Flight Safety Information July 7, 2017 - No. 136 Incident: Germanwings A319 at Klagenfurt on Jul 6th 2017, bird strike Incident: Iceland B752 at Keflavik on Jul 6th 2017, rejected takeoff due to de- icing issue Delta flight returns to Seattle after passenger assaults flight attendant, injuring 2 Passengers Fled Burning Jet, Without Waiting For OK: Report "We're Going Down!" 9 Most Terrifying Things Pilots Have Ever Said to Passengers F-15 jets escort Cuba-bound Canadian aircraft to Montreal due to 'unruly customer Moore Woman Says She Was Pressured To Delete Video Of Airplane Fire (Oklahoma) Passengers Deplaned At Fort Smith Airport After Pilot Said He Was Accused Of Drinking Makers of travel sleep aid gadgets hit back at airline ban Price-cutting private jet shakes up aircraft market $1 billion headache for Airbus as Qatar cancels four jets FAA Safety Briefing - July/August 2017 NATA Call to Action: Say NO to ATC Privatization Aviation Management Services (Cayman) Ltd. announces Cayman Beneficial Ownership Regime Update BREITLING DC-3 PROMOTING AVIATION AS IT CIRCUMNAVIGATES THE GLOBE Incident: Germanwings A319 at Klagenfurt on Jul 6th 2017, bird strike A Germanwings Airbus A319-100, registration D-AGWG performing flight 4U-284 from Cologne (Germany) to Klagenfurt (Austria), landed on Klagenfurt's runway 28R and taxied to the apron. The aircraft however was unable to depart for the return flight and is still on the ground in Klagenfurt about 6.5 hours after landing. A passenger waiting for the return flight reported it was announced that the incoming aircraft had received a bird strike and was unable to perform the flight. A replacement aircraft was being dispatched to Klagenfurt. A replacement Airbus A320-200 registration D-AIQB positioned to Klagenfurt and was still on the ground about 2 hours after landing, already past night curfew. D-AIQB also carried maintenance technicians to Klagenfurt, who examined the occurrence aircraft and returned it to service. The occurrence aircraft was thus able to depart for the return flight 4U-285 at 23:35L (past curfew) and delivered the passengers to Cologne with a delay of 6.5 hours. D-AIQB departed Klagenfurt at 00:15L (past curfew) and positioned back to Cologne. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ab4596b&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Iceland B752 at Keflavik on Jul 6th 2017, rejected takeoff due to de- icing issue An Icelandair Boeing 757-200, registration TF-ISS performing flight FI-352 from Keflavik (Iceland) to Helsinki (Finland), was accelerating for takeoff from Keflavik's runway 20 when the crew rejected takeoff at low speed. The aircraft returned to the apron. A passenger reported the captain announced a warning light regarding an anti-ice system had activated. A replacement Boeing 757-200 registration TF-ISR reached Helsinki with a delay of 3:45 hours. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground for about 7.5 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ab45633&opt=0 Back to Top Delta flight returns to Seattle after passenger assaults flight attendant, injuring 2 A Delta Airlines flight turned around shortly after takeoff from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Thursday night after a passenger allegedly assaulted a flight attendant, according to an airport spokesperson. A passenger assaulted a flight attendant in the Boeing 767's first class cabin about 45 minutes after the Beijing-bound flight departed, the spokesperson said, adding that there was no information to suggest that it was a national security threat. The FBI also said the incident did not appear to be such a threat. And contrary to some reports, there is no information to suggest anyone attempted to breach the cockpit, both the airport and Delta said. Several passengers tried to subdue the individual, and two people -- a passenger and a flight attendant -- were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries in connection with the incident. Delta flight 129 then turned around and landed safely at 7:10 p.m. The suspect, a 23-year-old man from Florida, was arrested by Port of Seattle Police and transferred to a federal detention center, according to the FBI, which is investigating the incident with the Port of Seattle. He reportedly refused treatment for any injuries he might have sustained when he was taken down by fellow passengers. Delta confirmed the incident in a statement, saying, "Flight 129 returned to Seattle following a security incident with a passenger. The passenger was restrained on board and was removed from the flight by law enforcement without further incident