Flight Safety Information May 23, 2017 - No. 103 Accident: Thomson B788 near Orlando on May 21st 2017, 27 people became sick in flight Incident: Austrian A320 at Linz on May 19th 2017, odour in cabin Incident: India A320 at Mumbai on May 22nd 2017, smoke in cockpit EVAS - Cockpit Smoke Protection Smoke inside cockpit forces Air Niugini plane to turn back DUBAI TO LONDON HEATHROW FLIGHT EVACUATED AFTER BOMB THREAT HOW 3D PRINTING IS SET TO DISRUPT THE AVIATION INDUSTRY...WHY YOU SHOULD CARE SA ranked number one in Africa in terms of aviation safety Over 20kg heroin confiscated from PIA aircraft Advent Aircraft Earns STCs for Anti-skid Braking Turning old aircraft into new (Nigeria) Korea to address flight course, safety distance in aviation talks with Japan Qatar Airways, IATA showcase cabin safety best practice The Airbus A380 superjumbo is the next big thing in private jets I was fired for not signing off on jet leaking fuel, Teterboro mechanic says Billionaire's Dream of Supersonic Luxury Jet Gets Assist From GE European show opens with Longitude jet order for Cessna New Consulting Group Brings a People-First Approach to Transportation Crisis Management Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award Nominations Invited Research Survey - 1 Research Survey - 2 Graduate Research Survey - 3 Accident: Thomson B788 near Orlando on May 21st 2017, 27 people became sick in flight A Thomson Airways Boeing 787-800, registration G-TUIH performing flight BY-375 from Orlando Sanford,FL (USA) to Bristol,EN (UK) with 287 people on board, was climbing out of Orlando Sanford when the crew stopped the climb at 15,000 feet reporting two flight attendants had become sick reporting nausea and dizzy. The aircraft dumped fuel and returned to Orlando Sanford for a safe landing on runway 09L about 45 minutes after departure. 27 people in total required medical treatment at the airport, 4 were taken to hospital. The airport reported a total of 27 people required medical attention at the airport, it remained unclear what caused the illness. 4 of them were taken to hospitals. A hazmat team checked the cabin air but did not find anything abnormal. The flight was postponed to the following day. A replacement Boeing 787-800 registration G-TUIF, scheduled to perform flight BY-743 to Glasgow,SC (UK), resumed the flight and delivered the passengers to Bristol with a delay of about 24 hours. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground for about 23 hours and performed flight BY-743 departing Orlando with a delay of about 70 minutes. http://flightaware.com/live/flight/TOM375/history/20170521/2125Z/KSFB/EGGD http://avherald.com/h?article=4a954b11&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Austrian A320 at Linz on May 19th 2017, odour in cabin An Austrian Airlines Airbus A320-200, registration OE-LBL performing flight OS-2542 from Porto (Portugal) to Linz (Austria), was descending towards Linz when the crew reported an odour in the cabin. The aircraft continued to Linz for a safe landing on runway 08 with emergency services on stand by. The crew advised that no further assistance was needed, the fire engines followed the aircraft to the stand nonetheless. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground for about 20 hours, then resumed service. A listener on frequency reported the crew reported an odour in the cabin, emergency services responded for the landing and followed the aircraft to the stand although the crew advised after landing that no further assistance was needed. http://avherald.com/h?article=4a954841&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: India A320 at Mumbai on May 22nd 2017, smoke in cockpit An Air India Airbus A320-200, registration VT-EXA performing flight AI-669 from Mumbai to Bhubaneswar (India) with 155 people on board, was climbing out of Mumbai's runway 32 when the crew stopped the climb at FL230 reporting smoke in the cockpit and returned to Mumbai for a safe landing on runway on runway 32 about 35 minutes after departure. A replacement Airbus A321-200 registration VT-PPK reached Bhubaneswar with a delay of 2.5 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground 12 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4a953f7b&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top Smoke inside cockpit forces Air Niugini plane to turn back An Air Niugini flight, PX 275, from Kavieng in New Ireland was aborted this morning after it experienced smoke in the cockpit. The aircraft's tyre also burst upon landing back on the tarmac. The plane was about to take off and there were smoke in the cockpit and cabin but the captain took off then had to turn the plane in the midair and come back and land the plane. And upon landing the planes, tyres, making a huge noise in the airport area. According to staff at the airport, this will be the fifth plane grounded in less than two months. Meantime the damaged plane is now sitting idle on the tarmac blocking off traffic to incoming and outgoing aircrafts. Meanwhile all flights into Kavieng airport have been suspended as Air Niugini aircraft PX 275 sits idle on the tarmac after it experienced technical faults. Passengers on the aborted flight have also been left stranded with no advice from Air Niugini. NBC News/ PNG Today http://news.pngfacts.com/2017/05/smoke-inside-cockpit-forces-air-niugini.html#ixzz4htFcxmfi ************* Date: 23-MAY-2017 Time: Type: Fokker F100 Owner/operator: Air Niugini Registration: P2- C/n / msn: Fatalities: Fatalities: / Occupants: Airplane damage: Unknown Location: AYKV - Kavieng - Papua New Guinea Phase: Landing Nature: Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: AYPY - Port Moresby Destination airport: AYKV - Kavieng