Flight Safety Information September 27, 2017 - No. 193 In This Issue Incident: Transavia B738 near Amsterdam on Sep 26th 2017, mach trim system failed Incident: United B739 near Chicago on Sep 25th 2017, collision with glider averted by evasive turn JAL Boeing 737-846 observed flames emitting from the No.2 engine Cessna - 421 accident (Czech Republic) Sudanese Airplane Hits Huge Bird before Landing New Super Puma helicopter safety checks ordered With 4 Days Left, House Fails to Pass FAA Reathorization Extension NTSB releases preliminary report in plane crash that killed 4 members of Fort Collins family Indonesia, US to improve flight safety in Papua HELICOPTER SAFETY NEWS...Sept. 25, 2017 One Aviation offering anti-skid brake retrofit on Eclipse 500s Study: Airlines could generate $30B from broadband for work, shopping, entertainment by 2035 Hong Kong's Airport Needs $8.8 Billion Debt for Third Runway Lufthansa confirms plan to grow Eurowings fleet by 61 aircraft United Airlines pilots (and many others) bemoan Trump's Norwegian Air decision Bombardier's $6 Billion Jet Takes Hit as Boeing Wins U.S. Duties EasyJet puts its weight behind plans for electric planes Boeing offers a $2 million prize for a working jetpack ERAU-ICAEA Conference on Aviation English - May 9-11, 2018 After lengthy campaign, Australia gets its own space agency GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Incident: Transavia B738 near Amsterdam on Sep 26th 2017, mach trim system failed A Transavia Boeing 737-800, registration PH-HSG performing flight HV-6727 from Amsterdam (Netherlands) to Sevilla,SP (Spain), was climbing out of Amsterdam already in Belgian airspace when the crew stopped the climb at FL280 due to a technical problem and decided to return to Amsterdam. During descent towards Amsterdam the crew advised they had a mach trim failure, operations were normal and a normal landing would occur. The aircraft continued to Amsterdam for a safe landing on runway 36C about 50 minutes after departure. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 2 hours, then departed again, climbed to FL370 and reached Seville with a total delay of 2:45 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4aeea20b&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: United B739 near Chicago on Sep 25th 2017, collision with glider averted by evasive turn A United Boeing 737-900, registration N69810 performing flight UA-246 from Vancouver,BC (Canada) to Chicago O'Hare,IL (USA), was on approach to Chicago maintaining 10,000 feet and 250 KIAS (about 290 knots over ground) on a southerly heading about 63nm northwest of Chicago O'Hare Airport, when the crew sighted a small glider aircraft, invisible on TCAS, on a collision course and initiated a sharp left hand turn maintaining 10,000 feet to avoid a collision. The aircraft completed a narrow 360 degrees turn, then performed a right hand turn to rejoin the arrival route and continued to Chicago for a safe landing about 30 minutes later. The FAA reported the Boeing encountered a small aircraft just north of Rockford,IL and was forced to take an evasive maneouver to avoid a collision. The aircraft subsequently circled back onto the approach track. An investigation into the occurrence has been opened. Passengers reported they noticed the aircraft made a sharp turn to the left, followed by another sharp turn to the right while on a relatively bumpy approach to Chicago and thought, something was wrong with the aircraft. However, the aircraft levelled the wings and continued the approach. After landing the captain announced they had to make an evasive maneouver to avoid a small aircraft in the air. The aircraft appeared to be similiar to a glider aircraft forcing them to make a split second decision. The airline reported the crew deviated from the approach path after spotting a glider aircraft. http://avherald.com/h?article=4aee9c01&opt=0 Back to Top JAL Boeing 737-846 observed flames emitting from the No.2 engine Date: 27-SEP-2017 Time: before 8:00 Type: Boeing 737-846 (WL) Owner/operator: Japan Airlines Registration: JA318J C/n / msn: 35347/2830 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 122 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Unknown Location: Tokyo International Airport/Haneda (HND/RJTT) - Japan Phase: Take off Nature: Domestic Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Tokyo International Airport /Haneda (HND/RJTT) Destination airport: Matsuyama Airport (MYJ/RJOM) Narrative: A Boeing 737-800 of Japan Airlines operating as flight JAL/JL431 from Tokyo/Haneda to Matsuyama had just lined up and waited for departure when the following ANA aircraft in the departure sequence observed flames emitting from the No.2 engine of JAL431. The take off was aborted. No personal injuries were reported among 115 passengers and seven crew members. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=199985 Back to Top Cessna - 421 accident (Czech Republic) Date: 26-SEP-2017 Time: 7:40LT Type: Cessna 421B Golden Eagle Owner/operator: Valnetis Air Registration: OK-TKF C/n / msn: 421B-0931 Fatalities: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Straz pod Ralskem, Liberec Region - Czech Republic Phase: En route Nature: Private Departure airport: LKPM Destination airport: Narrative: The aircraft crashed en route under unknown circumstances. There was a post impact fire. The 2 occupants died. