February 16, 2017 - No. 014 In This Issue Airbus signs MoU for setting up centre of excellence in Hyderabad Pratt & Whitney To Invest $386m In Georgia Facility Companies, Workers Nationwide Benefiting from International Aviation Maintenance Trade Snap-on to present Aerospace Maintenance Competition at MRO Americas 2017 Luxair Extends APU Contract With AFI KLM E&M Subsidiary Fulcrum Labs Launches First Adaptive, Personalized Prep Course for the FAA's Airframe and Powerplant NBAA Asking Members To Take Bizav Compensation Survey Australia To Require Electronic Incident Reporting FAA approves flight school status for Purdue Aviation Low-cost Allegiant Airlines defends maintenance record Airbus signs MoU for setting up centre of excellence in Hyderabad BENGALURU: Airbus today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for establishing a Centre of Excellence for aerospace skill development in Hyderabad, together with the Government of Telangana, National Skill Development Corporation India and AEROCAMPUS France. The Centre, which will come up at Begumpet Airport, will train candidates ranging from high school graduates to experienced aviation personnel on aircraft manufacturing, logistics, Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO), ground handling and special aviation processes. The Center will offer short-term refresher modules as well as long-term Certificate and Diploma courses that will find acceptability within the industry, Airbus said in a release. It said the Center is expected to roll-out short-term courses this year, adding, it planned to upgrade it into a university over the next five years. The Telangana government will provide space for setting up the Center and arrange initial seed fund for the project. The National Skill Development Corporation will channelize the candidates to the Center. Together with AEROCAMPUS and Aviation and Aerospace Sector Skill Council (AASSC), it will also ensure that the programmes comply with international standards and are certified, the release said. The signing at the Aero India 2017 air show here was witnessed by Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and K Taraka Rama Rao, Telangana Minister for Industries and Commerce. "This first of its kind Center of Excellence aims to enhance the employability of young aspirants by imparting the required skills to them", said Rudy. The Center will not only provide training on aircraft maintenance, but also on aerospace manufacturing and assembling, he said. The Center will up-skill the local youth as per international norms and also partner with global aerospace and defence majors in their 'Make in India' programmes, Taraka Rama Rao said. "We are sensitive to India's ambition to have a thriving indigenous aerospace industry. This Center of Excellence will play a role in translating this ambition into reality by feeding the industry with a trained talent pool," said Ashish Saraf, V-P and 'Make in India' officer for Airbus. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/airbus- signs-mou-for-setting-up-centre-of-excellence-in-hyderabad/articleshow/57166880.cms Back to Top Pratt & Whitney To Invest $386m In Georgia Facility Pratt & Whitney has announced plans to invest $386 million in its Columbus, Georgia facility as part of plans to grow component production along with cost reductions for new and existing engine programs. As part of the investment outlined on Tuesday (Feb. 14), the U.S. engine manufacturer will build two new buildings at the site, with one 200,000-square-foot facility earmarked for GTF engine overhaul and the other a 20,000-square-foot manufacturing plant for a new isothermal forge press producing manufacture turbine disks and compressor rotors for a number of Pratt engine types. The rest of investment will finance automated machinery and equipment upgrades. To drive skills at the site, where Pratt maintains commercial engines including the PW1100G-JM and V2500, it also confirmed it has expanded its relationship with nearby Columbus Technical College, which will offer prospective employees four- to nine-week programs focused on aerospace mechanics and advanced manufacturing technologies. Chris Calio, president, Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines, said: "This investment will help ensure that we have the appropriate infrastructure, tooling and trained workforce in place to provide the best products and services to our customers worldwide." article found here Back to Top Companies, Workers Nationwide Benefiting from International Aviation Maintenance Trade, ARSA Analysis Shows WASHINGTON - Workers and companies in almost every state benefit from international trade in aviation maintenance services, according to a new analysis by the Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA). The findings underscore the broad economic impact of the aviation maintenance industry in communities throughout the United States, as well as the benefits of bilateral aviation safety agreements (BASA) that make government oversight more efficient. A long-standing BASA between the United States and European Union (EU), allows U.S. repair stations certificated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to more easily receive and maintain approval to work on European-registered aircraft and related components. The BASA also makes oversight more efficient for government and industry by allowing the FAA and European regulators to share responsibilities. In addition to the EU, the United States has BASAs with several other countries covering maintenance, flight operations and aircraft and environmental certification. The ARSA analysis of the European Aviation Safety Agency's (EASA) list of U.S. EASA approval holders found there are 1,460 repair stations spread across 47 of