Flight Safety Information July 19, 2017 - No. 144 In This Issue Incident: Delta MD88 near Chattanooga on Jul 17th 2017, cargo smoke indication Incident: Finnair E190 near Helsinki on Jul 18th 2017, lightning strike Incident: Smartwings A320 at Bourgas on Jul 18th 2017, runway excursion Incident: Canada A320 near Toronto on Jul 4th 2017, smoke in cockpit EVAS - Cockpit Smoke Protection NTSB will hold rare Alaska hearing on Togiak plane crash Pilot praised after avoiding mid-air collision with world's biggest passenger jet Jet cleared, 1 arrested after carry-on bag dispute at Sea-Tac FAA Considers Reduced Separation Minima in Oceanic Airspace Airbus claims successful test of unmanned aircraft DGCA braces for ICAO safety audit (India) Remote Air Traffic Control Towers Represent Safety and Efficiency Female pilots are taking to Instagram to inspire other women to chase their dreams of piloting Check out Bombardier's next generation $73 million Global 7000 private jet US Army expects to take down planes with anti-air lasers After 75 years on the job, American Airlines mechanic still showing up early to work Frontier Airlines is doubling in size MITRE September Courses Position:...Manager, Safety Management Systems ISASI 2017, San Diego CA...August 22 - 24. 2017 GRADUATE RESEARCH REQUEST (SURVEY) Incident: Delta MD88 near Chattanooga on Jul 17th 2017, cargo smoke indication A Delta Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-88, registration N944DL performing flight DL-2826 from Atlanta,GA to Nashville,TN (USA), was enroute at FL240 about 5nm west of Chattanooga,TN when the crew received a cargo smoke indication and diverted the aircraft to Chattanooga for a safe landing about 20 minutes later. A replacement MD-88 registration N910DE reached Nashville with a delay of 6.5 hours. The airline reported the aircraft diverted to Chattanooga after the crew received indication of cargo smoke or fire. The indication was identified false. http://flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL2826/history/20170718/0037Z/KATL/KBNA Back to Top Incident: Finnair E190 near Helsinki on Jul 18th 2017, lightning strike A Finnair Embraer ERJ-190, registration OH-LKH performing flight AY-507 from Helsinki to Kuopio (Finland) with 71 people on board, encountered a lightning strike during the flight. In the absence of abnormal indications the crew continued the flight to Kuopio for a safe landing. The aircraft was unable to depart for the return flight, which was cancelled. The aircraft positioned back to Helsinki about 6 hours after landing, but did not yet resume service about 12 hours after landing in Kuopio. http://avherald.com/h?article=4abcfbec&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Smartwings A320 at Bourgas on Jul 18th 2017, runway excursion on landing due to hydraulic failure after touchdown A Smartwings Airbus A320-200, registration SX-ORG performing flight QS-1482 from Brno (Czech Republic) to Bourgas (Bulgaria) with 178 people on board, performed a VOR approach to Bourgas' runway 04 maintaining routine communication, tower reported winds from 300 degrees at 4 knots, and touched down on the runway at 08:47L (05:47Z) but veered right off the runway and came to a stop with all gear on soft ground about 1900 meters/6300 feet down the runway. After coming to a stop the crew radioed they needed assistance, they had a hydraulic problem after landing, the nose wheel steering went inoperative, they wanted to evacuate the aircraft via stairs. The passengers disembarked onto soft ground via mobile stairs. No injuries are being reported. Bourgas Airport reported the aircraft was off the runway, however, there were no injuries. The airport was closed until the aircraft could be moved off the runway. Aircraft were being redirected to Varna Airport. http://avherald.com/h?article=4abc9582&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Canada A320 near Toronto on Jul 4th 2017, smoke in cockpit An Air Canada Airbus A320-200, registration C-GQCA performing flight AC-185 from Toronto,ON to Vancouver,BC (Canada) with 122 people on board, was climbing through FL290 out of Toronto when the crew observed a burning smell followed by smoke in the cockpit. The crew declared Mayday and returned to Toronto. During the approach to smoke dissipated. The aircraft landed safely, was inspected by emergency services and taxied to the gate. The Canadian TSB did not (yet) report about the cause of the odour and smoke. http://flightaware.com/live/flight/ACA185/history/20170704/2230Z/CYYZ/CYVR http://avherald.com/h?article=4abcf30f&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top NTSB will hold rare Alaska hearing on Togiak plane crash The wreckage of the Ravn Connect flight that crashed near Togiak. (Alaska State Troopers) The National Transportation Safety Board will hold a rare hearing in Anchorage next month to examine the fatal crash of a Ravn Connect flight near Togiak last fall. The investigative hearing will be the first held by the board in Alaska since the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill and the first held outside Washington, D.C., in nearly 20 years. The board is expected to address broader issues behind the crash that killed three, including operational control at Hageland Aviation Services Inc. