Flight Safety Information July 31, 2017 - No. 152 In This Issue Incident: THY A321 at Istanbul on Jul 29th 2017, rejected takeoff due to engine failure Accident: Cavok AN74 at Sao Tome on Jul 29th 2017, rejected takeoff due to flock of birds Incident: Algerie AT72 at Algiers and Setif on Jul 26th 2017, flight crew permits child to control aircraft Incident: Sun Express Deutschland B738 near Belgrade on Jul 26th 2017, smoke in cabin EVAS - Cockpit Smoke Protection Second emergency landing for Jet2 plane in two weeks Man pleads guilty to lying to federal plane crash investigators after Perry incident.. GACA: Emergency air corridors allocated for Qatari aircraft (Saudi Arabia) French Airport Worker Punched Passenger With Baby After 13-Hour Delay Passenger strips naked on Spirit Airlines flight from Las Vegas and forces the plane to abort take-off Australia ramps up airport security after alleged plane bomb plot Ruling eliminates seniority protections for ex-TWA pilots in St. Louis Why The Size Of Your Airline Seat Just Became A Safety Issue United retires domestic 747 flights Airline Allegedly Has Mom Arrested After She Gives Blanket To Her Son Boeing expects India to order up to 2,100 aircraft over 20 years Timely first for Angkor Air Aspiring pilots take part in United training program Becky Calder Blazes a Trail for Female Fighter Pilots After race row, Jet Airways phasing out expat pilots Trump's air traffic overhaul struggles to take off Air Force Gets Creative to Tackle Pilot Shortage Japan Attempts First Rocket Launch to Join SpaceX ISASI 2017, San Diego CA...August 22 - 24. 2017 TODAY'S PHOTO Incident: THY A321 at Istanbul on Jul 29th 2017, rejected takeoff due to engine failure A THY Turkish Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration TC-JMK performing flight TK-1995 from Istanbul (Turkey) to Manchester,EN (UK), was accelerating for takeoff from Istanbul's runway 35R when the left hand engine (V2530) emitted loud bangs prompting the crew to reject takeoff at high speed. The aircraft slowed safely and returned to the apron. A replacement A321-200 registration TC-JTF reached Manchester with a delay of 4.5 hours. The airline reported the left engine ingested a number of birds causing extensive damage according to preliminary borescopic inspection results. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ac44382&opt=0 Back to Top Accident: Cavok AN74 at Sao Tome on Jul 29th 2017, rejected takeoff due to flock of birds results in runway overrun A Cavok Air Antonov AN-74TK-100, registration UR-CKC performing a flight from Sao Tome (Sao Tome and Principe) to an unknown destination with 6 crew, was accelerating for takeoff from Sao Tome's runway 29 when the right hand engine (D36) ingested a number of birds prompting the crew to reject takeoff. The aircraft overran the end of the runway and went down a slope before coming to a stop on soft ground. Five crew members received injuries, the aircraft received substantial damage beyond repair. Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Yuri Lavrenyuk reported the flight was attempting takeoff when according to preliminary information the right hand engine received a bird strike, the takeoff was rejected, the aircraft went past the runway end. All crew members received injuries. Sao Tome's Civil Aviation Authority reported the aircraft rejected takeoff for some problem at about 11:00L (11:00Z) and suffered an accident. Five of the six people on board received injuries, one of them needed surgical treatment. The aircraft suffered substantial damage. An accident investigation commission has been formed. The occurrence aircraft had operated to Sao Tome on Jul 27th 2017 from Stavanger (Norway) via Luxembourg (Luxembourg) and Ghardaia (Algeria) and was presumably departing for the return flight. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ac43a90&opt=0 ************** Status: Preliminary Date: Saturday 29 July 2017 Time: 09:10 Type: Antonov 74TK-100 Operator: Cavok Air Registration: UR-CKC C/n / msn: 36547095905 First flight: 1992 Engines: 2 Lotarev D-36 Crew: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Total: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Airplane damage: Damaged beyond repair Location: São Tomé Island Airport (TMS) ( Sao Tome and Principe) Phase: Takeoff (TOF) Nature: Cargo Departure airport: São Tomé Island Airport (TMS/FPST), Sao Tome and Principe Destination airport: ? Narrative: An Antonov 74TK-100 cargo plane was damaged beyond repair in an accident at São Tomé Island Airport (TMS), São Tomé and Príncipe. According to a Ukrainian official, the aircraft suffered a bird strike to the no.2 engine on takeoff from runway 29 (2190 m long). The flight crew apparently aborted takeoff, but the aircraft failed to stop on the remaining runway. It went down an embankment and came to rest next to the perimeter fence. The forward fuselage broke just in front of the wings. The thrust reverser on the no.1 engine was stowed and on the no.2 engine the reverser was deployed. https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20170729-0 Back to Top Incident: Algerie AT72 at Algiers and Setif on Jul 26th 2017, flight crew permits child to control aircraft An Air Algerie Avions de Transport Regional ATR-72-212A, registration 7T-VUT performing flight AH-6212 from Algiers to Setif (Algeria), was preparing for departure from Algiers when the flight crew invited a child, an orphan, into the cockpit, the child took the captain's seat. The crew videotaped the sequence, including a sequence in flight when the child, seated in the left hand seat, was manipulating the flight controls under supervision of first officer in the right hand seat and the captain on the observer's seat. The aircraft continued for a safe landing in Setif. The videotape made it on Algerian's TV stations. On Jul 28th 2017 Algeria's Directorate of Civil Aviation and Meteorology (DACM) confirmed the occurrence and reported the flight crew was grounded. Air Algerie reported the captain was arrested for permitting a child into the cockpit and permitting the child to control the aircraft in flight. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ac3abb3&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Sun Express Deutschland B738 near Belgrade on Jul 26th 2017, smoke in cabin A Sun Express Deutschland Boeing 737-800, registration D-ASXQ performing flight XQ-4879 from Stuttgart (Germany) to Hurghada (Egypt), was enroute at FL350 about 130nm westsouthwest of Belgrade (Serbia) when the crew decided to divert to Belgrade reporting smoke in the cabin. The aircraft landed safely on Belgrade's runway 12 about 25 minutes later. The airport reported the aircraft diverted due to a smoke indication in the cabin. The aircraft remained on the ground for 20 hours over night, then continued the flight and reached Hurghada with a total delay of 21 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ac3a8fb&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top Second emergency landing for Jet2 plane in two weeks Oxygen masks were deployed for the second time in two weeks after what Jet2 described as a "minor technical fault" A Jet2 aircraft has made a second emergency landing in as many weeks after an apparent recurrence of a technical problem. A flight from Ibiza to Leeds was diverted to Barcelona on 16 July. On Friday, the same plane was diverted to Frankfurt after a similar incident, Jet2 confirmed. It said passenger safety had not been compromised. Passengers on both flights described how oxygen masks were released as the aircraft began to descend at speed. The aircraft - registration G-CELI - had taken off from Newcastle bound for Prague Friday's flight had taken off from Newcastle bound for Prague, but it was diverted to Frankfurt after what Jet2 described as a "minor technical fault" that led to oxygen masks being deployed. Philippa Bell, whose fiancé Joe Monkhouse was on the flight, told the Chronicle the plane went into a swift descent after the pilot informed passengers of an "emergency". She said the oxygen masks came down and her fiancé felt his ears popping as the plane headed for Frankfurt Airport. Describing the first flight from Ibiza, passenger Tom Miller told BBC Look North: "You're going down and there is so much panic. It levelled out but it felt so close to the water." 