when the aircraft arrived back in Seattle." There were 207 passengers on board, according to Delta. The Atlanta-based airline said the flight would re-depart for Beijing later on Thursday. The suspect is scheduled to appear in court in Seattle at 5 p.m. ET on Friday. https://www.yahoo.com/gma/delta-flight-returns-seattle-passenger-assaults-flight- attendant-054204424--abc-news-topstories.html Back to Top Passengers Fled Burning Jet, Without Waiting For OK: Report (CBS) - Panicked passengers pleaded to get off a jet after it caught fire at O'Hare last October. Their stories are part of an NTSB report out Thursday about what went wrong. The video was dramatic, showing passengers racing down the aisles of a jet on fire. Thick black smoke billowed outside the plane for 15 long seconds before the first slide deployed and then another 15 before the first passenger escaped. An NTSB report released today shows even as flames raged outside the jet, flight attendants were shouting orders to "stay in your seats." One passenger said when he saw the flames and "windows had started to crack," he ignored the directions. Another described releasing a hatch himself, and exited down the slide while the plane's engines were still on. The report shows all exits opened within 40 seconds, and the plane emptied in just over 2 minutes. Passengers said they hit the ground running, or stayed to help others. Flight crew members said they at first waited for a pilot's announcement, but when the cabin began filling with smoke, they evacuated the aircraft. A broken metal disc recovered at the scene - a rotating piece of the engine - was found to have an anomaly in the metal that led to cracks. Of the 170 people aboard that day, only one suffered serious injury. The 500-page report shows pilots were completing a checklist for nearly 90 seconds before ordering an evacuation. They're supposed to depressurize the cabin before turning off the engines. Passengers were jumping down slides before that happened. http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/07/06/ohare-jet-fire-report/ Back to Top "We're Going Down!" 9 Most Terrifying Things Pilots Have Ever Said to Passengers These travelers, fortunately, lived to tell shocking tales. On the list of freaky things you don't want to hear your airplane pilot say mid-flight, a PA announcement asking passengers to pray for a safe landing ranks somewhere near the top. However, an AirAsia pilot from Perth to Kuala Lumpur recently said just that, terrifying passengers when he told them he was praying for a safe landing and asking them to pray, too. (The flight turned back and landed without further incident, so maybe those prayers actually worked.) The ill-advised AirAsia announcement piqued our curiosity: Where exactly does that transgression rank on the list of scariest things a pilot could say? We spoke to a pilot for a major carrier on condition of anonymity, who confirmed that scary things happen in the cockpit all the time: "Airline flying is like having an enjoyable meal at your favorite restaurant. Sometimes it is best not to ask what goes on in the kitchen." The pilot continued, "I've flown commercial aircraft for over 30 years. In those years, I have had an aircraft descend onto my altitude and miss us by 300 feet at 34,000 feet. I had a small twin prop try to land on me, and only missed us by 27 feet. And I once was taxiing with a very fast moving aircraft on the wrong taxiway, which almost rammed me and missed us by three feet." All very reassuring. And that's exactly why passengers typically don't fully know what goes down: "You don't hear these stories, because of the professionalism and quick reaction of the pilots," he continues, "but believe me, they happen everyday." Here are some of the most terrifying of all time. 1. "A 50/50 chance..." Last month, an EasyJet pilot reportedly told passengers on a flight from Malaga to Bristol that there was a "50/50" chance both its engines would work, and then asked for a "show of hands" regarding whether they should take off. (EasyJet denies the story.) 2. "We don't want to die." In 2016, a Ryanair flight attendant joked with Belfast-bound passengers over the PA system: "We have ice on the wings and we don't want to die," in response to why the plane was taking off eight hours late from Glasgow. RyanAir later released a terse statement: 'We will be speaking to the crew member involved and apologise for the regrettable comment she made in the heat of the moment." 