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. Aug. 17 in the Mid-Deck Ballroom of the Captain Cook Hotel. The board is making the rare trip to Alaska because most of the witnesses live here, officials say. But the unusual location also stems from a spate of fatal plane crashes linked to either flying an airworthy plane into the ground or heading into low-visibility conditions that require help from instruments. The board's decision reflects a spike in accidents involving charter or commercial operators that often provide essential air service to Alaska villages. The June 2015 crash of a Promech Air flightseeing floatplane killed nine people near Ketchikan. Another crash a few weeks later near Juneau killed a Wings of Alaska pilot and seriously injured four passengers. Eight people sustained serious injuries in the crash of a Wright Air Service scheduled flight near Anaktuvuk Pass in January 2016. All told, 40 people have died in 36 aircraft accidents involving "controlled flight into terrain" in Alaska between 2008 and 2016, according to the NTSB. Hageland Aviation Services aircraft were involved in six accidents since 2013, the board says. Four involved controlled flight into terrain and one involved flight into instrument meteorological conditions. The NTSB issued two safety recommendations in 2014 asking the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct audits of operators owned by the holding company HoTH, Inc., which included Hageland, one of three airlines that fly as Ravn Alaska. A Ravn spokesman didn't immediately respond to questions about the hearing Tuesday. The Togiak crash happened in the Ahklun Mountains 12 miles northwest of Togiak just before noon Oct. 2, 2016. A Ravn Connect Cessna 208B Caravan slammed into a mountainside about 200 feet below the 2,500-foot summit, according to an NTSB preliminary report released last year. The crash killed pilots Timothy Cline, 48, of Homer, and Drew Welty, 29, of Anchorage, as well as passenger Louie John, a fisherman from Manokotak, who boarded in Quinhagak. The flight, on an unusual bypass mail route, originated in Bethel. The pilots flew under visual flight rules but poor weather concealed the wreckage from an Alaska State Troopers helicopter until more than four hours after the crash. An NTSB press release lists several safety issues expected to be discussed at the hearing. Among them: - Operational control at Hageland, including FAA oversight, organizational structure, and training and guidance for operational control agents; - Pilot training and guidance related to deteriorating weather conditions including incorporating lessons from previous accidents; - Safety management, training and oversight resources available to the Alaska aviation community. Hageland Aviation Services is a participant in the Medallion Foundation's Shield Program. The foundation is a nonprofit partnership between the FAA and industry, created in 2001 by the Alaska Air Carriers Association, with the goal of improving aviation safety in Alaska while reducing insurance rates for commercial air carriers. Several Medallion members including Ravn, however, have been involved in fatal plane crashes in Alaska. Generally, NTSB hearings like this one involve a half-dozen witnesses who face questions from the four-member board. The agency is still building a list of participants for the Anchorage hearing, said Alaska region chief Clint Johnson. "It's a unique time for the public and especially Alaskans, since we're so dependent on aviation, to be able to peer inside our investigative process," Johnson said. https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/aviation/2017/07/18/ntsb-will-hold-rare-alaska-hearing-on- togiak-plane-crash/ Back to Top Pilot praised after avoiding mid-air collision with world's biggest passenger jet An Emirates A380 was involved in the incident CREDIT: EMIRATES A pilot has been praised for helping avert a mid-air collision between two passenger jets that could have led to the death of hundreds of people. An Emirates Airbus A380, flying from Dubai to Mauritius last Friday, had been cleared to descend to 38,000 feet by Air Traffic Control