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=199961 Back to Top Sudanese Airplane Hits Huge Bird before Landing A Boeing 737 MAX takes off during a flight test in Renton, Washington January 29, 2016. | File Reuters Khartoum - A Sudanese airline has called on authorities at the Khartoum International Airport to address the "bird phenomenon" and its threats against aviation, people, and properties. This call came after one of the company's airplanes survived a disaster after it hit a huge seasonal bird, following its take-off from Ad Damazeen Airport. The jet safely landed at Khartoum airport, but the crash caused serious damage to the aircraft's nose, just metres from the pilot's cockpit. In a press release, the Badr Airlines, owner of the damaged jet, said the J4-314 flight took off on schedule from Damazeen Airport heading to Khartoum, but, "it crashed into a huge seasonal bird after about 45 minutes in the air, which caused serious damages in the jet's nose." The pilot was able to land normally at Khartoum Airport, thanks to the instructions mentioned in the jet's operating guide. All passengers were safe and were not affected by the accident. Media sources reported that the bird that caused the incident is one of the giant eagles that migrate to the country in the fall, and is locally known as the «bald hawk». Badr Airlines said the incident is not "normal". But, the company dealt with the situation properly, which led to a safe and normal landing, without affecting the passengers. Badr called the authorities of Khartoum Airport to put an end to the "bird phenomenon" threatening lives and properties. This accident is not the first of its kind. In September 2016, about 108 passengers and a six- member crew survived a disastrous crash in a Boeing 737, heading from El Fasher west of the country to Khartoum. The later hit an eagle in the air, and the collision caused a large hole in its outer structure, which obliged it to return, and to land safely at El Fasher airport. https://english.aawsat.com/ahmedyounis/lifestyle-culture/sudanese-airplane-hits-huge-bird-landing Back to Top New Super Puma helicopter safety checks ordered New checks on Super Puma helicopters have been ordered. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said a main rotor component was "susceptible to crack development" in an emergency airworthiness directive. EASA said the condition, if not detected and corrected, could possibly lead to loss of helicopter control. No North Sea operators are currently using the aircraft to take workers on and offshore. They were grounded following a fatal crash off Norway. Operator Airbus said: "As part of Airbus Helicopters' commitment to safety, the company is constantly reviewing its fleet and has identified a swashplate, part of the main rotor assembly of the H225, which may develop cracks over time. "While no cracks have ever been identified on this part in service, we have provided an alert service bulletin to customers highlighting a monitoring and inspection regime to address this." The 225 aircraft were recently cleared to fly by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) after the crash last year, but only if certain extra safeguards were put in place by operators. The accident in April last year killed 13 people, including Iain Stewart from Laurencekirk, Aberdeenshire. The Super Puma 225 came down near the island of Turoey, near Bergen, while it was returning from an oil field. A report in April into the crash said there was no explanation as to why a detection system did not spot signs of damage to the gearbox. The rotors detached from the helicopter in 2016 http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-41404754 Back to Top With 4 Days Left, House Fails to Pass FAA Reathorization Extension FAA ReauthorizationWith only 4 days to go until the current extension expires on September 30, House Democrats blocked a Republican push to fast-track another FAA extension. The FAA Reathorization Act currently in force dates back to 2012, and repeated attempts to try to replace it have failed - resulting in a series of cobbled together extensions. Last year, Congress failed to come up with a compromise bill after the House offered the original AIRR Act, calling for privatization of Air Traffic Control, and the Senate offered a much tamer bill without controversial changes. Lawmakers passed a last minute extension just before the August recess. With lawmakers focused on healthcare and tax reform, in addition to disaster relief, House Republicans tried to fast-track passage of another extension - a move which requires two-thirds support of members to succeed. But top Democrats sent a "Dear Colleague" letter to other members, announcing their opposition to the bill because of Republican additions that were totally unrelated to the FAA Extension, including flood insurance issues, tax credits for hurricane victims, and even expiring health care programs. "...Today the House is scheduled to consider under suspension a bill that packages together a six- month extension of authority for the FAA along with several other provisions. We write to ask that you join us in opposing it because the Majority is using this must-pass bill to push through unrelated Republican priorities - all while continuing to block Democrats from bringing the DREAM Act to the Floor." said the letter. "Democrats support reauthorization of the FAA, which is long overdue as a result of Republicans' failure to craft a bill that can obtain bipartisan majority support. Unfortunately, now that we are just days away from the expiration of the current authorization, the Majority, without consultation or cooperation with Democrats, has added a partisan package of extraneous provisions..." The bill failed 245-171. House Republicans plan to bring the bill up again under a rule that would require only a simple majority. But some House Republicans also disagree with the bill, unwilling to support privatization of the FAA; and Senate Democrats are also unlikely to agree with the bill - which leaves the immediate fate of the FAA up in the air. https://dronelife.com/2017/09/26/4-days-left-house-fails-pass-faa-reathorization/ Back to Top NTSB releases preliminary report in plane crash that killed 4 members of Fort Collins family GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. - The pilot of a small plane that crashed near Glenwood Springs, killing all four aboard, was not certified to fly in the conditions he found himself in the night of Sep. 15, according to the initial findings from the National Transportation Safety Board. The crash killed the pilot, 47-year-old Jeff Makepeace, his 45-year-old wife, Jennifer, and their twin 10-year-old children, Addison and Benjamin. The Cirrus SR22 took off from Fort Collins and was heading to Moab when it went down in mountainous terrain near Baxter Peak. The NTSB Accident Preliminary Report released Tuesday did not include a cause, however the report indicated that weather conditions at the time of the crash required a certifiable understanding of instrument flying. Jeff Makepeace was a non-instrument rated pilot flying on a visual flight rule (VFR) flight plan at the time the Fort Collins family took off. According to preliminary air traffic control information, about 10 miles northeast of Glenwood Springs, the airplane turned to the northwest, climbed to about 12,000 feet, and continued northwest for about 12 miles. The airplane then turned back to the southwest and gradually descended. A weather station near the crash scene reported an overcast ceiling, low visibility and strong wind gusts. This is considered instrument conditions, which means pilots must rely on their instruments to fly. But it's unclear how much experience or knowledge the pilot had in these conditions. The airplane impacted trees and terrain when it crashed near Baxter Peak. A post-impact fire consumed a portion of the airplane wreckage. Several trees were severed at different heights, just prior to the initial impact with terrain, the report notes. The airframe and engine were fragmented and distributed in the debris field. Garfield County search and rescue crews found the wreckage site around 11:30 a.m. Saturday and confirmed that no one had survived. http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/ntsb-releases-preliminary-report-in-plane- crash-that-killed-4-members-of-fort-collins-family Back to Top Indonesia, US to improve flight safety in Papua Denpasar, Bali (ANTARA News) - The Air Transportation Directorate General and the Embassy of United States of America to Indonesia will cooperate to improve the flight safety in the latter countrys eastern region, mainly in Papua province. Since the province is mostly covered by mountainous regions, the weather in the area sometimes becomes hard to predict, the Transportation Ministrys Air Transportation Directorate General, Agus Santoso, said in his speech during a discussion in Denpasar, Bali, on Tuesday. Therefore, the safety issue during flight remains the top concern of the authority, Santoso remarked during the talk on "Aviation Development and Safety in Eastern Indonesia." "The Indonesian government has to ensure the safety and security of flights in the countrys eastern region by strengthening infrastructures in the air navigation sector," he remarked. Apart from the high-technology infrastructure, Santoso added that the pilots competency has also become the authoritys top concern over safety issue. Since the province is situated in the steep region, the pilots should notice not only the aircrafts instrument but also the visual condition at the airbase, both during take-off and landing. The pilots, moreover, need to learn not only the technical information but also the knowledge on flight safety. "Hence, we would like to cooperate with the US government, because they have a problem similar to ours in Alaska," he stated. "(We hope) the cooperation would increase the connectivity and accessibility in the province. Therefore, in the future, the distribution cost to and from the region could be decreased," Santoso noted. During the similar occasion, the Ambassador of United States of America to Indonesia, Joseph R Donovan, remarked that the cooperation was part of the strategic partnership between the two countries, mainly in terms of developing the navigation infrastructure in the Indonesias eastern region. "We take the issue on flight safety and security in Indonesia very seriously," Donovan remarked. The ambassador further explained that the US government has delivered US$1 million aid to the Indonesian Transportation Ministry. The grant would be allocated for researches on the flight safety in Maluku and Papua provinces, which are already being conducted partly by the US-based aircraft manufacturer, Boeing. Apart from Boeing, at least about 40 companies are involved in the two countries cooperation. "These companies have been qualified to resolve all the flight issues in Papua (province)," Donovan noted, while adding that the US government will also support the air navigation technical infrastructure in the selected provinces in Indonesia.