Flight Safety Information November 15, 2017 - No. 227 In This Issue Accident: British Airways B772 near London on Nov 13th 2017, fumes on board Incident: Egypt B738 near Frankfurt on Nov 13th 2017, cracked windshield Incident: Aeroflot A320 near Prague on Nov 11th 2017, first officer incapacitated Khabarovsk Avia Let L-410UVP-E20 accident: 6 dead (Russia) Strong winds force aircraft off runway at North Bend Airport, cancels flights UK Airprox Board reports on four serious incidents involving drones Bird slams into Miami-bound flight on approach to airport NTSB releases video from British Airways fire in 2015 Qantas flight forced to return to the gate after passenger refused to switch his tablet to flight mode New FAA guidance for electronic flight bags Experts seek smarter aviation regulation in Africa Engineers Create Bird-Inspired Airplane Wing Nigeria Records Milestone As Two Airports Attain Global Safety Standard Saudi to Train Women Pilots in New Aviation Academy Branch TRUMP'S PLAN TO SAVE AIR FORCE FROM COLLAPSE DUE TO PILOT SHORTAGE WON'T WORK, U.S. MILITARY SAYS FIRST EVER AIRBUS 'SUPERJUMBO' JET, THE WORLD'S BIGGEST PASSENGER PLANE, IS PUT INTO STORAGE Airbus just inked its biggest airplane order ever This Arab country says it's on track to go to Mars within three years Position Available: Supervisor, Safety Management System POSITION AVAILABLE: Assistant Manager, Global Aviation Data Management POSITION AVAILABLE: MAINTENANCE BASE MANAGER Accident: British Airways B772 near London on Nov 13th 2017, fumes on board A British Airways Boeing 777-200, registration G-VIIJ performing flight BA-196 from Houston,TX (USA) to London Heathrow,EN (UK), had already left cruise level 410 and was maintaining FL330 overhead Wales (UK) when the crew requested medical services to attend the aircraft after landing. The aircraft continued to London for a safe landing on runway 27R about 30 minutes later. Passengers reported there had been fumes in the cabin causing health problems. One passenger indicated an odd odour almost immediately resulting in dizziness, nausea, confusion and difficulties to concentrate, another reported there was a burning electrical smell causing headache and feeling light headed. Cabin crew was wearing oxygen cylinders and breathing equipment, an announcement was made by the crew, other passengers around also noticed the odour and discussed the odour. The airline reported the crew requested priority due to indication of a technical issue, the landing was normal. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b10948c&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top Incident: Aeroflot A320 near Prague on Nov 11th 2017, first officer incapacitated An Aeroflot Airbus A320-200, registration VQ-BIU performing flight SU-2384 from Moscow Sheremetyevo (Russia) to Geneva (Switzerland), was enroute at FL360 about 50nm northeast of Prague (Czech Republic) when the first officer became incapacitated and needed immediate medical assistance. The captain decided to divert the aircraft to Prague, where the aircraft landed safely on runway 24 about 22 minutes later. The first officer was taken to a hospital. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 5.5 hours, then continued the journey to Geneva arriving in Geneva with a delay of 5:45 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b105dd4&opt=0 Back to Top Khabarovsk Avia Let L-410UVP-E20 accident: 6 dead (Russia) Status: Preliminary Date: Wednesday 15 November 2017 Time: 13:30 Type: Let L-410UVP-E20 Operator: Khabarovsk Avia Registration: RA-67047 C/n / msn: 3010 First flight: 2015 Crew: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 Passengers: Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 5 Total: Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 7 Airplane damage: Destroyed Airplane fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: 2 km (1.3 mls) from Nelkan Airport ( Russia) Phase: Approach (APR) Nature: Domestic Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Nikolayevsk-na-Amure (UHNN), Russia Destination airport: Nelkan Airport, Russia Flightnumber: 463 Narrative: A Let L-410 aircraft operated by Khabarovsk Avia crashed 2 km short of the runway at Nelkan Airport, Russia. Two crew members and four passengers suffered fatal injuries. A young girl is said to have been the only survivor. The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations reported there was no fire. The aircraft operated on a domestic flight from Khabarovsk to Nikolayevsk-na-Amure and Nelkan. https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20171115-0 Back to Top Strong winds force aircraft off runway at North Bend Airport, cancels flights An aircraft was blown off the runway at the North Bend Airport, canceling flights, November 13, 2017. (SBG) NORTH BEND, Ore. -- Strong winds in North Bend caused an aircraft to go off the runway Monday morning. North Bend Airport officials say the Gulfstream 450 was landing when the sudden storm surge occurred. There were eight passengers and three crew members on board. No one was injured. The plane was stuck in mud at the end of the runway for several hours after the incident. As a result, flights to and from San Francisco Monday were canceled. http://kcby.com/news/local/strong-winds-force-aircraft-off-runway-at-north-bend-airport-cancels- flights Back to Top UK Airprox Board reports on four serious incidents involving drones 14 November 2017 The UK Airprox Board detailed 16 airprox recent incidents involving aircraft and drones, four of those were considered serious. These four incidents are classified Category A (a serious risk of collision existed): 24 July 2017 The pilot of a Boeing 757 reported descending towards Bristol Airport at 4800ft, when he saw an object with distinctive drone shape, with dark coloured arms and a suspended load, possibly a camera along with a red lateral light and a central white light. 