Flight Safety Information December 7, 2017 - No. 243 In This Issue Incident: AeroUnion B762 at Los Angeles on Dec 5th 2017, streak of flame and heavy smoke from engine Accident: Spirit A321 near Fort Lauderdale on Dec 5th 2017, severe turbulence injures 4 Incident: Volaris A319 at New York on Dec 5th 2017, lined up runway 13R instead 13L Incident: Baltic B735 at Moscow on Dec 6th 2017, runway excursion upon vacating the runway AIC COMMENCES INVESTIGATION INTO AN AIRCRAFT LANDING ON A CLOSED RUNWAY AT GOROKA Helicopter crash revealed a culture of pilots pushing limits North Korean airspace could be declared no-fly zone after missile test comes within sight of Cathay Pacific Airlines Are Physically Restraining More Drunk and Unruly Passengers Embry-Riddle Becomes First University to Achieve Rigorous Safety Registration MEDICAL REFORM GOING GLOBAL...AUSTRALIA INTRODUCES NEW CLASS 2 MEDICAL Maltese woman lands aircraft in Antarctica China interested in buying Ukrainian aircraft Drones Conduct Efficient Aircraft Inspections Qantas pilots fume over move to fly Australian planes with Kiwi crew Air Force program may lead to enlisted combat pilots: 'We have some brilliant young minds' Boeing's new KC-46A tanker completes first flight NASA's James Webb telescope is one step closer to launch Position Available: Internal Evaluation Program Auditor I Upcoming USC Courses Incident: AeroUnion B762 at Los Angeles on Dec 5th 2017, streak of flame and heavy smoke from engine An AeroUnion Boeing 767-200 freighter, registration XA-LRC performing freight flight 6R-301 from Los Angeles,CA (USA) to Guadalajara (Mexico) with 2 crew, was in the initial climb out of Los Angeles' runway 25R when a crew about to taxi into position onto runway 25R called out "engine on fire", tower immediately followed advising AeroUnion of smoke coming from their right hand engine (CF6). The crew advised they would continue on runway heading, tower offered a right turn onto runways 06 or 07 on pilots discretion, the crew decided to stop climb at 1500 feet and return to runway 25L. The aircraft joined a right downwind for 25L, tower instructed one aircraft on final for 25L to go around and another one to immediately change to approach frequency again. The 767-200 landed safely on runway 25L about 8 minutes after departure, emergency equipment checked the aircraft and reported pretty heavy smoke from the engine, the crew advised they had already discharged one bottle of fire agent. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Los Angeles about 24 hours after landing back. The FAA reported the crew reported an overheating engine #2 and returned to Los Angeles. The FAA is looking into the cause, there is no indication of a bird strike. http://flightaware.com/live/flight/XALRC/history/20171205/2000Z/KLAX/MMGL XA-LRC in initial climb (Photo: Eddie Heisterkamp): http://avherald.com/h?article=4b1fd3e7&opt=0 Back to Top Accident: Spirit A321 near Fort Lauderdale on Dec 5th 2017, severe turbulence injures 4 A Spirit Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration N670NK performing flight NK-265 from Atlantic City,NJ to Fort Lauderdale,FL (USA), was descending towards Fort Lauderdale when the aircraft encountered severe turbulence causing injuries to three cabin crew and one passenger. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on runway 10R about 20 minutes later. The FAA reported 3 cabin crew and one passenger received minor injuries when the aircraft encountered severe turbulence during the approach to Fort Lauderdale. http://flightaware.com/live/flight/NKS265/history/20171206/0112Z/KACY/KFLL Metars: KFLL 060553Z 14006KT 10SM SCT028 24/21 A3011 RMK AO2 SLP195 T02390211 10250 20239 58011 $= KFLL 060453Z 13007KT 10SM SCT028 24/21 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP200 T02440211 402720222 $= KFLL 060353Z 13007KT 10SM FEW027 24/22 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP205 T02440217 $= KFLL 060253Z 12006KT 10SM SCT027 24/22 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP206 T02440217 51007 $= KFLL 060153Z 12008KT 10SM FEW026 25/21 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP205 T02500211 $= KFLL 060053Z 12010KT 10SM SCT026 24/21 A3013 RMK AO2 SLP202 T02440206 $= KFLL 052353Z 12009KT 10SM FEW030 24/21 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP199 T02440206 10272 20244 51003 $= http://avherald.com/h?article=4b1fb607&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Volaris A319 at New York on Dec 5th 2017, lined up runway 13R instead 13L on visual Canarsie approach A Volaris Airbus A319-100, registration XA-VOI performing flight Y4-880 from Mexico City (Mexico) to New York JFK,NY (USA), was on a visual approach to runway 13L requiring a 90 degrees turn on short final to line up with the runway, and was cleared to land runway 13L, when the crew aligned with the first runway in sight, runway 13R. Tower immediately intervened advising the crew they were lining up for runway 13R and instructed to turn left, the crew advised they were going around from about 300 feet MSL and turned left, tower instructed to go around and turn left. The aircraft climbed back to 2000 feet MSL, positioned for an approach to runway 22L and landed without further incident