Flight Safety Information November 9, 2017 - No. 223 In This Issue Incident: Cargolux B748 at Novosibirsk on Nov 7th 2017, runway excursion during backtrack Incident: Sky Gates B744 at Maastricht and Liege on Nov 5th 2017, flaps problem Incident: Jetblue A320 at Salt Lake City on Nov 7th 2017, bird strike Embraer KC-390 suffered in-flight loss of control incident during test flight...(Brazil) de Havilland Canada DHC-8-402Q Dash 8 -...tail strike upon landing (India) Bell 206L-3 LongRanger III -...aircraft experienced a hard force landing (Tenn.) Avro RJ85 -...uncontained engine failure (South Africa) Tulsa flight bound for DFW makes unexpected landing due to 'odor' in cockpit EVAS - Cockpit Smoke Protection Airbus knew of software vulnerability before A400M crash Drunk Qatar Airways business class passenger was restrained by cable ties and arrested on landing PrimeraAir Nordic and Atlantic Airways pass IATA safety audit BLM trains scores of drone pilots TSA fails most tests in latest undercover operation at US airports FAA Issues ADs For Pipers, Bonanzas IATA chief hails 'big data' as key to safety improvements EASA Proposes New Aircraft CO2 Standards FedEx Express Continues Modernization of Aircraft Fleet Boeing Wins China Orders for 300 Planes Worth $37 Billion CAA International Becomes a Social Enterprise 2017 FORAS Workshop - November 29-30, 2017, Taoyuan, Taiwan PHD GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY REQUEST Incident: Cargolux B748 at Novosibirsk on Nov 7th 2017, runway excursion during backtrack A Cargolux Boeing 747-800, registration LX-VCK performing flight CV-977 from Novosibirsk (Russia) to Luxembourg (Luxembourg), was backtracking runway 25 for departure. While turning around the aircraft contacted and damaged 3 runway edge and 3 runway threshold lights and stopped. Rosaviatsia reported the aircraft sustained damage to the left nose wheel as well as to the aft outboard left body gear wheel. The runway 07/25 did not need to be closed, the wheels needed to be replaced however. The aircraft was able to depart with a delay of 11:15 hours. Metars: UNNT 071400Z 29006MPS 9999 SCT013 OVC029 M01/M03 Q1018 R25/690145 R16/590140 NOSIG RMK QFE753/1005= UNNT 071330Z 28005MPS 9999 SCT011 OVC023 M01/M03 Q1017 R25/690150 R16/590140 NOSIG RMK QFE753/1004= UNNT 071300Z 28005MPS 9000 -SN BKN009 OVC017 M01/M02 Q1017 R25/690150 R16/590140 NOSIG RMK QFE753/1004= UNNT 071230Z 28005MPS 5000 -SN BKN009 OVC017 M01/M02 Q1017 R25/690150 R16/590140 NOSIG RMK QFE753/1004= UNNT 071200Z 28005MPS 9000 -SN OVC010 M01/M03 Q1016 R25/690150 R16/590140 NOSIG RMK QFE752/1003= UNNT 071130Z 28005MPS 9999 OVC011 M01/M03 Q1016 R25/690150 R16/690245 NOSIG RMK QFE752/1003= UNNT 071100Z 28005MPS 9999 OVC010 M01/M03 Q1016 R25/690150 R16/690245 NOSIG RMK QFE752/1002= http://avherald.com/h?article=4b0c49eb&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Sky Gates B744 at Maastricht and Liege on Nov 5th 2017, flaps problem A Sky Gates Airlines Boeing 747-400, registration VP-BCH performing flight U3-9868 from Novosibirsk (Russia) to Maastricht (Netherlands) with 2 crew, was on approach to Maastricht's runway 21 (length 2750 meters/9020 feet) when the crew selected the flaps to 25 degrees, the flaps however stopped at 17 degrees. The crew initiated a go around and diverted to their alternate Liege (Belgium), where the aircraft landed safely on runway 23L (length 3690 meters/12100 feet) at a higher than normal speed about 30 minutes later. Rosaviatsia reported the outboard flaps had extended to 25 degrees as commanded, however, the inboard flaps stopped at 17 degrees. After the go around the crew assessed the runway lengthes and conditions and decided to divert to their planned alternate Liege. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b0c4e44&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Jetblue A320 at Salt Lake City on Nov 7th 2017, bird strike A Jetblue Airbus A320-200, registration N729JB performing flight B6-532 from Long Beach,CA to Salt Lake City,UT (USA), was on final approach to Salt Lake City's runway 34R about 5nm before touchdown when a bird impacted the right hand wing. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on runway 34R. The FAA reported the aircraft sustained minor damage to the leading edge of the right hand wing as result of the bird strike. http://flightaware.com/live/flight/JBU532/history/20171107/2340Z/KLGB/KSLC http://avherald.com/h?article=4b0c52f1&opt=0 Back to Top Embraer KC-390 suffered in-flight loss of control incident during test flight (Brazil) Date: 12-OCT-2017 Time: 13:25 UTC Type: Embraer KC-390 Owner/operator: Embraer Registration: PT-ZNF C/n / msn: 39000001 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Unknown Category: Serious incident Location: near Itápolis, SP - Brazil Phase: Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) Nature: Test Departure airport: Gavião Peixoto-Embraer Unidade Gavião Peixoto Airport, SP (SBGP) Destination airport: Gavião Peixoto-Embraer Unidade Gavião Peixoto Airport, SP (SBGP) Narrative: The Embraer KC-390 prototype, PT-ZNF, was involved in a loss of control incident during a test flight out of Gavião Peixoto-Embraer Unidade Gavião Peixoto Airport in Brazil. Embraer reported that the aircraft was engaged in "in-flight tests for stall situations, which result in aircraft altitude loss due to the decrease in lift force as part of the certification testing campaign. Due to the maneuvers performed and following established protocols, the crew requested an early return to the base, normally landing at the company's aerodrome in Gavião Peixoto (SP) where the test campaign is carried out." ADS-B data from Flightradar24 suggest the flight took off at 12:31 UTC. It performed several test flight patterns at an altitude around 20.000 feet. At 13:25 the aircraft suddenly lost altitude. The data point at 13:24:55 shows the aircraft at 20375 feet. At 13:26:04 this had decreased to 11375 feet. The following ADS-B datapoint at 13:28:05 shows the aircraft at an altitude of 3175 feet. A safe landing was carried out at 13:43 UTC. An unnamed engineer involved in the KC-390 project stated to Brazilian Aero Magazine that part of the test measuring equipment in the main cabin came loose, sliding to the rear of the cabin. This would have caused a shift in the aircraft's center of gravity at a critical phase of flight. Embraer did not confirm this and stated that the cause of the loss of altitude is still under investigation. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=201105 Back to Top de Havilland Canada DHC-8-402Q Dash 8 - tail strike upon landing (India) Date: 08-NOV-2017 Time: ca 20:12 LT Type: de Havilland Canada DHC-8-402Q Dash 8 Owner/operator: SpiceJet Registration: VT-SUL C/n / msn: 4400 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Minor Location: Delhi-Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL/VIDP) - India Phase: Landing Nature: Domestic Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Jabalpur Airport (JLR/VAJB) Destination airport: Delhi-Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL/VIDP) Narrative: The plane, flight SG2642, sustained a tail strike upon landing. There were no personal injuries. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=201104 Back to Top Bell 206L-3 LongRanger III - aircraft experienced a hard force landing (Tenn.) Date: 08-NOV-2017 Time: 11:40 LT Type: Bell 206L-3 LongRanger III Owner/operator: Air Evac EMS Inc Registration: N275AE C/n / msn: 51186 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Substantial Location: Obion County, Union City, TN - United States of America Phase: En route Nature: Training Departure airport: Destination airport: Narrative: While on a training flight, the aircraft experienced a hard force landing in an urban area in east Union City, Tennessee. The helicopter sustained substantial damage consistent with a wire strike (tbc). The three occupants received minor injuries. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=201102 Back to Top Avro RJ85 - uncontained engine failure (South Africa) Date: 08-NOV-2017 Time: Type: Avro RJ85 Owner/operator: Airlink Registration: ZS-ASW C/n / msn: E2313 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 38 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Unknown Location: NE of Johannesburg - South Africa Phase: En route Nature: International Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Harare Airport (HRE/FVHA) Destination airport: Johannesburg-O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB/FAOR) Narrative: Airlink flight SA8103 from Harare to Johannesburg suffered an uncontained engine failure which then caused damage to the adjacent engine. Upon assessing the damage and status of the aircraft, the crew elected to continue to Johannesburg where it landed safely under the power of its remaining two engines at 20:40 LT. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=201103 Back to Top Tulsa flight bound for DFW makes unexpected landing due to 'odor' in cockpit American Airlines flight from Tulsa makes emergency landing in Dallas DALLAS, Tex. (KTUL) - An American Airlines flight from Tulsa made an emergency landing Wednesday in Dallas, Texas. Flight 1060, bound for DFW International Airport from Tulsa International Airport, landed safely around 7:40 a.m. Wednesday. An American Airlines spokeswoman wrote in a statement that the plane, a Boeing 737, had to land after crew members noticed an odor in the cockpit. There were 158 passengers and six crew members on board. No injuries were reported. Tulsa City Councilor, Phil Lakin, Jr., had a family member on board the plane. His wife sent him a text message that read, "So this is crazy the pilot came on and said there's no more service he was starting to descend right away and we landed in Dallas right away and we were met by fire trucks and ambulances." Lakin said his wife did not smell an odor. American Airlines says maintenance crews are looking at the plane. http://ktul.com/news/local/american-airlines-flight-makes-emergency-landing-in-dallas Back to Top Back to Top Airbus knew of software vulnerability before A400M crash * A400M army plane crashed during May 2015 test flight in Spain * Confidential report reveals engine makers' software warning * Dispute over responsibility for tasks on assembly line * Airbus says multiple factors caused crash, systems reviewed By Tim Hepher PARIS/SEVILLE, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Airbus and European safety authorities were warned in late 2014 of a software vulnerability in the A400M military plane that was similar to a weakness that contributed to a fatal crash seven months later, Spanish investigators have found. The Airbus-built cargo and troop carrier crashed near Seville during a test flight in May 2015, killing four of the six crew, after three out of four engines froze minutes after take-off. Data needed to run the engines had been accidentally erased when Airbus workers installed software on the ground, and pilots had no warning there was a problem until the engines failed, Reuters reported weeks after the disaster, citing several sources with knowledge of the matter. A confidential report by Spanish military investigators into the crash, completed this summer, sheds new light on poor coordination and misjudgments that have dogged Europe's biggest military project. The findings confirmed the engines were compromised by data being wiped, according to extracts of the report seen by Reuters and three people familiar with the inquiry. The report also said the engine-makers had warned Airbus and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in October 2014 that software installation errors could lead to a loss of engine data, and that technicians may not receive any warning before take-off that a problem had occurred. When contacted by Reuters, Airbus said the crash was the result of "multiple, different factors and contributory causes", but declined detailed comment about the investigators' findings because