Flight Safety Information November 16, 2017 - No. 228 In This Issue Incident: Algerie A332 at Oran on Oct 26th 2017, landed on closed runway Incident: KLM Cityhopper E175 at Amsterdam on Nov 15th 2017, unsafe main gear Coastal Aviation Cessna 208B Grand Caravan reported down in Tanzania with 11 on board POOR SAFETY MEASURES AT SCHIPHOL AIRPORT SAY PILOTS Southwest Airlines pilot busted for trying to bring gun on plane Rapid automation in aviation safety (India) Engine failure at low altitude led to 2016 fatal floatplane accident near Manicouagan Reservoir, Quebec A Man Snuck Onto a Flight in London and Hid in the Lavatory FAA Proposes Special Conditions For 777X Folding Wingtips ACARS Future Focuses on Broader Bandwidth Ethiopian Airlines quietly builds strong international network HELICOPTERS HIGHLIGHT LATEST MANUFACTURING FIGURES An unidentified aircraft over Oregon had the US air force scrambling to identify what it was Countries move to adopt aircraft emissions standard at varying pace BOOM SUPERSONIC JET SET TO FLY FROM LONDON TO NEW YORK IN THREE HOURS 15 MINUTES BY 2025 Bombardier plans hiring spree for business jet program SpaceX is launching a secret mission called 'Zuma' NTSB Chairman to deliver Royal Aeronautical Society 14th annual Assad Kotaite Lecture at ICAO 9th ESASI Regional Seminar Position Available: Supervisor, Safety Management System POSITION AVAILABLE: Assistant Manager, Global Aviation Data Management POSITION AVAILABLE: MAINTENANCE BASE MANAGER Incident: Algerie A332 at Oran on Oct 26th 2017, landed on closed runway An Air Algerie Airbus A330-200, registration 7T-VJV performing flight AH-4021 from Casablanca (Morocco) to Oran (Algerie), was cleared to land on Oran's runway 07R but touched down on closed runway 07L instead. The aircraft rolled out without incident. Position data transmitted by the aircraft's transponder show the aircraft touched down on the center line of runway 07L. A local source reported Runway 07L had been closed for years due to work in progress. A review of NOTAMs over the last two months confirms the runway had been closed at least since Aug 20th 2017 and was closed on Oct 26th 2017, too. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground for about 2 hours, then departed Oran for Algiers (Algeria). According to information The Aviation Herald received the occurrence remained undiscovered until Nov 5th 2017, then the crew was suspended. An inquiry by The Aviation Herald to Algeria's Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation Authority transmitted on Nov 6th 2017 as well as an inquiry transmitted to the airline remained without reply so far. Related NOTAM: A2440/17 NOTAMR A2222/17 Q) DAAA/QMRHW/IV/NBO/A/000/999/3538N00037W005 A) DAOO B) 1710180916 C) 1711181600 EST E) WIP ON RWY 07L/25R EDGES MEN AND EQPT PRESENCE http://avherald.com/h?article=4b113394&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: KLM Cityhopper E175 at Amsterdam on Nov 15th 2017, unsafe main gear A KLM Cityhopper Embraer ERJ-175, registration PH-EXL performing flight KL-1198 from Stavanger (Norway) to Amsterdam (Netherlands) with 83 people on board, was on approach to Amsterdam's runway 18R when the crew reported an unsafe gear indication and went around. The aircraft entered a hold to work the related checklists, the crew subsequently declared PAN reported their left main gear still did not indicate down and locked despite an alternate gear extension, they would stop on the runway. Emergency services including rescue helicopters were alerted by the airport. The aircraft positioned for an approach to runway 27, landed safely and stopped on the runway. The aircraft was towed off the runway after the left main gear got secured. The aircraft is still on the ground 12 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b114619&opt=0 Back to Top Coastal Aviation Cessna 208B Grand Caravan reported down in Tanzania with 11 on board Status: Date: Wednesday 15 November 2017 Time: ca 11:00 Type: Cessna 208B Grand Caravan Operator: Coastal Aviation Registration: 5H-EGG C/n / msn: 208B-0476 First flight: 1997 Engines: 1 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A Crew: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 Passengers: Fatalities: 10 / Occupants: 10 Total: Fatalities: 11 / Occupants: 11 Airplane damage: Damaged beyond repair Location: Empakaai area ( Tanzania) Phase: En route (ENR) Nature: Passenger Departure airport: ? Destination airport: ? Narrative: A Cessna 208B Grand Caravan operated by Coastal Aviation, was involved in an accident in the Empakaai area in Tanzania. All occupants, ten passengers and one pilot, sustained fatal injuries. https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20171115-1 Back to Top POOR SAFETY MEASURES AT SCHIPHOL AIRPORT SAY PILOTS Safety measures at Schiphol Airport are insufficient to cope with the limitation of noise pollution and the growth of the airport, according to a letter Dutch pilots' association VNV sent to the Tweede Kamer on Wednesday, NOS reports. The pilots have two main concerns. First is the stress between reducing noise pollution and ensuring safety. The combinations of used runways are currently switched about 16 times per day, with the intention of limiting noise pollution to local residents as much as possible. According to the VNV, this leads to unnecessary confusion and unsafe situations for air traffic control and pilots. The VNV calls for a system in which two runways are always in use. This is currently only allowed during times of immense busyness. And that does not seem likely to change soon, a spokesperson for Schiphol said, according to NOS. "Safety is paramount", the spokesperson said. "But we made agreements on using runways that cause as little disturbance to residents as possible." The second point of concern to the pilots, is the road network of runways and routes for taxiing. According to the association, this ground infrastructure can handle 450 thousand flights a year, while currently around 500 flights make use of them. As a result, aircraft and other vehicles often cross the runways - a major source of danger, the pilots say. The VNV wants Schiphol to build special