Flight Safety Information February 16, 2017 - No. 035 Incident: Thai AirAsia X A333 at Tokyo on Feb 14th 2017, runway incursion Incident: Hop! CRJX near Strasbourg on Feb 14th 2017, first officer incapacitated Airplane lands without landing gear at Aleutians airport After Striking Deer, Airplane Found Leaking Fuel Tel Aviv-bound flight diverted to London over 'disruptive' passenger How Airlines Aim to Solve the Pilot Shortage Honolulu airport could lose runway for safety reasons THAI struggles to unload old aircraft Poor training of aviation academy jeopardising air safety (Nepal) Nepal seeks its removal from EU's aviation safety blacklist FAA's NextGen Making Progress, Airline Pilots Union Asserts Will Sweden Supply India's Latest Fighter Jet? The 'Machete' that could replace the A-10 Warthog The UAE's ambitious plan to build a new city - on Mars Online Insurance Portal Launched for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Incident: Thai AirAsia X A333 at Tokyo on Feb 14th 2017, runway incursion A Thai AirAsia X Airbus A330-300, registration HS-TXC performing flight XJ-607 from Tokyo Narita (Japan) to Bangkok Don Muang (Thailand), was taxiing for departure from Tokyo Narita's runway 34R at about 20:15L (11:15Z) and had been instructed to hold short of runway 34R, the crew acknowledged. A China Airlines Airbus A330-300, registration B-18361 performing flight CI-106 from Taipei (Taiwan) to Tokyo Narita (Japan), was on final approach to runway 34R about 1.1nm before touch down, when HS-TXC crossed the hold short line prompting air traffic control to instruct B-18361 to go around. B-18361 climbed out and positioned for another approach while HS-TXC departed. Both aircraft landed safely at their destination. Japan's TSB reported HS-TXC had been instructed to hold short of runway B and acknowledged the instruction, but crossed the hold short line. B-18361 was instructed to go around therefore. http://avherald.com/h?article=4a4f2655&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Hop! CRJX near Strasbourg on Feb 14th 2017, first officer incapacitated A Hop! Canadair CRJ-1000, registration F-HMLI performing flight A5-3557 from Toulouse to Strasbourg (France) with 46 passengers, was about to reach the top of descent when the first officer started to feel unwell. Just after the aircraft left cruise level 320 the first officer became unconscious. The captain declared emergency, cabin crew administered oxygen to the first officer who regained consciousness after about 5 minutes. The aircraft continued for a safe landing in Strasbourg about 25 minutes after leaving FL320. The first officer was taken to a hospital. http://avherald.com/h?article=4a4f599d&opt=0 Back to Top Airplane lands without landing gear at Aleutians airport UNALASKA, Alaska (AP) - Three people escaped injury when a commercial airplane landed without landing gear at an airport on the Aleutian Islands. Alaska State Troopers say the Grant Aviation flight landed Tuesday in Unalaska with a pilot and two passengers. The Super King Air B200 was returning after a flight to Akun (ah-KOON) Island. Troopers say the pilot and the passengers were able to leave the plane safely and that they declined medical attention. The incident closed the runway at Unalaska's Tom Madsen Airport, preventing other flights from coming in. The Alaska Department of Transportation removed the airplane several hours later, allowing the airport to reopen, after the National Transportation Safety Board released the airplane. http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/airplane-lands-without-landing-gear-at-aleutians- airport/article_bbaa73ba-512a-5c2f-b466-6398242ffc0d.html Back to Top After Striking Deer, Airplane Found Leaking Fuel More than 1,100 deer-aircraft collisions were reported to the FAA between 1990 and 2015 A plane bound for Gulfport, Miss., returned in an emergency landing after striking a deer on takeoff Wednesday. (Published Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017) A regional jet struck a deer when it was taking off in Charlotte, North Carolina, Wednesday, and subsequently was found leaking fuel, American Airlines said. There were 48 people aboard the CRJ-700, operated by PSA Airlines as American Airlines flight 5320, when it hit the deer at Charlotte Douglas International Airport about 12:15 p.m. ET. It immediately returned to the airport instead of continuing to Gulfport, Mississippi, according to an American Airlines statement. The crew found fuel leaking from the plane, so passengers were de-planed onto the runway and fire trucks hosed down the aircraft, the airline said. A new aircraft was being brought to take the 44 passengers to their destination. Deer strikes are not infrequent for planes in the U.S. There were over 1,100 deer-aircraft collisions reported to the Federal Aviation Administration between 1990 and 2015. http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/Deer-Strike-AA-Passenger- Plane-Leaks-Fuel-413854563.html#ixzz4YqThPz70 *************** Date: 15-FEB-2017 Time: 11:42 Type: Canadair CL-600-2C10 Regional Jet CRJ-701ER Owner/operator: PSA Airlines, opf American Eagle Registration: N709PS C/n / msn: 10165 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 48 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Minor Location: Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, NC (CLT/KCLT) - United States of America Phase: Take off Nature: Domestic Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, NC (CLT/KCLT) Destination airport: Gulfport-Biloxi Regional Airport, MS (GPT/KGPT) Narrative: American Airlines flight AA5320, a CRJ-701 aircraft, returned to land at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, North Carolina, USA, after reportedly striking a deer on takeoff. The aircraft took off from runway 36C at 11:42 and the flight crew reported hearing a loud bang. The Tower controller stated that he heard a deer was involved. The flight crew decided to return and circled the airport before landing back about 12:10 hours. A video from the approach