Flight Safety Information June 5, 2017 - No. 112 Accident: KLM B744 near Hong Kong on Jun 4th 2017, turbulence injures 8 Incident: Aurigny AT72 at Guernsey on Jun 2nd 2017, smell of smoke on board EVAS - Cockpit Smoke Protection Incident: American B738 at San Antonio on Jun 3rd 2017, rejected takeoff results in runway excursion Accident: Aero-Pioneer F27 at Garbaharey on Jun 3rd 2017, right main gear struck top of wall Incident: Cathay Dragon A320 near Hong Kong on Jun 1st 2017, unmapped flight The Latest: Dubai carrier FlyDubai cancels flights to Qatar Random alcohol and drug testing for pilots under consideration at new aviation summit (Canada) Pilots criticise DGCA decision on notice period of one year (India) Local pilots oppose new landfill because of increased risk of birdstrikes (McGregor, TX) PRE-FLIGHT SAFETY DEMONSTRATION: INTERACTIVE APP MAKES BORING PART OF AIR TRAVEL FUN US bars staff, citizens from using 'troubled' Air Zim over safety concerns - report Air China pilot flew into near disaster after take off from Chek Lap Kok (Hong Kong) Southwest employee hospitalized after lightning strikes nearby plane at San Antonio airport Fresh safety concerns hang over global airlines conference New guidelines proposed to deal with in-flight cardiac arrest emergency The Airline Standoff in Venezuela is Getting Worse as the Country's Crisis Deepens Flight Safety Foundation Welcomes Aer Lingus as Benefactor Member Best of the Best: 4 Promising New Business Jets Worse than Aeroflot! BA faces fresh humiliation as carrier is set to lose its four-star quality rating Toyota Sold All Its Tesla Stock, And Plans To Ignite 2020 Games By Flying Car SpaceX launches its first recycled cargo ship and marks fifth successful landing Position Available: Assistant/Associate Professor - Tenure Track Faculty - Aviation Technology. Safeskies 2017 Conference Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award Nominations Invited Research Survey Accident: KLM B744 near Hong Kong on Jun 4th 2017, turbulence injures 8 A KLM Boeing 747-400, registration PH-BFR performing flight KL-887 (dep Jun 3rd) from Amsterdam (Netherlands) to Hong Kong (China), was enroute at 8900 meters (FL291) about 30-40 minutes prior to landing in Hong Kong when the aircraft encountered severe turbulence for a couple of seconds causing passengers to be thrown against the cabin ceiling and then the floor. About 15 minutes later, already descending towards Hong Kong, the crew advised ATC of injuries on board and requested emergency services and medical staff to meet the aircraft upon arrival. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on Hong Kong's runway 23R about 30-40 minutes later. A total of 9 people were medically assessed at the airport, 8 of them were taken to a hospital. Passengers reported the turbulence lasted 3-4 seconds, everything not secured properly was thrown against the ceiling and then against the floor. The fasten seat belt signs were not illuminated at the time and did not come on. The airline reported 6 passengers and 2 crew received minor injuries, 3 passengers and 2 crew were already discharged from hospital after checks. Local Authorities reported a 7th passenger was medically assessed and declined treatment/being taken to a hospital after examination. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground in Hong Kong for 7 hours, then departed for the return flight with a delay of 4:20 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4a9e409d&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Aurigny AT72 at Guernsey on Jun 2nd 2017, smell of smoke on board An Aurigny Air Services Avions de Transport Regional ATR-72-212A, registration G-COBO performing flight GR-626 from Guernsey,CI to London Stansted,EN (UK), was climbing through FL120 out of Guernsey's runway 27 when the crew stopped the climb reporting a faint smell of smoke on board and decided to return to Guernsey for a safe landing on runway 27 about 25 minutes after departure. The airline reported the crew detected a faint smell of smoke which was believed to originate from the aft luggage hold. After the return the luggage was x-rayed again, which resulted in the find of a number of e-cigarettes and other electrical items. Another aircraft performed the flight. A replacement ATR-72-212A registration G-VZON reached Stansted Airport as flight GR-1626 with a delay of 2:50 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4a9da6b5&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top Incident: American B738 at San Antonio on Jun 3rd 2017, rejected takeoff results in runway excursion An American Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration N954AN performing flight AA-2214 from San Antonio,TX to Dallas Ft. Worth,TX (USA) with 38 passengers and 6 crew, was accelerating for takeoff from San Antonio's runway 13R at about 09:32L (14:32Z) when the crew rejected takeoff at low speed, the aircraft veered right off the runway and came to a stop on soft ground to the right of the runway just past taxiway K about 300 meters/1000 feet down the runway. There were no injuries, the aircraft sustained no damage. The passengers disembarked via stairs. San Antonio Airport reported flight AA-2214, a Boeing 737, rejected takeoff for unknown reason and veered off the runway. Emergency Services responded, secured the aircraft and site and assisted the passengers disembarking via stairs. The runway needed to be closed until the aircraft could be moved off the runway. The other runway available for commercial traffic, 04/22, was closed due to construction work at the time of the occurrence and was re-opened following the occurrence. Flight AA-2214, Albuquerque,NM to Dallas Ft. Worth,TX, had diverted to San Antonio due to weather the previous day. At the same time the scheduled flight AA-2412 from San Antonio to Dallas Ft. Worth, an Airbus A321-200 registration N986AN, was taxiing for departure, too. Related NOTAMs: 06/021 (A0729/17) - TWY K CLSD. 03 JUN 19:56 2017 UNTIL 04 JUN 18:00 2017. CREATED: 03 JUN 19:56 2017 06/020 (A0727/17) - RWY 04/22 SAFETY AREA NOT STD AT TWY G. 03 JUN 18:30 2017 UNTIL 05 JUN 23:00 2017. CREATED: 03 JUN 18:24 2017 06/019 - SVC TFC MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ALERT SEE ATCSCC MSG 072. 03 JUN 16:45 2017 UNTIL 06 JUN 20:43 2017. CREATED: 03 JUN 16:45 2017 06/018 (A0723/17) - RWY 13R/31L CLSD. 03 JUN 16:21 2017 UNTIL 04 JUN 16:30 2017. CREATED: 03 JUN 16:21 2017 http://avherald.com/h?article=4a9da01e&opt=0 Back to Top Accident: Aero-Pioneer F27 at Garbaharey on Jun 3rd 2017, right main gear struck top of wall prior to touch down A Aero-Pioneer Group Fokker 27-600 Friendship on behalf of WFP (World Food Programme by United Nations), registration 5Y-FMM performing a charter cargo flight from Dolow to Garbaharey (Somalia) with 4 crew and a cargo of food, was on short final about to reach the threshold of the runway, when the right hand main gear struck the top of a newly built 2 meter hight wall close to and across the approach path, the right main gear subsequently collapsed causing the aircraft to veer off the runway while landing in Garbaharey and came to a stop with right main and nose gear collapsed and the right hand wing partially fractured. A fire developed at the right hand wing and was subsequently extinguished. All 4 crew evacuated the aircraft, there were no injuries. The aircraft received substantial damage. The local governor reported the aircraft hit a wall with the right hand wing near the airport, suffered subsequently technical problems and went off the runway coming to rest near houses. The Probable Operator has not yet commented on the accident. WFP reported the aircraft carried 5 tons of special food for treatment and prevention of malnutrition of 2300 children in the context of drought relief. There were 4 crew on board, all 4 were taken to a hospital but released uninjured. The aircraft received substantial damage. The chief of WFP Air Services for Somalia told The Aviation Herald, the aircraft involved was 5Y-FMM, all 4 crew remained unharmed. The right hand main gear of the aircraft struck the top of a 2 meter high wall, that was built close to and across the approach to threshold in the past week. The right wing received extensive damage in the subsequent runway excursion. http://avherald.com/h?article=4a9d90cb&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Cathay Dragon A320 near Hong Kong on Jun 1st 2017, unmapped flight A Cathay Dragon Airbus A320-200, registration B-HSD performing flight KA-8348 from Hong Kong (China) to Komatsu (Japan), was already enroute at FL330 over Taiwan about 370nm northeast of Hong Kong when the crew decided to return to Hong Kong after discovering that no charts for Komatsu were on board. The aircraft burned off fuel and landed safely back in Hong Kong about 2:45 hours after departure. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 90 minutes while being refueled and receiving the needed maps for Komatsu, then departed again with a new crew and reached Komatsu with a delay of about 4 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4a9ced39&opt=0 Back to Top The Latest: Dubai carrier FlyDubai cancels flights to Qatar Updated 1:26 am, Monday, June 5, 2017 FILE - In April 20, 2010 file photo, an Emirates airline passenger jet taxis on the tarmac at Dubai International airport in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Emirates said it is suspending flights to Qatar amid a growing diplomatic rift. The airline said on its website Monday, June 5, 2017, that flights would be suspended until further notice starting Tuesday. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - The Latest on the Gulf Arab dispute with Qatar (all times local): 12:05 p.m. Dubai's budget carrier FlyDubai says it has canceled its flights to Qatar amid a diplomatic dispute between it and other Arab countries. The carrier said Monday that all flights starting Tuesday would be suspended. It offered no other details. FlyDubai's decision follows that of Emirates and Etihad in canceling flights to Doha. Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE all cut diplomatic ties earlier Monday to Qatar over its support of Islamist groups and its relations with Iran. _ 11:45 a.m. Yemen's internationally recognized government has cut relations with Qatar and says it supports the decision by the Saudi-led coalition to end Qatar's participation in the war on the Houthis there. Four Arab nations cut diplomatic ties to Qatar early Monday morning over its support for Islamist groups and its relations with Iran. Qatar had participated in the coalition since March 2015. The government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi says it severed ties with Qatar in part over is support of extremist groups in Yemen "in contradiction with the goals announced by the countries supporting the legitimate government." ___ 11:20 a.m. The Dubai-based airline Emirates says it is suspending flights to Qatar amid a growing diplomatic rift. Emirates said on its website Monday flights would be suspended until further notice starting Tuesday. The airline's decision comes as Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE all cut diplomatic ties Monday to Qatar over its support of Islamist groups and its relations with Iran. __ 10:55 a.m. Qatar says there is "no legitimate justification" for four Arab nations cutting diplomatic ties to it. Qatar also says the decision is a "violation of its sovereignty," vowing to its citizens it won't affect them. Qatar's Foreign Affairs Ministry made the statement Monday, hours after Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates announced it would be cutting ties to the peninsular nation. The dispute between Qatar and the Gulf's Arab countries started over a purported hack of Qatar's state-run news agency. It has spiraled since. ___ 9:35 a.m. The Abu Dhabi-based airline Etihad says it is suspending flights to Qatar amid a growing diplomatic rift. Etihad said on its website Monday its last flights "until further notice" would leave early Tuesday morning. Etihad gave no reason for the decision. It is the flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates. The airline's decision comes as Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE all cut diplomatic ties Monday to Qatar over its support of Islamist groups and its relations with Iran. Qatar has yet to comment on the growing crisis. ___ 7:10 a.m. The United Arab Emirates and Egypt have cut diplomatic ties to Qatar. The two countries have joined Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in cutting ties to Qatar amid a growing Arab diplomatic dispute with the small, gas-rich nation. Both the UAE and Egypt made the announcement on their state-run news agencies within minutes of each other. Qatari officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The dispute between Qatar and the Gulf's Arab countries started over a purported hack of Qatar's state-run news agency. It has spiraled since. ___ 7 a.m. Saudi Arabia says it is cutting diplomatic ties to Qatar and it has pulled all Qatari troops from the ongoing war in Yemen. Saudi Arabia made the announcement via its state-run Saudi Press Agency early Monday. It appeared to be timed in concert with an earlier announcement by Bahrain similarly cutting ties. Qatar had no immediate comment. The dispute between Qatar and the Gulf's Arab countries started over a purported hack of Qatar's state-run news agency. It has spiraled since. ___ 6:50 a.m. Bahrain says it is cutting diplomatic ties to Qatar amid a deepening rift between Gulf Arab nations. Bahrain's Foreign Affairs Ministry issued a statement early Monday saying it would withdraw its diplomatic mission from the Qatari capital of Doha within 48 hours and that all Qatari diplomats should leave Bahrain within the same period. The ministry's statement said Qatari citizens needed to leave Bahrain within two weeks and that air and sea traffic between the two countries would be halted. It wasn't immediately clear how that would affect Qatar Airways, one of the region's major long-haul carriers. Bahrain blamed Qatar's "media incitement, support for armed terrorist activities and funding linked to Iranian groups to carry out sabotage and spreading chaos in Bahrain" for its decision. Qatar had no immediate comment. http://www.sfgate.com/news/world/article/The-Latest-Saudi-Arabia-cuts-diplomatic-ties-to-11195454.php Back to Top Random alcohol and drug testing for pilots under consideration at new aviation summit (Canada) * Two high-profile incidents last year involved pilots caught under the influence * Calgary police charged Sunwing pilot Miroslav Gronych with being impaired while in control of an aircraft last year. Now, Transport Canada is holding an aviation safety summit that will focus on helping pilots with mental health and substance abuse problems. For the first time, Transport Canada is holding an aviation safety summit this week that will focus on helping pilots with mental health issues and substance abuse disorders. The summit is aimed at figuring out if tougher safety rules are needed and if pilots should face random alcohol and drug testing. In the first incident, Scottish authorities intercepted two Canadian-licensed Air Transat pilots on July 18, 2016, in Glasgow before a flight to Toronto and gave them breathalyzer and blood tests. They were charged with exceeding the legal blood-alcohol limit in Scotland. Pilots charged with being impaired before Glasgow to Toronto flight Six months later, on New Year's Eve, Sunwing pilot Miroslav Gronych was so drunk when he stumbled onto his airplane in Calgary that his pin was upside down and he appeared to pass out in the captain's chair. The foreign national from Slovakia, who was in Canada on a work visa, pleaded guilty to a charge of impaired while in control of an aircraft in March. 'Ashamed' Sunwing pilot pleads guilty to impaired charge Transport Minister Marc Garneau sent letters to all Canadian airlines saying he was "very concerned" about that incident. CBC News recently obtained briefing notes prepared for Garneau about the two incidents which said Transport Canada is considering changing its rules. Garneau's office said the minister wasn't available for an interview until the workshop starts on June 6. Summit invited pilots, health experts "TC is developing a policy for the minister's consideration for timely action against pilots caught working under the influence, while at the same time supporting the wellness programs that airlines have in place for those with alcohol or drug abuse issues," reads the document, dated Jan. 12, 2017. Pilots, unions and health experts from across the country and abroad are now descending on the national capital region for the two-day event to figure out what else can be done to improve safety, "including whether any regulatory changes should be considered," Transport Canada confirmed. Two Air Transat pilots were intercepted by law enforcement officers at the Glasgow airport before a flight to Toronto and were charged with being impaired. (AP Photo/Humberta Augusto) In Canada, it's against the law for pilots to fly within eight hours of having an alcoholic