(*) http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/112702/indonesia-us-to-improve-flight-safety-in-papua Back to Top HELICOPTER SAFETY NEWS Sept. 25, 2017 Contact: Tony Molinaro Phone: (847) 294-7427 Aim for Excellence: Lives Are in Your Hands USHST Issues Final Group of Safety Enhancements to Reduce Fatal Helicopter Accidents WASHINGTON DC - The U.S. Helicopter Safety Team has completed its comprehensive analysis of the root causes of fatal accidents and has developed 22 measurable safety enhancements aimed at reducing fatalities. The 22 safety enhancements can be grouped into four categories: ? Competency Six safety enhancements ? IMC and Visibility Four safety enhancements (announced on Sept. 6) ? Loss of Control Five safety enhancements (announced on Sept. 11) ? Safety Management Seven safety enhancements (announced on Sept. 18) Within the topic of Competency, the USHST will be working to implement these five safety enhancements (plus one more still in development). They encompass in flight and training actions. ? Development of Airman Certification Series for Rotorcraft Action: Develop and publish the new Airman Certification System (ACS) Rotorcraft-Helicopter series to replace the current Practical Test Standards (PTS) for internal and external industry stakeholders for airman certification. ? Simulations for Safe Decision Making Action: Increase the use of relevant simulation to rehearse at-risk scenarios to educate and to develop safe decision-making. ? Competency-Based Training and Assessments Action: Provide guidance on improved initial helicopter pilot training to competency in the following areas: 1) aircraft performance and limitations; 2) in-flight power and energy management training, to include prevention and recovery, if required, from settling with insufficient power; 3) basic maneuvers not defined in current guidance but essential to positive aircraft control; 4) threat and error management; 5) mission planning; 6) aircraft systems; and 7) familiarity with the Pilot Operating Handbook. ? Make & Model Transition Training Action: Improve make and model transition by ensuring familiarity and the understanding of new "model specific" equipment. ? Safety Culture and Professionalism Action: Develop a definition of an effective safety culture that is more applicable and relatable to the day-to-day work of frontline helicopter professionals. Once developed, promote an understanding of this application-based definition to the helicopter community. The USHST will be announcing the remaining proposed safety enhancements still in development in the coming weeks. Initial focus for all the safety enhancements will be in these four sectors of the industry: Personal/Private, Air Ambulance, Commercial, and Aerial Application. From 2016 through 2019, the USHST is focusing major attention on reducing fatal accidents within the U.S. civil helicopter community. The industry-government partnership is targeting a reduction by 2019 to 0.61 fatal accidents per 100,000 flight hours. The fatal accident rate goal for 2017 is 0.69 or lower. Initial figures for the first six months of 2016 show an actual rate of 0.58 fatal accidents per 100,000 flight hours. More information about the USHST, the International Helicopter Safety Team, its reports, safety tools, Reel Safety audio- visual presentations and YouTube videos can be obtained at its web site at www.IHST.org and on the IHST Facebook page. Safety is Our 1st Priority Back to Top One Aviation offering anti-skid brake retrofit on Eclipse 500s One Aviation is offering anti-skid brakes as a standalone retrofit on Eclipse 500 very light jets. The Advent Aerospace-designed system, known as eABS, can be installed on all models that have received an update of their IS&S integrated flight management system to the 2.08 standard. One Aviation This represents around 100 of the 300 Eclipse aircraft that have been delivered since the first iteration entered service in 2007. Anti-skid brakes were introduced as standard on the Eclipse 550, which was launched in 2013, with a host of other new features including a new flightdeck, synthetic and enhanced vision displays and auto-throttles. Anti-skid brakes have also been available as part of the airframer's Total Eclipse upgrade package for the VLJ, which includes the IS&S cockpit, auto-throttles and PPG glass windshield. One Aviation says the $79,950 retrofit "allows the pilot to apply maximum braking without worrying about locking up, or skidding a wheel, or losing directional control, even when the runway is contaminated with rain, snow or patchy ice". https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/one-aviation-offering-anti-skid-brake-retrofit-on-ec- 441522/ Back to Top Study: Airlines could generate $30B from broadband for work, shopping, entertainment by 2035 Airlines worldwide are projected to gain $30 billion a year within two decades by expanding in-flight broadband for passengers to work, shop or watch the latest video, according to a study Tuesday by the London School of Economics. The gains would be significant, if they play out. Traditional fees for luggage, better seating and duty-free shopping generate about $60 billion for airlines now. U.S. airlines charged more than $7 billion last year for luggage and flight changes. But broadband services could grow from $1 billion next year to $30 billion in a decade as more reliable technology is deployed and as airlines adopt it, according to the study called "Sky High Economics," whose authors called it the first of its kind for the industry. Put another way, airlines now receive an average $17 from each passenger for ancillary fees and broadband could provide $4 per passenger by 2035, according to the study. "Globally, if airlines can provide a reliable broadband connection, it will be the catalyst for rolling out more creative advertising, content and e-commerce packages," said Alexander Grous, the study's author from the school's department of media and communications. "Broadband enabled revenue has the potential to shape a whole new market and it's something airlines need to be planning for now." The study was co-funded by Inmarsat, which provides satellite services to airlines. But the company didn't dictate what the research should say, according to Frederik van Essen, Inmarsat's senior vice president for strategy and business development. "What we encountered during our meetings with airlines is, to a large extent, is still uncertainty around the business case for airlines for inflight connectivity," van Essen said. "Airlines are a