they are not public. The planemaker has since reviewed all systems and acted to "ensure the chain of identified causes could not happen ever again", a spokesman added. EASA declined to comment. The engine-makers Europrop International (EPI), a pan-European consortium owned by Britain's Rolls-Royce, Germany's MTU and France's Safran, declined to comment. Spain's defence ministry, whose air accident agency conducted the investigation, also declined to comment. The crash is seen by some safety experts as an example of how failures - though rare - can occur in increasingly complex aircraft systems when several apparently minor weaknesses line up together to produce a serious risk. DISAGREEMENT The A400M was developed for Spain, Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Luxembourg and Turkey and has been beset by delays and cost overruns which have taken it well beyond the original budget of 20 billion euros ($23 billion). The A400M faced flight restrictions immediately following the crash but France's air force has since praised its performance in operations against Islamist militants in Africa's Sahel region, and it has also been used by France, Germany and Britain in hurricane relief efforts in the Caribbean. The findings of the investigators show a rift between Airbus and its engine suppliers, at a time when the planemaker is negotiating a new delivery schedule with European governments and expects further writedowns on the A400M project this year. Airbus and EPI disagree on who was responsible for installing the engine software, according to the investigators. The software was installed by Airbus workers using the planemaker's systems, but EPI says it should have been loaded by its own staff and using EPI systems, the report said. EPI argued that it had authority over the software installation under civil rules, according to the report, which sheds light on regulatory confusion at the time of the accident about civil and military jurisdiction over the aircraft. The A400M is a rare hybrid: a military plane with European civil certification. Airbus argues it was right to install the software itself because it had authority under military rules, but says the design did not meet its specifications - a claim denied by EPI, according to the three people familiar with the inquiry, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter. Spanish officials have backed Airbus, saying the assembly line is a defence facility and not subject to civil rules. RISK ANALYSIS The potential problems flagged to Airbus by the engine-makers in October 2014 involved the possibility of human error in the installation process, according to the investigators. The problem that actually occurred before the crash was of a technical nature, they added. The data for three engines was wiped when the software installation initially failed, and those files were never restored in the subsequent uploading process. The investigators said the response to the 2014 warning from the engine-makers was inadequate. "The mitigation measures derived from that (problem) report were not sufficient," they said in their findings. The warning should have led to a fuller risk analysis of the installation process, they added. Once the plane was airborne, the fatal chain of events accelerated. Unable to understand how to run the engines because of missing data, the plane froze the power at maximum, priming the huge transporter to go higher and faster, according to the three sources familiar with the inquiry. But controllers ordered the crew to stay at 1,500 feet. Trying to obey, the crew reduced thrust, unaware that the faulty engines could only offer all or nothing, the sources said. The engines were then locked at idle, leaving only one working. Seconds later, the plane plunged into a field. Even though technical odds were against them, some experts have questioned how the pilots responded, saying that when an engine problem occurred they could have ignored controllers and climbed to safer levels before adjusting power. Investigators found the pilots had not been trained to expect this scenario and that the A400M's troubleshooting system did not help them. Airbus said the pilots were qualified and highly experienced. ($1 = 0.8649 euros) (Reporting by Tim Hepher in Paris and by Seville newsroom; Additional reporting by Sarah White in Paris; Editing by Pravin Char) Back to Top Drunk Qatar Airways business class passenger was restrained by cable ties and arrested on landing in UK after spending flight downing whiskey, shouting, kicking and hurling mints * Drunken passenger had reportedly been drinking before flight from Doha * He banged his head against the window and shouted before he was restrained * Police intercepted man after the flight touched down in Manchester last month * Fellow passengers say the experience put them off flying altogether A drunken business class passenger had to be 'restrained with cable ties' after throwing mints, shouting and banging his head against a window on a flight. Those on board the Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Manchester watched in horror as the man was restrained during what they called a 'flight from hell'. Police met the passenger after the Boeing 787 touched down in the UK on October 26 and the 45- year-old passenger has reportedly been 'blacklisted' by the airline. Passengers on board a Qatar Airways plane to Manchester said they endured a 'flight from hell' Fellow traveller Andrew Norman-Smith, 53, said the flight was so traumatic he has considered never flying again. He said: 'Qatar said they served him two whiskeys and that was two too many because he seemed to have been drinking before boarding. 'I first became aware of the noise he was making, a strange groaning sound. 'Later I was awoken when the passenger was banging on the window and trying to grab the passenger next to him. He was all over the place, getting up, sitting down. 'He was kicking the seats in front and poking me. It was really unsettling when you're 40,000ft in the air. 