March 13, 2017 - No. 021 In This Issue Emirates clarifies Etihad Airways merger reports Watch NASA's Mars rocket tests in 360-degree video NAIA operations back to normal after Tagaytay radar maintenance Pilot died after 'inadequate' inspection Asia's MRO Surge Could Outstrip Demand Thai Airways and Airbus ink MOU for MRO facility at U-Tapao B-29 Doc Clears 'Phase One' of Flight Test Operations Boeing's first overseas factory to be built in China's Zhoushan HAECO An Early Mover On 787 Heavy Maintenance NASA Tests SpaceX Crew Dragon Capsule's Life-Support Systems Emirates clarifies Etihad Airways merger reports Emirates Airline has denied reports that it was considering a merger with Etihad Airways. "There is no truth to the report Emirates and Etihad are considering a merger or have been in talks for the same," an Emirates Airline spokesperson said in a statement. Earlier last week, Emirates President Tim Clark had rubbished reports about merger plans between UAE's two major airlines. Talking at the ITB tourism fair, the aviation industry veteran commented on popularity of low-cost airlines, Trump's travel ban and Emirates-Etihad merger rumours. Commenting on the merger of Dubai carrier Emirates and national carrier Etihad Airways PJSC, he described reports that the ruling families of UAE - who own the two airlines - are discussing a merger as "nonsense," Bloomberg reported. http://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/aviation/emirates-clarifies-etihad-airways-merger-reports Back to Top Watch NASA's Mars rocket tests in 360-degree video NASA will eventually use the Space Launch System to send humans to Mars -- it might even carry a crew the very first time it launches. Unfortunately the world's most powerful rocket is a tad behind schedule (it was originally supposed to launch this year) and over budget. However, NASA has released an interesting 360-degree video of a hot-fire test of the main RS-25 engine, one of four shown above. From one vantage point, you're standing in a place you really wouldn't want to be in person -- near the flame trench directly behind the 512,000-pound-thrust rocket. The liquid-fueled RS-25 is an updated version of the Space Shuttle's main engines (not the side- mounted boosters) that, in total, will pump out about a quarter of the SLS's 8.8 million pounds of thrust. When the rocket is launched, the motors will fire non-stop for about 8.5 minutes, powering the Orion capsule into orbit and well, well beyond. The RS-25 pumps out hot gases at 13 times the speed of sound, and at one camera position near the flame trench, "the extreme force of smoke and water literally covers the camera," NASA says. Watch, and try not to duck. https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/13/watch-nasas-mars-rocket-tests-in-360-degree-video/ Back to Top NAIA operations back to normal after Tagaytay radar maintenance The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on Saturday evening lifted the Notice to Airmen BO822/17, which issued a shutdown of the Tagaytay radar for maintenance repair from March 6 to 11, 2017. Following the resumption of the radar's operation, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport is back to normal operations-from 32 flights per hour during the radar's maintenance to 40 flight per hour post-maintenance. The CAAP had earlier announced that the radar would be shut down for maintenance, and that the decrease in the number of hourly number of flights was for passenger safety and better air traffic management. The agency also said the radar will be integrated into its world-class air traffic control system project, the satellite-based Communications, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) systems, which is expected to be launched soon. The CNS/ATM system will enable aircraft operators to meet their planned times of departure and arrival and adhere to their preferred flight profiles with minimum constraints and without compromising agreed levels of safety. The system will also improve the handling and transfer of information, extend surveillance, and ensure navigational accuracy, leading to reductions in separation between aircraft and allowing for increased airspace capacity and achieve reduced flight operating costs and delays. The P9-billion CNS/ATM facility, which will be assisted by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is set to be turned over by main contractor Sumitomo-Thales JV to the CAAP Management by July 2017. When fully operational, the facility can monitor 80% of the Manila Flight Information Region as assigned to the Philippines by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). - Bianca Rose Dabu/BM, GMA News http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/602917/news/nation/naia-operations-back-to-normal- after-tagaytay-radar-maintenance Back to Top Pilot died after 'inadequate' inspection A waterbombing pilot fighting a NSW blaze was killed after his plane's wing broke off mid-flight as a result of cracking and corrosion that was missed during an "inadequate" inspection months earlier, an inquest has found. David Black, 43, died when his M18 Dromader aircraft crashed in an isolated and mountainous area of the Budawang National Park, in the state's south, on October 24, 2013. The experienced pilot was preparing to attack a bushfire when the left wing of his aircraft suddenly broke off, causing the aircraft's rapid descent, Deputy State Coroner Derek Lee wrote in his inquest findings released on Monday. Mr Black left behind his wife