taxi lanes that run around the runways, instead of over and through them. The Schiphol spokesperson told NOS that this has not been discussed yet. "But if it appears that additional taxi lanes are needed, we'll definitely deal with it." In April the Dutch Safety Board released a report that stated that Schiphol needs to take additional safety measures. According to the Board, the airport is safe, but due to its growth it pushes against the limits of responsible risks. The number of incidents at Schiphol has increased every year since 2014, due to the increasing air traffic, according to the Board. Last year there were about 50 incidents, ranging from planes suddenly having to divert to ground vehicles stopping too late after a stop signal, but not necessarily creating a threatening situation. The responsible Ministry of Infrastructure denied these criticisms, but since started working on an "integrated safety system" and ordered two investigations into safety at the airport, according to the broadcaster. In future the government will continue to work with Schiphol and other stakeholders on keeping a growing Schiphol safe. On Wednesday the Tweede Kamer - the lower house of Dutch parliament - is holding a closed meeting on the airport, according to the Telegraaf. The VNV feels that these investigations are not happening fast enough. "They're stranded at consultation tables" a spokesperson said to NOS. The pilots also urge the involved parties to not work for "safe enough, but as safe as possible". Schiphol emphasized that safety is not an issue at the airport. "Schiphol is filling up", a spokesperson admitted to NOS. "But we will never make any concessions on safety." https://nltimes.nl/2017/11/15/poor-safety-measures-schiphol-airport-say-pilots Back to Top Southwest Airlines pilot busted for trying to bring gun on plane A Southwest Airlines pilot was arrested at the St. Louis, Mo., airport Wednesday for packing heat, according to reports. The 51-year-old first officer, whose name has not been released, was detained at a TSA checkpoint about 5 a.m., according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He was about to board Flight 1106 to Las Vegas, according to Jeff Lea, a spokesman for St. Louis Lambert International Airport. It wasn't immediately clear if the pilot was a crew member on that flight or was simply deadheading to a next stop. Officials did not say how many rounds of ammunition were in his 9 mm handgun, for which Lea said the first officer did not have a permit. The pilot was arrested on suspicion of unlawful use of a weapon. His case will be turned over to St. Louis County prosecutors for consideration of charges, the paper reported. TSA rep Sari Koshetz, told the Post-Dispatch in an email that the incident involved one pilot and that the weapon was loaded. Southwest Airlines said in an email: "We are aware of a situation involving a Southwest Pilot at St. Louis Airport. We are currently working alongside the appropriate authorities to gather more information. We have no further information to share at this time." According to online flight records, the flight, which was scheduled to leave St. Louis at 5:15 a.m., left about 45 minutes late. TSA regulations require that a firearm be unloaded and put into checked luggage, and that the owner notify the airline before boarding. Federal law defines a loaded firearm as having a live round in the chamber or in a magazine that is in the firearm. https://nypost.com/2017/11/15/southwest-airlines-pilot-busted-for-trying-to-bring-gun-on-plane/ Back to Top Rapid automation in aviation safety (India) Satellite-based radar systems with GPS to map flights across oceans soon Within a year or so, satellite-based and radar-based systems are to be introduced across the world which will even map oceans with the help of Global Positioning System (GPS) and with modern aircraft carrying a transponder to transmit regular messages of its location, informed Director of Hyderabad Airports G.S. Rao on Monday. Addressing a gathering at the Air Traffic Safety Electronics Personnel (ATSEP) international day celebrations at Begumpet airport, he said the changes in the Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) systems are happening at a rapid pace with automation and integration. Yet there is space for the human intervention for some time to come, he observed. Apart from air traffic controllers, pilots and maintenance engineers, ATSEPs contribute towards a safe flight from 'gate' of one airport to another airport 'gate'. These technical specialists provide electronics and software support playing a vital role in the aviation safety chain in specification, procurement, installation, calibration, maintenance, testing and certification of ground electronic systems to help control aircraft movements. The Director said the shift from the totally ground-based air navigation radar systems and from voice based communication to data based communication is happening rapidly, hence it is imperative for skills to be continuously upgraded for the technical personnel. While the country is on a par with international standards in terms of CNS, the concept of a 'single sky' as is being planned for Europe where the regional centres need would be redundant but this is not yet on the policy plan here. Similarly, the concept of 'virtual' radar towers in operation in some places abroad is yet to be taken up. Speakers also explained that the Indian airspace is over 2.8 million square nautical miles assigned by the International Civic Aviation Organisation (ICAO) with peak hours having up to 60 planes an hour although Delhi has registered 82 planes an hour! It means 1,440 aircraft are operating each day and growth rate of aviation in the Asia-Pacific region is in double digits increasing the burden of airports and the CNS personnel. Airports Authority of India GM O.S. Ekka, DGCA S. Toppo, Air India GM Solomon Jeyabalan, DGM N.S. Chakravarthy, IMD in-charge Director (Hyd) Y.K. Reddy, also spoke at the function. http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/rapid-automation-in-aviation- safety/article20398273.ece Back to Top Engine failure at low altitude led to 