drink or being under the influence. Transport Canada said it takes violations of those rules seriously. It can revoke licences and issue fines of up to $5,000 for a pilot and up to $25,000 for a corporation, according to the briefing note. Currently no mandatory testing No regulator in Canada has mandated random drug and alcohol testing yet, as privacy laws have made such a step challenging. A 2013 Supreme Court of Canada decision ruled that random testing of employees is only allowed if there's reason to believe a worker is impaired on duty or if he or she was directly involved in a workplace accident. Workplace random alcohol tests rejected by top court In May, the Toronto Transit Commission started testing up to eight workers a day, including bus and subway drivers - a decision that was later upheld by a judge, despite attempts by their union to block the policy. So far, three employees have tested positive, none of whom were operators. As of May, TTC workers have to undergo random drug and alcohol testing. (David Donnelly/CBC) Canadian regulator may start random testing for first time The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) could also soon pave the way for regulators to mandate random drug and alcohol testing. The commission is proposing that a very small number of workers with high-risk jobs at nuclear plants be tested. 'We want to be proactive.' - André Bouchard, director with CNSC André Bouchard, a director with CNSC, is attending Tuesday's workshop and said he would be passing along what he'd learned during eight years of consultations with stakeholders, unions and the Canadian Human Rights Commission. Andre Bouchard André Bouchard, director of the human and organizational performance directorate of safety management at the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, is to speak at the aviation summit. (Ashley Burke/CBC News) The proposed regulations will be voted on in August, and Bouchard said he believes the potential policy strikes a balance between safety and workers' rights. "It's less than one per cent of the overall population that will be subjected to that measure," Bouchard said. "These are the people in the control room of the reactor. They are also the people responsible for the physical security of the premises." Some pilots think random alcohol and drug testing isn't a bad idea. Jock Williams, a retired commercial pilot and former Transport Canada flight safety official, said the majority of pilots never break the rules, so it may not be necessary. But it wouldn't hurt either, he added. "If you prevent one accident, you're ahead," Williams said. Williams said he underwent similar testing between 2003 and 2005 when he worked for the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, until they stopped doing it over complaints about employees' rights. Jock Williams Retired commercial pilot Jock Williams says he underwent random drug and alcohol testing from 2003-2005 on the job. (CBC News) He said a computer would spit out names and those pilots had to report to the nurses' station to give a blood and urine sample. "I think it probably created an atmosphere in which people did not brush with the rules because they knew they could be caught," Williams said. "Certainly the feeling was, if you were caught with a blood-alcohol reading or any other actionable drug, that you would be fired - simple as that." 'We really haven't had a huge problem' Nevertheless, random drug testing is a sensitive and controversial topic in the aviation community. There are concerns over false positive tests, medical files being not handled securely, and pilots being treated as if they can't be trusted to follow the rules, according to Greg Holbrook, director of operations for the Canadian Federal Pilots Association. Greg Holbrook with the Canadian Federal Pilots Association says it's worth reevaluating if Canada's system is stringent enough and if it could be safer. (Submitted) Holbrook said the fact the Sunwing pilot last year was intercepted before taking off in Calgary shows the current system is working. "We really haven't had a huge problem with this in Canada, because most Canadian aviators are well steeped in the understanding that impairment and operation of an aircraft just do not go together," he said. Canada already has strong rules and programs in place to get pilots help with issues before it gets to the point where they abuse alcohol and drugs, Holbrook added. That includes peer-to-peer support programs and regular medical check-ups with specialized aviation doctors every six months. But at the same time, Holbrook said he thinks it's worthwhile that the workshop is reevaluating the current system and how to improve it. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/random-drug-and-alcohol-testing-transport-canada-workshop-1.4143791 Back to Top Pilots criticise DGCA decision on notice period of one year (India) CHENNAI: Pilots across different airlines have strongly criticised the move by aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to make one-year notice period mandatory for pilots who want to resign. As irate pilots criticised DGCA's proposal in different forums, the aviation regulator has summoned a few pilots to offer explanations. DGCA issued a draft civil aviation requirement (CAR) which said commanders should serve a minimum notice period of one year while co-pilots should serve six months' notice period. It stated that the move was to prevent resignation of pilots from affecting flight schedules and would also ensure air safety. However, the move has invited the ire of pilots who have been criticising DGCA's move. The draft CAR is also open for people's comment. However, the debate turned into a war of words after a DGCA official, unhappy over the criticism, did not take some comments kindly. A senior pilot said, " The DGCA is behaving like a typical bureaucracy and is trying to issue threats to pilots.Fixing of notice period should not be the job of the regulator. That should be between the pilots and the managements." The CAR specified it would take around four months for an airline to replace a commander justifying the 1year notice period rule. An Airports Authority of India (AAI) official said the CAR seems to be an attempt by the ministry and the airlines to prevent pilots from leaving because there is a shortage of experienced commanders. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/pilots-criticise-dgca-decision-on-notice-period-of-one- year/articleshow/58993633.cms Back to Top Local pilots oppose new landfill because of increased risk of birdstrikes (McGregor, TX) Pilots against the landfill MCGREGOR, Texas (KWTX) Local airplane pilots are speaking up amidst the controversy over Waco's planned landfill on Highway 84. JetPro Texas owner Sam Starling said, "This is dangerous, this is not an problem of odor or problem of tax base property values, this is potentially a life-threatening hazard to aviation in Central Texas." Pilots say landfills attract birds, which could subsequently increase the likelihood of birdstrikes. "Birds can penetrate the windscreen of an aircraft, the frontal area, they can go through the engine causing the engine to cease to operate. All those things become serious threats to human life," Starling said. The new landfill location would be directly under the flight path for pilots flying into both the Alliance of McGregor Airport and Waco Regional Airport. "Right over the top. The landfill is a virtual hotel and buffet for buzzards," Starling said. The FAA has new guidelines that prohibit an airport from being within 5 miles of a landfill because of the risks that wildlife pose on pilots, but the McGregor airport is only 2 miles away from the new landfill location. "Those guidelines were produced as a direct result of damage to people and to property that birds have caused through airstrikes," pilot Brad Burney said. Burney frequently flies into both local airports. He said, "That's a serious concern and smaller aircraft, a buzzard will take you out of the sky and larger aircraft they can do the same. Burney said the city of Waco hasn't taken into account the affects the location will have on pilots and their passengers. "Going over residential areas, that's a dangerous situation for the people at large," he said. "1,500 feet is not a great deal of space between you and the ground if something bad happens." Starling added, "Hundreds of lives and billions of dollars in damage have been caused by birds in aviation. This is how important it is." Starling said the McGregor Airport's attorney sent a letter