Flight Safety Information May 12, 2017 - No. 096 Incident: THY A332 near Amsterdam on May 11th 2017, hydraulic failure Incident: Hawaiian A332 at Honolulu on May 10th 2017, problems with gear retraction Incident: Berlin A332 at Dusseldorf on May 10th 2017, odour on board EVAS - Cockpit Smoke Protection FAA extends prohibition for U.S. airlines from flying over Iraq Mechanics contaminated Air Force One planes, causing $4 million in damage and threat of fire Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award Nominations Invited 2 planes clip wings at LaGuardia airport Another scorpion reported on United flight New commander nominated for struggling Marine aviation Duncan Aviation Sees Uptick in ADS-B Installs EASA proposes regulations for safe drone operation in Europe Emirates slammed by weak demand and Trump policies Trump Wants 'Goddamned Steam,' Not Digital Catapults on Aircraft Carriers Alaska Airlines faces impending shortage of pilots Global 7000 jet's wing supplier contemplates insolvency Textron Aviation to end Mustang jet production Emirates AVSEC Global 2017 2017 CHC Safety & Quality Summit Early Registration Now Open Research Survey Graduate Research Survey Incident: THY A332 near Amsterdam on May 11th 2017, hydraulic failure A THY Turkish Airlines Airbus A330-200, registration TC-JOZ performing freight flight TK-6309 from Istanbul (Turkey) to Billund (Denmark), was enroute at FL400 over Germany when the crew decided to divert to Amsterdam (Netherlands) reporting a hydraulic failure. The crew advised they had lost several systems as result of the hydraulic failure suspecting they would need to use the emergency braking system for stopping the aircraft, had no nosewheel steering and would not be able to vacate the runway after landing. They needed the longest available runway and requested runway 18C at Schiphol Airport, the runway length was sufficient for them to stop the aircraft. The aircraft landed safely on runway 18C, tower reported seeing a puff of smoke during roll out, the crew reported it was a normal braking, they were fairly sure all tyres were intact all still showing pressure, however, it could be possible that hydraulic fluid may have leaked, their green hydraulic reservoir was showing empty. The aircraft was towed to the apron. A runway inspection showed no leaked fluids on the runway, emergency services reported evidence of a hydraulic leak on the #1 engine. http://avherald.com/h?article=4a8d77a5&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Hawaiian A332 at Honolulu on May 10th 2017, problems with gear retraction A Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A330-200, registration N370HA performing flight HA-50 from Honolulu,HI to New York JFK,NY (USA) with 291 people on board, was in the initial climb out of Honolulu's runway 08R when the crew requested to stop the climb at 3000 feet advising they had problems with the gear retraction. The aircraft burned off fuel and returned to Honolulu for a safe landing about 65 minutes after departure. A replacement A330-200 registration N388HA reached New York with a delay of 4:10 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground about 18 hours after landing back. http://flightaware.com/live/flight/HAL50/history/20170511/0105Z/PHNL/KJFK http://avherald.com/h?article=4a8d73ab&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Berlin A332 at Dusseldorf on May 10th 2017, odour on board An Air Berlin Airbus A330-200, registration D-ABXD performing flight AB-7392 from Dusseldorf (Germany) to San Francisco,CA (USA) with 184 people on board, was in the initial climb out of Dusseldorf's runway 23L when the crew stopped the climb at 5000 feet due to an unusual odour on board. The crew decided to divert to Cologne/Bonn (Germany) where the aircraft landed safely on runway 14L about 20 minutes after departure. The airline reported the passengers were taken to hotels and are expected to depart the following day. The cause of the odour is under investigation. http://avherald.com/h?article=4a8cbcd2&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top FAA extends prohibition for U.S. airlines from flying over Iraq The Baghdad FIR roughly follows the Iraqi border Due to continued concerns regarding the safety of aircraft in the Baghdad Flight Information Region (FIR), the FAA decided to extend the prohibition for U.S. airlines from flying over Iraq. The Notam reads as follows: KICZ A0010/17 - SECURITY..UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FLIGHT PROHIBITION FOR IRAQ BAGHDAD (ORBB) FLIGHT INFORMATION REGION DUE TO THE HAZARDOUS SITUATION CREATED BY THE ONGOING FIGHTING AND INSTABILITY IN IRAQ, ALL FLIGHT OPERATIONS IN THE BAGHDAD (ORBB) FLIGHT INFORMATION REGION (FIR) BY THE PERSONS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH A (APPLICABILITY) ARE PROHIBITED. THIS NOTAM IS AN EMERGENCY ORDER ISSUED UNDER 49 USC 40113(A) AND 46105(C). THIS NOTAM WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL SUCH TIME AS TITLE 14, CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, SECTION 91.1605, SPECIAL FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATION NO. 77- PROHIBITION AGAINST CERTAIN FLIGHTS IN THE BAGHDAD (ORBB) FLIGHT INFORMATION REGION (FIR) IS REISSUED. A. APPLICABILITY. THIS NOTAM APPLIES TO: ALL U.S. AIR CARRIERS AND COMMERCIAL OPERATORS; ALL PERSONS EXERCISING THE PRIVILEGES OF AN AIRMAN CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY THE FAA, EXCEPT SUCH PERSONS OPERATING U.S.