3. "We're going down." Passengers onboard a 2013 Southwest flight from Tampa to Raleigh-Durham had an unpleasant shock when their pilot suddenly said, "We're in trouble, we're going down," before the plane took a nosedive. Ultimately, the flight landed safely, and a passenger later provided CNN with an email from a Southwest representative claiming that the pilot had activated the PA system by accident. 4. "We're about to hit the mountain." Jordan Reid, of Ramshackle Glam, says, "I was on a flight to St. Bart's where the pilot said, 'It's going to look like we're about to hit that mountain, but don't worry, we're not.' To get to St Bart's you fly through the teeniest, tiniest crack in a mountain that you literally cannot see unless you are sitting in the pilot seat, and you drop so quickly that all these alarms and red lights go off, but apparently that's...normal." (The landing is, indeed, notoriously scary.) 5. What they didn't say Comedian Steve Hofstetter says, "My scariest flight involved what they didn't say. On a four-hour flight out of Houston, we started to descend to land after 20 minutes. No announcement as to why. Just a bunch of strangers making eye contact, trying not to panic, assuming that if something was really wrong, they'd say something, right? Finally, 15 minutes later, the pilot announced we were landing back in Houston due to emergency maintenance. That was a very long 15 minutes." 6. "We may shortly need to make an emergency landing on water." Thanks to a pre-recorded message on a 2012 British Airways flight from Miami to London, passengers heard a female voice announcing over the intercom at 3 a.m., "This is an emergency announcement. We may shortly need to make an emergency landing on water." Though another announcement telling people to ignore the warning was played, the 330 passengers aboard reportedly went into a panic. Incredibly, the same announcement had been accidentally played the year before, on a BA flight from London to Hong Kong. 7. "A quick, watery grave" Passengers heading to Barbados from London on Monarch Airlines were horrified when their pilot said that technical issues with the reverse thrusters could have led to "a quick, watery grave," referencing a 1999 Thai flight that flipped in mid-air and killed all 213 people on board. A passenger on the Monarch flight, Mike Bloxam, later took to Facebook, writing, "Safety is of course the most paramount consideration. But to mention planes flipping over and watery graves as you wait to take off is totally unacceptable." 8. "Brace for impact." Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger rose to national fame when he safely landed the "Miracle on the Hudson" flight following a bird-strike and dual-engine failure. While it had a famously happy ending, the incident was terrifying to passengers onboard, who heard Sully say "This is the captain. Brace for impact." Flight attendants then began chanting, "Keep your head down, brace for impact." 9. "All four engines have stopped." The mother of all airplane announcements came in 1982, during a flight from Kuala Lumpur now known as the Jakarta incident. After his plane ran into volcanic dust, triggering engine failure, Captain Eric Moody issued a now-legendary announcement in the grand tradition of British understatement: "Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We have a small problem. All four engines have stopped. We are doing our damnedest to get them going again. I trust you are not in too much distress." Though flames engulfed the engines, the oxygen masks dropped, the plane went into a 6,000-foot nosedive, the cockpit windshield shattered, and the landing equipment failed, incredibly, Captain Moody successfully (and manually) glided the plane to the ground. Everybody aboard survived. http://www.bravotv.com/blogs/scariest-things-pilots-have-ever-said-to-passengers Back to Top F-15 jets escort Cuba-bound Canadian aircraft to Montreal due to 'unruly customer making non-specific threats' Two NORAD F-15 fighter jets intercepted a Cuba-bound aircraft operated by Canada's Sunwing Airlines in upstate New York Thursday night, and escorted it back to Montreal after a passenger made "non specific threats" on board the Boeing 737 aircraft, the airline said. "We can confirm that flight WG604 which departed Montreal's Dorval airport for Cayo Coco earlier this evening turned around due to an unruly customer making non-specific threats," the Toronto-based low-cost carrier said in a statement of the flight, which was intercepted near Albany. "The flight arrived back around 7:25 p.m. and the disruptive customer was taken into police custody. The threats the passenger made have not yet been released. The 170 passengers were slated to re-depart for Cuba, but not for