bit of a herd animal. They don't lean forward and take a lot of risk, but they do watch their competitors very, very closely." Only about 53 airlines offer broadband now out of an estimated 5,000 worldwide, according to the study. About one-fourth of the flights in the air at any time have service. But spotty aerial connections are projected to become more widespread because of passenger demand in the next two decades, according to the study. "This is often of variable quality, with patchy coverage, slow speeds and low data limits," the report said of current connectivity. "By 2035, it is likely that in-flight connectivity will be ubiquitous across the world." Providing the service is projected to generate nearly $16 billion from access, nearly $7 billion from online shopping, $6 billion from advertising and $1.4 billion from streaming live entertainment or on-demand video by 2035, according to the study. The U.S. is projected to trail in that growth, but only because 80% of domestic airlines already provide some connectivity, compared to perhaps 20% in Europe where there have been regulatory hurdles, according to van Essen. Asia is projected to lead the growth with $10.3 billion in new revenue for airlines that provide connectivity, trailed by Europe with $8.2 billion and the U.S. with $7.6 billion, according to the study. Besides the revenue, airlines get two major advantages by lightening the loads of their planes through connectivity. Broadband systems are much lighter than 1,500 pounds for in-flight entertainment equipment. And for duty-free shopping, which provides commissions to airlines and cabin crews, online shopping offers a greater selection without the heavy cart rolling up the aisle - that might run out of a specific bottle of liquor. "That is weight that airlines would love to get away from," van Essen said. Hotels are increasingly marketing Wi-Fi to their customers. But while surveys suggest a demand for the service, costs grow higher for speedier data. Flights offer a different calculation. At a hotel, a customer could use a phone to connect to the internet or walk next-door to a coffee shop for free Wi-Fi. But neither option is available during a flight. "We all know what it's like to sit in the seat and not be able to do anything for hours," van Essen said. "It's to give them freedom to use the time productivity and makes it more useful for them." Airline passengers often find Wi-Fi unreliable, which van Essen acknowledged from the earliest technology that was more novelty than necessity. But new satellite technology provides more seamless connections, which he compared to having more cellphone towers to avoid dropping calls. "It's totally frustrating when you're trying to connect to your work, your VPN and your work email and by the time you've succeeded, it drops back out again," van Essen said. "If airlines want to grow the revenue opportunity, if they want to offer additional services like shopping and streaming content to their passengers in a reliable way, they have to have these newer systems." https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/2017/09/26/study-airlines-could-generate-30-b- broadband-work-shopping-entertainment-2035/701007001/ Back to Top Hong Kong's Airport Needs $8.8 Billion Debt for Third Runway * Asia's busiest airfield needs capacity to counter competition Construction workers have already started the work toward filling in part of the South China Sea to make room for Hong Kong airport's third runway. The project is also set to make bankers busy. The Airport Authority Hong Kong needs to raise HK$69 billion ($8.8 billion) to fund the runway, and should consider selling bonds and tapping the loan market, according to a report by its financial consultant HSBC Holdings Plc. Asia's busiest international airfield needs capacity to counter growing competition from North Asia. The construction of the third runway, estimated to take eight years, will require massive capital expenditure for the government-backed Airport Authority. In addition to the borrowings, the authority will need another HK$47 billion, funded by its operating surplus, and HK$26 billion, to be financed through airport construction fee, the study said. As Airport Authority is government-owned, there should not be a problem with its credit profile and it may offer a premium for the retail bonds to attract investor interest, according to Pheona Tsang, Hong Kong-based head of fixed income at BEA Union Investment Management Ltd. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-27/hong-kong-s-airport-needs-8-8-billion- debt-for-third-runway Back to Top Lufthansa confirms plan to grow Eurowings fleet by 61 aircraft Lufthansa Group's board has approved a €1 billion ($1.18 billion) investment in the "acquisition and leasing" of 61 aircraft for low-cost subsidiary Eurowings, as talks on taking over some of Air Berlin's assets continue. The 61 aircraft would comprise 41 Airbus A320-family jets and 20 Bombardier Q400 turboprops, says Lufthansa. Acquisition of the aircraft is dependent on whether the negotiations to buy parts of Air Berlin are successful, adds the group, and the investment would be financed from "existing liquid funds". Lufthansa notes that during "the last few months" it has taken 20 aircraft that are flying for Eurowings as part of a wet-leasing arrangement with Air Berlin: 15 through acquisition, plus five others on which there is "option to purchase". Eurowings is "therefore able to grow by a total of up to 81 aircraft, subject to approval by the relevant competition authorities", says Lufthansa. The group indicates that operating the additional aircraft could create up to 3,000 additional positions, including flight- and cabin-crew roles, and that these could filled partly by hiring