-REGISTERED AIRCRAFT FOR A FOREIGN AIR CARRIER; AND ALL OPERATORS OF AIRCRAFT REGISTERED IN THE UNITED STATES, EXCEPT WHERE THE OPERATOR OF SUCH AIRCRAFT IS A FOREIGN AIR CARRIER. B. PERMITTED OPERATIONS. THIS NOTAM DOES NOT PROHIBIT PERSONS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH A (APPLICABILITY) FROM CONDUCTING FLIGHT OPERATIONS IN THE BAGHDAD FIR (ORBB) WHEN SUCH OPERATIONS ARE AUTHORIZED EITHER BY ANOTHER AGENCY OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE FAA OR BY A DEVIATION, EXEMPTION, OR OTHER AUTHORIZATION ISSUED BY THE FAA ADMINISTRATOR. OPERATORS MUST CALL THE FAA WASHINGTON OPERATIONS CENTER AT 202-267-3333 TO INITIATE COORDINATION FOR FAA AUTHORIZATION OF OPERATIONS. C. EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. IN AN EMERGENCY THAT REQUIRES IMMEDIATE DECISION AND ACTION FOR THE SAFETY OF THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT IN COMMAND OF AN AIRCRAFT MAY DEVIATE FROM THIS NOTAM TO THE EXTENT REQUIRED BY THAT EMERGENCY. SFC - - UNL 10 MAY 13:52 2017 UNTIL PERM. CREATED: 10 MAY 14:05 2017 https://news.aviation-safety.net/2017/05/11/faa-extends-prohibition-u-s-airlines-flying-iraq/ Back to Top Mechanics contaminated Air Force One planes, causing $4 million in damage and threat of fire Airline mechanics assigned to perform critical maintenance on the fleet of Air Force One planes used to fly President Donald Trump and previous presidents were caught using contaminated tools on the craft, causing more than $4 million in damage that could have caused a fire to break out on the plane, according to a federal investigation. Three mechanics working for Boeing, which has a contract to perform critical maintenance on the Air Force One fleet, "failed to observe explicit warnings" while attempting to clean the plane at a Boeing-owned plant in San Antonio, Texas. Boeing, which has caused a firestorm on Capitol Hill over its efforts to sell Iran billions of dollars worth of planes that many suspect will be used to facilitate terrorism operations, caused more than $4 million in damage to the plane. The dangerous cleaning methods employed by the Boeing employees could have caused a fire to break out on board the plane, according to an investigation, which refers to the three employees in question as "Mishap Mechanics," or "MM." The shoddy work took place during routine maintenance checks performed from April 1 through April 10 of 2016. Three mechanics involved in the incident all were "assigned to the Presidential Airlift Squadron, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland," according to the investigation. "The three Boeing mechanics were supporting the heavy maintenance contract between the United States Air Force and Boeing." Investigators found that "three factors substantially contributed to the mishap." Air Force One AP "First, MM2 failed to observe explicit warnings concerning cleanliness while performing tasks on the [plane's] oxygen system," according to the investigation. "Second, Boeing failed to exercise adequate oversight over the timeliness and quality of maintenance being performed on the [aircraft]. Lastly, MM1, MM2, and MM3 failed to absorb or retain oxygen system training and failed to apply cleanliness procedures while performing oxygen system maintenance." As of Thursday, "the cost to remediate the known contamination of the oxygen system is over $4 million, which was paid for by Boeing," according to the investigation. "There were no injuries as a result of the mishap." A Boeing spokesman would not say whether the mechanics in question had been disciplined or fired, according to Defense One. "We did complete some investigations alongside our Air Force partners," Davis told the publication. "Collectively, we did some corrective action reports so that we can ensure we have exemplary performance in the future." http://www.businessinsider.com/mechanics-contaminated-air-force-one-causing-4-million-in-damage- 2017-5 Back to Top Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award Nominations Invited The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Foundation and Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) are accepting nominations for the 2017 Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award. Presented since 1956, the honor recognizes notable achievement in method, design, invention, study or other improvement in aviation safety. The award's recipient is selected for a "significant individual or group effort contributing to improving aviation safety, with emphasis on original contributions," and a "significant individual or group effort performed above and beyond normal responsibilities." www.ltbaward.com Nominations, which should include a one- to two-page narrative, can be submitted via the Laura Taber Barbour Foundation website. Nominations will be accepted through June 14. http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2017-05-11/laura-taber-barbour-air-safety- award-nominations-invited Back to Top 2 planes clip wings at LaGuardia airport, officials say Delta plane clips wing at LaGuardia A Delta plane at LaGuardia airport Thursday morning that a passenger said he was supposed to board before its wing clipped another aircraft's wing at around 8:30 a.m. (Photo courtesy of Jon Deutsch) NEW YORK -- The wings of two planes clipped each other at LaGuardia airport Thursday morning, according to