'I felt like I couldn't react in a way I would have done on the ground because he was volatile. His whole demeanour was really unsettling and he was a big guy, at least 6ft.' After Mr Norman-Smith alerted cabin crew to his behaviour, the passenger then threw mints at him while shouting and groaning. Following repeated warnings, cabin crew eventually escorted the man to the back of the plane, where Mr Norman-Smith heard 'a commotion' and later saw he'd been restrained. He added: 'He had to be restrained using cable ties. I think airlines should stop serving alcohol on flights, this is happening too much. 'When we arrived into Manchester I saw him being taken from the plane by what looked like security guards or police. 'It was a terrible flight, it's put me off flying again and I certainly don't want to fly with Qatar again - although the staff did handle it well.' Greater Manchester Policed confirmed they were called after the captain alerted ground staff. A 45-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of being drunk on an aircraft and then released with a caution. Qatar Airways said: 'In respect of passenger privacy we do not comment on individual cases.' http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5063055/Passengers-tell-flight-hell-drunken-man.html Back to Top PrimeraAir Nordic and Atlantic Airways pass IATA safety audit The Latvian airline PrimeraAir Nordic and Atlantic Airways of the Faroe Islands both passed the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA). Atlantic Airways, the national airline of the Faroe Islands, was founded in 1987. The fleet currently consists of two Airbus A319's, one Airbus A320 and two AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters. PrimeraAir Nordic is a Latvian subsidiary of Primera Air, founded in 2014. It operates two Boeing 737-700's and five Boeing 737-800's. The IOSA programme is an evaluation system designed to assess the operational management and control systems of an airline. IOSA uses internationally recognised quality audit principles and is designed to conduct audits in a standardised and consistent manner. It was created in 2003 by IATA. All IATA members are IOSA registered and must remain registered to maintain IATA membership. https://news.aviation-safety.net/2017/11/08/primeraair-nordic-atlantic-airways-pass-iata-safety- audit/ Back to Top BLM trains scores of drone pilots BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT The pilot zipped open his backpack, grabbed the drone named after a certain know-it-all "Star Trek" character and assembled it in seconds. "I don't know if Spock's ever flown," said Guilbert Dustin, manager of the BLM's growing drone operation. The drone, or unmanned aircraft system according to the Bureau of Land Management, is a quadcopter that weighs just over 3 pounds and is powered by a lithium-ion battery. While going through preflight safety checks, Dustin explained that all 77 of the BLM's quadcopters have character names from his favorite TV shows, including "Seinfeld," "South Park" and "M.A.S.H." "We had a naming party," he said. A BLM drone pilot trainee opens their backpack and assembles the rotors for their quadcopter in minutes prior to flight, May 18, 2017, at the Horning Seed Orchard in Clackamas County. Photo by Matt Christenson, BLM Once powered on and take-off is announced, the four legs spring straight up off the ground. Pilots then do quick mid-air diagnostics as the propellers hum like an electric yard tool. Less than three years ago, during the first BLM drone flights in Oregon, this process was drastically different. Back then, the BLM and U.S. Geological Survey were jointly testing military hand-me-down drones decommissioned from the battlefields of Afghanistan and Iraq. One 20-pound drone, the T-Hawk, was nicknamed the "flying chainsaw" because of the incredible level of noise it produced; as it turns out, noisy drones are good for neither downrange military operations nor scientific data gathering. Decibel level was not the only problem with the old Department of Defense drones, however. All of them operated on DOD-only frequencies, which meant another administrative hurdle in getting flight clearance. It could take months of paperwork before the small handful of pilots for the Department of Interior could get a drone project OK'd. The goal of the BLM's two-person drone program is to get this new technology to the field office level where it is most needed, in the safest, most efficient manner, said Dustin, who repeated his mantra of "national standard, local capability." "If I'm driving down the road and I see an eagle's nest in that tree, and I happen to be the person responsible for inventorying that stuff, I should be able to stop my truck, check what airspace I'm in, make a phone call to let someone know that I'm flying, go fly it, and get on with my day," explained Dustin. "We're trying to enable people," he added. The BLM's drone program manager, Gil Dustin, flies a 3DR Solo quadcopter equipped with a GoPro 4 camera, May 18, 2017, at the Horning Seed Orchard in Clackamas County. Photo by Matt Christenson, BLM Ron Dunton, the former assistant director of BLM Fire and Aviation, said he was excited the moment he heard "backpack drone." "I can recall when I was a field person, if you had one of those in the back of your pickup, you could have saved hours and hours hiking to look over the next ridge," said Dunton, who recently retired after 43 years with the BLM. "The opportunities are almost endless," he said, adding that the $1,200 price for each drone package is significantly cheaper than the costs associated with hiring manned aircraft. While the old drone systems were "cumbersome," as Dustin put it, they were still able to complete virtual surveys and other core BLM missions, enough to convince the agency there was promise in the new technology. "They're safer, they're cheaper, they're easier to operate," said Dustin of the new 3DR Solo quadcopters. At the time of