Flight Safety Information November 2, 2017 - No. 218 In This Issue Incident: Kenya B788 at Amsterdam on Oct 31st 2017, cracked windshield Incident: Saravia A148 near Saratov on Oct 28th 2017, engine problems Incident: Jetblue A320 at Salt Lake City on Oct 31st 2017, bird strike Incident: Jetstar A320 over Tasman Sea on Oct 28th 2017, spitting engine Chute Failure Cited In Fatal Crash ARGUS adds ADS-B Integration Into Analysis Tool FAA To Update Helicopter Certification NASA, Boeing Testing Synthetic Vision Technologies The Indian government is finally taking drones seriously FAA, China finalize aviation safety agreement Thanksgiving flights to carry record number of flyers AirlineRatings names 'most excellent' airlines for 2018 Expensive FAA program may ground pilots The Air Force wants to add more National Guard and Reserve personnel to ease its pilot shortage Pentagon reports another production glitch in Lockheed Martin's F-35 SpaceX to Launch the First Falcon Heavy in December "Live Stream- Preventing Loss of Control Accidents with Patty Wagstaff and Rich Stowell" 2017 FORAS Workshop - November 29-30, 2017, Taoyuan, Taiwan PHD GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY REQUEST GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY REQUEST Incident: Kenya B788 at Amsterdam on Oct 31st 2017, cracked windshield A Kenya Airways Boeing 787-800, registration 5Y-KZA performing flight KQ-117 from Amsterdam (Netherlands) to Nairobi (Kenya), departed Amsterdam's runway 18L and was climbing through FL210 out of Amsterdam when the crew requested to descend and to return to Amsterdam reporting a cracked windshield. The crew subsequently advised the pressurization was holding, operations therefore were normal, no further assistance was needed. The aircraft landed safely back on Amsterdam's runway 18R about 40 minutes after departure. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b076d15&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Saravia A148 near Saratov on Oct 28th 2017, engine problems A Saravia Saratov Airlines Antonov AN-148-100, registration RA-61706 performing flight 6W-5817 from Saratov to Mineralnye Vody (Russia) with 78 people on board, was enroute at FL300 about 150nm south of Saratov when the crew needed to descend the aircraft to FL220 due to problems with an engine (D-436). The aircraft returned to Saratov for a safe landing about 50 minutes later. Russia's South Transport Prosecution Office reported the aircraft returned due to engine problems. The airline reported the aircraft returned for technical reasons. The passengers were provided with hot meals and services, then boarded a replacement aircraft. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b07687e&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Jetblue A320 at Salt Lake City on Oct 31st 2017, bird strike A Jetblue Airbus A320-200, registration N640JB performing flight B6-531 from Salt Lake City,UT to Long Beach,CA (USA), departed Salt Lake City's runway 34R and was in the initial climb about to be handed off to departure when the crew reported they had received a bird hit pretty much in the nose area, they thought they were okay and would continue, they were already climbing past the runway end when the bird hit. The crew continued the climb but then stopped the climb at FL240 reporting they were talking to maintenance and needed to return to Salt Lake City due to a maintenance issue following a bird strike, it was too dark to see much, the bird strike was just past the departure end of the runway. The aircraft landed safely back on Salt Lake City's runway 16L about 40 minutes after departure. The FAA reported the aircraft received unknown damage to engines (plural) and leading edge (singular) of wings (plural) when it received a bird strike (singular) on takeoff from Salt Lake City. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/JBU531/history/20171101/0103Z/KSLC/KLGB http://avherald.com/h?article=4b074e27&opt=0 Back to Top AAIB Singapore issues report on Dreamliner Trent 1000 fan blade failure incident Date: 26-NOV-2016 Time: 18:30 LT Type: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Owner/operator: Scoot Registration: 9V-OJF C/n / msn: 37119/337 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 351 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Minor Category: Incident Location: near Singapore-Changi International Airport (SIN/WSSS) - Singapore Phase: Approach Nature: International Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Sydney-Kingsford Smith International Airport, NSW (SYD/YSSY) Destination airport: Singapore-Changi International Airport (SIN/WSSS) Investigating agency: TSIB Singapore Narrative: On 26 November 2016 at about 13:29 hrs Sydney time (10:29 Singapore Local Time), the Boeing 787-9 aircraft departed Sydney for Singapore. During the climb following take-off, the flight crew noticed that the vibration of the Low Pressure (LP) section of the No. 2 Rolls Royce Trent 1000 engine was 3.8 units. After the aircraft had entered the cruise phase, the vibration decreased to 1.4 units. During cruise, the aircraft climbed on two occasions. The No. 2 engine LP vibration increased to 4.0 units during the first climb and to 3.4 units during the second climb. During these periods, the flight crew did not feel any significant increase in vibration from the cockpit. After each of these two climbs, when the aircraft resumed level flight, the vibration decreased to about 1.8 to 2.0 units. As these vibration values were within limits and all other engine parameters appeared normal, the flight crew continued with the flight and monitored the engine vibration values and other engine parameters. During the descent to Singapore Changi Airport, the flight crew heard a loud bang and noticed that the No. 2 engine had shut down automatically. They also saw the caution message "ENG TURB DAMAGE R" on the Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System (EICAS) and noted that there was no engine fire alert. The flight crew declared an emergency to the Singapore air traffic control (ATC). Following the loud bang, a passenger informed a cabin crew member that there was a fire at the No. 2 engine and this piece of information was relayed to the flight crew. The Second Officer went into the cabin to view and assess the condition of the engine. He did not see any fire on the No. 2 engine. Nonetheless, the flight crew requested the ATC to arrange for the airport rescue and firefighting service to stand by at the aircraft's landing at Changi Airport. The ATC cleared the aircraft to land on runway 02C. The aircraft landed safely at 18:42 hrs. The airport rescue and firefighting service attended to the aircraft after the landing and confirmed that there was no fire on the No. 2 engine. The flight crew then