the Port Authority. The planes, both of which had just landed and were taxiing, clipped wings at about 8:30 a.m. near the intersection of taxiways B and M, according to Joe Pentangelo, spokesman for the Port Authority. One of the planes, an Embraer170 operated by Delta, "sustained damage to its rear stabilizer" and the other aircraft, a Boeing 737 operated by WestJet, "suffered damage to its left wing," Pentangelo said in an email. No injuries have been reported, the Port Authority said, adding that updates would be forthcoming. http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2017/05/planes_wings_hit_at_laguardia_airport.html Back to Top Another scorpion reported on United flight It's the second time in less than a month that a scorpion has been reported on a United aircraft. KHOU HOUSTON - A United Airlines flight from Houston to Ecuador was delayed Thursday evening at George Bush Intercontinental Airport after a scorpion was spotted on board the plane. It's the second time in less than a month that one of the stinging insects has been reported on a United aircraft. According to United, a scorpion reportedly crawled out of a passenger's clothing Thursday on Flight 1035 as the flight was preparing to take off from Bush and travel to Quito, Ecuador. Paramedics examined the passenger and determined that he had not been stung. It is unclear whether a scorpion was ever found. Delta will now offer up to $9,950 to fliers on overbooked flights United Airlines passenger dragged off flight suffered concussion, broken nose Flight 1035 eventually took off, 3½ hours late, to Ecuador. United issued the following statement Thursday evening: "Houston to Quito Flight 1035 returned to the gate after a scorpion reportedly emerged from a customer's clothing. Paramedics at the gate immediately examined the customer and determined that he had not been stung. "The customer declined further medical treatment and, as a precaution, a new aircraft was arranged. We provided all passengers with a meal voucher due to the delay and the flight, with the customer aboard, has departed for Quito." On April 14, another man was stung by a scorpion on a United flight from Houston to Calgary. United has been under increased scrutiny after a passenger was dragged by aviation police off a United Express flight April 9, leaving him with a concussion and two broken teeth. The airline needed to remove four passengers after Flight 3411 from Chicago O'Hare to Louisville had loaded to make room for crew members. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/05/12/scorpion-reported-united-flight-houston- ecuador/319319001/ Back to Top New commander nominated for struggling Marine aviation Marine Maj. Gen. Steven Rudder has been nominated to be the next head of Marine aviation, replacing Lt. Gen. Jon Davis, who is expected to retire in July, officials said. If approved by the Senate, Rudder would also get his third star. He is currently the director of U.S. Pacific Command's strategic planning and policy directorate at Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii. Maj. Gen. Steven Rudder Davis has served as deputy commandant for aviation since June 2014. During that time, the aviation community has faced big readiness challenges. Davis struggled with the aftermath of decisions Marine Corps leaders made long before his tenure, such as leaving CH-53E helicopters downrange for years and forgoing the purchase of F/A-18 E-F Super Hornets to put all of Marine aviation's eggs in the F-35 joint strike fighter basket. Marine Corps Times More than half of all Marine aircraft unflyable in December The combination of budget cuts, years of continued operations and the departure of the Corps' most seasoned maintainers left more than half of all Marine Corps aircraft unable to fly in December. A Marine Corps Times Freedom of Information Act request asking how many Marine Corps aircraft could fly as of April 1 and how often pilots are flying was denied on Tuesday. "The No. 1 thing that we can do to help improve readiness on the flightline for the Marine Corps is to fix our spare parts problem," Davis told reporters in February. "Across the Department of the Navy, we do not have the spare parts we need - it's not just the Marine Corps; it's the Navy as well - to sustain our airplanes and maintain our readiness goals." https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/articles/new-commander-nominated-for-struggling-marine-aviation Back to Top Duncan Aviation Sees Uptick in ADS-B Installs A Duncan Aviation engineer performs installation upgrades. Photo: Duncan Aviation. In the first quarter of 2017, Duncan Aviation has completed 47 Automatic Dependent Surveillance- Broadcast (ADS-B) installations and has an additional 51 scheduled for the second quarter. As a result of the recent comments by the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Acting Deputy Administrator Victoria Wassmer, Duncan Aviation noted it has seen an uptick in the number of ADS-B upgrades scheduled for the third and fourth quarters of 2017. With 27 avionics satellite shops and workaway stations located at airports around the United States, Duncan Aviation stated it is prepared to perform ADS-B upgrades for the remainder of its business aviation customers ahead of the FAA's midnight deadline on December 31, 2019. "I'm going to say this as plainly as I can: The ADS-B equipage deadline is not changing," said Wassmer. "If you