Flight Safety Information July 13, 2017 - No. 140 In This Issue Incident: Thomas Cook A332 near Stornoway on Jul 12th 2017, galley oven emits smoke Incident: PIA A320 at Peshawar on Jul 11th 2017, bird strike Incident: United B738 at Denver on Jul 11th 2017, bird strike Honda HA-420 HondaJet Runway Excursion (Chicago Midway) Cessna 206 Accident (Venezula) Cessna P206D Super Skylane Clipped Trees on Takeoff accident (Kenya) - Video Jet Blast At Caribbean Airport Tosses Tourist To Her Death Navy fix on pilots' oxygen shortage seen stalled by red tape Surging heat may limit aircraft takeoffs globally British Airways airplane that caught fire in Las Vegas back in service Safety watchdog to investigate overshot Norwegian airplane landing Plane's wing clips another's tail at airport Coast Guard plane clips runway at San Francisco airport Safe and secure' travel must top global aviation agenda Singapore to ramp up global aviation training, research FAA to Study Enhanced Vision for Helicopter Operations Runway Incursion Prompts Calls For Safety Upgrades Humanitarian Response Experience: Notification and Family Assistance Training XTI Aircraft Company Expands Board with Silicon Valley Investor Cyprus DCA to work with CAAi to enhance Aviation Oversight Moon Express details plans to mine the moon with robots by 2020 GRADUATE RESEARCH REQUEST (SURVEY) Incident: Thomas Cook A332 near Stornoway on Jul 12th 2017, galley oven emits smoke A Thomas Cook Airbus A330-200, registration G-CHTZ performing flight MT-2824 from Manchester,EN (UK) to Los Angeles,CA (USA), was enroute at FL360 about 60nm southsouthwest of Stornoway,SC (UK) when the crew decided to turn around and return to Manchester after smoke emanated from a galley. The galley power was turned off, cabin crew extinguished a fire in a galley oven. The aircraft landed safely back in Manchester about 2:45 hours after departure. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ab89134&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: PIA A320 at Peshawar on Jul 11th 2017, bird strike A PIA Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A320-200, registration AP-BLB performing flight PK-218 from Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) to Peshawar (Pakistan), was on approach to Peshawar's runway 35 when a bird impacted the left hand wing root fairing causing a fairing panel above the wing to detach and depart the airframe. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on runway 35. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 10.5 hours until the panel was replaced, then resumed service. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ab88669&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: United B738 at Denver on Jul 11th 2017, bird strike A United Boeing 737-800, registration N35260 performing flight UA-1126 from Denver,CO to Anchorage,AK (USA) with 173 people on board, departed Denver's runway 34L when climbing through about 8000 feet MSL the crew declared emergency reporting they just took a bird into the right engine (CFM56) advising the engine was still running, they would still return to Denver and requested emergency services on stand by due to an overweight landing. The aircraft stopped the climb at 9000 feet and returned to Denver for a safe landing on runway 34L about 25 minutes after departure. The FAA reported the aircraft sustained minor damage as result of the bird strike into an engine, providing the registration N188QX, which is a reserved but not assigned tail number according to FAA aircraft database. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ab86530&opt=0 Back to Top Honda HA-420 HondaJet Runway Excursion (Chicago Midway) Date: 12-JUL-2017 Time: 13:36 Type: Honda HA-420 HondaJet Owner/operator: Private Registration: N20UQ C/n / msn: 42000048 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Unknown Category: Serious incident Location: Chicago-Midway Airport, IL (MDW/KMDW) - United States of America Phase: Landing Nature: Unknown Departure airport: Philadelphia International Airport, PA (PHL/KPHL) Destination airport: Chicago-Midway Airport, IL (MDW/KMDW) Narrative: A Honda HA-420 HondaJet corporate jet suffered a runway excursion on landing at Chicago-Midway Airport, Illinois, USA. The aircraft skidded on the grass and came to rest close to the perimeter fence. Preliminary information from video footage and ADS-B data suggest that the aircraft landed on runway 31C and steered off the left side side of the runway just prior to reaching the Engineered Material Arrestor System (EMAS) pad at the end of the runway. Weather reported about the time of the incident (13:36 LT / 18:36Z): KMDW 121853Z 18009G17KT 10SM -RA FEW060 BKN110 BKN130 OVC200 23/21 A2991 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT NE SLP120 P0007 T02280211 $ KMDW 121753Z 21011KT 10SM -RA FEW040 SCT090 BKN120 OVC200 23/21 A2996 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT ALQDS RAB37 SLP135 P0001 60060 T02280206 10256 20206 51006 $ KMDW 121653Z 20011KT 10SM FEW045 SCT060 BKN110 OVC150 23/21 A2995 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT W AND NW RAE41 TSE09 SLP133 P0001 T02280211 https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=196631 Back to Top Cessna 206 Accident (Venezula) Date: 12-JUL-2017 Time: Type: Cessna 206 Owner/operator: Private Registration: YV1270 C/n / msn: Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: between Canaima and Angostura - Venezuela Phase: En route Nature: Private Departure airport: La Paragua Destination airport: Canaima Narrative: The plane crashed under unknown circumstances. Both occupants sustained injuries. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=196633 Back to Top Cessna P206D Super Skylane Clipped Trees on Takeoff accident (Kenya) - Video Date: 12-JUL-2017 Time: 1330hrs Type: Cessna P206D Super Skylane Owner/operator: Private Registration: 5Y-PEB C/n / msn: P206 0520 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 5 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Langata, Nairobi - Kenya Phase: En route Nature: Domestic Non Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Wilson airport Destination airport: Kabarak Narrative: Aircraft was ferrying journalist to NASA rally. The plane crashed, clipped trees, under unknown circumstances shortly after takeoff. All occupants were injured. The journalists sustained minor injuries while the pilots were badly injured. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=196629 Back to Top Jet Blast At Caribbean Airport Tosses Tourist To Her Death Christine Negroni , CONTRIBUTOR I write about aviation and travel. St. Maarten's Av Geek Mecca has its first jet blast fatality Jet blast from an airliner departing St. Maarten's Princess Juliana Airport has claimed the life of a plane-spotter at the Caribbean beach internationally famed for its views of airliners on approach, according to a police report posted on the 721 news site in the Dutch Antilles. Photographers and thrill seekers ignore warnings of jet blast danger Christine Negroni The news bulletin reports the spectator was a 57-year old woman, a tourist from New Zealand, who was one of several people standing close to the fence that separates the runway from a narrow road and Maho Beach. The force of the blast tossed her to the ground and she hit her head. In a video posted on YouTube, paramedics are seen trying to revive her, but she died after being taken to a local medical center. Billy Simmonds posted on Facebook that he saw the event and that the airplane taking off was Caribbean Airlines, which according to Flight Aware would have been a Boeing 737 departing for Trinidad. It is common to see thrill-seekers hanging from the airport fence in defiance of several large signs that read in English and French, ""Do not stand. Danger. Jet Blast." Beach goers may not understand the hazard of standing behind jet engines as they spool up for takeoff, but the force expelled can "up-root trees, flatten building structures, shatter windows, lift and propel heavy objects," according to a NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System survey by Rowena Morrison. This would be the first aviation-related death at the beach which is often referred to as Av Geek Mecca, but it is not uncommon for visitors to the beach to be tossed and even pushed into the water by airplanes arriving and taking off at the region's hub airport. In 2012 a young woman was serious injured as she was thrown against a concrete Jersey barrier by the blast of an arriving JetBlue airplane. Video of the episode was posted on YouTube in 2012. https://www.forbes.com/sites/christinenegroni/2017/07/12/jet-blast-at-caribbean-airport-tosses- tourist-to-her-death/#642c2a792706 Back to Top Navy fix on pilots' oxygen shortage seen stalled by red tape An F-35 Lightning II is seen at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., on March 10, 2014. The Navy's hunt for a solution to its top aviation safety issue - oxygen deprivation and loss of cockpit cabin pressure in its training aircraft and fighters - is hampered by communications breakdowns between engineers and pilots, according to the Senate Armed Services Committee. "While a lot of good work was being done and data being created and analyzed, those efforts are not always being effectively communicated down to the flightline, where the dangers" of oxygen- deprivation related physiological episodes, or PEs, "are most acute," the committee said in the report it released late Tuesday on its fiscal 2018 defense policy bill, S 1519. The senators urged the Navy "to consider designating a single individual for each" aircraft class affected - F/A-18 Hornets and Super Hornets fighters, electronic jamming EA-18 Growlers and T-45 Goshawks trainers - "to act as bridge between engineer and operator to ensure that a positive and frequent communications flow" increases as solutions are sought. At the request of Republican committee member Roger Wicker of Mississippi, the bill would authorize the Defense Department to launch a nationwide competition with a $10 million prize to find a solution to the vexing and persistent problem. The Navy grounded its fleet of T-45s for two days in April - including those flown at Naval Air Station Meridian in Wicker's home state - over the safety issue. All F-18 models, including the Super Hornet that President Donald Trump has championed, have shown steady annual increases in physiological episodes, according to service testimony in March. What's more, the data show that incidents of oxygen deprivation and cabin decompression have escalated in the last year, while officials work to determine the root cause. Still, lawmakers continued this year to add Boeing F/A-18s over Trump's official budget request for 14. In its "unfunded list" the Navy suggested adding $739 million for 10 more Super Hornets. The Senate panel's bill would authorize the 10, while the House Armed Services Committee added eight in its authorization bill, H.R. 2810. "While the committee understands Navy senior leadership is focused on the issue" and a team's been in place since 2010 "to try and solve the issues, the committee is concerned that no solutions have been found at the same time that recent events indicate the situation may be getting worse," the Senate panel wrote. It wouldn't be appropriate to comment on pending legislation, but "the Navy appreciates all support, tools and authority that can help resolve this issue, both today and in the future," Lt. Kara Yingling, a spokeswoman for the service, said in an email. If the provision calling for a contest becomes law, the "Navy will assess how best to employ such authority." "Minimizing the risks of physiological episodes remains the top safety priority for Naval Aviation - and it will remain our top safety priority until we fully understand all possible causes and find solutions," she said. "This is a complex issue, one without a single cause, and therefore, without a single solution. We've established a dedicated team of professionals from various fields to attack this complex issue, and we will stay after it until we fix it." she said. The rate of reported occurrences of the physiological episodes per 100,000 flight hours almost doubled in the year ended Oct. 31 from the previous year on older F-18 models, according to Navy statistics provided to House Armed Services. The Navy isn't the only service dealing with oxygen deprivation, also known as hypoxia, and the F- 18 isn't the only fighter jet affected. Luke Air Force Base in Arizona last month temporarily grounded all of its F-35 planes made by Lockheed Martin Corp. because pilots there experienced hypoxia. The Senate panel said it's also concerned that while the Navy "has repeatedly stated that their efforts to solve the problem are 'resourced unconstrained' it is unclear how much money and manpower is being expended on the effort." Since money is flowing from a variety of sources, "it is difficult to get a clear picture of the total effort, inhibiting proper oversight and limiting analysis of where" money could be added to accelerate the effort, it