and landing on runway 36R show a vapour trail behind the aircraft, originating from the right hand wing. The aircraft turned left on taxiway Romeo and stopped after vacating the runway. Fire fighters applied foam over and below the right hand wing. The passengers then deplaned through the left hand main passenger door. Damage could be seen on the leading edge of the right hand wing. Five previous incidents are known to have happened at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport involving deer. In 1994 a USAir DC-9 returned after hitting a deer on takeoff; no damage. In 1996 a USAir Boeing 737-300 hit several deer after landing; minor damage. In 2002 a Piedmont Airlines DHC-8 hit a deer after landing, causing the nose landing gear to collapse In 2009 a Repubic Airlines ERJ-170 hit a deer after landing on runway 36C; no damage. In 2010 a US Airways Boeing 737-400 hit a deer after landing; no damage. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=193611 Back to Top Tel Aviv-bound flight diverted to London over 'disruptive' passenger Witness says woman 'was choking random passengers'; traveler taken into custody at Heathrow; Air Canada flight resumes journey to Israel An Air Canada flight at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, September 2014. (Moshe Shai/Flash90)An Air Canada flight at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, September 2014. (Moshe Shai/Flash90)NEWSROOM An Air Canada passenger flight from Toronto to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing at London's Heathrow Airport early Wednesday morning following a "disturbance" from a passenger on board. Flight 84 had been scheduled to land in Tel Aviv at 10:15 a.m., but was forced to declare an emergency six hours into the flight and landed in London shortly thereafter, according to eTurboNews, a global travel industry news site. The plane's pilots alerted air safety authorities that they would not continue the flight while the disruptive passenger remained on board. A witness told Ynet that a disorderly woman was choking travelers at random, leading passengers to physically restrain her until the plane touched down at Heathrow. Ten police cars awaited the the aircraft on the tarmac, and officers boarded the plane upon landing to remove the woman. The plane continued on its way to Tel Aviv once the passenger had disembarked. It was slated to land in Tel Aviv shortly after 1 p.m. The incident came days after Air Canada announced that it was introducing bi-weekly direct flights from Tel Aviv to Montreal from June through the conclusion of the Jewish High Holiday season in October. http://www.timesofisrael.com/tel-aviv-bound-flight-diverted-to-london-over-disruptive-passenger/ Back to Top How Airlines Aim to Solve the Pilot Shortage Issues concerning labor There is a host of issues that have been concerning the US labor workforce, including longer working hours, contentious relations with management, lower job security, work- life balance, and stability. However, the prime issue for regional airlines is that regional players pay much less than legacy peers, despite the regional sector accounting for more than half of all flying. Regional carriers are also important since they feed legacy carriers with customers on their networks. Addressing the compensation issue Most airlines, including Delta Air Lines (DAL), Southwest Airlines (LUV), United Continental (UAL), and American Airlines (AAL), have recently renegotiated contracts with pilots and other contract workers. According to the contracts, pilots will receive a significant pay rise over the next two years, followed by increases for two to three years after that. These renegotiations mean labor peace for airlines, at least for the next few years. The developments are especially good news for Southwest Airlines, which has been struggling to reach an agreement with pilots for the past four years. US airline industry to suffer While most airlines suffering from the labor crunch are mid-sized carriers, the issue is a potential threat for large carriers as well. Large carriers such as United Airlines (UAL) and Delta Air Lines (DAL) depend on mid-sized airlines to serve their rural consumers and to feed customers into their networks. If the dearth of pilots is not fulfilled soon, the industry could see a severe crisis. As many as 30,000 pilots will reach the mandatory retirement age of 65 by 2026. According to a study by the University of North Dakota, if there are insufficient new hires to replace them, airlines could face a pilot shortage in about three years. In the next ten years, by 2026, the pilot shortage could be as high as 15,000. While the shortage issue has not yet been fully addressed, some airlines, such as American Airlines, are trying to solve the problem by increasing fresh pilots' pay, making training costs affordable. Investors can gain exposure to the industry by investing in the SPDR S&P Transportation ETF (XTN), which invests ~15% of its holdings in airlines. http://marketrealist.com/2017/02/how-airlines-aim-to-solve-the-pilot-shortage/ Back to Top Honolulu airport could lose runway for safety reasons Honolulu International Airport could lose one of its runways under a plan to improve runway safety. The Federal Aviation Administration and state airport officials are looking to reduce runway incursions, which happen anytime an aircraft or vehicle ends up on a runway it's not supposed to be on. At Honolulu International Airport, previous incursions have happened on the parallel runways. We looked up the latest FAA runway safety report and learned that Honolulu's airport had the highest number of incursions: 30 in just one year. That's compared to 21 at the Los Angeles airport, 13 at McCarran in Las Vegas, 12 at San Francisco, and six at Seattle- Tacoma. Honolulu International Airport currently has four runways. The Hawaii Department of Transportation is considering closing Runway 4 L 22 R after the high number of runway incursions. The DOT said in a statement that because of the high