Flight Safety Information December 12, 2017 - No. 246 In This Issue Incident: PAL B773 at Los Angeles on Dec 11th 2017, could not retract gear Incident: KLM B789 at Amsterdam on Dec 10th 2017, engine stall Incident: JAC DH8D near Kagoshima on Dec 10th 2017, smoke in cockpit and cabin Incident: British Airways B773 near Baku on Dec 11th 2017, smoke in cabin EVAS - Cockpit Smoke Protection Incident: Egypt A306 at Moscow on Dec 9th 2017, go around following GPWS warning Lawsuits claim negligence in medical helicopter crash that killed four in NC. FAA: Holiday Laser Lights a Danger to Pilots OMAN AIR AWARDED ISAGO ACCREDITATION BY IATA Crew lapse allowed A319 to enter runaway descent U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $1 Million to Establish New Aviation and Engineering Research Center Australia Liberalizing Medical Certification Locally-produced electric airplane takes flight Flamingo Air's School Offers Aircraft Electrician Certificate Griffith Aviation partners with Qantas for Future Pilot Program A return of flying sergeants? Air Force says no despite too few pilots Bah Humbug To Double Time: AA Pilots Resist Christmas Flying Airbus may cut A380 production to six planes a year - sources Bow Tie Method of Safety Risk Management - Course Upcoming USC Courses Incident: PAL B773 at Los Angeles on Dec 11th 2017, could not retract gear A PAL Philippine Airlines Boeing 777-300, registration RP-C7778 performing flight PR-103 (sched dep Dec 10th, act dep Dec 11th) from Los Angeles,CA (USA) to Manila (Philippines), was climbing out of Los Angeles when the crew requested to stop the climb at 8000 feet reporting they were unable to retract the landing gear. The aircraft dumped fuel and returned to Los Angeles for a safe landing about 80 minutes after departure. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Los Angeles about 14 hours after landing back. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/PAL103/history/20171211/0620Z/KLAX/RPLL http://avherald.com/h?article=4b233e94&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: KLM B789 at Amsterdam on Dec 10th 2017, engine stall A KLM Boeing 787-900, registration PH-BHC performing flight KL-891 from Amsterdam (Netherlands) to Chengdu (China), was in the initial climb out of Amsterdam's runway 36L when the crew declared PAN PAN PAN, PAN PAN PAN reporting an engine (Genx) failure right after takeoff. The aircraft levelled off at FL060, the crew reported they had lost thrust on their left hand engine, they wanted to dump fuel. The crew subsequently reported the engine had stalled, it was still running at idle thrust. The aircraft climbed to FL070, was vectored over the North Sea, dumped fuel and returned to Amsterdam for a safe landing on runway 27 about 35 minutes after departure. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Amsterdam 24 hours after landing back. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b233b75&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: JAC DH8D near Kagoshima on Dec 10th 2017, smoke in cockpit and cabin A JAC Japan Air Commuter de Havilland Dash 8-400, registration JA841C performing flight 3X-3768 from Nakatane to Kagoshima (Japan) with 26 passengers and 4 crew, was on approach to Kagoshima when the crew reported smoke in cockpit and cabin. The aircraft continued for a safe landing in Kagoshima and stopped on the runway, the passengers disembarked onto the runway. The runway was closed for about 80 minutes. Passengers reported there was smoke in the cabin, the smoke detectors triggered and sounded. The airline reported an examination showed the "smoke" was water vapour. The cause is being investigated. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b2339b9&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: British Airways B773 near Baku on Dec 11th 2017, smoke in cabin A British Airways Boeing 777-300, registration G-STBC performing flight BA-198 from Mumbai (India) to London Heathrow,EN (UK) with 135 passengers and 17 crew, was enroute at FL360 about 100nm southsouthwest of Baku (Azerbaijan) when the crew reported smoke in the cabin and diverted to Baku for a safe landing on runway 35 about 25 minutes later. The airline reported the aircraft diverted to Baku due to a suspected technical problem, engineers in Baku are examining the aircraft. Passengers reported they are now stuck in Baku due to a technical fault, there had been smoke in the first class cabin. The passengers later disembarked and were taken to the transit zone of the airport. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b2336e4&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top Incident: Egypt A306 at Moscow on Dec 9th 2017, go around following GPWS warning An Egypt Air Airbus A300-600 freighter, registration SU-GAS performing flight MSX-525 from Cairo (Egypt) to Moscow Domodedovo (Russia), was on approach to Domodedovo's runway 14R about 2nm before touchdown when the crew initiated a go around from below 434 meters MSL, climbed back to 1100 meters, positioned for another approach and landed safely about 12 minutes after the go around. Rosviatsia reported the crew received a warning of collision with the ground while on approach to runway 14R about 4km out and went around. Domodedovo Airport is located at 179 meters MSL. Following a 3 degrees glideslope 4000 meters before the runway threshold the aircraft thus is supposed to be at 403 meters. ADS-B data show the aircraft at 449 meters (1475 feet) MSL at 142 knots over ground at 13:22:13Z descending at 700 fpm, reaches a minimum of 388 meters (1275 feet MSL) at 13:22:33Z, at 13:23:13Z the aircraft is at 602 meters (1975 feet) at 182 knots over ground maintaining altitude. The ADS-B data show a significant map shift putting the aircraft about 3000 meters abeam of the runway and thus can not be used to determine/map the position of the aircraft. Metars: UUDD 091430Z 19002MPS 2900 BR OVC003 00/M01 Q1012 R88/520295 TEMPO 1000 BR UUDD 091400Z 18003MPS 3400 BR OVC003 00/M01 Q1012 R88/520295 TEMPO 1000 BR UUDD 091330Z 18002MPS 3700 BR OVC003 00/M01 Q1012 R88/520295 TEMPO 1000 BR UUDD 091300Z 19002MPS 3900 BR OVC004 00/M01 Q1011 R88/520295 TEMPO 1000 BR UUDD 091230Z 19002MPS 170V230 4000 BR OVC004 00/M01 Q1011 R88/520295 NOSIG UUDD 091200Z 19003MPS 4400 BR OVC004 00/M01 Q1011 R88/520295 NOSIG UUDD 091200Z 19003MPS 4400 BR OVC004 00/M01 Q1011 R88/520295 NOSIG UUDD 091100Z 20003MPS 170V240 4000 BR OVC005 00/M01 Q1011 R88/520295 NOSIG http://avherald.com/h?article=4b2333a1&opt=0 Back to Top Lawsuits claim negligence in medical helicopter crash that killed four in NC This aerial view shows the wreckage of a Duke Health System medical helicopter, which crashed in Perquimans County in Eastern North Carolina in September. RALEIGH - Lawsuits filed Monday over a medical helicopter crash that killed four in North Carolina are alleging negligence and pointing to a warning issued by federal aviation safety officials. The two lawsuits refer to a Federal Aviation Administration bulletin last month that the Sept. 8 crash in North Carolina and an earlier one in South Dakota in January may be related to the same problem in the type of Airbus helicopter. The FAA last month alerted owners, operators and repair facilities of a possible problem with blockage in the engine oil drainage system. "A blocked drain line may, under certain circumstances, present a risk for an engine fire and/or inflight shutdown of the affected engine," the FAA's airworthiness information bulletin said. The lawsuits were filed in Durham County, the destination of the Duke Life Flight helicopter carrying patient Mary Bartlett from an Elizabeth City hospital. The crash 12 minutes after takeoff killed Bartlett, nurse Kris Harrison, another nurse and the pilot. The families of Barlett and Harrison sued the pilot, the helicopter's manufacturer and owner, and the maker of the chopper's engines. http://www.journalnow.com/news/state_region/lawsuits-claim-negligence-in-medical-helicopter- crash-that-killed-four/article_e5bd9940-8afc-58b6-89fe-c4de7ff3c303.html Back to Top FAA: Holiday Laser Lights a Danger to Pilots The federal agency says those setting up residential displays may not realize how far up the beams can reach. Pilots being distracted or temporarily blinded by residential laser-light displays in recent years has become an unfortunate part of the holiday season. "People may not realize that systems they set up to spread holiday cheer can also pose a potential hazard to pilots flying overhead," the Federal Aviation Administration said in an appeal for precautionary steps posted on its website. Among the more serious of such incidents, a British Airways pilot reportedlyhad retina damage from a laser that shone into his cockpit as the plane was landing at London's Heathrow Airport two years ago. Lasers, regardless of the source, should not be aimed at aircraft in a way that threatens the safety of a flight by distracting or blinding its pilots, according to the FAA, the recipient of pilot complaints about the laser-light systems "each holiday season for the past several years." The federal agency advises those installing holiday laser-light systems to make sure the lights are hitting their house and not shining up into the sky. "It may not look like the lights go much farther than your house, but the extremely concentrated beams of laser lights actually reach much further than most people think," the agency said. Once aware of a laser-light display affecting pilots, the FAA asks the owner to adjust or turn them off. If a display continues to be a problem for pilots, a repeat offender could face an FAA civil penalty, the aviation agency said. http://www.thedrive.com/sheetmetal/16865/faa-holiday-laser-lights-a-danger-to-pilots Back to Top OMAN AIR AWARDED ISAGO ACCREDITATION BY IATA Muscat - Oman Air, the national carrier of the sultanate, has been awarded the IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO) registration by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) at