2016 fatal floatplane accident near Manicouagan Reservoir, Quebec DORVAL, QC, Nov. 15, 2017 /CNW/ - In its investigation report (A16Q0119) into a September 2016 fatal collision with terrain near the Manicouagan Reservoir, Quebec, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) found that a fuel pump malfunction caused the engine to shut down during takeoff, leaving the pilot with not enough time to take appropriate action to attempt to restore engine power. The report also highlights the risks of attempting a 180° turn at low altitude during a takeoff emergency. On the afternoon of 25 September 2016, a privately operated Cessna U206F floatplane left Kuashkuapishiu Lake, Quebec, for Ra-Ma Lake, Quebec, near the Manicouagan Reservoir, with the pilot and two passengers aboard. After takeoff, the floatplane began a climbing turn to the left when it reached the north end of the lake. A few moments later, it quickly banked to the right, lost altitude, struck the ground, and immediately caught fire. The fire consumed almost the entire cabin. The pilot sustained serious injuries, and the two passengers were fatally injured. No emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal was received. The investigation determined that soon after takeoff, the coupling shaft of the engine-driven fuel pump sheared, which cut off the engine's fuel supply and caused it to stop suddenly. The cause of the coupling shaft failure could not be determined. The procedure for engine failure after takeoff requires prompt lowering of the nose of the aircraft to establish a glide to a landing site straight ahead. Faced with the prospect of having to make a forced landing in the forest ahead, the pilot made a 180° turn in order to perform a water landing on Kuashkuapishiu Lake. During this turn, an aerodynamic stall ensued, resulting in a steep descending right turn at an altitude too low to regain control before impact with the ground. The aircraft's ELT could not be found in the debris. However, the investigation established that it may have contained parts that no longer complied with approved design standards as indicated in Transport Canada Civil Aviation Safety Alert 2016-05. If ELTs contain unapproved parts, there is an increased risk that they will not work as intended in an accident, potentially delaying the arrival of search and rescue personnel. Post-impact fires have been documented as a risk to aviation safety in previous TSB investigation reports. In 2006, the TSB issued Recommendation A06-10 to reduce the number of post-impact fires in impact-survivable accidents. The aircraft in this occurrence did not have, and was not required to have, any of the technologies, materials, or components identified in recommendation A06-10. There has been no direct action taken or proposed by Transport Canada in response to Recommendation A06-10 and the Board believes the risks remain significant. The response was therefore assessed as unsatisfactory. See the investigation page for more information. The TSB is an independent agency that investigates marine, pipeline, railway and aviation transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability. The TSB is online at www.tsb.gc.ca. Keep up to date through RSS, Twitter (@TSBCanada), YouTube, Flickr and our blog. SOURCE Transportation Safety Board of Canada http://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/Engine-failure-at-low-altitude-led-to-2016-fatal- floatplane-accident-near-Manicouagan-Reservoir-Quebec-1008146155 Back to Top A Man Snuck Onto a Flight in London and Hid in the Lavatory Here's a good rule for hide-and-seek: Don't hide anywhere with a light that alerts other people you're inside. A 25-year-old Swiss man learned this lesson after attempting to stowaway an easyJet flight from London to Geneva on Sunday night by hiding in the lavatory. Although the man somehow snuck onto the plane without a ticket, his plan was foiled when flight attendants noticed that all the passengers were in their seats but the "in use" sign on the toilet was lit, according to 20 Minutes. A witness told the paper that police arrested the man and thoroughly searched the plane, but did not find anything suspicious. However some passengers were so shaken up by the incident that they chose to disembark and take a later flight. It turned out that the man did not sneak through the airport and onto the plane. He had a valid boarding pass for an earlier flight to Geneva, but missed his plane, a spokesperson for London Gatwick Airport told the paper. EasyJet will not rebook a missed flight unless the passenger purchased some type of insurance, so this man apparently decided that he was going to use stealth to get back to Geneva. The airline confirmed that a passenger "boarded by mistake" and is investigating the incident. This is the third time in a month that a passenger has snuck onto an easyJet flight. In October, a man boarded an easyJet flight to Lisbon with a ticket from TAP Air Portugal. And less than a week after that, a seven-year-old girl boarded a flight without a ticket or even any identification. http://www.travelandleisure.com/airlines-airports/man-sneaks-on-plane-hides-in-toilet Back to Top FAA Proposes Special Conditions For 777X Folding Wingtips LOS ANGELES-Facing the regulatory challenges of certifying the world's first commercial jetliner with folding wingtips, the FAA has detailed a set of special conditions intended to ensure Boeing's unusual 777X extendable wing complies with current safety standards. Boeing showed the folding-wingtip cockpit controls for the first time when it unveiled the 777X flight deck at the Dubai Airshow. It stresses that the conditions are "not unusual or a surprise," and come after almost four years of consultations with U.S. and European regulatory authorities about the concept. The folding wingtip is a key element of the 777X design, enabling the aircraft's full 235.4-ft. wingspan to be deployed for efficient long-range cruise. On the ground, it permits the use of more- restricted taxiways and airport gates. The special conditions include: additional warnings to alert crew when wingtips are not correctly positioned; proving the