incursion rates, it could impact future FAA grant revenues if it's not addressed. A decision hasn't been made yet, but the FAA says it would be a temporary option. Aviation analyst Peter Forman says closing one of the runways would impact smaller planes. "At times when there is very heavy traffic, that could be a problem," he said. On average, 780 flights come in or out of Honolulu airport each day, including passenger carriers, smaller planes, and military aircraft. "When you bring airplanes in and you lose the air traffic controllers, lose the option to bring somebody over to the other runway," Forman said. "When airplanes gets too close to one another, I think you lose a safety buffer." The FAA says while Honolulu International Airport has some of the highest runway incursion numbers in the U.S. for several years, most of those incidents fall in the least serious categories. It says, "Most dramatically referred to as a 'near-miss,' an incursion can actually take an almost benign form. For example, the least dangerous form might apply if a pilot edged the nose of his plane over a 'stop line,' akin to going a little too far when approaching a stop sign on the road. And an incursion isn't merely when two planes are headed for a collision; about 20 percent of cases involve pedestrians and vehicles." The following statement was provided by the Hawaii Department of Transportation: HDOT is coordinating with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and reviewing the possibility of temporarily closing runway 4L/22R at the Honolulu International Airport (HNL) in part due to the amount of incursions and maintenance. HNL has one of the highest incursion rates in the nation, which is an issue that could impact future FAA grant revenues if it is not addressed. As safety is our top priority, we are striving to reduce the incursions and prevent accidents from occurring. Officials will determine how the closure would impact overall operation at the airport. The runway is primarily used by the general aviation community. Aircraft would continue to use the other three existing runways as approved by air traffic control. Discussions are ongoing and details regarding the timeline are pending. http://khon2.com/2017/02/15/honolulu-airport-could-lose-runway-for-safety-reasons/ Back to Top THAI struggles to unload old aircraft Carrier says A340s grounded, 'left to rot' Once an airplane to brag about, the Thai Airways International Airbus A340 can't fly, can't be sold, and 10 of them are grounded and 'left to rot'. (File photo) Thai Airways International (THAI) has admitted it is struggling to sell its decommissioned Airbus A340 aircraft as they are unpopular in the used plane market, the national flag carrier's public relation unit says. The airline's statement came after a group of about 100 THAI staff on Sunday called for Prime Minister Prayut Chanocha to invoke Section 44 of the interim constitution to probe the procurement of 10 Airbus A340 planes bought by the national flag carrier, which have been grounded and "left to rot". The aircraft acquisition process took place between 2002 and 2003. The group said the use of the aircraft had caused annual losses of 35 billion baht for THAI which is why they had to be grounded. They are parked at Don Mueang and UTapao airports. According to THAI's statement, the Airbus A340s were purchased when the cost of jet fuel was low and were used to compete on intercontinental routes. "When the cost of jet fuel became expensive, other carriers with the same aircraft type in their fleet also experienced the same problem as THAI of incurring losses and decommissioned this type," the statement says. The national carrier said the company on several occasions attempted to operate this aircraft type on various routes but was unable to turn a profit and planned to decommission them from the fleet. "An announcement was made of their sale but as there was little demand in the second- hand aircraft market for this type, the aircraft price was lower than the value that the company should have got," it said. "Therefore, the plan for sale was revised and a buyer was sought that would benefit from it, for example the Royal Thai Air Force. "THAI is a state enterprise with strict adherence to regulations on the sale of assets that at times can prove to be an obstacle to selling aircraft quickly." The company also insisted it placed an emphasis on the improvement of procurement regulations and inspections on corruption after the bribery scandal involving British engineering giant RollsRoyce. The case was revealed by the UK's Serious Fraud Office. According to the statement of facts prepared in a British court, the period of the scandal dates from 1991 to 2005 and involves payments totalling about US$36.38 million (1.28 billion baht) to "regional intermediaries". Some of the money was for individuals who were "agents of the state of Thailand and employees of THAI Airways". The scandal involved the purchase by THAI of RollsRoyce T800 engines, according to the document. "The company has continually placed high importance on transparency regarding procurements, evident through revisions to the procurement regulation. The company will not make procurements through a middleman? a procurement committee must be established with committee members from various departments for a balance of power," the statement said. http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1199141/thai-struggles-to-unload-old- aircraft Back to Top Poor training of aviation academy jeopardising air safety (Nepal) The recently published results of seventh level air traffic controllers recruitment examinations have demonstrated that the recruitment process of technical personnel at the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, especially the products of its own training academy, is far from transparent. The results reveal that of the 53 candidates for the post of air traffic control officers, only 11 managed to pass the written test. "Eighty per cent failure rate speaks volumes not only