Flight Safety Information October 23, 2017 - No. 210 In This Issue Incident: Jet Airways B738 enroute on Oct 20th 2017, smartphone with visual ring signal EVAS - Cockpit Smoke Protection Incident: Delta B744 near Kamchatka on Oct 2nd 2015, engine shut down after failure penetrating engine Incident: Delta MD88 near Knoxville on Oct 22nd 2017, engine shut down in flight Airbus Helicopters H125 Crashed into Lake Nakuru (Kenya) Search for MH370 to resume as Malaysia strikes deal with Ocean Infinity Air traffic controllers may get a break from non-stop drone reports Samsung Galaxy J7 explodes mid-air in Jet Airways flight; fire extinguisher fails to function Metal engine cover piece breaks off jet, falls from sky in Clearwater Feds warn energy, aviation companies of hacking threats Flight grounded after Chinese woman tosses coin into plane's engines for 'luck' Lancaster ISD students use STEM skills to build airplane for medical missions Middle East aircraft fleet to more than double by 2036 Will Cathay Pacific face a pilot exodus to mainland airlines as it cuts salaries and benefits? Great Lakes Airlines founder says pilots, regulatory relief needed The Air Force says it doesn't plan to recall retired pilots to fix shortage C919 jet ready to take flight and join world elite GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY REQUEST Talking about Just Culture...is simple, but executing it can be hard Incident: Jet Airways B738 enroute on Oct 20th 2017, smartphone with visual ring signal A Jet Airways Boeing 737-800, registration VT-JGT performing flight 9W-791 from Delhi to Indore (India), was enroute when a passenger noticed noise from his similiar to the passenger's smartphone ringing and observed smoke coming from the bag placed near his feet. The smartphone in the passenger's bag was found overheating and emitting smoke. Cabin crew discharged a fire extinguisher and secured the smartphone in a can of water. The aircraft continued for a safe landing in Indore. The airline confirmed a passenger bag was seen emitting smoke, cabin crew discharged a fire extinguisher and identified a smartphone as source of the smoke, the smartphone was secured in a can of water following standard procedures for such overheating personal electronic devices. http://avherald.com/h?article=4aff3294&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top Incident: Delta B744 near Kamchatka on Oct 2nd 2015, engine shut down after failure penetrating engine case A Delta Airlines Boeing 747-400, registration N662US performing flight DL-158 from Seoul (South Korea) to Detroit,MI (USA) with 341 passengers and 17 crew, was enroute at FL320 northeast of Kamchatka (Russia) in Russian Airspace when the crew needed to shut the #3 engine (PW4056) down. The aircraft drifted down to FL290 and turned south to divert to Tokyo's Narita Airport (Japan), where the aircraft landed safely about 4.5 hours later. On Oct 7th 2015 the NTSB reported, that maintenance while removing the engine from the aircraft discovered several holes in the low pressure turbine case, nicks in the right hand wing trailing edge flaps and aileron as well as nicks in the leading edge of the horizontal stabilizer downstream of the #3 engine. The occurrence was rated an incident, the NTSB have opened an investigation into the occurrence. On Oct 19th 2017 the NTSB reported that the crew heard a loud bang that was followed by the run down of the engine #3 N1 and increase by engine #3 EGT. The crew declared emergency with Russian ATC and descended the aircraft to FL290, consulted with dispatch to determine where to divert to. A diversion to Seattle,WA (USA) was considered, however, the weather forecast for the estimated time of arrival indicated 2 miles visibility and 800 feet overcast, the crew decided to divert to Tokyo Narita where the weather forecast indicated 25nm visibility and scattered cloud. The aircraft performed a 3 engine landing into Narita Airport. The aircraft sustained nicks and dents to the underside of the right hand wing and ailerons as well as to the leading edge of the right hand horizontal stabilizer. The #3 engine sustained 3 holes to the low pressure turbine case, however, the engine nacelle did not receive any damage and no debris was found in the nacelle when it was opened. The NTSB stated that Japan's TSB initially reported the engine failure as "uncontained" because of the holes in the LPT case. The NTSB reported that the 3rd stage turbine vane cluster No. 29 at the 8 o'clock position was missing. Portion of the vane's inner shroud were found at the bottom of the engine in the 3rd stage turbine blades plane of rotation. The cluster's bolt hole tab however had remained in position, it showed evidence of fretting. The inner shroud showed evidence of fatigue that originated at the aft end of the forward flange and progressed forward. The wear pattern suggested the vane cluster had shifted out of position. The torque of all the retaining nuts on bolts of the remaining clusters were checked and found tight. The 3rd stage turbine blades were showed "heavily battered with nicks and dents on the trailing edges". On Oct 21st 2017 the NTSB released their final report concluding the probable cause of the incident was: The PW4056 engine experienced an in-flight loss of power because of damage to the low-pressure turbine (LPT) because of the inadequate overhaul inspection and repair instructions that existed at the time of the LPT module's last overhaul. A vane hook in the LPT case wore to the point to allow a 3rd stage turbine vane cluster to disengage and eventually fall into the path of the 3rd stage turbine blades causing extensive downstream damage to the LPT module. The NTSB reported: "The review of the engine's maintenance showed that it had last been overhauled in October 2005 and since accumulated 35,545 hours and 3,532 cycles of service. Although the engine was overhauled in October 2005, the LPT module's maintenance records show that it had been swapped from another engine and accumulated 17,441 hours and 2,184 cycles since its previous overhaul. So, at that time of event, the LPT module accumulated 52,986 hours and 6,546 cycles since it had been last overhauled. Except for the low cycle fatigue life limits for specific rotating parts