of 12 years, Julie, and three young children. "David and Julie had worked together as a team, industriously, to reach a stage in life where their business was successful, their family was nurtured and cared for, and they were simply able to enjoy life," Mr Lee wrote. "To lose David in sudden circumstances is heart-rending." The plane Mr Black was flying was owned by his company, Rebel Ag, which provided aerial support to the NSW Rural Fire Service. It was tested and inspected just over two months earlier by two companies, Aviation NDT and Beal Aircraft Maintenance, but Mr Lee said the work was inadequately done. He wrote in his findings that testing by Aviation NDT used an unauthorised method and did not comply with the mandatory requirements of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. Further, the plane's wings were not removed during a visual inspection by Beal Aircraft Maintenance, meaning that corrosion and cracking on one of the left wing's attachment lugs was not detected. By the time Mr Black crashed in October, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau found that cracking on the inner surface of the lug had reached a critical length of 10.4 millimetres and at least 32 secondary micro cracks were also identified. The engineer behind the visual inspection, Donald Beal, told the inquest the manufacturer's service bulletin did not mandate removal of the wings, so he didn't see any need to remove them. Mr Beal also said there was ambiguity about what visual inspections actually involved, Mr Lee recalled in his findings. At the NSW Coroner's Court on Monday, Mr Lee recommended that CASA consider issuing a directive that wings be removed during inspections of M18 Dromader planes. He also recommended they consider a different way of calculating fatigue damage, which did not just rely on flight hours but also looked at other factors that age an aircraft, such as its speed and the weight of loads that it carries. A CASA spokesman said they would consider the recommendations carefully. http://www.9news.com.au/national/2017/03/13/12/09/pilot-died-due-to-inadequate-inspection Back to Top Asia's MRO Surge Could Outstrip Demand The rapid growth of the aircraft maintenance sector in the Asia-Pacific region is creating a significant risk of oversupply, according to some industry executives. New MRO joint ventures and facility expansions are being rolled out in many parts of Asia. While dramatic fleet growth is projected in this region, signs are emerging that there could be too much maintenance capacity, said speakers at Aviation Week's MRO East Asia conference. The MRO market is "reshaping itself" and has been "shifting to Asia," said Vehbi Ozer, Turkish Technic's strategy planning and projects manager. He predicts that in the near future the Asia- Pacific region will represent the biggest MRO market. This region now accounts for 28% of the global MRO market value of $64 billion, said Francois Dubrulle, president of asset management company The Green Airliner Singapore. Asia has essentially caught up to Europe and North America in terms of market share. The global total is projected to rise to $96 billion by 2025, with Asia-Pacific growth likely to exceed that of the more developed regions. Rapid expansion is both a challenge and a danger for the Asian MRO industry, said Daniel Stromski, Haeco's GM for inventory technical management. He likens the current situation to a "gold rush," with a wide range of companies looking to set up new operations or joint ventures in Southeast Asia and China. Stromski said this is causing worries about the supply and demand balance. While Asia represents a great opportunity for MRO providers, the "industry should be careful where it invests," so it does not "create oversupply of [MRO] capabilities." Many governments in the region are subsidizing or helping to establish MRO ventures, said Ian Wolfe, Cebu Pacific's head of engineering and fleet management. Return on invested capital is not always governments' top priority in these cases, as they are often more focused on political, strategic or employment objectives, said Wolfe. This creates more surplus in the industry and disadvantages independent MRO operations. Wolfe believes the massive aircraft backlog for the Asian region could be creating an overly optimistic picture of future MRO demand. He questions whether all of these aircraft will actually be delivered, as airline yields are already under pressure. Many carriers are looking to defer orders or cut their backlogs, Wolfe notes. One of the biggest concerns with the wave of MRO growth is finding enough skilled workers, said Jan Steenbock, VP-marketing in East Asia for MTU Maintenance. Demand for aviation workers is so high that sourcing them from local populations is becoming harder. Cost advantages for MRO operations in Asian countries such as China are being eroded, said Steenbock. http://www.mro-network.com/maintenance-repair-overhaul/asias-mro-surge-could-outstrip- demand Back to Top Thai Airways and Airbus ink MOU for MRO facility at U-Tapao Thai Airways International (TG, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi) and Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to consider developing a maintenance and overhaul (MRO) facility at Utapao International Airport near Bangkok. The agreement was announced on their respective websites this week. Signed by His Excellency Somkid Jatusripitak, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, the MOU will allow the two companies to exchange