to the city of Waco, but they have not received a response. http://www.kwtx.com/content/news/Local-pilots-oppose-new-landfill-because-of-increased-risk-of-birdstrikes- 426399071.html Back to Top PRE-FLIGHT SAFETY DEMONSTRATION: INTERACTIVE APP MAKES BORING PART OF AIR TRAVEL FUN The free app turns air safety into an interactive game A new app promises to revolutionise the most boring part of flying, the dreaded pre take-off safety lecture. Air Safety World is a free app with cute graphics and quirky jokes which could help modernise airline safety manuals and increase passenger engagement, making us all safer as we fly. The project is the work of Italy's University of Udine's Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) Lab, who developed the programme to make safety instructions clearer and more fun so passengers would be more likely to pay attention. Professor Luca Chittario who heads the team at the HCI Lab explains why they believe it's so important. "Research on traditional airline safety briefing media like safety cards and videos has highlighted that they are scarcely effective for two main reasons: lack of passenger's attention and lack of passenger's comprehension," he says. In the app two virtual flight attendants guide you through a series of interactive training procedures, that you've probably heard of but never fully understood. For example users are asked to put a simulated passenger in the correct brace position, moving their limbs and head using the touch screen on your phone or tablet. You are graded on your answer and the app then shows you the correct position. Other parts of the training programme include putting on your oxygen mask and life jackets correctly and finding and opening the exit doors. Air Safety World teaches you the basics step by step (HCI Labs) As well as being interactive Air Safety World also gamifies the process. It allows you to play a series of games to test out your new skills, including the delightfully named Door Ninja where a player is tasked with opening a series of emergency exit doors on a timed course. In another challenge, players are asked to coordinate a cabin evacuation, complete with difficult passengers who keep trying to hold on to their hand luggage. Users collect points which they can use to build and fly a fleet of planes around the world. READ MORE Airline pilot reveals what frightens him most about flying The ability to personalise the experience for passengers is another feature of the app. Cabin crew could tailor instructions depending on passengers' scores and airlines could modify the app to provide realistic models of the planes travellers are sitting on - complete with correct branding and exact positions of exits and equipment. HCI has experience in the airline safety app arena. It launched Prepare for Impact last year, which simulates real-life air disasters from a passenger point of view. The app was designed to be played off-board as it walks users through scenarios such as an emergency landing in water, a fire on board or a collision during take-off. Players are able to control their character and are given instructions on how to best survive the incident. Chittario is positive about the technology. "One study has shown that making the briefing highly interactive improves participant's performance in the real world, he said. "Thanks to increased on-board connectivity, the time is right for next-generation airline instructions." http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/pre-flight-safety-demonstration-briefing-air-safety-world-app- travel-computer-game-a7769951.html Back to Top US bars staff, citizens from using 'troubled' Air Zim over safety concerns - report Harare - The United States embassy in Zimbabwean capital Harare has reportedly barred its citizens and staff from traveling on the southern African country's troubled national airline, Air Zimbabwe, citing safety concerns. According to NewsDay, the US embassy spokesperson David McGuire said in a statement that the prohibition order was with immediate effect. He, however, said that the ban would be lifted as soon as all issues had been addressed according to international standards. "We stand ready to work with Air Zimbabwe and Caaz [Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe] in any way as they address the issues raised. US embassy Harare will lift the restriction when all issues have been verifiably addressed according to international standards," McGuire was quoted as saying. Reports last month indicated that the European Commission had barred Air Zimbabwe from flying to Europe over safety concerns. The European Commission maintains an Air Safety List of airlines that they say don't meet international safety standards and are barred from operating in the European Union. The commission named Air Zimbabwe - regularly used by President Robert Mugabe on his overseas trips - as one of four airlines added to the list "due to unaddressed safety deficiencies that were detected by the European Safety Agency". All five of Air Zimbabwe's planes were grounded in April, according to Zimbabwe Independent. It was not clear whether all five are now back in the skies. http://www.news24.com/Africa/Zimbabwe/us-bars-staff-citizens-from-using-troubled-air-zimbabwe-report-20170605 Back to Top Air China pilot flew into near disaster after take off from Chek Lap Kok (Hong Kong) An Air China flight which took off last night from Hong Kong to Chengdu, made an abnormal turn towards Tai O last night, triggering urgent warnings from air traffic control to prevent it from flying into the hills. Flight CA428, which left Hong Kong airport at 8:45 pm Sunday, made a left turn towards Tai O in an apparent mistake. Audio recordings showed that the pilot did not answer instructions from air traffic control promptly, as controllers kept urging him to make a turn and climb. The Civic Party lawmaker Jeremy Tam, who is a pilot, told RTHK today that the Air China flight incident shows violations of safety protocols that could have ended in a disaster. Tam said he can't say at this stage what caused the plane take its initial path. He said a crash would have been unlikely even if the flight had failed to react promptly. But the incident showed that the pilot did not maintain the minimum height safety level aircrafts are supposed to maintain. "In Lantau Island the highest spot is 3,066 feet. During his early left turn, his altitude was 3,400 feet ... the safe altitude over that area is 4,300 feet," Tam said. Tam also says frontline air traffic staff performed professionally in this incident. http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news.php?id=90502 Back to Top Southwest employee hospitalized after lightning strikes nearby plane at San Antonio airport A Southwest Airlines ramp agent was hospitalized Sunday after lightning struck a nearby plane at San Antonio International Airport. The employee, whose name has not been released, was taken to an area hospital as a precaution and is in good condition, the airline told the San Antonio Express-News. The agent reportedly "felt the effects from the strike" on the nearby aircraft, and was examined by local emergency personnel. https://www.dallasnews.com/business/southwest-airlines/2017/06/04/southwest-employee-hospitalized-lightning- strikes-nearby-plane-san-antonio-airport Back to Top Fresh safety concerns hang over global airlines conference FILE PHOTO: A general view of Terminal 3 at Heathrow Airport near London, Britain October 11, 2016. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth/File Photo A deadly attack in London and debate over travel restrictions in the United States put safety concerns high on the agenda as global airline executives gathered on Sunday for the industry's largest meeting of the year. Alexandre de Juniac, director general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), said the weekend's violence in London could discourage potential visitors as similar attacks did in Europe last year. "In previous events, in Brussels or in Paris, the traffic has reduced coming from certain regions of the world," de Juniac said in an interview. "So it's possible that there is an impact, but it's a bit early to know how big this impact will be." Three attackers rammed a hired van into pedestrians on London Bridge and stabbed others nearby on Saturday night, killing at least seven people, in Britain's third major militant attack in recent months. U.S. President Donald Trump seized on the violence to argue for an executive order that would temporarily ban entry into the United States of people from six predominantly Muslim countries. The ban has been blocked in the courts and Trump's legal team has asked the Supreme Court to reinstate it. "We need the Travel Ban as an extra level of safety!" Trump said in a series of Twitter messages. Airlines were quick to offer assurances and refunds to travelers on edge after the London attack, but it was unclear whether the impact on tourism would match the fallout from similar attacks in Europe last year. Malaysia Airlines has offered free refunds to customers flying into London through June 5 and may extend that offer, Chief Executive Peter Bellew told Reuters. "Very few people have taken up the offer and we haven't seen any drop-off in bookings to London. But it's not good," he said. Last year, carriers in Europe reported a drop in demand from travelers from Asia after attacks in Paris, Brussels and Nice, but air traffic has recovered this year. Bellew said carriers in Asia could rethink growth plans for new routes to Europe or the United States. "I think it will have an impact," Bellew said, adding that it built on Asian airlines' aversion to political risk in Europe and the United States. "For colleagues in Asia, there's no risk sending a new plane or new flight to China, or a new route from Australia. You will see a certain insularity in this vast region." https://www.reuters.com/article/us-airlines-iata-idUSKBN18V13P Back to Top New guidelines proposed to deal with in-flight cardiac arrest emergency New guidelines to deal with the in-flight emergency of cardiac arrest in a passenger or crew member are being proposed at this year's Euroanaesthesia meeting in Geneva (3-5 June). The task force that has created the guidelines is led by Professor Jochen Hinkelbein, University of Cologne, Germany, and President of the German Society for Aerospace Medicine (DGLRM). Approximately 3 billion people worldwide traveled by commercial air transport in 2016. A calculation based on the number of passengers transported shows that between 1 out of 14,000 to 1 out of 50,000 passengers will experience acute medical problems during a flight. While cardiac arrest accounts for just 0.3% of all in-flight medical emergencies, it is responsible for 86% of in-flight events resulting in death. Recently, the Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher died following a cardiac arrest she suffered on a plane journey to Los Angeles. Despite this high fatality rate of in-flight cardiac arrest (IFCA), so far, no guideline for IFCA exists that provides specific treatment recommendations. Thus, a DGLRM task force was created to develop a guideline for the treatment of in-flight cardiac arrest based on clinical and investigational expertise in this area. Several main recommendations have been developed, which include: * Emergency equipment provided and its location should be mentioned in the pre-flight safety announcement * An electrocardiogram (ECG) should be available for patients with cardiac arrest; automated external defibrillators (AEDs) have this function available and many planes now have an AED on board. The guidelines recommend that this equipment should be available on all planes. * It is very important for the crew to request help as soon as possible by an onboard announcement after identification of a patient with cardiac arrest. The announcement should state there has been a suspected cardiac arrest and also the location of the emergency equipment. * Two-person CPR is considered optimum (as it is better quality) and should be performed if possible; the crew should be trained regularly in basic life support, ideally with a focus on CPR in aircraft. * The plane should be diverted immediately if the patient has a return of spontaneous circulation. Dr. Hinkelbein says: "This is the first guideline providing specific treatment recommendations for in-flight medical emergencies during commercial air travel. This is of major importance to recommend proper actions and procedures since the airplane environment as well as equipment will be significantly different to what can be provided for medical emergencies on the ground." He and his team will now begin raising awareness of the guideline by directly contacting individual airlines and asking them to incorporate it into their emergency procedures. Source: ESA (European Society of Anaesthesiology) http://www.news-medical.net/news/20170605/New-guidelines-proposed-to-deal-with-in-flight-cardiac-arrest- emergency.aspx Back to Top The Airline Standoff in Venezuela is Getting Worse as the Country's Crisis Deepens Airport employees dismantle the counters of German airline Lufthansa at Simon Bolivar international airport in Caracas_ on June 17_ 2016. German airline Lufthansa suspended flights to crisis-hit Venezuela for an indefinite period owing to the economic crisis in the country. CANCUN, Mexico - Venezuela is withholding billions of dollars from global airlines as a deepening crisis distracts from talks, an industry representative said on Sunday, a day after United Airlines announced the end of daily service to the country. Peter Cerda, vice president of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), said Venezuela owes airlines "more than $3.8 billion" after years of failing to reimburse companies in hard currency for ticket sales in local currency. Last year IATA said airlines were owed $3.78 billion. "I still think it will probably get worse before it gets better," Cerda told journalists on the sidelines of IATA's general meeting. "The government's main priority is not aviation ... We know what's happening in Venezuela with the uncertainty and violent demonstrations." Unrest prompted by a crackdown on the political opposition and food shortages has resulted in the deaths of at least 65 people since April. On Saturday, United said it was halting its route between Caracas and Houston, citing weak demand rather than the ongoing currency dispute. Airlines from Lufthansa to Air Canada have pulled out of Venezuela in recent years, citing everything from the payment dispute to safety concerns. Government representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment"The industry is trying to be sympathetic. The airlines don't want to pull out of Venezuela, but we are getting to a point where airlines need to take business decisions," Cerda said. http://fortune.com/2017/06/05/venezuela-airlines-crisis-iata/ Back to Top Flight Safety Foundation Welcomes Aer Lingus as Benefactor Member ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Flight Safety Foundation is pleased to announce that Aer Lingus has become a Foundation Benefactor member. Benefactors are the elite members of the Foundation that contribute above and beyond their membership level. "Aer Lingus has a long and proud history of supporting Flight Safety Foundation in its championing of the cause of aviation safety," said Aer Lingus Chief Executive Stephen Kavanagh. "Aer Lingus is pleased to announce that we have recently elevated our membership in the Foundation to industry leader status as a Benefactor, and we look forward to hosting the Flight Safety Foundation's 70th annual International Air Safety Summit in Dublin in October 2017." Aer Lingus is represented on the Foundation Board of Governors by Capt. Conor Nolan, the airline's corporate safety and resilience manager. He also serves as treasurer of the Foundation. "We are very pleased to welcome Aer Lingus as a Benefactor member," said Jon Beatty, president and CEO of Flight Safety Foundation. "The global aviation system depends on the safety work of the Foundation, and we depend on our membership to help fund that work. Our Benefactor members demonstrate this commitment at the highest level." Flight Safety Foundation has more than 1,000 individual and organizational members from 150 countries and all segments of the aviation industry. Currently, 33 of those members have opted to become Benefactor members and support FSF safety programs at the highest level. Aer Lingus is a unit of IAG (International Airlines Group), which also is the parent company of British Airways, Iberia and Vueling. IAG is one of the world's largest airline groups with 525 aircraft flying to 255 destinations and carrying almost 95 million passengers each year. It is the third largest group in Europe and the sixth largest in the world, based on revenue. http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12339777/flight-safety-foundation-welcomes-aer-lingus-as-benefactor- member Back to Top Best of the Best: 4 Promising New Business Jets Recently released private planes that have not yet established a track record. For this