on its approach to the Indian Ocean island, with an Air Seychelles Airbus A330, Flight HM54, having taken off from Mauritius travelling in the opposite direction. However, the crew of the Emirates plane, Flight EK703, which is configured to carry as many as 615 passengers, incorrectly stated that its altitude was 36,000 feet, according to the Aviation Herald. When it was realised that the Emirates plane was higher than previously thought, and with the Air Seychelles A330, which could have been carrying up to 277 passengers, flying towards it, a Traffic Collision Avoidance System alert was initiated. The two crews were able to see each other before the pilot of Flight HM54 turned a sharp right to avoid a collision. The two aircraft eventually passed each other at the same altitude but around 14 kilometres apart, according to the Aviation Herald. A spokesperson for Air Seychelles commended the pilot's actions. "We commend our Captain Roberto Vallicelli and Seychellois First Officer Ronny Morel who were operating the HM054 flight from Mauritius to Seychelles on the evening of Friday 14 July 2017," a statement read. Large passenger aircraft are required to be at least three miles apart horizontally or 1,000 feet vertically "Their training standard and operating protocols immediately kicked in which demonstrates the extremely high standards of training which our Air Seychelles pilots attain. We highly commend them for what they have done." A spokesperson for Emirates said: "Emirates has received reports of an event on July 14, 2017 in relation to aircraft separation involving flight EK703 in Mauritius airspace. The matter has been reported to the respective air transport authorities and Emirates will extend its full cooperation to any investigation. The safety of our passengers and crew is of utmost importance." Last week details of another near-miss emerged after the Federal Aviation Administration launched an investigation after an Air Canada plane lined up to land on a busy taxiway rather than the adjacent, and free, runway. The plane arriving at Toronto was set to land on four other aircraft before Air Traffic Control intervened and told the pilot to pull up. One expert commenter said the "greatest aviation disaster in history" had been avoided. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/emirates-a380-in-near-miss-collision/ Back to Top Jet cleared, 1 arrested after carry-on bag dispute at Sea-Tac Sea-Tac Airport (KOMO Photo) SEATAC, Wash. -- A dispute over a carry-on bag escalated Tuesday into an argument, removal of all the passengers from the plane and at least one arrest at Sea-Tac Airport. Sea-Tac spokesman Brian DeRoy said a woman and her mother, who is in her 80s, were on a United Airlines flight at the airport. The bag that was under the seat in front of them was also sticking out in the row. The crew wanted the bag in an overhead bin. The two passengers didn't want to move it, DeRoy said. There was a language barrier between the crew and passengers, but still, an argument began. Police were called and escorted all passengers off the plane for safety reasons, DeRoy said. The two passengers were taken to an office with airline officials. The woman's daughter got mad, threw something and was arrested, DeRoy said. United responded to a question from KOMO News with this statement: "During the boarding process of United flight 1121, from Seattle to Houston, two customers did not follow crew instructions. For the safety and security of our customers and crew, law enforcement was requested by the flight crew. After speaking with these two customers, they voluntarily deplaned." The flight was scheduled to leave Sea-Tac at 8:31 a.m. but left at 9:36 a.m. http://komonews.com/news/local/jet-cleared-1-arrested-after-carry-on-bag-dispute-at-sea-tac Back to Top FAA Considers Reduced Separation Minima in Oceanic Airspace Boeing 787-10. Photo courtesy of Boeing The FAA is developing a business case to establish reduced separation requirements for airplanes flying in U.S. controlled oceanic airspace. A government-industry body, the Enhanced Surveillance Task Group (ETSG) has determined the way to do this is by introducing space-based ADS-B into oceanic airspace controlled by the FAA. The questions now - how to pay for that and how to prove it would be effective, considering the mixed avionics equipage status of aircraft flying in U.S. oceanic airspace. According to an ETSG report, the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA) NextGen Advisory Committee was tasked in July 2016 with developing a plan to assist the FAA in introducing better surveillance methods for U.S. controlled oceanic airspace. Over the past 12 months, the group received briefings