said. https://www.stripes.com/news/navy/navy-fix-on-pilots-oxygen-shortage-seen-stalled-by-red-tape- 1.477703#.WWc9r4TyuUk Back to Top Surging heat may limit aircraft takeoffs globally Rising temperatures due to global warming will make it harder for many aircraft around the world to take off in coming decades, says a new study. During the hottest parts of the day, 10 to 30 percent of fully loaded planes may have to remove some fuel, cargo or passengers, or else wait for cooler hours to fly, the study concludes. The study, which is the first such global analysis, appears today in the journal Climatic Change. "Our results suggest that weight restriction may impose a non-trivial cost on airline and impact aviation operations around the world," said lead author Ethan Coffel, a Columbia University PhD. student. As air warms, it spreads out, and its density declines. In thinner air, wings generate less lift as a plane races along a runway. Thus, depending on aircraft model, runway length and other factors, at some point a packed plane may be unable to take off safely if the temperature gets too high. Weight must be dumped, or else the flight delayed or canceled. Average global temperatures have gone up nearly 1 degree Centigrade (1.8 Fahrenheit) since about 1980, and this may already be having an effect. In late June, American Airlines canceled more than 40 flights out of Phoenix, Ariz., when daytime highs of nearly 120 degrees made it too hot for smaller regional jets to take off. Worldwide, average temperatures are expected to go up as much as another 3 degrees C (5.4 degrees F) by 2100. But that is only part of the story; heat waves will probably become more prevalent, with annual maximum daily temperatures at airports worldwide projected to go up 4 to 8 degrees C (7.2 to 14.4 F) by 2080, according to the study. It is these heat waves that may produce the most problems. "This points to the unexplored risks of changing climate on aviation," said coauthor Radley Horton, a climatologist at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. "As the world gets more connected and aviation grows, there may be substantial potential for cascading effects, economic and otherwise." Most studies so far have focused on how aviation may affect global warming (aircraft comprise about 2 percent of global greenhouse-gas emissions), not vice versa. But a handful of studies have warned that warming climate may increase dangerous turbulence along major air routes, and head winds that could lengthen travel times. Rising sea levels are already threatening to swamp some major airports. Coffel and Horton may be the only ones so far to look at takeoffs. In 2015, they published a smaller-scale paper, predicting up to four times more future temperature-related takeoff problems for the common Boeing 737-800 at Phoenix, as well as Denver, New York's LaGuardia and Washington's Ronald Reagan. The new study projects effects on a wide range of jets at these, plus 15 of the other busiest airports in the United States, Europe, the Mideast, China and south Asia. The authors estimate that if globe-warming emission continue unabated, fuel capacities and payload weights will have to be reduced by as much as 4 percent on the hottest days for some aircraft. If the world somehow manages to sharply reduce carbon emissions soon, such reductions may amount to as little as 0.5 percent, they say. Either figure is significant in an industry that operates on thin profit margins. For an average aircraft operating today, a 4 percent weight reduction would mean roughly 12 or 13 fewer passengers on an average 160-seat craft. This does not count the major logistical and economic effects of delays and cancellations that can instantly ripple from one air hub to another, said Horton. Some aircraft with lower temperature tolerances will far worse than others, and certain airports- those with shorter runways, in hotter parts of the world or at higher elevations, where the air is already thinner-will suffer more. For instance, facing LaGuardia's short runways, a Boeing 737-800 may have to offload weight half the time during the hottest days. Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, might be worse; its runways are long, but its temperatures are already very high. Airports probably less affected because they are in temperate regions and have long runways include New York's JFK, London Heathrow and Paris's Charles de Gaulle. Horton said that some effects could be mitigated with new engine or body designs, or expanded runways. But modifications would come at a cost, as aircraft are already highly engineered for efficiency; and expanded runways in densely packed cities such as New York are not an option. "The sooner climate can be incorporated into mid- and long-range plans, the more effective adaptation efforts can be," said Coffel. https://phys.org/news/2017-07-surging-limit-aircraft-takeoffs-globally.html#jCp Back to Top British Airways airplane that caught fire in Las Vegas back in service On Sept. 8, 2015, the left engine on Flight 2276 exploded into a fireball during takeoff at McCarran International Airport. (KSNV) LAS VEGAS (KSNV News3LV) - The British Airways jet that caught fire on a Las Vegas runway is back in service. "At about 90 knots the left engine, the number one engine, had a catastrophic failure. In other words, it basically exploded," says Keith Mackey, an aviation expert and former pilot. The catastrophe crippled the Boeing 777, which took six months to repair at an estimated cost of several million dollars. The $200 million aircraft finally returned to flight on February 25, 2016, and to commercial service a month later. The aircraft has also been assigned a new number for its British Airways travels. It's now known as Flight 2263. The Boeing 777 has a registration number of G-VIIO, which allows its flights to be tracked. It currently ferries passengers on nonstop flights between London and Jamaica, and London and Orlando, Florida. Flight 2263 has yet to return to Las Vegas. http://news3lv.com/news/local/british-airways-airplane-that-caught-fire-in-las-vegas-back-in- service Back to Top Safety watchdog to investigate overshot Norwegian airplane landing A plane operated by bargain carrier Norwegian, carrying 166 people, skidded off the runway during landing at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport on Tuesday. The situation was deemed unusual and dangerous enough to warrant a preliminary investigation by the Safety Investigation Authority. The Safety Investigation Authority of Finland (Otkes) has begun an initial investigation into the