several hours. "Unfortunately the next viable departure slot to operate into Cayo Coco is 4:30 a.m.," the airline said. "Sunwing has provided affected customers with accommodations and meal vouchers and is very apologetic for the inconvenience." NORAD spokesman Lt. Commander Joe Nawrocki told ABC News that the F-15 jets were dispatched from Barnes Air National Guard Base in Massachusetts. http://abcnews.go.com/International/15-jets-escort-cuba-bound-canadian-aircraft- montreal/story?id=48490712 Back to Top Moore Woman Says She Was Pressured To Delete Video Of Airplane Fire (Oklahoma) MOORE, Oklahoma - A Moore woman says her dream vacation turned into a nightmare when her plane had to be diverted. The plane, which was supposed to land in Oklahoma City, had to stop in Dallas instead. What happened next is what has her worried about her health and demanding a refund. Melissa Miller of Moore said the cabin was filled with a toxic smell and firetrucks had surrounded the plane. A phone charger had started a small fire, forcing the plane to land in Dallas. People had to cover their mouths because of the stench. Despite that, Miller said passengers were not allowed to de-board. "There really was no air conditioning, they never brought any fans in or anything," said Miller. When Miller started taking video of firefighters who boarded, a flight attendant demanded she stop and told Miller to delete all photos and videos from the plane. "I sat there, like I said just almost had tears in my eyes the whole time," said Miller. "I was just humiliated and I had anxiety anyway from riding in this airplane with fumes." Allegiant Spokeswoman Hillary Grey said the airline has a policy against shooting video of its crew. News 9 asked, "Under what authority is she allowed to search someone's phone?" Grey replied, "I don't believe, I don't know that there was a search." Miller said, "There was... She stood right beside me and asked me to show her what I had recorded or taken pictures of and then she asked me to delete them while she stood there." As for having passengers sit in the hot plane with the fumes, Grey said, "We have looked at the records on this flight and operations didn't give any indication that there was any issues with the air." Miller isn't so sure. "I'd like my money back and I think I need to probably go back to the doctor," said Miller. "I would suggest that everybody should go to the doctor and get checked out. We don't know what we were breathing." Grey did say all passengers would receive travel vouchers. http://www.newson6.com/story/35828902/moore-woman-says-she-was-pressured-to- delete-video-of-airplane-fire Back to Top Passengers Deplaned At Fort Smith Airport After Pilot Said He Was Accused Of Drinking FORT SMITH (KFSM) -- Passengers at the Fort Smith Regional Airport were deplaned from their flight after the pilot said he had been accused of drinking. Flight 5859 to Dallas-Fort Worth was scheduled to take off from Fort Smith at 6:26 p.m. The sheriff's office was called out to the airport at 8:49 p.m. One passenger told 5NEWS the plane had already been delayed due to weather issues in Dallas, but the passengers were seated and ready to go when the plane lurched forward and hit a bump. Passengers said they gasped and were confused, but the plane backed up onto the runway for about five minutes before it circled back around pulling back into the gate. "The pilot came on the speaker and said a passenger had accused him of drinking and the flight was canceled," passenger Michael Norman said. "[Gate agents] said they have never heard anything like this in their entire career where a pilot is accused," passenger Daniel Mwanza said. "But, once it happens protocol is that they have to bring in law enforcement to test the pilot." The Sebastian County Sheriff's Office was called to the airport at about 8:49 p.m. to give the pilot a field sobriety test. "There really wasn't a whole lot to it," patrol sergeant Richard Rivera said. "I respect the gravity of somebody saying 'maybe the pilot has been drinking, maybe he is drunk.' I respect that, but we all know how that goes on a plane you get one guy saying one thing it's going to spread throughout the plane so I think they did a good job disembarking and getting someone out to do a field sobriety test." Rivera said the pilot passed both a field sobriety and breathalyzer test with flying colors. The identity of the pilot is not being released at this time. He also said this was the first time in his 14 year career he has ever heard of a call like this, but applauds the airline for making that call and making sure the passengers are safe