Best of the Best section, we looked to Robb Report's Aviation Advisory Board to select the top business jets that have entered service in the past couple years but have not yet established a track record. Our experts chose the four planes below. The midsize Cessna Citation Latitude ($16.3 million) was announced in 2011, entered service in August 2015, and quickly became one of the world's best-selling business jets. Cessna, which is owned by Textron, delivered 42 examples last year, making this the most-delivered aircraft in its category. By the end of 2016, the worldwide fleet of Citation Latitudes had grown to 58. "The initial reaction by the market to the aircraft has been very positive," says Robb Report Private Aviation Advisory Board member Lee Rohde, the founder, president, and CEO of Essex Aviation Group in New Hampshire. Cessna Citation Latitude Private Jet The Latitude's cabin features the Citation line's first flat floor and 6 feet of headroom. It can accommodate nine passengers. A new cooling and pressurization system gives passengers the feeling of flying at just 5,950 feet when the airplane is traveling at its maximum operating altitude of 45,000 feet. The jet's maximum range is 3,280 miles, and it can fly more than 3,100 miles nonstop when carrying four passengers and traveling at its high cruising speed of 513 mph. Embraer Legacy 500 Business Jet Like the Citation Latitude, the midsize Embraer Legacy 500 ($20 million) has a flat floor and 6 feet of headroom. The typical cabin configuration includes seating for eight passengers in club seats, which fully recline into four sleeping berths. The jet can travel as high as 45,000 feet, but even at that altitude the cabin pressure feels the same as it does at 6,000 feet. A range of nearly 3,600 miles enables coast-to-coast travel, and the jet's high cruising speed is 536 mph. Embraer delivered the first Legacy 500 at the end of 2014, and in the aircraft's first two full years of service (2015 and 2016) delivered a total of 43 examples. In April 2016, a Legacy 500 that Flexjet ordered became the 1,000th aircraft delivered by Embraer Executive Jets, Embraer's business-jet division. Embraer Legacy 450 Business Jet The cabin of the newer Embraer Legacy 450 ($16.5 million) is about 3 feet shorter than that of the Legacy 500, (including four club seats that fold down into two beds). Embraer Legacy 450 Business Jet But the Legacy 450's cabin also has a flat floor and 6 feet of headroom. Both aircraft are equipped with the state-of- the-art Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics suite, and their performance numbers are comparable. The Legacy 450's range is 3,337 miles when carrying four passengers, and its high cruising speed is 532 mph. Deliveries began at the end of 2015. Dassault Falcon 8X Business Jet Bill Quinn, a member of Robb Report's Private Aviation Advisory Board and the founder and president of Aviation Management Systems in New Hampshire, calls the Dassault Falcon 8X ($58 million) "a game changer in its class." If you classify the 8X as an ultralong-range jet and compare it to the Bombardier Global 6000, its range (7,422 miles) is greater, its cabin (43 feet) longer, and its price better. In the large-cabin ultralong-range class, the 8X doesn't have the range or the cabin space of the Gulfstream G650ER, but according to Dassault its operating costs are better, and its ability to make steep descents and fast climbs allows it to access some airports that are off-limits to other large jets. The 8X, which entered service last year, also has an unusually quiet cabin, and the pressurization makes it feel as though you're flying at just 3,900 feet even when you're really cruising as high as 41,000 feet. http://robbreport.com/automobiles/aviation/new-business-jets-cessna-citation-embraer-legacy-dassault-falcon-jets- 2715079/ Back to Top Worse than Aeroflot! BA faces fresh humiliation as carrier is set to lose its four-star quality rating * Britain's flagship carrier compares unfavourable with Aeroflot, researchers say * State-backed Russian airline was known for having an appalling safety record * BA has been widely accused of becoming more like a budget airline British Airways is expected to be stripped of its coveted four-star quality rating after being accused of providing a worse service than Aeroflot. In a new humiliation, the boss of research firm Skytrax said Britain's flagship carrier now compares unfavourably with the state-backed Russian airline, once known for having an appalling safety record, inedible food and rude staff. Skytrax said it is likely to cut BA's rating to three stars out of five, bringing it in line with budget airline Ryanair, Uzbekistan Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, and Myanmar Airways. The move comes hard on the heels of last week's IT shutdown which grounded flights and resulted in passengers being stranded across the world. Britain's flagship carrier British Airways, pictured, now compares unfavourably with the state-backed Russian airline Aeroflot +2 BA has been widely accused of becoming more like a budget airline under chief executive Alex Cruz, despite typically charging significantly higher fares. It sparked a passenger backlash by ditching free snacks and drinks on short-haul services, planning to cut leg room on some flights and slashing perks for business class. There have also been complaints of BA regularly running out of food on board. Edward Plaisted, chief executive of Skytrax, told The Sunday Times: 'In many cases they (BA) don't meet a four-star standard'. He said Aeroflot - which is 51 per cent owned by the Russian government - has better in-flight catering and better service. He described Aeroflot as a 'shining example of an airline that's transformed themselves' - compared with BA, which 'has not invested in the same way'. BA, which once used the slogan 'the world's favourite airline', has had four stars since the ratings began 18 years ago. A downgrade to three would see it fall further behind five-star rivals including Etihad and Singapore Airlines. BA has been widely accused of becoming more like a budget airline under chief executive Alex Cruz, pictured BA, which faces a four-day strike over pay by cabin crew from June 16, said it was close to announcing improved service and food for Club World passengers as part of a £400million investment. Critics have claimed that Mr Cruz's ruthless cost-cutting was partly to blame for last week's IT disaster. Unions blamed the fiasco on a decision to cut hundreds of IT jobs and outsource roles to India, although BA insisted the shutdown was caused by a power supply problem. Spaniard Mr Cruz, 50, has resisted calls to resign after being accused of spearheading a slow and chaotic response to the crisis. Although Willie Walsh, boss of BA's parent group IAG, has publicly praised Mr Cruz, there are rumours he could be replaced. Yesterday it emerged that BA is in talks with Capita over the possibility of outsourcing its call centres in Newcastle and Manchester, which employ around 1,400 staff. BA said no decision has been made. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4572010/BA-set-lose-four-star-quality-rating.html#ixzz4j70ptzsc Back to Top Toyota Sold All Its Tesla Stock, And Plans To Ignite 2020 Games By Flying Car International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bah, right, and Toyota President and CEO Akio Toyoda pose with a document signed during a press conference in Tokyo, Friday, March 13, 2015. (Credit: AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) It's not unusual to find that Toyota Motor Corp. has been quietly steering for the future, but some of its latest moves seem to have even jaded investors feeling revved up. For starters, Toyota has seemingly surrendered its entire stake in Tesla Motors Inc., concluding the two companies' more than half-decade relationship. Bloomberg reported yesterday that the Japanese had automaker sold all of its stock in entrepreneur Elon Musk's flagship company in 2016, which amounted to 1.43% of the company as of last July. A Toyota spokeswoman told Bloomberg that the sale signified the end of the companies' dealings (at least for the present), which kicked off and into high gear in 2010. As Bloomberg reported, Toyota bought into Tesla's eco-driven operation for $50 million that year, and even sold its own disused factory in California to the younger automaker. After some false starts in their collaboration with Tesla to create an electric RAV4, however, the heritage Japanese firm has seemingly chosen to go it alone in the race to fill