'Incredibly rare' In a statement relating Friday's flight a spokesperson for Jet2 said: "Our flight crew followed procedure and made a controlled descent before landing safely. "At all times the safety of our passengers is our number one priority... and at no point was the safety of passengers compromised." Jet2 said the aircraft had been grounded while engineers carry out a "thorough inspection". Aviation historian and consultant Ken Cothliff said it was "incredibly rare" for a fault to recur on the same aircraft in such a short space of time. However, he said it was probably down to a simple electrical fault rather than an actual problem with the aircraft. He added that Jet2, along with other budget airlines, has to adhere to a very stringent maintenance programme. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-40763488 Back to Top Man pleads guilty to lying to federal plane crash investigators after Perry incident BUFFALO - A Steuben County man has pleaded guilty to making false statements to a federal agent in connection with a 2015 plane accident at the Perry-Warsaw Airport in Perry. Brian Woodhams, 40, of Wayland, entered the plea Friday during an appearance before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo in Buffalo. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Since October 2015, Woodhams has had a student pilot license issued by the Federal Aviation Administration and is permitted to fly an airplane with a flight instructor or by himself. If Woodhams flies with a passenger, a flight instructor must also be on board the airplane, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary C. Baumgarten, who is handling the case. On Oct. 31, 2015, Woodhams was involved in an accident while landing his Piper Cherokee 140 airplane at the Perry-Warsaw Airport. The airplane veered to the right and Woodhams overcorrected and hit the brakes, cause the nose of the plane to go into the ditch off the runway. At the time of the accident, there was a 15-year-old boy on board as a passenger, but no flight instructor, according to a news release from the office of Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy Jr. On Nov. 2, 2015, FAA Aviation Safety Inspectors viewed the defendant's airplane at the airport. During a telephone conversation, Woodhams told inspectors that he had sustained a bloody nose and hurt his shin during the crash. The defendant also stated that he was the only occupant in the airplane at the time of the accident but that his son approached the aircraft immediately after the crash and slipped and fell as he climbed up the flap, hitting his nose and causing a bloody nose, the release said. Woodhams met with inspectors in person on Nov. 4, 2015, and stated once again that he was the only occupant of the aircraft at the time of the accident and that his son arrived at the crash scene later. The defendant was told that a witness reported seeing his son in the aircraft but Woodhams again denied his son was a passenger, according to the release. On Nov. 10, 2015, the defendant submitted a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report to the National Transportation Safety Board and failed to report that there was a passenger on the plane at the time of the accident who was injured. On Jan. 10, Woodhams was interviewed by a Special Agent of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General, and FAA inspectors and stated once again that he was the only person on the plane at that time. When questioned concerning evidence developed during the FAA investigation that there was a passenger in the plane at the time of the crash, Woodhams denied that there was a passenger in the plane and he gave an alternative explanation that investigators said was untrue. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Department of Transportation, Office of the Inspector General, and the Federal Aviation Administration. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 3. http://www.thedailynewsonline.com/bdn01/man-pleads-guilty-to-lying-to-federal-plane- crash-investigators-after-perry-incident-20170731 Back to Top GACA: Emergency air corridors allocated for Qatari aircraft (Saudi Arabia) JEDDAH - The four Arab states that cut ties with Qatar said on Sunday they would allow Qatari planes to use air corridors in emergencies. The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has announced the allocation of emergency air corridors by the four Arab countries after approval by civil aviation authorities in the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain for use by Qatari companies as applicable in cases of closure of regional airspaces. In a statement today, GACA said, "This procedure confirms our commitment to the safety of international air navigation. It is customary in such circumstances that the authorities reach an agreement on alternative emergency air traffic corridors on high seas under our management so as to facilitate navigation and support air safety. This measure is being implemented under the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) that coordinates and administers such agreements." With its air space drastically compromised, Qatar asked ICAO for a special meeting - which is scheduled for Monday - to discuss the issue. Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on Sunday cited a statement from GACA as saying that they had already agreed on emergency air corridors, which were identified under ICAO supervision, and that they would be open from Aug. 1. "Nine corridors have been identified including one in international air space over the Mediterranean Sea that will be monitored by the Egyptian authorities," SPA said. The use of these corridors will come into effect on Aug. 1, 2017. A navigation announcement has been made for international pilots confirming this. The same has been done with the rest of the corridors, which were approved in the Arabian Gulf Region. The statement confirmed that this measure comes within the sphere of GACA's endeavor to protect the safety and security of airspace and implement the Kingdom's decision to cut off diplomatic and consular relations with Qatar including barring Qatar Airways from using the Kingdom's airspace. - SPA http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/514115/SAUDI-ARABIA/GACA Back to Top French Airport Worker Punched Passenger With Baby After 13-Hour Delay A worker at a French airport reportedly punched a baby-holding passenger in the face as he was waiting to board an EasyJet aircraft. Photographs of the alleged altercation in Nice, France were posted on Twitter July 29. The Twitter user who posted the images, Arabella Ark, said the incident happened after a long delay which the airline clocked at nearly 13 hours. Ark did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fortune. She told CNN her husband was able to restrain the attacker. According to CNN, the victim was taken away, but was later allowed on the London-bound flight. In a statement, EasyJet told Fortune that the man suspected of punching the passenger is not affiliated with the airline and has been suspended. The low-cost airline said the flight delay was caused by a technical issue that ultimately required a replacement aircraft and crew. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/french-airport-worker-punched-passenger- 194510435.html Back to Top Passenger strips naked on Spirit Airlines flight from Las Vegas and forces the plane to abort take-off * The unidentified passenger took their clothes off as they boarded the plane at Las Vegas's McArran Airport on Saturday * They approached a member of staff at around 11.30am in a state of undress * The person was removed by police and required medical attention afterwards * The plane was bound for Oakland, California, and was delayed by the incident A Spirit Airlines flight was delayed at Las Vegas airport on Saturday after a passenger stripped naked and approached a flight attendant. The plane was bound for Oakland, California, but was held on the tarmac until the unidentified passenger was removed by police. According to The Las Vegas Review Journal, the passenger undressed during boarding at around 11.30am. A passenger held up a Spirit Airlines flight on Saturday by undressing and approaching a member of staff as they boarded (file image) It is not clear how long the plane was delayed for or how the person approached Spirit staff. Police are describing the incident as a 'medical episode' and say the person involved needed treatment after being removed from the aircraft. Court orders the FAA to solve the 'case of the incredible... Laptops, tablets, and all 'electronics larger than a... Officers did not disclose on Sunday whether the passenger was arrested afterwards. Spirit Airlines has not commented on the incident. Once the passenger was removed, boarding carried on as normal. The passenger was boarding the plane at Las Vegas_s McArran Airport when the incident occurred http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4744682/Naked-passenger-delays-Spirit- Airlines-flight-Las-Vegas.html Back to Top Australia ramps up airport security after alleged plane bomb plot SYDNEY (Reuters) - Stricter screening of passengers and luggage at Australian airports will stay in place indefinitely after police foiled an alleged "Islamic-inspired" plot to bring down a plane, which local media said may have involved a bomb or poisonous gas. The ramped up security procedures were put in place after four men were arrested at the weekend in raids conducted across several Sydney suburbs. The men are being held without charge under special terror-related powers. The Australian Federal Police would not confirm media reports the alleged plot may have involved a bomb disguised in a meat grinder or the planned release of poisonous gas inside a plane. Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Andrew Colvin told reporters on Monday that the plot specifics were still being investigated. "What you are seeing at the moment is making sure that there is extra vigilance, to make sure that we aren't cutting any corners in our security, to make sure that we are absolutely focused on our security," Colvin said. Police on Monday were still searching several Sydney properties for evidence. Pictures showed forensic-specialist officers wearing masks and plastic jumpsuits inside the properties and combing through rubbish bins outside. Immigration and Border Protection Minister Peter Dutton told reporters in Melbourne on Monday that the alleged plot to down an aircraft could prompt longer-term airport security changes. "The security measures at the airports will be in place for as long as we believe they need to be, so it may go on for some time yet," said Dutton. "It may be that we need to look at the security settings at our airports, in particular our domestic airports, for an ongoing enduring period," he said. Dutton advised passengers to arrive at airports three hours before international flights and two hours for domestic flights in order to clear the heightened security. Inter-state travelers are subjected to far less scrutiny than those traveling abroad with no formal identification checks required for domestic trips. Passengers at major Australian airports, including Sydney, experienced longer-than-usual queues during the busy Monday morning travel period. A Reuters witness said the queues had disappeared at Sydney Airport by lunch-time. A source at a major Australian carrier said airlines and airports had been instructed by the government to ramp up baggage checks as a result of the threat, with some luggage searches now being conducted as passengers queued to check in their bags. Counter-terrorism police have conducted several recent raids, heightening tensions in a country that has had very few domestic attacks. On Monday, three males pleaded guilty in the New South Wales state Supreme Court to "conspiracy to commit acts in preparation for a terrorist act or acts" in 2014, a court spokeswoman said, while another two pleaded guilty to lesser charges. Police previously said the men planned an attack on targets which included the AFP headquarters in Sydney, along with civilian targets. The offences are not related to the alleged plane bomb plot. The 2014 Lindt cafe siege in Sydney, in which the hostage-taker and two people were killed, was Australia's most deadly violence inspired by Islamic State militants. https://www.yahoo.com/news/4-men-australia-arrested-allegedly-063314886.html Back to Top Ruling eliminates seniority protections for ex-TWA pilots in St. Louis A TWA passenger aircraft lands at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport in St. Louis with an American Airlines passenger plane in the foreground on March 5, 2001. American Airlines took over TWA later that year. Lambert, an important hub at the time, faded in importance after the deal. (AP Photo/James A. Finley) Sixteen years after American Airlines' takeover of Trans World Airlines, the deal is stirring some new fallout at St. Louis Lambert International Airport. An arbitration ruling this month could result in a loss of seniority, pay cuts or moves to other cities for many of the ex-TWA pilots still working for American, including more than 100 here. That's according to Allen Press, a Clayton attorney representing three former TWA pilots who on July 20 asked a federal judge in Dallas to block the ruling. The three earlier had sued American and its pilots union over the issue. Press said pilots tell him they also expect American to shut down its pilot base at Lambert, which is among 11 maintained by the airline. However, a spokeswoman for the airline said there are no plans to do so. The ruling would end the last remaining seniority protections that ex-TWA pilots received when American took over the bankrupt TWA in 2001. Some other seniority rights for former TWA pilots ended following a new labor agreement worked out in 2013 as part of American's bankruptcy reorganization. At issue now is when the more limited protections cease to exist. Press said there are currently 162 ex-TWA pilots working for American out of St. Louis - 80 captains and 82 first officers who function as co-pilots. "They ultimately will be affected one way or the other," he said. In all, the legal challenge to the ruling contends, more than 900 former TWA pilots across the country would "suffer substantial and irreparable harm." The challenge asserts that at least 85 ex-TWA captains could be demoted to first officer because of the loss of seniority, resulting in a loss of pay of about $70,000 a year. Among them is plaintiff Kevin Horner of Bowling Green, Mo. However, under a new agreement between the union and the airline, they could avoid pay reductions by opting to become captains on smaller former US Airways planes, known as E-190s. Those planes were added to American's fleet in the American-US Airways merger in 2013. But such pilots would have to move or commute to Philadelphia, where those planes are based. In addition, the suit says, many of the 150 other captains likely to retain that rank may have to shift to on-call positions outside their current home base, requiring them to move or commute to other base cities. Commuting pilots typically maintain apartments. Many of the more than 650 former TWA first officers, the suit says, would also shift to on- call positions and see their paths to captain "yet again extended beyond that of any other American pilot." This group includes plaintiff John Krakowski of Ballwin. At issue is a provision that says the seniority protections would end when a particular ex- TWA pilot hired in 1997, Magnus Alehult, accumulated enough seniority to get a captain position on any aircraft. The arbitrator said that occurred last September when Alehult qualified to become a captain on American's former US Airways E-190 planes. The arbitrator agreed with three American pilots who had made that point in a grievance. Press' clients say the protections end only when Alehult gathers additional seniority needed to be a captain on larger planes that were in American's fleet at the time the