new staff and partly by "taking over companies of the Air Berlin group". Lufthansa Group chief executive Carsten Spohr states: "We now have a great opportunity to make a decisive step forward with Eurowings in Europe." He adds: "With the release of an additional investment framework for the acquisition of aircraft, the necessary prerequisites have now been created. For Eurowings, it will be a great challenge to cope with the rapid growth. "I am particularly pleased that we can offer up to 3,000 new employees a secure perspective in the Eurowings group." https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/lufthansa-confirms-plan-to-grow-eurowings-fleet-by-6- 441525/ Back to Top United Airlines pilots (and many others) bemoan Trump's Norwegian Air decision United Airlines pilots and tens of thousands of pilots working for other carriers who are members of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) didn't get what they were looking for from President Donald Trump and his administration late last week. That's when the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) formally approved upstart low-fare carrier Norwegian Air United Kingdom's request for a foreign air carrier permit that would allow the airline to operate flights to and from the United States. As recently as July, United pilots called DOT's expected move to approve the Norwegian flights "unfathomable" because it would allow a "Norway-based company to tilt the playing field in their favor by operating out of Ireland and the United Kingdom with pilots hired in Asia expressly to avoid Norwegian labor protections." But DOT didn't buy the argument laid out by United Airlines (NYSE: UAL) pilots and other dissenting parties. In the department's ruling served late last week, the DOT said parties objecting to Norwegian Air service had "offered no arguments not already considered and rejected by the Department." Still, the ALPA couldn't resist another expression of disappointment after the ruling was served. Noted ALPA president and Delta Air Lines captain Tim Canoll: "The Trump Administration's decision to approve Norwegian Air UK's application to serve the United States is another blow to U.S. workers and does not deliver on all the talk about defending U.S. jobs against unfair foreign competition." ALPA did concede, however, that Norwegian Air UK's employment model is not clear. But the pilots union maintains that other Norwegian Air companies are using pilots and flight attendants who work under Asian employment contracts to lower labor standards. A Norwegian Air spokesman could not be immediately reached for a response, though the carrier has repeatedly insisted it is hiring a number of U.S.-based crew members to operate flights. ALPA's Canoll added: "The fact that the Trump administration is saying one thing but doing another when it comes to defending fair competition drives home the urgent need for Congress to act to defend U.S. trade agreements and airline workers against foreign companies with anti-competitive business models in the future." So far United pilots have not directly responded to the latest turn of events from the DOT in the Norwegian Air saga. Norwegian Air is scheduled to start nonstop service between Chicago's O'Hare International Airport and London in March of 2018. ALPA is the world's largest pilot union, representing more than 57,000 pilots at 33 airlines, including United Airlines and Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL). https://www.bizjournals.com/chicago/news/2017/09/26/united-airlines-pilots-norwegian-air- trump.html Back to Top Bombardier's $6 Billion Jet Takes Hit as Boeing Wins U.S. Duties * Delta's C Series order imperiled after decision by Commerce * New blow for Canadian company after it lost out on rail deal A Bombardier CS300 C Series business jet. Photographer: Jasper Juinen/Bloomberg Bombardier Inc.'s all-new jetliner, which cost at least $6 billion to develop, just got harder to sell in the world's largest aviation market. The U.S. Commerce Department slapped import duties of 220 percent on the C Series plane Tuesday, citing improper subsidies after a complaint by Boeing Co. The preliminary determination threatens to upend Bombardier's planned deliveries next year to Delta Air Lines Inc., which ordered at least 75 jets with a list value of more than $5 billion. The U.S. government's decision on the aircraft added to the pressure on Bombardier. Separately, the company missed out on a potential merger of its rail unit with that of Siemens AG. Hours before the Commerce Department's announcement, Siemens and France's Alstom SA agreed to join their rail businesses in a deal that gives rise to a European transportation giant better able to counter competition from China. The U.S. penalties create a new hurdle for Bombardier Chief Executive Officer Alain Bellemare, who is trying to turn the company around after the C Series came in more than two years late and about $2 billion over budget. With the exception of a two-aircraft order from Air Tanzania in December, Bombardier hasn't booked a major sale of C Series jets since the Delta deal in April 2016. "We believe the key area of concern will be what Delta does with its order," Walter Spracklin, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets, said in a note to clients. "Moreover, the impact on other U.S.