June 5, 2017 - No. 045 In This Issue SpaceX chalks up successful launch, landing after two-day delay Qatar Airways to Offer Inmarsat GX Aviation on Fleet Bombardier Marks Major Milestone with Delivery of 3,000th Learjet Aircraft Manufactured The Honeywell Tech That Could Make Flying Cheaper, Faster, Less Bumpy, And More Netflix-y Fiji Airways Implements EAM RFID Across Entire Fleet: Leading Oceania Aviation Tech Trend Airbus delivers new A350-900 aircraft with sustainable jet fuel configuration to Cathay Pacific Airbus Steps Up China Charm Offensive Teamster Airline Mechanics To NetJets Management: No Mulligans When It Comes To Aircraft Maintenance SpaceX chalks up successful launch, landing after two-day delay Running two days late because of stormy weather, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket shot away from the Kennedy Space Center Saturday, boosting a previously flown Dragon cargo ship into orbit for its second fight -- a first for the California rocket builder -- to deliver supplies and equipment to the International Space Station. Despite initial concern about afternoon clouds, conditions were within limits as Earth's rotation carried pad 39A into the plane of the space station's orbit and the Falcon 9's first-stage engines roared to life on time at 5:07 p.m. ET. Climbing away to the northeast, directly into the station's orbital plane, the Falcon 9 quickly accelerated as it consumed its load of first-stage propellants and lost weight, putting on a dramatic weekend show for area residents and tourists. Two minutes and 25 seconds after liftoff, after boosting the rocket out of the thick lower atmosphere, the first stage engine shut down. Seconds later, the stage fell away and the single engine powering the Falcon 9's upper stage ignited for a six-minute-48-second burn to orbit. Because the payload was bound for a relatively low altitude, the first stage had enough oxygen and kerosene propellant left over to fly back to a landing pad at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. After flipping around, the stage fired three of its nine engines to reverse course, then again to slow down for atmospheric entry. Spectacular video from an on-board camera showed the rocket's dramatic descent, four "grid fins" at the upper end of the rocket maintaining the proper trajectory and tail-first orientation. Finally, a single engine reignited, four landing legs deployed and the stage settled to a pinpoint touchdown on the circular Landing Zone 1 pad at the Air Force station. SpaceX's record for first stage recoveries now stands at 11 successes in 16 attempts, with six stages landing on off-shore droneships and five at the Air Force station. Recovering, refurbishing and re-launching booster stages is a key element in SpaceX founder Elon Musk's ongoing drive to dramatically lower launch costs. In keeping with that theme, the pressurized capsule section of the Dragon cargo ship is making its second flight to the station, the first time an orbital spacecraft has returned to space since the shuttle program ended in 2011. The cargo ship previously flew to the station in September 2014 in SpaceX's fourth resupply mission. Of all the spacecraft that deliver cargo to the station -- the Russian Progress, Orbital ATK's Cygnus, Japan's HTV and SpaceX's Dragon -- only the Dragon is designed to return to Earth, bringing cargo and science samples back to engineers and researchers and preserving flight hardware for reuse as needed. "Supporting the Dragon reflight is a really, really important step," said Kirk Shireman, space station program manager at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. "SpaceX did a very thorough job in terms of certification of the Dragon and refurbing it and NASA did a very thorough job of understanding that certification and making sure it was safe to fly. "The risk was not substantially more than a brand new Dragon capsule," he added. "So we're very happy with this capsule flying again. ... We expect to increase the amount of reflight as (NASA's contracts with SpaceX) proceed." The Falcon first stage landed about two minutes before the second stage completed the Dragon's boost to orbit. The cargo ship then was released to fly on its own and moments later, its two solar panels unfolded and locked into place. If all goes well, the Dragon will catch up with the space station early Monday, pulling up to within about 30 feet of the lab complex around 10 a.m. and then standing by while astronaut Jack Fischer, operating the lab's robot arm, locks onto a grapple fixture. From there, flight controllers at the Johnson Space Center in Houston will take over, operating the arm by remote control to pull the capsule in for berthing