Narrative: Aircraft disabled on runway and single runway closed until further notice https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=195589 Back to Top DUBAI TO LONDON HEATHROW FLIGHT EVACUATED AFTER BOMB THREAT Passengers are going through extra security checks An entire planeload of passengers on a Virgin Atlantic flight from Dubai to London Heathrow has been evacuated from the aircraft following a bomb threat. After boarding the flight, passengers were told to exit the plane and head back to the gate following the captain's admission that a bomb threat had been received by the airline. "We were just moving and then the captain called his flight crew immediately and they all ran up the front," a passenger from flight VS401 told the Daily Mail. "Ten minutes later we were told to get off. The captain just came out and said Virgin take the safety of passengers very seriously - following the events in Manchester, Virgin had received a bomb threat so as precaution they have asked everyone to leave the plane." Passengers are now going through security for a second time and receiving full body scans. "Our customers travelling on the VS401 from Dubai to London Heathrow have temporarily disembarked the aircraft for additional security checks," a Virgin spokesperson told The Independent. "This is purely as a precautionary measure as the safety of our customers and crew is our number one priority and we're planning to have everyone on their way as quickly as possible." The passenger told the Mail: "Someone said they saw a bomb disposal truck and said it out loud, but it wasn't. It was just a normal fire truck. "Everyone's a bit on edge." http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/dubai-london-heathrow-virgin-atlantic-flight-bomb-threat-passengers- evacuated-removed-a7750856.html Back to Top HOW 3D PRINTING IS SET TO DISRUPT THE AVIATION INDUSTRY WHY YOU SHOULD CARE Because air passengers are predicted to double by 2035, and aviation needs a solution to handle that. Remember when you had to guess at how the hottest guy or girl back in high school turned out? Or stand in the street to hail a cab? The likes of Facebook and Uber might be recent innovations, but they've taken no time to disrupt a long-held status quo. Something similar is happening in the world of aviation, only this disruption could save billions of dollars and tons of carbon emissions. Next year, GE Aviation will debut a new propeller plane engine that behaves more like a jet engine - burning significantly less fuel than other models in its class while providing more power. The engine will be doing its thing in an aircraft that carries an entry-level price tag ($4.8 million - a bargain, as planes go). More power, less fuel and cheaper - sounds too good to be true, right? Thank 3D printing, the most disruptive technology to affect manufacturing in recent decades. The possibilities of 3D printing have emboldened GE's engineers to create all-new engine designs that are ripping up the rulebook. Today, the technology has given us a high-performance, low-cost propeller plane engine. Tomorrow, it could clean up large-scale commercial aviation dramatically. THE NUMBER OF AIR TRAVELERS WILL DOUBLE TO 7.2 BILLION BY 2035. The timing couldn't be better: Commercial aviation is ripe for disruption. In October last year, the International Air Transport Association predicted the number of air travelers will double to 7.2 billion by 2035. The year before that, Boeing forecast that continued growth in air passenger traffic would create demand for more than 38,000 new aircraft over the next 20 years. To meet those requirements, aviation needs new solutions, and fast. Aircraft manufacturers are starting to heed the call. Textron Aviation bought the new engine for its new private business propeller plane, the Cessna Denali. The turboprop engine plays a large part in the new aircraft's offerings, giving the comfort and convenience of a private jet at a fraction of the price. To keep costs down and performance high, the engine features 3D printed titanium and steel components in place of hundreds of individually manufactured parts. ge engine SOURCE GE AVIATION In addition, the design combines the best of jet and turboprop tech, including jet engine technologies that have never before been used in a turboprop of this size. That includes mechanisms that increase pressure and temperature inside the compressor and turbine, extracting more work while allowing the pilot to control the engine and propeller with a single lever, just like with a jet. According to GE, this design uses 20 percent less fuel and 10 percent more power than equivalent engines. Brad Mottier, who led the new engine's development, said packaging these new technologies together not only improves aircraft performance, but can also extend time between engine overhauls by more than 30 percent. In a future world of more than 7 billion air passengers, that sort of innovation won't go unappreciated. While the future will likely herald better, cleaner jet engines, an overhaul of commercial aviation's footprint could still be a ways off. GE's engine is meant for a small, single-aisle propeller plane seating up to eight passengers, and offers a range that would carry you from Chicago to Los Angeles, or Miami to New York. Even still, it was seven years in the making, and is yet to make its maiden voyage. According to Textron's senior vice president of engineering, Michael Thacker, the first flight will take off in 2018. For now, then, it's more brilliant idea than revolutionary reality. That said, Kriya Shortt, Textron Aviation's senior vice president of sales and marketing, says "the order book is open." Whatever the next 20 years