that are outlined in the engine manual, there is no prohibition for an engine or LPT module to have operated as long as this module had been in service. The review of the LPT module's maintenance records from the previous overhaul show that the LPT case modification to the anti-rotation slots had been previously complied with. In addition, the records show that the modification to the 3rd stage turbine vane clusters to remove material from the outer platform gussets had been complied with as well. Because of previous contained and uncontained PW4000 LPT events, P&W has revised the engine manual to add extensive inspections and repairs to LPT components as well as limiting the number of strip and recoat repairs that can be done to PW4000 LPT airfoils. The inspections and repairs that were subsequently adopted into an airworthiness directive (AD) included a visual and dimensional inspection of the LPT case's vane hooks. The tapered wear that was noted on the LPT case's 3rd stage turbine vane hooks occurred over time. The records do not list any work on the LPT case's vane hooks at the last overhaul, so it cannot be determined if the wear that resulted in the disengagement of the 3rd stage turbine vane cluster had existed only from the last overhaul or had existed prior to that overhaul. However, the revised inspection and repair procedures that are now mandated by an AD likely would have captured the wear and required it to be repaired or the case replaced." The missing vane cluster (Photo: NTSB): http://avherald.com/h?article=48d73b5f&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Delta MD88 near Knoxville on Oct 22nd 2017, engine shut down in flight A Delta Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-88, registration N963DL performing flight DL-1474 from Atlanta,GA to Cleveland,OH (USA) with 139 passengers and 6 crew, was climbing out of Atlanta when the crew stopped the climb at about FL250 due to problems with the right hand engine (JT8D), shut the engine down and diverted to Knoxville,TN (USA) for a safe landing about 20 minutes later. A replacement MD-88 registration N946DL continued the journey and reached Cleveland with a delay of 3.5 hours. Passengers reported about 10-15 minutes into the flight the right hand engine started to emit screeching and rumbling noises, the smell of burning oil appeared in the cabin. The airline reported the crew observed engine anomalies and decided to shut the engine down. http://flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL1474/history/20171022/1255Z/KATL/KCLE http://avherald.com/h?article=4b00964d&opt=0 Back to Top Airbus Helicopters H125 Crashed into Lake Nakuru (Kenya) Date: 21-OCT-2017 Time: 07:45LT Type: Airbus Helicopters H125 Owner/operator: Flex Air Charters Registration: 5Y-NMJ C/n / msn: 8231 Fatalities: Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Lake Nakuru - Kenya Phase: En route Nature: Private Departure airport: Nakuru Destination airport: Mau Narok Narrative: A helicopter crashed into Lake Nakuru, shortly after departure from a hotel at Nakuru, Kenya. There were no survivors. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=200497 Back to Top Search for MH370 to resume as Malaysia strikes deal with Ocean Infinity The Australian Transport minister confirmed that the Malaysian Government is entering into an agreement with Ocean Infinity, to search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. The Malaysian Government has accepted an offer from Ocean Infinity to search for the missing plane, entering into a 'no find no fee' arrangement. Ocean Infinity will focus on searching the seafloor in an area that has previously been identified by experts as the next most likely location to find MH370. Australia, at Malaysia's request, will provide technical assistance to the Malaysian Government and Ocean Infinity. The search for MH370, missing since March 8, 2014, was suspended on 17 January 2017. More information: * Statement from Australian Transport minister https://news.aviation-safety.net/2017/10/20/search-mh370-resume-malaysia-strikes-deal-ocean- infinity/ Back to Top Air traffic controllers may get a break from non-stop drone reports Air traffic controllers have it bad enough managing full-size aircraft, but they face an extra headache when you throw drones in the mix. You see, controllers get calls when drone pilots want approval to fly within 5 miles of an airport -- and with an average of 250 reported close encounters per month, it's clear that some aren't even bothering with the formalities. The FAA has clearly had enough of this, as it recently made an emergency request to bypass the usual regulations and use an automate system to approve drone flights in restricted airspace. Instead of waiting 2-3 months for clearance (or calling in at the last possible moment), you could get the A-OK within 5 minutes. There's no certainty that the FAA will get what it wants, but it does make a convincing case. The administration had a backlog of 6,000 pending approvals as of its request, and it expected that queue to grow to 25,000 approvals in as little as 6 months. Mate that with a drone collision in September (one of the robotic fliers struck an Army helicopter near Staten Island) and it's a recipe for danger. Pilots frustrated with a lack of progress may be more and more likely to ignore approvals, causing chaos both for air traffic control and conventional aircraft crews. At the same time, the streamlined process could prove a boon to not just overworked controllers, but drone operators of all stripes. Businesses that absolutely need drones won't have to wait ages to get the green light, and individual drone owners would get the opportunity to report their flights. The main challenge is ensuring that malicious and careless drone owners don't slip through the cracks. The last thing the FAA wants is to approve someone hellbent on flying into harm's way, and it may be difficult to completely prevent that kind of aerial assault. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/air-traffic-controllers-may-break-102600981.html Back to Top Samsung Galaxy J7 explodes mid-air in Jet Airways flight; fire extinguisher fails to function Samsung's "explosive" problems have no visible end to them. Right after the company made an impressive comeback with the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8 the company is back in lime-light for all the bad reasons. According to a report by Hindustan Times, a Samsung Galaxy J7 caught fire mid-air in a Delhi to Indore Jet Airways flight. The flight had 120 people onboard. The passenger travelling with the device reported the incident just 15 minutes after the flight took off. The smartphone was inside a handbag along with two other mobile phones. Once the passenger detected smoke they handed over the device to the flight attendant on duty. Surprisingly, the fire extinguisher within the cabin was not functional. The attendant was forced to use water to put water on the device. According to the airline, the incident was dealt with according to the guidelines. Responding to the incident Samsung India's spokesperson came up with a statement saying, "We are in touch with relevant authorities for more information. At Samsung, customer safety is top priority." In an attempt to avoid any other incident the other two devices in the handbag were also dipped in a tray of water. Samsung's fire problems popped up last month when a Samsung Galaxy Duos exploded in its user's shirt pocket. Fanning the fire was a CCTV footage which showed the horrific accident and a narrow escape by the owner. Samsung claimed that the user had installed a third party Samsung battery which did not have the company's approval. Last year, Note 7 went into books as one of the worst cases of recalls in the history of modern market. Unlike the incidents mentioned above, the Note 7 explosions were not isolated incidents. Right after the device went on sale, there were various reports suggesting a major problem with the device's battery. Samsung tried to rectify the issue by replacing the Note 7s with safe variant. However, that didn't work and the reports kept pouring in. Ultimately, the South Korean tech giant was forced to recall all Galaxy Note 7 devices and issued a public apology to all owners of Note 7. http://www.businesstoday.in/technology/news/samsung-galaxy-j7-explodes-jet-airways- flight/story/262431.html Back to Top Metal engine cover piece breaks off jet, falls from sky in Clearwater CLEARWATER - A piece of metal broke off a jet leaving St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport on Sunday morning, but the aircraft turned around and landed safely at 8:55 a.m., according to investigators. A Learjet 45 mid-size jet with two people on board took off from the airport at 8:42 on its way to Cape May County Airport in New Jersey, but a crew member reported a computer problem, according to Kathleen Bergen, a spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration. Upon landing, air traffic controllers noticed the missing piece, she said. A witness saw the piece, about 4 feet by 5 feet, break off. Bergen said the fragment, which landed about 4 miles north of the airport, was a part of an engine cover. Matthew Addison of Clearwater, a 35-year-old account manager, was just getting home from his morning run when he saw the white sheet of metal break off from the plane. Addison said he hoped it was just a piece of cardboard or paper that happened to be in the sky at the same time. "I started to realize, this is actually a piece of the airplane," he said. He said the plane was flying low and heading north, away from the airport, as if it had just taken off. Addison watched the engine cover spin and fall near the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex. He called 911, and Clearwater Police Department officers found it in the street. Addison later saw police in a parking lot near the Best Buy on Drew Street after they had found the engine cover. He said he was relieved to see another witness talking to police and pointing toward the sky. "I'm not insane. I wasn't hallucinating," he said he thought to himself. Addison said the edges of the piece were jagged, as if it were ripped off. Bergen said the FAA was still investigating the incident. http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/accidents/metal-engine-cover-piece-breaks-off-jet- falls-from-sky-in-clearwater/2341971 Back to Top Feds warn energy, aviation companies of hacking threats Security experts believe it's an ongoing Russian government campaign. Hackers have been targeting the nuclear, energy, aviation, water and critical manufacturing industries since May, according to Reuters. It's even serious enough for Homeland Security and the FBI to email firms most at risk of attacks, warning them that a group of cyberspies had already succeeded in infiltrating some of their peers' networks, including at least one energy generator. According to the feds' report, the hackers use malicious emails and websites to obtain credentials needed to worm their way into networks where they remain, biding their time and keeping an eye on the firms' activities. While the report described an increasing number of attacks targeting American and European firms, it didn't say whether the attackers stole their data or sabotaged their activities in any way. In fact, it sounds like the hackers are focusing on espionage for now -- cyber-security firm Dragos chief Robert Lee told Reuters that we probably won't see anything dramatic from the hackers' efforts in the near future. However, he said that the report describes activities that would benefit the Russian government. CrowdStrike, another cybersecurity firm, agreed with Lee's assessment, adding that the hackers' MO suggests they're part of the Russian government-affiliated hacking group Berserk Bear. If it's really a state-sanctioned hack, then the network infiltrations are troubling even if they haven't led to anything big yet. "We don't want our adversaries learning enough to be able to do things that are disruptive later," Lee explained. Homeland Security also warned in the report that the cyberspies' efforts are ongoing "and threat actors are actively pursuing their objectives over a long- term campaign." https://www.engadget.com/2017/10/22/feds-warn-energy-hacking-threats/ Back to Top Flight grounded after Chinese woman tosses coin into plane's engines for 'luck' * Woman taken into custody after fellow passengers alert authorities A Lucky Air flight was grounded