the 50 states authorized to work on European aircraft and components. ARSA correlated the EASA data with industry employment figures developed by Oliver Wyman for the association in 2016 and found that, collectively, there are more than 161,000 Americans employed by repair stations in the 25 states with the most EASA approvals. "The positive impact of international trade on small businesses and workers in the aviation maintenance sector is one of the U.S. economy's best kept secrets," ARSA Executive Vice President Christian Klein said. "When considering tax, trade, aviation or regulatory policy, it's important for the White House and lawmakers on Capitol Hill to understand and consider that back-home impact. Anything that undermines economic activity in this area is going to have negative repercussions in communities around the country." According to Oliver Wyman's 2016 industry analysis, 88 percent of US. repair stations are small and medium-size businesses and repair stations employ more than 184,000 workers nationwide. When aircraft parts manufacturing and distribution and air carrier maintenance personnel are taken into account, the aviation maintenance industry has more than 273,000 workers and accounts for more than $43 billion in economic activity. ARSA is the only association devoted to the unique needs of the global civil aviation maintenance industry. It is dedicated to helping member companies operate more efficiently and effectively, while continuing to ensure the safety of aircraft worldwide. To learn more about the association's work on behalf of both industry stakeholders and the flying public, please visit ARSA.org. http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12305285/companies-workers-nationwide- benefiting-from-international-aviation-maintenance-trade-arsa-analysis-shows Back to Top Snap-on to present Aerospace Maintenance Competition at MRO Americas 2017 Aviation's top technicians from around the world are gearing up to compete against each other in the industry's premier annual event, the Aerospace Maintenance Competition presented by Snap-on. The event is held at the MRO Americas 2017 convention, from April 25 to 27, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Over the past several years, the Aerospace Maintenance Competition presented by Snap- on has grown to become a widely attended international aviation experience for technicians and fans alike. It provides certified aviation maintenance technicians (AMTs) from major airlines, maintenance, repair and overhauls (MROs) and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), as well as military personnel and students in Federal Aviation Administration Part 147 schools, the chance to test their skills against their peers. The two-day competition runs from 1 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 25; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26. The awards presentation is from 9 to 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 27. "The Aerospace Maintenance Competition is a venue that allows aircraft engineers, technicians and students from around the world to stand up and speak out about our craft," said Ken MacTiernan, chairman, Aerospace Maintenance Competition. "It's important to have this event because the industry and public have often taken for granted the men and women who are the true faces behind safety in aviation. After more than hundred years of aviation history, these technicians deserve recognition for their knowledge, skill and integrity." This year's field is the strongest to date, as more than 60 teams representing seven countries are expected to participate. Some of the more notable teams include: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines; JetBlue; Air China; Qantas Airlines; UPS; FedEx; Embry-Riddle Aeronautical College; Indian Hills Community College; Boeing; Embraer and AAR. The teams will compete in more than 20 events that challenge their knowledge, skill and team work. The team earning the overall best score takes home the grand prize in aviation maintenance - the William F. "Bill" O'Brien Award for Excellence in Aircraft Maintenance. Presented by Snap-on, the coveted award signifies the highest standard of excellence in aviation maintenance. The O'Brien Award is a traveling trophy that debuted at the 2013 competition. The winning team receives the honor of displaying the five-foot-tall trophy in their facility for a year. In addition to the trophy, Snap-on is awarding more than $75,000 in tools and equipment as prizes to the top finishers in the competition. Last year, the five-member team from Alaska Airlines Team Seattle was awarded the trophy, and it has been on display at the company's facility at Sea-Tac International Airport. John Goglia, famed aviation safety and maintenance consultant and former National Transportation Safety Board member, said that the event serves as a great opportunity for seasoned professionals to mentor students who are looking to break into the aviation maintenance field. "The AMC brings together professionals and students in the aviation career path so they can demonstrate their skills, their knowledge and integrity," said Goglia, president, Aerospace Maintenance Council, which hosts the Aerospace Maintenance Competition. "There's a lot of mentoring going on here between the professionals in the business and students. Every year we see many airline and MRO teams sitting with students and explaining some of the things they have to do as mechanics and what they have to do here for their testing. Mentoring is alive and well, and I love every minute of it." Snap-on supports aviation technicians around the world through its commitment as the official tool sponsor for the Aerospace Maintenance Competition. Snap-on is providing