about 10 minutes after the go around. On runway 13R tower cleared a Shuttle America Embraer ERJ-170 on behalf of Delta Airlines registration N810MD performing flight DL-4231 from New York JFK,NY to Washington National,DC (USA) for takeoff from runway 13R, when another crew advised there was an aircraft on final to runway 13R, tower immediately cancelled the takeoff clearance. The crew rejected takeoff, taxied off the runway and returned to the holding point departing a few minutes later. http://flightaware.com/live/flight/VOI880/history/20171205/1319Z/MMMX/KJFK Metars: KJFK 052051Z 19023G26KT 10SM FEW024 SCT049 OVC060 14/13 A3003 RMK AO2 PK WND 18030/1957 SLP168 T01390128 56025= KJFK 051951Z 18024G31KT 10SM FEW024 SCT045 OVC065 14/13 A3004 RMK AO2 PK WND 19031/1950 SLP173 T01390128= KJFK 051851Z 17017KT 9SM FEW025 SCT045 BKN065 OVC200 14/13 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP179 T01390128= KJFK 051751Z 17015KT 9SM FEW025 BKN047 OVC080 13/12 A3010 RMK AO2 SLP193 60000 T01330122 10144 20111 56040= KJFK 051651Z 17018G24KT 10SM SCT027 BKN047 OVC160 14/12 A3014 RMK AO2 PK WND 14026/1620 SLP207 T01440122= KJFK 051551Z 15019G26KT 10SM FEW013 BKN028 OVC050 13/12 A3017 RMK AO2 PK WND 16027/1513 PRESFR SLP217 T01280117= KJFK 051451Z 14017G24KT 10SM SCT013 BKN025 OVC075 12/11 A3022 RMK AO2 RAB1353E45 SLP234 P0000 60000 T01220111 58021= http://avherald.com/h?article=4b1fab9b&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Baltic B735 at Moscow on Dec 6th 2017, runway excursion upon vacating the runway, next approach continued landing An Air Baltic Boeing 737-500, registration YL-BBE performing flight BT-428 from Riga (Latvia) to Moscow Sheremetyevo (Russia) with 52 people on board, landed safely on Sheremetyevo's runway 06L and rolled out without incident. Upon vacating the runway to the right onto taxiway 13, at about midpoint of the runway, the aircraft missed the taxiway entry, stopped with the nose gear on soft ground and was disabled clear of the right hand runway edge but still within the runway protected area. The crew reported they had missed the taxiway entry, ATC instructed they should try to continue taxi, the crew advised they were not able to taxi on own power anymore. Another aircraft on short final to runway 06L, an Aeroflot Boeing 737-800 registration VQ-BWE performing flight SU-1413 from Ekaterinburg to Moscow Sheremetyevo (Russia), had already been cleared to land, continued the landing and was able to stop short of taxiway 13. ATC subsequently instructed the aircraft to vacate via taxiway 14 further down the runway advising the next taxiway 13 was occupied. Runway 06L/24R was closed and is estimated to remain closed until evening, the airport switched to single runway operation using runway 06R only. The airport reported the aircraft skidded onto soft ground while turning off the runway, the nose gear went about 5 meters off the paved surface of the taxiway. Metars: UUEE 061330Z 11005MPS 1800 R06R/1800N SHSN SCT012CB M03/M03 Q1000 R06R/590320 NOSIG= UUEE 061300Z 13005MPS 1800 R06R/1900D SHSN SCT013CB M03/M03 Q1000 R06R/590320 NOSIG= UUEE 061230Z 12004MPS 1000 R06R/1200U SHSN SCT007CB M03/M04 Q1000 R06R/590230 NOSIG= UUEE 061200Z 13005MPS 1500 1400NE R06L/1500U R06R/1500U SN SCT010 M03/M04 Q1001 R06L/520236 R06R/550245 NOSIG= UUEE 061130Z 13004MPS 6000 -SN SCT012 M03/M04 Q1001 R06L/520236 R06R/550245 NOSIG= UUEE 061100Z 13004MPS 3500 -SN SCT010 M03/M04 Q1001 R06L/520236 R06R/550245 NOSIG= UUEE 061030Z 13004MPS 3700 -SN SCT013 M03/M04 Q1001 R06L/520236 R06R/550245 NOSIG= UUEE 061000Z 14004MPS 5000 -SHSN SCT012CB M03/M05 Q1002 R06R/550245 NOSIG= UUEE 060930Z 14005MPS 8000 -SHSN SCT019CB M03/M05 Q1002 R24R/410240 R24L/410251 NOSIG= UUEE 060900Z 16004MPS 9999 SCT018 M02/M06 Q1002 R24R/410240 R24L/410251 NOSIG http://avherald.com/h?article=4b1fa4f6&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top Helicopter crash revealed a culture of pilots pushing limits A fatal helicopter crash shows there is a culture of pilots pushing aircraft to their limits, the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) says. Crumpled helicopter on the snow One person, Jerome Box, died in this heli-skiing accident near Wanaka. Photo: ( Supplied / TAIC ) The crash in 2014 killed Auckland man Jerome Box and injured six others on Mount Alta and happened about 10km east of Lake Wanaka, when the aircraft was approaching a landing site. The commission said the plane was loaded about 30kg over the maximum permissible weight, and its centre of gravity was just forward of what was allowed. The commission said it was operating close to limit for hovering. There was a culture among some helicopter pilots in New Zealand of operating planes beyond the published limits, it said. "There was no mechanical reason for the accident. The engine was delivering high power and the helicopter was controllable. The pilot was experienced and had trained in mountain flying and heli- ski operations." The chopper was operated by a Queenstown based tourism company, The Helicopter Line. The crash happened when the Squirrel helicopter carrying a pilot, a ski guide and five skiers crashed while landing on a mountain ridge to drop off the skiers. After landing on the ridge, the helicopter slipped