-based airlines will also be in question under such a ruling." Trade Tensions The Bombardier-Boeing spat is roiling trade relations just as the U.S. tries to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico. "Even our closest allies must play by the rules," U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said in announcing the decision on Canadian jets with 100 to 150 seats. Canada "strongly disagrees" with the U.S. probes into its aerospace industry, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said in a statement. "This is clearly aimed at eliminating Bombardier's C Series aircraft from the U.S. market," said Freeland, who was scheduled to dine with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer in Ottawa on Tuesday during the third round of Nafta talks. The import duties could be reversed by the U.S. International Trade Commission if the trade tribunal determines that Boeing wasn't injured by Bombardier's jet program. That decision is expected to be made next year. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said the Canadian government won't buy Boeing military jets unless the company drops its case against Bombardier. 'Absurd' Magnitude The Montreal-based manufacturer said Boeing was "seeking to use a skewed process to stifle competition and prevent U.S. airlines and their passengers from benefiting from the C Series." The aircraft entered commercial service last year in Europe. "The magnitude of the proposed duty is absurd and divorced from the reality about the financing of multibillion-dollar aircraft programs," Bombardier said in a statement. Boeing has accused Bombardier of selling its biggest jet in the U.S. at less than fair value, while benefiting from unfair government subsidies in Canada. The U.S. planemaker has argued that the C Series wouldn't exist without the assistance, noting that Bombardier received money from the Canadian and Quebec governments to develop the aircraft and further aid from both in recent years to shore up the company's finances. "The U.S. Department of Commerce today affirmed that Bombardier has taken massive illegal subsidies in violation of existing trade law," Boeing said in an emailed statement. The process is part of "the longstanding, transparent course for examining and addressing situations where products are 'dumped' into the United States at below-cost prices for the purposes of gaining market share." The Commerce Department is expected to decide by Oct. 4 whether to also impose anti-dumping duties on the C Series. On that matter, Boeing is seeking duties of about 80 percent. Delta Preparations Delta noted the decision is "preliminary" and said the real ruling will come early next year, when the International Trade Commission makes a final determination of whether any U.S. manufacturer will be harmed by imports of the plane. In June, the ITC made a preliminary ruling that Boeing, maker of the 737 narrow-body, may have been harmed by Bombardier. "We are confident the USITC will conclude that no U.S. manufacturer is at risk because neither Boeing nor any other U.S. manufacturer makes any 100-110 seat aircraft that competes with the CS100," Delta said in a statement. The Atlanta-based airline agreed to buy at least 75 of the CS100 planes, the smaller C Series variant. Delta has been preparing to take delivery of the jets in the spring, and was expected to allow pilots to bid on flying assignments in the coming months. Those and other preparations will continue, Delta spokesman Morgan Durrant said. But other potential U.S. buyers of the C Series are likely to think twice before placing any orders in the immediate future. "This is just a preliminary decision, so this will be a risk overhang on the program for some time," said Chris Higgins, an analyst at Morningstar. "That might impede sales efforts, which are already pretty slow." https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-27/bombardier-s-6-billion-jet-takes-hit-as- boeing-wins-u-s-duties Back to Top EasyJet puts its weight behind plans for electric planes An EasyJet picture shows where the engines might be in an electrically powered plane EasyJet is backing plans to develop commercial passenger aircraft powered by electric batteries instead of conventional aero engines. The airline wants the proposed planes to fly passengers on its short-haul routes, possibly within 10- 20 years. The prototype is going to be developed by a new US firm called Wright Electric, which has already built a two-seat battery-powered plane. The new, larger plane would have a range of 335 miles, the companies said. EasyJet said this meant it would be able to cover popular routes such as London to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Cologne, Glasgow and Edinburgh. EasyJet's possible involvement was first revealed in March 2017. Carolyn McCall, the chief executive of EasyJet, said she was now confident that such a plane, possibly carrying 220 passengers, would eventually fly. "We share an ambition with Wright Electric for a more sustainable aviation industry," she said. "Just as we have seen with the automotive industry, the aviation industry will be looking to electric technology to reduce our impact on the environment." EasyJet wants the proposed planes to fly passengers on its short-haul routes Wright Electric was only founded last year in the US. It said EasyJet's support was a "powerful validation" of its plans that would involve developing "new energy storage chemistries" that are lighter than conventional batteries. The firms argued that if successful, this new technology would lead to a further big cut in the amount of fuel being burned in the air and on the ground, a big cut in emissions, and would also lead to much quieter aircraft. Wright Electric explained that the new batteries it is hoping to invent would power the propellers or fans of aeroplane engines. However the motors would be put inside a plane's wings, rather than be slung underneath them. That, it said, would make the planes more aerodynamic and would cut drag. The batteries, the firm suggested, would be situated in the main body of the aircraft. A company spokesman told the BBC that the technology was changing rapidly and