U.S. driveways with affordable electric vehicles. Toyota Motors President Akio Toyoda (R) holds the key of a Tesla Roadstar handed to him by Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk during the presentation of the car at Tesla Japan's headquarter showroom in Tokyo on November 12, 2010. The two companies announced their 'strategic partnership' in May 2010. (Credit: TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images) Toyota also turned heads recently by announcing its involvement with a very special kind of auto startup, as well as some record-breaking goals therein. As Quartz reported, the company has invested close to $386,000, or ¥42.5 million, in a 30-person Japanese startup called Cartivator Resource Management, which is developing a nifty little ride known as SkyDrive. According to Cartivator and BBC News, the approximately nine-and-a-half-foot vehicle would be able to fly at up to 62 miles per hour while hovering close to 33 feet above the ground, or be driven at 93 miles per hour on top of it. The startup's website explains that they hope to provide people in developing countries with a viable transportation option when lack of infrastructure would otherwise leave them stuck, as well as inhibit economic growth. Cartivator's SKYDRIVE vehicle would allow drivers to switch to pilot-mode without the need for runways or other infrastructure. Credit: Cartivation Cartivator's SkyDrive would allow drivers to switch to pilot-mode without the need for runways or other costly infrastructure. "By 2050 we aim to create a world where anyone can fly in the sky anytime and anywhere," the team writes. "To realize our vision, a compact flying car is necessary with [vertical] takeoff and landing technology, which do not need roads and runways to lift off." And their first major stop on that journey--if all goes well, and future demos show an upward swing--will be levitating at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and lighting its massive ceremonial torch. Tsubasa Nakamura, project leader of Cartivator, third from left, watches the flight of the test model of the flying car on a former school ground in Toyota, central Japan, Saturday, June 3, 2017 as another member, fourth from left, operates the remote control. (Credit: AP Photo/Koji Ueda) Regarding the future of transportation, perhaps Toyota is covering its bases, then, with another trip outside its usual track that has been making waves in the news: its plans for a sleek, luxurious speedboat. https://www.forbes.com/sites/janetwburns/2017/06/04/toyota-sold-all-its-tesla-stock-and-hopes-to-light-its-2020- torch-by-flying-car/#34740020350b Back to Top Air Force Has Begun Experimentation, Planning and Investments for a 6th Generation Fighter to Come After the F-35 The Pentagon's 6th Generation Fighter may be stealthy and will likely have next-generation computers, electronic warfare technology, speed, weapons and sensors The Air Force has begun experimenting and conceptual planning for a 6th generation fighter aircraft to emerge in coming years as a technological step beyond the F-35, service leaders said. "We have started experimentation, developmental planning and technology investment," said Lt. Gen. Arnold Bunch, Military Deputy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Acquisition. The new aircraft, engineered to succeed the 5th-generation F-35 Joint StrikeFighter and explode onto the scene by the mid 2030s, is now in the earliest stages of conceptual development with the Air Force and Navy. The two services are now working together on early conceptual discussions about the types of technologies and capabilities the aircraft will contain. While the Air Force has not yet identified a platform for the new aircraft. The Air Force characterizes the effort in terms of a future capability called Next-Gen Air Dominance. While Bunch did not elaborate on the specifics of ongoing early efforts, he did make reference to the Air Superiority 2030 Flight Plan which delineates some key elements of the service's strategy for a future platform. Fighter jets in 20-years may likely contain the next-generation of stealth technoology, electronic warfare, sophisticated computer processing and algorithms, increased autonomy, hypersonic weapons and so-called "smart- skins" where sensors are built into the side of the aircraft itself. Some of these characteristics may have been on display more than a year ago when Northrop Grumman's SuperBowl AD revealed a flashy first look at its rendering of a new 6th-generation fighter jet. Northrop is one of a number of major defense industry manufacturers who will bid for a contract to build the new plane - when the time is right. While there are not many details available on this work, it is safe to assume Northrop is advancing concepts, technology and early design work toward this end. Boeing is also in the early phases of development of a 6th-gen design, according to a report in Defense News. The Navy's new aircraft will, at least in part, replace the existing inventory of F/A-18 Super Hornets which will start to retire by 2035, Navy officials said. The Navy vision for a future carrier air wing in 2040 and beyond is comprised of the carrier-launched variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, the F-35C, and legacy aircraft such as the EA-18G Growler electronic jamming aircraft. Also, around this time is when Navy planners envision its 6th generation aircraft to be ready, an aircraft which will likely be engineered for both manned and unmanned missions. Technologies are rapidly advancing in coatings, electromagnetic spectrum issues, artificial intelligence, maneuvering, superiority in sensing the battlespace, communications and data links, Navy leaders have said. Northrop Grumman Navy officials also add that the Navy is likely to develop new carrier-launched unmanned air vehicles in coming years as well. For instance, Northrop's historic X-47B demonstrator aircraft was the first unmanned system to successfully launch and land on the deck of an aircraft carrier. Analysts have speculated that as 6th generation developers seek to engineer a sixth-generation aircraft, they will likely explore a range of next-generation technologies such as maximum sensor connectivity, super cruise ability and an aircraft with electronically configured "smart skins." Super cruise technology would enable the new fighter jet to cruise at supersonic speeds without needing afterburner, analysts have explained. As a result, super cruise brings a substantial tactical advantage because it allows for high- speed maneuvering without needing afterburner, therefore enable much longer on-location mission time. Such a scenario provides a time advantage as the aircraft would likely outlast a rival aircraft likely to run out of fuel earlier. The Air Force F-22 has a version of supercruise technology. Maximum connectivity would mean massively increased communications and sensor technology such as having an ability to achieve real-time connectivity with satellites, other aircraft and anything that could provide relevant battlefield information.The new aircraft might also seek to develop the ability to fire hypersonic weapons, however such a development would hinge upon successful progress with yet-to-be-proven technologies such as scramjets traveling at hypersonic speeds. Some tests of early renderings of this technology have been tested successfully and yet other attempts have failed. The Air Force Chief Scientist, Dr. Geoffrey Zacharias, has told Scout Warrior that the US anticipates having hypersonic weapons by the 2020s, hypersonic drones by the 2030s and recoverable hypersonic drone aircraft by the 2040s. There is little doubt that hypersonic technology, whether it be weaponry or propulsion, or both, will figure prominently into future aircraft designs. Smart aircraft skins would involve dispersing certain technologies or sensors across the fuselage and further integrating them into the aircraft itself, using next-generation computer algorithms to organize and display information for the pilot. We see some of this already in the F-35; the aircraft sensor fusion uses advanced computer technology to collect, organize and display combat relevant information from a variety of otherwise disparate sensors onto a single screen for pilots. In addition, Northrop's Distributed Aperture System is engineered to provide F-35 pilots with a 360-degree view of the battlespace. Cameras on the DAS are engineered into parts of the F-35 fuselage itself to reduce drag and lower the aircraft's radar signature. Smart skins with distributed