when there is an accusation like this. The plane eventually took off from Fort Smith at 9:59 p.m., but most passengers re- booked their flight for Friday morning (July 7). http://5newsonline.com/2017/07/06/passengers-deplaned-at-fort-smith-airport-after- pilot-said-he-was-accused-of-drinking/ Back to Top Makers of travel sleep aid gadgets hit back at airline ban THERE'S a new battle of the skies that's proving even more ferocious than the old reclining debate. Qantas and Jetstar announced this week it was banning a suite of gadgets, including inflatable cubes and leg hammocks, that were designed to help kids sleep comfortably during flights. The airlines said the prohibited items were those that attached to aircraft seats, were inserted between seats, or which blocked access to seat rows or aisles. The new rule effectively rules out the use of products such as the Fly LegsUp, PlanePal, and Fly Tots Bed Box on Qantas and Jetstar flights. Now the Gold Coast-based makers of Fly LegsUp - a hammock designed to be attached to the tray table - have hit back at the airlines' decision, saying independent aviation engineers had tested the product and concluded it did not create any more of an in-flight obstruction than kids' pillows or toys. "Personal belongings including bags, children's toys, pillows, and blankets often occupy the same space and would therefore also constitute a similar obstruction as the hammock does," Fly LegsUp's inventor and director Jenny Cayzer said. The Fly LegsUp travel device. Picture: Fly LegsUp "Our independent Aviation Engineering Report, publicly available on our website, refutes the claims made by Qantas and Jetstar regarding the safety of our flight hammocks. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority classed our hammock as a carry-on comfort aid that did not constitute an obstruction if used during cruise flight only and not during takeoff and landing." She said the Fly LegsUp hammock could be removed in just five seconds and its inflatable pillow could be deflated quickly, if needed. . Her comments came as the makers of the PlanePal - an inflatable cushion that fills the space between a child's seat and the one in front - said Qantas and Jetstar's new ruling was "forcing" parents to fly with other airlines. "We have been inundated with messages from families frustrated with Australian airlines Qantas and Jetstar," PlanePal's founder Samantha Cardone said. "Many are choosing other global airlines that do permit devices that make travel enjoyable for children, parents and fellow passengers." When questioned by news.com.au last month, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority said airlines did not have to allow people to board with these devices. "Never attempt to bring these things on to an aircraft without speaking to your airline first," CASA spokesman Peter Gibson told news.com.au. "They do not have to accept the use of these types of devices. "Second, do not attach anything to any part of the aircraft or seat. Again, if there is a reason to want to do this talk to your airline before your flight." Mr Gibson also said passengers were encouraged to always keep their seat belts done up at all times. This could make some products, which allow children to lay flat, difficult. "While it is only required when the sign is on it is best practice to stayed buckled up to deal with unforeseen events such as turbulence," he said. "We would not recommend a child be left unrestrained." He added that passengers should "not block aisles or the ability of people to get into and out of seat rows". "When the seat belt is on these devices must be stowed away at all times," he said. "Again, talk to your airline well before your flight if you are thinking of using these. The airline does not have to agree." In an updated list of prohibited in-flight items on its website, Qantas said items that attached to seats, were inserted between seats or blocked access to rows and aisles had "the potential to impede access to seats and aisles, damage aircraft seats and fixtures, and block access to emergency equipment". It continued: "Examples of prohibited in-flight accessories include, but are not limited to, inflatable cubes, 'bed boxes', and 'leg hammocks'. This list is not exhaustive, and the decision to permit use of a particular device rests with the cabin crew on-board." Jetstar s online list of prohibited items now includes "leg hammocks, or any seat attachments which obstruct customer movement to aisles". It also bans items that restricts the recline of