load-carrying limits of the structure; and demonstrating acceptable handling qualities in a crosswind as the wingtips fold up after landing. Full details are still emerging about the wing-fold mechanism, control and warning systems. However, Boeing says it has developed-or is testing and demonstrating-features of the design to comply with all the proposed special conditions. The FAA issues special conditions when the airworthiness regulations "do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards because of a novel or unusual design feature." Although Boeing is applying for certification of the 777X under an amended type certificate based on the existing 777, the wing-fold feature that extends and retracts the last 12 ft. of the aircraft's all-new composite wing is not covered by existing regulations. As with other technologies introduced on recent Boeing programs, such as the 787's composite fuselage and 737's uprated digital-systems architecture, the FAA has been coordinating with the airframer to determine which additional regulatory requirements will be needed to address the 777X's new design features. The manufacturer says the "FAA special conditions are a means of institutionalizing actions already taken by Boeing." It formally applied for amended type certificates for the stretched 777-9 in May 2015, and for the shorter 777-8 in April. The FAA proposes that there must be multiple ways to alert the flight crew about wingtips that are not properly positioned and secured prior to takeoff. The agency also proposes that "a means must be provided to prevent" the aircraft from taking off if the wingtip is not locked in place. Such visual and aural alerts were incorporated into the flight-deck systems unveiled in Dubai. Drawing on Boeing's determinations, the FAA says a "catastrophic" event could occur if the aircraft's wingtips are not properly positioned and secured during takeoff and flight. Likening this to taking off with gust locks (mechanisms which prevent control surfaces from moving and being damaged while on the ground), the FAA adds that Boeing "must show that such an event is extremely improbable, must not result from a single failure, and that appropriate alerting must be provided for the crew to manage unsafe system-operating conditions." Boeing points out that when it classifies hazards for aircraft events as part of its design-standards safety process, any extremely improbable aircraft-level failure of a critical system automatically defaults to being classified as "catastrophic." Such systems include flight controls or brakes. The company says this extreme classification is used "to drive the appropriate high-integrity system architectures, design redundancies, and safety features to preclude such events." "This same safety and certification methodology was used with our new folding wingtip to ensure a robust systems architecture with mechanical and electrical redundancy, high-integrity control and monitoring architecture, and structural fail-safe load paths from wingtip to fixed wing" Boeing adds. The design must also show compliance with load requirements, and specifically must consider the effects of free-play of the wingtip. "The effects of normal wear, and other long-term durability conditions (such as corrosion) of the folding-wingtip operating mechanism on free-play, and its impact on loads and aeroelastic stability, must be considered," the FAA says. The effects of free- play on wing-joint torsional and bending stiffness, as well as wing frequencies, "must be evaluated when showing compliance to loads and aeroelastic stability requirements," it adds. Other special conditions include the ability of the wingtips and their operating mechanism to withstand 65-kt., horizontal, ground-gust conditions in any direction. The conditions also require the aircraft to demonstrate acceptable handling qualities during landing roll-out in a crosswind as the wingtips transition to the folded position. Boeing will also have to show acceptable handling with asymmetric wingtip folding. Boeing wants the wing tip to extend and retract in about 20 sec. Test rigs at the company's Everett, Washington, site already have evaluated the mechanism's performance under various simulated conditions, including gust loads representing different wind speeds and the impact of rough runways and taxiways. A final production-standard wingtip test rig is being prepared at Boeing Field to validate and certify the design. The FAA's proposed conditions also say the design should incorporate stops to positively limit the range of motion of the wingtips, and call for the wingtip hinge structure to cope with inertia loads acting parallel to the hinge line. In addition, the FAA calls for the wingtip navigation lights to be mounted "at approximately the level of the wingtips in the takeoff configuration," when in the folded position for ground operation. Boeing has previously indicated the red and green tip lights will be mounted at the end of the fixed wing structure, rather than on the movable section. The special conditions also call for the wingtips to incorporate safety mechanisms to prevent them from unlocking from the extended position in flight, "as a result of failures, including the failure of any single structural element." The agency says all sources of power that could "initiate unlocking of the wingtips must be automatically isolated from the wingtip-fold operating system (including the latching and locking system) prior to flight, and it must not be possible to restore power to the system during flight." The FAA also proposes the latching and locking mechanisms must be designed so that, under all flight-load conditions, no force or torque can unlock them. "As with all control surfaces, design safeguards against unintentional deployment of mechanisms outside of normal operations are in place," Boeing says. The company adds that its standard design philosophy is to develop independent redundant systems so that "failures or external threats cannot compromise both primary and backup systems simultaneously." The overall folding wing mechanism is, nonetheless, "simple and reliable," Boeing says. www.aviationweek.com