about the quality of training at the Sinamangal-based civil aviation academy, but also the prevailing culture of corruption and nepotism in the organisation," a senior official at Tribhuvan International Airport said, adding that the appalling failure rate also provides a glimpse into the pathetic condition of Nepal's civil aviation. According to CAAN's organogram, all six deputy-directors general positions at CAAN are occupied by individuals with training-based aviation backgrounds from the same academy. Though the International Civil Aviation Organisation provides standards for training and standardisation for aviation related professionals such as air traffic controllers raised by CAAN at its academy, the annex provisions on personnel licensing, however, have clearly circumscribed the range of privileges for such professionals. "However, in CAAN, such personnel with qualifications and a clearly pre-defined scope have gradually usurped positions that are not related to the field for which they were initially inducted, thereby denying other eligible candidates a fair opportunity," another TIA official added. According to him, the use of words such as knowledge, skill and experience rather than 'education' in the ICAO annex on personnel licensing is clearly deliberate as there are many developed states with high levels of aviation activity where the minimum required qualification for air traffic controller is a mere high-school diploma. "The same is the case for pilots who fly highly sophisticated aircraft like A380," an aviation expert said, adding that the annex provision specifies the minimum age for eligibility for an ATC licence at 21. This clearly underscores the fact that ICAO doesn't have a bachelor's degree in mind as most countries have a four-year bachelor's programme and throwing in a few months- long ATC training clearly precludes meeting the specified timeline, he said. Yet, a majority of candidates, all graduates and currently working on contract basis at CAAN's airports after flunking the recent public service commission-mediated examinations reinforces fundamental problems with the academy that had remained 'unapproved' for years. "Its presently 'approved' status appears more cosmetic than substantial, as the results have now conclusively demonstrated and merits some serious investigation," the TIA official claimed, "CAAN is once again jeopardising air safety by continuing to employ failed candidates as temporary controllers, despite being under the ICAO's microscope." https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/poor-training-aviation-academy-jeopardising- air-safety/ Back to Top Nepal seeks its removal from EU's aviation safety blacklist, increased aid for infra sector Minister for Foreign Affairs Prakash Sharan Mahat has called on European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels. During the meeting, Minister Mahat lauded the European Union for its assitance in the development of Nepal. In a press statement, the Nepal mission of the EU said Mahat asked the EU to increase assistance to Nepal on infrastructure and skill development sectors in Nepal. He also asked for increased EU aid for post-quake reconstruction. At the same time, Minister Mahat pointed at progress Nepal has achieved on the aviation security front and asked the regional the EU to remove Nepal from the aviation safety blacklist. For his part, Juncker said they will look into this in a positive way on the basis of facts. Juncker said the EU will consider increasing coordination and cooperation on sectors for which Nepal has asked for increased assistance. http://english.onlinekhabar.com/2017/02/16/395949 Back to Top FAA's NextGen Making Progress, Airline Pilots Union Asserts United pilots demonstrate data communications United pilots explained the benefits of NextGen data communications at Washington Dulles airport in September. (Photo: Bill Carey) The multibillion-dollar program to modernize the U.S. air traffic control system is making progress, the president of the largest airline pilots union asserted on February 14, days after President Donald Trump in a meeting with airline and airport executives described the ATC system as obsolete and said the government is "using the wrong type of equipment" for the modernization. Asked about the Federal Aviation Administration's NextGen program during a meeting with reporters, Air Line Pilots Association (Alpa) president Tim Canoll defended the effort. A Delta Air Lines captain and former Navy pilot, Canoll serves on the NextGen Advisory Committee (NAC), an industry-government group formed by advisory organization RTCA in 2010 to advise the FAA on the modernization. "In today's day and age we need to shift our thinking on NextGen as instead of [being] an event, it's more a description of an evolutionary process for our air traffic system," said Canoll. "I believe we have made progress in the current NextGen efforts. If you look at the increase in capability at our major airports due to NextGen initiatives, whether it be the metroplex redesign at some of our major airports, the implementation at a few of our major airports of recat [wake turbulence recategorization]-they've all increased capacity at the airports." Canoll also commended the program initiative to implement "performance-based" procedures, including precise required navigation performance (RNP) flight paths, to and from airports. "NextGen has worked to put a required navigation procedure or an RNP at the end of every runway in the United States, and it has greatly enhanced the ability for my members to fly a precision approach to a runway that previously didn't have it," he said. "It's a complex process; it's not something you can turn on overnight." Transcripts of the February 9 meeting of executives also quoted Trump as remarking that the FAA might be better managed by a pilot. Asked if he has confidence in the current administrator Michael Huerta, who is not a pilot, Canoll affirmed that he does. "Yes, I am very confident. I think he's done a great