sideways and rolled about 300m down the mountainside. Other choppers run by the company rushed in to help the injured. The Civil Aviation Authority prosecuted The Helicopter Line over the crash. It pleaded guilty and will be sentenced in March. The Helicopter Line said it accepted TAIC's recommendations and had taken definitive action in response. It said there would be no further comment while related legal matters remain unresolved between itself and the Civil Aviation Authority. https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/345668/helicopter-crash-revealed-a-culture-of-pilots- pushing-limits Back to Top North Korean airspace could be declared no-fly zone after missile test comes within sight of Cathay Pacific passenger plane Aviation safety regulators looking at options to deal with rogue regime's rockets, which are encroaching on commercial flight routes Excluding aircraft from the area is one option open to aviation safety regulators as they ponder how to deal with the arbitrary firing of missiles that has encroached on busy commercial air routes between Asia and North America. Pilots on a plane operated by Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific Airways saw from a distance what were believed to be the remnants of a North Korean rocket fired last Wednesday. The airline disclosed the sighting on Monday in an internal note to staff. While no international flights currently use North Korean airspace, the area around it is full of activity. Any sanctions by the United Nations safety regulator, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), would likely bring into sharper focus the safety of aircraft operating nearby as well as commercial flights in and out of North Korea. "The ICAO could declare a no-fly zone," Alexandre de Juniac, director general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), said at its Geneva headquarters on Tuesday. "We are working with the ICAO on how we can protect these zones [for] flying. Cathay Pacific not changing routes despite crew's suspected sighting of North Korean missile test "The ICAO is trying to implement and ask North Korea to apply safety rules. If you look at the North Korean airspace, there are not too many aircraft overflying." An IATA spokesman said there was an obligation on North Korea to provide notice of any missile tests, which thus far had not been given. In the absence of such notice, it was up to airlines to carry out risk assessments to see how far from North Korea it would be safe to fly. Alexandre de Juniac, director general of the International Air Transport Association, said safety regulators could declare a no-fly zone. Photo: AFP "For sure" there was no risk to passengers and airlines, de Juniac said. Carriers decide on their own flight paths based on safety notices from local and international agencies. Cathay Pacific said on Monday that despite the missile sighting it would not change its routes. Airlines have not yet taken any action in light of the North Korean rocket launches. In 2015, when Russia escalated its military campaign against Islamist militants in Syria, it started firing rockets from the Caspian Sea, which prompted international aviation safety agencies to issue warnings. The alerts spurred airlines to eventually take action based on their own risk assessments. However, not all carriers steered clear of "at-risk" routes identified at the time. In Monday's message on an online staff communication platform, Cathay's general manager of operations, Mark Hoey, said: "Today the crew of CX893 reported: 'Be advised, we witnessed the DPRK missile blow up and fall apart near our current location. We advised ATC [air traffic control] and ops [operations] normal. Just letting you know.' Looking at the actual plots, CX096 might have been the closest, at a few hundred miles laterally." Other aircraft were also in the area at the time, according to radar information. Taiwanese carrier China Airlines' flight from Vancouver and an Eva Air flight from Seattle, both headed to Taipei, and Japan's All Nippon Airways' Frankfurt flight from Tokyo were all over the area where the rogue state's missile terminated. Some European airlines adjusted flight routes in response to Pyongyang's earlier missile tests this year. Lufthansa said it had changed course, without specifying details. Air France said it had widened its no-fly zone around North Korea. The stretch of airspace hugging Japan's east coast over the Pacific Ocean is a prime route used by hundreds of flights every day criss-crossing Asia and North America. Another important route directs planes over northern China and into Russia. http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2123151/north-korean-airspace-could-be- declared-no-fly-zone-after Back to Top Airlines Are Physically Restraining More Drunk and Unruly Passengers * Airline trade body says seriously bad behavior is on the rise * Statistics come as extreme incidents hurt airline reputations * Air rage is getting uglier. As the number of serious incidents involving drunk and violent travelers increases, airlines are being forced to physically restrain an increasing number of disorderly passengers, according to the International Air Transport Association. Statistics