bring, the reality is that the aviation industry must meet massive demand for new aircraft while keeping costs down for customers. Any new engine design offering that is going to be popular. It may be that 3D printing will play a part in this brave new world - and while GE's new engine might be starting small, it's thinking big. http://www.ozy.com/fast-forward/how-3d-printing-is-set-to-disrupt-the-aviation-industry/78607 Back to Top SA ranked number one in Africa in terms of aviation safety South Africa is at position 33 in the world when it comes to aviation safety. (SABC) The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has ranked South Africa number one on the continent in terms of aviation safety. This follows a recent audit of the aviation industry. There has also been a 50 % reduction in aircraft accidents involving the private aviation sector. Over 100 000 flights take off and land worldwide on a daily basis. This means that at any given time there are aircrafts and passengers in the air. South Africa is a member of the International Civil Aviation Organisation set up to establish standards to ensure a safe, efficient and secure civil aviation sector. Between the 8th and 18th of May, the organisation conducted an audit of South Africa's civil aviation sector. Transport Minister, Joe Maswanganyi announced the results at a media briefing at OR Tambo International Airport. "This puts South Africa now at position one in Africa and globally at position 33. The ICAO audit team did not raise any significant safety concerns against South Africa, so our skies and our airports are very safe." The Transport Minister says being number one on the continent is no reason to sit back and do nothing While there have been no accidents in the commercial aviation sector, there has been a 50% drop in the number of aircraft accidents in the private or general sector. In the past two years alone, 69 people lost their lives in accidents involving private aircraft, such as microlites. "They talk to poor airman ship, some of the pilots who disregard the weather patterns, fuel starvation in that you have fuel that is not sufficient for your journey, technical maintenance issues for instance. But I think what the minister is saying in terms of enforcement we are not taking kind to anyone who takes to the sky without observing the regulations and we have got a dedicated enforcement department whose function is to do nothing except to enforce our regulations on a day to day basis. And I think it attests to the reduction that we see today of 72 from 144 four years ago." The Transport Minister says being number one on the continent is no reason to sit back and do nothing. With flights from other parts of the continent sharing our airspace, we have our work cut out to share best practices to bring the rest of the continent on par. "When we are seated here there are flights passing over us here in the sky from other countries going somewhere else so we are not out there out of the whole world. So it's very important when it comes to aviation to share the best practices from other countries, we also learn from other countries." http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/f8f97e80413b8e23912d9f08c3fad33b/SA-ranked-number-one-in-Africa-in-terms-of-aviation- safety-20170522 Back to Top Over 20kg heroin confiscated from PIA aircraft Authorities set up high-profile probe Karachi: Following the recovery of another large contraband of heroin from a Pakistan International Airline flight to London, civil aviation authorities on Monday set up a high-profile probe under a senior police officer to bust the drug smuggling racket. On Monday authorities seized 20 kilogramme of heroin worth millions of dollars in the international market from the Pakistan International Airline (PIA) flight from Islamabad to London (PK785). Mehtab Abbasi, adviser to the Prime Minister on Aviation, ordered an urgent probe into the recovery of drugs by appointing additional inspector general of the Punjab police Hussain Asghar as its chief, a spokesman of the PIA stated in a media release. The PIA came under criticism at home last week when United Kingdom's National Crime Agency (NCA) hauled a substantial quantity of heroin that was allegedly hidden in the PIA flight PK-785. Although, the national flag carrier did not confirm the incident, the independent media quoting NCA statement said that its officers were investigating following the heroin haul on-board a flight from Pakistan at Heathrow on May 15. The seizure came following the detention of about 13 members of the crew of PK-785 at Heathrow Airport. The Border Force sources were quoted as saying that the crew members were grilled for hours after a tip off. Despite disowning the recovery of any drug from the PIA flight last week, the airline statement said that four PIA aircraft were thoroughly searched today before their international departure and the heroin was found on one of the aircraft. The aircraft were searched with the assistance of Anti Narcotic Force (ANF) and the PIA security force. The new procedures were set up by Aviation Division's Central Operation Committee to prevent smuggling of drugs and other contraband through the international flights. The flight was later cleared and it took off for London after two hours delay. http://gulfnews.com/news/asia/pakistan/over-20kg-heroin-confiscated-from-pia-aircraft-1.2031235 Back to Top Advent Aircraft Earns STCs for Anti-skid Braking After certifying an upgrade to install its eABS anti-skid braking system in Beechcraft King Airs last year, Tulsa, Oklahoma-based Advent Aircraft Systems received STC approval for anti-skid brakes for the Pilatus PC-12 in April. The STC applies