provision was worked out. An earlier lawsuit filed by some former TWA pilots against American and the pilots union - the Allied Pilots Association - is pending before a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge in New York, Press said. The case was shifted there from a federal court in St. Louis. Press said closing of the pilot base at Lambert could result in some smaller planes being used on certain flights. American, in a bankruptcy court filing in 2012 seeking an end to its post-TWA labor agreement regarding pilots here, said "hundreds of American's pilots and many of its aircraft are committed to operations out of that facility that make no economic sense. These assets could generate a far greater return if redeployed." However, airline spokeswoman Leslie Mayo said last week that American has no plans now to shut down any pilot bases, including the one here. American now operates 42 daily flights from Lambert, down from 417 in 2003. "I don't see how (the arbitration ruling) would have any impact on St. Louis or the airport," Mayo said. A pilots association spokesman declined to comment. Lambert's director, Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge, said American hasn't notified the airport of any plan to close the base or make other operational changes. "They just opened a brand new pilots' lounge," she noted. Even if the base eventually closed, she added, there might be no impact on the airport itself. "At the end of the day, they operate flights," she said of American. "They could operate that without a base here." http://www.stltoday.com/news/traffic/along-for-the-ride/along-for-the-ride-ruling- eliminates-seniority-protections-for-ex/article_7fec1c74-5f1e-5cf1-a1d8- ba122d50a3ed.html Back to Top Why The Size Of Your Airline Seat Just Became A Safety Issue Anyone who's been on a plane lately can attest to the slow and steady demise of amenities. First, baggage fees. Then, no more snacks. Finally, the seats seem to get smaller and closer together. Well, there is some good news on the horizon for American travelers. According to The Guardian, a court ruled that the Federal Aviation Administration needs to look into shrinking seats as a safety issue. "This is the case of the incredible shrinking airline seat," Judge Patricia Millett wrote in the ruling. "As many have no doubt noticed, aircraft seats and the spacing between them have been getting smaller and smaller, while American passengers have been growing in size." Flyers Rights, a passenger group, challenged the FAA after the government agency shot down a request to have rules and regulations surrounding the size of airline seats and the distance between them. After the group presented findings to the court, three judges decided that the FAA was still using outdated and unreliable tests and reports for seating and that the layout of an airplane should put safety first, not comfort (or lack thereof). The group showed that cramming seats close together proved to be a safety issue when it came to emergency evacuations and also raises the possibility of passengers developing blood clots. "We applaud the court's decision, and the path to larger seats has suddenly become a bit wider," Kendall Creighton, a spokesperson for Flyers Rights, told The Guardian. The ruling is only a small step towards any real regulation. While the judges' ruling is certainly important, Congress needs to make propose clear regulation for any change to occur. In the meantime, The Guardian adds that airlines are listening, if only slightly: After passengers caught wind of American Airlines squeezing economy seats closer together to make room for more premium options, the airline decided to relent and remove that additional row of seats for the sake of extra legroom. https://www.yahoo.com/style/why-size-airline-seat-just-233000760.html Back to Top United retires domestic 747 flights After ruling as "Queen of the Skies" for more than 40 years, the Boeing 747 made its last domestic run for United Airlines Friday night. (WLS) CHICAGO (WLS) -- After ruling as "Queen of the Skies" for more than 40 years, the Boeing 747 made its last domestic run for United Airlines Friday night. To say she's a big plane would be an understatement. The 747 has a tail six stories tall, can hold 3,400 pieces of baggage, and seats up to 440 passengers. Let's not forget the famous staircase leading to the "bubble," which houses a business class and the cockpit. The plane is so big, there are two gates where tickets were scanned and two doors through which passengers entered. The historic flight departed from Chicago O'Hare International Airport for San Francisco International Airport. United still operates international 747 flights to Europe and Asia, but ended regular domestic flights years ago. United will retire its entire 747 fleet this fall. While boarding the jumbo jet, people smiled wide; not necessarily for the destination, but simply because they had a spot on board. Needless to say Friday's historic United flight sold out--and had a mile-long standby list. Many passengers are current and former United employees. Among the first class passengers was a retired pilot who captained a 747 years ago. "Sad to see it go," Robert Mitchell said wistfully. Grown adults were children again, snapping photos and chatting joyfully. There was a line to climb up the staircase because people wanted to go up a level and marvel at the design. The plane has an aura of style, right down to the lobster mac n' cheese served for dinner as the flight headed for the West Coast. Beyond the thrust of four jet engines, poetry seemed to fuel this plane. Flight 2704 Captain David Smith's father flew the 747 decades ago, and now he gets to bring her home for the final approach. "It's hard for anyone who flies this airplane to tell you it's not their favorite," said Smith. When asked what this honor means to him, Smith paused for a moment to gather his thoughts and remarked,"It just makes me appreciate all that much more what those gentlemen who made this industry what it is today truly had to work for and I'm able to enjoy it." The "gentle giant" is an engineering marvel, an aviation icon, and soon it will be a memory in the clouds. http://abc7chicago.com/travel/united-retires-domestic-747-flights/2258619/ Back to Top Airline Allegedly Has Mom Arrested After She Gives Blanket To Her Son (She Was In Business, He Was In Economy) Mom was in Business Class. Her son was in Economy. And no, this wasn't United. A dispute over a blanket? Has it come to this? CREDIT: Getty Images Absurdly Driven looks at the world of business with a skeptical eye and a firmly rooted tongue in cheek. This is only one side of the story. But what a side. Sara Celeste Farfan Garcia says that on June 15 she was sitting in Copa Airlines' Business Class on a flight from Panama City to Lima, Peru. As with a lot of flights, cabin temperature was on the chilly side. So, as Garcia says in a Facebook post, she passed her blanket to her young son. He was sitting at the front of Economy with other relatives. Copa Airlines doesn't give Economy passengers blankets. Just imagine how much money that saves. Now you know how many airlines don't like it if passengers break their rules. Well, Garcia says that she was approached by an angry flight attendant, who explained that her son wasn't allowed to have a blanket and so there. The blanket was removed and it all seems to have escalated, at least in Garcia's version, to the flight attendant "verbally assaulting and pushing" her. Oh, and calling the police. They, in turn, allegedly threatened to handcuff Garcia and took her and her family off the flight. She claims the flight attendant insisted that Garcia had injured her and was pretending to limp. She also says she was detained in a police station for some hours. I contacted Copa Airlines to ask for its version of the incident and received a very different story. An airline spokesman said that Garcia was "disruptive and aggressive." Indeed, the airline said that it has filed a legal complaint in a Peruvian court against her. Moreover, the airline insists that the blanket story "did not occur as reported." It