passengers' seats. http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-advice/flights/makers-of-travel-sleep-aid-gadgets- hit-back-at-airline-ban/news-story/5575f5b342cca1372ef0caa45b2afab2 Back to Top Price-cutting private jet shakes up aircraft market USA TODAY's Diana Kruzman takes a ride on Cirrus Aircraft's Vision SF50, a five-seat, single-engine jet aircraft that, at $2 million, is the lowest-priced in the market. Though the price is still plenty steep for most executives and private pilots, a little jet about the length of two midsize sedans is shaking up the personal aviation market. An aircraft maker, Cirrus Aircraft, is marketing the Vision SF50 as a plane that dramatically cuts the cost of buying a jet. It comes in with a $2 million pricetag that is billed as substantially less than that of its closest jet-powered competitor, though it's still more expensive than most piston planes. The Vision Jet competes in the industry's Very Light Jet, or VLJ, category, which includes models like the Eclipse Canada, Cessna Citation M2 and Embraer Phenom 100. These jets generally don't require a professional pilot or a co-pilot and are targeted toward owners who will fly the plane themselves. With a maximum range of approximately 1,300 miles, the Vision Jet is meant for regional travel. Because of its price, the jet "created its own category," says Ben Kowalski, a Cirrus vice president. "There's no one else there." The Vision Jet is aimed at both the business executive and pleasure pilot. With enormous windows and a spacious cabin that resembles the inside of a large SUV, it was designed to provide a luxury experience that's a far cry from flying a commercial plane. It arrives in a general-aviation market troubled by a declining numbers of private pilots, creating a sales challenge for plane makers. In addition to private pilots who always dreamed of the speed and convenience of a jet -- the Vision jet has a top speed of 345 miles per hour and ceiling of 28,000 feet -- the plane is also attracting some corporate aircraft operators and charter companies, according to Kowalski. The plane was FAA certified in October and made its first shipment in December. Kowalski says that the company currently has a backlog of 600 orders for the jet. Currently, the wait time for delivery for newer customers is about five to six years. Cirrus, based in Duluth, Minn., says the Vision is unique with its single-engine, carbon- fiber fuselage and Cirrus' whole-plane parachute, which allows a pilot to float the entire aircraft to earth in event of an insurmountable midair emergency. Cirrus Vision SF50 brings affordability to jets Other features include a flight control system that prevents pilots from overcorrecting, to luxuries like built-in satellite radio and USB charging ports. Pilot Matt Bergwall goes through his pre-flight check. The Vision features side yoke controls, the Cirrus Perspective Touch by Garmin avionics and Synthetic Vision Technology. (Photo: Robert Hanashiro, USA Today) But its biggest selling point is price. Tom Haines, editor-in-chief of the industry publication Pilot Magazine, says that the Vision Jet is in a "niche of its own," which can help it sell despite the soft market for VLJs. Haines called it a "step-up" airplane for piston-plane owners and said that it might even compete with some turboprops, many of which are more expensive than the Vision Jet. Still, there are obstacles that go beyond purchase price for some private pilots. Aviation consultant Mike Flannelly says insurance, maintenance, licensing and operational costs can create a barrier that can be hard for some potential jet buyers to overcome. "Just because you can afford the jet doesn't mean you can jump in it and fly it tomorrow," Flannelly says. A chance to step up is the reason Joe Whisenhunt, 54, became the first Vision Jet customer. The Arkansas real estate developer has owned a Cirrus SR22 turboprop since 2009, and says the Vision Jet's low price, safety features and his familiarity with the brand made purchasing the jet a no-brainer. Now, he'll take the jet on a business trip with a client one week, and fly it to catch a baseball game with his kids another. "My wife said I could fly if I could fly the safest thing in the world, and Cirrus is it," Whisenhunt says. Cirrus' Kowalski gets it. He says it's not just about the plane's features, but also the very notion of flying your own jet. "People like hopping out of cool cars," Kowalski says, "and people like hopping out of cool planes." https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/07/06/price-cutting-private-jet-shakes-up- aircraft-market/102607220/ Back to Top $1 billion headache for Airbus as Qatar cancels four jets