case of a Norwegian airline plane that slid off its designated runway during landing at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport on Tuesday. None of the 166 passengers on board were injured during the unusual turn of events. Otkes communications chief Sakari Lauriala says that the preliminary investigation will take at least a week, during which both of the plane's black boxes will be analysed and the pilot inverviewed. "After this initial probe we'll known whether to start a full-scale investigation," Lauriala says. Otkes investigations usually only begin in cases that appear especially severe. Plane rolled onto lawn Air traffic authority Finavia says that the DY4287 flight from Stockholm to Helsinki was scheduled to arrive at 6:25 pm Tuesday evening, but was delayed, arriving 40 minutes late at 7:10 pm. For reasons still unknown the plane did not stop on the runway but overshot the runway, ending up on the grass. The plane was towed off the grass by tractor and the passengers exited the aircraft around 8 pm, Finavia reports. Lauriala says that events of this kind are quite rare, but it has investigated similar landings at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport in 2012 and at Lappeenranta in 2008. https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/ Back to Top Plane's wing clips another's tail at airport (July 12, 2017) There was a small collision on the ramp at Nantucket Memorial Airport Sunday when the wingtip on one plane hit the tail of another earlier this week, airport officials said. Nantucket Memorial Airport environmental coordinator Noah Karberg said there was a "minor incident" Sunday at 4:30 p.m. when a King Air 350 was taxiing on the southwest ramp and its wingtip made contact with the tail of a LearJet 60 that was parked. "There were no injuries and no fuel spill associated with this incident," Karberg said in an email. "At this time, I have no further information regarding the extent of the damage sustained, if any." http://www.ack.net/news/20170712/planes-wing-clips-anothers-tail-at-airport Back to Top Coast Guard plane clips runway at San Francisco airport SAN FRANCISCO - The U.S. Coast Guard says it's investigating what led the propeller of one of its twin-engine planes to clip a runway at San Francisco International Airport as the aircraft prepared to take off. There were no injuries. Coast Guard officials say the plane involved in Tuesday's incident was a Sacramento-based C-27 plane that was on a logistics flight. Officials say that the four-member crew aborted the flight after one of the plane's propellers made contact with the runway. They say the plane will be moved to the Coast Guard's air station at SFO so crews can inspect the damage and determine what led to the plane's failure. https://www.navytimes.com/articles/coast-guard-plane-clips-runway-at-san-francisco-airport Back to Top Safe and secure' travel must top global aviation agenda SINGAPORE - With terrorism and cyber crime emerging as global threats in the aviation sector, the focus must be on enhancing capabilities to ensure "safe and secure" air travel for passengers, said Minister for Education (Schools) and Second Minister for Transport Mr Ng Chee Meng. Speaking at the opening of the World Civil Aviation Chief Executives Forum, he highlighted that aviation security has to be a key priority, even as the aviation sector is set for growth. Noting that the outlook for international aviation is bright, Mr Ng cited forecasts by Airbus and Boeing which project a 4 per cent annual growth rate in air traffic. "At this rate, air traffic will double within the next 15 or so years," he said. "We will have to pay much more attention to aviation security. We need to increase our capabilities to ensure safe and secure air travel for passengers, even as we facilitate aviation growth," said Mr Ng. Adding that human capital development and knowledge sharing will be critical, he pointed to Singapore's agreement with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) on cooperation in leadership and management training, which will include aviation safety and security training. The aviation security programme will equip aviation leaders with the latest developments on the international civil aviation security framework and its underlying principles, to effectively manage aviation security. The programme will be conducted at locations worldwide from 2018 to 2020, Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said in a statement to the press. Separately, the CAAS also signed an agreement with the Singapore University of Technology and Design to collaborate and engage in the areas of aviation research, innovation and talent development. Dr Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, president of the Council of ICAO, said international efforts to coordinate the new security thrust are ongoing. The organisation's new global aviation security plan was endorsed by the ICAO Council last month, and is being circulated among member states for comments, he said. ICAO will convene its inaugural Aviation Security Symposium in September, which will make member states "more connected and integrated as a global network than ever before", said Dr Aliu. Referring to ICAO's stand on the restrictions on the carriage of laptops and other portable electronic devices into aircraft, Dr Aliu stated: "Our guiding priority in this area is ... to ensure that all related security and safety risks are fully considered and prudently balanced. "We have established a multi-disciplinary cargo safety group to undertake an in-depth analysis and the latest findings will be presented to the ICAO Council at its 212th session this autumn." On threats associated with aviation's cybersecurity vulnerabilities, Dr Aliu said a joint declaration was produced at ICAO's first Cyber Summit and Exhibition at Dubai in April. Efforts to come up with an "effective and collaborative" global cyber security response to "protect networks, infrastructure and customers" will be boosted when the new system-wide information management provisions come into force next year, he added. Building on global strategic partnerships, Dr Aliu highlighted that the organisation's "No Country Left Behind" initiative is core to ICAO's efforts aimed at capacity building globally. It assumes significance as less regulated or developed countries could turn out be weak links and easy targets for terrorists and cyber criminals. Updating on aviation emissions and offsetting efforts, Dr Aliu noted that the aviation sector was forging "real climate leadership" in