from satellite service providers, air navigation service providers and operators. Collectively, the enhanced surveillance working group concluded that the introduction of space- based ADS-B technology in U.S. controlled airspace could produce a reduced separation minima of 15/15. In order to produce this level of reduced separation minima, ETSG determined that space- based ADS-B would need to be coupled with Future Air Navigation System (FANS), controller-pilot data link, Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Contract (ADS-C) and required Navigation Performance Level 4 (RNP4) capabilities. The two specific surveillance technologies considered by ESTG for improving oceanic air traffic flows include space-based ADS-B and ADS-C technologies. ADS-C is a surveillance technique that uses onboard aircraft systems to automatically provide position, altitude, speed, intent and meteorological data sent in a report to an air traffic service unit or airline operational center ground system for surveillance and route conformance monitoring. ADS-C has been in use in oceanic airspace for two decades, but the group was considering the use of classic ADS-C with higher update rates and increased equipage. But according to the report, there was a "a fundamental disagreement between the industry and the FAA about the nature of ADS-C as surveillance using via HF." "Reduced separation, resulting in increased capacity, increased availability of optimal altitudes, and optimal routings, while continuing to support cost index speeds, are the primary benefits from spaced based ADS-B," the report says. In February, Vitaly S. Guzhva, a professor at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, and Kenny Martin, managing director at air traffic management software company ISA Software, produced an operational analysis of reduced separation in FAA-controlled oceanic airspace for the ETSG. Using ISA's "RAMS Plus" gate-to-gate air traffic fast time simulation model, the analysis evaluated how the use of space-based ADS-B combined with assumed increased FANS equipage could provide benefits for U.S. airlines. Their analysis found that annual benefits for airlines operating in Atlantic and Pacific U.S. controlled oceanic airspace could reach up to $440.5 million in fuel burn and other operational savings, and a reduction of up to 1.2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2020. The task group also analyzed how space-based ADS-B could benefit aircraft flying in specific oceanic regions, including the North Pacific, Central Pacific, and West Atlantic Route System, among others. One issue that was found when examining specific regions was the variation in the number of aircraft equipped with ADS-B, FANS/RNP4 and other advanced avionics. "An aircraft equipped with FANS/RNP 4 cannot receive the benefit of reduced separation standards if all the aircraft surrounding it are equipped with HF communications and surveillance limited to significant waypoints because this type of equipage is limited to 50 nm lateral separation and 10 minutes longitudinal separation," the report says. This would raise the need to establish special consideration to separate aircraft featuring advanced equipage from aircraft with less advanced equipage. The biggest problem areas identified by the group were the WATRS region and the airspace between the West Coast and Hawaii. Finally, the cost of introducing space-based ADS-B is also a major consideration for enhanced surveillance in oceanic airspace. The report featured two possibilities for covering the cost of introducing space-based ADS-B in U.S.-controlled oceanic airspace. These two options include a cost model in which operators would contract directly with the service provider - a model similar to that used for the provision of ADS-C services. ETSG opposes this option, saying having operators bear the financial burden introduces "an unwarranted and unneeded level of financial and operational complexity." The other option is for the FAA to pay for the provision of space-based ADS-B itself. It would be dependent on the FAA receiving funding to provide the new service. According to data provided by Aireon, which started seeing its first space-based ADS-B messages in January 2017, 10 total air navigation service providers from around the world have signed up for space-based ADS-B service once it becomes fully operational next year. Among them include NAV Canada, the U.K.'s NATS and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. Another 20 countries have established memoranda of understanding with Aireon. http://www.aviationtoday.com/2017/07/18/faa-considers-reduced-separation-minima-oceanic- airspace/ Back to Top Airbus claims successful