Back to Top ACARS Future Focuses on Broader Bandwidth LYON, France-New uses for the Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) could emerge when the service is connected to new broadband communications paths, SITAOnAir says. SITA On Air and Rockwell Collins are the only companies that provide the 40-year-old service, which allows pilots to send short messages to an airline's operations center via VHF radio. Now, SITAOnAir is testing integration with 21st century satellite and terrestrial systems. From space, Inmarsat's SwiftBroadband-Safety will give bandwidth to the cockpit through a dedicated link, says Paul Gibson, SITAOnAir's portfolio director for Aircom. SITAOnAir also claims it will link ACARS with 3-G and 4-G cellular service for the first time, thanks to a partnership with Teledyne Controls. In the past, the industry has shown creativity with a text-based protocol, Gibson notes. As new aircraft use more sensors, an enhanced ACARS will be able to transmit more data to the ground. SITAOnAir plans to offer graphical weather updates on an iPad application for pilots. This will close the gap with passenger connectivity. In some cases, travelers are reading the latest weather updates through onboard Wi-Fi while the crew relies on information gathered before takeoff. Onboard cabin Wi-Fi, however, does not have the level of reliability required for flight safety. An evolving ACARS will be the backbone of the connected aircraft age, SITAOnAir says. "VHF ACARS will not be replaced, at least as a backup," Gibson adds. He emphasizes that SITAOnAir's solutions provide the pilot with a single interface. www.aviationweek.com Back to Top Ethiopian Airlines quietly builds strong international network Ethiopian Airlines might not be familiar to the average U.S. flyer or travel agent. But the carrier, which flies to 54 African cities from hubs in Addis Ababa and the West African nation of Togo, is working to change that. "We have one of the youngest fleets in the industry and a great network," said Nigusu Worku, the carrier's U.S. director of sales and services. "It can be a serious option for travel to Africa." In the past two years, Ethiopian has added service to Newark and Los Angeles to its longer- standing daily Washington Dulles flight. Next summer, Worku said, the carrier plans to introduce service to either Houston or Chicago, both of which are hubs for its codeshare and Star Alliance partner United Airlines, as are Dulles, Los Angeles and Newark. A recent report in Ethiopian newspaper The Reporter said Chicago would get the nod, but the carrier would only tell Travel Weekly that O'Hare is being "seriously considered." The Los Angeles and Newark flights, which currently operate four times a week, might also be expanded to daily. Ethiopian operates a Boeing 787 Dreamliner from Los Angeles to Addis Ababa with a stop in Dublin. The Newark flight, also operated with a Dreamliner, stops at Togo's Lome-Tokoin Airport. Dulles- Addis Ababa service is nonstop, but the return flight from Ethiopia makes a fueling-only stop in Dublin. Ethiopian offers Africa's most extensive connecting network, according to Brendan Sobie, chief analyst for the CAPA Centre for Aviation. "It is very much a network carrier, almost similar to the strategy of Emirates and Turkish," he said. Of course, among U.S. travelers, Ethiopian doesn't have the prestige of Emirates or, for that matter, Turkish. Nor is it as well-known as other airlines with a significant connecting footprint to and from Africa, including Qatar, Lufthansa and Air France. But for those who might pause before using an airline from a poor East African state, there is little reason to worry. Ethiopian runs a modern fleet of 94 aircraft that includes 19 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, six Airbus A350s and a variety of other Boeing narrowbody and widebody planes. This year, Ethiopian finished 48th in the prestigious Skytrax World Airlines awards, one slot ahead of fellow African carrier South African Airways. While that ranking isn't particularly high, it was the best in Africa and better than the rankings achieved by Southwest (54), American (74) and United (78). Ethiopian is outperforming its African competition in other regards, as well. For the fiscal year that ended in June 2016, which is the most recent that the carrier has made available, Ethiopian reported a net profit margin of 11.26%, and its profit of $262.4 million was the highest on the continent. By comparison, South African lost $110.5 million in its 2016 fiscal year, and margins regionwide were minus-0.9%. Sobie said the carrier's success can be attributed to a combination of quality management and a strong strategy. In addition, Ethiopia hasn't been beset by turmoil like Kenya and Egypt, the home of two of Ethiopian's largest African competitors, where terrorism and political instability have led to precipitous drops in tourism. Ethiopian also has grand ambitions. The carrier's long-term strategic plan calls for it to achieve a $1 billion annual profit by 2025. With that in mind, the carrier is expanding rapidly. In the 2016 fiscal year, it grew available seat miles by 23%. Recent new destinations include Oslo, Singapore and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. The carrier expects to add eight more new destinations by next June, said Worku, including Chicago or Houston. Sobie said Ethiopian's primary hub, Addis Ababa Bole Airport, is an acceptable facility. Ethiopia is currently building a much larger airport in Addis Ababa, which is expected to be able to handle up to 120 million passengers annually. Meanwhile, Lome Airport in Togo unveiled a new terminal in April 2016. http://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Ethiopian-Airlines-quietly-builds-strong- international-network Back to Top HELICOPTERS HIGHLIGHT LATEST MANUFACTURING FIGURES Aircraft shipments in the third quarter of 2017 continued an industry pattern described as "mixed, with some bright spots that continue trending upward, particularly in the rotorcraft market," said the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. Rotorcraft shipments increased by 7.7 percent