Muscat International Airport and Salalah Airport. Being the first certified company in Oman, the award confirms the safety of Oman Air ground operations making it globally-recognised as one of the safest airlines, Oman Air said in a press release. ISAGO is an internationally-recognised audit programme for ground-handling companies. The programme uses internationally recognised ground operational standards aimed at reducing risk and cost. This provides ground handlers with a uniformed set of standards from all airports irrespective of the airline they are handling. Oman Air was awarded ISAGO registration following a comprehensive audit that was carried out by IATA-approved auditors from April 24 until May 1. During the audit, the headquarters and stations of Muscat International Airport and Salalah Airport were assessed on over 300 ground operations standards and recommended practices. The areas covered by the audit were organisation and management, load control, passenger and baggage handling and aircraft handling and loading. Eng Abdulaziz Saud al Raisi, acting CEO of Oman Air, said: "We are very pleased to have been awarded the ISAGO registration by IATA and it is especially rewarding to know that we are the first company in Oman to have achieved this important accolade. We always strive to follow the best practice and this registration demonstrates that our committed ground handling team is achieving this across the board. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the team and thank them for their hard work." ISAGO offers a vast range of advantages to ground handlers, including safer ground operations, fewer accidents and injuries, elimination of redundant audits, reduced costs, less damage and fewer audits. The months of preparation culminating in the ISAGO registration reflects the company's commitment to the continuous improvement in safety standards whilst demonstrating its ability to operate with globally-recognised industry best practices. http://www.muscatdaily.com/Archive/Business/Oman-Air-awarded-ISAGO-accreditation-by-IATA- 55ml#ixzz51250ux00 Back to Top Crew lapse allowed A319 to enter runaway descent Investigators have found that an EasyJet Switzerland crew inadvertently allowed an Airbus A319 to descend at excessive speed, before a sudden sidestick input threw several cabin crew to the floor. One cabin crew member sustained a serious injury during the 20 July 2014 incident. The A319, bound for Basel, had been cleared to descend to 24,000ft and had been operating in 'open descent' mode, which idles the engines and uses pitch to prioritise a target airspeed - in this case M0.76. Swiss investigation authority SUST says the aircraft accelerated to 315kt and was further cleared to descend to 18,000ft. While the descent mode was switched to 'vertical speed', with a setting of 2,500ft/min, the target speed remained at M0.76. As the aircraft descended the engine thrust increased in order to achieve this target. The airspeed reached 345kt, close to the maximum operating speed of 350kt, as the A319 approached clouds at around 20,000ft. SUST says the captain had been "pre-occupied" by the presence of the cloud formation, and the first officer - concerned about the possibility of exceeding speed limits in turbulence - called for a speed check. Although the captain reduced the target speed to M0.54, the aircraft momentarily reached 349kt. The captain disengaged the autopilot, says the inquiry, and "instinctively and abruptly" pulled on the sidestick. The overspeed warning sounded and the A319's pitch transitioned from 2.5° nose-down to 2° nose- up, subjecting the aircraft to a force of 2.33g. While the passengers were unaffected, three of the four cabin crew were thrown to the floor during this manoeuvre, one of whom suffered a serious ankle injury. The captain proceeded to enter several changes to the target speed before it was fixed at 275kt and the aircraft continued its descent normally. SUST says the A319 (HB-JZQ) was undamaged. Investigators could not identify any "extraordinary factors" which might have increased the pilots' workload during the descent. The inquiry cites inappropriate management of the descent mode, and has attributed the late detection of the proximity to maximum operating limits to a "lack of diligence" in visually monitoring crucial flight parameters. www.flightglobal.com Back to Top U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $1 Million to Establish New Aviation and Engineering Research Center in Florida A new project at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's Daytona Beach, Fla., campus, funded by a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce through its Economic Development Administration (EDA), is expected to create 387 new jobs and spur $1.6 million in private investment. On Dec. 11, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that a $1 million award to Embry- Riddle will be used to establish a new aviation and engineering research center in Florida. Specifically, the grant will "help build the Applied Aviation and Engineering Research Hangar in Volusia County," the U.S. Department of Commerce reported in an official news release. The new facility will serve as the new home for Embry-Riddle's Eagle Flight Research Center, a hub for engineering research and development. "Embry-Riddle has a 90-year legacy of innovation, and our research is shaping the future of human mobility," said University President Dr. P. Barry Butler. "We are pleased and honored to receive this research award to advance innovation, economic development and job growth in Florida." Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross said: "This project is the product of local leader's efforts to spur economic opportunities in Volusia County. "The completion of this project will help strengthen the region's aeronautical sector, making the community a potential destination for both domestic and foreign investment." The Commerce Department news release continued: "The Eagle Flight Research Center will help to foster innovation in the state's aeronautical cluster and increase its attractiveness to the private sector. This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council. EDA funds the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support capital investment and create jobs." Established in 1998, the Eagle Flight Research Center continues to guide aviation technology into the future. "Our continuing research will encompass aviation innovation projects such as alternative propulsion systems, electric and hybrid-electric aircraft, and electric vertical takeoff and landing, or eVTOL aircraft, as well as new fuels," said Center Director Richard "Pat" Anderson. https://news.erau.edu/headlines/us-department-of-commerce-invests-1-million-to-establish-new- aviation-and-engineering/ Back to Top Australia Liberalizing Medical Certification Following a path similar to the FAA's BasicMed, Australian pilots without paying passengers will now have the option of a Basic Class 2 medical, which can be issued by a general practitioner. "In the interests of public safety, it is important that pilots meet relevant medical standards, but the system must not make unnecessary demands and should meet the needs of the aviation community," says Shane Carmody, CEO and Director of Aviation Safety for the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Unlike the FAA and BasicMed, CASA didn't create their own checklist for doctors. Australian doctors will certify pilots for a Basic Class 2 medical under the existing Austroads commercial vehicle driver standards. The Basic Class 2 will be valid for five years up to age 40, and two years above age 40. Pilots will be limited to day VFR conditions, in piston airplanes, with up to five non-fare paying passengers. Like the FAA, CASA does not consider a student to be a passenger, so flight instructing is permitted with a Basic Class 2. Carmody hints at more medical certification improvements in Australia's future, "CASA will now continue to review the aviation medical system to identify possible improvements in areas such as using medical data more effectively, further streamlining processes, further reducing CASA involvement in medicals and harmonizing with global best practices. It is CASA's role to maintain appropriate aviation safety standards but the requirements must not unnecessarily burden Australian aviation and hinder development and growth." https://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Australia-Liberalizing-Medical-Certification-230036- 1.html Back to Top Locally-produced electric airplane takes flight Alpha Electro has been delivered to a customer in West Vancouver for flight training.A single charge can allow a pilot to practice takeoffs and landings for an hour, with half-an-hour of reserve energy. An electric airplane manufactured in Whitecourt has been cleared for take-off at a flight school in Vancouver. Pipistrel Aircraft Canada Inc. recently delivered its first fully electric production aircraft registered in the advanced ultra-light category to a customer in West Vancouver. The Alpha Electro model is designed for flight school training. Operating out of the Pitt Meadows Airport, it will be used to make zero emission flights to and from several airports in the Vancouver and the lower mainland area. Based at the Whitecourt Airport, Pipistrel worked on developing the two-seater Alpha Electro for the past two years and has been pioneering electric flight for the last decade. Jonas Boll, Pipistrel Aircraft Canada Inc. dealer and distributor, said two to three of the planes are produced each week, with factory production booked up for six months. Powered by a 60 kilowatt (80 horsepower) motor that's almost silent when running at full takeoff power, the aircraft can barely be heard from bystanders on the ground during all phases of flight, Boll said. "The Alpha Electro is ideal for the training environment where