released Tuesday by the industry's main trade group show a 50 percent rise last year to 169 passengers who were forcibly confined for behavior ranging from verbal and physical abuse to life-threatening actions -- the most serious of which involved attempts to enter the cockpit. The annual tally by IATA of bad form comes as examples of extreme in-flight incidents grab headlines and flood social media. These have included the escort by fighter jets in May of an American Airlines plane to Honolulu after a passenger, who appeared to be intoxicated, attempted to breach the cockpit door. In some cases, the conflicts erupting in airplanes have hurt carriers' own reputations, such as when security personnel dragged a passenger from a United Airlines plane because he refused to relinquish his seat. Chief Executive Officer Oscar Munoz apologized for how the company handled the episode. The number of incidents involving disorderly passengers has risen in recent years, with IATA saying in the past that airlines are increasingly having to navigate local laws to bring prosecutions for offenses and crews have to be trained on how to handle violence. While the total number of reported incidents last year actually fell by almost 10 percent to 9,837, the portion that were deemed a higher risk increased from 2015. Here's what unruliness looked like last year: * An incident was reported every 1,434 flights * 12 percent included physical assault, up from 11 percent a year earlier * About a third of all incidents, involving 3,288 passengers, were related to intoxication, including 444 registered as cases that escalated physically * IATA said the more than half of safety rules-related offenses involved passengers smoking on board, either in the main cabin, or more likely, in the bathrooms. The figures accounts for 190 of the world's airlines so "are likely to significantly underestimate the extent of the problem," IATA's assistant director for external affairs Tim Colehan said in Geneva. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-05/drinking-punching-shouting-travelers-iata- s-unruly-list Back to Top Embry-Riddle Becomes First University to Achieve Rigorous Safety Registration Instrumental to Embry-Riddle's achievement of Stage II IS-BAO registration were (L-R): Jack Haun, director of fleet maintenance; Lyle Sunderland, chief maintenance inspector; Alan Stolzer, dean of the College of Aviation; Jeremy Mammen, director of aviation safety; Dan McCune, associate vice president for safety/risk management; Giri Pratomo, graduate assistant in the Aviation Safety Department; Ivan Grau, chief flight instructor and Ken Byrnes, chair of the Daytona Beach Flight Department. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has done something no other university flight operation has done: passing the second stage of a famously intense international safety registration process. Already known for its exemplary safety record, Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach, Fla., flight operation, including a fleet of 69 aircraft, achieved Stage II International Standard Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) registration on Nov. 14. Awarded by the International Aviation Business Council of Montréal, Canada, IS-BAO registration means Embry-Riddle has put in place yet another layer of accountability for its flight operation - above and beyond U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements. "Safety remains our top priority, and we've set a very high bar for ourselves," said Ken Byrnes, chair of Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach Flight Department and an associate professor of aeronautical science. "Although our safety culture is exceptional, we're always looking for ways to keep improving. This new registration requirement will make us even stronger." The IS-BAO audit was "extremely robust," evaluating the flight operation's entire safety management system, explained Jeremy Mammen, Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach-based director of aviation safety, who led the university's large team effort to achieve Stage II registration. "Of course, Embry-Riddle complies with all FAA requirements, and we maintain our FAA airworthy registration and conduct annual audits, but there is currently no objective way to evaluate a flight operation's safety management system in the United States," Mammen explained. "We went with IS-BAO because they come into your organization and review significant amounts of data as well as policies and procedures to pinpoint exactly how you can achieve the highest possible standards." The IS-BAO review process looked at Embry-Riddle's safety reporting, safety management system, emergency response plan, safety reporting culture, fleet maintenance, safety protocol checklists and many other aspects of safety, Mammen said. More than 700 U.S. and international operators are IS-BAO certified, but Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach flight operation is believed to be the only university with Stage II registration, he added. Over the past 15 years, Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach flight operation has seen more than 1 million flight hours and nearly 1.8 million aircraft takeoffs and landings. With 22,000 pilot certificates and ratings issued during that time, the department's accident rate stands at 0.0008% with no injuries. "Our graduates leave Embry-Riddle with a profound respect for the importance of aviation safety," Byrnes said. The department's fleet currently includes 47 Cessna 172/S aircraft; three Cessna 150s; eight Piper Arrow PA28R; 10 Diamond DA42; and one Decathlon. Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach Flight Department earned Stage I IS-BAO registration in May 2015. In May 2019, the university will set its sights on an even higher goal: Stage III. Mammen commended the entire Embry-Riddle team that worked to achieve Stage II registration, particularly graduate student Giri Pratomo. https://news.erau.edu/headlines/embry-riddle-becomes-first-university-to-achieve-rigorous-safety- registration/ Back to Top MEDICAL REFORM GOING GLOBAL AUSTRALIA INTRODUCES NEW CLASS 2 MEDICAL Nations across the world are moving forward to improve the medical qualification process for general aviation pilots. In what appears to be the "shot heard around the world," medical reform continues to expand across borders. Australia is the latest country to adopt new medical qualifications and allow GA pilots to visit a general practitioner, similar to the United States' BasicMed. A Cirrus SR20 GTS in flight. Photo by Chris Rose. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) announced that the "Basic Class 2" medical would apply to piston aircraft with up to five nonpaying passengers, during daytime visual flight rules. The medical will be valid for a maximum of five years for pilots under 40 years old and a maximum of two years for pilots over 40. As part of the new rules, pilots conducting flight training and aerial agriculture flights can hold a Class 2 medical, instead of operating under the same rules as commercial airliners with a Class 1 medical. NAFI members have instant recognition as true CFI professionals. Australia's Basic Class 2 medical comes just six months after BasicMed went live and already has nearly 25,000 U.S. pilots flying under the new program. After seeing such success in the United States, AOPA and AOPA Australia teamed up and sent a joint letter to CASA CEO Shane Carmody, urging the organization to undertake reforms similar to BasicMed to help reduce costs and streamline the medical process for GA pilots. But it's not just pilots on this side of the pond who have rejoiced in medical reform. Just last year, the United Kingdom took steps to review medical regulations, and, as a result, pilots in the country are now able to self-certify their fitness to fly. After a public consultation, 96 percent of respondents agreed to the proposal thus validating the regulations set forth by the Civil Aviation Authority. Luckily, the recent announcement from CASA paints a much brighter future for GA in Australia. For many pilots, burdensome medical requirements and red tape have contributed to a decline in the pilot population, and news of this reform is an exciting win for the GA community down under. Australia marks the latest country to engage in medical reform, but countries all around the world are taking steps to improve the medical process for GA pilots. AOPA continues to work with Canada and other countries, encouraging them to move forward with their own medical reform. https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2017/december/06/medical-reform-going-global Back to Top Maltese woman lands aircraft in Antarctica The aircraft was Maltese-registered Denise Grech, a Maltese airline pilot, has landed a Boeing B757 airliner on a blue ice runway in Novolazarevskaya, a Russian station in Antarctica. The station is used to ferry scientists from 11 countries throughout the Antarctic region known as the Dronning Maud Land. The aircraft, registered in Malta, is operated by JetMagic Ltd, a Sliema-based company which claims on its website to operate a fleet of aircraft for VIPs and heads of state. https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20171206/local/maltese-woman-lands-aircraft-in- antarctica.665034 Back to Top China interested in buying Ukrainian aircraft China expressed interest in cooperation on the purchase of Ukrainian aircraft. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine. "China is interested in cooperation on the purchase of airplanes and their joint production using materials and spare parts produced in China," the report said. Ukraine's Trade Representative Natalia Mykolska, Deputy Minister of Economic Development Yuriy Brovchenko, together with the Chinese delegation led by Vice Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Ma Kai visited the Antonov State Enterprise. "The Chinese side was impressed by the wide range of aircraft and the capabilities of their equipment for various special needs and declared its readiness to work closely with Ukraine in the field of aircraft construction," the ministry's press service informed. https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-economy/2359448-china-interested-in-buying-ukrainian- aircraft.html Back to Top Drones Conduct Efficient Aircraft Inspections As the rapid growth of drone use continues, the International Air Transportation