year-to-date, and general aviation airplane shipments increased 1.7 percent, GAMA said in its newly published "2017 Third Quarter Aircraft Shipment and Billings" announcement. The $2.7 billion in rotorcraft billings represented an increase of 8.8 percent, in contrast to airplane billings, which ticked down 2.8 percent, to $13.2 billion from 2016. Business jet shipments rose 1.4 percent, with 434 units shipped. Turboprop shipments declined 2.1 percent, from 382 to 374 airplanes. GAMA President Pete Bunce framed his optimism for the future in the context of global initiatives to make aircraft manufacturing more nimble. "We've been very focused on streamlining certification and validation processes around the world, which will help our member companies continue bringing new and safer products to the market and hopefully spur growth in future quarters," he said. The continued momentum in the rotorcraft segment registered most significantly with piston- helicopter shipments that increased from 168 to 190 units, a 13.1-percent rise, in the first nine months of 2017 compared to last year, GAMA said. Turbine helicopter shipments increased by 5.6 percent to 471 units, up from 446. Airbus Helicopters shipped the most rotorcraft overall, its 242 units representing a wide range of models. A manufacturing standout for its piston-helicopter shipments was Robinson Helicopter of Torrance, California, which shipped 220 units in the first three quarters. Of those, 163 were piston R22 and R44 models, with 57 turbine-powered R66s also shipping. Robinson's total billings came to approximately $117 million, according to the figures released. Noteworthy in the four-percent increase in piston airplane shipments, from 696 to 724 units, were several individual company results. Italian airplane manufacturer Tecnam shipped 132 airplanes for $31.5 million in billings across the first three quarters of the year, with light-sport models and the twin-engine P2006T accounting for more than half of the total. Textron Aviation's Beechcraft Corp. shipped 13 Baron G58 twins, and nine G36 Bonanza single- engine airplanes, along with 55 turboprops in the King Air line. Cessna Aircraft Co. shipped 140 piston airplanes (of 317 total airplanes shipped) including 75 CE- 172S Skyhawk SP airplanes, or 53.5 percent of the piston products shipped. Cessna also shipped 25 CE-182T Skylanes, 28 CE-T206H Turbo Stationairs; and 12 CE-240 TTx singles. In an upbeat announcement, Piper Aircraft predicted continued sales expansion, especially of primary trainers. The company noted that 42 third-quarter aircraft deliveries-worth $48.6 million- contributed to a total of 99 units for the year to date, of which 68 were piston airplanes. They included 45 PA-28-181 Archer IIIs, and 12 PA-44-180 Seminole twins. Piper also shipped 23 of its PA-46-600TP M600 and eight PA-46-500TP M500 turboprop singles, for total billings of $124.1 million. Archers are leading the company's sales expansion, Piper said, with 55-percent more units delivered than in 2016. "In Q3, our continued investments across all of our products as well as our commitment to a made to order business model has helped drive another quarter of strong growth and sales expansion and has also resulted in the lowest dealer inventory levels that we have seen in 5 years," said Piper President Simon Caldecott. "As we look forward to the last quarter of the year, deliveries of our value leading products are expected to continue to increase with deliveries of our robust primary aircraft trainers expected to reach their highest level in 14 years." https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2017/november/14/helicopters-highlight-latest- manufacturing-figures Back to Top An unidentified aircraft over Oregon had the US air force scrambling to identify what it was THE US Air Force admits it. Something strange flew through US skies, startling flyers and spurring the launch of jets. What is that? An unidentified fast aircraft, which air traffic controllers were finding hard to track, was seen flying among the flight lanes of commercial aircraft in Oregon last month. THIS should not have happened. On October 25, an unidentified aircraft was seen flying - in broad daylight - among the airliners in one of the United States' heavily trafficked air corridors in the skies above Oregon. It had no submitted flight plan. It had no identification transponder active. Nor was it transmitting collision avoidance signals. Air traffic control stations were reportedly having difficulty following it on radar. Coming after the events of 9/11, such an unidentified aircraft is not just a matter for UFO cranks and conspiracy theorists. It represents a potentially serious breach of national security. Or does it? The War Zone blog of automotive news service The Drive began digging for an answer after one of its reporters heard scuttlebut about the incident from aviation industry associates. At first it sounded like a typical example of an aircraft suffering communications failure. But then came news, via Reddit, that US air force F-15C interceptor fighters had been launched in response to the sightings. Two F-15 jet fighters in flight over Crater Lake, Oregon. Despite their speed and radar, they were reportedly unable to locate the mystery aircraft. Picture: USAF "Strange! My theory is they were running drugs to Canada. No news yet, not that I could find," a user claiming to have been a pilot in the air at the time posted user 'Duprass'. He described how airliners had been asked to help track an unknown white-coloured aircraft visually for up to 30 minutes as air traffic control radar was having difficulty getting a fix. While it was in sight of various airliner crews, it was apparently never close enough for its type to be identified. "The last aeroplane to see it had to descend into Portland and lost sight of it. The fighters were scrambled out of PDX but flew around for a while and did not find it. And that's that." War Zone contacted North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD), the 142nd Fighter Wing at Portland International Airport, and the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) to confirm the