at the Earth-facing port of the station's forward Harmony module. The Dragon's pressurized compartment, the section accessible to the station's crew, is packed with some 3,700 pounds of equipment and supplies, much of it devoted to medical and biological research. Three payloads are mounted in the Dragon's unpressurized trunk section: an experimental roll-out solar array, a commercial platform that can support up to four Earth-observation instruments at a time and a suite of telescopes to study neutron stars. All three will be deployed by the station's robot arm. Along with trying to learn more about the basic physics of neutron stars -- the collapsed city-size remnants of once-massive stars -- the Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer, or NICER, instrument will attempt to demonstrate how fast-spinning neutron stars, or pulsars, might be used as ultra-precise navigation beacons for future deep space missions. "The fact that we have these pulsars apparently flashing away in the sky (hundreds of times per second) makes them interesting as tools," said Zaven Arzoumanian, lead researcher with the NICER project. "You can imagine having a system of clocks, very accurate clocks, distributed all over the sky. ... So in the same way that we use atomic clocks on GPS satellites to navigate our cars on the surface of the Earth, we can use these clock signals from the sky, from pulsars, to navigate spacecraft anywhere in the solar system." To make way for the Dragon's berthing Monday, flight controllers plan to use the station's robot arm Sunday to detach an Orbital ATK Cygnus cargo ship currently berthed at the Unity module's Earth-facing port. The Cygnus arrived at the station on April 22, bringing 7,600 pounds of supplies and equipment. The spacecraft is now loaded with trash and no-longer-needed material. The station arm cannot reach the Cygnus after the Dragon is in place at Harmony's lower port so the Orbital ATK supply ship is being unberthed Sunday. Unlike the Dragon, the Cygnus is not designed to survive re-entry and it will burn up when it falls back into the atmosphere. Saturday's launching was SpaceX's seventh Falcon 9 flight this year -- it's sixth in a row off pad 39A -- and its 35th since the rocket's debut in 2010. The company has suffered two failures to date, an in-flight breakup in June 2015 that destroyed an earlier Dragon cargo ship and an on-pad explosion last September that destroyed a communications satellite. SpaceX plans two more space station resupply missions this year, the 12th and 13th under contract to NASA. In the near term, the company plans to launch a pair of communications satellites later this month from Kennedy and a set of Iridium telephone satellites from California. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/spacex-chalks-up-successful-launch-landing/ Back to Top Qatar Airways to Offer Inmarsat GX Aviation on Fleet Inmarsat announced that Qatar Airways has become the first Middle East megacarrier to select its new GX Aviation in-flight broadband solution. Per the agreement, the service will initially be available to Qatar Airways passengers on board more than 130 aircraft consisting of Airbus A350s and Boeing 777s. Qatar Airways has already equipped its latest Airbus A350s with GX Aviation technology; installations on the airline's remaining Airbus A350s, together with the Boeing 777s, will commence on a retrofit basis from this summer. GX Aviation allows airline passengers to browse the internet, stream videos, check social media and more during flights, with an on-board connectivity experience on par with broadband services available on the ground, according to Inmarsat. The service will integrate with Qatar Airways' in-flight entertainment system and complement the airline's latest passenger experience innovations, including its new Qsuite premium travel experience. Qatar Airways will connect to the GX network using JetWave terminals produced by Inmarsat partner Honeywell Aerospace. http://www.satellitetoday.com/telecom/2017/06/02/qatar-airways-offer-inmarsat-gx-aviation-fleet/ Back to Top Bombardier Marks Major Milestone with Delivery of 3,000th Learjet Aircraft Manufactured Wichita, June 02, 2017 - Today Bombardier Business Aircraft and Leggett & Platt, Incorporated of Carthage, Missouri celebrated a historic milestone in business aviation - the delivery of the 3,000th Bombardier Learjet business jet manufactured. The aircraft is also the 100th Learjet 75 jet to be delivered, and the second to join Leggett & Platt's fleet. Learjet aircraft are renowned worldwide for their sleek ramp appeal and are favored by pilots for their handling characteristics and highperformance. Learjet aircraft are