PARIS (Reuters) - Qatar Airways has axed orders for four A350s because of delivery delays, Airbus said on Thursday, handing the European planemaker a new headache over what to do with jets worth $1.2 billion at list prices as it tries to close a sales gap with rival Boeing. The decision means Airbus will have to try to resell or reallocate the 283-seat jets at a time when demand for big planes is softening, and could cost Airbus $60-80 million to rip out and replace interiors designed to fit the airline's plush brand. "Smart players are not going to rush in, because other cancellations or deferrals may come," said veteran aircraft financier Bertrand Grabowski, former board member at DVB Bank. The cancellation follows concerns about delays and quality problems on cabin equipment for the A350, but also comes at a time when Qatar is entering the second month of a crisis caused by a ban on Qatar's use of the airspace of four Arab nations. Qatar Airways Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker said earlier any delays were the planemaker's responsibility. "We are asking Airbus to deliver it faster," he told a Dublin news conference. "The delay is from Airbus." An Airbus spokesman said the cancellations were related to "known supply chain issues". Asked what would happen to the undelivered A350-900 jets, he said: "They will be reallocated". Qatar Airways has a reputation for being demanding when reviewing aircraft for quality defects before delivery. However, some analysts have said the Gulf political crisis may give the airline a further incentive to slow deliveries, compounding the impact of relatively weak oil prices. "All the Gulf carriers realize they have ordered too many wide-bodied aircraft and don't have room for them, especially now," said an aircraft finance industry official. Al Baker last month denied the Gulf spat would interfere with Qatar Airways' growth or aircraft deliveries. FIGHTBACK VS BOEING The Qatar setback extends a torrid week for Airbus as it tries to bounce back against a resurgent Boeing and shake off an internal row over a shake-up in its sales organization. The surprise decision to have the sales team report to Chief Executive Tom Enders and by-pass airplanes boss Fabrice Bregier, first reported by Reuters, raised hackles internally and prompted concerns about a power battle. Enders on Wednesday defended the decision, saying it was about freeing his no.2 to focus on core operations. The Airbus sales force has been urged not to dwell on the reorganization and to push back "aggressively" against Boeing which won the Paris Airshow for the first time in five years. Sales chief John Leahy, who plans to retire this year, has also warned staff that Airbus faces a stronger and "much more aggressive" competitor, people familiar with the matter said. Airbus took 248 orders between January and June, or 203 after cancellations. As of June 27, Boeing had notched up 407 orders this year, or 361 after cancellations. On Wednesday, China signed a deal to buy 140 Airbus jets. Leahy, who will report to Enders for a few months before handing to his designated successor Kiran Rao, also delivered an internal tribute to Bregier, saying "he helped us win". Bregier, whose reign as head of the planemaking business has coincided with the sale of 5,800 jets, has urged staff to remain focused on customers and pledged to do the same in his new role. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/qatar-airways-cancels-four-a350s-sources- 150852916--finance.html Back to Top Back to Top NATA Call to Action: Say NO to ATC Privatization NATA Call to Action The aviation business community is under threat from a very serious effort by the airlines and Trump Administration to establish a user-fee funded, privatized air traffic control system. The House of Representatives will vote on this proposal in mid-July, making it urgent that you immediately contact your Congressmen and Senators in opposition. To join NATA's effort in opposing a proposal that will "produce uncertainty and unintended consequences without achieving the desired outcomes," visit NATA's Legislative Action Center and ensure your voice is heard on Capitol Hill. After taking action, please consider sharing this message on your own website so that your customers can join you in this effort, click here. The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) has been the voice of aviation business for over 75 years. Representing nearly 2,300 aviation businesses, NATA's member companies provide a broad range of services to general aviation, the airlines and the military and NATA serves as the public policy group representing the interests of aviation businesses before Congress and the federal agencies. For more information about NATA, please visit www.nata.aero, www.twitter.com/nataaero or www.facebook.com/nataaero. 