taxied the aircraft to the assigned parking bay and the passengers disembarked via an aerobridge. There were no injuries to any persons. Inspections by the ground maintenance personnel revealed the following damage within the No. 2 engine: (a) One blade from the first stage of the Intermediate Pressure (IP) compressor was missing; (b) One variable inlet guide vane was missing; (c) Some metal debris pieces were embedded in the interior of the engine; and (d) The trailing edges of a number of fan blades were damaged. The engine manufacturer looked into the possibilities of the cracks having been caused during the blade manufacturing process, by material defect, or by excessive stress at the blade roots, but could not find any related evidence. The blade root cracks were probably a result of material fatigue. Once the crack was formed, the cyclical application of force in the engine environment then caused the failure of the blade root. It is still unknown how the cracks at the IP compressor blade roots were initiated. The engine manufacturer is still conducting research to determine this. The cause of the LP vibration during the climb following take-off and during cruise cannot be determined. There is no evidence to suggest that the LP vibration was related to the cracks at the IP compressor blade roots. Sources: Accident investigation: Investigating agency: TSIB Singapore Status: Investigation completed Duration: 11 months Accident number: AIB/AAI/CAS.130 Download report: Summary report https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=200751 Back to Top Chute Failure Cited In Fatal Crash Two men who died in the crash of a Czech-built light-sport aircraft in Rhoadesville, Virginia, in May 2016 had deployed a parachute recovery system, but it failed when the single front attachment point detached, according to a recent NTSB report. According to the NTSB, the pilot had recently purchased the Jihlavan KP 5 ASA (Skyleader 500), an all-metal, two-seat, low-wing aircraft, with a chute supplied by Galaxy Rescue Systems, and was taking instruction in it to satisfy insurance requirements. Radar data indicated that, during the flight, the airplane's groundspeed decreased from 94 to 62 knots, consistent with airwork such as slow flight and stall practice. Subsequently, several witnesses saw the airplane descending nose-down with the parachute deployed and still attached, but with the canopy only partially inflated, before the airplane impacted terrain. The owner likely activated the parachute due to inadvertent spin entry, according to the NTSB. The previous owner of the airplane told the safety board he had to be vigilant during stall practice because "the airplane always seemed to yaw abruptly to the right and into a spin, more so than any other airplane he had flown." The NTSB said Galaxy Rescue Systems told them the accident was the first time one of the chutes had been deployed in flight. During certification, one test deployment was performed on the ground. The current design includes two front anchors instead of one. The accident airplane was about 50 pounds over its maximum takeoff weight at the time of the parachute deployment, the NTSB said. The NTSB completed its report in September, but it was just reported by the local Freelance Star in Fredricksburg, Virginia, this week. https://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Chute-Failure-Cited-In-Fatal-Crash-229857-1.html Back to Top ARGUS adds ADS-B Integration Into Analysis Tool ARGUS International has introduced an automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) integration into its aircraft activity analysis and market intelligence tool TRAQPak FBO. The integration allows for more precise aircraft tracking and an increase in the number of flights tracked by the company. It will roll out the feature Oct. 30. www.aviationweek.com Back to Top FAA To Update Helicopter Certification Now that the Part 23 rules to certify airplanes have been revised, the FAA says it's ready to take on an overhaul of the regulations for certifying helicopters. "The proposed changes are necessary to address modern designs currently used in the rotorcraft industry and would reduce the burden on applicants for certification of new rotorcraft designs," the FAA said in its proposal, published Wednesday in the Federal Register. "The proposed changes would reduce or eliminate the need for certain special conditions currently required to obtain certification of modern rotorcraft." The current airworthiness standards, Parts 27 and 29, were originally published in 1964, the FAA says, and "have not kept pace with advances in technology for rotorcraft." While the overhaul of the rules would be thorough, it appears that the changes are mainly an updating and simplification, and not a fundamental change in the approval process as was mandated in the new Part 23. "The proposed changes would reduce or eliminate the need for certain special conditions currently required to obtain certification of modern rotorcraft," the FAA says. "The proposed changes would also incorporate the requirements of equivalent level of safety findings that the FAA has imposed as conditions for approving certain design features... Compliance with these proposed regulatory changes would continue to be shown by the same testing, analysis, and inspections as in the current certification process." The FAA is accepting comments on the proposal until January 30. https://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/FAA-To-Update-Helicopter-Certification-229858-1.html Back to Top NASA, Boeing Testing Synthetic Vision Technologies Synthetic vision cockpit display in Research Flight Deck simulator at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. NASA and Boeing are working together under a new Space Act Agreement to improve flight training and aviation safety using NASA's synthetic vision technologies and Boeing's 787 simulators. The research will test pilots' awareness and reactions to unplanned situations. NASA research technical lead Kyle Ellis says the agreement opens the door to exciting new research opportunities. "This is just the first of many potential experiments that we can conduct using this collaborative environment," said Ellis. "We're looking at training for attention management, advanced upset recovery technologies and combined vision technologies." Pilots deal with more challenges than ever - higher levels of aviation traffic, bad weather and the addition of new challenges (such as unpiloted vehicles) into the global air space. "We want to equip them with the greatest intelligent flight systems available to be able to cope with all of these different adverse conditions," said Ellis. Synthetic vision technologies can be part of that solution. "We've developed technology that allows us