electronics means that instead of having systems mounted on the aircraft, you would have apertures integrated on the skin of the aircraft, analysts have said. This could reduce drag, increase speed and maneuverability while increasing the technological ability of the sensors. It is also possible that the new 6th-generation fighter could use advanced, futuristic stealth technology able to enable newer, more capable air defenses. The air defenses of potential adversaries are increasingly using faster computing processing power and are better networked together, more digital, able to detect a wider range of frequencies and able to detect stealthy aircraft at farther distances. The new 6th-generation fighter will also likely fire lasers and have the ability to launch offensive electronic attacks. http://www.scout.com/military/warrior/story/1641046-af-starts-experiments-for-6th-gen-fighter Back to Top SpaceX launches its first recycled cargo ship and marks fifth successful landing since September rocket explosion * SpaceX launched its first recycled cargo ship into space on Saturday * The blast off took place from the company's launchpad in Cape Canaveral, FL. * The California-based company sent mice and fruit flies into space for research * This marks the fifth successful landing since a rocket exploded in September * SpaceX has had a total of 11 successful landings of its rockets by land SpaceX launched its first recycled cargo ship to the International Space Station, yet another milestone in the company's bid to drive down space flight costs. After a two-day delay caused by thunderstorms, the unmanned Falcon rocket blasted off on Saturday from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Besides the usual supplies, the 6,000-pound shipment includes mice and flies for research, a new kind of roll-up solar panel and a neutron star detector. The fifth successful landing of the company's rockets points to a strong streak since a rocket explosion in September. SpaceX has completed 11 land landings in total. SpaceX launched its first recycled cargo ship on Saturday from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The landing marked the fifth successful landing since a rocket explosion in September SpaceX has completed 11 landings in total. Saturday's unmanned Falcon rocket was carrying a recycled Dragon capsule that contained mice and flies for research Saturday's rocket was carrying a Dragon capsule that made a station delivery nearly three years ago. When this refurbished Dragon reaches the orbiting lab on Monday, it will be the first returning craft since NASA's now-retired shuttles. The first-stage booster flown Saturday afternoon was brand new, and as is now the custom, returned to Cape Canaveral following liftoff for a successful vertical touchdown. The plan is to launch the booster again, instead of junking it in the ocean as so many other rocket makers do. Just two months ago, SpaceX launched its first recycled booster on a satellite mission. Another flight featuring a reused booster is coming up later this month. This Dragon capsule, meanwhile, came back for take two following a few modifications and much testing. Shortly before liftoff, a SpaceX vice president, Hans Koenigsmann, called the Dragon reflight 'a pretty big deal.' On September 1, 2016, one of SpaceX's rockets exploded in a fiery blaze. The Falcon 9 rocket suffered a catastrophic explosion on the Cape Canaveral launch pad during a routine pre-launch check. The blast, which shook buildings and windows miles away, destroyed Facebook's $200million Amos-6 satellite that was set to launch aboard the reusable rocket. CEO Elon Musk said the cause of the massive blast - which caused no injuries - was unknown as the accident threw question at the future of his program of subcontracting his 'reusable' and 'recycled' rockets to NASA. The mishap dealt a severe blow to SpaceX, as it was scrambling to catch up with satellite deliveries following another launch accident in 2015. It was also a setback for NASA, which had been counting on the private company to keep the International Space Station stocked with supplies and, ultimately, astronauts. Now the success of the recycled spacecraft is all part of the company's quest to lower the cost of access to space through reusability. The reused Dragon has the same hull and most of the same parts from its 2014 flight. SpaceX installed a new heat shield and parachutes, among a few other things, for the Dragon's trip back to Earth at flight's end. The Dragon is the only supply ship capable of surviving re-entry; all the others burn up in the atmosphere. NASA's other supplier, Orbital ATK, will see its cargo carrier depart the 250-mile-high complex on Sunday, six weeks after arriving. For now, SpaceX said savings are minimal because of all the inspections and tests performed on the already flown parts. NASA's space station program manager, Kirk Shireman, told reporters earlier in the week that SpaceX did a thorough job recertifying the Dragon and that the risk is not substantially more than if this were a capsule straight off the factory floor. He said the entire industry is interested in 'this whole notion of reuse,' first realized with the space shuttles. It was the 100th launch from NASA's hallowed Launch Complex 39A, the departure point for the Apollo moon shots as well as dozens of shuttle missions, including the last one in 2011. SpaceX now leases the pad from NASA; the company's first launch from there was in February. SpaceX has been hauling station supplies for NASA for five years, both up and down. This is the company's 11th mission under a NASA contract. The company's next step is to deliver astronauts using modified Dragons. That could occur as early as next year. Until SpaceX and Boeing start transporting crews, astronauts will continue to ride Russian rockets. On Friday, a Russian and Frenchman returned from the space station in their Soyuz capsule, leaving two Americans and a Russian behind. The station was zooming over Oman in the Persian Gulf when the Falcon took flight. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4569730/SpaceX-fifth-successful-landing-rocket- explosion.html#ixzz4j72GzbP0 Back to Top Assistant/Associate Professor - Tenure Track Faculty - Aviation Technology Position: Tenure-Track Assistant/Associate Professor in Aviation Technology; Starting date: August 2017 Qualifications: Master's degree in any of the following: Aviation, Business, Education, Engineering, or aviation management related discipline. Must have a minimum of 18 graduate hours in aviation related courses. Three years aviation industry experience. Completion of an appropriate doctorate degree will be required within 5-years. Responsibilities: Teaching undergraduate courses and assuming a leadership role in the management of the department's Aviation Technology degree programs. Other responsibilities include serving on University committees, curriculum development, academic advisement and performing appropriate scholarly research and professional service within the guidelines of the University. Salary: Commensurate with qualifications The University: Indiana State University enrolls approximately 14,000 students in six colleges/schools. Please visit the University homepage at http://www.indstate.edu for details. Department: The Aviation Technology Department in a part of the College of Technology and currently offers the following BS degrees: Professional Aviation Flight Technology, Aviation Management, and Unmanned Systems. Application: Attach a letter of application, cover letter, vitae/resume, and your B.S. and Master's transcripts to the online application at http://jobs.indstate.edu/postings/16411. For full consideration, applications must be submitted by June 15, 2017. The position will remain open until on- campus interviews have been scheduled. If you have questions please contact Dr. Richard Baker, Chair, Faculty Search Committee, Department of Aviation, Indiana State University, Terre Haute IN 47809. richard.baker@indstate.edu; (812)237-2641 Indiana State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All are encouraged to apply including women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans. Safeskies 2017 Conference The thirteenth biennial Safeskies aviation safety conference, Safeskies 2017, will be held from October 3 to 5, at the National Convention Centre, Canberra, Australia. Visit www.SafeskiesAustralia.org for details of program and registration. 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 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 Curt Lewis