didn't specify in what ways its truth differs, however, other than to say that "key details" were omitted by Garcia. If Garcia's version resembles the truth, this appears to be yet another case of airline staff taking rules to slightly pointless levels. On Facebook, opinion was divided. Some criticized Garcia for sitting in Business Class while her son was in Economy. Others were appalled at the flight attendant's attitude. So many times recently, airline staff enforcing rules in a manner devoid of common sense have only made themselves and their companies look like the ultimate antithesis of customer service providers. I can imagine that some US airlines will be relieved that it isn't just their own staff who might take on officious airs and graces. This isn't, though, the first time an airline's blanket policy has caused uproar on a flight. Earlier this year, a Hawaiian Airlines Economy Class passenger became a touch upset when he was asked to pay $12 for a blanket. Yes, of course the flight was diverted. What did you expect? When airline-customer relations become the apogee of pettiness, how can airlines expect passengers feel warm and fuzzy toward them? The sad truth, I suspect, is that many airlines don't care all that much. As long as their profits grow and their competition is limited, they're happy. https://www.inc.com/chris-matyszczyk/mom-says-airline-had-police-take-her-off-flight- af.html Back to Top Boeing expects India to order up to 2,100 aircraft over 20 years An Air India Airlines Boeing 787 dreamliner takes part in a flying display during the 50th Paris Air Show at the Le Bourget airport near Paris, June 14, 2013. NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Boeing Co (BA.N) said on Monday it expects Indian airlines to order up to 2,100 new aircraft worth $290 billion over the next 20 years, calling it the highest-ever forecast for Asia's third-largest economy. India is one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets with domestic passenger traffic growing at more than 20 percent a year over the last few years. "The increasing number of passengers combined with a strong exchange rate, low fuel prices and high load factor bodes well for India's aviation market, especially for the low- cost carriers," said Dinesh Keskar, senior vice president, Asia Pacific and India sales at Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The world's biggest maker of jetliners said it expected passenger growth of about 8 percent in South Asia, dominated by India, over the next 20 years, compared with the world average of about 4.7 percent. Boeing could increase the projection next year depending on how India's regional connectivity scheme pans out, Dinesh Keskar added. Last year, India overhauled rules governing its aviation industry, liberalizing norms for domestic carriers to fly overseas and spreading the country's air travel boom to smaller cities by capping air fares and opening airports. Boeing said it expected single-aisle planes, such as the next generation 737 and 737 Max, to account for the bulk of the new deliveries, with India likely to take 1,780 such aircraft. The U.S. planemaker dominates the wide-body aeroplane market in India, while competitor Airbus SE (AIR.PA) sells the bulk of small planes preferred by low-cost carriers (LCCs) such as InterGlobe Aviation Ltd's (INGL.NS) IndiGo. Low-cost carriers dominate Indian skies and account for more than 60 percent of flights in the country. Boeing plans to plug this gap in its portfolio with the 737 MAX 10 single-aisle jet which it launched at an air show in Paris in June, following runaway sales of Airbus' A321neo. Boeing expects worldwide demand for 41,030 aircraft over the next 20 years, putting India's share of the total at about 5 percent. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-boeing-india-idUSKBN1AG0MS Back to Top Timely first for Angkor Air Tek Reth Samrach, chairman of Cambodia Angkor Air. KT/Chor Sokunthea The kingdom's national flag carrier, Cambodia Angkor Air, is the country's first airline to receive the International Air Transport Association's Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certificate and has officially become a member of the IATA. "The IOSA programme was developed by IATA to provide a common standard to evaluate an airline's compliance with safety and quality," said Tek Reth Samrach, chairman of the Cambodia Angkor Air, on Friday. "This has made us the first Cambodian airline, which has benchmarked itself against international safety standards and has received recognition from IATA through the IOSA registration," Mr Samrach said. The IOSA registration process requires a comprehensive audit of operational standards, control processes and safety systems. The registration is audited every two years. "With the IOSA certificate, Cambodia Angkor Air has officially become the member of the IATA," said Mr Samrach. "This is a huge milestone for Cambodia as the IATA is the trade association for the world's airlines, representing some 275 airlines or 83 percent of total air traffic in over 117 countries," he added. "This is the first time in Cambodia's history for an airline to receive this kind of certificate from the IATA. "The IOSA is important as it will help the national airline cooperate with local, regional and international airlines." Cambodia Angkor Air currently operates flights in two domestic and nine regular international routes with 12 charter flights. The airline company uses six aircraft - three ATR and three Airbus 320 and Airbus 321. Mr Samrach said that Cambodia Angkor Air would fly to more destinations when it takes delivery of 12 new aircraft in 2020 - four ATRs and eight Airbuses. "Our new routes would include Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, South Korea, Macau and India," he said. According to Mr Samrach, Cambodia Angkor Air will focus on two markets this year - the Chinese and Indian markets. "We hope to get more Chinese passengers, with the government's plan to attract two million Chinese tourists by 2020," he said. "We are also setting our eyes on India. India has a huge domestic aviation market and Angkor Wat in Cambodia is the largest Hindu temple in the world. "Cambodia Angkor Air will fly these Indian passengers to Cambodia to see Angkor Wat for themselves. We hope to get one to two million Indian tourists flying with us." Mao Havannal, secretary of state for the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation, welcomed the news that Cambodia Angkor Air passed IATA's comprehensive audit on safety systems. "It goes to show that Cambodia Angkor Air has international safety standards and this builds trust among its customers," said Mr Havannal. http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5075587/timely-first-angkor-air/ Back to Top Aspiring pilots take part in United training program HOUSTON - If you want to fly a commercial airline it takes thousands and thousands of hours of training, grit and determination, and for some, the ability to overcome obstacles. Tahchiona Smith can't help but smile when she's flying. "Being at the airport when I was younger watching the airplanes take off and land and from there it just skyrocketed," Smith said. Now she's 20 and majoring in aviation science at Texas Southern University, a part of the United Summer Associates program, and dead set on becoming a pilot. "Oh no matter what, this is it. This is, being a professional pilot is what I want to do," Smith said. "Typically our pilots that we're hiring have 5,000 to 6,000 hours in an aircraft before we hire them here," said first officer with United, Sarah Bull. As a part of the two-month program, the first one ever held in Houston, students spent the day with Bull, learning about a pilot's life. However, it's not the only aspect of aviation they experience. "They get to work in the summer and then once a week they go through a different area of operations and they get to see the different aspects of the airline and how they're working," Bull said. "I got the opportunity to see the aviation industry in and out," Smith said. That includes how few pilots are females. For