after a passenger threw coins at the engine (file photo) Fred/Wikimedia An elderly passenger reportedly grounded a plane at a Chinese airport by tossing coins into its engine for luck - the second incident of its type this year. Mechanics were forced to perform a full examination of the engine of the Lucky Air flight, while the other passengers were forced to wait for an alternative flights at Anqing airport in the eastern Anhui province. It is thought the 76-year-old woman threw the money because she believed it would bring good luck - a theory popular in some religions like Buddhism. The woman was subsequently taken into custody by transport police, the Agence France Presse (AFP) news agency reported. It is unknown if she will be charged. Airport staff found coins on the ground next to the engine, causing the plane to be grounded overnight. Passengers took off for the scheduled destination of Kunming, southern China, the next day. It is the second such incident in less than a year. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/flight-grounded-china-coin-engine-lucky-air- a8012666.html Back to Top Lancaster ISD students use STEM skills to build airplane for medical missions LANCASTER, Texas - While many Texas teenagers have their mind on Friday night football, one group of students was busy focusing on math and science. Some Lancaster Independent School District students were bust taking their skills from the classroom to the clouds. "This is the part that I wanted," said Latron Perkins as he watched a bright blue and yellow plane prepare to take off. There was a lot of anxious excitement around Lancaster Regional Airport. Perkins and his classmate Jaqkolbi Wesley had their cameras rolling, capturing every moment. "Take off," Wesley mumbled. "Take off!" The Lancaster High School juniors watched the plane they built take off for the very first time. Wesley and Perkins are among a large group of students who spent the last year building the Cessna 182. Perkins said, "When I saw that plane take air, I was like, we did it! The students did it." The project is part of a hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math challenge. Lancaster ISD students take their skills from the classroom to the clouds with help from Captain Barrington Irving's Experience Aviation: Operation Build and Soar program, and the non-profit Wings of Hope. Wesley says S.T.E.M. is becoming part of his passion. "I played football, then I realized it wasn't for me," the teen explained. "I found something else for myself. Engineering was the outlet for me." Building the plane was tough, but fun. Perkins says accuracy and detail were key as he worked on the wings. "I had to go back and put the screws in, because the screws were not straight," Perkins explained. "They were a little crooked, so I had to go back and do it again." Wings of Hope will dispatch this airplane on medical missions to poor communities worldwide. The group's President, Brett Heinrich, said the first stop is Nicaragua. "I'm so impressed that so many people came together around one common cause. To educate our kids, to teach them to dream, and to help other people all around the world," Heinrich said. For the Lancaster High School students, it is another mission accomplished. "I'm ready for it to take off and go help people," Wesley said. S.T.E.M. is allowing the students' skills to soar. This is the not the first project the Lancaster S.T.E.M. students completed with Captain Irving's Experience Aviation program. In the past, the students also built a race car. http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/dallas-county/lancaster-isd-students-use-stem-skills-to-build- airplane-for-medical-missions/484960644 Back to Top Middle East aircraft fleet to more than double by 2036 Future demand for the Middle Easts fleet is valued at $600 billion from a total market value $5.3 trillion. The fleet size of carriers in the Middle East is forecast to more than double from 1,250 to 3,320 aircraft over the next two decades, according to the Airbus Global Market Forecast. The Middle East will need 2,590 new aircraft by 2036, for replacement of 520 older generation aircraft, and 2,070 aircraft for growth, 730 are expected to remain in service over the period. This demand includes 1,080 for twin-aisle aircraft, with the same number of single-aisle aircraft (1,080), and 430 very large aircraft, said Airbus. It added that future demand for the Middle East's fleet is valued at $600 billion from a total market value $5.3 trillion. The current orders from Middle East-based carriers stand at 1,319 aircraft, of which 687 are single- aisle, 409 twin-aisle and 162 very large aircraft. The report said passenger traffic to from and within the Middle East will grow 5.9 percent annually until 2036, well above the global average of 4.4 percent. While traffic between traditional markets will grow at a steady rate, the highest growth is expected to be on routes to Latin America (8.5 percent per year to 2036). Global freight traffic will see an annual 3.8 percent increase to 2036. Freight traffic growth from the region is expected to be highest between the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific, with 4 percent annual growth to 2036. "The region's proximity to the world's population and growth markets has been a key in its aviation success and Airbus is proud to have been a partner in its development from day one," said John Leahy, chief operating officer customers, Airbus Commercial Aircraft. http://www.arabiansupplychain.com/article-13584-middle-east-aircraft-fleet-to-more-than-double- by-2036/ Back to Top Will Cathay Pacific face a pilot exodus to mainland airlines as it cuts salaries and benefits? * Better pay, lifestyle and roster could mean about 200 cockpit staff seeking greener pastures across the border, recruiters say A Cathay Pacific aircraft flies near Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong. Photo: Bloomberg Some 200 pilots from Cathay Pacific are considering their options with the likes of China Southern Airlines and Hainan Airlines after registering with a recruitment agency, according to a source. This has contributed to cockpit recruiters for China's major state-owned and private airlines making greater strides