plan to fly your plane in most controlled airspace after December 31, 2019, you're going to need to install ADS-B." Duncan Aviation has developed a slot program that helps customers who may not be ready to upgrade immediately but want guaranteed hangar space and labor resources in the coming year. The program allocates two spots per satellite shop per month for ADS-B upgrades. This program holds a confirmed date, labor and hangar space for one aircraft, and owners and operators can reserve the spots for 2018 and 2019 and through the rest of 2017, where space is available. Outside of Rockwell Collins, the manufacturer of the TDR-94/TDR-94D transponder units, Duncan Aviation is the only service provider authorized to perform ADS-B upgrades on the TDR-94/TDR-94D units to bring them into compliance with the mandate. To date, the Duncan Aviation avionics bench in Lincoln, Nebraska, has performed ADS-B upgrades on 132 TDR-94/TDR-94D transponders. http://www.satellitetoday.com/telecom/2017/05/11/duncan-aviation-sees-uptick-ads-b-installs/ Back to Top EASA proposes regulations for safe drone operation in Europe The everyday use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for commercial operations took a small step forward today, as the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) published a proposal to regulate the operation of small drones. The proposed framework, EASA said, balances safety with keeping the industry agile and growing. At the same time, the agency said its proposals address the risk posed to people on the ground and to other aircraft, as well as "privacy, security and data protection." The proposal suggests mandating registration for UAV operators who fly machines weighing more than 250 grams, as well as other safety and security updates. EASA said that its proposal is "breaking new ground" by combining product and aviation legislation. That means that design requirements for small drones will be implemented using the legislation "relative to making products available on the market, the well-known CE (Conformité européenne) marking." The proposal allows a high degree of flexibility for EASA member states. Each nation will be able to define zones in their territory, where either drone operations are prohibited or restricted (for example to protect sensitive areas, such as airports or high-density areas), while also letting states decide where requirements can be relaxed. http://aircargoworld.com/easa-proposes-regulations-for-safe-drone-operation-in-europe/ Back to Top Emirates slammed by weak demand and Trump policies Airlines mock laptop ban on social media Emirates Airline has just had a year to forget. The Dubai airline said its profit slumped 82% in the year ending March 31, hit by weaker demand for travel and "destabilizing events" including President Trump's policies. In a measure of just how bad things were, Emirates canceled its dividend payment for the first time since 1995-96. Last year it handed over $681 million to the government of Dubai after making a record profit of $1.9 billion. Emirates Chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said 2016-17 was "one of the most challenging years to date." New U.S. policies on air travel, the Brexit vote, terror attacks in Europe, and a sluggish oil and gas industry had all affected demand for flights during the year, Al Maktoum said. He predicted another tough year to come. "We remain optimistic for the future of our industry, although we expect the year ahead to remain challenging with hyper competition squeezing airline yields, and volatility in many markets impacting travel flows and demand." Related: Emirates boss on United: I would have quit over passenger 'disgrace' Last month, Emirates said it was cutting back on flights to the U.S. after taking a direct hit from Trump's policies. Trump signed a revised executive order in March banning citizens of six Muslim-majority countries from entry. It was struck down by the courts, and is being looked at by a federal appeals court. Following the travel ban, the U.S. slapped nine airlines flying from 10 airports in the Middle East and North Africa -- including Emirates -- with an order prohibiting larger electronic devices in the cabin of aircraft. Emirates said its seat factor, which measures how many seats are filled on each flight, dropped to 75.1% from 76.5%. It blamed "economic uncertainty and strong competition in many markets." The airline carried a record 56.1 million passengers last year. http://money.cnn.com/2017/05/11/investing/emirates-airline-profit-slump-trump/ Back to Top Trump Wants 'Goddamned Steam,' Not Digital Catapults on Aircraft Carriers "You have to be Albert Einstein to figure it out." The Gerald R. Ford is maneuvered by tug boats in the James River Navy officials were "blindsided" on Thursday, a spokesman told me, by President Donald Trump's suggestion that he has convinced the Navy to abandon a long-planned digital launching system in favor of steam on its newest aircraft carrier. In a wide-ranging interview with Time magazine, Trump described his disgust with the catapult system known as Electro-Magnetic Aircraft Launch System, nicknamed EMALS, aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford. (Time has published only excerpts from the interview, not a full transcript.) The president described wanting to scrap EMALS, a key technological upgrade at the center of the multibillion-dollar carrier