Association (IATA) has been working on the regulation of the safe integration of drones into the global airspace. If regulated and operated correctly and safely, unmanned vehicle technologies can revolutionize future air transport, airport operations, cargo operations and ground handling, besides others. Drones present significant opportunities to improve efficiencies, reduce costs and increase speed within the aviation industry, said IATA cargo transformation head Celine Hourcade, citing aircraft inspections and bird strike avoidance as two concrete examples. Aircraft inspections, 80% of which are undertaken visually, take about six to ten hours at a cost of $10 000 for every hour the aircraft is not airborne, and require qualified personnel using cherry- pickers, elevators and other heavy equipment to find and log defects that "can be anywhere on the aircraft". The use of drones could accelerate the inspection process by 20 times, reducing the aircraft downtime and related costs. The UAS could also be used for clear flight solutions and bird control, wherein drones, realistically mimicking the appearance and weight of birds, and through the combination of silhouette and wing movement, effectively "chase off" birds, she explained. IATA identified three specific focus areas for initiating regulation in the global airspace - safety, air traffic management (ATM) and integrated operations. "All of these areas are related. We need to make sure operations are safe, appropriate regulation and infrastructure is in place and operations are integrated," IATA ATM infrastructure director Rob Eagles told media, according to engineeringnews.co.za. He emphasized the higher risk of aircraft accidents and incidents caused by the irresponsible use of an unmanned vehicle and the potential security threat posed by the unauthorized use of UAS for malicious purposes. Another concern was the unprofessional operation of recreational drones that could pose a threat simply because people were unaware of the risks to manned aircraft, he added. In line with prioritizing air safety, IATA has been actively running an education and awareness campaign, which includes educational and safety videos, as well as videos outlining the need for progressive regulations. IATA has also partnered with numerous industry players and continues to work closely with the International Civil Aviation Organization (Icao) in pursuit of greater awareness of the potential dangers of manning drones in close proximity to airports and the development of remote pilot training, licensing and medical requirements to ensure safety standards in nonsegregated airspace are not compromised. IATA has also developed a UAS toolkit guiding the development of appropriate - and enforceable - regulations in light of a lack of harmonized international standards and concepts of operations for unmanned systems. Along with new standards and regulations, new airspace areas need to be defined, in particular below 500 feet and above 60 000 feet (150m to 18300 m). https://i-hls.com/archives/80119 Back to Top Qantas pilots fume over move to fly Australian planes with Kiwi crew Qantas pilots are up in arms over the airline's plans to fly Australian aircraft with lower-paid pilots employed by a subsidiary in New Zealand. The airline will operate extra flights between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and Auckland from March next year when its code-share partner Emirates reduces its A380 trans-Tasman services. Qantas says New Zealand pilots won't fly any more than they do now under the plan. Qantas will convert seven Boeing 737 aircraft it has registered in New Zealand through its subsidiary Jetconnect to its Qantas' Australian operating licence. But pilots employed in New Zealand by Jetconnect will continue to fly those Australian registered planes - the first time Qantas' has regularly used foreign employed pilots on local aircraft. The Jetconnect arrangement has been a bone of contention between Qantas and the union. While Qantas says Jetconnect pilots will only fly the same trans-Tasman routes they do today, the move has riled from the airline's pilots union, which says Qantas is shifting to a model of using overseas crews working on lower pay and worse conditions than their Australian counterparts. "This is not dissimilar to the Ryanair or Norwegian [Airlines] models that deploy contract crew, on varying conditions in bases around their network," Australian and International Pilots Association president Captain Murray Butt wrote in a letter sent to members. "The Americans and Europeans have fought long and hard against this model and we must guard against its emergence in Qantas." By submitting your email you are agreeing to Fairfax Media's terms and conditions and privacy policy. AIPA declined to comment further while it continues to negotiate with Qantas over the issue. Jetconnect, which employs about 120 pilots and operates all Qantas' trans-Tasman flights, has long been a bone of contention between Qantas and APIA. The union dragged the airline to the Fair Work Commission in 2009 to argue Qantas was using "sham contracting" by employing pilots through Jetconnect and paying them about 30 per cent less than Qantas pilots. The ACTU