United, that's about seven-percent of its pilot ranks. That number drops even further if you narrow it to African American women. In fact, Smith had never met one, until two weeks ago. "When I got the chance to meet an African American female she told me the struggles that she faced through her career as well as mine. When I met her, I was like, 'Wow, I really can do this, this is really amazing,'" Smith said. "There is growing interest, and I think in the next 15 years you're going to see more women in the aviation industry," said Bull. In two years, Smith will graduate from TSU and officially be a pilot however she then faces another big hurdle, landing that first job. https://www.click2houston.com/community/aspiring-pilots-take-part-in-united-training- program Back to Top Becky Calder Blazes a Trail for Female Fighter Pilots In 2002, on her first combat deployment during Operation Enduring Freedom, Cmdr. Becky Calder, née Dowling, flew her F/A-18 Hornet over Afghanistan on a challenging mission. When friendly forces on the ground were ambushed; Calder and her wingman were tasked with supporting them in the air. It felt like something out of a movie. Through the garbled radio, the ground controller asked that Calder use her gun. Prior to that day, she had used her gun in the F/A-18 exactly two times. Yet, she rolled in on her target and did her part. "I was young, alone and petrified," she says. "Without question, it was the most terrifying experience of my life." That feat fueled Calder's desire to become a better pilot. "It was a flight that changed my life," she says. "You're never as good as you think you are. You can always improve." In 2004, she applied and was selected to attend the U.S. Navy's Fighter Weapons School aka Top Gun. She became the first female pilot to graduate from the elite program, blazing a path for future women in the Navy. The First Wave of Female Fighter Pilots When Calder entered the Naval Academy in 1994, she never dreamed of a military career. The Washington state native just wanted to play basketball-her springboard to college as a recruited athlete. One day during practice, Calder was speaking with then-deputy commandant of midshipmen Charles Bolden. He told her she'd make a good F/A-18 pilot. "I had no vision of what that meant or what he saw in me," she says. "I didn't know anything about F/A- 18s." Still, Bolden's words stuck with her. When it came time to select her service assignment, Calder chose aviation. The door for women to become fighter pilots had just cracked open. In 1993, the Department of Defense amended its policy that prohibited women from serving in combat positions, and lifted the rule for combat aviation roles. "I picked F/A-18s and I didn't let [the policy] stop me," she says. "I worked as hard as I could to make sure I had the option to chose what I wanted to do." Calder earned her aviator wings in 2000 and learned to fly the F/A-18 Hornet. She was deployed aboard the USS George Washington in support of both Operation Southern Watch and Operation Enduring Freedom. After Top Gun, Calder became an instructor at the Strike Fighter Weapons School Atlantic in Virginia, teaching other pilots to be prepared for challenging missions like the one she had faced years earlier. Then, she was deployed aboard the USS Harry S. Truman in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In all, Calder accumulated approximately 2,500 flight hours and is one of few pilots who has flown all versions of the Hornet jet. Under a Spotlight As the first female Top Gun graduate, Calder lived under a microscope during her 14 years of active duty. It wasn't always comfortable. She didn't want to be singled out because she was a woman. She just wanted to do her job well. Despite joking that she was the "hippie girl flying a F/A-18," Calder says she never felt like she belonged more than she did at Top Gun and in the seat of her jet. "People want to put you in categories, but during my life as a combat pilot, those categories didn't matter," she says. "When you're at war, there's no male or female. You're just a pilot." In many ways, basketball was the best preparation for Calder's military career. On the court, she was known for her grit, hard work and selflessness. It's teamwork and the call to serve that drives her. "My parents instilled that in me, the idea that I'm part of something greater than myself. It started on the basketball court where I was part of a team and carried over to the military and my F/A-18 squadron," she says. "Ultimately, we were doing it for each other and our country." Toughest Mission Now 41, Calder is in the Naval Reserves. Next year, after 20 years of service, she's up for retirement. Currently, she's on her hardest assignment: raising her 6-year old son and 5-year old daughter in Arlington, Virginia. "There's a manual for the F/A-18 and you can learn how to be the best at flying it but there's no manual for parenting," she says. She hopes to give her children the same sense of drive and call to service her parents gave her. Becoming a parent, especially to a daughter, helped Calder embrace her place as a role model for women in the military. "I never thought there would still be firsts out there. I didn't join the Naval Academy or the military to be a trailblazer," she says. "But when you find something you love, you can do amazing things." https://parade.com/590623/parade/becky-calder-blazes-a-trail-for-female-fighter-pilots/ Back to Top After race row, Jet Airways phasing out expat pilots NEW DELHI: Jet Airways has started phasing out its expatriate pilots. The airline will send back about 25 expatriate pilots by mid-September and the process will continue. The action comes after one of it expat pilots allegedly made racial comments against two Indians, including a physically challenged passenger this April and cricketer Harbhajan Singh tweeted about it. The union of Jet's Indian pilots, National Aviators' Guild, then asked members not to fly with the expat pilots. The decision was relaxed after the airline assured action against the wrongdoers. Top Comment Very good step. While working in India you''ve to respect the local people. Jet had recently asked 318 junior pilots to take 10 days off in a month - meaning at least 30% pay cut. While expats have higher salaries, Jet says the move is more than just cost cutting. "Our chairman wants career progression for Indian pilots," said a senior official. Jet has close to 2,000 pilots of which about 100 are expats. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/after-race-row-jet-airways- phasing-out-expat-pilots/articleshow/59838564.cms Back to Top Trump's air traffic overhaul struggles to take off President Trump's plan to privatize air traffic control is struggling to get off the ground. House lawmakers left town for the August recess without voting on the proposal, which is included in legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The plan would transfer the country's air navigation system to a nonprofit corporation. But the recess means the chamber will have less than a month to consider the bill and negotiate a final product with the Senate, since the FAA's legal authority expires at the end of September. Failure to pass the legislation would be a big blow for the White House as it scrambles to score a legislative victory on Capitol Hill, especially after the GOP's latest healthcare defeat. "I wanted to pass it now," a frustrated Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, told The Hill before leaving town. "If we had another week here, I think we'd have it on the floor next week. It's just one of those things where it takes time for members to engage and understand." The long-term aviation package has been viewed as one potential area where Republican leadership could deliver a victory for the administration. It was also thought to be a far easier lift than healthcare or tax reform. The FAA bills in both chambers contain a wide range of bipartisan airline consumer protections, language to address drone use and authorization for airport funding and other popular programs. The House version also contains a proposal to separate