publishing, the drone program boasted over 1,000 takeoffs and landings on the 3DR Solo without a mishap, according to numbers tracked at the DOI and BLM level. Despite being only 10 inches tall and capable of flying just 20 minutes on one battery charge, as far as the Federal Aviation Administration is concerned, the quadcopters are aircraft. Therefore, all DOI pilots are first required to pass a FAA training course before they can be eligible to fly for agency- level work. The drones are limited to a flight ceiling of 400 feet and must remain within sight of the pilot at all times. A student prepares a drone and attached camera from its simple flight deck, May 18, 2017, at the Horning Seed Orchard in Clackamas County. Photo by Matt Christenson, BLM During the drone training this spring at the BLM's Horning Seed Orchard, about an hour southeast of Portland, Oregon, there were four groups of pilots learning how to fly their quadcopters. It was the agency's fourth of five drone trainings planned for the current fiscal year, with a total of 61 new pilots expected to be certified by the department. Teague Mercer, a hydrologist for the BLM in Coos Bay who took the training, said the small drone could be perfect for monitoring a stretch of coastline on the southern Oregon Coast that has constantly shifting dunes and water levels. "To get that kind of localized, high-resolution data is absolutely prime for managing that in the best possible way," said Mercer of the New River area. John Ciccarelli, a videographer for the BLM in California, was particularly excited about filming public lands from the sky and getting the types of aerial shots viewers are becoming more accustomed to seeing. For the first time this fire season, some BLM crews will have trained drone pilots, allowing them to deploy quadcopters to map the perimeter of a wildfire, said Matt Dutton, drone training coordinator for the BLM. "Just kind of getting that bird's-eye perspective and data, with some lesser degree of coordination than a helicopter," described Dutton. Certified pilots who passed previous trainings have already flown a number of BLM-specific drone missions across the country: monitoring prescribed fires in Alaska; surveying cultural sites in Montana; and studying more hydrology projects in Idaho. And now the weather is turning towards summer, the season for outdoor research gathering. "This will really be the first summer where we have 40 or 50 people out doing UAS projects with their own equipment, so it's really exciting," said Dustin, using the acronym for unmanned aircraft systems, which was also emblazoned on his custom red hat. The FAA estimates that there will be 4.8 million drone sales in 2017, with that figure projecting up to 7 million drones sold in 2020. Those estimates represent sales for both the hobbyist, like the pilot who crashed into the bleachers at a San Diego Padres baseball game this season, and commercial operations, like Amazon, the online sales giant still obsessed with drone delivery. Other government agencies, of all levels, also continue to explore the opportunities of drone use for scientific research. The small quadcopter hovers in place while awaiting new instructions from its pilot trainee, May 18, 2017, at the Horning Seed Orchard in Clackamas County. Photo by Matt Christenson, BLM NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have been teaming up since 2005 to fly drones above and directly inside hurricanes. And in the northern reaches of the Oregon Coast Range, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is working with Oregon State University to use quadcopter drones for elk surveys. So far in 2017, the BLM represents more than half of all the drone flights for agencies within the Department of Interior, which includes the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, among others. While giving his students an imaginary training scenario -- flying over a lava flow to capture images of an eagle's golden eggs -- DOI instructor Steve Stroud said the BLM was a leader with its drone program because of the dedicated staff positions and custom training. And then he told his admittedly nervous student to send the drone 2,000 feet away, where it was still visible, but just a black speck above the canopy of Douglas firs. "BLM is well ahead, well ahead," he said, never taking his eyes off the student pilot. https://www.facebook.com/notes/bureau-of-land-management-oregon/taking-flight-blm-drones- go-local/1463626373659157/ Back to Top TSA fails most tests in latest undercover operation at US airports * Troubling results from undercover operation at US airports In recent undercover tests of multiple airport security checkpoints by the Department of Homeland Security, inspectors said screeners, their equipment or their procedures failed more than half of the time, according to a source familiar with the classified report. When ABC News asked the source familiar with the report if the failure rate was 80 percent, the response was, "You are in the ballpark." In a public hearing following a private, classified briefing to the House Committee on Homeland Security, members of Congress called the failures by the Transportation Security Administration "disturbing." Rep. Mike Rogers went as far as to tell TSA Administrator David Pekoske, "This agency that you run is broken badly and it needs your attention." Pekoske was confirmed by the Senate this summer. Inspectors "identified vulnerabilities with TSA's screener performance, screening equipment, and associated procedures," according to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security. The statement adds that the findings remain classified but that eight recommendations have been made to TSA to improve checkpoint security. It is not clear what those recommendations are. The news of the failure comes two years after ABC News reported that secret teams from DHS found that TSA failed 95 percent of the time to stop inspectors from covertly smuggling weapons or explosive materials