certified to Part 25 airworthiness standards, the industry's highest safety standards, applicable to transport category aircraft and commercial airliners. Tonya Sudduth, General Manager, Learjet Programs and Wichita Site, Bombardier Business Aircraft, presented the milestone jet to Jeffrey Presslor, Director of Aviation; C.R. Mullere, Director of Maintenance; and Rick Schneider, Pilot, Leggett & Platt, at an event attended by distinguished guests, employees and media held at the Bombardier Learjet facility in Wichita, Kansas where the aircraft was assembled. "The 3,000th Learjet aircraft represents a very special moment in the iconic legacy of Learjet, and is a testament to the success of the product," said Sudduth. "We are thrilled that our friends at Leggett & Platt are celebrating this important moment with us," she added. "Today is an exciting day in Bombardier Learjet history," said David Coleal, President, Bombardier Business Aircraft. "We are pleased that Leggett & Platt have chosen to welcome this milestone aircraft to their fleet to support the needs of their diversified business. The Learjet 75 business jet is valued worldwide for its innovative technology, smooth ride, superior cabin experience and legendary performance, and continues to set the benchmark in private aviation." "Leggett & Platt pioneered sleep technology, introducing its first bedspring more than 125 years ago. Today, as a diversified manufacturer of an array of products, we are proud to operate and serve a broad suite of customers worldwide. The Learjet 75 aircraft offers an indispensable productivity tool to help us keep pace with the complexity and cadence of our operations," said Jeffrey Presslor, Director of Aviation, Leggett & Platt. "We are delighted to be part of this important moment in Learjet history, and congratulate Bombardier on this historic milestone." Founded in 1883, Leggett & Platt is a diversified manufacturer (and member of the S&P 500) that conceives, designs, and produces a broad variety of engineered components and products that can be found in most homes, automobiles, and offices. The company spans 17 business units, 21,000 employee-partners and 130 facilities located in 19 countries. Leggett & Platt is the leading U.S. producer of bedding components, automotive seat support and lumbar systems, components for home furniture and work furniture, adjustable beds, carpet cushion, high-carbon drawn steel wire, and bedding industry machinery. Learjet aircraft are assembled at Bombardier Business Aircraft's multifaceted facility in Wichita, Kansas. The visionary Learjet lineage began over 50 years ago with the introduction of the first- ever business jet, the Learjet 23 aircraft. Bombardier acquired Learjet in 1990, introducing the Learjet 45 aircraft in 1997, the first new clean sheet design since the Learjet 23 business jet. Today, the Learjet 70 and Learjet 75 business jets, derived from the Learjet 40 XR and Learjet 45 XR aircraft, continue to set the standard in the light category. The Wichita site is also the location of one of nine Bombardier Service Centers worldwide, and is equipped to perform scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, interior mods, avionics installations and provide AOG support for Bombardier's complete family of business aircraft, including Learjet, Challenger and Global jets. The facility is also home to Bombardier's world-class Flight Test Centre, which is active with the Global 7000 and Global 8000 aircraft program, having recently welcomed the third Global 7000 Flight Test Vehicle. Learjet 75 aircraft: As part of the well-established Learjet family, the Learjet 75 aircraft continues to set the standard by bringing large jet features to a light jet platform. As the only business jet in its class to feature an eight-seat double-club configuration, a flat floor throughout the cabin, and a pocket door for reduced noise levels, the class-defining Learjet 75 aircraft offers a smooth ride and the ultimate in comfort and privacy. The Learjet 75's modern interior was designed for style and comfort and features a new cabin management system with individual touchscreen monitors and full audio and video control, LED lighting throughout the aircraft, and a generous baggage suite. Designed with the pilot's comfort in mind, the Bombardier Vision flight deck features a synthetic vision system, enhanced ergonomics, and advanced touch screen controls for a more productive mission. The Learjet 75 aircraft's powerful engines and new winglet design enable it to reach a top speed of Mach 0.81 and climb to an impressive operating ceiling of 51,000 feet (15,545m).