job," Canoll said. Huerta has demonstrated an ability to "navigate some very tricky and difficult issues" while maintaining the agency's focus on safety. "They haven't lost sight that safety is their first objective," he added. Following the White House meeting, the FAA issued a statement explaining that it has spent $7.5 billion in congressionally appropriated funds on NextGen over the past seven years, an effort that thus far has produced $2.7 billion in savings for airlines and passengers and is expected to generate $160 billion in benefits through 2030. But Rep. Bill Schuster (R-Pa.), chairman of the House Transportation Committee, has charged that despite the spending "significant benefits have yet to materialize." Sen. John Thune (R- S.D.) echoed that sentiment on January 11 during the confirmation hearing for Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao when he noted concern that the "benefits of NextGen have not been realized." Schuster is expected to revive legislation he introduced last year to create a new entity separate of the FAA to manage the ATC system. Canoll said Alpa would be supportive of a new ATC organization as long as it is a non- profit entity that includes system operators-controllers and pilots-in its governance. The pilots' union also contends that the organization should derive its funding from the users of the airspace system rather than federal appropriations, as is the case with the FAA. "It needs to be constructed in a way that it will be able to provide long-term stable funding. Along those lines, the funding has to be done in a fair and equitable way, and our offer is that the most fair and equitable way to do it is to base the fee structure on usage. No one gets a free pass; everyone has to pay their part," Canoll said. The new entity must also maintain the current workplace rights and conditions negotiated by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, with which Alpa works closely, and other FAA employee unions, Canoll said. "Last and certainly not least, [with] any new non-governmental entity, we're not going to be able to tolerate it diminishing or removing any of the currently enjoyed collective bargaining rights of the FAA employees today," he said. "We don't think this should be used as a tool to circumvent organized labor." https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2017-02-15/faas-nextgen- making-progress-airline-pilots-union-asserts Back to Top Did Singapore Airlines Just Kill the Airbus A380 Jumbo Jet? Singapore Airlines' decision to order 20 777-9s represents another blow to Airbus' troubled A380 aircraft program. Last week, Singapore Airlines picked Boeing (NYSE:BA) over Airbus (NASDAQOTH:EADSY) for the next stage of its fleet renewal. It signed a letter of intent for 20 777-9s and 19 787-10s, which should be converted to a firm order soon. Singapore Airlines will also have options for six more of each aircraft type. Boeing's win is a loss for the Airbus A350 program. Singapore Airlines is the top customer for the popular A350-900 variant, with 67 firm orders, but it hasn't ordered the larger A350-1000. Now that the carrier has a 777X order on the books, it isn't likely to pursue the larger A350 model -- let alone having any interest in a proposed stretch of the A350- 1000. A Singapore Airlines A350 SINGAPORE AIRLINES IS THE LARGEST CUSTOMER FOR THE A350-900. IMAGE SOURCE: SINGAPORE AIRLINES. However, at least one analyst thinks that the order for 20 Boeing 777-9s could also be a death blow for Airbus' A380 jumbo jet. Let's see if there's any truth to this claim. The A380 is running out of orders The A380 jumbo jet program certainly isn't doing well. Orders have slowed to a crawl in the past few years, forcing Airbus to reduce production by more than half. Indeed, Airbus has just 110 firm orders left for the A380. In theory, that represents nine years of production at the new planned production rate of 12 per year. In reality, the situation is much worse than that. As many as 47 of the remaining orders are likely to fall through. These include 20 A380s ordered by aircraft lessor Amedeo -- which hasn't been able to line up a single customer despite years of trying -- and eight A380s ordered by Qantas that management has definitively said it does not want. Of the other 63 outstanding A380 orders, 50 are for a single customer: Middle Eastern airline giant Emirates. Yet while Emirates has been a huge fan of the A380, Airbus' jumbo jet cannot survive with a single customer. Singapore Airlines is an important A380 customer That's where Singapore Airlines comes in. Singapore Airlines became the first airline to fly the A380 in 2007. Furthermore, it is the second-largest customer for the A380 -- albeit a distant second -- with 24 total orders. A Singapore Airlines A380 SINGAPORE AIRLINES ORDERED MORE A380S THAN ANY AIRLINE OTHER THAN EMIRATES. IMAGE SOURCE: SINGAPORE AIRLINES. Singapore Airlines still has five A380s on order with Airbus. However, the leases for its first five A380s are expiring soon. The first expiration will occur later this year, and the carrier has already announced that it will return the plane rather than renewing the lease. Most analysts expect Singapore Airlines to return the other four as well. That would keep its A380 fleet steady at 19 aircraft. Singapore Airlines is one of the most highly regarded airlines in the world, so its fleet decisions can be influential among other carriers. As one of the first airlines to order the A380, Singapore Airlines paved the way for others to follow. If its new 777X order indicates that it is moving away from the A380, other airlines might follow its lead once again. The A380 becomes less useful The 777-9 isn't a direct replacement for the A380. Boeing says that it will hold 400-425 seats in a standard configuration, compared to 544 for the A380. (A real-world configuration for Singapore Airlines would have significantly fewer seats, though.) However, Singapore Airlines has been struggling with steep fare declines in many of its markets