information to evaluate the potential of developing the MRO complex. "The new aircraft maintenance center will serve airlines across the region and worldwide as well as create sustainable revenue for THAI and Thailand," Usanee Sangsingkeo, Acting President of Thai Airways, said. Utapao is a civilian/military airport located 115 kilometres from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi. It has housed a Thai Airways maintenance facility since 1997 which can conduct heavy maintenance on two wide-bodied and one small aircraft type simultaneously. Should the new facility go ahead, it will provide light and heavy maintenance for various aircraft types, employ the latest technological advances, and will deploy drones to monitor aircraft frames. It will also include an aircraft maintenance training centre and specialised repair shops. Fabrice Bregier, President, Airbus Commercial Aircraft, says the project will meet growing demand in the Asia-Pacific region. "With the fleet in the region set to almost triple to over 15,000 aircraft over the next 20 years, this project represents a sound opportunity for Thailand to develop its footprint in the aerospace sector," he said. The project is touted as being part of Thailand's Eastern Economic Corridor plan, which is aimed at developing Thailand's Eastern Seaboard into a leading economic zone through infrastructure investment and development, particularly in the seaports and Utapao airport. http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/54038-thai-airways-and-airbus-ink-mou-for-mro-facility- at-u-tapao Back to Top B-29 Doc Clears 'Phase One' of Flight Test Operations WICHITA, Kan., March 10, 2017 - B-29 Doc has officially completed 'phase one' of its flight test operations. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved a new airworthiness certificate for the historic warbird. The FAA approval means Doc's Friends, Inc. can begin touring with the airplane with reduced flight limitations. "We've been working for the past several months with the Wichita FAA office, along with the FAA team in Washington, D.C., and we are pleased that we have satisfied the requirements for 'phase one' of flight test operations," said Jim Murphy, Doc's Friends Restoration Program Manager. "The FAA's approval means we can begin the next phase of our restoration and flight operations plan, and that includes sharing our historic warbird with air shows around the United States." The FAA granted a "special airworthiness certificate" to Doc's Friends, Inc., removing the flight limitation restrictions on distance and flight pattern. "This milestone is one we've worked step-by-step alongside the FAA inspectors and our maintenance crew to achieve. The special airworthiness certificate will allow us to operate Doc without travel restrictions that were previously in place during our first several hours of flight," Murphy added. Doc's Friends' communications and event planning team are in final negotiations with multiple regional air shows, including EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh. "We aren't ready to release the details of our 2017 tour just yet, but we are confident we'll be able to make an announcement regarding our travel plans soon. We have a few more minor winter maintenance items to complete and we'll begin running engines before the end of March. If everything goes as planned, I expect us to be back in the air in early April," Murphy said. The 2017 B-29 Doc tour schedule will include multiple public events in at least six states. Information will be released to the public via the media, as well as online at www.b-29doc.com and Doc's social media channels. About Doc's Friends Doc's Friends is a 501c3 non-profit board managing the operation of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress known as Doc. The group was formed in 2013 and is led by retired Spirit AeroSystems CEO Jeff Turner along with other Wichita business leaders; Charlie Chandler, Jack Pelton, Steve Clark, Lynn Nichols, Brad Gorsuch, Vic McMullen, Ron Ryan, Tim Buchanan and Jeff Peier, Esq. Doc's Friends is committed to returning this World War II warbird to the air to honor previous generations, educate current and future generations and connect the world to the rich heritage of aviation. http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12314663/b-29-doc-clears-phase-one-of-flight-test- operations Back to Top Boeing's first overseas factory to be built in China's Zhoushan BOEING and Chinese aviation manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd.(COMAC) will start to build a Boeing 737 completion center in eastern China's Zhoushan city at the end of March, scheduled to make its first delivery in 2018. This is Boeing's first overseas facility as part of its 737 production system, and designed to deliver 100 Boeing 737 planes a year. In the joint-venture completion center, Boeing's 737 aircraft will be installed with flight entertainment systems and seats. The plant in Zhoushan, 287 km southeast of Shanghai, also provides services such as coating, repair and maintenance of Boeing aircraft. Boeing and COMAC signed an agreement in October 2016 to set up the Zhoushan plant, which will consist of two parts: the 737 completion center, a joint venture of Boeing and COMAC, and the 737 delivery center owned by Boeing. Construction of the delivery center will also start at the end of March. To accommodate aircraft manufacturing in Zhoushan, Putuoshan Airport in the city is undergoing a 750 million yuan (US$108 million) expansion