to woo Hong Kong-based pilots feeling disenchanted over salary cuts and wanting a better lifestyle. Cathay Pacific to slash housing packages for pilots as part of ongoing cost-cutting drive In an attempt to plug losses of HK$2.05 billion in the first half of the year, Cathay Pacific embarked on a three-year transformation plan to rein in costs which included 600 job cuts so far. Last month, pilots at Cathay Pacific were told that they would face a salary freeze, pension changes and substantial cuts to housing allowances worth HK$1.2 million. "Until last month, very few Cathay Pacific pilots have inquired, or made applications to Chinese airlines. However we have seen a spike in interest in recent weeks, numbering in the hundreds," said Deborah White, marketing manager for Longreach Aviation, which recruits pilots for Chinese airlines. It will host recruitment briefings for Hong Kong pilots at the end of the month. Longreach Aviation said two of its clients - China Southern and Hainan - would need an estimated 100 foreign captains to meet demand for expansion each year until 2020. At least 200 experienced pilots from Cathay Pacific, out of a total of 250 applicants, have expressed interest in flying for mainland Chinese airlines. Of Cathay Pacific's 3,265 pilots, the average turnover rate remained "around" 2.5 per cent this year for resignations and retirements, a figure the company said was "manageable." However, the Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association claimed its figures were double the official rate. "Without doubt, the impending cancellation of the housing allowance agreement at Cathay Pacific will force pilots to look elsewhere," union general secretary Chris Beebe said. Pilot pay and pensions targeted as Cathay Pacific looks to slash HK$1 billion in costs An exodus of pilots, however, could be beneficial for the carrier as it tries to reduce costs. The company said it accepted that its brand, quality and reputation for safety made its pilots some of the "most sought after" among rival airlines. "Our resignation rate and early retirement rate ... are both a very manageable and in the appropriate range as we continue with our plans to recruit, train, and retain the appropriate mix of skilled pilots to meet our growth plans," a Cathay Pacific spokeswoman said. The airline said it was focused on implementing big changes to pilot pay as its cost structure was "out of line" with that of its competitors. Hong Kong cockpit crew are in demand because their locally registered pilot licences come from schools with good reputations and they are familiar with flying in the region, according to Longreach Aviation. A pilot moving to an airline across the border can expect a salary of up to US$280,000 (HK$2.2 million) a year after tax, a jump of about US$80,000 (HK$624,000). Other benefits include the lower costs of living on the mainland, and up to three months of leave. "We forget [these also] motivate pilots and personnel," said Jose Jimenez, a pilot recruiter and a captain for Beijing Capital Airlines. Jimenez said he expected more Hong Kong-based pilots to move to the mainland. He added that another pull factor for pilots was a reliable roster that ensured they had more leisure and family time. "We are in the early stages [of such movement in flight personnel]. If Cathay Pacific doesn't correct this rolling back of terms and conditions - such as removing housing benefits - they are going to see this trend happen." http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2116444/will-cathay-pacific-see-pilot- exodus-mainland-airlines-it Back to Top Great Lakes Airlines founder says pilots, regulatory relief needed A Great Lakes Airlines plane undergoes maintenance at Cheyenne Regional Airport on October 5, 2017. The airline currently owes Cheyenne Regional Airport $203,000, but it has dropped cities that it once provided air service to, and customers say it also cancels flights quite often. The airline's CEO said the problems are caused by a pilot shortage, making it difficult to find someone to fly the planes. Jacob Byk/Wyoming Tribune Eagle CHEYENNE - Cheyenne-based Great Lakes Airlines has encountered severe turbulence in the last few years. The regional airline has stopped air service to all but one of the cities it once served in Wyoming. It also has ended service to several cities in other states. At one time, the airline flew to nearly 100 cities. As of November 2015, it served 22 airports in nine states. By September of this year, service had dropped to 13 airports in seven states, according to a map of its routes. The company announced in late September that it will end service to Riverton Regional Airport on Nov. 1, dropping the airports total to 12. "Over the last several years, Great Lakes has been adversely impacted by the pilot shortage and the new pilot regulations," Kyle Butterfield, Riverton's public works director, said last week. "The company's business model was adversely impacted, which caused their reliability rating to drop and to cancel more flights." The number of Great Lakes flights in Wyoming dropped 75 percent from 2012 to 2017, according to the Wyoming Aeronautics Division. In 2012, Great Lakes operated 6,471 flights out of Wyoming airports, but it's projected to have only 1,617 flights in 2017. The airline provides one flight a week from Cheyenne to Denver International Airport. At one time, Great Lakes offered as many as eight such flights a day. The airline also has cancelled flights across its system, which caused delays and further cancellations for passengers. Speculation varies about what has caused the passenger load to plummet and reliability to drop. Reasons cited by an industry analyst and a local economist range from the need to pay pilots more to the type of airplanes the company uses and the market it reaches. But Doug Voss, who founded the company in 1977, said these reasons are offered by people who don't know what's going on. He said the problems are due to one reason only: a national pilot shortage. "It's about pilot supply, and (the supply is) not there," he said Friday. He also stressed that the shortage is not a Great Lakes problem, but an industry problem. Many regional airlines have not survived because they can't find