project, and return to steam. I said, "You don't use steam anymore for catapult?" "No sir." I said, "Ah, how is it working?" "Sir, not good. Not good. Doesn't have the power. You know the steam is just brutal. You see that sucker going and steam's going all over the place, there's planes thrown in the air." It sounded bad to me. Digital. They have digital. What is digital? And it's very complicated, you have to be Albert Einstein to figure it out. And I said-and now they want to buy more aircraft carriers. I said, "What system are you going to be-" "Sir, we're staying with digital." I said, "No you're not. You going to goddamned steam, the digital costs hundreds of millions of dollars more money and it's no good." What is digital? To answer the president's question without getting into too many 0s and 1s, "digital" means using a computer to make something happen. You know, the same sort of machine that connects us all to the cyber. Are you still with me, or should we get Einstein over here? (I mean, Einstein has done an amazing job and is being recognized more and more.) EMALS isn't just computer-based but uses a linear induction motor. That motor-which uses electric currents to activate a magnetic core-propels a carriage down a track to launch an aircraft, rather than using a steam piston drive to pull the aircraft. Despite Trump's technological leanings-he's TV obsessed, he was a semi-early adopter of the web, and he has a preternatural sense for Twitter drama-his question about "digital" calls to mind his apparent cluelessness about cyber security. It's not that EMALS has been a smashing success. Cost and schedule overruns have given the Navy carrier project a reputation for being "one of the most spectacular acquisition debacles in recent memory," as Senator John McCain, the Arizona Republican, put it in 2015. "And that is saying something." The construction of three Ford-class aircraft carriers has swelled from $27 billion to $36 billion in the last 10 years. But the problems with the Ford-class carrier program are more organizational than technological-a common theme among infrastructural megaprojects. McCain blamed "misalignment of accountability and responsibility in our defense acquisition system" and the vast bureaucracy of defense acquisition systems, which span multiple offices and program managers. Trump seems to have seized on the project's bad reputation without appreciating-or at least without clearly articulating-the complexities of moving from steam to digital. The steam-powered catapult systems that are being replaced have been used to launch airplanes from U.S. carriers for some six decades now. Not only are steam systems harder to maintain than electrical ones; they have a lower upper-limit during combat-meaning electrical systems can launch more aircraft in a shorter amount of time. Electrical systems can also better handle smaller aircrafts and drones compared with steam. Steam systems also put more stress on airframes, and make them more prone to corrosion. Not only that, but carriers themselves are exceedingly vulnerable to attack-meaning outfitting them with the modern defense systems is a priority. The goal for the upgraded system is to use carriers to create "an operational honeycomb of interconnected forces with reach, range and lethality against air, sea, space, and land-based targets," as Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake wrote for the website Breaking Defense in 2015. Despite some high-profile failures in early testing, EMALS is now nearly complete and ready for sea trials. It represents one of three major initiatives in the Navy's push to go upgrade its weapons systems for the digital era. Trump's insistence on steam is perhaps bewildering, but also consistent with some of his other views about technology. After all, the president has repeatedly talked about returning to America's golden age of manufacturing-an idea that's laughable, if regrettable, to anyone who has looked closely at the forces driving the global economy. Among them: the rise of automation, which promises to dramatically transform the way humans work across multiple industries, and which Trump has all but ignored. Then again, for a man who is clearly concerned with hugeness, you'd think Trump might appreciate EMALS: In working order, the system can launch anything from the sleekest drone to the sturdiest F-35, and it blasts through the technological limits imposed by steam. Trump has demonstrated a fondness for super carriers, and has said he plans to increase the U.S. fleet from 10 to 12. He hasn't, however, indicated how he plans to pay for that. The cost of a single new, Ford-class carrier- about $11 billion without cost overruns-would eat up nearly 20 percent of Trump's proposed defense budget increase, Reuters reported in March. The Navy says it is scrambling to figure out how to address the president's concerns. A spokesman said it will issue a statement on Thursday afternoon, and figure out talking points for Naval leaders should the question come up at public events. In the meantime, Trump might do well to worry more about the signature infrastructure promise of his own campaign, than a near-complete military project he doesn't seem to understand. https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2017/05/trump-wants-goddamned-steam-not-digital- catapults-on-aircraft-carriers/526386/ Back to Top Alaska Airlines faces impending shortage