test of unmanned aircraft Successful first flight for UAV demonstrator 'SAGITTA'. Unmanned jet powered craft flies for 7 minutes, including take-off and landing. Concept plane is seen as crucial to developing unmanned flight. Airbus says it has successfully tested a new type of jet propelled aircraft that could speed the development of unmanned flight. The European aerospace firm said the unmanned, jet-propelled craft flew by itself for around seven minutes over a test site in Overberg, South Africa. "We are increasingly shifting our focus towards these kinds of innovative concepts, in particular for the development of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), so that we can develop products quickly and efficiently for a growing market," said Grazia Vittadini, head of engineering at Airbus Defence and Space in a release Tuesday. The flight followed a pre-set course over the airfield and Airbus said the "Sagitta" craft used automated take-off and landing capabilities. Connection to the ground during flight is maintained via data links. The project is not meant for sale in itself but is being used by Airbus as a demonstrator vehicle for future projects. Airbus refused to speculate on what type of autonomous aircraft might arise from the project but said the design parameters focussed on "a high degree of autonomy, variable mission profiles and low levels of perceptibility". The demonstrator is the product of the 'Open Innovation' / SAGITTA national initiative launched by Airbus in 2010 alongside 4 German universities. http://www.cnbc.com/2017/07/18/airbus-claims-successful-test-of-unmanned-aircraft.html Back to Top DGCA braces for ICAO safety audit (India) Aviation regulator to furnish its response to detailed protocol questionnaire The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is bracing for a safety oversight audit by the U.N. body, International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), in November this year. The aviation regulator is taking a series of steps to save it from the embarrassment of the 2012 audit in which the ICAO had raised safety concerns about India's aviation system. The measures include hiring flight operation inspectors, aligning its rules with ICAO norms, certifying flight examiners, among others. The DGCA will be furnishing its response to the detailed protocol questionnaire posed by ICAO for its Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) by August first week, officials said. This will be followed by a visit by ICAO officials to India from November 1-16 this year. "We have hired 67 flight operation inspectors and we plan to fill the remaining eight posts soon," a senior DGCA official said, requesting anonymity. To make the posts of flight operation inspectors attractive for experienced pilots, the DGCA offered them market-linked salary. "We managed to get the approval of the Finance Ministry within three days," the official added. The DGCA has also aligned most of its rules, known as civil aviation requirements (CAR), with the ICAO norms, another DGCA official said. The aviation regulator has been holding review meetings with airlines and airports every month for safety compliance. Further, DGCA has issued rules for allowing airlines to recommend appointing designated flight examiners for conducting flight tests and technical examinations. "The designated examiner will conduct instrument rating checks, pilot licensing skill and proficiency checks on our behalf instead of our staff doing these checks. The airline will send us a proposal and we will certify the examiner," the DGCA official said. The ICAO conducts audit in areas related to legislation, organisation, licensing, operation, airworthiness, accident investigation, air navigation and aerodromes. http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/dgca-braces-for-icao-safety-audit/article19303296.ece Back to Top Remote Air Traffic Control Towers Represent Safety and Efficiency Aviation safety and the efficiency of air traffic controllers would improve with the use of remote control towers, according to a recent article on General Aviation News's website. Their use offers a way to assist smaller communities without existing towers with lower maintenance and constructions costs. The article references a report published by the Reason Foundation, authored by Stephen Van Beek. In the report, Van Beek discusses the implementation of the towers in Europe and how to apply the lessons learned there to U.S. installations, especially in smaller communities where the existence of air traffic control towers is minimal at best. Van Beek further explains that remote towers can take the place of massive concrete towers with a pole, outfitted with