through screening. That report led to major changes ordered at TSA by then-Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson. The agency opened a training academy for transportation security officers and changed procedures to reduce long lines. While still being described by lawmakers as a poor performance, TSA performed better in this round of testing than two years ago, according to the source familiar with the report. In the public hearing today on Capitol Hill, members pushed for the full implementation of new scanner equipment that creates a 3D image of bags, giving screeners better ability to spot threatening items. The equipment is ready and being tested in TSA checkpoints in at least two airports, but software and installation challenges have slowed wider implementation. Rep. Bill Keating questioned if the diversion of money from the agency is being used to build the president's border wall. "We have the technology and resources to do it but we're not doing it because ... we're paying for a wall," Keating said. The congressman also noted that Viper teams, specially trained Homeland Security teams that use canines to secure transportation facilities, are being cut from 31 to eight. It is not clear when the report will be released publicly. The TSA said in a statement that the agency "concurs with the DHS OIG findings and is committed to aggressively implementing the recommendations." "We take the OIG's findings very seriously and are implementing measures that will improve screening effectiveness at checkpoints," said TSA administrator David Pekoske. "We are focused on staying ahead of a dynamic threat to aviation with continued investment in the workforce, enhanced procedures and new technologies," he added. http://abcnews.go.com/US/tsa-fails-tests-latest-undercover-operation-us- airports/story?id=51022188 Back to Top FAA Issues ADs For Pipers, Bonanzas The FAA published Airworthiness Directives this week that affect certain Piper Cherokees and turbo Bonanza airplanes. The proposed Piper AD (PDF) was prompted by reports of corrosion found in an area of the main wing spar that's not easily accessible for inspection. The AD would require installing an inspection access panel in the lower wing skin near the left and the right main wing spars, if there's not already one there, which would cost about $685. Also the left and the right main wing spars must be inspected for corrosion, at a cost of about $170, and all necessary corrective actions must be taken. These actions must be completed within 12 months or 100 hours flying time after the effective date of the AD, whichever comes first. The AD is expected to affect 11,476 airplanes registered in the U.S. The FAA is accepting comments on the proposed AD until December 22. The FAA also this week published a revision (PDF) of an earlier proposal, published in April, that affects turbo Bonanzas, adding more models to the list of airplanes affected, and adding a visual inspection of the exhaust tailpipe. The FAA has reopened the comment period, until December 26, to allow the public a chance to comment on these changes. The proposed AD was prompted by a fatal accident in which the exhaust tailpipe fell off during takeoff, the FAA said. The NPRM proposed to add a life limit to the exhaust tailpipe v-band coupling (clamp) and, if the coupling is removed for any reason before the life limit is reached, require an inspection of the v-band coupling before reinstalling. The FAA estimates the AD will affect 731 airplanes and will cost about $500 to $800. https://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/FAA-Issues-ADs-For-Pipers-Bonanzas-229890-1.html Back to Top IATA chief hails 'big data' as key to safety improvements "Big data" is crucial to making aviation even safer than it already is, in the view of IATA director general Alexandre de Juniac. Speaking at an Aviation Club event in London today, de Juniac described aviation's recent global safety record as "an amazing achievement" but added the airline industry body was still "working on constant improvement". He says he is "particularly excited about... the role that big data will play in making our safe industry even safer", and cites IATA's work on the Global Aviation Data Management (GADM) programme - which pulls together information from nearly 500 organisations, covering topics such as IATA audits, as well as operational and infrastructure data, to offer subscribers a range of reports and analysis. "The aim is to build the greatest possible collection of data that will enable us to identify and eliminate potential issue before they arise," de Juniac adds. www.flightglobal.com Back to Top EASA Proposes New Aircraft CO2 Standards PARIS-The European Safety Agency (EASA) has proposed new standards for aircraft CO2 emissions to the European Commission, in a bid to encourage manufacturers to include the latest fuel- efficiency technologies in aircraft designs. In an "opinion" document submitted to the EU's executive body, the EASA said it wanted newly designed aircraft types to meet a CO2 standard, starting Jan. 1, 2020. It also called for aircraft in production to meet a separate CO2 standard, effective Jan. 1, 2023. The standards apply to all large aircraft, including most business jets, an EASA spokesman said. The document implements the results of an environmental protection committee that took place during a meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in February 2016, and also includes a new particulate-matter emissions standard for aircraft engines effective Jan. 1, 2020, EASA said. "These new aviation environmental standards will contribute to improved local air quality and to the overall climate change objectives of the Paris Agreement, which is being discussed at the UN climate change conference in Bonn this month," EASA said. The agency added it is committed to achieving a cleaner and quieter aviation sector through aircraft- and engine-related measures, environmental standards, improved operational