recently, driven by slow economic growth and overcapacity. Many analysts expect this overcapacity -- and the resulting fare pressure -- to linger. In this environment, Singapore Airlines might be perfectly happy to move away from the enormous A380. A Boeing 777-9 mockup THE 777-9 WILL BE SMALLER THAN THE A380, BUT FAR MORE FUEL-EFFICIENT. IMAGE SOURCE: BOEING. Last year, Boeing was rumored to be working on a slight stretch of the 777-9 that would boost its capacity by 30-40 seats. This would be even closer to the A380 in terms of seating capacity, with much lower unit costs -- giving carriers like Singapore Airlines even less reason to remain committed to the A380. Can the A380 find a new market? Singapore Airlines' 777X order confirms that yet another airline is becoming disillusioned with the A380. However, this had already been foreshadowed last year when the carrier announced that it would not renew its first A380 lease. Singapore Airlines isn't the only A380 operator that likes to maintain a very young fleet. As these carriers remove mid-aged A380s from their fleets in the coming years, a large supply of cheap used A380s will hit the market. This is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, these used planes may cannibalize some orders for new A380s from Airbus. On the other hand, bringing the cost down could encourage long-haul low-cost carriers and other smaller airlines to experiment with the A380. That could lead to orders later on, assuming that the A380 became a profitable tool for those carriers. It's probably fair to say that the Airbus A380 is doomed as a hub-and-spoke airplane. Most A380 operators have already ordered the 777X, and they may find that those planes have plenty of capacity for their needs. However, the A380 still has an outside chance at survival if it can develop a completely new market among low-cost carriers looking to pack as many people as possible onto a single plane. https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/02/15/did-singapore-airlines-kill-airbus-a380- jumbo-jet.aspx Back to Top Will Sweden Supply India's Latest Fighter Jet? Swedish aircraft maker Saab has offered to set up a production line in India to co-produce up to 250 new fighter jets. Swedish aircraft maker Saab and U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin are the runner- ups in a fierce international competition to supply the Indian Air Force (IAF) with up to 250 new Western-made single-engine fighter jets in the 2020s. Following a Request for Information (RFI) by the Indian Ministry of Defense (MOD) in October 2016 to global aircraft manufacturers, Saab and Lockheed Martin have pitched the Gripen-E and F-16 Block 70 fighter jet respectively to the Indian government over the last couple of months. Lockheed Martin has proposed to move its F-16 production line to India in accordance with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Build in India" initiative. Saab recently followed suit and pledged to set up its own aircraft production facility in India should the Gripen-E aircraft be selected. "Saab is offering an industrial facility that will be the centre-of-gravity for the Made-in- India Gripen," Saab India chairman Jan Widerstrom said in a statement on February 10. "It is an unrivalled offer that will set new standards in aeronautical engineering excellence for decades to come, should India procure Gripen." The Gripen-E, an advanced version of the Gripen C/D, is a light single-engine multirole fighter aircraft fitted with advanced avionics including an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, infrared search and track, a new electronic warfare suite, and integrated datalink technology among other things. The Gripen-E and F-16 failed to make the shortlist for the now-scrapped $20 billion MMRCA (medium multi-role combat aircraft) project by French aircraft maker Dassault Aviation in 2011. Both fighter jets were judged too small by the MoD for the medium- weight category. However, India is now looking for a lighter fighter aircraft. As The Diplomat noted previously, should India select Saab as the IAF's new aircraft supplier it would be the largest arms export deal for Sweden since the 30 Years War. So far, India has not issued a Request for Proposal (RFP), which outlines specific requirements including detailed technology transfer plans. Technology transfers could potentially be an obstacle for SAAB given that the Gripen-E's engine contains U.S.-made parts. However, the issue was recently dismissed by a senior Saab representative, according to Indian media reports. Saab has also been involved in talks with Indian state-run aircraft maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to collaborate on the upgraded version of the indigenously developed Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), dubbed the Tejas Mark-IA. The IAF intends to induct 123 Tejas LCA in two variants in the years ahead. Saab is also slated to pitch a naval version of the Gripen-E to the Indian Navy. As I reported elsewhere, the Indian Navy has officially issued a request for information (RFI) for a new carrier-based multirole warplane in January (See: "India Seeks 57 New Naval Fighter Jets for Carriers"). The IAF currently operates 33 fighter squadrons and wants to increase that number to 42 by 2027. This would require at least six additional squadrons of medium multi-role combat aircraft. http://thediplomat.com/2017/02/will-sweden-supply-indias-latest-fighter-jet/ Back to Top The 'Machete' that could replace the A-10 Warthog: Radical lightweight metal foam attack plane with a PROPELLER * Machete is a concept for a new light-weight attack plane for the US Air Force * Designed with a metal foam instead of the traditional armor * Will be single engine, single seat planes and offered in 2 variants * Other models for air-to-air combat and advanced training could also be released Known as the 'flying gun', the A-10 Warthog plane was a hero during Operating Desert Storm - but has since been deemed vulnerable and costly to operate. Now, a