to be 'weather independent,'" said Ellis. "Synthetic vision systems are essentially weather-immune displays that allows you to see what the world looks like in perfect weather conditions all the time." It's a powerful tool that can effectively negate the visual penalties associated with even severe weather in a clear, intuitive manner. The technology offers the potential to improve aviation system safety and increase the efficiency of aircraft operations. "Essentially what we're doing is we're taking away the old attitude indicators - that blue-over-brown attitude indicator that shows where the horizon is - which is critical to flying safely, especially in poor weather conditions. That dates all the way back to Doolittle," says Ellis. We're basically piggybacking on top of that attitude reference system and throwing a real-world image on it." The pilots who will participate in these tests fly for Avianca Airlines in Colombia, and they're something of an extraordinary test group. Typically, research study participants are highly experienced pilots with tens of thousands of flight hours logged. The Avianca pilots are a group of 24 junior pilots. They represent the changing face of global aviation. "The international pilot community is getting younger, so the idea is to get them accustomed to what's possible in an airplane sooner," says Capt. Jim Wilkerson, Boeing flight crew training instructor. "And this training does that." Testing at Boeing's Miami training facilities will begin in late 2017. Today, Ellis and his research team are working with Boeing to test and certify synthetic vision systems for attitude state awareness. He sees it as a stepping stone toward a larger goal, anticipating a future in which technologies that give pilots vision far beyond what the eye can see. That kind of cockpit technology has a name - combined vision systems. A combined vision system is a merger of synthetic vision (i.e., systems that generate rendered environments in real time based on stored database information) and enhanced flight vision systems (i.e., displays that use forward-looking infrared systems and millimeter wave radar to give pilots a live look at the world around the aircraft). It can give pilots a best-of-both-worlds representation of the world and their orientation within it. Under stressful situations, it's much harder for pilots to absorb essential information and execute the appropriate actions. Synthetic Vision systems look just like the world outside the window, and that makes them more intuitive - more believable - for pilots. "Seeing is believing," says Ellis. With this technology, pilots will be able to believe what they see, trust it and follow that to safety. Space Acts The Space Act Agreement between NASA and Boeing supports the Commercial Aviation Safety Team, a partnership between the U.S. government and the aviation industry developed to reduce the commercial aviation fatality rate in the United States. NASA and Boeing are members. Space Act Agreements are, in a sense, strategic alliances. They are the primary vehicle NASA uses to partner with the external community, and they give NASA access to technologies and capabilities that are not in its core portfolio. These partnerships expand NASA's ability to meet technical challenges, often at virtually no cost to taxpayers. As NASA advances its goals, Space Act Agreement partnerships can also advance the mission of our partners. http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/NASA_Boeing_Testing_Synthetic_Vision_Technologies_999.html Back to Top The Indian government is finally taking drones seriously A drone, made by CyPhy Works, delivers a UPS package on Children's Island off the coast of Beverly, Massachusetts, U.S. September 22, 2016, during UPS's demonstration of a drone making a commercial delivery of a package to a remote or difficult-to-access location. After years of prohibiting the public from flying drones, India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), on Oct. 30, unveiled draft norms (pdf) for the usage of aerial vehicles. "Drones have a lot of capability. Hence, it was generating a lot of interest. Not having any regulations amounted to a complete ban," civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said at a press conference. "So, we decided to go ahead and develop a regulatory framework." Drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS), are used in several parts of the world to monitor crop production and infrastructure, assess damage following natural calamities, and carry out surveys, commercial photography, aerial mapping, and package delivery. Until now, owing to safety concerns, it has been illegal to fly drones in India without a nod from the authorities. The new rules aim to tap the myriad opportunities in the commercial and recreational space, while ensuring the safety of other vehicles in the airspace and people on the ground. The government has designed the rules according to the size of the drone being flown. Classification Size Nano less than 250gm Micro 250gm to 2kg Mini 2kg to 25kg Small 25kg to 150kg Large greater than 150kg Barring nano drones-those that weigh under 250 grams and can't fly at higher than 50 feet-all others must be registered with the DGCA and acquire a Unique Identification Number. Drones that weigh over 2kgs will require an air defence clearance. And the remote pilot for any drone must be at least 18 years old and have gone through a prescribed training process. The government has also specified certain areas that will be out of reach for drones. For instance, drones will not be permitted to fly within the 5km radius of an operational airport or within 50km of an international border, including the Line of Control (LoC). The 5km radius around New Delhi's Vijay Chowk-a boulevard close to the Parliament, Rashtrapati Bhawan, and North and South blocks-is also off bounds. Flying over densely populated areas, over an area affecting public safety or where emergency operations are underway, or over eco-sensitive areas like national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, are also punishable offences. The draft is open to public comments for 30 days, after which the ministry will finalise the guidelines. The policy is set to be locked in by the end of this year, Reuters reported. Several other countries have allowed the use of drones. The US announced its rules in June 2016 and a number of African nations-Kenya, Rwanda, Malawi, and more-have been using the technology to ferry HIV tests, deliver blood, and even combat poaching. The rules will come as a relief for Indian e-commerce companies who can potentially skip the country's crowded roads and traffic jams to make timely deliveries. Flipkart has been persuading the government in this regard since 2015. Amazon, which made its first public drone delivery in the US this March, filed a patent application in October for certain markers that it will deploy to facilitate deliveries using drones in India. Other industries also have cause to cheer. In construction, for instance, drones can reduce surveying time by up to 98%. "It can also be very useful in humanitarian causes like for delivery of blood," civil aviation minister Raju said. https://qz.com/1118172/dgca-indias-aviation-regulator-has-finally-put-out-draft-regulations-for- flying-drones/ Back to Top FAA, China finalize aviation safety agreement The FAA and China's CAAC have agreed to recognize each other's regulatory systems with respect to the airworthiness of aviation products and articles. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) have announced the signature of an implementing agreement under the U.S.-China Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA) recognizing each other's regulatory systems with respect to the airworthiness of aviation products and articles. The so-called Implementation Procedures for Airworthiness (IPA) document allows each authority to rely on approvals completed by the other with respect to design, production, and airworthiness as well as continued airworthiness. The agreement uses the compatibilities of the two authorities' certification systems and fulfills the commitment that the U.S. and China made in 2005 with the establishment of a BASA. This IPA also allows both the FAA and the CAAC to submit applications for validation for all categories of aviation products and addresses globalization challenges such as complex business models separating design and production. The FAA says the agreement supports the FAA Aircraft Certification Service's overhaul of certification strategy by responding to stakeholder needs and promoting the seamless transfer of products and approvals globally. Across the Atlantic, the European Commission has launched negotiations with China (and Japan) in view of concluding Bilateral Air Safety Agreements. http://www.aircosmosinternational.com/faa-china-finalize-aviation-safety-agreement-102495 Back to Top Thanksgiving flights to carry record number of flyers * Airlines for America estimates a record 28.5 million people will fly U.S. airlines during the Thanksgiving holiday, thanks to a strong economy and low airfares. * Airlines are preparing by adding capacity through additional flights, but that weighs on passenger revenue per available seat mile. Passengers boarding a plane. With the economy picking up strength and airfares staying relatively low, a record number people are expected to fly during the Thanksgiving holiday period. "Low fares and increased availability of seats continue to make air travel widely accessible," said John Heimlich, vice president and chief economist of Airlines for America, a trade group representing carriers. Airlines for America estimates 28.5 million people will fly U.S. airlines between Friday, Nov. 17, and Tuesday, Nov. 28. If that happens it would be a 3 percent increase over 2016. The busiest day of the Thanksgiving weekend will be Sunday, Nov. 26, when an estimated 2.88 million people are expected to take a flight. Airlines have been preparing for more business in the fourth quarter by adding capacity through additional flights. While the customers are welcome, the increase in capacity is weighing on passenger revenue per available seat mile, a key metric to determine the profitability of airlines. Following mixed earnings for the third quarter, airline stocks have been under pressure. Since hitting a three-month high in early October, the NYSE Arca Airline Index has dropped more than 7 percent. https://www.cnbc.com/2017/11/01/thanksgiving-flights-to-carry-record-number-of-flyers.html Back to Top AirlineRatings names 'most excellent' airlines for 2018 (CNN) - Air New Zealand gets regular kudos for innovating everything from in-flight services to safety videos, its funky films featuring Hobbits and other famous Kiwis. And now, for the fifth consecutive year, the carrier has come out on top in the annual Airline Excellence Awards, created by Australia-based aviation safety and product rating agency AirlineRatings. Celebrating the best in the aviation industry -- from budget operators to culinary champions -- the awards named Air New Zealand as Airline of the Year for 2018. "Air New Zealand came out number one -- or equal first -- in all of our audit criteria, which is an exceptional performance," the AirlineRatings judging panel said. The awards take into account four major international industry and government safety audits as well as fleet age, passenger reviews, profitability, investment ratings and key product offerings. "We also look to see if the airline is an innovator trying new things to improve the passenger experience," says Geoffrey Thomas, editor-in-chief of AirlineRatings.com. In the premium stakes, Singapore Airlines took top spot for First Class -- the airline's name being "synonymous with excellence of in-flight product," according to AirlineRatings. Best Business Class went to Virgin Australia for the second consecutive year -- Virgin's "The Business" suite is a luxurious offering -- unrivaled by other executive options. AirlineRatings also reviewed the economy options -- Air New Zealand won Best Premium Economy, whilst Best Economy went to Korean Air in recognition of its spacious seats. "Our editorial team places significant importance on premium economy on a long-haul airline," says Thomas. "It is without doubt the best value proposition for the passenger and airline. Australian airline Qantas also had a good run, winning Best Catering, Best Lounges and Best Domestic Class. Singapore Airlines took the top spot for First Class. Alongside the Airline Excellence Award winners, AirlineRatings announced its Top 10 airlines for 2018. The carriers named in the round-up have a seven-star safety rating and have demonstrated their innovation, according to AirlineRatings. ''Whether number one or number 10 these airlines are the best of the best -- the elite in aviation," the judging team commented. "They are the trendsetters and the benchmark by which all others are judged." AirlineRatings.com's top 10 airlines for 2018 1. Air New Zealand 2. Qantas Airways 3. Singapore Airlines 4. Virgin Australia 5. Virgin Atlantic 6. Etihad Airways 7. All Nippon Airways 8. Korean Air 9. Cathay Pacific Airways 10. Japan Airlines http://www.cnn.com/travel/article/airline-excellence-awards-2018/index.html Back to Top Expensive FAA program may ground pilots Don Sloan flies his L-15 Grasshopper over Delmarva. Sloan, a retired Air Force Reserve pilot, has installed ADS-B on his aircraft. Faust Photography The cost of an FAA-mandated tracking system may be too much for the wallets of