of pilots From its expanded routes to swallowing rival Virgin America, Alaska Airlines continues its record growth. But there's a looming downside to all that success. The Seattle-based carrier faces an impending shortage of pilots and others to keep the airline flying high into the future. "This year alone we're going to hire 2,300 front line employees. And that includes pilots, flight attendants, maintenance, agents," said Carlos Zendejas, the Seattle-based chief pilot for Alaska. Zendejas was among hundreds of employees who volunteered last weekend for the airline's annual Aviation Day. More than 1,000 students gathered in the massive Alaska maintenance hanger at the south end of Sea- Tac airport to get an up close look at the airline's operations. Spokesperson Bobbi Egan says the airline works hard to reach out to local schools to make young people aware of the opportunities. "The goal here is to show young people that there are so many opportunities here in the Pacific Northwest, whether you work for Alaska, Boeing, the Port of Seattle," Egan said. But there's no seemingly greater need than to prepare the next generation of pilots. The Regional Airlines Association forecasts the major carriers like Alaska will need upwards of 18,500 pilots new pilots by the end of 2020, while there are just 18,000 potential candidates in the pipeline currently flying for regional carriers - the major source of pilots for the big airlines. Zendejas says two big things happened to spark the shortage - in the past decade the FAA mandated pilots retire at age 65, while many potential pilots chose other careers during the recession, in part because entry level flying jobs pay so little. "Right now we're still doing very well. But as you look two years down the road the supply is certainly going to get very tight," Zendejas said. And there's a good reason why Alaska and other airlines are doing all they can to head that off. Zendejas says the industry might be faced with lowering pilot requirements if it doesn't have enough flyers for the future. "Right now at Alaska, if you're going to apply you have to have at least three thousand hours of flight time, a little less if you come from the military, " Zendejas said. "But as you start to go forward and not all the people are available that would have those qualifications, I think all the major airlines will have to start looking and go 'well, instead of 3,000 hours, maybe we're looking at 2,500 hours." But Zendejas insists we shouldn't be worried about that impacting safety, because all new Alaska hires will still go through the airline's stringent ground and air training before they earn their wings. But what if you don't want to be a pilot? A big part of last weekend's annual aviation day is to inspire kids from all walks of life to pursue a career in the ever growing industry. Anais King, 18, is one of those. "About a year ago I was introduced to something called Young Eagles. And it was where we were able to be flown in an airplane. And I was just enthralled. I looked out of the window and said 'I want to do this,'" she said. The home-schooled high school senior has always had an interest in engineering. And thanks to her exposure to Alaska, she's now considering a career in aviation. When people hear aviation they think pilots, but in aviation you can be an engineer, a mechanic, or many other things. There are just so many fields. In fact, Alaska says it's even competing with the likes of Microsoft and Amazon for top tech talent - another reason for spreading the word through Aviation Day and other outreach. "We also go down to Aviation High School, we talk to them. We talk to the different universities. As a matter of fact, Green River (College) now has a four-year aviation program right here in our own backyard," Zendejas said. http://www.kiro7.com/news/local/alaska-airlines-faces-impending-shortage-of-pilots/521631131 Back to Top Global 7000 jet's wing supplier contemplates insolvency The supplier of the wing to Bombardier Business Aircraft's new Global 7000 business jet is thinking about insolvency, which could be a setback for the parent of Wichita's Learjet. On Friday, Pennsylvania-based Triumph Group filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission an amended credit agreement that "also provides the Company's Vought Aircraft Division ... with the option, if necessary, to commence voluntary insolvency proceedings within 90 days of the Eighth Amendment Effective Date," Triumph said in the filing. In Wichita, Triumph employs 225 people. Triumph also has a 115-employee operation in Wellington and a 120-employee operation in Edgerton, in the Kansas City metro area. According to the company's website, its Vought division facilities are in California, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. This is raw video from Bombardier Business Aircraft of the first flight of the second Global 7000 business jet, which took off from Toronto's Downsview Airport for a 4-hour, 28-minute long flight over the weekend. (Courtesy of Bombardier/March 6, 2017) A Triumph Group spokeswoman on Monday emphasized that voluntary insolvency is one option for Vought. "It is important to understand that this is just one of several possibilities under consideration and no decisions have been made at this time," Michele Long, Triumph Group director of corporate communications, said in an e-mail to The Eagle. According to the filing, the amended credit agreement separates the Vought division - also known as Triumph Aerostructures LLC - from being a "Subsidiary Co-Borrower" to Triumph. In other words, it wouldn't have access to the loans Triumph Group receives. Triumph said in the filing the move is intended to "provide the Vought entities with greater financial flexibility to address their significant cash utilization relative to certain contracts." Triumph Group has been struggling with costs and cash flow and, for more than a year, has undergone restructuring to get them under control. 