* The Learjet 75 has an exceptional range capability greater than 2,000 NM (3,704 km). and can fly four passengers and two crew members non-stop from London to Moscow. http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12340295/bombardier-marks-major-milestone-with- delivery-of-3000th-learjet-aircraft-manufactured Back to Top The Honeywell Tech That Could Make Flying Cheaper, Faster, Less Bumpy, And More Netflix-y As airline passengers, what do we want? Safer and smoother on-time flights, along with some Netflix-and all for less money. When do we want it? Now. Well, all of that just might be possible due to a new system being developed by Honeywell, the technology, aviation, and military giant. As you read this, airlines around the world are beginning to slowly upgrade their onboard connectivity systems to Honeywell's latest version-and it's those systems that are already beginning to impact the aviation industry, offering a reduction in operational downtime of up to 35%, fuel costs as much as 5% lower, and uninterrupted internet capable of industry-leading speeds. Not to mention the potential for a whole lot less turbulence. This week, Honeywell began a nationwide tour of its flagship Connected Aircraft, an airborne test- bed of dozens of onboard systems meant to help develop and eventually deliver the latest technology to airlines around the world as well as countless corporate and private plane owners. The first stop on the tour was San Francisco, where a few other reporters and I got the chance to soar into the sky aboard the flying test-bed to see firsthand what's coming down the aviation pipeline. The plane, a Boeing 757, doesn't at first strike you as one on which the future of flying is being tested. That's unsurprising, given that it's 35 years old, and has a whole lot of wires and insulation on display to anyone wandering its aisles. Yet for Honeywell, which also operates a fleet of other experimental aircraft, this 757 is very much the place to try out everything from apps that deliver real-time weather information to actually flying into the heart of severe thunderstorms in order to find out how airplanes respond. It all starts, though, with satellite-based Global XPress Ka-band connectivity provided by Honeywell partner Inmarsat. Currently operating from three satellites, the system will shortly be upgraded to a fourth, and there are two more on order. The upshot is a dedicated network capable of delivering high-speed internet anywhere in the world without any drop-offs as a plane flies between satellite coverage areas. That, according to Honeywell, sets its JetWave system apart from competing onboard networks like Gogo, which can sometimes drop a connection when transiting satellites. Honeywell promises at-home-quality internet capable of streaming Netflix, YouTube, or any other video service to more than 20 concurrent users. During my flight, a Honeywell representative showed that he was getting download speeds of around 35 Mbps. In my own test, I topped out around 12 Mbps, and though I was able to stream high-quality Netflix videos, the system did have a slight delay. At-home quality? Perhaps not, but still capable of streaming movies, so who's counting? WEATHER APPS AND MORE But being able to watch movies or live TV over the internet when plying the world's skies isn't where Honeywell's aviation connectivity story ends. That connectivity powers a series of branded apps aimed at pilots and other airline personnel that could help airlines fly passengers from point A to point B faster, safer, more comfortably, and cheaper. The first is known as GoDirect Weather. To begin with, it provides real-time radar-based weather information, the location of thunderstorms and clear turbulence, and even reports from other pilots about conditions. The tool, for example, can show in real time how much turbulence exists at any altitude, allowing a pilot to fly higher or lower to avoid it. In the past, noted Honeywell program manager Nate Turner, the only way to get that information was from pre-flight forecasts or from in- flight communications with pilots of other planes further along on the same routes. Flying over California's Central Valley, Honeywell pilot Joe Duval told me that the app can give him the information he needs to maneuver around rough weather before his plane ever encounters it. And that can be especially helpful when flying over oceans, Duval said, where there are no ground- based radar systems. Now, pilots can find out as it's happening what weather awaits them, and have the time to make a decision about how to avoid it. The app also ends pilots' heavy reliance on weather charts printed out prior to departure that can't be updated once in the air. "On a 12-hour flight," Duval said, "that data you had when you