state-of-the-art video cameras and communications gear capable of providing a panoramic view of the airport. Information transmitted from this equipment becomes data acted upon by air traffic controllers in another, remote location. Also, according to Van Beek, the remote tower center might be located at the airport in question, or it might have the responsibility for several smaller airports with low-activity. As remote control towers become a reality at more airports worldwide, General Aviation News states on its website that two remote tower pilot projects are currently underway in the United States, in Leesburg,VA, and at Northern Colorado Regional Airport in Loveland, CO, approximately 38 miles northwest of Denver. Both locations are in areas without conventional control towers. More examples of the increased use of remote towers according to Van Beek include Sweden when in 2016, the first certified remote tower operation in the world now controls air traffic at Örnsköldsvik from a distant tower at Sundsvall which is 93 miles away. Another location is Norway, where it plans to develop a remote tower to control air traffic at five airports with plans to increase that to 20 by 2020. Also, Germany, Ireland, and London currently expect to open or start construction of remote tower centers. http://www.wingsjournal.com/remote-air-traffic-control-towers-represent-safety-efficiency Back to Top Female pilots are taking to Instagram to inspire other women to chase their dreams of piloting. Image source: Instagram Photo: Instagram Female pilots are taking to Instagram to inspire other women to chase their dreams of piloting. Aviation may be dominated by men, but that's not stopping these female pilots from inspiring other women to take to the skies. Female pilots from all over the world are sharing their lives of flying through Instagram at a time where aviation seems to becoming even more of a male driven industry. The International Society of Women Airline Pilots reports of over 600,000 active Airmen Certificates (licenses to fly a plane), only about 40,000, or about 6 percent, are women. According to Women in Aviation, only one in 21,417 women held an "other-than-student" pilot certificate in 1960. By 1980, the ratio became one in 4,224 women. However today, that ratio has declined to one in 5,623 women holding an "other-than-student" pilot certificate. The account fly with Eva follows the life of Eva Claire, a Dutch pilot who flies a Boeing 737 from Barcelona. Claire told Traveler.com that she works five days in a row and gets four days off. She said some of her flight days can include trips starting as early as 6:15 a.m. and she can pilot up to four flights a day. Other days she can start flying around 1 p.m. and be home by midnight after two or four flights. http://www.chron.com/news/nation-world/world/article/Female-pilots-Instagram-airplanes- aviation-flying-11296544.php Back to Top Check out Bombardier's next generation $73 million Global 7000 private jet Bombardier Global 700 Bombardier On Monday, Bombardier confirmed that the first examples of its next generation Global 7000 private jet are undergoing final assembly at its factory near Toronto, Canada. Thus far, the Montreal-based airplane maker says its three Global 7000 test planes have conducted over 500 hours worth of flight testing. "The Global 7000 aircraft's flight validation program is making steady headway because of the aircraft's reliable and mature configuration while in parallel, solid progress of the testing on structural and systems rigs is supporting certification activities as per plan," Bombardier Vice President of product development and chief engineer, François Caza, said in a statement. With two more test planes under construction, Bombardier says it's confident the Global 7000 will be able to complete its testing and certification program in time to enter service in the second half of 2018. The long-delayed Global 7000, a victim of Bombardier's recent financial troubles, is expected to be one of the most capable and expensive private jets in the air with a price tag of $72.8 million. Here's a closer look at the new Bombardier Global 7000: http://www.businessinsider.com/bombardier-73-million-global-7000-private-jet-2017-7/#the- global-7000-is-the-latest-development-of-bombardiers-current-flagship-global-5000-and-1 Back to Top US Army expects to take down planes with anti-air lasers Forget shooting down drones with vehicle-mounted lasers -- the US Army is ready to take on the bigger machines. Space and Missile Defense Command chief Lt. Gen James Dickenson has revealed that the Army is preparing lasers that are ten times more powerful than the ones in testing now, at between 50kW to 100kW. That