'Negotiating tactic?' On Monday, analysts said in notes to investors that they think higher costs to manufacture the Global 7000 wing are partly the reason for the changes to Triumph's credit agreement. Seth Seifman of J.P. Morgan noted the lawsuit Triumph brought against Bombardier early this year for failing to pay "certain non-recurring expenses" during the Global 7000's development. He estimated Triumph's spending on development of the 7000's wing so far at about $600 million. "We believe TGI needs a settlement with Bombardier that recognizes the higher recurring cost of the wing so that Triumph has the potential to earn an acceptable return on the program from here," Seifman wrote in an investor note on Monday. "Triumph's contemplation of insolvency in Aerostructures may therefore be a negotiating tactic on some level but it is not one that we believe management would undertake lightly or wholly unnecessarily." Bombardier has two Global 7000s in flight test in Wichita. It plans to begin deliveries of them in 2018. It is one of two key aircraft programs for the company - the other being its C Series commercial passenger jet - that has struggled with its own cash flow problems in the recent past. The Global 7000 is Bombardier's biggest and longest-range business jet. Business aviation forecaster Rolland Vincent said it's not just Bombardier that stands to be affected should Vought become insolvent. It also is a supplier to other aircraft manufacturers including Boeing and Gulfstream. "(It's) not completely unexpected as this part of Triumph's business has been struggling to 'right the ship' and get back to stronger profitability," Vincent said. "They have had several underperforming contracts." But Vincent said the suggestion of insolvency is likely more than "simply a strong-armed negotiating tactic by Triumph with regards to Bombardier." "They need relief, especially on the Bombardier Global 7000 program, both for now sunk costs and on the recurring costs of the contract going forward," he said. "This will drag on for quite some time ... (and) does nothing to reassure existing and prospective customers that the Global 7000 program will remain on track for late 2018 entry-in-service." A Bombardier Business Aircraft spokesman said the company continues to negotiate with Triumph. http://www.kansas.com/news/business/aviation/article149255024.html#storylink=cpy Back to Top Textron Aviation to end Mustang jet production The Cessna Citation Mustang business jet's 12-year run is coming to an end. Textron Aviation said Thursday the final production Mustang has rolled off the factory floor and will be delivered in the coming weeks. The world's first entry-level business jet, which was introduced to rave reviews in 2002, was manufactured at the company's plant in Independence. But sales faltered after the financial crisis in 2008 and 2009 and never recovered. A Textron Aviation spokeswoman said Thursday that the company won't cut jobs in Independence despite wrapping up Mustang production. No jobs in Wichita are expected to be affected by the move, either. "The Caravan line is moving to Independence ... and our Wichita workforce is very engaged as we bring new products online like the Citation Longitude and, further down the road, the Cessna Denali," Rosa Lee Argotsinger, Textron Aviation's director of communications, said in an e-mail. Besides the Mustang, employees in Independence also manufacture the larger Citation M2 business jet as well as the Cessna 172, 182, 206 and TTx single-piston-engine airplanes. The company would not disclose how many employees work in Independence. In 2015, Textron said it employed more than 9,000 people in Kansas. By all accounts, the $3.35 million Mustang enjoyed a successful run, with Textron Aviation delivering 472 of the five-passenger, 1,200-nautical-mile range jets between 2005 and 2016, according to data from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. When the all-new design jet was introduced at the 2002 National Business Aviation Association Convention in Orlando Fla., scores of customers lined up at Cessna's booth to put a deposit on the airplane. The company took 170 orders that first day. "The Mustang proved to be an incredible success for our company and our customers," Rob Scholl, Textron Aviation senior vice president of sales and marketing, said in Thursday's release. Textron said it would continue to provide service support for the Mustang and its owners. The Mustang was extremely popular with people who both own and fly their aircraft. Jeff Greenberg of Wichita is one of them. "Without that airplane, I wouldn't have been a Cessna customer," said Greenberg, who took delivery of his Mustang in August 2009 and has about 1,100 hours of flight time on the airplane. Greenberg said the Mustang is safe, is cost effective to operate and gets him above or around bad