practices, sustainable aviation fuels, market-based measures and voluntary industry initiatives. The number of European flights, and associated CO2 emissions, increased by 80% between 1990 and 2014, EASA added. Further growth is expected. The treatment of aviation emissions-particularly whether flights to and from Europe should be included within the region's emissions trading scheme (ETS)-has been in the spotlight in recent months. The ICAO is preparing to implement a global system to offset the emissions from air transport, which is expected to take effect in 2021. This will require airlines to monitor and report their annual CO2 emissions on international routes and to offset those exceeding 2020 levels. www.aviationweek.com Back to Top FedEx Express Continues Modernization of Aircraft Fleet New ATR 72-600Fs Are Excellent Fit for Feeder Aircraft Network MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--FedEx Express (FedEx), a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX), announced today it has completed a purchase agreement with ATR that will begin to modernize the company's fleet of feeder aircraft. Under the agreement, FedEx Express is making a firm purchase of 30 ATR 72-600F aircraft with options to purchase up to 20 additional ATR 72-600Fs. Delivery of the first aircraft is expected in 2020, with subsequent deliveries of about six aircraft per year over a five year period. "The purchase of new, more advanced feeder aircraft like the ATR 72-600F is the next step in our very successful fleet modernization strategy, which has helped us greatly improve our fuel efficiency and fleet reliability in recent years," said David L. Cunningham, president and CEO, FedEx Express. "We worked closely with ATR, which developed this new aircraft with special features to help us grow our business, especially in the air freight market where shipments are larger and heavier." ATR 72-600Fs will have: * a forward Large Cargo Door (LCD) and a rear upper-hinged cargo door * digital cockpits * advanced avionics technology and enhanced take-off performance * ADS-B "out" capabilities * The ATR 72-600F is equipped with reinforced floor panels and will support both bulk cargo and Unit Load Device (ULD) configurations. The aircraft has a bulk capacity of 2,630 cubic feet (74.6 cubic meters). When in ULD mode, it can accommodate up to seven LD3 containers, or five 88" x 108" pallets, or nine 88" x 62" pallets. Current FedEx feeder aircraft do not carry containers or palletized freight, so these new features will help the company better serve customers in the air freight market where palletized shipments are the norm. FedEx currently deploys more than 300 feeder aircraft in 45 countries. Most of these feeder aircraft are owned by FedEx, and are leased and operated by different third-party air carriers under their own operating certificates. The FedEx feeder fleet is comprised of aircraft under 60,000 pounds maximum gross take-off weight, and allows the company to provide fast, economical service to small and medium-sized markets around the world. The FedEx feeder fleet complements the company's jet fleet of over 360 aircraft, including Boeing 777s, B767s and B757s, MD11s, MD10s, Airbus 300s and Airbus 310s. About FedEx Express FedEx Express is the world's largest express transportation company, providing fast and reliable delivery to more than 220 countries and territories. FedEx Express uses a global air-and-ground network to speed delivery of time-sensitive shipments, by a definite time and date with a money- back guarantee*. *Subject to relevant terms and conditions. About FedEx Corp. FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $61 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world's most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 400,000 team members to remain "absolutely, positively" focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. To learn more about how FedEx connects people and possibilities around the world, please visit about.fedex.com. http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171108005775/en/FedEx-Express-Continues- Modernization-Aircraft-Fleet Back to Top Boeing Wins China Orders for 300 Planes Worth $37 Billion * Agreement signed in Beijing for 260 737s and 40 787s and 777s * Chinese airlines expanding fleets as air travel surges China Aviation Supplies Holding Co. agreed to buy 300 aircraft worth about $37 billion from Boeing Co. as the nation's airlines ramp up capacity to meet rising demand. The purchase includes 260 narrowbody planes and 40 widebody aircraft, the Chinese company said on its website after U.S. President Donald Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing Thursday. Representatives for the Chicago-based planemaker declined to provide details of the airlines that would take deliveries of the aircraft or say how much of this was new orders. Chinese airlines have been on a plane-buying spree amid a projection for the country to overtake the U.S. as the largest air-travel market possibly in as soon as in five years. The state has previously placed large orders through a centralized buyer before dividing them up among its airlines and leasing companies, including a $22 billion deal with China Aviation Supplies that was announced in July. During a visit by Xi to Berlin in July, Airbus SE said it won a $22 billion order to supply 140 planes to China, including 40 widebody A350s and 100 of its narrowbody A320-series jets. China Aviation Supplies would allocate the planes to individual airline operators over the next five to six years, Airbus said at the time. Talks were also underway for the planemaker to sell more A380 superjumbo jets to China. In September 2015, Boeing landed $38 billion in plane orders and commitments from Chinese carriers and lessors when Xi made his first state visit to the U.S. Under the "general terms agreement" announced at the time, there were orders and commitments for 190 single-aisle 737s and 50 wide-body jetliners, without customers being