to all PC-12s equipped with a WAAS-capable GPS, including those with Honeywell Apex avionics or Garmin or IS&S WAAS GPS receivers. The Advent eABS weighs just 27 pounds installed, comes with all required installation hardware, and requires no changes to the existing PC-12 brake system. List price for the PC-12 eABS is $50,604, not including installation at an Advent-authorized dealer. Pilatus authorized fleet service center Atlas Aircraft Center performed the installation of the eABS on the PC-12 for the STC program. The PC-12 is owned by Atlas customer Joe Howley, past president of the Pilatus Owners and Pilots Association. "Joe Howley's agreement to let us use his PC-12NG for the certification aircraft was absolutely key to getting off to a great start," said Advent managing director Ken Goldsmith. "Atlas's performance was instrumental in completing the STC installation," said Advent president Ron Roberts, "together with supporting all Advent company and final FAA ground and flight testing in a remarkable total elapsed time of only 24 calendar days, March 6th to 30th. This enabled us to work with the FAA to support the first customer delivery by the end of April, altogether a model of collaboration by all parties." The eABS reduces pressure on the braking system to provide the anti-skid modulation that prevents flat-spotting or blown tires. After landing, the eABS gives the pilot the capability to "confidently apply" the brakes immediately after touchdown or in other situations where hard braking is needed, such as a rejected takeoff. Essentially eABS acts as an alternative to reverse thrust, reducing prop erosion and the risk of FOD ingestion. During the ground test and FAA flight testing, Advent pilot Peter Simpson noted that the eABS allowed "the pilot to immediately apply full braking on all surfaces, safely and reliably, with full directional control and tactile feedback from the pedals. The eABS system completely eliminates the past concern of skidding or blowing a tire when the braking force is too great, which was previously impossible to determine from the cockpit. At light, medium, and heavy weight configurations, on wet and dry paved runway surfaces, we consistently averaged landing ground rolls of about 710 feet at normal Vref approach speeds and light winds, which was truly remarkable." Advent's eABS is certified on the Eclipse EA500/550 (multiple countries), King Air B300 and Textron Aviation T-6B/C, and in June, the King Air B200 will be added. Pilatus and King Air certifications are planned for Canada, Australia, and Europe and other countries. http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2017-05-23/advent-aircraft-earns-stcs-anti-skid-braking Back to Top Turning old aircraft into new (Nigeria) Nigeria has statistics of old aircraft operating in the country. There is a push for the replacement of such ageing aircraft. A leading aircraft manufacturer suggests that operators could alter the equation by embracing fleet modernisation, KELVIN OSA OKUNBOR reports The argument for and against the age of an aircraft and its safety performance continues to dominate the discussion in the aviation world. Concern is growing over safety because of the preponderance of old aircraft dominating the fleet of both active and inactive airline operators. Data from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), showed that over 150 airlines, both scheduled and unscheduled operators, have operated in the country's airspace since commercial aviation started almost a century ago. These airlines operated various aircraft types to match their schedules. Either Boeing, Airbus, Fokker, McDonald, Douglas, Embraer, Bombardier, BAC 1-11, ATR or DORNIER, a common denominator among them is the use of old airplanes. Old aircraft are not fashionable among global airlines for sundry reasons, which among are - fuel consumption, maintenance costs, and the effects on the environment. Nigeria, however, is slow in the march towards fleet modern-isation. A few years ago, the government imposed a 22-year-old ban on any aircraft that must be brought into the country. The move, according to NCAA, wss to ensure that Nigeria does not become a dumping ground for old aircraft. But major aircraft manufacturers such as Boeing Corporation, are worried over the dominance of old aircraft in operators' fleet in Africa, including Nigeria. It's concern was predicated on the economics of running airlines with ageing fleet, which it said will not improve profit margins. Boeing Aircraft constitutes over 60 per cent of the airplane in the fleet of indigenous carriers. Many domestic carriers have the Boeing 737, 500, 400, 300, and 800 series in their fleet. Majority of the active domestic carriers such as Arik Air, Aero Airlines, Air Peace, AZMAN Air, Medview Airlines and Hak Air have Boeing aircraft dominating their fleet. First Nation Airways operates an all Airbus fleet. Overland Airways, on its part operates the ATR propeller aircraft type, whereas DANA Air operates an all MD83 and MD 82 fleet. Besides the popularity of the Boeing aircraft type, a report by the manufacturer suggested that there is a preponderance of old in Nigeria 's airspace. Apart from Arik Air, with the youngest airplanes of an average age of less than eight years, other airlines parade older aircraft in their fleet. They are flying aircraft of between 10 to 15 years. The debate over the age of an aircraft and its effects on safety may continue to generate debate, investigations revealed that Boeing is encouraging operators to key into its ageing aircraft phase-out scheme. A few years ago, Boeing advised African carriers , including Nigerian operators, to modernise their fleet in order to be able