noisy airplanes would normally circle around a runway while repeatedly practicing takeoff and landings," he explained. "The Alpha Electro is virtually silent, (and) I'm sure many residents near an airport will appreciate the reduction in noise pollution this aircraft provides." Its batteries can be recharged in about 45 minutes, and a single charge can allow a pilot to practice takeoffs and landings for an hour, with half-an-hour of reserve energy. If the pilot encounters problems, the Alpha Electro is equipped with a rocket-propelled parachute. The new aircraft is designed around Pipistrel's electric self-launch glider, the Taurus Electro, which has been in serial production since 2007. Because many countries have no provisions in their aviation regulations which allow for electric propulsion, it can be challenging as regulators are slowly catching up with the advanced technology, Boll pointed out. But he said Pipistrel is in the final phase of having the Alpha Electro approved in the Canadian advanced ultra-light category. The Alpha Trainer can be flown by anyone in Canada who holds an ultra-light pilot permit, which requires a minimum of 20 hours of education in ultra-light airplane pilot ground school and a minimum of 10 hours total flight time. http://www.whitecourtstar.com/2017/12/11/locally-produced-electric-airplane-takes-flight Back to Top Flamingo Air's School Offers Aircraft Electrician Certificate Flamingo Air's Airline Ground Schools will now offer an aircraft electrician certificate. The course offered by the Cincinnati-based school is accredited by American Standards Training and Materials and the National Center for Aerospace Technology and Training. The aircraft electrician certificate course covers wiring, harness building, avionics removal and installation. It ensures that technicians will be fully qualified to complete basic electronics duties. "As with just about every aspect of the aviation world, trained avionics technicians are is short supply," said Flamingo Air president David MacDonald. "This course provides the basic skills necessary to function in the world of electronics. And, it is not just avionics. This course can prepare a student for entry-level acceptance into the electronic field of everything from elevators to HVAC to aircraft and everything using electronic control systems." Flamingo Air's Airline Ground Schools is based at Lunken Airport. Besides its aircraft electrician certificate course, the school offers courses in avionics, ground services and drone maintenance and repair. Candidates for the aircraft electrician certificate course can register at Flamingo Air's website. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/general-aviation/2017-12-11/flamingo-airs-school- offers-aircraft-electrician-certificate Back to Top Griffith Aviation partners with Qantas for Future Pilot Program Bachelor of Aviation students at Griffith University could become future pilots with Qantas thanks to a new partnership. The Qantas Future Pilot Program provides students with access to experienced pilots during their degree, with selected students invited to complete an intensive 12-week Airline Transition Course. Graduates can then transition to employment with QantasLink and complete their training under the supervision of QantasLink's experienced training team and become qualified as First Officers flying the airline's Dash 8 200/300 or Q400 fleet. The program is open to a potential pool of 300 students in the next few years. QantasLink Chief Executive Officer John Gissing said the program would build the next generation of exceptional pilots from within Australia's top aviation schools and provided students with unparalleled benefits and job certainty not available with any other training program. "Aviation students will have an enormous head start to their career as a pilot. They will not only benefit from a direct pathway to Australia's largest regional airline, but will also have access to experienced Qantas Group pilots throughout their studies," Mr Gissing said. New pilots are usually only considered for employment with a commercial airline after spending time flying in the general aviation market, which is often gained by flying single-pilot charter aircraft usually in regional areas or by seeking employment outside of Australia. Griffith Aviation student Kate Richards (far left) attended the launch of the program in Sydney Griffith Sciences Pro Vice Chancellor Professor Andrew Smith said this partnership and other Aviation initiatives like the Graduate Diploma in Flight Management, delivered in Partnership with BASAIR, was setting students up for a strong career in the industry. "This fantastic initiative will equip high-performing and motivated students with the skills needed to transition into an airline and provide them with a platform from which to launch their career as a pilot within the Qantas Group. "We are ensuring our students get the best possible start to their career and job opportunities