became involved in the dispute, saying it was a test case that could set a precedent on companies setting up overseas shells to send work offshore. But the industrial umpire ruled in a two-to-one decisions that Qantas' use of Jetconnect was legitimate. Qantas spokesman Andrew McGinnes said Jetconnect pilots would only fly the same routes they do today, and would not fly domestically in Australia or on international routes other than across the Tasman. Changing the registration of its 737 to Qantas' Australian Air Operators Certificate would mean Qantas could run a more efficient schedule. "By registering these aircraft in Australia instead, we could make much better use of this down time by flying domestic sectors in between flying to New Zealand," Mr McGinnes said. "Ultimately, these changes increase the amount of flying Australian pilots can do because we have more Australian-registered aircraft." He said Qantas was continuing to liaise with Qantas and Jetconnect pilots about the changes. Keith Tonkin, general manager of industry consultancy Aviation Projects, said Qantas pilots would be concerned that the airline's move could open the door to greater use of off-shore labour in the future. "There's always a concern that one thing could lead to another - that more pilots from New Zealand are operating aircraft registered in Australia, and that means that pilots who live in Australia and who are trained in Australia may miss out on jobs," Mr Tonkin, who is a former Qantas pilot, said. Jetconnect pilots will have to undergo a short conversion course before they can fly the Australian- registered 737s. http://www.smh.com.au/business/aviation/qantas-pilots-fume-over-move-to-fly-australian-planes- with-kiwi-crew-20171206-p4yxh6.html Back to Top Air Force program may lead to enlisted combat pilots: 'We have some brilliant young minds' U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Brian West watches an Air Force F-35 Lightning II joist strike fighter aircraft approach for the first time July 14, 2011, at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo by Samuel King Jr.) The U.S. Air Force will soon start a pilot training program in Austin, Texas, that includes five enlisted "pioneers" with a group of 15 officers. A pilot shortage of roughly 2,000 airmen has forced military officials to think outside the box for ways to close the gap. Maj. Gen. Timothy Leahy, commander of the Second Air Force, says a pool of 250 enlisted airmen may yield answers. Air Force Times confirmed Wednesday the existence of a six-month program to launch next February after receiving a tip by former airman Steven Mayne. Pilots are currently required to be commissioned officers with a college degree. "Enlisted volunteers will be pioneers in innovating Air Force aviator recruitment, selection, and training processes by demonstrating the potential of non-college graduates to succeed in a rigorous pilot training environment," Maj. Gen. Timothy Leahy wrote in a Nov. 30 email. "This program will provide data to [Air Education and Training Command commander Lt. Gen. Steven Kwast] on the potential for enlisted members to train to fly modern combat aircraft." Volunteers who pass the training program will then take solo flights in T-6 trainers. Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Kaleth Wright told the newspaper that he was confident an era of enlisted combat pilots was only a matter of time. https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/dec/6/air-force-program-may-lead-to-enlisted- combat-pilo/ Back to Top Boeing's new KC-46A tanker completes first flight The first KC-46 tanker for the U.S. Air Force takes off from Paine Field in Everett, Wash., on its maiden flight Tuesday. Photo by Marian Lockhart/Boeing Dec. 6 (UPI) -- The first Boeing KC-46A tanker plane, expected to be delivered to the U.S. Air Force next year, completed its first flight, the company has announced. The three-and-a-half-hour flight on Tuesday was called a success by Boeing and Air Force officials. "Today's flight is another milestone for the Air Force/Boeing team and helps move us closer to delivering operational aircraft to the warfighter," Col. John Newberry, U.S. Air Force KC-46 System program manager, said in a press release. Test pilots took the tanker to 39,000 feet and performed operational checks on its systems before landing more than three hours later. The aircraft tested Tuesday is the seventh built as part of the KC-46 program, with the previous six being used for testing and certification. The plane, a modification of Boeing's 767 passenger plane, carries fuel and will be used to refuel fighter jets and other aircraft in mid-air. The company has a contract for the first 34, a $44.5 billion project, of what are anticipated to be 179 planes for the U.S. military. Boeing announced Tuesday that it will miss its deadline to deliver the first plane to the U.S. Air Force by Dec. 31. The contract calls for 18 KC-46A planes to be delivered by October 2018, a deadline 14 months later than originally planned. The most serious of three recent flaws seen in the plane is multiple incidents of its retractable boom scraping the aircraft receiving fuel during aerial refueling, Bloomberg News reported on