to compete on routes dominated particularly by foreign carriers. Boeing observed that the current fleet in Nigeria has averaged nearly 20 years, pointing out that such 20- year-old aircraft could not be fuel efficient. It said at a time operators are looking at ways to navigate the prohibitive cost of fuel, operators of such aged aircraft may not be able to make profit. The modern trend, Boeing said, is for operators to demand for new fuel efficient jets . A study by Boeing revealed that twin - aisle planes will account for 32 per cent of new planes in Africa in the next 20 years, compared with 23 per cent globally. According to Boeing, many factors drive the demand for replacement of old aircraft. Age, according to the corporation, is one, but other factors include relative airplane economics, maintenance requirements and overall market environment. It said in recent years, high fuel costs have played a larger role in influencing decisions to remove airplanes from service. Boeing's push for refleeting, is predicated on the fact that newer aircraft are more cost effective for operators in terms of fueling, maintenance and insurance, among other considerations. It is debatable whether Nigerian carriers have embraced this old aircraft phase out scheme being pushed by Boeing Corporation. Despite the Cape Town Convention instrument, which makes it easy for Nigerian operators to acquire relatively newer aircraft, investigations have revealed that some operators prefer to acquire old aircraft sourced through leasing companies in America, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and other parts of the world. Findings also revealed that using old aircraft is not profitable for Nigerian operators. Reasons: increased fuel consumption, high insurance premium, prohibitive costs of offshore aircraft maintenance and crew compatibility, among other factors. An expert, who wished for anonymity, said NCAA needs to push operators to embrace the Boeing Corporation old aircraft phased out programme, arguing that other countries have embraced the programme, bringing about relatively newer airplanes to dominate their airspace. Apart from the 22-year age limit set by the government for aircraft a few years ago, old airplanes are a common place in Nigerian airspace. The NCAA said efforts have been in place over the years to encourage indigenous operators modernise their fleet. In an electronic mail message, an official of NCAA said the authority does not have the age chart for aircraft operating in Nigeria. The message reads : "I do not have the age chart for aircraft on the fleet of our domestic operators. However, the NCAA has always assisted operators to acquire new fleet. This was put in place through the Cape Town Convention, which Nigeria signed many years ago. "This was what Arik benefited from . Under the programme, the NCAA serves as guarantor to the operator. I can assure you that the 22-year age limit on aircraft brought into the country still stands,"he said. Investigations by The Nation revealed that Arik Air has the youngest fleet among the carriers . Arik Air has 13 Boeing aircraft in its fleet The fleet consists new genera-tion nine Boeing 737-700 aircraft, four Boeing 737 - 800 aircraft with two Airbus 340 - 500 and Airbus 330 -200. Arik also parades five Canadian regional jets, otherwise known as CRJ 900 and four De Havilland (DHC -8-400 ) airplanes. Besides Arik Air, another operator, Air Peace, has mainly Boeing 737 -300 and Boeing 737-500 series in its fleet . Of its 10 operating aircraft, nine are Boeing airplanes with a single DORNIER - 328 jet. Air Peace Chairman, Allen Onyema, said the airline will continue to acquire relatively new Boeing aircraft to boost its operations, adding that the desire to parade newer aircraft, prompted the airline to acquire a Boeing 777 aircraft, to operate its intercontinental flights. Another operator , Allied Air, also operate an all Boeing fleet. Allied Air has in its fleet three Boeing 737 -400 aircraft. A few months ago before the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria ( AMCON) took over its management, the oldest indigenous operator - Aero Airlines, had eight Boeing aircraft in its fleet. The Aero fleet were mainly Boeing 737-400 and Boeing 737 - 500. AZMAN Air, on its part, has an all Boeing fleet, consisting of the Boeing 737-500 and 737 - 300 series. Another major operator, Medview Airlines, also has an all Boeing fleet, consisting of the 737- 400, 600 and 500 Boeing series . Investigations also revealed that Max Air, has mainly Boeing airplanes in its fleet, in the 300 and 400 series' configuration. Though, it is yet to take off, due to litigation over the circumstances under which it secured its Air Operators Certificate (AOC) from the NCAA, Hak Air has four Boeing 737 -400 aircraft in its fleet. Industry experts are however worried that the airline may have brought into the country very old aircraft, which are currently grounded at the Tarmac of the Lagos Domestic Terminal. The Nation investigations also revealed that other airlines including, Kabo Air, IRS Airlines, Chanchangi Airlines, have the oldest aircraft in their fleet. http://thenationonlineng.net/turning-old-aircraft-new/ Back to Top Korea to address flight course, safety distance in aviation talks with Japan South Korea and Japan will hold their annual aviation talks this week, with Seoul asking for adjustments in flight course and safety distance between planes, the transportation ministry said Tuesday. The talks will be held on South Korea's southern island of Jeju from Wednesday to Friday, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. It will be the 12th round of the talks that began in 2005. South Korea