comparison to other global industry sectors. In March, the first-ever global certification CO2 standard for aircraft was adopted by the ICAO Council, following closely on the ICAO Assembly's adoption last October of the carbon offsetting and reduction scheme for international aviation (Corsia). "We expect that more than 90 per cent of international aviation emissions will likely be covered under the Corsia at the start of the voluntary, pilot phase," said Dr Aliu, adding that this would help reduce international aviation CO2 emissions. Rumi Hardasmalani http://www.todayonline.com/business/safe-and-secure-travel-must-top-global-aviation-agenda Back to Top Singapore to ramp up global aviation training, research Second Minister for Transport Ng Chee Meng speaks at the World Civil Aviation Chief Executives Forum. (Photo: Mediacorp) SINGAPORE: Singapore on Wednesday (Jul 12) inked an agreement with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to ramp up global aviation training and research. Under the agreement, the two sides will jointly develop a course on aviation security, targeted at civil aviation leaders. The programme will be run seven times at locations across the globe from 2018 to 2020. Separately, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) signed an agreement with the Singapore University of Technology and Design for research collaboration. The tie-up will focus on aviation and air traffic management areas like international aviation governance and aviation technologies. Speaking at the World Civil Aviation Chief Executives Forum, Second Minister for Transport Ng Chee Meng noted that while the outlook for the aviation sector was upbeat, challenges remained. Mr Ng - who is also Minister for Education (Schools) - said one of the main challenges facing the industry was creating a "stable and enabling regulatory environment". "For civil aviation to thrive, airlines need the assurance that they can continue to operate in a business environment that is balanced, predictable and (that) has rational policies and regulations," said Mr Ng. "Regulators should therefore seek to harness the benefits of fair competition and reduce barriers to innovation," he added. "We should liberalise air rights regimes, bilaterally and also at the multilateral levels, to give airlines the commercial flexibility to develop and operate new services to meet the growing demand for air travel." Source: CNA/nc http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/singapore-to-ramp-up-global-aviation-training- research-9026410 Back to Top FAA to Study Enhanced Vision for Helicopter Operations Video image displayed on a Genesys Aerosystems IDU680 provides unprecedented level of situational awareness and safetyVideo image displayed on a Genesys Aerosystems IDU680 provides unprecedented level of situational awareness and safety. Photo: Astronics Corp. Astronics Corp. subsidiary Astronics Max-Viz is teaming up with the FAA to research operational concepts for the use of enhanced vision systems in helicopters, Astronics said. The collaboration employs Astronics' Max-Viz 1500 and Max-Viz 2300 systems for testing onboard an Sikorsky S-76 that the FAA uses for flight testing. "While [enhanced flight vision systems] rules exist for approaches to runways at airports, comparable regulations for [enhanced flight vision systems] do not exist for helicopters flying to onshore or offshore helipads at heliports," the company said. The hope for the study is to develop a basis for possible application of these systems. Astronics is lending the use of its Max-Viz 2300 and Max-Viz 1500 systems. The Max-Viz 1500 sensor would be used for baseline testing, followed by the installation of Max-Viz 2300. The latter would be used for observation of LED lighting, Astronics said. The FAA's William J. Hughes Technical Center is host to the vision system tests, located at the Atlantic City International Airport in New Jersey. Astronics said that results of the study are to be used by the FAA to assess effectiveness of enhanced vision for flight safety and operational effectiveness in helicopters. Astronics describes Max-Viz 2300 as an enhanced vision system featuring a multi-spectral imager, which blends the separate signal from a long wave infrared sensor with a visible light sensor. The blended thermal image produced by the sensors is black and white, but the color HD-compatible signal from the visible light camera can be routed to a cabin entertainment system or cockpit display, according to Astronics. It is certificated to RTCA DO-160G standards. In April, Elbit Systems announced its partnership with the FAA. Multiple Elbit systems were to be tested on the FAA's S-76. Products might include Heli-ClearVision and subsystems such as the Skylens/SkyVis head-worn display and the HeliEVS, Synthetic Vision System and Combined Vision System. In additional to operational concepts, the assessments would look at characterizing sensor criteria for maintaining visual references/cues during the visual segments of instrument approach procedures and enhancing visual flight rules (VFR) operations. The FAA issued a final rule, in December 2016, for the use of enhanced vision systems in fixed wing cockpits for pilots flying Parts 121, 125 and 135 certificated aircraft. It permits pilots to, instead of using natural vision, use enhanced vision to continue descending from 100 feet above the touchdown zone elevation (TDZE) to the runway and to land on certain straight-in instrument approach procedure (IAP) under instrument flight rules (IFR). The rule became effective March 13. In summarizing the final rule on enhanced vision, the FAA stated that it will also address "provisions that permit operators who conduct [enhanced flight vision systems] operations under parts 121, 125, or 135 to use [enhanced flight vision system]-equipped aircraft to dispatch, release, or takeoff under IFR, and revises the regulations for those operators to initiate and continue an approach, when the destination airport weather is below authorized visibility minimums for the runway of intended landing." Operators looking to use enhanced vision system technology for the newly authorized landing procedures are subject to "additional airworthiness requirements" that the FAA did not specify within its summary of the new rule. http://www.aviationtoday.com/2017/07/13/faa-study-enhanced-vision-helicopter-operations/ Back to Top Runway Incursion Prompts Calls For Safety Upgrades WASHINGTON-Had the crew of an Air Dolomiti Embraer 195 waited a few seconds longer to takeoff on Runway 