Sunday. https://www.upi.com/https:/www.upi.com/Defense-News/2017/12/06/Boeings-new-KC-46A- tanker-completes-first-flight/3291512577688/ Back to Top NASA's James Webb telescope is one step closer to launch NASA's $8.8 billion James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has just left the thermal vacuum chamber where it's spent more than three months being put through its paces in a series of hardcore cryogenic tests. Scientists wanted to make sure the telescope's instruments and optical element can function properly in the cold, airless conditions of space, and while NASA studies the results, engineers are busy putting JWST back together again, in preparation for its launch in spring 2019. JWST will take to the skies from a European spaceport in French Guiana and journey to the sun- Earth Lagrange point 2, which is situated about 930,000 miles from Earth. Like its predecessor the Hubble Space Telescope, JWST will operate in infrared waves to peer into the deepest, oldest parts of the universe. The launch date has already been pushed back twice due to integration issues, but JWST is the most powerful telescope of its kind with the potential to unlock the secrets of life as we know it. It's no surprise NASA is taking the time to make sure everything is ready. https://www.yahoo.com/tech/nasa-apos-james-webb-telescope-222200584.html Back to Top Position Available: Internal Evaluation Program Auditor I Title: Internal Evaluation Program Auditor I Job Code: 6921 Department: Safety Reports To: Manager of Internal Evaluations What does an Internal Evaluation Program Auditor do for Allegiant? Perform evaluations in accordance with department schedule and special evaluations as directed by the Mgr. of Internal Evaluations. What are some of the daily duties of an Internal Evaluation Program Auditor? * Performs scheduled and special evaluations, including identifying and defining issues, reviewing and analyzing evidence, and documenting findings and concerns * Collect objective evidence necessary to substantiate findings or concerns * Prepares evaluation reports * Recommends solutions to findings or concerns * Monitors the development and implementation of corrective action plans * Maintains and updates internal evaluation files * Verifies the implementation of solutions and corrective action plans What are the minimum requirements to be an Internal Evaluation Program Auditor? * Pilot certificate, A & P certificate, or Dispatch certificate or 1 year of auditing experience * Work experience in 14 CFR Part 121 air carrier operations: stations, training, quality control, maintenance, operations, safety or a combination thereof preferred * Working knowledge of SMS, DOD principles and the FAA SAS DCTs required * Previous experience maintaining and enhancing corporate safety standards and safe operation practices preferred * Proficient verbal, written, and presentation communication skills * Bachelor's degree in related field preferred * Certified Quality Auditor preferred What other skills, knowledge, and qualifications are needed to be an Internal Evaluation Program Auditor? * Proficient verbal, written, and presentation communication skills * Must pass a background check and pre-employment drug screen * Must have authorization to work in the U.S. as defined in the Immigrations Act of 1986 What are the physical requirements of an Internal Evaluation Program Auditor? * Office environment APPLY HERE Allegiant Travel Company is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, marital status, military service status, protected veterans, union/non-union activity, citizenship status, or other characteristic protected by state or federal law or local ordinance. EEO/AA/Minority/Female/Veteran/Disability Allegiant supports a healthy, non-smoking work environment. Back to Top This ad will run 11/6, 11/8, 11/10, 11/13, 11/15, and 11/17 Upcoming USC Courses Safety Management for Aviation Maintenance Maintenance Safety Principles and Guidelines for Developing Effective Maintenance Safety Programs January 8-12, 2018 4.5 Days Safety Program Administration Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FEMA) Process Prediction, Communication, and Influencing Management Safety Program Organization Safety Climates/Management Styles Reporting Systems Accident Response Planning Tuition: $2500 Data for Aviation Safety Management Creating a Data-Based Safety Case for All Aviation Operations January 8-12, 2018 4.5 Days Evolution of Flight Data Analysis Flight Data Recorders, types, capabilities, and history International Regulatory Standards Relationship to SMS FOQA, ASAP, and ASRS Video and Audio Analysis Commercial Safety Data Services Animation of Flight Data ADS-B Practical Exercise Tuition: $2500 Threat and Error Management Integrating Threat and Error Management into a Safety Management System January 17-19, 2018 2.5 Days Introduction to Threats and Errors Performance and Loss of Situation Awareness Threat Recognition and Error Avoidance Building Barriers to Error Distraction and Interruption Management SOPs role in Threat and Error Management Tuition: $1250 For further details, please visit our website or use the contact information below. Email: aviation@usc.edu Telephone: +1 (310) 342-1345 Curt Lewis