identified. Lessors ICBC Financial Leasing Co. and CDB Leasing Co. took another 60 737s. It was unclear how many were orders that had already been placed and marked as "unidentified" in Boeing's order book. Boeing in September raised its 20-year forecast for aircraft demand in China as the nation's growth and an expanding middle class boost air travel. The planemaker expects China needs 7,240 new planes valued at almost $1.1 trillion in the two decades through 2036, compared with a previous projection for 6,810 aircraft through 2035. Narrowbody airplanes will make up 5,420, or three- quarters of the deliveries, on demand from full-service as well as discount carriers. Air China Ltd., China Eastern Airlines Corp., China Southern Airlines Co. -- the three biggest state carriers -- together plan to add more than 600 aircraft through 2020. Air China and China Eastern intend to introduce 167 and 191 aircraft respectively through 2019, while China Southern has plans for almost 300 more planes by 2020, according to the companies' financial statements. Among the most recent orders for Chinese carriers, China Southern said last month it signed a contract to buy 38 Boeing planes -- eight 777s and 30 737s -- at a list price of $5.65 billion. This followed a $6 billion order for 20 Airbus SE A350 planes that the Guangzhou-based carrier announced six months earlier. China Southern will take delivery of the A350-900s starting 2019, with all of the planes to be handed over by the end of 2022, it said in April. Separately, General Electric Co. signed three commercial deals worth $3.5 billion as part of Trump's visit, including supply of engines to Juneyao Airlines Co. and ICBC Financial Leasing Co. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-09/boeing-wins-china-orders-for-300-planes- worth-over-37-billion Back to Top CAA International Becomes a Social Enterprise CAA International (CAAi), the technical advisory arm of the newly formed International Group (IG) within the UK Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA) has announced it has become a registered UK Social Enterprise. As part of the newly formed CAA International Group, CAAi has committed to invest its profits back into the global aviation community, to fund aviation regulatory improvement programmes that make the biggest positive impact on aviation. Maria Rueda, Managing Director for CAAi said, "A lot has changed in aviation since CAAi's inception over ten years ago. With more flights than ever leaving the UK and passenger demand expected to double over the next 20 years, it was important that CAAi evolved in order to make the biggest positive impact to global aviation. Becoming a social enterprise was the logical next step in our journey of raising aviation standards across the world". Matthew Margesson, Head of International Development for CAAi said, "It's business as usual for CAAi, but with one key difference - our new profit-for-a-purpose business model. From today, our profits will be reinvested to deliver aviation improvement programmes and training across the world - and where it is needed most, benefiting people everywhere; those who choose to fly and those who do not". CAAi is already planning major investment in training scholarships for overseas aviation regulatory personnel, in partnership with the United Nations aviation agency, ICAO. "Investing in the aviation leaders of tomorrow is crucial for a safe and secure future global aviation network" Margesson explained. "With over 80 countries still below the global average of effective implementation of international aviation regulatory standards, we are now much better placed to support ICAO, EASA, other Agencies and State Authorities, working hand-in-hand to improve international aviation compliance across the world". To mark the occasion, CAAi has launched a new brand and website to better reflect its CAA heritage and the collective spirit of raising aviation standards across the globe. For more information, please contact Stuart Coates, Senior Manager - International Marketing & Communications; stuart.coates@caa.co.uk. Notes to Editor: CAA International (CAAi) is a registered UK social enterprise and a function of the International Group within the UK Civil Aviation Authority. Working in tandem with two other teams - State Safety Partnerships and International Strategy and Engagement - we foster strong and lasting relationships with aviation organisations internationally, to lay the foundations for long-term collaboration on safety performance and progression of aviation strategies. Our primary focus is providing advisory, training, examination and licencing services to agencies, fellow National Aviation Authorities and industry in over 140 countries. As a social enterprise, we do this on a commercial basis and a sustainable part of any profit we make is reinvested in the global aviation community through the International Group, wherever it is needed most, to make positive and sustainable changes in aviation today and to develop the people who will lead the world of aviation tomorrow. We share the vision of the International Group, to raise the standards of aviation across the globe, to protect those who choose to fly and those who do not. Our work involves assessment and delivery of targeted safety, security and environmental improvements. We offer unparalleled expertise stemming from our insights into best practices defined by the CAA. We are committed to the role we play helping to shape tomorrow's international aviation legislation, improving regulatory capacity and efficiency, and sustaining society's confidence in aviation. _____________________________________________________________________________ You are receiving this message from Stuart Coates (UK CAA), stuart.coates@caa.co.uk at CAA International Ltd. United Kingdom, Civil Aviation Authority, Aviation House, Gatwick Airport South, West Sussex, RH6 0YR stuart.coates@caainternational.com 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 Curt Lewis