Minnesota-based startup has unveiled designs for a new attack plane called the 'Machete' that consists of a new metal foam developed in conjunction with the US Department of Energy. The metal foam is lightweight and strong - and is capable of stopping bullets and other projectiles in much less space than traditional armor, while the plane boasts the same 30mm cannon as the Warthog it could replace. The Machete is still in the concept stages, but is set to be released in to variants - the propeller-driven SM-27 and the jet-propelled SM-28. And the startup has also thrown around ideas for Machete models to be used in air-to-air combat and advanced training MEET MACHETE Stavatti, an aerospace startup, resurrected an old proposal of the Machete that was first marketed in 2009. The plane consists of a metal foam instead of the traditional armor. This allows it to be lighter and stronger - and stop bullets in less space. The Machete is still in the concept stages, but is set to be released in to variants - the propeller-driven SM-27 and the jet-propelled SM-28. And the startup has also thrown around ideas for Machete models to be used in air-to-air combat and advanced training. Both the SM-27 and SM-28 will be designed as a single-engine, single-seat plane, which will be fitted with the same GAU-8 cannon its predecessor, A-10, used in its early 1990s victory. The first A-10s hit the sky in 1972 and entered the front lines five years later - a decade later manufacturing of the planes came to a halt. Each of the planes cost an average $26.6 million dollars to manufacture and weighs about 12 tons without armament - and it can carry 13 tons of weapons while airborne. The Warthog had its first air-to-air victory in 1991 when it shot down a helicopter with the GAU-8 cannon. Although the A-10 is deemed 'one of the most important US assets' its time has come to be replaced with a new and modern model. Stavatti, an aerospace startup, resurrected an old proposal of the Machete that was first marketed in 2009, reports David Axe with War is Boring.com. The Machete is still in the concept stages, but is set to be released in to variants - the propeller-driven SM-27 and the jet-propelled SM-28. And the startup has also thrown around ideas for Machete models to be used in air-to-air combat and advanced training. Both the SM-27 and SM-28 will be designed as a single-engine, single-seat plane, which will be fitted with the same GAU-8 cannon its predecessor, A-10, used in its early 1990s victory. The first A-10s Warthog (pictured) hit the sky in 1972 and entered the front lines five years later - a decade later manufacturing of the planes came to a halt. Light attack planes could replace the A-10s in big missions - as these planes cost over $10,000 per flight hour. 'Machete is a big project around here,' said Chris Beskar, Stavatti's CEO. The Machete was first discussed when the Air Force was toying with the idea of purchasing some 100 light attack planes that could replace the A-10s in big missions - as they cost over $10,000 per flight hour. However, the Air Force's taste for light-weight planes diminished after 2009 when Congress mandated budget cuts. The military branch even went so far to retire the remaining A-10s, but Congress stepped in in an attempt to save the Warthog fleet - stating A-10 cuts are to be delayed until after 2021. But last year, the idea of light weight planes resurfaced. A-10: THE UGLY WARTHOG It is the ugliest aircraft in the Air Force's arsenal. The A-10, often called a warthog, was designed to destroy Soviet tanks and troops on the ground. Officially the Thunderbolt II, it was quickly nicknamed the Warthog for its unusual looks, It was specifically designed around its main weapon, a 30mm cannon which fires 4,000 rounds a minute. The plane can fly low and slow, coming down to 50ft to shoot at or drop bombs on enemy positions. The A-10, often called a warthog, was designed to destroy Soviet tanks and troops on the ground. ts top speed is just above 400mph but it can go as slow as 150mph and 'loiter' for hours above targets making it an effective deterrent as well as an attack plane. The Warthog is covered in 1,200lbs of titanium armor, making it invulnerable to attack from anything but heavy weapons. Even when hit it is designed to fly home on one engine, with no tailfin and half a wing missing. On board the single-seater the pilot has at his controls the cannon, which is accurate to 4,000ft, and fires depleted-uranium shells, as well as Maverick air-to-surface missiles, 500lb free fall bombs, and Hydra air-launched rockets. Despite USAF attempts to retire the fleet, it is expected to remain in service into the 2020s. At one stage when the Air Force suggested retiring its more than 300 A-10s the Army indicated it would take them over as soldiers are so keen on its close support capabilities. It is believed that the Air Force is on the market for about 20 'OA-X' light weight combat planes and is looking to purchase them in the near future. Even US senator John McCain has supported the idea of taking on new light attack planes - he proposed the military branch should acquire 300 models. And Gen. Dave Goldfein, the Air Force's chief of staff, said McCain's proposal was a 'great idea.' However, because the Machete is still a concept drawing, the plan would not be available in time to fulfill the OA-X need. But Beskar said he believes the plane 'could be contender for a broader acquisition of attack planes', reports Axe. Stavatti unveiled designs for a new attack plane called the 'Machete' that consists of a new metal foam developed in conjunction with the US Department of Energy. The metal foam is lightweight and strong - and can stop bullets in much less space than traditional armor can He stressed the design has evolved and is more advanced than its early 2009 beginnings. 'It's basically doubled in weight' to 30,000 pounds, Beskar explained, which is close to the same weight as an A-10. Adding the new metal foam into the design allows the plane to stop projectiles in a lesser amount of space than the traditional armor. 