26 July 2017 A Boeing 787 pilot reported they were on final approach to Heathrow runway 27L, when a drone was sighted just below and to the right of the aircraft. The Drone passed below and to the right at a reported separation of 50ft Verical/20m Horizontal. 31 July 2017 A Boeing 777 pilot reported conducting an ILS approach to Gatwick runway 26L when a large silver or white drone was seen to pass abeam, down the right side of the aircraft. Reported Separation: 0ft Vertical /30m Horizontal 22 August 2017 The Saab 2000 pilot reported that the aircraft was being configured for final approach into Manchester runway 23R. Passing approximately 1500ft in the descent a drone was seen to pass the nose of the aircraft and down the right hand side. It was estimated to be within 50ft of the aircraft, white/silver in colour and estimated to be up to 2ft across in size. These and over 3700 other drone sightings and airprox incidents are covered in the ASN Drone Database. https://news.aviation-safety.net/2017/11/14/uk-airprox-board-reports-four-serious-incidents- involving-drones/ Back to Top Bird slams into Miami-bound flight on approach to airport No injuries reported; plane taxied to gate safely MIAMI - An American Airlines flight bound for South Florida was able to land safely Tuesday after a bird slammed into the front of the plane. Flight 1498 from Mexico City was on approach to Miami International Airport at about 11 a.m. when the bird hit the nose of the Airbus A319. The plane landed and was able to taxi to the gate with no problem. No injuries were reported. While birds often hit planes during flight, what made this incident different from others was that the bird remained stuck on the plane after the hit. An American Airlines employee who spoke to Local 10 News said she had never seen anything like what happened Tuesday. "It is true that we deal with bird strikes, that does happen, but never like this," said the employee, who wished to remain anonymous. Numerous airport personnel could be seen taking photos of the rare sight after the flight arrived at gate D22. Animal services was called to retrieve the dead bird from the plane. The plane was taken to maintenance to repair the damage and was replaced by another plane for future flights. In a 2016 study, the Federal Aviation Administration reported there were more than 160,000 bird strikes reported in the U.S. from 1990-2015, with the majority occurring during landing. https://www.local10.com/travel/bird-slams-into-miami-bound-flight-on-approach-to-airport-1-1 Back to Top NTSB releases video from British Airways fire in 2015 Dramatic video released Tuesday afternoon, more than two years after a plane caught fire on a runway. It happened in Las Vegas in September 2015. The British Airways flight was bound for London. But during takeoff, when the plane had reached about 90 miles per hour, a fire broke out. You can see huge plumes of black smoke billowing from the plane. From another angle, you can see the emergency chutes deploy, and passengers slide to safety. Everyone got off the plane, with fourteen people having minor injuries, mainly from sliding down the chutes. Airport firetrucks had the flames out within five minutes of the plane's mayday call. The FAA later said the fire was caused by the failure of the left engine. The plane was repaired and returned to service just this past March. http://www.kristv.com/story/36845705/ntsb-releases-video-from-british-airways-fire-in-2015 Back to Top Qantas flight forced to return to the gate after passenger refused to switch his tablet to flight mode The airline confirmed the unnamed passenger 'did not follow instruction with regard to an electronic device' A QANTAS flight headed for Melbourne was forced return to the terminal after a selfish passenger refused to put his tablet on flight mode. The airline confirmed a passenger on flight QF2133 from Australia's capital Canberra to Melbourne on Friday night "did not follow instruction with regard to an electronic device" and was an hour late as a result. A Qantas flight from Canberra to Melbourne had to turnaround after a man on board refused to switch his tablet to flight mode (file photo) That passenger was a company chief executive, the Melbourne's 3AW station reported. The airline added that safety was its top priority and confirmed the flight did have to return to the gate. It's not the only bizarre reason for a flight delay - last week, a Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Bali had to make an emergency landing in India after a woman on board caused mid-air drama after she discovered her husband was cheating on her. The woman, who was travelling with him and young child, reportedly unlocked her sleeping partner's phone by putting his finger on the home button and found evidence he was cheating on her. The airline confirmed the unnamed passenger 'did not follow instruction with regard to an electronic device' (file photo) The woman could not be calmed down by flight crew and the plane was forced to land in Chennai, where the family was kicked off. And in June, a China Southern Airlines flight was stuck in Shanghai for five hours after an elderly woman threw coins into the engine for "good luck". The 80-year-old stopped on the tarmac to make "blessings" as she was boarding her Guangzhou- bound flight and then threw nine coins into the engine turbine. Her "good luck" ritual prompted concerned passengers to alert airline staff, who conducted a full examination of the engine and evacuated 150 passengers. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/4917802/qantas-flight-melbourne-passenger-tablet-to-flight- mode/ Back to Top New FAA guidance for electronic flight bags The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an updated Advisory Circular (AC) for aircraft system designers, installers and operators seeking design and use guidance for hosting electronic flight bag (EFB) applications - on both portable devices and installed equipment. An EFB is an electronic information management device that helps flight crews perform flight management tasks more easily and efficiently with less paper. The AC includes significant changes from the last guidance in May 2014 that offer the industry new EFB applications and the ability to manage their EFB programs with significantly less FAA involvement. The FAA worked closely with industry, other regulatory authorities, and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) operations panel to harmonize EFB guidance. Specifically, the new policy eliminates all guidance associated with EFB classification, clarifies the definition of an EFB, and reorganizes EFB application software types according to safety importance. This newest guidance document also made two significant changes requested by aviation stakeholders. First, the FAA is removing its previous prohibition on the display of aircraft location during flight on various EFB applications. Previously, this function was only available on the ground. In addition, new EFB program management guidance will permit the operator to make many of the day-to-day changes to EFB applications without having to contact their FAA principal inspector. https://www.verticalmag.com/press-releases/new-faa-guidance-electronic-flight-bags/ Back to Top Experts seek smarter aviation regulation in Africa Guests and staffs take a group photo with the new aircraft during the Africa World Airlines' 5th Aircraft Embraer ERJ 145 Arrival Ceremony in Accra, capital of Ghana, Feb. 20, 2017. (Xinhua/Shi Song) KIGALI, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Aviation experts from across Africa and beyond are seeking tougher, smarter regulation policies that will guide the uninterrupted growth of the airline industry on the continent. They were speaking at the opening of 49th Annual General Assembly (AGA) for African Airlines Association (AFRAA) and its summit in the Rwandan capital city Kigali Monday. The AGA and the summit, held from Nov. 12 to 14, is the biggest air transport event in Africa that brings together airline chief executive officers and other high profile executives and decision- makers in the aviation industry in Africa, according to Rwandan Ministry of Infrastructure. "We are looking at engaging African governments to adopt smarter, tougher regulation framework to avoid unintended consequences when designing or implementing aviation policies. Smarter regulation is key to achieve tremendous airline growth on the continent," said Elijah Chingosho, secretary general of AFRAA. Chingosho called for civil aviation authorities in African nations to be given greater resources and operational independence to ensure improved safety standards. He said the growth of aviation sector in Africa is being hampered by ill-conceived regulation policies, poor safety oversight, and costly infrastructure. Iyabo Sosina, secretary general of African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), said that some countries in Africa currently are struggling to comply with 60 percent or more of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and recommended practices. "We have to engage African economies to take a smarter approach to regulation by ensuring full consultation with airlines in order to comply with aviation international standards and practices," she added. Aviation experts agreed that greater momentum could be gained by enhancing awareness of aviation issues among African leaders and policy makers in order to sustain and improve the safety and security oversight, the ratification of aviation conventions and other legal instruments for Africa aviation industry to thrive. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Africa will be a market of 350 million airline passengers by 2035 if challenges affecting the sector are urgently addressed. African aviation currently supports 6.8 million jobs and contributes 72.5 billion U.S. dollars in GDP, said IATA. Over the next 20 years passenger demand is set to expand by an average of 5.7 percent annually which opens up incredible economic opportunities for the continent's 54 nations, according to IATA. While officially opening the event, Rwanda Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente said that African governments and airlines should harmonize their operations including airport taxes, improve and expand aviation infrastructure and train the required personnel. "We need to bear in mind that Africa's aviation is still lagging behind to the rest of the world. There are more issues that should be fixed if we are to catch up with the rest of the World," he added. Convened under the theme "Rethinking strategies for airline profitability in Africa", this year's AGA will deliberate aviation typical issues such as liberalization of African skies, cooperation, market leadership, cost-effective operations, adoption and application of information communication technology among others. In addition to statutory assembly matters to be discussed, there will be exhibition of products, solutions and latest technologies in aviation by reputable service providers from across the world. Further, the AGA will also avail quality time and opportunity for networking and business meetings among African airlines, industry partners and service providers. The event is expected to attract over 500 high profile delegates from the aviation industry in Africa, Europe, Middle East, Asia and North America. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-11/14/c_136751948.htm Back to Top Engineers Create Bird-Inspired Airplane Wing Using a supercomputer with the power of 8,000 computers, researchers have created an airplane wing that closely mimics the properties of actual bird wings. Researchers from the University of Denmark have designed the new airplane wings, which are significantly lighter than the current wings used on planes. If implemented into airplane designs, the wings could result in substantial fuel savings. Niels Aage, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Denmark and the lead researcher for the study, explained in an interview with R&D Magazine that the bird wing design was years in the making. "We have for a long time been convinced that extreme resolution would be a benefit for practical design tasks," he said. "However, since no one shared this thought with us we decided to try it out ourselves. "We then spent from 2010 to 2015 developing new methods that enabled us to perform the wing study," he added. The newly designed wings are lighter than existing wings by 2-to-5 percent, but equally as stiff as conventional wings. According to Aage, engineers have used this kind of optimization techniques on a smaller scale for the last two decades, including making individual wing components or much simpler structures. The researchers used the supercomputer to increase the resolution on a model of a 27-meter long wing of a Boeing 777. The project began with a wing outline that was optimized for maximum lift and minimum drag called an aerofoil. They then split it into 1.1 billion 3D pixels, each with resolution roughly 200 times greater than previous efforts. Conventional wings are built with straight beams running the length of the wings, interspersed by crossing supports. However, the new design has a curved support that fans out at the trailing edge of the wing, resembling the bone structure of bird wings. The intricate support structures in the leading edge resemble the internal structure of a bird's beak. According to Aage, the next step for the researchers in the wing design is to incorporate aero elasticity, anisotropy and dynamic effects into the design. Aage said the design could also be applied to other industries to develop high-rise buildings in earthquake-prone zones that can maintain their stiffness while withstanding the dynamics of the earthquake. "We are approaching a new paradigm within the field of computer aided design [and optimal design] in which we start redesigning everything," he said. "For decades we might have thought that we could not do much better in a given problem setting, but now there is a real change that we can get significant improvements." https://www.rdmag.com/article/2017/11/engineers-create-bird-inspired-airplane-wing Back to Top Nigeria Records Milestone As Two Airports Attain Global Safety Standard Nigeria has become the only country in Africa to have its two airports certified by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) safety standard and the only country in West Africa sub-region with internationally certified airports. This was made known by the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Muhtar Usman during the ceremony to mark the certification of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at the weekend. Last September, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos was certified, thus recognising two major airports in the country as meeting global safety standards. The Director General said the certification has improved the rating of the two airports in safety standards in the international aviation circles and would attract more global carriers to the country, which would boost air transport and create more jobs for the citizenry. As corollary to the progress made in the industry with the certification, Captain Usman hinted that this would reposition air transport to contribute more to the GDP of the country because it would boost passenger movement in domestic and international destinations. He also disclosed during the ceremony that Kano, Port Harcourt and Enugu airports are scheduled for completion in the 1st, 2nd and 3 red quarters of 2018. http://allafrica.com/stories/201711150073.html Back to Top Saudi to Train Women