is asking Japan to adjust flight routes to shorten the flying distance between Incheon, its main gateway, and several Japanese cities. Many of the flights currently have to take detour routes once they enter Japanese airspace. Seoul is also seeking to shorten the separation minima, the distance required between aircrafts to prevent collisions, from the present 37 kilometers to 28 km, which would help increase services, ministry officials said. The two sides will discuss signing agreements for cooperation between South Korea's air traffic management center and area control center with their Japanese counterparts, officials said. (Yonhap) http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20170523000375 Back to Top Qatar Airways, IATA showcase cabin safety best practice IATA Cabin Operations Safety Conference (COSC), hosted by Qatar Airways, concluded its three-day programme recently in Doha. The IATA Cabin Operations Safety Conference (COSC), the global conference for cabin safety across the aviation industry, concluded its three-day programme recently in Doha. Hosted by Qatar Airways, the event brought together more than 200 representatives from industry organisations across the globe, to gain insights and share cabin safety best practice. As the inaugural Middle Eastern regional host for this global aviation industry event, it gave "suitable recognition" to Qatar Airways' "outstanding" aviation safety performance and its commitment to continuous improvement. Conference attendees participated in workshops, discussions and focus sessions led by experts across all segments of the industry, on topics such as next generation training, human trafficking and communicating with passengers. Qatar Airways Group chief executive Akbar al-Baker said, "At Qatar Airways, safety and security lives at the heart of our working culture. It is our highest priority and is expressed in all our corporate values." Since becoming the first airline to complete the IOSA Safety Audit with 100% compliance in 2003, Qatar Airways has remained at the forefront of safety and security achievement, resulting in the many awards for safety and service quality it receives annually. Further demonstrating their sustained commitment to safety and security improvement, just two weeks ago, Qatar Airways and Hamad International Airport held their annual, full scale emergency exercise, coordinating with the country's Defence Forces, Coast Guard, Civil Defence and Hamad Medical Corporation. This nationally significant event simulated the crash of a Qatar Airways jet into water off the coast of Qatar and was used to test the readiness of all parties involved to respond to such a disaster. Further, its investment in technology and innovation has led to the development of a unique model for running the airline's Integrated Operations Centre. Qatar Airways is one of only a few airlines to have brought all its key operational departments together in their operations centre, to have live consultation and value-adding discussion when a potential incident is unfolding. This allows for early detection, faster and better quality decisions, greater operational effectiveness, cost saving and improved safety and security outcomes. Qatar Airways' commitment to cabin safety is demonstrated by its innovative approach to cabin crew training. Unique among airlines, it conducts twice annual training, recognising that cabin crew play a vital role in delivering safety excellence on the ground and in the air and are worthy of investment. This is consistent with the focus of the conference, which was on information sharing, collaboration and increasing best practice. http://www.gulf-times.com/story/549723/Qatar-Airways-IATA-showcase-cabin-safety-best-prac Back to Top The Airbus A380 superjumbo is the next big thing in private jets The Airbus A380. Airbus The Airbus A380 has officially found a new lease on life as an ultraluxurious private jet. On Monday, Sparfell & Partners announced at the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition that it would sell secondhand Airbus superjumbos as head-of-state aircraft. The Geneva-based firm also announced that it would work with London's Winch Design to create the A380 private jet's opulent interior. While Sparfell confirmed that the A380s were used, it declined to disclose their source. According to Flight Global, Sparfell's superjumbos are believed to be the four early-build A380s coming off lease from Singapore Airlines. Sparfell's ad on Avbuyer.com indicates the planes were built in 2007-08 with Rolls-Royce engines and a seating configuration in line with that of Singapore Airlines. Airbus A380 Visual A rendering of the Airbus A380's interior. Winch Designs Sparfell also declined to say how much it cost to convert the aircraft, but a company representative told Business Insider that the converted A380s would cost less than a comparable new ultra-VIP transport. The announcement represents the beginning of a new phase for the iconic but slow-selling aircraft. With the earliest-production A380s expected to enter the secondhand market over the next few years, the market for ultraluxe executive jets may be a viable channel for these planes. Until now, most industry observers looked toward high-density, low-cost, long-haul carriers or bargain- hunting mainline carriers as potential secondhand customers. Airbus A380 interior Winch Design The A380 as a VIP transport is not a new idea. Unfortunately for Airbus, few have been willing to take on the world's largest airliner as a private jet. In 2007, Saudi Arabia's Prince Alwaleed bin Talal ordered such an aircraft. However, the proposed aircraft never came to fruition, and the order eventually was struck from