheriting a mess: Here's how the Navy wants to fix it The vice chiefs are expected to make their pitches for money that can be spent right away, rather than funds for long-term projects that, with only five months left in the fiscal year even if Congress passes a 2017 budget, can't be quickly put to use. "If we get any money at all, the first thing we're going to do is throw it into the places we can execute it," a senior Navy source said Feb. 2. "All of those places are in ship maintenance, aviation depot throughput - parts and spares - and permanent changes of station so we can move our families around and fill the holes that are being generated by the lack of PCS money." The backlog is high. "There's about $6-8 billion of stuff we can execute in April if we got the money," the senior Navy source said. "We can put it on contract, we can deliver on it right away." Even if the budget top line is increased, Navy leaders say, the immediate need is for maintenance money, not new ship construction. A supplemental Navy list of unfunded requirements for 2017 that was sent to Congress in early January and is still being revised made it clear that maintenance needs are paramount. "Our priorities are unambiguously focused on readiness - those things required to get planes in the air, ships and subs at sea, sailors trained and ready," a Navy official declared. "No new starts." The dire situation of naval aviation is sobering. According to the Navy, 53 percent of all Navy aircraft can't fly - about 1,700 combat aircraft, patrol, and transport planes and helicopters. Not all are due to budget problems - at any given time, about one-fourth to one-third of aircraft are out of service for regular maintenance. But the 53 percent figure represents about twice the historic norm. The strike fighter situation is even more acute and more remarkable since the aircraft are vitally important to projecting the fleet's combat power. Sixty-two percent of F/A-18s are out of service; 27 percent in major depot work; and 35 percent simply awaiting maintenance or parts, the Navy said. With training and flying hour funds cut, the Navy's aircrews are struggling to maintain even minimum flying requirements, the senior Navy source said. Retention is becoming a problem, too. In 2013, 17 percent of flying officers declined department head tours after being selected. The percentage grew to 29 percent in 2016. Funding shortfalls mean many service members are unable to relocate to take on new assignments. So far in 2017, the Navy said, there have been 15,250 fewer moves compared with 2016. Under the continuing resolution, the senior Navy official said, another 14 ship availabilities will be deferred in 2018 - one submarine, one cruiser, six destroyers, two landing ship docks, one amphibious transport dock and three minesweepers. Programs seeking to buy items that were not included in the 2016 budget can't move forward, including CH-53K helicopters, Joint Air-to-Ground Missiles, Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles and littoral combat ship module weapons. Many more programs that were to increase 2017 buys over 2016 levels can't do so. And with only five months left in fiscal 2017, even if a budget is passed in late April, there is some talk about a yearlong continuing resolution - a prospect at which the senior Navy official shook his head. "The full CR is not a good situation at all," he said. http://www.defensenews.com/articles/grounded-nearly-two-thirds-of-us-navys-strike-fighters-cant-fly Back to Top Air Force chief seeks to lower commercial flight-hour requirement WASHINGTON - Air Force chief of staff Gen. David Goldfein said Tuesday he'd like to see a federal regulation adjusted that requires private pilots to have 1,500 flight hours before they can fly for a commercial airline, in order to ease pressure on the military's pilot shortage. The Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010 was signed into law after the 2009 crash of Colgan Air Flight 3407 in Buffalo, N.Y. Pilot error and insufficient airline safety procedures were identified as factors. The subsequent legislation addressed safety of flight, including raising the number of hours from 250 to 1,500 that a non-military pilot must have before being hired by a commercial airline. Military-trained pilots are required to have 750 hours. The military felt the impact of the rule change. Getting 1,500 hours of flight can be prohibitively expensive for non-military pilots, whereas military pilots can rapidly obtain the hours required. Those active-duty pilots are often lured to leave the military by the commercial sector, Goldfein said. Gen. David Goldfein, at a Senate hearing in June, 2016. "Right now if you got to have 1,500 hours to go be a commercial pilot, I am a really attractive source," Goldfein said. Last month, Stars and Stripes reported that the Air Force had initiated conversations with the major airlines on how the two sectors could work together to alleviate pilot shortages. Several ideas, including amending the 1,500-flight hour rule and better scheduling reserve requirements, are under consideration. Goldfein will meet with top airline executives in May for more discussion. "This is not just an Air Force crisis," Goldfein said. "Everybody who has a pilot today is in this game. Because the reality is, if you look at the numbers, the airlines require 3,500 pilots every year through 2025. I produce about 1,200 a year. So what we have is actually a national shortage of pilots" for commercial, business and military needs. Goldfein said it's time for a look at how commercial aviation has changed, noting that technological developments might reduce the number of necessary flight hours. "I think it's worth a dialogue," he told reporters Tuesday at a breakfast in Washington. "My personal sense is that it may not be required." Lowering the requirement would increase the number of available pilots nationally so military pilots wouldn't be targeted, he said. Goldfein said he is also interested in incentives for flight schools or universities that Congress could put in place to reduce demand on the military's pilot sources. The Air Force also worked with Congress in the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act to increase signing bonuses for pilots to $35,000 a year. But Goldfein said money alone won't solve the shortage. He said retaining Air Force pilots has to do more with the overall impact of the pace of operations, reducing some of the non-flying related commitments and increasing the service's readiness. "There's not enough money in the Treasury for me to buy my way out of this," Goldfein said. "I think what is going to have as much of an impact is to increase quality of service of those that we have in the business." https://www.stripes.com/air-force-chief-seeks-to-lower-commercial-flight-hour-requirement-1.452920 Back to Top FAA challenged by growing commercial space industry The SpaceX Dragon launches at Cape Canaveral in April 2016. (Image courtesy: NASA) Space traffic is on the rise. The Federal Aviation Administration saw a 55 percent increase in the