Delmarva's casual fliers Pilots flying small aircraft in Delaware could find themselves limited in where they can go if they don't meet a federal deadline to install new equipment. But even though the price of the electronics is coming down, the expense still might be overly burdensome to many recreational pilots. Aviators across the nation have until Jan. 1, 2020, to install the Automatic Dependent Surveillance- Broadcast system if they want to fly anywhere near major air hubs. In Delaware, this includes the Wilmington area and Dover Air Force Base. "ADS-B is an environmentally friendly technology that enhances safety and efficiency, and directly benefits pilots, controllers, airports, airlines, and the public," Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Arlene Salac said. It forms the basis of the Next Generation Air Transportation System, or NextGen, a program to modernize air travel in the United States. Authorized by Congress in January 2004, it involves numerous government agencies. Overall, NextGen is expected to take at least 25 years to implement fully. Salac said ADS-B would replace the standard radar tracking, instead using a combination of the plane's avionics, global positioning satellites, and ground-based receivers to let air traffic controllers know where planes are in their airspace. The ground signal receivers are easier to place than radar systems and a complementary system, which the FAA does not require, will allow pilots to know the whereabouts of other aircraft, see and avoid terrain and bad weather and receive updates on safety and flight restrictions. Much of this will be available through an interface on an iPad or similar device. What it means THE ISSUE A new satellite-based system that replaces radar tracking must be installed in most aircraft by 2020. The cost is leading some pilots to wait. THE IMPACT Delays in buying the new equipment or refusal to buy it will mean pilots will not be able to fly freely throughout much of Delmarva. 'This could end your flying' But while the public won't notice the gradual switchover, general aviation enthusiasts worry about a mandate that could cost them thousands. "A lot of folks have already upgraded because of the advantage of getting weather or traffic information in the cockpit," Dover AFB AeroClub manager Joe Nickel said. "It's more of concern to the guys who fly once in a while who own their airplanes. "If you only fly 100 hours or so a year, this could end your flying." The Aero Club has a fleet of about a dozen aircraft to help prospective fliers earn their pilot's licenses. Nickel has budgeted money over the past 10 years to ensure the aircraft will comply with FAA rules. But it's not cheap. When the FAA came out with ADS-B, each unit had a price of about $5,000. Installation costs were about half that. The price has come down considerably, as has the price of installation, but, "Even two or three thousand dollars is a lot of money," Nickel said. "Most pilots aren't exactly wealthy. They pretty much use all of their extra money to fly with. Anything you take out of their pockets means they fly less. It really affects the small guys." One small saving grace is that the FAA does not require ADS-B in all aircraft, just the ones that fly in controlled airspace near airports or if the plane flies above 10,000 feet. That means much of Delmarva still is accessible to private pilots as long as they don't stray into airspace around Wilmington, Washington or Philadelphia. "For the most part, if you stay in the Dover area, you don't really need [ADS-B]," Nickel said. "But if you fly north you'll need it once you get around Middletown. If you head west, by the time you hit the Delaware state line, you'll pretty much have to have it." Pilots groups question timing Pilots' groups, such as the Experimental Aircraft Association and the Airplane Owners and Pilots Association, have problems with the FAA directive. While they support the idea, they feel the government should extend the 2020 target date. "Our position has been that any mandate cannot create an undue financial burden on individual aircraft owners," EAA Senior Communications Adviser Dick Knapinski said. "Aircraft owners are dealing with equipment costs all the time that can run into thousands of dollars, even if you own a small aircraft." Though the federal government has shown no willingness to extend the date nor to renew a now- expired rebate program for ADS-B equipment, the EAA still encourages pilots to buy it. Since planes not equipped with the system won't be allowed to fly within controlled airspace, pilots flying long distances will be forced to skirt airports en route. Large parts of the country, such as the Great Plains, may not have this problem, but that's not the case on Delmarva, Knapinski said. "If you never fly in any uncontrolled airspace, you won't need ADS-B," he said. "But if there's even a chance you will, then it will come into play." The EAA also is concerned there may be an installation backlog if pilots keep putting off buying equipment, hoping the price will come down, Knapinski said. Melissa Rudinger, vice president of government affairs for AOPA said the organization also likes the idea of ADS-B -- to a point. "We disagree with the implementation strategy," she said. "We opposed the mandate. We thought a better strategy would be to provide benefits, to incentivize. ADS-B really benefits the system, but requires the user to pay for it." AOPA was successful in its fight for a relatively long implementation period, hence the 2020 deadline, she said. This allowed the markets to adapt and prices to decrease, which has been an important factor in having pilots get on board, Rudinger said. "You were looking at a significant chunk of change," she said. "Many general aviation aircraft are 30 years old and have a hull value of $30,000 to $40,000 and the ADS-B equipment cost a significant portion of that figure." A bare-bones system now could cost as little as $1,500, plus installation, she said. A 2015 survey conducted by Embry Riddle Aeronautical University showed 56 percent of general aviation aircraft owners and operators planned to hold off installing ADS-B until the price came down. The majority said they could afford a system priced between $1,000 and $2,000. In most cases, the type of aircraft determines the cost. A high-performance aircraft such as a Cessna CJ1 will require a more sophisticated system than a cropduster such as the Grumman Ag Cat. Steady work John Bonnell, director of general aviation at Summit Aviation in Middletown, said the real challenge is the technology cost coming down. Some well-known companies produce equipment, including Garmin and Honeywell. The final cost depends on factors including the type of aircraft and equipment already aboard. As of late, Summit has seen a steady stream of work. "As far as the availability of installation slots goes, we've been doing it right and left," Bonnell said. Some pilots will fly in to let Summit's inspectors go over their aircraft before making a final decision, he said. "If you hit up a couple of pilots, you'd be amazed at how much they've researched and how thorough they are," he said. "It all boils down to safety because if you're up there in the sky, you want to be as safe as possible." 