that its preferred option was for a combination of lithium ion and aluminium air batteries, which would need to be one and half to two times as powerful as existing versions. http://www.bbc.com/news/business-41404039 Back to Top Boeing offers a $2 million prize for a working jetpack It's 2017, and as the refrain goes, where are the flying cars? Boeing is more interested in "personal flying devices" -- aka, jetpacks -- and is partnering with new organization GoFly to post a $2 million bounty for working designs. Kind of like an X Prize competition, the partners are giving teams two years to develop their tech before whomever impresses the judges at a "final fly-off" takes home money from the GoFly Prize pool. Boeing and other big names in aviation (along with DARPA) will lend their mentorship and technical expertise to the teams over the course of the contest. Winning is simple: The jetpack must carry a person 20 miles without refueling or recharging with vertical (or nearly vertical) take-off and landing. Teams will get technical guidelines -- the competition is seeking a solution anyone can use that is ultra-compact, quiet and "urban-compatible" -- but how they design or engineer their "personal flying device" is up to them. Competition prize money will be doled out in three phases: Ten teams with interesting written concepts will be given $20,000 prizes, then four $50,000 will be handed out for the best prototypes and revised technical specifications, before a winner at the "final fly-off" takes home $1 million. Even if they don't win, teams may qualify for supplementary prizes at the last event, including $100,000 for "disruptive advancement" of state-of-the-art aviation tech, $250,000 for quietest entry and $250,000 for the smallest. Teams can register for the first phase of competition now on the GoFly Prize site until April 4th, 2018. After that, teams must register for Phase II by December 8th, 2018. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/boeing-offers-2-million-prize-163000825.html Back to Top ERAU-ICAEA Conference on Aviation English - May 9-11, 2018 Back to Top After lengthy campaign, Australia gets its own space agency Australia will establish a space agency to pursue commercial and research activities. SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA-Australia was the third nation after the United States and the USSR to build and launch a satellite from its own rocket range. But after the Weapons Research Establishment Satellite (WRESAT) took to the skies on 29 November 1967, the country's space efforts dwindled. Australia's last microsatellite-launched from a Japanese facility-died in 2007. Along with Iceland, Australia was one of only two Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development nations without a space agency. But that's about to change. The government announced today at the 68th International Astronautical Congress in Adelaide, Australia, that it will establish a national space agency. The decision caps a yearlong campaign to boost Australia's space efforts, led by groups from universities, industry, and government bodies. "The creation of an Australian space agency is very exciting news," says Michael Brown, a Melbourne, Australia-based Monash University astronomer. By providing your email address, you agree to send your email address to the publication. Information provided here is subject to Science's Privacy Policy. "The establishment of an Australian Space Agency is a strong nod of support for the current space sector in Australia," says astronomer and astrophysicist Lee Spitler of Macquarie University here. He adds that what is left of the country's space industry operates as a "grassroots movement across a small number of companies, university groups, and the defense sector." Australia depends heavily foreign-built or operated satellites for communications, remote sensing, and astronomical research. Its share of the $330 billion global space economy is only 0.8%. Despite persistent calls for a national space agency, the current government took no steps until last July, when Arthur Sinodinos, the federal minister for industry, innovation and science, set up an expert review group to study the country's space industry capabilities. To date, the group has received nearly 200 written submissions and held meetings across the country. Facing calls for action last week from the participants at the Adelaide meeting, Acting Industry Minister Michaelia Cash announced that the working group will develop a charter for the space agency that will be included in a wider space industry strategy. It is about time, says astronomer Alan Duffy at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne: "These announcements come at a special anniversary. It's 50 years since the launch of WRESAT." http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/09/australia-returns-space Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Dear Participants, You are being requested to participate in a research study of your information on factors contributing to the decision to quit flying from Part 121 commercial aviation. This study is expected to take approximately 8 minutes of your time. In order to participate, you must be at least 18 years old and currently employed as a Part 121 pilot in the United States. Participation in this study is voluntary, and you may choose to opt out of the study at any time. If you choose to opt out, your data will be destroyed. We appreciate your consideration and time to complete our study. Please click on or copy and paste the URL below: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8FNJBHZ For more information, please contact: Gajapriya Tamilselvan gtamilselvan2014@my.fit.edu We appreciate your interest and participation! Curt Lewis