Pilots in New Aviation Academy Branch There is no age limit for applying to enter the academy (AFP/File) The Oxford Aviation Academy will open its first branch in the MENA region in Dammam to train women pilots, Al-Watan reported. Col. Othman Al-Mitairi, Oxford Aviation Academy's MENA Region's Director General and retired pilot, said women will be trained to become pilots flying commercially as well as in other aviation fields as equally as men. "The announcement of opening the academy was done in Dubai Air Show on Sunday. The decision is approved by the General Authority for Civil Aviation. The academy will open in Dammam Airport on Jan. 1, 2018," said Al-Mitairi. He added the requirements for applying to the academy are the same for men and women applicants. "Oxford Aviation Academy is one of the top academies in the world. British pilots who fought in World War II graduated from it. The requirements for the application are having a high school diploma, proficiency in English, passing the medical examination and passing another examination on ground," said Al-Mitairi. He added there is no age limit for applying to enter the academy. "Men and women will be taught the same curriculum. We do have future plans to have female instructors and aviation trainers in the academy. The academy is a private entity but there are numerous financial aids. We have a number of partnering banks and companies who are willing to give interest-free loans," said Al-Mitairi. He also said graduating from Oxford Aviation Academy will qualify one to fly commercial airplanes internationally. "The academy completely adheres the standards of the General Authority for Civil Aviation. Only 40 percent of pilots in the Saudi job market are Saudis and only two of them are women. We aspire to have 60,000 pilots and technicians over the next 20 years," said Al-Mitairi. https://www.albawaba.com/editorchoice/saudi-train-women-pilots-new-aviation-academy-branch- 1047838 Back to Top TRUMP'S PLAN TO SAVE AIR FORCE FROM COLLAPSE DUE TO PILOT SHORTAGE WON'T WORK, U.S. MILITARY SAYS The U.S. Air Force said Tuesday that an executive order signed by President Donald Trump doesn't solve its massive pilot shortage as intended. Trump's order allows the Air Force to recall up to 1,000 retired pilots to active duty to ensure it has enough aviators who are combat-ready. By law, all branches of the military are typically only allowed to bring back 25 officers at a time. But the Air Force is short 2,000 pilots as of last week, and pilot recalls aren't sufficient to meet needs. "We appreciate the flexibility, but we want pilots with more than just a three-year commitment," an Air Force spokesman told Fox News on Tuesday. The Air Force is looking for pilots who can make a 10- to 20-year commitment, the spokesman added. Military leaders have expressed concern the Air Force could "break" if it doesn't find a way to deal with the shortage. The Air Force needs roughly 20,000 pilots to accommodate its various needs and fly its wide array of aircraft. Roughly 10 percent of its positions remain unfilled. "With 2,000 pilots short, it'll break the force," U.S. Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said last Thursday amid the annual State of the Air Force news conference at the Pentagon. This massive shortage comes as the U.S. military deals with myriad threats across the world that require significant airpower to confront, from combating the Islamic State militant group (ISIS) to putting pressure on North Korea. "We're burning out our people," Wilson said. "Surge has become the new normal in the United States Air Force. You can do that for a year, or two years, maybe even three or four years. But I met someone last week who has just come back from his 17th deployment. Seventeen deployments. And at some point, families make a decision that they just can't keep doing this at this pace." With so many pilots overworked, "The tension on the force right now is significant," U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff General Dave Goldfein said. The issue is not with recruitment, but that many pilots opt for higher salaries with commercial airlines when they're up for re-enlistment. The Air Force has attempted to address this issue by offering contract extensions of only one or two years with $35,000 bonuses, as opposed to the typical five- to nine-year extensions. But Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Senator John McCain, a veteran who was a U.S. Navy pilot during Vietnam, doesn't believe offering pilots more money is the answer to the issue. McCain feels the problem is actually linked to a desire to fly and the fact pilots feel they're grounded far too often due to budget cuts. "You are facing a personnel crisis... And what confounds me is the Air Force comes over to say, 'We just need more money.' ...You are addressing this issue of pilot shortage from exactly the wrong direction," McCain said during a confirmation hearing for Shon Manasco, the president's nominee to serve as assistant secretary of the Air Force for manpower and reserve affairs. "I talk to too many [pilots] all the time. They say, 'Senator McCain, all I want to do is fly. I want to be in combat.' That's what they're all about...So this whole idea of trying to outbid the airlines on the keeping people in the Air Force is foolish," McCain added. http://www.newsweek.com/trumps-plan-save-air-force-collapse-due-pilot-shortage-wont-work-us- military-711668 