all the tools and equipment used by the participants during the competition, as well as providing planning and logistical support. "We're very happy to continue our exclusive sponsorship with the Aerospace Maintenance Competition," said Andy Ginger, president, Snap-on Industrial. "This is a one-of-a-kind event that celebrates aviation maintenance - and we're going to continue our support of the AMC, technicians and aviation students around the world. That's our commitment to the industry." https://www.verticalmag.com/press-releases/snap-present-aerospace-maintenance- competition-mro-americas-2017/ Back to Top Luxair Extends APU Contract With AFI KLM E&M Subsidiary Luxair, the flag carrier of Luxembourg, has renewed its contract with AFI KLM E&M subsidiary EPCOR for maintenance of its auxiliary power units (APU) on its fleet of six Boeing 737 aircraft. The agreement covers two 737-700s and four 737-800s. Luxair said its decision to renew the EPCOR cooperation was due to the reliability of its maintenance services, which alongside APU support, also include pneumatic component maintenance. Christophe Henriot, head of technical services at LuxairGroup, said: "By extending this contract, we are expressing our satisfaction at the services delivered in recent years, and also our confidence that EPCOR will continue to provide support to a very high level for the APUs equipping our 737NGs." Along with the 737s, other aircraft covered under EPCOR's APU support offering include Embraer E170s and E190s; Airbus A320s, A330s and A340s and Boeing 777s and 787 aircraft. article found here Back to Top Fulcrum Labs Launches First Adaptive, Personalized Prep Course for the FAA's Airframe and Powerplant Certification Los Angeles, CA - February 14, 2017 - The aviation industry is on the verge of a major mechanic shortage, needing hundreds of thousands of technicians. While aviation schools are preparing students for the job, each technician entering the field must complete the FAA's Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Certification before being hired. Fulcrum Labs is answering the call to increase pass rates with its newly launched FAA A&P Certification Prep Course, the first training experience of its kind that combines personalized, adaptive learning and predictive analytics to help aviation maintenance technicians prepare for the high-stakes test in the most convenient, effective and efficient way possible. The launch of Fulcrum's training course could not come at a better time. Boeing forecasts that between now and 2035, the aviation industry will need to supply more than two million new aviation personnel, including 679,000 maintenance technicians over the next 20 years. Boeing goes on to say that meeting this demand will require innovative solutions, as well as new technologies and training methods to meet a wide range of learning styles. "Creating a test prep experience that not only fits into learners' demanding schedules, but also engages them on an individual basis and produces better outcomes is a win-win," said Patrick Weir, CEO of Fulcrum Labs. "Our methodologies eliminate the time intensive, one-size-fits-all test prep environment. Our analytics measure the exact depth and degree to which each concept has been mastered, helping learners pinpoint where they are achieving objectives, where they are struggling, and where they need to dedicate study time and resources. It's a model aimed at giving learners a jumpstart on their career and helping the aviation industry meet its extraordinary demand." Fulcrum Labs is revolutionizing the aviation training industry with its Personalized Adaptive Learning and Predictive Analytics (PALPA™) SaaS platform, giving learners the opportunity to tailor their test-prep experience, which greatly increases engagement and motivation. Fulcrum's competency-based learning approach allows learners to unlock lessons at a pace and level that is right for them. In fact, Fulcrum's go-at-your-own-pace approach has been shown to reduce test prep times by 20-50%. Curriculum for Fulcrum's FAA A&P Certification Prep Course was developed by instructional designers and subject matter experts from the Aviation Institute of Maintenance. Aviation Institute of Maintenance VP of Operations, Dr. Joel English pointed out, "Our institution has built online courses for over a decade, but when it came to developing an online course that prepared students for a high stakes professional certification exam, we knew that we would need to turn to a technology company that could provide a high quality platform and create cutting edge educational content. Fulcrum Labs is the perfect fit. Their courses are founded on a unique adaptive learning platform and all instruction is amplified through strikingly beautiful execution. The results are very encouraging." The course covers everything a technician needs to know to pass the General, Airframe and Powerplant written tests. Learners can master material in discrete five-to seven- minute lessons. The course features 97 animated videos that explain complex theories, as well as real world test problems. Learners also have access to more than 1000 practice activities to help them get acquainted and comfortable with the test environment. About Fulcrum Labs Founded in 2014, Fulcrum Labs is an enterprise grade Personalized, Adaptive Learning and Predictive Analytics (PALPA™) SaaS platform designed for organizations tired of DIY instructional tools and death by PowerPoint. Fulcrum couples proven cognitive science and adaptive learning technology with the storytelling power of award-winning animators and production veterans to bring engaging content to the learning and development sector. Fulcrum Labs' mission is to turn students and employees into learners and confident