pilots to fly the planes, he said. "The speed with which the industry is collapsing is due to this problem. But nobody is paying attention," Voss said. The shortage is the result of a Federal Aviation Administration rule that went into effect in August 2013, he said. The rule came about because of the February 2009 crash of a regional airliner in New York that killed 50 people. The rule, designed to improve safety, requires co-pilots of all passenger jets and cargo planes in the United States to have an Airline Transport Pilot certificate. This standing requires 1,500 of flying time as a pilot. Regional airline copilots previously had to have a commercial pilot license, which required 250 hours of flight time. Great Lakes usually required copilots to have 700 to 800 hours of flight time, Voss said. But now, the airline can't find enough copilots who have enough hours, Voss said. The aviation industry also is losing too many older pilots and not replacing them with younger pilots. Young people no longer have a pathway into the pilot career that they can afford, he said. "There has to be a recognition that small community air service is deteriorating due to the lack of pilot supply and that it's happening," he said. FAA data show that the number of pilots ages 16-64 dropped by 84,036 from 2009 to 2017, based on charts Voss presented. These are pilots who are eligible to fly regional airlines. The overall number of pilots in the United States dropped from 459,660 in 2009 to 375,624 as of last month. Not the only issue The pilot shortage is a big problem for Great Lakes now, said Alan Bender, a professor of airline economics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautics University, based in Daytona Beach, Florida. But it is only one of the airline's problems. Great Lakes had problems before the pilot shortage, he said. Pilots at regional airlines need better pay, he said. "In order to pay better, you need to have the money to pay them better, and you have to fly bigger airplanes so there is more revenue," Bender said. Great Lakes' fleet includes 19-passenger Beechcraft 1900D Airliner turboprops and 30-passenger Brasilia-120 turboprops. The airline could consider flying to larger markets to make more money by using larger aircraft, Bender said. "Great Lakes flies in marginal markets with smaller airplanes." The price of fuel is reasonable now, which should help the regional airlines, Bender said. "Great Lakes would probably be in a worse problem with the pilot shortage. But they've been blessed with low fuel (costs)," Rob Godby is an associate professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Wyoming. He said that part of Great Lakes' problem is its equipment and service. Passengers want to fly more comfortable, faster and larger planes than what Great Lakes uses. SkyWest/United Express replaced Great Lakes in Laramie with jet service, which passengers seem to like, he said. "It comes down to the level of service. Will your flight show up, and will it be on time?" Godby asked. "Great Lakes has had a lot of problems with dependability, on-time performance and cancellations." Godby acknowledged the pilot shortage is a problem, but said regional airlines have had three years to adjust to it since the rule went into effect. But Voss said that Bender and Godby are missing the point. They don't understand that it all goes back to the pilot shortage. SkyWest Airlines, the regional air carrier that serves Laramie, is a partner with a large major carrier that pays for the planes SkyWest uses, Voss said. As for flying larger aircraft, Voss said there's no way to make money using a larger plane if there aren't enough passengers to fly on it. Small jets won't work for the communities Great Lakes serves, Voss said. "The data is crystal clear: the actual certificated pilots have been dropping dramatically, and young people can't get into the system" because of the cost of becoming a pilot, Voss said. Impact on local airport What's happening at Great Lakes affects the Cheyenne Regional Airport, too. "There is no doubt Great Lakes is struggling," said Tim Barth, director of aviation for the local airport. "We don't like to see it. Nobody likes to see it." The airline dropped from 212 employees two years ago to around 30 to 40 (employees) now, he said. Great Lakes helps the Cheyenne airport in some ways. The flight that Great Lakes provides to and from Denver keeps the Transportation Security Administration screeners and equipment operating here. "If Great Lakes weren't here, we would not have a need for TSA," Barth said. If TSA left, it would be a struggle to get it back. "So that is a bonus." Great Lakes employees also handle ground crew work for charter aircraft at the airport. Still, Great Lakes owes the Cheyenne airport $203,142 in lease payments and other costs, according to account information on file at the airport. The airline recently made a $10,000 payment to help reduce the debt. "We've had a long discussion about what we should do with Great Lakes," Barth said. "We feel it is our responsibility as the airport board to be as considerate as possible to our community." Barth said he doesn't want to put the remaining 40 employees in the local unemployment line at one time. "These are people that have kids in our schools, that shop in our grocery stores," he said. "If they're unemployed, how big of a hit is that on the Cheyenne economy?" Barth said the airport owns the building where Great Lakes is headquartered, and Great Lakes is behind on its monthly lease payments. If the airport pulls the lease, air service to communities in Arizona and California that make up the majority of the company's revenue stream would disappear, he said. "We would cause unemployment in six to eight other communities and stop air service," he said. The Cheyenne airport can't put the payments on hold indefinitely, Barth said. "They are making every effort to get us money," he said, adding he expects something to occur within the next six to nine months. The Cheyenne airport also could lose $1 million it receives from the FAA for boarding 10,000 passengers a year. The airport used to receive the money regularly, but Great Lakes hasn't had that many passengers for a while. A new bill in Congress would allow the