to become an international airport. In addition to supporting Boeing, the aviation base in Zhoushan will also develop an entire industrial chain for aircraft manufacturing, with the capacity of assembling, delivering and modifying 600 aircraft a year by 2025. Zhoushan is an archipelago and island city in Zhejiang Province, which has the largest fishery in China and boasts strong shipbuilding, tourism and service industries. http://www.shanghaidaily.com/business/Boeings-first-overseas-factory-to-be-built-in-Chinas- Zhoushan/shdaily.shtml Back to Top HAECO An Early Mover On 787 Heavy Maintenance Working on next-generation aircraft types is essential for MRO businesses but also presents them with some challenges, according to an executive with Hong Kong-based maintenance giant HAECO. HAECO has already conducted C-checks on 10 Boeing 787s, said Patrick Wong, executive GM for airframe services and material management. These aircraft belong to customers Jetstar, Royal Brunei and United Airlines, Wong said during Aviation Week's MRO East Asia conference. The company also provides line maintenance for several 787 operators as well as the Airbus A350. While HAECO has not yet confirmed any heavy maintenance customers for the A350, it is "working on that" and will eventually provide these services for the aircraft, said Wong. The company's largest customer Cathay Pacific has recently begun receiving A350s. Early entry into the 787 maintenance market was one of HAECO's strategies, said Wong. He admits it is "difficult to make money" from the 787 and A350 programs at this stage because maintenance volume is still so low. However, MRO operators "can't stay away from them," he said. Another early problem was a difficulty in gaining priority with Airbus and Boeing for training and maintenance equipment required for the new types, said Wong. This is because independent MRO operators are not aircraft customers like the airlines. HAECO has partly addressed this problem by introducing 787 training programs itself. The company has recently installed a 787 computer simulation training suite at its Xiamen, China facility. It has also been hard to get essential on-the-job training for maintenance workers on the new types, Wong said. Because HAECO does not have its own fleet, it has to rely on its customers to allow it access to their fleets during down times. Wong estimates that at any time around 8% of his staff are involved in training. http://www.mro-network.com/maintenance-repair-overhaul/haeco-early-mover-787-heavy- maintenance Back to Top NASA Tests SpaceX Crew Dragon Capsule's Life-Support Systems NASA engineers are evaluating the life-support system planned for SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule to make sure it will keep astronauts safe while they're traveling to and from the International Space Station. SpaceX built the ECLSS (pronounced EE'-cliss, and short for "environmental control and life support system") Module to test the essential life-support systems for the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft, which could fly crewed missions to the orbiting lab as soon as 2018. The module is a prototype spacecraft designed "as close to the specifications of operational spacecraft as possible," allowing engineers to work out all the kinks before flight versions of the Crew Dragon are manufactured, NASA officials said in a statement. While NASA engineers are helping to evaluate the ECLSS Module, SpaceX is building the spacecraft, launch systems and operational networks that will carry astronauts to the space station on missions for NASA's Commercial Crew Program. Once NASA certifies the spacecraft, the Crew Dragon will launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center atop a Falcon 9 rocket, agency officials said in the statement. "ECLSS systems and subsystems present unique challenges to a developer," Brian Daniel, crew systems lead for NASA's Commercial Crew Program, said in the statement. "Such systems must assure tight control of parameters that are important to human safety, such as temperature, carbon dioxide levels, oxygen levels and cabin pressure. The various functions of the life support system must not only be failure tolerant and robust, but also able to perform their function for the whole gamut of the mission, from countdown to splashdown." The ECLSS is a complex network of machinery, pipes, tanks and sensors that relies on computer software to automatically adjust conditions inside the spacecraft and ensure the safety of the crew throughout a mission. However, "astronauts will still wear launch-and-entry spacesuits while inside the spacecraft during certain phases of their missions to guard against cabin leaks or other emergencies, such as a launch abort," NASA officials said. To test the functionality of the ECLSS Module, engineers were sealed inside the prototype spacecraft and were exposed to a mix of oxygen and nitrogen - conditions similar to what astronauts will experience in flight. "Unlike relying solely on computer simulation and analysis, the ECLSS Module allows us to test and observe Crew Dragon's life support systems as they autonomously control a real cabin environment," Nicolas Lima, a life support systems engineer at SpaceX, said in the statement. "Extensive testing of the ECLSS module has and will continue to contribute to improvements to Crew Dragon's design and operation, which ultimately leads to greater crew safety." http://www.space.com/36014-spacex-dragon-crew-life-support-test.html Curt Lewis