weather. "It's a comfortable cabin, and from a pilot standpoint, it's the easiest cockpit to get into and out of ... no twisting and turning and climbing over things." "There's a passionate following for the Mustang," said business aviation forecaster Rolland Vincent. "For many people it was their first jet." But, Vincent said, demand for it began to wane after the financial crisis in 2008 and 2009, which was a peak year for the Mustang with 125 deliveries. And demand never really recovered. In 2014 and 2015, Mustang deliveries totaled eight for each year. In 2016, Textron Aviation delivered 10 Mustangs. "That's not where the market is alive right now," Vincent said. Vincent thinks the 2013 introduction of the Citation M2 - whose differences with the Mustang include a private lavatory, room for two additional passengers and additional range - steered away potential Mustang customers. "The real story is keeping owners and operators in the Textron family, and I think they do that well," he said of the M2 assuming the spot of Cessna's entry-level Citation jet. Scholl confirmed in the release that the $4.5 million M2 will now serve as the entry-level Citation jet. "We believe it will carry on the legacy as the entry-level jet that pilots want and need," he said in the release. http://www.kansas.com/news/business/aviation/article149991232.html#storylink=cpy Back to Top Back to Top 2017 CHC Safety & Quality Summit Early Registration Now Open As of today, those interested in attending the CHC Safety & Quality Summit this year can purchase tickets at a discount during the early registration period. Early registration for the 13th CHC Safety & Quality Summit is available through May 31, 2017, during which time reserving your place at the Summit is reduced to $1085.00, compared to the normal price of $1185.00. The Summit will take place at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas, near CHC's global headquarters - a first for the industry-leading aviation safety event. Previous years have drawn upward of 750 attendees or more from around the world. The theme for this year is: "Can we truly manage all the risk: what if the barriers are not as robust as they seem?" Attendees are invited to gather with colleagues and industry professionals to collaborate and share best practices on ways to improve our industry through promoting awareness of safety in human factors. Delegates will have an opportunity to attend an opening day plenary session with presentations by Stephen Carver, Senior Lecturer in Project & Programme Management from the Cranfield School of Management, and Dr. Nicklas Dalstrom, Human Factors Manager from Emirates Flight Operations Training. Attendees will also have the option to register for two post-courses taught by industry experts immediately following the Summit: * The Accident/Incident Investigation course, led by Mark Brosnan, Safety and Compliance Manager, CHC Helicopter, which will run from Sept. 30 - Oct. 2, and * The Human Factors (HFACS) course, led by Dr. Scott Shappell, co-developer of the HFACS system, which will run from Sept. 30 - Oct. 1. To register or learn more about the 2017 CHC Safety & Quality Summit, visit www.chcsafetyqualitysummit.com. About CHC For 70 years, CHC Helicopter has provided safe, reliable, cost-effective helicopter service in some of the most remote and challenging environments around the world. With extensive experience transporting customers in the oil and gas industry, supporting search-and-rescue and EMS contracts, and providing maintenance, repair and overhaul services, our dedication to safety and reputation for quality and innovation help our customers reach beyond what they thought possible. Visit www.chcheli.com for information. Contact Information MEDIA Cameron Meyer Communications Specialist +1.214.262.7391 Cameron.Meyer@chcheli.com SUMMIT Irina Sakgaev Safety & Quality Applications Specialist +1.604.232.7302 summit@chcheli.com Back to Top Research Survey Dear Participants, You are being requested to participate in a research study on risk. This study is expected to take approximately 5 minutes of your time. In order to participate, you must be at least 18 years old and a pilot. Participation in this study is voluntary, and you may choose to opt out of the study at any time. If you choose to opt out before study completion, your data will be destroyed immediately. We appreciate your consideration and time to complete our study. Please click on or copy and paste the URL below: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeYQv1wQ7ti8p8uE6rjWsAsoTvRe23hvVCR4LSvJheUNMt72Q/viewform?usp=sf_link For more information, please contact: Dr. Stephen Rice Stephen.rice2@erau.edu We appreciate your interest and participation! Dr. Stephen Rice, Associate Professor, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Back to Top Graduate Research Survey I am a pilot who is working on my master's degree at Embry-Riddle. To complete it I need to finish my research project. If you are a FAA Part 121 air carrier pilot will you please take five minutes to complete this survey. It only has six questions and you will be helping a fellow pilot. The survey asks four very basic questions about fatigue and sleep. This survey has no relationship with any airline or with this group. I will not know who took it, it is completely anonymous. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FXRXFZ7 Thank You Kevin Kilpatrick Curt Lewis