Cheyenne airport to receive the $1 million by using passenger numbers from 2012, when the number of passengers boarding there reached the target, Barth said. But the issue is in limbo now. He wants to use the $1 million for work on design of the runway reconstruction at the airport. "The grace period won't last forever. After a while, we're just going to have to say we can't do it anymore," he said. What's the answer? So how can Great Lakes solve its problem? Bender said one solution would be for the company to partner with a major air carrier that could help with costs. But most of the large air carriers have already done that. "The other solution is to do what they do now," Bender said. Great Lakes "is a very specialized organization, and they do odd jobs that other (airlines) don't do." Great Lakes Airlines flies Essential Air Service routes to more remote communities. The company receives federal money to fly to places like Farmington, New Mexico. The airline should receive about $8.3 million this year for providing air service to four qualifying communities in Kansas, Colorado and South Dakota. Voss said he will continue to push for regulatory relief to help solve the pilot shortage. He said he has and will work with federal lawmakers to change the rule. "The future (of Great Lakes) will be decided by regulatory relief ultimately," he said. http://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/great-lakes-airlines-founder-says-pilots- regulatory-relief-needed/article_6e358442-b6f0-11e7-b9d8-97ecb0338e4a.html Back to Top The Air Force says it doesn't plan to recall retired pilots to fix shortage F-16 Fighting Falcons from the Arizona Air National Guard's 162nd Wing fly an air-to-air training mission, April 8, 2015. US Air Force/Master Sgt. Jeffrey Allen * An amended executive order gave the Defense Department the authority to recall up to 1,000 retired pilots to address a personnel shortage. * The Air Force says it doesn't currently intend to recall those pilots however. The Air Force says it doesn't plan to use new authority granted by an amended executive order to recall retired pilots to correct an ongoing personnel shortage. "The Air Force does not currently intend to recall retired pilots to address the pilot shortage," Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said on Sunday. "We appreciate the authorities and flexibility delegated to us." Trump signed the order on Friday, granting additional authority to the Defense Department under Executive Order 13223. A Pentagon spokesman said on Friday that Defense Secretary Jim Mattis requested the move. Mattis was expected to delegate to the Air Force secretary the authority to recall up to 1,000 retired pilots for up to three years. The Air Force is currently about 1,500 pilots shy of the 20,300 it is mandated to have. About 1,000 of those absent are fighter pilots. Some officials have deemed the shortage a "quiet crisis." Under current law, the Air Force was limited to recalling 25 pilots; the executive order temporarily lifts that cap. The Air Force has already pursued a number of new policies to retain current pilots and train new ones. In August, the service announced that it would welcome back up to 25 retired pilots who elected to return to fill "critical-rated staff positions" so active-duty pilots could continue in their current assignments. http://www.businessinsider.com/air-force-says-it-doesnt-plan-to-recall-retired-pilots-to-fix- shortage-2017-10 Back to Top C919 jet ready to take flight and join world elite China's home-developed C919 airliner takes off on its second test flight from Shanghai's Pudong International Airport on September 28. The plane's success now means it can compete against the Airbus 320 and Boeing's latest 737 for orders worldwide. - Zhang Haifeng CHINA'S self-developed passenger jet C919 has completed its second test flight. The jet, coded 10101, took off from Shanghai Pudong International Airport at around 7:20am on September 28 and reached an altitude of 10,000 feet during its 2 hours and 46 minutes of flight, twice the time and airspace of its maiden voyage in May. It flew north to Chongming Island and over Nantong in the neighboring Jiangsu Province, where it circled before heading home. Cai Jun, captain on the maiden flight, also had the privilege of being the test pilot for the C919's second flight. The successful test flight of C919 made China the fourth jumbo jet producer after the United States, Western Europe and Russia. As China's first domestically developed narrow-body twin-jet airliner, it also caught the world's attention. With a standard range of 4,075 kilometers, the jet is comparable with the updated Airbus 320 and Boeing's new generation 737. The C919 single-aisle aircraft made its maiden flight from the same airport on May 5. Second flight During the second flight, the plane completed its first test of lowering and lifting its landing gear in the air, among other missions, according to the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC). The plane 10101, and five other jets of the same type, need to pass around 500 checks during future test flights in the next three or four years, which includes tasks containing low, medium and high risks. Extreme conditions, such as extremely hot, humid, cold or strong side wind tests are future challenges that the fleet of six must conquer before they receive airworthiness certification. The six C919 jets need to pass all of the flying tests before the aircraft begins commercial operations in 2020. The ARJ21 was the first short-medium range turbofan regional aircraft independently developed by China in accordance with international civil aviation regulations. However, some industry insiders indicated that the C919 had made great progress in design, development and other aspects, compared with ARJ21, and hence more suitable for airworthiness certification requirements. At the same time, with the experience accumulated from ARJ21's airworthiness certification, the exam syllabus will be clearer for the C919 while some mistakes and setbacks can be avoided. On the premise of ensuring the safe operation of an aircraft, it is expected to shorten the time of airworthiness certification, compared with ARJ21, according to the head of COMAC