the Airbus order book. http://www.businessinsider.com/airbus-a380-superjumbo-private-jet-ebace-2017-5 Back to Top I was fired for not signing off on jet leaking fuel, Teterboro mechanic says TETERBORO - An airplane mechanic who worked for a charter jet service at Teterboro Airport claims he was fired for refusing to sign off on a plane with a fuel leak, according to a lawsuit. Dennis Portalatin of Fairfield alleges he was hired in Oct. 2015 by Pro Pilots LLC and was earning about $90,000 a year as an airplane mechanic at Teterboro Airport. Pro Pilots provides charter jet services throughout the United States and maintains a business office on Industrial Avenue in Teterboro, according to the suit. Shortly after he was hired, Portalatin noticed "accurate records of mechanical failures were not being properly recorded in the maintenance log books by the pilots, or otherwise," according to the suit filed in Bergen County Superior Court. The suit states the inaccuracies were violations of Federal Aviation Administration regulations. Services for Ailes were held over the weekend in Palm Beach, Fla., according to a report. For several months, Portalatin complained about the alleged violations to his superiors at Teterboro, the suit states. "In response to each complaint, plaintiff was told that if he could not fix each mechanical failure that he found, he should not worry about it because a trip was planned for the aircraft in question and it had to fly," the suit states. "Plaintiff was repeatedly assured that each mechanical irregularity would be fixed at the next stop," the suit states. On Jan. 25, Portalatin claims he was servicing a nine-seat Dassault Falcon 20 when he found eight issues, most of which he was able to correct. However, when Portalatin came across fuel leaking from a wing and fuselage, he told a supervisor he could not fix the leak for a few days because his employers did not own hangar space at the airport, the suit states. A LearJet crashed in an industrial area of Carlstadt just short of the runway at Teterboro Airport on Monday afternoon, killing two crew members. "Let it go. We will get it fixed somewhere else," said Director of Maintenance Jim Martin, according to the suit. "We have seven passengers we have to take. What does the pilot think?" "The pilot is not the decision maker," Portalatin claims he responded. "I am the mechanic. I'm not signing off for a fuel leak." On Jan. 31, Portalatin claims he received a letter terminating his employment "with immediate effect." Portalatin said he later learned the plane in question flew on Feb. 1, although the suit does not say if the leak was fixed. Portalatin claims he was fired in retaliation for disclosing a "violation of a law, rule or regulation" and for refusing to participate in an activity that would have violated regulations, the suit states. The suit claims Pro Pilots violated the New Jersey Conscientious Employee Protection Act. Portalatin is seeking back and front pay, lost benefits, emotional distress damages, attorney fees and court costs. Pro Pilots representatives were not immediately available for comment on Monday. A lawyer for the company told the New York Post that Pro Pilots follows FAA regulations and addresses safety issues. The lawyer declined to comment on Portalatin's allegations. http://www.nj.com/bergen/index.ssf/ Back to Top Billionaire's Dream of Supersonic Luxury Jet Gets Assist From GE Faster-than-sound civilian plane could be first since Concorde Engine design seen as major hurdle for Bass-backed project Robert Bass stands with a model of a planned supersonic business jet in Orlando, Florida, on Oct. 21, 2014. Photographer: Phelan M. Ebenhack/Bloomberg Aerion Corp. is in talks with GE to power what could be the first nonmilitary plane to fly faster than the speed of sound since Concorde flights were halted in 2003, according to a statement Monday by the Bass-backed aircraft start-up. The discussions represent a step toward resolving a major obstacle to Aerion's plan for a jet that could shave three hours off trans-Atlantic trips -- and shorten flights across the Pacific by six. Aerion, which already has a committed buyer for its AS2 plane, has been working with the engine manufacturers to meet noise restrictions and fly economically at speeds both slower and faster than the sound barrier. "The two companies will continue to participate in a formal and gated process to define a potential collaboration for an AS2 engine," GE and Aerion said in a statement Monday. GE makes jet engines for large commercial aircraft producers, including Boeing Co. and Airbus SE planes. Aerion's effort to build a supersonic business jet gained momentum in 2014 when Airbus agreed to help design and produce the plane. The following year Flexjet, a fractional-jet ownership company, placed an order for 20 AS2 aircraft. GE said a final agreement hasn't been reached. "We welcome their vision and are excited to continue discussions on engine configuration," said Brad Mottier, GE's vice president for business aviation. Speed of Sound Aerion envisions a plane that will fly at a top speed of Mach 1.5, or 1.5 times the speed of sound, over water while staying just under the sound barrier when over land to avoid sonic booms. Backlash against the booms and engine noise eventually killed flights by the Concorde, which first went into service in 1976. Aerion's challenge is to sell enough of the AS2 aircraft to offset the investment required to develop costly components, with the engine being the most expensive. The list price of the plane is $120 million. Aerion began working on the plane in 2003 only to see its plans interrupted by the 2008-2009 recession, which caused demand for corporate jets to plummet. Last year, business-jet shipments were 657, more than 40 percent lower than the peak of 1,136 in 2008, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co. https://ui.constantcontact.com/rnavmap/emcf/email/create?copyUid=1128003420453 Back to Top European show opens with Longitude jet order for Cessna The Cessna Citation Longitude jet received a lift at its European debut with its first customer order from the region. Textron Aviation said on Monday, the opening day of the European Business Aviation Convention in Geneva, that it took an order for the new super-midsize jet from Czech Republic-based airline Travel Service. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The jet lists for $23.9 million. The Longitude making its inaugural EBACE appearance at Geneva International Airport is the same fourth, flight-test Longitude that first flew on May 6. That aircraft, known internally as P-3, is outfitted with a fully configured interior, and testing involves its fit and finish as well as the environmental control system, pressurization and cabin technology. It made a nearly 5,000-nautical-mile flight from Wichita to Geneva, Textron Aviation officials said. They are hopeful for a strong, showing of the Longitude at EBACE and Cessna's five other Citation jets, including the Latitude, as well as a Grand Caravan EX and a Beechcraft King Air 250. "It's a big opportunity for our company and a big show for us," Rob Scholl, Textron Aviation senior vice president of sales, said in an earlier interview. Federal Aviation Administration type certification of the Longitude is expected later this year, with customer deliveries to commence shortly thereafter. Brad Thress, Textron Aviation senior vice president of engineering, said the four Longitudes in flight testing have made more than 200 flights so far, and a fifth Longitude is expected to join the test fleet this summer. The company also announced on Monday an order from Waves Technologies Ltd. for a Grand Caravan EX turboprop. Waves will use the airplane for its new, on-demand, air taxi service in the United Kingdom's Channel Islands. Textron Aviation has more than 1,700 jets and turboprops operating in Europe. Also at EBACE on Monday, Bombardier announced a new cabin for its largest business jets, the Global 5000 and 6000. Named the Premier Cabin, its features include hand-stitched seats with improved ergonomics, a streamlined galley, and hardwood or stone floor coverings as well as in-flight Wi-Fi connectivity and the Venue advanced cabin management system. EBACE runs through Wednesday. http://www.kansas.com/news/business/aviation/article151901877.html Back to Top New Consulting Group Brings a People-First Approach to Transportation Crisis Management Seattle, Washington, USA - May 22, 2017 - Transportation disaster family assistance and emergency management veterans Ken Jenkins, Jennifer Stansberry Miller and Sue Warner-Bean have teamed up to form the NavAid Crisis Consulting Group. Serving airports, airlines, passenger rail and other industries, NavAid designs customized crisis response strategies that are grounded in operational realities and emphasize the human element of response. Jenkins, Stansberry Miller and Warner-Bean have extensive multi-dimensional experience in emergency management with past roles as planners, leaders, responders, researchers, trainers and advocates. The three have collaborated on multiple projects over two decades and recently co-authored a national guidebook for airport family assistance published through the U.S. Transportation Research Board's Airport Cooperative Research Program. "The NavAid group was formed out of our shared conviction that people are at the heart of every response," said Stansberry Miller, a clinical social worker and aviation disaster family member. "We believe an effective crisis response plan must address customer needs, employee concerns, and public perception." Jenkins, who has responded to more than a dozen fatal accidents in his thirty-year career, adds "In a climate of escalating public expectations, plans and checklists aren't enough. Effective programs focus on the people they are designed to serve. We use our knowledge and experience to strengthen plans, prepare people, and cultivate resilience." "Our approach is both practical and people-focused," notes Warner-Bean, an experienced airline emergency manager and international consultant. "We equip our clients to navigate crises with clear priorities, well-integrated procedures, contextualized training, and practice." NavAid's services include program assessment, plan development, training and exercises. For more information visit www.navaidccg.com . For Further Information Contact: Jennifer Stansberry Miller Email Address: info@navaidccg.com Direct Phone Number: 317-371-7208 www.navaidccg.com 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 Research Survey - 1 Dear Participants, You are being requested to participate in a research study of your opinions on the implementation of controlled rest in position to combat fatigue. This study is expected to take approximately 8 minutes of your time. In order to participate, you must be at least 18 years old and currently employed as a professional 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, your data will be destroyed. 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/1FAIpQLSdJLP5j2hu6WNBxMnrsWEFvJwc2Aqp1EHZXduM1dPwS5IezXQ/viewform?usp=sf_link For more information, please contact: Dr. Scott R. Winter scott.winter@mac.com We appreciate your interest and participation! Back to Top Research Survey - 2 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 - 3 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