818 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 900 Washington, DC | 800-808-6282 Click Here to Opt Out Back to Top BREITLING DC-3 PROMOTING AVIATION AS IT CIRCUMNAVIGATES THE GLOBE Breitling once again is demonstrating the watch company's passion for aviation this summer as its historic DC-3 aircraft circumnavigates the globe inspiring today's youth while becoming the oldest aircraft to fly around the world. Built in 1939, this Douglas Commercial 3 HB-IRJ was delivered to American Airlines the following year. The twin prop aircraft was later introduced to military service during World War II before returning to commercial airline service. And, like a good timepiece, the precision flight and timeless beauty of this DC-3 has made the iconic aircraft a popular attraction during its historic flight. The Breitling DC-3 is scheduled to make 13 promotional stops across the United States as the aircraft's crew support both the thrill of flight and the education associated with aviation. The monoplane will also make stops in Canada's Toronto and Goose Bay in August. "This aircraft played such an important role in American history and it is a privilege to share it with American aviation fans," Breitling DC-3 Captain Francisco Agullo said on Tuesday. "We look forward to seeing this country's rich culture and passion for aviation and look forward to wrapping up our time in the U.S. at Breitling's flagship boutique in New York." Today, the white and silver aircraft, blazoned with Breitling's signature B script logo on its vertical stabilizer, is poised to complete the final leg of its journey. As of July 4, the precision aircraft had traveled 32,381 km after having flown across nearly two-thirds of the globe. The nearly 20-meter long plane is powered by two upgraded Pratt and Whitney R-1830 engines which can keep the DC-3 aloft for eight hours or nearly 1,500 miles. Headquartered in Dijon, France, the aircraft is sponsored by the Swiss watch manufacturer due in part by the company's rich history in aviation. Breitling watches were strapped to the wrists of many aviation pioneers including NASA astronauts en route to the Moon's surface. Flying along with the crew is a special cargo containing 500 Navitimer aviation chronographs. The steel Navitimer 01 (46 mm) is distinguished with an engraving on its case back with the logo of Breitling's DC-3 World Tour. The watches will be available to the public around October. "We are thrilled to present these limited-edition Navitimer watches to give our customers the opportunity to take a piece of this historic event with them," Breitling USA President Thierry Prissert told AVGeekery.com on Wednesday. "Having these watches circle the globe on one of the most iconic planes in history allows us to share our passion for aviation with people in the United States." On March 9, Breitling's historic Douglas DC-3 HB-IRJ launched on it's round-the-world flight from its home in Geneva, Switzerland - 77 years to the day of it's inaugural flight. Later, the monoplane traveled the length of the Adriatic Sea to Athens, Greece, followed by stops in Israel and Jordan. The pilots of the DC-3 then flew the aircraft across Saudi Arabia, India, and around southeast Asia - stopping at select locations - before making six stops through out May in Japan. June opened with the aircraft's departure from the island country on June 6 to begin it's long trek across the Pacific Ocean and northeast to Alaska and stop number 37 - Anchorage. The DC-3 will soar across California making two-day stops in San Francisco and Los Angeles on July 11 and 13, respectively. Visits to Phoenix, Houston, Dallas, and St. Louis will keep the aircraft busy the third week of July before Breitling arrives at the country's largest airshow. The DC-3 is expected to become a popular attraction at the Oshkosh AirVenture Airshow the entire last week of July. Chicago, Washington, D.C., Boston, and New York will round out the American Tour in August. Breitling's DC-3 will skirt around the northern Atlantic to begin it's European tour during the closing days of August. As the DC-3 soars over Europe, the Breitling Jet Team's European Tour continues through the summer as well as the watch manufacture incorporates their love of flying and their skill and quality of a good time piece. http://www.avgeekery.com/breitling-dc-3-promoting-aviation-as-it-circumnavigates-the- globe/ Curt Lewis