flight test center. At present, test flights are still based at the Pudong airport. After that the aircraft will be moved to Yanliang, in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, to do the test. A second C919 aircraft made for test flights has rolled off the production line at a COMAC plant in Shanghai. This second plane is expected to make its first flight later this year, COMAC said. More tests The first C919 is being used to test flying conditions, onboard equipment and landing gear, while the second will undergo tests on the engine and fuel systems. The aircraft rolled off the assembly line in Shanghai in November 2015, a milestone for the nation's entry into the global aviation market as a strong competitor. COMAC was established in Shanghai in 2008 to take charge of developing the C919 project. The company has so far secured 730 orders from 27 foreign and domestic customers, including national carrier Air China and leasing company GE Capital Aviation Service. Overseas orders, which account for around 10 percent of the total, include Germany's PuRen Airlines and Thailand's City Airways, as well as carriers from Asia-Pacific and Africa. The number of orders increased by around 200 after the success of the plane's maiden flight, COMAC said. In terms of global aviation, China is thinking big. It has been on a three-decade quest to rise to the ranks of nations capable of designing and manufacturing commercial aircrafts. Y10, China's first commercial jet, was designed in the 1970s. The 125-seat Y10 flew for more than 170 hours in test flights between 1980 and 1984, but the project was scuttled before reaching commercial viability because of economic and political factors. Despite the setbacks and frustrations, China's commercial aircraft industry has never looked back. Its progress has been supported by thousands of engineers and aircraft designers. Part of 'Chinese Dream' The development of a domestically developed large passenger aircraft is "part of the Chinese Dream," COMAC said. "The project highlights the demands of China's fast growing economy and the rapid development of the nation's civil aviation industry," a spokesman for the company said. Predications are that Chinese airlines will need more than 6,800 new aircraft in the next two decades. Furthermore, the aircraft industry is seen as a lynchpin in China's industrial modernization. Booming prospects Boeing has said that every 1 percent increase in the sales of airliners expands the national economy by 0.7 percent. The State Council, China's cabinet, has designated the aeronautical industry as one of 10 pillars in its plan to make China a global manufacturing giant by 2025. COMAC and partner United Aircraft Corp of Russia announced that the first long-haul jet developed jointly by both countries will be named CR929, symbolizing the "enduring cooperation of the two sides." The wide-body jet will seat 280 people and have a range of up to 12,000 kilometers. It is scheduled to make its maiden flight in 2025 and begin deliveries in 2028, according to the China-Russia Commercial Aircraft International Corp, a joint venture based in Shanghai's Free Trade Zone in Pudong New Area. Meanwhile, two ARJ21s began commercial operations last year with Chengdu Airlines. http://www.shanghaidaily.com/district/pudong/C919-jet-ready-to-take-flight-and-join-world- elite/shdaily.shtml Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY REQUEST I am a student of Air Transport Management at City University of London. I am in the final stage of writing my dissertation on Human Machine Interaction. However, I am looking for some data in order to have a better understanding of the real issues among pilots. I would like to kindly ask, if you could complete my survey attached: https://it.surveymonkey.com/r/JBZG6FJ Thank you. Kind Regards, Yari Franciosa Back to Top Talking about Just Culture is simple, but executing it can be hard - until now. Outcome Engenuity is pleased to announce the Just Culture Assessment Tool, a tool designed to help your organization: * Better use the Just Culture Algorithm™ * Improve the quality and consistency of assessments by providing "Online Mentor" tips, definitions, and examples * Allow for review of managerial assessments Join us for a free webinar to learn how the Just Culture Assessment Tool can help demonstrate your organization's compliance with the foundational elements of regulation and guidance regarding Just Culture. The webinar will be offered: * Wednesday, November 8, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. CST (Minneapolis) * Thursday, November 9, 2017 at 12:00 p.m. GMT (London) * Tuesday, November 14, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. SGT (Singapore) Register for the webinar Just Culture Certification Courses Global aviation authorities are universal in their belief that a "Just Culture" is foundational to an effective aviation Safety Management System. The term Just Culture refers to a values-supportive system of workplace accountability where organizations are accountable for the systems they design and for responding to the behaviors of their employees in a fair and just manner. In turn, employees are accountable for their contribution to organizational success through the quality of their behavioral choices. Outcome Engenuity is the only company that provides Just Culture training AND certifies, through testing, that course attendees have the depth of knowledge to lead their organizations in the cultural transformation to a Just Culture. The course is 1 ¾ days in length and the registration fee is $1,895. All course attendees will receive a free 1-year subscription to the Just Culture Assessment Tool. Click here to view more information about the course. Upcoming Courses * January 23-24, 2018 - Dallas, TX * February 6-7, 2018 - Orlando, FL * March 13-14, 2018 - Denver, CO * March 20-21, 2018 - Springfield, MO * June 12-13, 2018 - Hershey, PA Who should attend? * Operational Leaders * Human Resource Leaders * Risk Management Leaders * Safety and Quality Assurance Leaders * Labor Leaders * Regulatory Authorities For more information on our Just Culture, Root Cause Analysis, and Model-based Risk Management products and services visit www.outcome-eng.com. Curt Lewis