kind of wattage is strong enough to take down aircraft, and might even throw missiles off their targets by confusing their sensors. They won't necessarily require gigantic trucks like they do today, either. The first test, with a 50kW laser, is due to take place in 2018 using an upgraded version of the HEL-MTT (High Energy Laser - Mobile Test Truck) vehicle you see above. In 2022, however, the Army expects to test-fire a 100kW laser on a more nimble platform, such as an armored personnel carrier. That's when it gets interesting -- the Army could easily keep laser weapons at the front line to protect against attack helicopters. They'd only need line of sight to ruin an aircraft's day. Of course, there's a catch: 100kW still wouldn't be enough in some circumstances. It wouldn't be very effective against head-on missile attacks, since the laser wouldn't have enough time to punch through the missile's (usually strengthened) nose. You'd need an array of laser-toting vehicles to be sure that you could consistently knock out threats. This is a start, though, and enemies might still be wary of attacking if they know an invisible beam could ruin their day. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/us-army-expects-down-planes-010400152.html Back to Top After 75 years on the job, American Airlines mechanic still showing up early to work When Azriel "Al" Blackman got his first job at an airline, he was a 16-year-old high school graduate making $0.50 per hour as an apprentice in the sheet metal shop. American Airlines mechanic Azriel "Al" Blackman(Courtesy American Airlines) Seventy-five years and countless airplanes later, Blackman, an employee of American Airlines, was recognized Tuesday with a celebration in New York and the dedication of one of American's Boeing 777s in his honor. Blackman has the world's longest career as an airline mechanic, a feat that has now made Guinness World Records, the company announced Tuesday. inRead invented by Teads The plane took Blackman and others for a commemorative flight over Manhattan to celebrate. First hired in 1942 by American Export Airlines, the 91-year-old Blackman still shows up to work at a hangar at JFK International Airport well in advance of his 5 a.m. start time. He's worked on nearly every aircraft type that American has flown, from 1940s-era flying boats to modern Boeing 777s. "When you like what you do, it's not work," Blackman said in a statement. There have been some restrictions put in place for the nonagenarian - he's not allowed to climb ladders, drive on the airfield or use any tools, according to the New York Times - but Blackman has no intentions of retiring anytime soon. "See, American keeps buying new planes - in fact, we have the youngest fleet among major U.S. carriers," Blackman wrote in an online post. "Many of these new planes are from Boeing, which happen to be my favorite to work on." These days, Blackman is responsible for coordinating mechanics to keep track of what work has been completed and what's left to be done on jets parked at the hangar. His work is supervised by a crew co-chief, according to the Times. Here is a short Associated Press video from five years ago when Balckman celebrated his 70th work anniversary: https://www.dallasnews.com/business/american-airlines/2017/07/18/75-years-job-american- airlines-mechanic-still-showingup-early-work Back to Top Frontier Airlines is doubling in size Ultra-low cost carrier Frontier Airlines is doubling in size. The expansion, announced Tuesday, will add 21 new cities and 85 new routes to the airline's network. By the summer of 2018, Frontier will operate 314 non-stop flights. That's double what it flies today. "These new flights will allow us to serve even more of America and make flying a truly affordable option," said chief executive Barry Biffle in a statement. Sunny locales like Tampa, Miami, Orlando, Fort Myers, Fla., and Cancun, Mexico will all get expanded service and its base in Denver will get 19 new destinations. With its expansion, the airline says it will serve 90% of the population in the continental U.S. Over the last decade, the carrier has been transformed from a bankrupt legacy carrier into a rapidly expanding, ultra-low cost airline under new management. The Denver-based airline filed for an IPO in March and is eager to show its growth potential to investors. The number of passengers flown by Frontier grew by more than 15% last year and its planes were more full than any carrier, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Its aggressive expansion is aimed at established carriers like Southwest Airlines (LUV) and United Airlines (UAL). For example, Frontier's new routes will make it the airline with the second most