'We could stop the bullet at a total thickness of less than an inch, while the indentation on the back was less than eight millimeters,' said Afsaneh Rabiei, an engineering professor at North Carolina State University, who tested the metal foam. 'To put that in context, the [National Institute of Justice] standard allows up to 44 millimeters indentation in the back of an armor.' http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4229178/Meet-plane-replace-10- Warthog.html#ixzz4Yq972dcR Back to Top The UAE's ambitious plan to build a new city - on Mars The project, to be named "Mars 2117", integrates a vision to create a mini-city and community on Mars involving international cooperation. Over the past few decades, oil and gas revenue has helped the United Arab Emirates develop at a breakneck pace. It's glistening megacity Dubai is now home to the world's tallest building and countless other accolades, while just last year there were new plans announced to build a completely new "city of happiness." The UAE's latest venture may set new heights in terms of ambition, however. On Tuesday, at the sidelines of the World Government Summit in Dubai, the UAE announced that it was planning to build the first city on Mars by 2117. According to CNBC, UAE engineers presented a concept city at the event about the size of Chicago for guests to explore. In a statement, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai and vice president of the UAE, sounded confident about the project. "Human ambitions have no limits, and whoever looks into the scientific breakthroughs in the current century believes that human abilities can realize the most important human dream," Maktoum said. And despite the grandiose nature of the idea, the 100-year-plan does emphasize some practical steps. "The Mars 2117 Project is a long-term project," Maktoum explained in the statement, adding that the first order of business would be making space travel appeal to young Emiratis, with special programs in space sciences being set up at universities in the UAE. The project will also create an Emirati scientific team, but that would expand to include international scientists. In particular, these teams would be seeking to develop faster transportation to and from the planet, as well as researching what the settlement would look like and how it will be sustainable in terms of food, energy and transportation. This won't be the Gulf state's first foray into space travel. The UAE launched its own space agency in 2014, which launched partnerships with French and British space agencies the next year. It is planning to send an unmanned probe to Mars by 2021, a project that was described as "on track" just last month. Of course, whether the plan for a city on Mars will actually come to fruition a century from now is hard to predict. However, in a strange way, this might be a good thing. Other recently announced space exploration plans, particularly those focused on Mars, have been criticized for setting too ambitious a time frame given the huge costs of such a mission. By setting such a distant goal, the UAE's ambitious city becomes a little more realistic. For the UAE, these attempts to break into space technology may also reveal an anxious attempt to break away from the country's reliance on oil and gas and related industries, having been hit hard by falling prices recently. Thankfully for them, there's still plenty of money in sovereign wealth funds to invest in Mars. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/02/16/the-uaes-ambitious- plan-to-build-a-new-city-on-mars/?utm_term=.9c19664b52dd Back to Top February 15, 2017 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Suzanne Keneally AVP, Group Head of Communications skeneally@global-aero.com 973-490-8588 Online Insurance Portal Launched for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Leading Aviation Insurance Provider Offers Easy Access to Drone Insurance Parsippany, New Jersey - Easy access to comprehensive, competitive drone insurance is critical today due to the rapid rise in commercial drone use. Global Aerospace, a leading international aviation and aerospace insurance provider, is embracing the digital revolution by utilizing portal technology to provide streamlined access to insurance products and services that put the customer first. The UAS online portal is designed to provide drone owners and operators the ability to quickly and efficiently purchase an annual policy online and pay securely via credit card. The portal is available via affiliated producers. "For a number of years, Global Aerospace has been developing portal technology to simplify access to our insurance products and help our customers transact business in a straightforward and efficient manner. Global has been at the forefront of insuring the UAS industry and the development of this portal is another example of our leadership and dedication to providing innovative tools to this rapidly expanding market," said Chris Proudlove, Global Aerospace's Senior Vice President and Manager of UAS Risks. Individuals interested in learning more about the UAS portal and insurance products can contact Chris Proudlove at (973) 490-8525, cproudlove@global-aero.com or Bryant Dunn at (973) 490-8606, bdunn@global-aero.com for more information. #### Global Aerospace is a leading provider of aerospace insurance with a worldwide portfolio of clients who are engaged in every aspect of the aviation and space industries. Headquartered in London, we have offices in Canada, Cologne, Paris, Zurich and throughout the United States. Across the world we employ over 300 people. With experience dating back to the 1920s, the company's underwriting is backed by a pool of high quality insurance companies representing some of the most respected names in the business. For additional information about Global Aerospace, please visit www.global-aero.com. To learn more about the company's SM4 safety program, please visit sm4.global-aero.com. Curt Lewis