air traffic control from the federal government. The idea has long been championed by the airline industry, but failed to gain traction in Congress last year. Trump, however, jumped into the fight this year and came out strongly in support of the proposal, making it part of his broader push to modernize the country's infrastructure. He kicked off an infrastructure messaging week by signing formal legislative principles outlining the spinoff model during a ceremony at the White House last month. "For too many years our country has tolerated delays at the airport, long wait times on the tarmac, and a slowing of commerce and travel that costs billion and billions of dollars," Trump said in the East Room, standing alongside a number of airline executives, lawmakers, Vice President Pence and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. "Today we're proposing to take American air travel into the future, finally. We will launch this air travel revolution by modernizing the outdated system of air traffic control. It's about time." The plan would transfer air traffic control operations to a private agency over three years "at no charge," removing 30,000 FAA employees from the federal payroll. The FAA would still maintain safety oversight, but the new entity would be in charge of air traffic control, be governed by a board of directors and have the power to collect user fees. However, the plan has been divisive among Republicans. Appropriators are worried about giving up congressional oversight; rural lawmakers fear that general aviation users will lose access to the airspace or face higher fees; and defense hawks have raised national security concerns. The plan was able to pass out of committee along a party-line vote last month, but - appearing to lack the support of the full chamber - has remained stuck on the sidelines since then. The White House has tried to put some muscle behind the effort. The administration dispatched a high-ranking official to Capitol Hill to sell skeptical House Republicans on the idea, while other officials have been making personal phone calls to lawmakers. "I think [the purpose of the meeting] was just to put that stamp of approval on what was gong on, and to suggest that if we have to twist some arms, that the White House will be engaged in it," Rep. Rob Woodall (R-Ga.) said at the time. Shuster has also been spotted working members during vote series and carrying around what looked like a whip list, while his office has been blasting out "dear colleague" letters and fact sheets to try to educate more members about the plan. But a competing group of Republicans has also been actively lobbying their colleagues to oppose the proposal, hoping to torpedo the plan. With little time on the calendar and an apparent lack of party consensus on the proposal, House leadership opted not to schedule a floor vote before the August recess. Shuster, however, remains confident that momentum is on his side and believes they can get the bill over the finish line when they return in September. But the House would still need to go to conference with the Senate, where a FAA bill that does not contain the spinoff proposal is also stalled. Plus, lawmakers will be dealing with debt ceiling and spending legislation in September, when current government funding expires. That seems to be stepping up the likelihood that lawmakers will have to pass a short-term extension for the FAA, which would doom efforts to privatize air traffic control this year. "This issue will be kicked into September at the earliest. That will make [passing a long- term bill] problematic," Rep. Steve Russell (R-Okla.) told The Hill on Thursday. "The votes are not there, and that's why it's not being brought up. If it were close, you'd see a full court press. Instead, you're seeing folks still trying to work and educate." http://thehill.com/policy/transportation/344409-trumps-air-traffic-overhaul-struggles-to- take-off Back to Top Air Force Gets Creative to Tackle Pilot Shortage Air Force fighter and drone pilots are slated to receive the highest maximum bonus of $35,000 a year. (US Air Force photo/Wendy C. Yada) The Air Force's pilot shortage has leaders worried not only about filling gaps in the immediate future, but also how the military and civilian airlines may suffer without fine- tuned aviators in decades to come. As a result, Air Mobility Command at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, if given permission, may start a small group tryout for pilots testing a new program in which aviators stay at their home-duty stations longer, thus increasing their longevity and likelihood to stay in service, the head of the command told Military.com in an exclusive interview. "Should we go with a 'fly-only' track?" Gen. Carlton Everhart II said in an interview Wednesday. Everhart said he envisions something like this: "You stay with me for 20 years, and I let you fly. You ... could maybe [make] lieutenant colonel, but you may not make higher than that. "Then, [we] allow you to stay at your home station for three to four years instead of two to three, so you can get some longevity," he continued. "Then, it's not just [flying airlift cargo or tanker planes]. You could go to [Air Education and Training Command] and help out there for three to four years to help bring on new pilots. "To sweeten the deal, as you come into your career, maybe in the last four years, we allow you on a 'dream sheet' to put your top three choices, try to get you moved to there so you can establish your family and where you want to retire," he said. Everhart said the 'fly-only' effort would still encompass wing, squadron and group duties and deployments but -- bottom line -- "it's longevity." The same aviator retention bonuses would also apply, he said. "The idea being explored is seeking airmen volunteers for a professional 'fly-only' aviator track comprised of anywhere from 5 to 10 percent of the AMC flying force," said Col. Chris Karns, spokesman for the command, in an email. "This small group of airmen would be linked to flying jobs throughout a career." AMC has nearly 49,000 active-duty members and civilians; 42,000 Air Reserve component military; and 35,000 Air National Guard members, according to the command. From that, the command has roughly 8,500 total force pilots. Throughout the Air Force, active-duty mobility pilots total 5,125 assigned to other commands, Karns said. Active- duty pilots assigned to AMC installations total 2,866. How airmen will be selected for the 'fly-only' program is still being determined, the officials said, as well as how many will be involved. Everhart said his teams are looking at the program to establish more fixed methodology behind the effort, but would like to "look at it in the next three to four months" to begin a trial run. "There's certain things we have to do to code these folks ... and I've introduced the notion and got a tentative nod from [Air Force Chief of Staff Gen David Goldfein]," he said. "I think there's merit there, but I've just got to work all the way through it, then do the small group tryout and see where we go. "I'm not taking anything off the table because I need them with me, I need them to fly with me," he said. The Issues Wearing Out Pilots Goldfein and Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson have said the service was 1,544 pilots short by fiscal 2016, which includes 1,211 total force fighter pilots -- with the deficit expected to grow. Everhart said the Air Force stands potentially to lose 1,600 pilots who are eligible to separate from the service in the next four years. He has been working with an AMC aviation retention task force for the past few months, trying to come up with recommendations as a result of airman feedback. That feedback includes: Flying has become secondary to administrative duties; airmen desire more stability for themselves and their families; they lack support personnel; and they fear the impact of service politics on their career paths. Airman feedback has resulted in one concrete move -- the removal of additional duties, a common complaint. In August, the service began removing miscellaneous