Back to Top FIRST EVER AIRBUS 'SUPERJUMBO' JET, THE WORLD'S BIGGEST PASSENGER PLANE, IS PUT INTO STORAGE The A380, the world's biggest passenger jet, is looking for a secondhand market and new orders As Airbus battles for a fresh order for its A380 plane, the first double-deck Superjumbo has been put into storage. Singapore Airlines was the launch customer for the A380 a decade ago. The first aircraft, code 9V- SKA, entered service between Singapore and Sydney on 25 August 2007, under the specially created flight number SQ380. But that flagship plane was grounded in June. The jet has now been taken back to Europe by its owner, the leasing company Dr Peters Group of Dortmund. The plane has been painted white and flown to Tarbes Lourdes Pyrénées airport in South-west France. The airport is a Ryanair base, close to Toulouse where the Airbus A380 was designed and built. Tarmac Aerosave, which operates the long-term airport parking facility, is part-owned by Airbus. The firm says it "provides the best one-stop-shop solution to your aircraft needs ... enabling the residual value of the aircraft to be maintained during the entire storage phase." Airbus says of its biggest plane: "As the world's most comfortable, smooth and quiet airplane, no other travelling experience comes close. It is the passenger's favourite." While the A380 is certified for more than 800 passengers, airlines typically equip it with around 500 seats. But the plane has always struggled to attract orders. When the entry into service was delayed, a number of airlines, including Virgin Atlantic, cancelled orders. Just 216 have been delivered with around 100 more on order - about a fifth of the total for the Boeing 747 Jumbo. The more modern Airbus A350 has attracted far more interest from airlines. While it has a lower capacity, the twin-jet is a more efficient aircraft and is proving popular with passengers on Cathay Pacific, Ethiopian Airlines, Qatar Airways and Finnair. Almost half the Superjumbos in service worldwide fly for Emirates, which recently took delivery of its hundredth A380. The Dubai-based airline is known to be considering an upgraded version of the jet. The A380plus would be capable of carrying 80 more passengers, partly by adding an extra seat to each row in economy and premium economy. While the A380 economy section is only 10 abreast at present, Airbus says an 11th seat can be added to create a "3-5-3" configuration. But the deal is stalled by a dispute over whether Airbus will guarantee to keep the production line open for another decade. The Dr Peters Group owns a further three A380s still flying for Singapore Airlines, plus five more in service with Air France. Hi-Fly, a Portuguese airline that provides "wet-lease" planes to cover for other carriers - including the recent Monarch airlift - is known to be interested in the A380. But there is concern about the "first off the production line" editions, such as the plane on the ground in Lourdes. Often they are heavier than later aircraft, with other flaws. An expert in aircraft values described early planes of any model as "virtually 'R&D' aircraft", with the maker "battling to smooth out the initial kinks of their new kit and improve the latter examples coming off the line". http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/airbus-a380-superjumbo-double-decker- plane-put-in-storage-singapore-airlines-worlds-biggest-a8053921.html Back to Top Airbus just inked its biggest airplane order ever Airbus has signed a deal to sell 430 jetliners, one of the largest orders in the history of commercial aviation. Private equity firm Indigo Partners, which has set up ultra-low cost airlines around the world, made the massive commitment for Airbus' single-aisle A320neo family airliners at the Dubai Air Show on Wednesday. The planes aren't all for one airline. Instead, Indigo has used the negotiating power of its many carriers to buy in bulk. The deal will spread the jets out across Frontier Airlines in the U.S., Mexico's Volaris, Wizz Air of Hungary and newcomer JetSmart of Chile. The stunning magnitude of the deal -- which Airbus (EADSF) called its "largest single commercial announcement ever" -- caught many in the aviation industry by surprise. To put it in perspective, a single airline with 430 planes would rank among the 10 largest carriers on the planet. Worth nearly $50 billion at list prices, the deal is a major rebound for Airbus, which has significantly lagged its U.S. arch rival Boeing in orders this year. Buyers typically receive discounts of 40% to 60% on the list prices, but can get even bigger reductions for really huge deals. Airbus and Boeing went into the air show with 288 and 605 net orders, respectively. If all the deals they each announced at the show are finalized before the end of the year, they will head into the last weeks of 2017 neck-and-neck in the race for the biggest annual order tally. The Indigo Partners deal is the single largest order by number of aircraft that any individual plane maker has received. But at this stage, it's still a memorandum of understanding, a non-binding agreement that needs to be finalized before it is considered a firm order. American Airlines in 2011 ordered 460 new planes in a single deal, but that was spread between both Boeing and Airbus. Indian low-cost airline IndiGo (which isn't connected to Indigo Partners) bought 250 Airbus jets in 2015. But the biggest order by value came from Emirates airline of Dubai in 2013. It agreed to buy 150 Boeing 777X planes and 50 A380s, which were worth a total of $99 billion at list prices. Wednesday's historic deal represents a final grand act for Airbus's chief salesman, John Leahy, who plans to retire from the company once a successor is selected. Leahy, a smooth-talking New Yorker, became a famous thorn in the side of Boeing and other Airbus rivals during his more than 20 years in the job. He sold tens of thousands of jetliners for the European plane maker, helping it draw alongside its big U.S. rival in terms of both sales and deliveries. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/m/605e312b-ad8b-3663-9c9d-19fff6a671c3/ss_airbus-just-inked- its-biggest.html Back to Top This Arab country says it's on track to go to Mars within three years * The UAE only formed its space agency in 2014 * The first mission is to send a probe to land on Mars * It would mark the first Arabic-led space mission UAE space agency It sounds like a challenge of galactic proportions. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) says that despite its space agency only being three years old, it remains on track to launch a probe to Mars by 2020. The Hope probe would touch down on the red planet by 2021, in time to commemorate the 50th anniversary of when seven emirates came together to form the UAE. Speaking at the Dubai Airshow Tuesday, Director General of the UAE Space Agency, Mohammed Al Ahbabi said the first ever Arabic and Islamic space mission was intended to educate and inspire. "We have national objectives to inspire young people and provide confidence in our people, to show it is possible," Al Ahbabi said. "But also to team up with the international science community and gain from a technology transfer." The director general said that despite political difficulties in the region the program remains on time and within budget. Once launched the probe would travel around 40 million miles over nine months before touching down to study the Martian atmosphere and climate. The UAE space agency, which backs the mission, was formed in July 2014 and has secured a reported $5.2 billion in public and private support. Al Ahbabi said the UAE was working with the support of more than 20 space agencies around the world and he predicted that the only three outstanding agencies would come on board next year. "So many people are coming to the UAE to express admiration for what we are trying to do," he said. The Middle East is viewed as a good location for a launch pad as it enjoys mild weather, has open desert spaces and being near the equator, requires less thrust to get missiles into orbit. Al Ahbabi added that the UAE space program would help resurrect a lost Arabic trait of understanding the galaxy. "This region, 600 or 700 years ago was the base of astronomy. Two-thirds of the stars that we can see with our naked eyes have Arabic or Islamic names," he said. "Unfortunately there was decline but now through this big project we want to send a message to the people that it is still possible to study space." https://www.cnbc.com/2017/11/15/this-arab-country-has-a-mars-space-mission.html Back to Top Hong Kong Express Supervisor, Safety Management System Job no: 495933 Work type: Full time Location: Hong Kong Department: Quality, Safety & Security Role and Responsibilities: * Participate actively as projects team member to improve the SMS programs efficiency, reduce costs and assist in improvement of product through operational efficiency; * Support the MSMS cost saving development initiatives and delivery process improvements to the SMS program and its systems; * Provide MSMS with recommended solutions to identified deficiencies based on objective observations; * Assist the MSMS in Conducting the Safety Management Awareness training for HKE personnel; * Conduct audits/ inspections/ surveys as and when directed by MSMS and produce reports to ascertain operational safety is achieved; * Conduct investigations as and when directed by MSMS into accidents, incidents and/or irregularities affecting the safety of operations and produce reports; * Assist the MSMS and MFOQA in the administration of the the airlines FOQA program; * Conduct Gap Analysis; Risk Assessment; Change Management as and when directed by MSMS and produce reports; * Maintain the Safety Report, Hazard Registry and Corrective Action Plan (CAP) databases; * Liaise with departmental Safety representatives to ensure clear communication of safety events and effective CAPs are implemented; * Prepare periodic safety articles to promote safety awareness; * amongst employees and services providers; * Participate in IOSA program as and when directed by MSMS; * Maintain the currency and relevance of the Safety Management System Manual by proposing and drafting amendments. Qualifications: * At least 5 years relevant aviation work experience. * Supervisory and training delivery experience preferred. * Well versed with practical experience in Safety Management System and a strong understanding of CAD 712, 382, 739 Requirements . * Good command of written and spoken English; Chinese language is a plus; * Good computer literacy. Desirable Qualities: * Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; * Good Writing ability and organizational skills; * Strong analytical, decision