subject matter masters. For more information, please visit www.the-fulcrum.com. http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12305402/fulcrum-labs-launches-first- adaptive-personalized-prep-course-for-the-faas-airframe-and-powerplant-certification Back to Top NBAA Asking Members To Take Bizav Compensation Survey NBAA is calling on members to participate in its ongoing annual Business Aviation Compensation Survey before it closes on February 24. Association members who participate in the survey can access the results at no cost early this summer, while non- participants will be charged $250. Only NBAA member representatives, or those designated by the member representative, may enter survey 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 NBAA manager of operations Peter Korns. "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." Thus, he added, the sharing of salary and benefit information is the necessary first step in getting accurate data for the survey, which has shown that salaries across all surveyed flight department positions have increased 11.5 percent over the last five years. NBAA is collecting salary and benefit data for 16 aviation job descriptions: aviation department manager (flying and non-flying); 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; and line service personnel. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2017-02-13/nbaa-asking- members-take-bizav-compensation-survey Back to Top Australia To Require Electronic Incident Reporting The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) will soon implement a program that would require maintenance organizations to report accidents and incidents electronically, either via its online web form or through a "compatible reporting solution." Under the new reporting system, maintenance organizations will have the option of transferring accident and incident reports directly out of their safety management systems (SMS) to the ATSB. According to the bureau, "schema will provide a framework for organizations and software vendors to develop and automate accident and incident reporting solutions in a format compatible with the ATSB notification system." Companies would receive a license to incorporate the schema into their own SMS platforms, such that the information could be easily and automatically transferred to the agency, reducing any duplicative input and streamlining processes. The bureau is soliciting review and comment on the draft code before the new system is implemented. It is specifically requesting feedback from software companies interested in integrating the schema into their current reporting infrastructures. The Australian safety regulator has stated that 2017 will be the last year maintenance organizations can utilize email, fax or regular mail to submit accident and incident data. article found here Back to Top FAA approves flight school status for Purdue Aviation Purdue Aviation LLC has hit a milestone in its growth with Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA, approval of Part 141 flight school certification, which allows it to offer a mo,re structured flight training syllabus for future professional pilots. "Part 141 certification is key to the future growth of Purdue Aviation," said Purdue alumnus Scott Niswonger, who co-owns the company with the Purdue Research Foundation, in a press release. "Receiving this certification is the next logical step as we add services to increase the profile of Purdue Aviation, allowing us to help fill the critical need for more commercial pilots." Niswonger and Purdue Research Foundation purchased the company, formerly called Lafayette Aviation, in 2015. The purchase occurred the same year the 980-acre Purdue Research Park Aerospace District was established in the area adjacent to the airport. Purdue Aviation offered flight training under the FAA Part 61 regulation before issue of the Part 141 certification, said Jeff Pittard, president of Purdue Aviation, in a press release. According to Pittard, "Part 141 requires a more stringent process involving FAA approval of pilot training curriculums, personnel, facilities and aircraft. The Part 141 designation allows students in the program to qualify for pilot certification in less time than Part 61." Company officials plan to soon begin offering flight classes based on the Part 141 certification and adding airline industry collaboration to the coursework. "This designation by the FAA for Purdue Aviation opens the door for great new opportunities," said Dan Hasler, president of Purdue Research Foundation. "With the upcoming March opening of the Purdue Technology Center Aerospace building that will house some of Rolls-Royce's R&D activities, the Purdue Research Park Aerospace District is taking off." Purdue Aviation and Purdue Research Foundation recently partnered with Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam, an aircraft company based in Italy, to create a U.S.