'So much better' Garret Dernoga, who owns Georgetown Air Services at the Delaware Coastal Airport, didn't have to install ADS-B in his Cessna 182, but did so anyway. "If you're just flying around the Georgetown airport, you won't need it," he said. "Say a guy wants to fly from Cambridge, Md., to here for breakfast on Sunday, he won't fly through controlled airspace, so he won't need it. "But if you want to do any traveling, like up to New York, you have to have it installed because you'll be traveling through controlled airspace." Having it can help resale value, he said. As a prospective buyer, one of his top concerns would be whether the aircraft has ADS-B. "About half of them won't, and I'll be crossing them off my list," Dernoga said. Dernoga feels the equipment is worth the time, money and effort. "It's given me so much better traffic information in the cockpit than I had before," he said. "You see planes that you'd never been aware were out there. It definitely enhances safety, and you get weather information that increases a pilot's ability to make good decisions." Aircraft need upgrades Meeting the FAA's January 2020 mandate is a concern for Michael Hales, director of Aviation Programs at Delaware State University. The retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel took over the program in March 2016. Since then he has made a priority out of upgrading the school's 10 aircraft with ADS-B equipment. So far, four have had the electronics installed. He likes the system, but like other pilots he worries about how to pay for it. "It allows us to see any other air traffic in proximity to us, and that's helpful when trying to avoid mid-air collisions," he said. "It's absolutely great." He's working to include the system as part of a general avionics upgrade, replacing analog equipment with modern digital systems, or "glass cockpits." "What I've done is slowly try to carve into my budget for these upgrades," he said. "There had been talk about it before, but there hasn't been the action I felt it needed to be before it runs into the January 2020 deadline." Hale's worried that his students will have bachelor degrees in aviation, yet they'll still be behind the power curve when looking for jobs. "We don't even have GPS in our aircraft," he said. "Our students have found there's an expectation to understand glass cockpit devices we don't have in our aircraft, so we're tying the two together, not just to be ADS-B compliant but to upgrade avionics." "Friends of DSU Aviation" looks to upgrade university's aircraft Delaware State University depends on the state for its operating funds. The Friends of DSU Aviation, formed earlier this year, is working to raise money to keep the program solvent and to buy a new plane. "Delaware is facing financial shortfalls from many directions and may not be able to fully support a program such as DSU's as it would like to," noted Donald Blakey, a DSU alumnus, licensed pilot, and former state representative. "Other sources of help must be created and applied," Blakey said. Without the cash to buy and upgrade to ADS-B, the school may have to shut down the program. A fundraiser was held in February, and another is planned for Nov. 18. For more information about "Keep 'Em Flying," call the DSU Office of Development at 302-857-6055. Air Force lags behind Only 29 US Air Force aircraft have been fully outfitted with ADS-B equipment, according to an Oct. 10 article by Oriana Pawlyk on the military.com website. Information in the article was verified by Capt. Emily Grabowski of the Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs Office. Of those, 27 -- including three gliders -- are for training at the Air Force Academy; two are C-130J cargo aircraft. There are 77 "J" models in the Air Force inventory. Speaking before Congress last year, military officials blamed the delay on increased operations overseas. They said the Air Force would ask the FAA to exempt certain aircraft if they would miss the January 2020 deadline. However, Grabowski said the fleet of C-5M SuperGalaxy aircraft at Dover Air Force Base and elsewhere would meet the mandate. The C-17 Globemaster III cargo planes at Dover would not. Those will be outfitted by May 2020, she said. The E-4B Advanced Airborne Command Post, aka, the Doomsday Plane, will be upgraded by 2019. Others, such as the B-1A Lancer, the B-2 Spirit, and the B-52 Stratofortress, will get the ABS-B system between 2023 and 2025. http://www.sussexcountian.com/news/20171101/expensive-faa-program-may-ground-pilots Back to Top The Air Force wants to add more National Guard and Reserve personnel to ease its pilot shortage Lt. Col. Todd Houchins, 53rd Test Support Squadron commander, signals before the final takeoff at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, July 24, 2015. Tech. Sgt. Javier Cruz/USAF * The Air Force faces a chronic shortage of pilots. * To address the gaps in its ranks, the service has taken action to boost pilot production and retention. * The latest move will allow more Air National Guard and Reserve pilots to move into active- duty roles. The Air Force has made a number of moves to reduce its shortage of active-duty pilots, including bringing on more retired pilots to administrative roles in order to keep qualified fliers in the air. Now the service is looking to expand the number of pilots it draws in from the Air National Guard and Reserve to fill vacancies across the active-duty force. On October 1, the Total Force Aircrew Management - Assignment Augmentation Process grew from 10 positions to 30, in an effort to bring active reserve-component fighter pilots who are available and interested into the active-duty force for two to three years, according to an Air Force release. "This is a growing total-force program," said Maj. Walt Ehman, head of the TFAM-AAP. "It enables all air components to help fill pilot-assignment positions around the world." (Positions are only open to fighter pilots and fighter-combat-systems officers, however.) Air Force C130 Elizabeth Baker/US Air Force The TFAM-AAP, started in 2014, brings together the management of active-duty, Air Guard, and Reserve aircrew resources, whereas previously each component had its own office overseeing officers and career enlisted airmen. "TFAM enables the use of a single agreed-upon model, in one office, to