incident. NORAD quickly confirmed it had been asked by the FAA to help track an unidentified aircraft flying at heights regularly used by commercial aircraft (35,000 and 40,000ft). It said fighters had been scrambled from Portland to investigate - but failed to find anything. This is in itself odd. Airline and commercial aircraft aircrew were last month asked to help track an unidentified aircraft flying over Oregon. While little is known about the timing of the events (it is possible the fighters were simply activated too late), the F-15C Eagle interceptors have some of the most advanced combat search and tracking radars in the world. They're also extremely fast. So while the unidentified aircraft was reported to have been moving somewhat faster than the observing airliners, a F-15 should have been able to catch up easily. War Zone says the FAA has refused to add any detail to the story other than to confirm what had already been established. The 142nd Fighter Wing did not respond. So what was it? That remains speculation. Oregon is adjacent Nevada, the well-known home to the United States Air Force's secret aircraft testing facility at Groom Lake (otherwise dubbed Area 51). But flying a secret aircraft among commercial airliner streams in daylight is both dangerous and insecure - and not known to be a common practice. Was it Russian. Was it Chinese? It may have been a smuggling aircraft, its cashed-up owners giving it an added dimension of speed and stealth. But there is no evidence to suggest such an aircraft exists. Alien? If so, they're surprisingy incompetent at avoiding attention. http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/an-unidentified-aircraft-over-oregon-had-the-us-air- force-scrambling-to-identify-what-it-was/news-story/5ecfb67c73a05ad849cda3d7afdff835 Back to Top Countries move to adopt aircraft emissions standard at varying pace European regulators have set the wheels in motion to incorporate the new global aircraft CO2 emissions certification standard, adopted earlier this year by the ICAO Council, into EU law. Similar action is also being taken in Canada, the home of Bombardier. Meanwhile, the process of implementing the new standard on Boeing's turf appears to be underway, albeit at a slower pace. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) announced earlier this month that following a stakeholder consultation period, during which state and industry groups provided "generally positive" comments, it had submitted an 'Opinion' on the proposed measure to the European Commission. "The main objective of this Opinion is to reduce aviation's climate change and local air quality impact by introducing the new ICAO aeroplane CO2 standard and aircraft engine non-volatile particulate matter (PM) emissions standard into European Union (EU) legislation," says EASA. EASA's input will form "the technical basis to prepare the proposed new EU legislation" for adopting the standard. The measure, as proposed by ICAO, would apply to all new aircraft types certificated after 1 January 2020. All aircraft currently under production would be expected to comply after 2023, but only if they undergo modifications that require re-certification. All remaining in-production aircraft would have to comply by 2028. It is calculated using a metric system agreed in 2013 by ICAO's Committee on Environmental Protection (CAEP). The standard is based on an aircraft's performance during the cruise phase of flight, expressed in kilograms of fuel per kilometre of flight. This is then adjusted to account for the size of the fuselage. For each aircraft type, the proposed measure defines a maximum metric value (fuel burn per flight kilometre) that may not be exceeded. It would apply to all commercial jet aircraft, with the exception of very small business jets. For a global standard to be effective it needs to apply to all aircraft manufacturers, and this requires buy-in from the countries in which those manufacturers are based. The proposed measure was recommended in early 2016 by the CAEP and adopted in March of this year by the 36-state ICAO Council - which includes aircraft manufacturing nations Brazil, Canada, China, Japan, Russia and the U.S. Like Europe, Canada has also begun the regulatory process of adopting the new standard. A Transport Canada spokeswoman says: "The Notice of Proposed Amendment related to the new CO2 standard for airplanes has been drafted and is expected be published for stakeholder consultation in 2018. "The CO2 standard is expected to come into effect in Canada in time for the 2020 applicability date." However, a spokeswoman for the US FAA tells Runway Girl Network that initiating the regulatory process in the United States falls under the remit of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which "has not yet completed the work to publish a rulemaking action". "The EPA has the authority under the Clean Air Act to put into effect or promulgate the aircraft CO2 standard into 40 CFR Part 87. Once that is completed then the FAA can put into effect or promulgate the standard into 14 CFR Part 34," says the FAA spokeswoman. An EPA spokesperson confirms to Runway Girl Network that the agency "is developing a proposed CO2 emission standard for commercial aircraft" that is "consistent with the standard adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization". However, the spokesperson adds that "we do not have a timeline to share at this point". Representatives from aviation regulators in other aircraft-manufacturing nations could not immediately be reached for comment on the status of signing the proposed measure into their countries' laws. https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2017/11/15/countries-move-to-adopt-new-global-aircraft-co2- emissions-standard-at-varying-pace/ Back to Top BOOM SUPERSONIC JET SET TO FLY FROM LONDON TO NEW YORK IN THREE HOURS 15 MINUTES BY 2025 * Flights are set to cost £1,907 each way It may be possible to fly from London to New York in just three hours and 15 minutes by 2025, if plans by Boom Supersonic go ahead. The founder of the company, Blake Scholl, revealed the plans at a conference in Dubai, adding that the full-size