-based sales, maintenance and training center for TECNAM aircraft. The agreement included the sale of a TECNAM P2006T twin-engine certified technologically advanced aircraft to Purdue Aviation, which the company now uses for training and for leasing. http://www.purdueexponent.org/campus/article_1a791f52-f3c9-11e6-8b9c- 0f03b027acac.html Back to Top Low-cost Allegiant Airlines defends maintenance record Jacksonville, Fla -- When Allegiant Airlines evacuated flight 864 a year and a half ago after reports of smoke in the cabin, passenger Joan Morin was pushed down an emergency exit slide. "He said, 'This is an evacuation. Everybody evacuate," Morin remembers. "'Evacuate' didn't even register. I've never evacuated." She'd never heard of the low-cost carrier when she booked a flight from St. Petersburg, FL to Hagerstown, MD to see her daughter. "Narrow, I mean narrow little pad going down, and all you're thinking about is your head hitting the cement," she said. First Coast News obtained a year's worth of Allegiant records from the Federal Aviation Administration detailing maintenance issues and emergency landings. We found at least 54 times in 2016, a plane turned back to its airport or was diverted mid-flight because of a mechanical failure. Records detail landing gear not retracting after takeoff, electrical burning smells in cabins, and autopilot failures. "That is too high. We want it always to be lower," said Jude Bricker, the airline's Chief Operating Officer. During an interview at the airline's training center in Las Vegas, NV, Brinker said Allegiant's diversion rate is higher than industry giants Delta and American. He calls 2016 an improvement from 2015, when the evacuation of Morin's flight started a wave of negative stories about the airline. Most notably, the Tampa Bay Times used 2015 numbers to report Allegiant's planes were four times more likely to fail during flight compared to other major US carriers. "That number is not the case today," Bricker said. Three different aviation experts interviewed by First Coast News attribute many of the mechanical issues to one of the planes Allegiant flies, the same kind Joan Morin was aboard. It's called an MD-80. Most of Allegiant's were manufactured in the late 80's and early 90's. The older model is cheap to buy and makes up more than half of the airline's fleet. Allegiant's Service Difficulty Reports, filed with the FAA, show 30 percent of its fleet had 4 or more safety issues last year. Most of those issues happened with the older MD-80 aircraft. The airline says that number mis-represents its planes. It says out of the 30 percent, only half of the reported maintenance issues actually affected passengers. Allegiant's most problem-prone planes had cracks in wings and the fuselage, irregular cabin pressure, malfunctioning engines and lost navigation capabilities. "We require more mechanics, more spare parts, and more aircraft as spares to continue operating," Bricker said. The FAA requires airlines to self report issues with their aircraft. Compared to other low-cost carriers, Allegiant's planes in the middle of the pack when comparing the service difficulty reports. The FAA says they use those and many other reports to detect trends and mitigate risk with all airlines. With Allegiant, they've added FAA inspector resources and help evaluate their operations. "As long as the FAA signs off on them, that's really all we can be concerned about," said Jacksonville Aviation Authority CEO Steve Grossman. At Jacksonville International Airport, Allegiant has grown from 1 percent to 2.5 percent of the airport's traffic. "We really don't have a right to say 'No'. We have to allow carriers in in a non- discriminatory way. So, if a carrier wants to come in here, as long as they meet our rules and regulations, we have to let them in and we do not have the right to regulate how they do maintenance, what they do on maintenance. That's the federal government's role," Grossman said. As Allegiant continued to report problems last year, the FAA moved up a regularly scheduled audit. The FAA released a Certificate Holder Evaluation Process report where inspectors said they "identified several element design and element performance deficiencies." Inspectors reported problems with crew training and emergency drills, missing signatures on flight documents, and failures of protocol. "These experts don't just walk in and look around. They've got well documented procedures of everything they're supposed to look for," said Keith Mackey, a pilot and expert witness in aviation court cases. Mackey says only a few US carriers, mainly American and Delta, still fly the aged plane Allegiant does. "Parts are getting harder to find because not many airlines are operating them any longer," he said. During it's review, the FAA spent 3 months with Allegiant. "The outcome of it sort of proved our point which is, yea, we have some reliability issues we need to improve on but we're a safe airline," Allegiant COO Bricker said. At the airlines training facility in Las Vegas, pilots are learning to fly a new Airbus aircraft. Allegiant is building a duplicate training center in Sanford, FL, outside of Orlando, where East Coast pilots will train on the new plane. The Airbus will replace the MD-80 fleet wide by 2019. The new planes won't initially be common for Jacksonville flights. "Given that we don't have control over the quality of a carrier, we'll take all comers," Grossman said. As the airport chief, he considers the airline a good business partner for the city, even among the documented reliability concerns. He says the airline flies full planes to destinations not served by other main carriers at the airport, like Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. "My legs were up in the air, you're all turned around, my totes on this shoulder, my body is going this way, and it was a complete mess," Morin said of her 2015 evacuation. She didn't know about the history of Allegiant's maintenance failures. Now, she says she's dealing with medical problems and has to walk with a cane. Her attorney, Bob Spohrer, says he doesn't expect a lawsuit but believes his client Joan Morin is entitled to restitution for her injuries. "We are having a conversation with the insurance carrier for Allegaint Airlines. My prediction is a lawsuit is not going to be necessary," he said. No matter what happens, she says she'll never fly the low cost carrier again. "Never," Morin said. "It could be free. It's not worth it." http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/low-cost-allegiant-airlines-defends-maintenace- record/408006144 Curt Lewis