destinations from cities like Orlando, behind Southwest. The expansion, however, largely steers clear of territory dominated by ultra-low cost rival Spirit Airlines, which has a similar no-frills business model. Frontier's growth will also require a lot of new airplanes. The airline has 55 more single-aisle aircraft on order from Airbus, (EADSY)according to the manufacturer's most recent figures. Related: It's a golden age for affordable flying. No, really. U.S. carriers have returned to competitive growth after a decade of consolidation and restructuring. Low-cost airlines like Spirit and Frontier, who offer tickets that don't include assigned seating, checked baggage or even carry-ons, in some cases, have brought new low-fare competition in cities across the country. That has forced the biggest carriers to introduce so-called 'basic economy' fares that similarly strip out the once-included extras. While American and Delta show increases in the amount of revenue they get from each passenger, in part because of higher fares, carriers like Frontier are a major force pushing in the other direction. But those low fares haven't meant customer satisfaction. Frontier ranked second from the bottom in customer satisfaction behind Spirit. http://money.cnn.com/2017/07/18/news/companies/frontier-airlines-doubling-in-size/index.html Back to Top Back to Top Position: Manager, Safety Management Systems Job no: 495841 Work type: Full time Location: Hong Kong Department: Quality, Safety & Security Role and Responsibilities: * Develop and maintain the Safety Management System; * Member to and provide secretarial support to the Safety Action Group; * Review and maintain the Safety Management System Manual; * Review safety relevant industrial and regulatory advisories and recommend actions required to DQSS; * Review and maintain the training program on Safety Management System; * Participate the internal management system audit; * Manage the Flight Operations Quality Assurance programme (FOQA); * Participate in the IOSA programme for Organization discipline; * Produce periodical report on safety and flight data program performance; * Maintain and review services provider contracts for Safety Systems; * Produce periodic safety articles to promote safety and security awareness amongst employees / services providers; * Prepare and manage the budget for safety; * Manage the development of MFOQA, SSMSD, SFS, ESS, SFDP and OSS; * Validate alerts generated by the decoded flight data; * Produce analytical reports aimed at pre-emptive measures; * Produce communication in the forms described in COMM to improve the understanding of the Flight Data Program and flight safety; * Co-ordinate regular meeting with the operations manager to review the information and recommendations from Flight Data Program; * Maintain and review the services provider contract; * Validate the contingency measures with respect to business continuity; * Conduct interviews when authorised by DQSS; * Prepare periodic report to DQSS on the performance of Flight Data Program; * Liaise with authorities and external parties in relations to Flight Data Program matters; * Liaise with Maintenance & Engineering Department on the standard of the DFDR / QAR program; * Coordinator and member of the Safety Action Group (SAG) held within the QSSAG; * Investigator of safety events to include accident and incidents. Qualifications / Requirements: * At least 10 years relevant aviation work experience, including two years of appropriate managerial experience or equivalent; * Holder of an Air Transport Pilot License or equivalent (current or frozen); * Formally investigator trained and/or certified aviation accident investigator; * Comprehensive knowledge and familiarity with Flight Data Analysis Programme, safety management system and business continuity; * Good command of both spoken and written English; * Good computer literacy; * Team player and a team leader across an international environment. APPLY NOW Back to Top ISASI 2017, San Diego CA August 22 - 24. 2017 The International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI) will hold their 48th annual seminar at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina from August 22 - 24, 2017. This year's theme is: "Investigations - Do They Really Make a Difference?" All up to date information including the link for registration and hotel reservations can be found at www.isasi.org. Dates to Remember Early Registration rate cut off is midnight July 5, 2017 PDT Seminar rate at the hotel will end on July 27. After that date there will be no guarantee that rooms will be available. We look forward to seeing many of you in San Diego 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