secured early." Head of Griffith Aviation Associate Professor Gui Lohmann believes that Griffith Aviation offers a suite of initiatives that put Griffith students ahead in the industry. "In 2018, Griffith Aviation is launching new initiatives to make sure our cutting-edge degrees are at the forefront of Aviation education," he said. "They include a new flight procedure lab, specific courses on Rotary Wings and UAVs, as well as the first ever Helicopter Pilot Training Graduate Diploma in Flight Management." To be eligible for the Qantas program, students need to be enrolled in the Bachelor of Aviation program, hold a GPA of 4.0 or above for the duration of their studies, and have Australian work rights. Applications are now open for the Qantas Future Pilots Program. https://app.secure.griffith.edu.au/news/2017/12/12/griffith-aviation-partners-with-qantas-for- future-pilot-program/ Back to Top A return of flying sergeants? Air Force says no despite too few pilots The Air Force will launch a high-tech training experiment testing both officers and enlisted airmen to prepare pilots for the cockpit faster. But, despite a growing shortage of aviators, it won't be a return to the wartime days of flying sergeants - at least for now, according to the Air Force. The six-month initiative at a military reserve center in Austin, Texas will reportedly include 15 commissioned officers, and five enlisted airmen who have recently graduated boot camp. The initiative, dubbed "Pilot Training Next," will use virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, bio-metrics and data analytics to determine if aviators can be trained faster and cheaper using technology, an Air Force spokeswoman said in an interview. The Air Education and Training Command's latest training experiment, set to begin next February, is meant to find out if technology can help airmen of different educational backgrounds learn faster in the pilot-training pipeline, the Air Force said. "We are going to use immersive technology to see how we can help people learn more effectively," Lt. Col. Robert Vicars, Pilot Training Next director said in a statement. "This is an initiative to explore whether or not these technologies can help us learn deeper and faster." The Air Force, the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve, confront a shortage of about 2,000 aviators - and of that about 1,300 were fighter pilots. Many have been drawn out of the cockpit by an airline industry hiring binge or may have tired of a high number of deployments overseas. Training military pilots takes time and money: Two years of undergraduate fighter pilot training costs taxpayers more than $1 million for each aviator. Still, despite the unusual move of including enlisted airmen in the experiment, they will not advance to undergraduate pilot training, according to Air Force spokeswoman Erika Yepsen. For decades, the Air Force has reserved jobs for pilots to fly aircraft to commissioned officers who are college graduates. However, to fill a gap of a shortage of aviators in wartime, enlisted pilots flew in World War I and World War II, historical documents show. Thousands flew in World War II alone, but still made up only about 1 percent of pilots, documents show. The Air Force has opened the door for enlisted troops in one area: Flying drones, which the service branch calls remotely piloted aircraft. Since last year, the Air Force has trained enlisted airmen to fly the RQ-4 Global Hawk, a high-flying spy drone. So far, 11 enlisted airmen have earned their wings as drone pilots, and that number could reach 100 by 2020, Yepsen said. Kenneth E. Curell, 65, a former Air Force and Air National Guard fighter pilot who became an airline and corporate pilot, said in an email he did not believe enlisted airmen should be pilots of manned aircraft yet. "If the objective is to proactively address pilot shortages, then the Air Force needs to experiment with and implement other options to entice prospective pilot candidates into the (Air Force) and promote initiatives that directly address areas pilots have identified as retention barriers," the Centerville resident said. "Air Force leadership has not institutionally affected areas pilots perennially identify as retention barriers." Consequently, he added, pilots have "lost confidence" initiatives put in place to address the pilot shortage will stay beyond the next round of senior level leadership. http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/local-military/return-flying-sergeants-air-force-says- despite-too-few-pilots/HKcAqxJ9rDwGL91SEH7uSI/ Back to Top Bah Humbug To Double Time: AA Pilots Resist Christmas Flying Christine Negroni , CONTRIBUTOR I write about the business of aviation and travel. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. It is growing increasingly clear that even at double-time pay, many American Airlines pilots have not been persuaded to give up their family holidays and fly in the days surrounding Christmas. Nevertheless, the airline is continuing to assure December travelers that there will be no cancellations. Last week, the airline acknowledged a scheduling glitch allowed many pilots to drop their December flights, putting more than 10 thousand flights in jeopardy of cancellation. The double time for flying between December 17 and the 31st was a hastily worked-out solution intended to incentivize the pilots to pick up those flights without crews. The pleas continued over the weekend for captains and first officers and yet some 12 hundred flights, largely in the eastern United States are still without the required crew compliment, a problem that affects both international and domestic flying. In Charlotte, the airline is lacking more than 150 pilots for international flights between the 23rd and the 28th. It is down 200 in Dallas-Ft. Worth and in Miami as well. Chicago and New York's LaGuardia aren't in good shape either. Ask pilots at the carrier and they'll say it is no mystery why the airline is having trouble getting them back in the cockpit. Even with 10 to 20 years seniority many pilots at American still cannot get holidays off. For them, the software glitch was a gift they could not refuse. When pilots going over their December schedule saw the green light indicating they could drop flights many probably said, "I haven't had a Christmas my entire career" according to Dennis Tajer a spokesman for the Allied Pilots Association, which represents them. When the computer showed they could opt off holiday flights, Tajer suggested, "They didn't muddle through with 'why?' they just did it. Then they told their spouses and their kids." When asked about the predicament today, American Airlines referred me back the press release it put out last week that read, "If Santa is flying, so is American." But Tajer told me the airline and the union, not to mention the schedulers, are meeting every day, to try and make that happen. Sure, 'tis the season of warmth and generosity. But even with an offer to earn double time, the flight deck of an airliner is no sleigh and this year many American pilots are opting to eschew the money and play Santa at home. https://www.forbes.com/sites/christinenegroni/2017/12/11/bah-humbug-to-double-time-aa-pilots- resist-christmas-flying/#589ad8414027 Back to Top Airbus may cut A380 production to six planes a year - sources PARIS (Reuters) - Airbus is exploring plans to cut A380 superjumbo production to as low as six aircraft per year as it battles to make the world's largest airliner commercially viable beyond the end of the decade, industry sources said. Squeezed by smaller but efficient twin-engined jets, Airbus has announced plans to lower A380 output to 12 aircraft in 2018 and eight in 2019, down from an annual peak of 30, as it holds out for what it believes will be a recovery in demand. But plans to maintain that rate are in doubt as Airbus seeks to finalise an order for 36 new aircraft from Emirates. Industry analysts say ongoing negotiations with Emirates will be decisive for the future of the A380 aircraft, which recently marked its 10th anniversary in operation. Airbus, which has delivered 14 A380s so far this year, has told some suppliers it is studying eventually reducing production to six a year, industry sources said. The timing of the move was not immediately clear. An Airbus spokesman declined to comment on production beyond the company's previous announcements. Emirates, which held off signing an order for an estimated 36 aircraft at last month's Dubai Airshow, wants guarantees Airbus will produce the A380 for 10 years and has expressed confidence it will be able to meet the conditions. Industry sources say Airbus appears comfortable giving the undertaking, ensuring production remains open until 2028, though there are questions over the support of suppliers. Reducing output to six a year would help to bridge that period and support key second-hand values while Airbus looks for other buyers, but could keep the programme in the red for at least part of the period. Airbus shares extended losses and were down 2.16 percent at 1601 GMT. Airbus broke even on the A380 for the first time in 2015, when it delivered 27 aircraft. After a clampdown on costs it has said the A380 can break even at around 20 a year and Chief Operating Officer Fabrice Bregier has said he is pushing the breakeven level as low as possible to sustain low production. The company said in October that any losses triggered by lower A380 production would have little financial impact. Finance Director Harald Wilhelm also told analysts that A380 deliveries were protected by the existing backlog until 2019. Singapore Airlines, the first airline to fly the double-decker jet, is due on Wednesday to take delivery of the first A380 featuring a new cabin, following an $850 million investment. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/airbus-may-lower-a380-output-153055531.html Back to Top 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