7R at Brussels Airport on the night of Oct. 5, 2016, the outcome of a serious runway incursion with a landing Aer LingusAirbusA320 on a crossing runway may have been far worse. "The fact that DLH4TX [the Air Dolomiti flight] did not start the takeoff run 10-15 sec. later is just a matter of circumstances (chance)," Belgium's Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) said in the recently released final report. "Would that have been the case, then the outcome was the exposure of EIN638 [the Aer Lingus flight] to DLH4TX's jet blast or a collision between the two aircraft." The Air Dolomiti crew was told by tower controllers to "line up and wait" on Brussels Runway 7R at the intersection with taxiway C6. The Aer Lingus flight was on short final to Runway 1, which intersects the Runway 7R centerline approximately 300 ft. beyond the C6 wait point. After turning on to the runway and lining up, the Air Dolomiti crew departed without a clearance to takeoff. "The crew looked to the left and right and reported no traffic in sight," the AAIU said. "During the lineup, the crew stated they had an optimum visual field of Runway 1 and, again, did not notice any landing light in sight. Further, when aligned on Runway 7R, the captain asked the first officer whether they received the takeoff clearance, to which the first officer answered positively." Once the E195 was rolling, the tower controller saw the motion and received an alert from the airport's ground surveillance system, which monitors approximately 300 ft. on either side Runway 1's centerline at crossing runways. "It was impossible for the tower (controller) to react fast enough in order to stop the departing aircraft before it reached the runway intersection," the AAIU said. "However in this case, there was just enough time to instruct EIN638 to go-around, because this aircraft was still at a sufficient distance from the runway intersection." The Aer Lingus aircraft had also seen the E195 moving, and was about to call the controller when receiving the go-around command. The Air Dolomiti captain and first officer were 52 and 45 years old, respectively, and highly experienced on the Embraer, with more than 4,000-hr. flight time, but were "not very" familiar with Brussels Airport, he AAIU said. Neither was considered fatigued at the time of the incident. The AAIU faulted the Air Dolomiti crew for departing before being cleared, but noted that there were mitigating factors that, if addressed, could help avoid similar incidents in the future. A review of similar incidents-crews taking off without a takeoff clearance-showed that Brussels Airport experiences about two such takeoffs every year. This failure rate also matches the frequency of similar events in the Belgian rail sector for red-signal violations by train drivers, according to the AAIU. In its recommendations, the AAIU is calling on Brussels Airport to reduce the complexity of the taxi route to the incident takeoff position on Runway 7R (the Air Dolomiti crew had been confused by the taxi route), and to improve indicators that would alert crews to traffic on the intersecting runway. The AAIU suggested that air navigation service provider Belgocontrol develop procedures to prevent controllers from issuing lineup-and-wait instructions for Runway 7R, depending on the closeness of traffic landing on Runway 1. Separate from the recommendations, the airport asked controllers to advise crews of the nearest traffic when issuing lineup-and-wait commands, a memory item that could help crews refrain from taking off without a clearance. The AAIU called on Air Dolomiti to modify its operations manual to state that takeoff clearance must be heard by each crew member and confirmed between them. If there are doubts, the crew must get clarification from air traffic control. Air Dolomiti made several voluntary changes after the incident, including having its crews turn on their landing lights only after receiving takeoff clearance-a reminder to prevent taking off without a clearance. "Air Dolomiti was using the 'landing light' procedure on its former fleet of aircraft, but discontinued it after the renewal of the fleet with Embraer 195 [aircraft]," the AAIU said . "Air Dolomiti wanted to streamline its procedures and stick to the aircraft manufacturer's instructions, which did not include the 'landing light' procedure." www.aviationweek.com Back to Top Private jet industry takes off in India (CNN) - The Indian private jet industry is the latest playground for the country's wealthiest. Billions of dollars worth of new private aircraft have entered India over the past 10 years -- making it the ninth largest in the world, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). By 2026, it's expected to overtake the UK to become the third largest in the world. "The surge will take India from 18th globally (in terms of private jet numbers) to fourth. Intriguingly, the country boasts almost double (111) the amount of private jets than China, even though China has many more billionaires," writes William Stolerman at Luxury Insider, Asia's leading online luxury magazine. "Leading the private aviation revolution are the likes of the Ambani brothers, the Tatas, the Ruias' Essar Group, TVS, KP Singh's DLF, Gautam Thapar, the Jindals and Cyrus Poonawala." Luxury jets whisk VIPs to their destinations in flying palaces Meeting with Gulfstream Can't go in the cockpit? What rubbish, I own it. We meet Gulfstream, North American manufacturers of some of the world's most technologically advanced business-jet aircrafts, on their recent visit to Mumbai. We imagine they know their game, since the United States accounts for over 50% of the global market at the moment and they have a 200-order backlog for the G650, Gulfstream's new flagship aircraft. In their briefcases, they're carrying information on eight models for sale in India. They begin with the mid-size, wide-cabin, high-speed Gulfstream G150, at approximately $1.1 million (Rs 71 crore), and go all the way to the ultra-large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G650 -- the fastest, longest-range and largest purpose-built private aircraft in the world. Base price tag? Around $45 million (Rs 298 crore). Big deal. Those are digits Shah Rukh can generate in two films. Reliance Big Pictures is rumored to have bought the rights to SRK's "Don 2" for around $19.5 millon (Rs 125 crore), and there's talk that Eros International is buying Khan's home-production "Ra.One" for $27 million (Rs 175 crore). Add that together. $46.6 million (Rs 300 crore) is also about the