took off is old news." Another app is one aimed at flight efficiency, which merges live weather forecasts with pilots' flight plans, allowing them to see at a glance every kind of weather that's in their intended path. With that app at their disposal, Turner explained, pilots can adjust en route, choosing a more optimized path and steering clear of the kind of weather that rattles passengers' nerves and slows planes down. That's where the fuel savings of between 3% and 5% come from, Turner explained. And while it might not sound like much, it can easily add up to millions of dollars a year for large airlines-not that they'll necessarily pass those savings on to you and me via lower fares. A third app is known as GoDirect Flight Preview, and it's meant for pilots who are flying into airports with which they have little familiarity. It offers visualizations of approaches into any airport in the world, allowing them to see where important waypoints will be located, as well as any special ways that airports or municipalities want pilots to land. This, too, can reduce inefficiencies in flying by helping pilots understand just how to approach destinations with difficult terrain like Aspen, Colorado, or those with very specific obstacles, like the bridges that planes landing in San Francisco must pass over. Yet another tool is GoDirect Flight Bag Pro, which combines flight planning with fuel planning and which can show real-time overlays of weather along a planned route. That app allows pilots the ability to do new performance calculations based on real-time weather updates and other factors, all meant to help optimize fuel usage. The tool also gives airlines access to flight support services that can help determine route efficiency. One final app is meant to help airlines with predictive maintenance by determining things like brake wear, well in advance of replacement. The idea, of course, is to reduce delays due to mechanical problems that are discovered only during pre-flight inspections. Honeywell says its JetWave connectivity service is currently being rolled out and will make its way into airlines' global fleets over the next year to 18 months-it takes three days to retrofit a plane with the new service. Actual implementation of JetWave is up to individual airlines, which will each make their own choices about how much throughput to offer, what to charge, and whether or not to allow passengers to upload anything more than text messages. Of course, Honeywell claims that passengers should look forward to fewer delays and better onboard service. That remains to be seen. But for a flying public weary of never-ending horror stories related to mechanical issues, weather delays, and poor internet connectivity at high prices, Honeywell's offerings promise a glimmer of hope as we make our way through the conga line of planes in the skies. https://www.fastcompany.com/40426082/the-honeywell-tech-that-could-make-flying-cheaper- faster-less-bumpy-and-more-netflix-y Back to Top Fiji Airways Implements EAM RFID Across Entire Fleet: Leading Oceania Aviation Tech Trend DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, June 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Fiji Airways, Fiji's National Airline, has completed installation of over 4,000 ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) radio frequency identification (RFID) tags throughout its entire fleet of 15 aircraft. One of the first of the Oceanian airlines to utilise RFID, Fiji Airways has taken a keen interest in being an early adopter of customer-centric tech since rebranding in 2013. Fiji Airways is integrating RFID to improve in-cabin inspections for onboard emergency equipment such as life vests, life rafts, oxygen bottles, fire extinguishers, extension seat belts, earmuffs, flashlights, survival kits as well as oxygen generators across the A330, B737, ATR, and Twin Otter fleet. Mr. Andre Viljoen, Fiji Airways' Managing Director and CEO stated, "As an airline, we seek to innovate and to pass that on to our customers. By utilising EAM's RFID technology, we can inspect hundreds of items on each plane within minutes, enhancing internal efficiencies and decreasing ground time. These enhancements allow us to continue our relentless focus on safety and operational excellence. EAM RFID Solutions is a natural fit for our needs in this regard." The Dubai office of EAM RFID Solutions, a division of EAM Worldwide, is leading the Fiji Airways implementation. "Fiji Airways has been an existing client of EAM Worldwide's safety and survival equipment for years, so we are able to work closely to create a tailor-made solution based on their requirements and procedures," stated Marco Andreacchio, Senior