make training and resource decisions, provide policy guidance, and make integrated recommendations to solving problems like aircrew shortfalls," Ehman said. Boosting TFAM-AAP openings is one of many initiatives the Air Force is pursuing to improve retention, production, and absorption. On the retention side, a number of quality-of-life improvements have been implemented, including reducing administrative duties for pilots and increasing pay and bonuses. To boost production, the Air Force is considering outsourcing some aspects of training, like adversary-pilot duties, as well as partnering with external organizations to augment the training process. The Air Force's Voluntary Rated Return to Active Duty, or VRRAD, program is also open to up to 25 retired fliers from any pilot specialty code who elect to return to fill "critical-rated staff positions," allowing active-duty pilots to stay with units where they are needed to meet mission requirements. An amended executive order signed by President Donald Trump earlier this month also allows the Air Force to recall up to 1,000 pilots to active duty for up to three years. However, Brig. Gen. Mike Koscheski, director of the Air Force's aircrew crisis task force, has said the service doesn't intended to force anyone back into active duty. Rather, he told Military.com, the executive order is an addendum to the VRRAD, giving the Air Force "more access to more retirees" for a longer period of time. Koscheski said the order opened the VRRAD program to personnel who could act as instructors. The Air Force's component forces are about 1,500 pilots short of the 20,300 they are required to have. According to Koscheski, 1,300 of those absent are fighter pilots. http://www.businessinsider.com/air-force-adding-more-national-guard-and-reserve-pilots-amid- shortage-2017-10 Back to Top Pentagon reports another production glitch in Lockheed Martin's F-35 The Pentagon's F-35 program office is weighing how to fix a newly discovered glitch that halted deliveries of the Lockheed Martin fighter jet for 30 days in west Fort Worth. The problem was linked to a primer that is supposed to be applied as a protective layer on aluminum fasteners to prevent corrosion. The Defense Department temporarily stopped deliveries of the next-generation jet for a month, ending Oct. 20, to assess the issue. "After a thorough government and industry investigation, it was discovered that Lockheed Martin had not applied the required primer in fastener holes on F-35 substructures during the aircraft production process," Pentagon spokesman Joe DellaVedova said in an email. "This is a production quality escape issue and, though it needs be corrected to prevent potential future corrosion, it does not pose a safety of flight risk to the F-35 fleet or affect current operations." Discovery of the flaw came after the Pentagon has taken delivery of about 250 F-35s with plans to accelerate production including a block purchase by U.S. allies of as many as 211 jets. The Fort Worth plant, which employs about 14,000 workers, is expected to add about 1,800 workers over the next couple of years. This summer, the company held a series of job fairs in Fort Worth, where more than 2,000 candidates received job offers. The fastener glitch has been flagged to Pentagon officials preparing Ellen Lord, the undersecretary for acquisition, for a meeting scheduled Nov. 6 with top Lockheed officials, including Chief Executive Officer Marillyn Hewson, according to an official who asked not to be identified. Lord will be reviewing all major Lockheed programs with company representatives, including the F- 35, according to the official. Lockheed spokeswoman Maureen Schumann declined to comment when asked about the meeting. Upkeep of the F-35 fleet will become more challenging as the Pentagon prepares for what the program's manager has called a "tsunami" of new production. The company expects to produce 2,456 planes for the U.S. military, plus more than 700 planes to be sold to allies. A painter sprays coatings on a F-35 fighter jet in the finishing area at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics in Fort Worth. "We are taking a holistic fleet-wide approach to plan and implement corrective action on aircraft in production and fielded jets, which allowed deliveries to resume," Lockheed spokeswoman Carolyn Nelson said in an email. "We continue to be on track to meet our delivery goal of 66 F-35s by the end of 2017 and have delivered 54 aircraft year-to-date." The disclosure comes a week after Deputy Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan, Navy Secretary Richard Spencer and Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson visited the Lockheed facility in Fort Worth. It's not known whether they were informed of the glitch. "The F-35 Joint Program Office is leading the effort with the U.S. services, international allies and Lockheed Martin on a comprehensive engineering assessment and corrective action maintenance plan to implement the necessary repairs" to all deployed aircraft "while minimizing impact to operations," DellaVedova said. In the interim, "primer will be applied to fastener holes of fielded aircraft as panels are removed during routine F-35 maintenance operations.," he said. "Lockheed Martin has taken action to correct the production line work order error to ensure primer is applied to all fastener holes on future aircraft." http://www.star-telegram.com/news/business/article182139891.html Back to Top SpaceX to Launch the First Falcon Heavy in December According to a report from NASAspaceflight.com, SpaceX is targeting late December for the maiden flight of the highly anticipated Falcon Heavy, the launch vehicle that is poised to become the most powerful operational rocket in the world. The launch would occur no earlier than December 29. SpaceX has one final Falcon 9 launch that will blast off from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A). Following that launch, codenamed Zuma, SpaceX will complete the work needed to transform LC-39A for the Falcon Heavy, according to the report. SpaceX will then perform static fire tests in mid-December in preparation for the launch later that month. Popular Mechanics contacted SpaceX regarding the first Falcon Heavy launch, but the company declined to confirm the report and has not announced a target launch date for Falcon Heavy. However, speaking in late September at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Adelaide, Australia, Musk said Falcon Heavy would launch for the first time "hopefully towards the end of the year." Originally intended to fly in 2013 or 2014, the Falcon Heavy has been delayed multiple times because of technical challenges. The big launch vehicle will use three cores in the first stage- essentially three Falcon 9 first stages