responsibilities known as "additional duties" typically assigned to airmen at the unit level. It has since cut 29 of 61 additional duties identified under Air Force Instruction 38-206, "Additional Duty Management." Some duties were reassigned to commander support staffs, and civilians will be hired to take on some other duties in coming months. Other areas are also getting scrutiny: Officials are looking at accession and promotion rates, giving commanders more freedom to think of creative solutions, and working with U.S. Transportation Command to look at deployment requirements, Everhart said. "We're working hand-in-hand with headquarters Air Force A3 ... so we don't get in crossways with each other, and can we, as solution sets, put these across the entire broad perspective of the Air Force," he said, referring to Lt. Gen. Mark C. Nowland, head of operations, plans and requirements. He's also in communication with Lt. Gen. Gina M. Grosso, the Air Force's chief of manpower, personnel and services, and the Air Force Personnel Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, he said. Lessons learned from these discussions and trial programs could then be applied to the fighter pilot community, Everhart said, but that's still a way out. But the Air Force is not the only organization in crisis. Working With Civilian Airlines Boeing Co., the U.S.' largest aerospace company, on Wednesday said it predicts that in the next 20 years, North American airline companies will need 117,000 new pilots to keep up with commercial demands, CNN reported. Everhart said this incentivizes both sides to work together. Last May, the Air Force met with representatives from civilian airline corporations such as American Airlines and United; academic institutions such as Embry Riddle University, an aeronautical university; civil reserve airfleet institutions such as FedEx; and Rand Corp., a nonprofit institution that provides research and analysis studies on public policy. The groups established working areas, Karns said, that need critical attention, such as exploring ways to make a career in aviation more desirable; finding ways to reduce the cost of earning a civilian aviation certification -- for example, a debt relief program; looking at enhanced data analysis to establish a baseline for what is actually required to meet national pilot need; exploring potential alternate pathways to becoming a pilot -- possibly by accelerating timelines; and improving the effectiveness of "shared resources" of pilots who fly for both the military and commercial airlines. "We've got another airline meeting coming up in September," Everhart said, in which leaders will discuss the secondary phases for these working areas. "We need to instill in the hearts of our American public what ... aviation is all about," he said. Rotating Air Force Assets AMC already employs a rotational system to keep its aircraft sustainable longer. "In an effort to extend the life service of various mobility fleets and enhance aircraft availability, we're looking to work with the Guard and Reserve to rotate aircraft more regularly and consistently to avoid disproportionate wear-and-tear on systems," Karns said. "What has been known as enterprise fleet management is adjusting to what is called 'Total Force effort to sustain and modernize the fleet.' " The system rotates aircraft from the three components more often in order to "shrink ... and no longer have that airlift gap," Capt. Theresa Izell, a maintenance officer, said in March during an AMC media day at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Could that system be applied to the pilot gap -- moving pilots flying various platforms throughout, or qualifying pilots to fly more platforms? "I think you've got something there," Everhart said. "I think we already do that with cross training. We do some cross training for airframes as far as pilots flying tankers versus cargo, but I have to explore that more. I haven't looked at it from the human dynamic prospect -- and I think that's something to pull back [on]. I love it." Love for Country Everhart reiterated that time in service always comes back to the willingness to serve. In June, the Air Force unveiled a new tiered Aviation Bonus Program, an expansion of Aviator Retention Pay that puts into place the cap authorized for the incentive under the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA. Should they choose to stay, fighter and drone pilots, for example, are slated to receive the highest maximum bonus of $35,000 a year, while special operations combat systems officers would receive the least at $10,000. Officers have until Oct. 1 to decide whether they want to extend their service. The number of pilots taking the aviator retention bonus for AMC has also slightly declined, Karns said. In 2015, the "take-rate" of pilots choosing the bonus and choosing to re-up into the Air Force was 56 percent; in 2016, that number dropped to 48 percent, Karns said. While bonuses matter, Everhart reiterated it's not always about the money. "They stay in the military because what's in their heart, and their service to America. They really believe [in] an American fighting force. That's why they stay," he said. "The bonus? Sure, that's sweet. But that's not why I stayed," Everhart said. "I stayed because it's service to the nation. And that's what I'm finding out across the board" from other pilots. http://www.military.com/daily-news/2017/07/30/air-force-gets-creative-to-tackle-pilot- shortage.html Back to Top Japan Attempts First Rocket Launch to Join SpaceX The MOMO rocket, developed by a space venture, Interstellar Technologies Inc., in Japan's Hokkaido prefecture on July 26. Photographer: Kyodo News via Getty Images Japan's first privately-funded rocket took off on Sunday from a small platform on the northern island of Hokkaido, as a group of entrepreneurs attempted to join an elite club of enterprises that have commercialized space. The 10-meter tall rocket, made by Interstellar Technologies Inc., failed to reach its target altitude of 100 kilometers and splashed into the ocean on Sunday, but its backers said they would try again. The startup, founded by former Japanese internet maverick Takafumi Horie, designed and built the rocket, called Momo. The MOMO rocket lifts off from a test site on July 30.Photographer: Kyodo News via Getty Images "The rocket got liftoff and flew, but unfortunately didn't make it to space," Horie said on his Facebook page. "But we were able to get valuable data and we'll succeed next time." Momo's backers, including a crowdfunding initiative that began a year ago, are aiming to make space more accessible through cheaper rockets, spurring more research and experimentation. Elon Musk's Space Exploration Technologies Corp. has pioneered such endeavors, sending payloads from NASA and private companies into orbit with its Falcon rockets. Up until now, Japan's space efforts have been led by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA. It reached an altitude of about 20 kilometers before the team on the ground lost contact, shutting down the engine 66 seconds into its flight. The launch had already been postponed from Saturday due to foggy weather and technical difficulties. Japanese media and spectators armed with Interstellar stickers and merchandise had gathered on a hill nearby Taiki Aerospace Research Field to watch the launch. Interstellar used widely available parts and its own technologies to drive down the cost of the launch to less than 50 million yen ($441,000). By comparison, JAXA's solid-rocket launches cost 200 million to 300 million yen. While Momo's engines and capabilities aren't as sophisticated as government or corporate-funded rockets, its backers are betting that its simplicity and low cost could make it a useful platform for aerospace experiments. Interstellar started working on rockets a decade ago, and in the aftermath of Sunday's launch is setting its sights on a new goal: developing a rocket that can carry a small satellite by 2020. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-07-31/ 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 Curt Lewis