Project Manager at EAM RFID Solutions. Fiji Airways has been using EAM Worldwide life vests for over 10 years. EAM Worldwide is one of the first to embed RFID tags, leading the market with in-vest implementation since 2009. To continue with the RFID program, Fiji Airways and EAM RFID Solutions intend to deploy a wider Cyber Physical System (CPS) by tagging other items (including seat covers) and seeking to advance opportunities with additional system integration with Engineering maintenance system AMOS. About Fiji Airways Founded in 1951, Fiji Airways Group comprises of Fiji Airways, Fiji's National Airline and its subsidiaries: Fiji Link, its domestic and regional carrier, Pacific Call Comm Ltd, and a 38.75% stake in the Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa on Denarau Island, Nadi. From its hubs at Nadi and Suva International Airports, Fiji Airways and Fiji Link serve 69 destinations in 15 countries (including code-share). Destinations include Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada, the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, India, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands. The Fiji Airways Group brings in 64 percent of all visitors who fly to Fiji, employs over 1300 employees, and earns revenues of over FJD$815 million (USD $390m). Fiji Airways rebranded from Air Pacific in June 2013. Visit www.fijiairways.com for more information. About EAM RFID Solutions EAM RFID Solutions is one of the world's leading RFID solution providers for airlines, aircraft operators, and MRO facilities. EAM RFID Solutions (a division of EAM Worldwide) offers an affordable end-to-end suite of software and business solutions specifically designed for tracking aircraft parts across the aviation supply chain. With a feature-rich web platform, EAM RFID Solutions' application boasts a flexible, dynamic, and user-friendly experience. EAM RFID Solutions has a customized approach to each client, which is underpinned by all-inclusive support, training, and a continuous improvement ethos. http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12340392/fiji-airways-implements-eam-rfid-across- entire-fleet-leading-oceania-aviation-tech-trend Back to Top Airbus delivers new A350-900 aircraft with sustainable jet fuel configuration to Cathay Pacific Airbus has delivered a new A350-900 aircraft to Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific to enable sustainable jet fuel-powered passenger flights. During the delivery flight, the aircraft used a 10% blend of sustainable jet fuel to fly from Toulouse, France, to Hong Kong. Since last May, Airbus has delivered 15 aircraft with sustainable jet fuel configuration to Cathay Pacific. In 2015, Cathay Pacific formulated the biofuel delivery flight concept, which also involves French oil and gas company Total. The initiative also helps Airbus to realise its commitment to the environment and support toward international aviation's emission reduction goals. Airbus New Energies head Frederic Eychenne said: "This is a major step for Airbus and a first for the regular delivery of new production aircraft. "It enables us to demonstrate that aviation biofuels are today a reality. We now target to expand this initiative to all our delivery sites, close to our customers. "Right from the first day of operation, an airline can clearly demonstrate its aim of reducing carbon dioxide emissions, thus helping to meet the commitments of the international civil aviation community." Airbus is planning to carry out the first delivery of biofuel-powered aircraft from Germany and the US next year. The company further noted that its A350 XWB aircraft family features a new design and technologies to consume less fuel and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions than its predecessors. In a separate development, Airbus said that it had signed a memorandum of understanding (M oU) with China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) to further collaborate in the fields of aviation and aerospace. http://www.aerospace-technology.com/news/newsairbus-delivers-new-a350-900-aircraft-with- sustainable-jet-fuel-configuration-to-cathay-pacific-5832945 Back to Top Airbus Steps Up China Charm Offensive Airbus and China intend to strengthen their technical and engineering ties following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on aviation and aerospace. Under the proposed deal, Airbus will help develop engineering skills and high-tech innovation in China, and further integrate Chinese suppliers into its supply chain. That chain already includes a completion facility in Tianjin set to deliver its first A330 in September, and the A320 Family Aircraft Final Assembly Line Asia, which