making, time-management and problem- solving skills. APPLY HERE Back to Top POSITION: Assistant Manager, Global Aviation Data Management Description Reporting to the Manager, Global Aviation Data Management (GADM), the incumbent will support analysis and research using the GADM databases, this position will focus on data science and statistics. The activities may include coordination with internal and external Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). Responsibilities * Perform analysis of operational safety data held in the GADM databases; * Assist with data visualization techniques, dashboard development and automation; * Assist with ad-hoc analysis requests from both internal IATA departments as well as airlines and other research as requested; * Coordinate update to GADM website; * Assist with other support activities as required. Qualifications and Skills * University degree in relevant disciplines; * Strong analytical skills (background in statistics desired) and ability to write technical reports; * High level proficiency in Microsoft office suite, especially Excel (Charting, Filtering, Pivot Tables...) and experience with business intelligence software or statistics software (SAS, R, minitab, Matlab) would be an asset; * Highly organized and detail oriented; * Excellent communication skills in English is a must; * Familiarity with aviation operational environment: Background in human factors, aeronautics, or Private/commercial pilot's license with instrument rating , or experience in ground handling desirable. APPLY HERE At the heart of IATA are our Values and Behaviors. We all have different personalities, styles and areas of expertise, but you'll recognize us by the consistent way we act and behave in line with our Values and Behaviors. We are looking for people who bring them to life in everything they do - they are: * Act with integrity and uphold our standards * Think strategically in support of the global big picture * Partner and manage to create high performing teams * Putting people first by acting with a simple human touch Here at IATA we are proud of being a Diverse & Inclusive Organization - we have people from all over the world working in our offices, and we extend this to our recruiting practices. We are a meritocratic organization and an equal opportunity employer. Back to Top JOB TITLE: MAINTENANCE BASE MANAGER REPORTS TO: Director of Maintenance HOURS: Full-Time, Year-Round LOCATION: Cape Air Corporate Headquarters (Hyannis, MA) SUMMARY: The Maintenance Base Manager performs all duties of maintenance technician and supervisor. In addition, the person in this position directs daily activities of Base Maintenance operations and facilities to ensure activities are accomplished in accordance with company and federal requirements. This includes administering work load, personnel issues, tooling, parts and facility management, amongst other things. PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: * Responsible to direct daily activities of Base Maintenance operations and facilities to ensure activities are accomplished in accordance with company and federal requirements * Manage Mechanics and Aircraft Cleaners * Coordinate all resources as necessary to accomplish the existing or anticipated work load during all days and hours of operations * Develop and maintain manpower and vacation schedules/requests * Setup, review and approve employee payroll; handle check requests (and petty cash if applicable) * Assist in interviews of potential employees and coordinate new hire process and orientation with HR * Coordinate SIDA badge process for all maintenance employees * Coordinate training with the Manager of Maintenance Training * Coordinate uniform requests for base * Coordinate any relocation/TDY assignments * Conduct daily and/or monthly meetings as necessary with maintenance crew * Conduct disciplinary meetings with employees as required or as necessary * Communicate with facility landlord, if applicable * Responsible for hangar and ground equipment maintenance including the upkeep of all maintenance department vehicles * Responsible for ordering shop and office supplies and maintaining proper inventories of these items * Communicate with SOC/MOC for aircraft status reports * Participate in daily PIREP and maintenance base meetings * Audit manual system for correct revisions. * Monitor workmanship, materials and associated documentation * Manage Jeppesen/Garmin Ops update cycles for fleet * Work with Materials Manager to ensure proper inventory control for base * Coordinate core engine returns with stores * Coordinate and comply with EPA, OSHA, and Health Department * Additional duties as assigned QUALIFICATIONS: * Must hold a valid A&P certificate * Must have at least 5 years of experience in aircraft maintenance * Must have at least 2 years of professional management or supervisory work experience * Experience in cold weather ops * Knowledgeable of FARs and budget processes preferred o Must have a flexible schedule and be willing to work any and all shifts, including nights, weekends and holidays * Valid passport required * Must be willing to travel * Must exhibit knowledge of Cape Air and embody the Cape Air MOCHA HAGoTDI spirit * Please note this is a safety sensitive position which requires CHRC clearance and DATP enrollment in accordance with the FAA Code of Federal Regulations APPLY HERE Curt Lewis