number of launch applications filed by private companies in fiscal 2016 compared to the year before, according to the agency's administrator. Those applications, according to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta's remarks at the 20th Annual Commercial Space Transportation Conference in Washington, D.C., covered a range of ever-more diverse space vehicles from reusable and small-payload rockets, to high-altitude balloons and space vehicle carrier aircraft. Companies such as SpaceX, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic are evidence of a growing and diversifying space vehicle industry. Huerta likened the phenomenon to the early stages of the aviation industry a century ago. "Space is not the exclusive domain of the government. Industry is democratizing space, launching more vehicles from more launch sites than ever," he said. The FAA is moving to smooth out its own processes and technology to allow for more frequent launches with more safety checks. Those moves include a possible takeover of space traffic control, or space situational awareness, from the Department of Defense. It is also investigating how to restructure its current regulatory framework, which focuses on aircraft, to make it appropriate for a variety of airborne vehicles, including include high-performance jets, balloons and the aircraft portion of hybrid systems that also contain a rocket-powered launch vehicle. Huerta said the FAA's tests of a system that can more quickly turn air restrictions on and off over geographic areas for an increasing number of launches is progressing well at Florida's Cape Canaveral. The system, he said, is needed as not only the number of launches increases, but the locations of those launches mulitply as spaceports are built across the country. "Space launches are now exceptional" events that can shut down commercial aircraft flight paths for hours, he said. With the growing number of space or near-space launches and vehicles, such delays can't continue or they will threaten commercial flight paths and companies. Tests of a system that can automatically determine and apportion airspace between commercial space launches and ordinary air traffic are underway. The Space Data Integrator system test at Cape Canaveral in December saw "extremely positive results," he said. Along with those activities, Huerta called on the burgeoning commercial space industry to help develop categories of emerging space ports. Vehicles launched into space, or near space, can range from small rockets, to large aircraft-sized "lifting bodies" that boost payloads into orbit, making a categorization system for the places they launch from necessary -- what's safe for a small rocket probably won't be for a larger vehicle. Despite the growing workload to support commercial activities, the agency is working with a limited commercialization budget, said George Nield, the FAA's associate administrator for commercial space transportation. The department, he said, gets about $10 million, which hasn't increased under the continuing resolution. Ninety percent of that budget, he said, goes to employee salaries and benefits. Despite the flat budget, the office saw launches and re-entries shoot up from 17 in fiscal 2016 to between 36 and 43 in fiscal 2017. He said he expects that number to double by fiscal 2018. Integrating launches with regular air traffic, he said, is a priority for his office, and he also hopes to advance work with the Defense Department on what amounts to space traffic control. To do that, he said, FAA needs authorization to use the space situational data as well as immunity from lawsuits in using the data, just like DOD. https://fcw.com/articles/2017/02/07/faa-space-traffic-rockwell.aspx Back to Top FATIGUE MANAGEMENT Fatigue Management Workshop by A. Fletcher in San Diego, March 19th, 2017 http://fatigueconference2017.com/workshop.html 10th International Conference on Managing Fatigue in San Diego, March 20-23rd, 2017 http://fatigueconference2017.com/index.html FRMS Forum Regional Meeting in San Diego, March 24th, 2017 https://www.frmsforum.org/regional-conference-san-diego-march-24th-2017/ Back to Top NBAA COMPENSATION SURVEY 2017 NBAA Compensation Survey Now Open, Members Encouraged to Participate Feb. 3, 2017 Making informed decisions regarding the hiring and retention of flight department personnel requires a clear understanding of the highly competitive job market. By participating in NBAA's annual Compensation Survey, it's easy for members to acquire this critical salary and benefit data. "The NBAA Compensation Survey is a key resource for any U.S.-based flight department that wants to remain competitive in this changing labor market," said Peter Korns, NBAA's manager of operations. "Department budgeting and employee retention are growing challenges for many business aircraft operators, so the need for a trusted and respected benchmark resource is high." Participating in this industry survey by sharing salary and benefit information is the first step in getting the valuable data necessary to run an efficient department. For instance, the NBAA Compensation Survey has shown over the last five years that salaries across all surveyed flight department positions have increased 11.5 percent. The 2017 survey is now open, and NBAA is collecting this vital data by inviting operating member companies to submit salary and essential benefit information for 16 aviation job descriptions: * Aviation Department Manager (does not fly) * Aviation Department Manager (flies) * Chief Pilot * Senior Captain * Captain * Copilot * Director of Maintenance * Manager of Maintenance * Maintenance Foreman * A&P Maintenance Technician * Maintenance Technician Helper * Avionics Technician * Scheduler * Licensed Dispatcher * Flight Attendant * Line Service Personnel Data for these positions will be collected and compiled over the next few weeks, after which NBAA will follow a newly adopted internal audit, where submitted information will be validated to ensure quality and accuracy. Final survey results will be published early this summer, and will be available free of charge to companies that participate in the survey. The results will cost $250 for non-participating NBAA members. NBAA member companies that fly at least one business aircraft and have full-time employees are encouraged to participate by providing salary and benefit information via a secure online form. The deadline to complete the 2017 survey is Friday, Feb. 24. Beginning in the late 1960s, NBAA has conducted annual salary surveys to give aviation managers benchmarks for employee compensation. Each year, the association and its committee leaders evaluate the survey questionnaire and develop new methods to streamline the submission process for participating companies while focusing on essential compensation information. The 2017 survey includes questions related to deferred contribution plans, such as 401Ks, in an effort to consider the totality of what goes into current compensation packages for business aviation professionals. View the NBAA Compensation Survey. Curt Lewis