will start work on its first A320neo later this year. Global supply chains have caused problems for airframers in the past, notably on the delayed 787 programme. Yet Airbus would argue that, unlike Boeing, cross-border integration is in its DNA, given that the company was a multi-national project from the start. Longer term, there is the question of technology transfer, and the extent to which Airbus is helping to create a rival by supporting Chinese aerospace development. Here, current thinking seems to be that China is too large a market to ignore, and that some knowledge transfer is the price of access. Boeing is also constructing a completion and delivery centre, for the 737, in China. "The success of the industrial cooperation between Airbus and China makes itself a model of high- tech and win-win partnership between China and Europe," said Fabrice Brégier at the signing of the recent MoU. Aviation Week's 2017 Commercial Aviation Fleet & MRO Forecast predicts that the Chinese fleet will grow by 40% over the next five years to 4,900 aircraft, of which 48% will be Boeing and 41% Airbus. Those aircraft are expected to generate $41 billion in MRO demand, with a heavy emphasis on component maintenance. http://www.mro-network.com/manufacturing-distribution/airbus-steps-china-charm-offensive Back to Top Teamster Airline Mechanics To NetJets Management: No Mulligans When It Comes To Aircraft Maintenance COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 2, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NetJets aircraft technicians and related employees represented by the Teamsters Airline Division and Teamsters Local 284 are conducting an informational picket at the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance on June 2. The event is held at the Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Teamsters Airline Division and Local 284 represent aircraft mechanics, maintenance controllers, aircraft fuelers, aircraft cleaners and stock clerks. The Columbus-based business jet operator is owned by Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A and BRK.B). "We're at the Memorial Tournament because NetJets customers are here, and we're telling them about a serious labor dispute over critical aircraft maintenance issues that they are directly impacted by," said Chris Moore, Chairman of the Teamsters Aviation Mechanics Coalition. "They're paying a premium price, but many customers don't know that the person turning the wrench on their plane doesn't even work for NetJets. We plan to do everything we can to keep the customers and public informed about the problems that exist between maintenance workers we represent and NetJets." NetJets Aviation, Inc. and NetJets Sales, Inc. only employ 111 aircraft mechanics to work on its fleet of approximately 400 aircraft. By comparison, major airlines often employ up to 10 mechanics per aircraft. Workers accuse NetJets of trying to drive away qualified mechanics and support workers in favor of subcontracting critical repair work on NetJets aircraft despite customer expectations and threats to workers' job security. On May 25, NetJets issued a policy banning workers from wearing union buttons publicizing labor problems in the maintenance department. The policy also states that any NetJets worker "who is owner-facing, or who may reasonably come in contact with an owner, is not to wear any items on their uniform that are inconsistent with, or in addition to, their standard company uniform." Union officials accuse the company of trying to hide escalating tensions between safety workers and management from customers. The Teamsters claim the policy violates NetJets' labor contract and federal law because it prohibits pro-union buttons. Workers filed a grievance and the union is considering filing a lawsuit against NetJets in federal district court. "It's very hard to rebuild a maintenance infrastructure that's been dismantled by subcontracting," said Mark Vandak, President of Teamsters Local 284. "When it comes to these major outsourcing decisions, it's not as easy as taking a mulligan on the golf course. NetJets management needs to do the right thing for their workforce and their customers. That means focusing their full attention and resources on rebuilding a NetJets-staffed maintenance system, and not allowing themselves to be distracted by petty issues like trying to ban lawful union buttons. There's too much at stake." Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. For more information, please visit www.teamster.org. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/teamster-airline-mechanics-to-netjets-management- no-mulligans-when-it-comes-to-aircraft-maintenance--300467880.html Curt Lewis