with nine Merlin engines each. Lighting all 27 rocket engines on the Falcon Heavy will present a major challenge, and according to processing information acquired by NASAspaceflight.com, SpaceX has decided to light the engines two at a time rather than all simultaneously, each pair firing up in quick succession until all 27 are lit. On paper, the configuration will produce 5.13 million pounds of thrust at liftoff, which would make it the most powerful active rocket in the world. The vehicle should be able to loft 140,660 lbs. (63,800 kg) to low-Earth orbit, according to SpaceX, which is a little less than three times the payload capacity of the Falcon 9. Ultimately, SpaceX hopes to land all three cores of the Falcon Heavy so they may be reused in future launches, the way it's been landing and reusing Falcon 9 stages this year. Doing so, however, would require additional landing pad infrastructure at Kennedy Space Center. It is not clear if SpaceX will be ready to attempt the triple landing by the time the first Falcon Heavy blasts off. Downplaying expectations, Elon Musk has previously warned that the technical challenges of Falcon Heavy could cause a failed first launch attempt. At the International Space Station Research and Development Conference in July, he said there is "a real good chance that that vehicle does not make it to orbit. I want to make sure to set expectations accordingly. I hope it makes it far enough away from the pad that it does not cause damage." There's plenty to do before this three-core bird can fly. The three boosters of the first stage, which are currently in the Horizontal Integration Facility (HIF) at Kennedy, need to be affixed to each other. Conversion work also needs to be completed on LC-39A, and wet fueling tests and a static fire test need to be conducted as well. From NASASpaceflight.com: Once Zuma is off the ground, Falcon 9 single stick launches will largely move back to SLC-40 starting with the CRS-13 Dragon launch to the International Space Station, set for No Earlier Than (NET) 4 December. That move will free Pad-A for the final round of work needed to finish configuring the Transporter/Erector/Launcher (TEL) for Falcon Heavy. According to L2 processing notes, final TEL conversion includes cutting and welding operations and rewiring work for installation of the Falcon Heavy Tail Service Masts (TSMs) at the base of the TEL reaction frame, the removal of the Falcon 9 east/west hold down clamp inserts used for single stick Falcon 9 missions, and installation of the Falcon Heavy compression bridges to hold part of the weight between the side- mounted boosters and the center booster of the heavy-lift rocket. If work on the launch pad can be completed quickly, with some modifications made before the mystery Zuma launch slated for November 15 or 16, then it's possible Falcon Heavy could get bumped up to an earlier launch date. "All dates between 20-31 December [are] possible for launch operations," reports NASASpaceflight.com. Work on the pad will be followed by a "wet dress rehearsal," when SpaceX will fill the rocket's fuel tanks and monitor data from the test. That will probably lead to a second wet dress rehearsal to be followed by the static fire test around December 15. If all goes according to plan, SpaceX would then be ready to light up the enormous rocket for the first time. The payload for the maiden launch of Falcon Heavy has not been announced, but SpaceX plans to use the powerful rocket for some ambitious missions, including flying two paying customers around the moon as early as next year. Whether that is likely to occur is difficult to say, and it depends heavily on SpaceX's commercial crew program to send NASA astronauts to the ISS in a Dragon spacecraft launched by the Falcon 9 Block 5, currently under development. There are still major hurdles to clear, but its beginning to look like SpaceX has a clear path forward to a Falcon Heavy launch. With any luck, the company will light up that triple candle for the first time before the year is out. Source: NASASpaceflight.com https://www.yahoo.com/news/report-spacex-launch-first-falcon-194903426.html Back to Top "Live Stream- Preventing Loss of Control Accidents with Patty Wagstaff and Rich Stowell" Topic: Preventing Loss of Control; Patty Wagstaff and Rich Stowell On Thursday, November 16, 2017 at 20:00 Eastern Standard Time (17:00 PST, 18:00 MST, 19:00 CST, 15:00 HST, 16:00 AKST, 18:00 Arizona, 01:00 GMT) Select Number: EA2379300 Description: Preventing Loss of Control; Patty Wagstaff and Rich Stowell To view further details and registration information for this webinar, click here. The sponsor for this seminar is: FAASTeam The following credit(s) are available for the WINGS/AMT Programs: Master Knowledge 2 - 1 Credit Click here to view the WINGS help page Back to Top 2017 FORAS Workshop - November 29-30, 2017, Taoyuan, Taiwan. Organized by Flight Safety Foundation and EVA AIR. The Workshop will introduce Flight Operations Risk Assessment System / FORAS, which is a proactive and predictive tool on hazard identification and risk management on flight operations. FORAS is an essential tool for SMS implementation. The FORAS functionalities and set up requirements and other details will be briefed at this two days workshop. FORAS Workshop will be held on November 29-30 at EVA AIR Training Center in Taoyuan, Taiwan. There is no registration fee for the workshop, details can be accessed from the FORAS website, including links for the workshop, agenda, registration, hotel and other relevant information. http://foras.com.tw/foras-workshop/ Back to Top PHD GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY REQUEST International airline pilot and 38-year veteran of flying, Karlene Petitt, has instructed pilots on Boeing aircraft for over 21 years, and holds type ratings on A330, B747-400, B747-200, B767, B757, B737, and B727. She is working on her PHD in Aviation with a focus on safety at Embry- Riddle Aeronautical University. Petitt is researching the impact of training, aircraft understanding, safety culture, aviation passion, and manual flight tendencies, to better understand the impact on performance. If the pilot is always blamed for errors, the underlying factors may never be identified. The survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes and is anonymous. If you fly for a commercial operation, with a two (or more) person crew (corporate, charter, or airline) please visit http://petittaviationresearch.com to learn more and access the link to the survey that can be found at the bottom of the page. Thank you!!! Karlene Petitt MBA. MHS. Doctoral Candidate Aviation ERAU Typed: A330, B747-400, B747-200, B767, B757, B737, B727 http://karlenepetitt.blogspot.com 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 Curt Lewis