boom aircraft is expected to travel at speeds of over 1,687mph, which is 100mph faster than Concorde. By the end of 2018, Boom expects to begin test flights for its 1,451mph aircraft, which is nicknamed Baby Boom. And they believe that the full-sized 55-seater aircraft could be up and running for commercial flights by 2025. Speaking at the Dubai Airshow this week, Scholl said: "Think about for a moment the families that are separated because of the long flights. Think about the trips not taken because when you add up the lost hours, the trip just doesn't feel worth it. "That's where we come in. We are a team of engineers and technologists, brought together for the sole purpose of making our world dramatically more accessible. You won't have to be on the Forbes' list to be able to fly, it will cost about the same as flying business class today. The ultimate goal is to make supersonic affordable for anyone who flies." However with prices set to start from £1,907 ($2,500) each way, this is still a lot more expensive than many existing flights between London and New York, which are becoming increasingly cheaper. Scholl believes flying in the plane, despite how fast it is, won't feel any different to passengers than a normal flight. He also says it'll be "significantly quieter" than Concorde. The plane will be split into two single-seat rows, allowing each passenger a window-view and access to the aisle. There will be no beds (in order to reduce the weight of the aircraft), and the seats will be standard first-class style. It will fly at the lower height of 60,000 feet to keep flight time down, and this will allow passengers to see the curvature of the earth. The jet was designed and created by a team of aviation experts who've worked at Nasa, SpaceX and Boeing, and they say they've learned from Concorde to combine advanced aerodynamics, efficient engine technology and new composite materials to create the jet that will travel 2.6 times faster than current aircrafts. Scholl says that there are about 500 possible routes for the aircraft, including a five-hour trip from San Francisco to Tokyo and a six-hour flight from Los Angeles to Sydney. Five unnamed airlines have already placed 76 orders for the passenger plane. The company also has support from Richard Branson, who has invested in the Baby Boom. "I have long been passionate about aerospace innovation and the development of high-speed commercial flights," Branson said earlier this year. "As an innovator in space, Virgin Galactic's decision to work with Boom was an easy one." http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/boom-supersonic-jet-fly-london-new-york- 3-hour-flight-time-launch-2025-planes-passenger-travel-a8056206.html Back to Top Bombardier plans hiring spree for business jet program: sources MONTREAL (Reuters) - Bombardier Inc expects to hire around 1,000 workers in Montreal over 18 months, as the Canadian plane and train maker ramps up production of its new Global 7000 business jet, three sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-bombardier-jobs/bombardier-plans-hiring-spree-for-business- jet-program-sources-idUSKBN1DF2ZJ Back to Top SpaceX is launching a secret mission called 'Zuma' On November 16th, between 8PM and 10PM Eastern, SpaceX is sending a secret payload called "Zuma" beyond our atmosphere. The aerospace corporation test-fired a Falcon 9 rocket on November 11th with the intention of launching the mission on the 15th. While the latest target date was moved by a day, and it could be delayed again, Zuma needs to launch by November 30th. Why it absolutely needs to be in position by the end of this month isn't clear, though -- not when we know next to nothing about the mission. According to Space, SpaceX is launching the payload, which was commissioned by defense technology company Northrop Grumman, for the US government. The publication tried to find out more about it, but a Northrop rep only had one thing to say: the payload is restricted. As Florida Today said, SpaceX is no stranger to launching top secret missions, including a spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office and another payload for the Department of Defense. However, no government agency has admitted to be the brains behind Zuma this time. We do know, though, that the secret payload is headed to Low Earth Orbit and is blasting off from Kennedy Space Center's historic 39A Launch Complex. SpaceX will also attempt yet another landing and will guide the rocket's first stage to a landing site at Cape Canaveral. While Zuma is shrouded in mystery, you can at least watch it leave Earth live via SpaceX's webcast. https://www.yahoo.com/tech/spacex-launching-secret-mission-called-120100684.html Back to Top NTSB Chairman to deliver Royal Aeronautical Society 14th annual Assad Kotaite Lecture at ICAO Back to Top 9th ESASI Regional Seminar We are pleased to announce that the 9th ESASI Regional Seminar will take place at the Baltic Beach Hotel in Jurmala / Riga, Latvia on 23-24 May 2018. In addition, the meeting of the military investigator group is scheduled to take place on the afternoon of 22 May 2018. The aim of the seminar is to keep the European air safety investigation community abreast of current developments and evolving best practice in aircraft safety investigation. As in previous years, the seminar will include presentations on case studies, the European environment, challenges of modern air safety investigations and human factors in aircraft accidents and incidents. ESASI welcomes proposals for presentations to be given during the 2018 seminar, which should last a maximum of 20 minutes with a further 5 minutes for questions. Presentations should address issues relating to air safety investigations; particular areas of interest are: * challenges faced by air safety investigators; * the environment, and culture, that air safety investigators operate in; * practical experience of applying investigation techniques; * new techniques to aid the investigation; * topical case studies. Details of proposed presentations should be sent to - presentations@esasi.eu. https://www.esasi.eu/ 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