amount telecaster Doordarshan will earn from ad sales in the 12 days of the Commonwealth Games telecast next week. There's money in India, and Gulfstream's fleet of business jets hopes to cater to every price point and mission requirement from 2,950 to 7,000 nautical miles. The G650 is the only traditional business jet capable of flying 7,000 nautical miles nonstop at a speed of Mach 0.995. The G550 is also a favorite with the "I'm kind of a big deal" corporate sorts, because it can accommodate 14 to 18 passengers, depending on the configuration. Design choices, contrary to what you would imagine, are various. Leather, fabrics, wood veneers, metallic finishes, as well as crystal, china and flatware -- at no extra cost. Customers have a lot of flexibility when it comes to the cabin layout as well. For example, they can choose whether to have the galley placed forward or aft; or whether to have a private stateroom in the back. Stateroom, did you say? Gulfstream takes the long view with latest luxury jet What more could you ask for? Pleasure doing business with me. A high-definition flat-screen television? Yes. Fully berthable seats? Yes. Internet access? Yes. Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP)? Yes. Noise-cancelling headphones for each passenger seat? Yes. Touch-screen remote controls? Yes. A fully-functioning galley where you can make hot food? Yes, yes, yes. I could get used to this. Easy now, buying your own jet isn't all glamor. As well as asking yourself a couple of serious questions such as whether you'll use the aircraft enough to justify the investment, how many people will be traveling with you on most occasions and what the operational expenses will be (insurance, fuel costs, maintenance, airport fees and pilot fees, for example), you need to think about a couple of caveats too, advises Gulfstream. If you want a shower, you'll have to sacrifice some range and speed because your aircraft will be carrying gallons of water (which weigh a lot). Also, as a rule of thumb, all the materials selected have to be certified as both smoke- and fire-retardant, a critical safety must. Finally, private jets must receive regular inspections and maintenance to ensure their continued airworthiness. Unlike an automobile, where much of the maintenance is optional, an aircraft operator must adhere to the outlined maintenance schedule in order to maintain the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness. You're interested. Now how do you go about sealing the deal? You need not have the full payment ready right away but you will have to demonstrate commitment with a deposit when you initially sign the purchase agreement. This is where things get serious: the agreement outlines the model of aircraft you purchased, the equipment you want, the delivery time frame and the terms of prepayment. For Gulfstream customers, delivery is generally taken at the headquarters in Savannah, Georgia, or one of their other completion centers, such as Appleton, Wisconsin or Long Beach, California. The company will get your plane where it needs to be and give you all the support you need. You'll be connected with the worldwide Product Support network to help you wherever you may fly. Gulfstream will even send a captain and technician along with the customer during his first few days of operation to ensure a seamless transition. Gulfstream Regional Vice President Jason Akovenko, who is responsible for the Asia-Pacific region, has seen sales shift from 60% North American to 60% international in the last few years, with much of the shift toward Asian markets. The growth of private aviation in India, Akovenko thinks, can be linked to various trends including "India's dynamic business culture, increasing global business linkages including Indian acquisitions abroad, and recognition in government and industry that aviation helps foster economic growth." This is symbolic of a huge shift in the mindset of corporate India. What was once seen as an aspirational luxury of the highest kind will increasingly be viewed simply as the cost of doing business at an international level. http://www.cnn.com/travel/article/india-private-jets/index.html Back to Top Back to Top XTI Aircraft Company Expands Board with Silicon Valley Investor DENVER, Colo., July 12, 2017 - XTI Aircraft Company (XTI) announced that Silicon Valley investor and serial entrepreneur Paul Willard has joined XTI's board of directors for a three-year term, effective June 15, 2017. "Paul spent seven years as a Boeing aerodynamics engineer," said David Brody, founder and Chairman of XTI, "including work on VTOL aircraft. This by itself would be reason enough to invite Paul to join our board. Yet, he brings so much more, as an investor in XTI, as a visionary investor in other early stage companies, and as co-founder of successful investment funds." Willard commented, "XTI's leadership team and the TriFan technology are impressive, and I appreciate the opportunity to join a project with a veteran team, a disruptive product, and a substantial addressable market. In addition to my personal stake in the company, I hope to make a contribution assisting with our capital raise, and helping to create a solid foundation for XTI's long- term success." Robert LaBelle, XTI's Chief Executive Officer, added, "Paul has actively managed technology startups in Silicon Valley since 1999. His combination of skills and experience is very rare and is ideal for XTI as we continue to develop the TriFan 600 and to raise capital for our revolutionary vertical takeoff airplane." The TriFan is a major breakthrough in aviation and air travel. The six-seat TriFan 600 will have the speed, range and comfort of a business jet and the ability to take off and land vertically, like a helicopter. It will travel at over 300 miles an hour, with a range of over 1,200 miles. Using three ducted fans, the TriFan lifts off vertically and then its two wing fans rotate forward for a seamless transition to cruise speed and its initial climb. It will reach 30,000 feet in just ten minutes and cruise to the destination as a highly efficient business aircraft. On June 19, at the Paris Air Show, XTI announced its first three orders for the TriFan 600 under the company's pre-sales program. Mr. LaBelle said that the customer is a globally recognized operator who intends to place the airplane into service flying priority passengers and cargo in VIP and Utility missions in multiple challenging environments. "The market is recognizing the value proposition of our unique and revolutionary airplane and its patented technology," said LaBelle. "Vertical takeoff combined with long-range, the speed and comfort of a business jet, and our quieter and cleaner state-of-the-art hybrid-electric propulsion system." XTI launched a formal stock offering in 2016 under SEC Regulation A+, which is open to all unaccredited and accredited investors around the globe. Shares in XTI may be purchased at www.startengine.com/startup/xti providing a unique opportunity for the general public to invest in an aerospace company with a game-changing product, a world-class leadership team, and significant growth potential. Simultaneously with the equity crowdfunding financing, accredited investors may participate in XTI's $20 million Series B round. Accredited investors seeking more information should contact Mr. LaBelle at rlabelle@xtiaircraft.com (571) 216-1594. ABOUT XTI AIRCRAFT COMPANY XTI Aircraft Company is a privately owned aviation business based near Denver, founded in 2012. XTI is guided by a leadership team with decades of experience, a deep well of expertise, and success bringing new aircraft to market. XTI is founded on a culture of customer-focused problem solving to meet the evolving needs of modern travelers. For information and updates about XTI Aircraft Company and the TriFan 600, visit www.xtiaircraft.com . To invest, go to www.startengine.com/startup/xti, or accredited investors may contact Mr. LaBelle at rlabelle@xtiaircraft.com (571) 216-1594. For information on reserving a priority position for the TriFan under the Company's pre-sales program, contact Mr. LaBelle. Media Contact for XTI Aircraft Company: Diane Simard Sr. Vice President/Director/Media Relations Bye Aerospace DSimard@ByeAerospace.com Direct: (303) 817-7676 Visit the Sun Flyer prototype at Booth #19 at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2017 Back to Top Cyprus DCA to work with CAAi to enhance Aviation Oversight The Cyprus Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) has appointed CAA International (CAAi), the state- to-state advisory arm of the UK Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA) to provide the DCA with technical safety oversight and certification support. CAAi's assistance will be focused on flight operations and airworthiness. As one of Europe's top tourist destinations and a large majority of visitors arriving to the island nation by air, continually enhancing civil aviation standards is a top priority for Cyprus' government. CAAi will act as an Advisor to Cyprus DCA and the support will include flight operation inspections and airworthiness surveillance of aircraft registered in Cyprus, Air Operator Certificate holders and approved maintenance organisations. Matthew Margesson, Head of International Development of CAAi, said: "We are delighted to be working with the Department of Civil Aviation in Cyprus once again. With just under 9 million passengers flying through Cyprus each year*, while over 2.5 million fly from and to Cyprus through UK airports**, it is important to us that not only UK travellers but passengers from across the world can enjoy the high standard of safety aviation oversight when travelling to and from Cyprus''. The project is expected to run for a period of one year. For more information, please contact: stuart.coates@caainternational.com Back to Top Moon Express details plans to mine the moon with robots by 2020 Spaceflight company Moon Express has released its plans to mine the moon with robots and it aims to get started by 2020. The company was founded in 2010 with the aim of winning the Google Lunar Xprize -- a competition to get privately funded spacecraft on the moon. And while it still has its sights on that prize, Moon Express has planned beyond that and has laid out a strategy for establishing its lunar outpost in just a few years. The company's first moon mission, dubbed Lunar Scout, will use Rocket Lab's Electron rocket to send its MX-1E robotic explorer to land on and deliver several payloads -- including the International Lunar Observatory -- to the moon. If completed by the end of this year and before the four other finalists for the Lunar Xprize, this mission could win Moon Express the competition's $20 million prize. Lunar Outpost, the second planned mission, will establish Moon Express' commercial presence on the moon's South Pole using its MX-2 system. Once set up, the robots will prospect for water and minerals. Finally, the third mission, Harvest Moon, will bring samples from the moon back to Earth and Moon Express hopes to complete this leg by 2020. The MX-1E lander hasn't yet been completed and Rocket Lab is still working on the Electron rocket, which has only flown once so far with two more test launches planned for this year. However, Moon Express does have coveted FAA clearance to land on the moon and it was the first private company to be granted such approval. Mining for water and rocks on the moon has both commercial and research value. Water and ice at the lunar poles can be used as rocket propellant and Moon Express says on its website, "The discovery of water on the Moon is a game changer, not just for the economic viability of lunar resources, but for the economics of reaching Mars and other deep space destinations. Water is the oil of the solar system, and the Moon will become a gas station in the sky." As for moon rocks, harvesting them and bringing them back to Earth could be a lucrative business for the company. As Ars Technica reports, NASA never sold any of its Apollo mission lunar haul, but three rocks from the Soviet moon mission weighing just 0.2 grams sold for $442,500 in 1993. Moon Express says its lunar samples will also be used to benefit science. The plan is pretty ambitious and there's still plenty Moon Express has to do before completing it or nabbing the Lunar Xprize championship, but we're in for an exciting few years if the company can pull it off. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/moon-express-details-plans-mine-200800465.html Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH REQUEST (SURVEY) Pavement Management Research Request Hello, my name is Mary Popko and I am a student as San Diego State University currently working towards a B.S. in Statistics. I would like to request your participation in my survey regarding pavement management through the use of advanced technology. The survey is less than ten questions long. Thank you so much for your assistance. Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WJ8T9M6 Mary Popko San Diego State University Department of Mathematics and Statistics Curt Lewis