Flight Safety Information December 21, 2017 - No. 253 In This Issue Incident: United B753 near Omaha on Dec 20th 2017, engine shut down in flight Incident: American B752 over Atlantic on Dec 19th 2017, engine shut down in flight Accident: Jetstar A320 near Coolangatta on Dec 20th 2017, fumes on board EVAS - Cockpit Smoke Protection PNG AIC investigates CASA CN-235 landing on closed runway at Goroka Cessna 402C overran the runway (Columbia) Antonov TVS-2MS...impacted the ground during takeoff from Naryan-Mar Airport, Russia Warden service plane lands on lake, then breaks through ice Engine failure ruled out as cause of Fond du Lac plane crash 17 of Air India's best pilots to be off the sky this Winter Austria's Skytaxi suspends ops following crash ITU adopts technical principles for enhanced global aircraft flight tracking Hard A321 landing led Germania to limit manual flights Allegiant loses another senior executive Civil Aviation Authority signs MoU with SESAR project (QATAR) Airborne Wireless Network Adds GE Aviation to Team Top court acquits Korean Air heiress in nut rage case FAA Internal Training on Repair Station Certification Open to Industry Zambia partners with Ethiopian Airlines to revive national carrier Second Y-9 transport aircraft enters service with PLAGF, says report This Student Team is Designing a Functional Jet Engine Model with the Help of Rolls Royce Twenty ninth anniversary of the bombing of Pan AM 103 is today Preparing Together: Aviation Disaster Planning, Response, and Recovery Conference. Najeeb E. Halaby Graduate Student Fellowship Cranfield - Accident investigators: develop your interviewing and legal skills ESASI Annual Seminar - Jurmala / Riga 2018 Incident: United B753 near Omaha on Dec 20th 2017, engine shut down in flight A United Boeing 757-300, registration N75851 performing flight UA-2726 (dep Dec 19th) from Chicago O'Hare,IL to Los Angeles,CA (USA) with 43 people on board, was enrote at FL380 about 40nm south of Omaha,NE (USA) when the crew received an overheat indication for the left hand engine (RB211), shut the engine down and decided to divert to Omaha. The aircraft landed safely on Omaha's runway 32L about 25 minutes after leaving FL380. The crew requested emergency services to check the left hand engines for any trace of fire before the aircraft taxied to the apron. The remainder of the flight was cancelled. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/UAL2726/history/20171220/0340Z/KORD/KLAX http://avherald.com/h?article=4b294538&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: American B752 over Atlantic on Dec 19th 2017, engine shut down in flight An American Airlines Boeing 757-200, registration N190AA performing flight AA-54 (dep Dec 18th) from Chicago O'Hare,IL (USA) to Manchester,EN (UK), was enroute at FL340 over the Atlantic Ocean about 640nm eastnortheast of St. John's,NL (Canada) when the crew received indication of loss of oil pressure on the left hand engine (RB211). The aircraft was cleared to drift down to FL245 and divert to St. John's, NAV Canada reported no other traffic was affected, and landed safely in St. John's about two hours later. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/AAL54/history/20171219/0105Z/KORD/EGCC http://avherald.com/h?article=4b2946e1&opt=0 Back to Top Accident: Jetstar A320 near Coolangatta on Dec 20th 2017, fumes on board A Jetstar Airbus A320-200, registration VH-VQC performing flight JQ-967 from Cairns,QL to Coolangatta,QL (Australia) with no passengers and 6 crew, was on approach to Coolangatta when the crew reported fumes on board, all crew felt sick with dizziness, nausea and light-headedness. The aircraft landed safely on Coolangatta's runway 32. All six crew were taken to a hospital. Emergency services reported six patients were taken to hospitals with dizziness, nausea and light-headedness. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground for about 18 hours, then returned to service. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b29429c&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top PNG AIC investigates CASA CN-235 landing on closed runway at Goroka Date: 02-DEC-2017 Time: 14:12 LT Type: CASA CN-235M-100M Owner/operator: Papua New Guinea Defence Force Registration: P2-0502 C/n / msn: C-049 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 32 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: None Category: Serious incident Location: Goroka Airport (GKA/AYGA) - Papua New Guinea Phase: Landing Nature: Military Departure airport: Port Moresby-Jacksons International Airport (POM/AYPY) Destination airport: Goroka Airport (GKA/AYGA) Investigating agency: AIC PNG Narrative: A Casa CN235-100M, owned and operated by the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, landed on a closed runway, 35L, at Goroka Airport, PNG. The aircraft then turned and backtracked along the same runway before exiting via a closed taxiway onto the active runway (35 Right), and then onto the apron. According to the crew, they became aware of the construction works on the runway, during final approach, but due to communication issues with the Goroka Tower Controller, they continued on final to land on runway 35L. The crew then back-tracked to exit via a closed taxiway. The crew stated, during interviews with the AIC, that there was no pre-flight briefing conducted, and that they were not aware of the active Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), which was available, at no cost, on the National Aeronautical Information Processing System (NAIPS) internet service, and had been issued over a year before the occurrence. The NOTAM declares runway 35L, Goroka Airport, closed due to major runway pavement rehabilitation work in progress. During the investigation, the AIC noticed a serious safety deficiency, and although not contributory to this occurrence, poses an imminent risk of an accident or a serious incident. The aircraft sustained an engine failure on 13 July 2016 during a flight from Telefomin to Vanimo, Sundaun Province, necessitating the removal of the right engine Propeller Gearbox (PGB) at the Vanimo Aerodrome. A replacement PGB was fitted to the right engine to enable the aircraft to be ferried to Port Moresby for further repairs. The investigation has found that the replacement PGB had been placed in storage 7 years before the incident. Storage preservation requirements confirmed in a written statement from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) state that a PGB in storage for more than 36 months, must be sent to a PGB Original Equipment Manufacturer's facility for inspection. This was not carried out, and the PGB fitted in 2016 remained on the aircraft until the December 2017 runway incident. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=203039 Back to Top Cessna 402C overran the runway (Columbia) Date: 20-DEC-2017 Time: 09:45 a.m. Type: Cessna 402C Owner/operator: Aeroejecutivos de Antioquia Registration: HK-4417 C/n / msn: 402C0020 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 9 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Unknown Location: Bahía Solano Airport (BSC/SKBS) - Colombia Phase: Take off Nature: Passenger Departure airport: Bahía Solano Airport (BSC/SKBS) Destination airport: Quibdó-El Caraño Airport (UIB/SKUI) Narrative: The plane failed to take off, overran the runway and crashed into some bushes. Apparently there was a landing gear collapse. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=203164 Back to Top Antonov TVS-2MS impacted the ground during takeoff from Naryan-Mar Airport, Russia Date: Tuesday 19 December 2017 Time: 10:30 Type: Antonov TVS-2MS Operator: Naryan-Mar Air Enterprise Registration: RA-01460 C/n / msn: 1G231-51.R012 First flight: 1988 Engines: 1 Honeywell TPE331-12UHR Crew: Fatalities: / Occupants: 2 Passengers: Fatalities: / Occupants: 11 Total: Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 13 Airplane damage: Damaged beyond repair Location: Naryan-Mar Airport (NNM) ( Russia) Phase: Takeoff (TOF) Nature: Domestic Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Naryan-Mar Airport (NNM/ULAM), Russia Destination airport: Haruta Airport (ULER), Russia Narrative: The Antonov TVS-2MS impacted the ground during takeoff from Naryan-Mar Airport, Russia. CCTV footage from the accident show the aircraft banking right after takeoff, entered in a descending right hand turn until it impacted the ground at low forward speed. The TVS-2MS was an Antonov An-2TP that was converted in 2014 with a TPE331 turbine engine instead of the original Shvetzov ASH-62IR radial piston engine. https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20171219-0 Back to Top Warden service plane lands on lake, then breaks through ice Pilot Jeff Spencer was uninjured in the accident, which happened after test holes had been drilled that suggested Eagle Lake could support the weight of an airplane. A Maine Warden Service airplane was forced to make an emergency landing on Eagle Lake in northern Maine Wednesday morning, but the landing did not go as planned. Warden Pilot Jeff Spencer, who is based out of Eagle Lake, was returning from a bear telemetry flight when strong winds forced him to alter his normal landing pattern, according to a statement issued by the warden service. Spencer was able to land on the lake, but while taxiing across the ice toward the warden service plane base his Cessna 185, which is equipped with skis, crossed an area of thin ice and broke through. Spencer escaped, but the plane became partially submerged. Cpl. John MacDonald in the statement said several test holes were drilled in the lake on Monday and the ice pack was determined to be safe to land on. In fact, Spencer had made several takeoffs and landings since Monday. MacDonald said the 1979 model Cessna is one of four aircraft owned by the warden service. The plane is in the process of being removed from the lake. "The full extent of damage to the aircraft is unknown at this time," MacDonald said. "We feel very fortunate that warden pilot Spencer escaped this incident without injury." The Eagle Lake plane base has been in operation since 1949 and ski equipped aircraft have been used by the warden's service since then for biological as well as search and rescue operations. http://www.pressherald.com/2017/12/20/warden-service-plane-lands-on-lake-then-breaks- through-ice/ ****************** Date: 20-DEC-2017 Time: 11:00+ Type: Cessna A185F Skywagon Owner/operator: Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Registration: C/n / msn: Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Unknown Location: Eagle Lake, Aroostook County, ME - United States of America Phase: Taxi Nature: Survey Departure airport: Destination airport: Eagle Lake, ME Narrative: The aircraft experienced an ice breakthrough during taxi after landing to the frozen surface of Eagle Lake in Aroostook County, Maine. The ski-equipped airplane sustained undetermined damage and the sole pilot onboard was not injured. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=203179 Back to Top Engine failure ruled out as cause of Fond du Lac plane crash Canada's aviation safety bureau is ruling out fuel shortage and engine failure as potential causes of a non-fatal airliner crash near an airport in northern Saskatchewan last week. But according to the Transportation Safety Board, only a lengthy investigation will determine why West Wind Aviation's ATR42-320 smashed into the forest moments after taking off. "Over the next few months, the examination and the analysis will be to determine the cause. At this point, it's too early to speculate on causes of the accident," TSB central region operations manager Eric Vermette told reporters during a news conference on Wednesday. Powered by a pair of turboprops and capable of carrying 44 passengers, the French- and Italian- made plane crashed into trees less than two kilometres from the Fond du Lac airport around 6:15 p.m. on Dec. 13. The aircraft, which was bound for Stony Rapids, was carrying 22 passengers and three crew members. No one was killed, but six passengers and one crew member sustained serious injuries, and 18 others suffered additional injuries, according to the TSB. The West Wind Aviation ATR 42 smashed through 250 metres of forest before coming to a stop around 6:15 p.m. on Dec. 13. (SUPPLIED/TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD OF CANADA) / SASKATOON An examination of the engines and flight data recorder revealed that both turbines were running when it hit the trees, after which the aircraft slid for about 250 metres before coming to rest, Vermette told reporters. The next step is for TSB investigators to sift through aircraft components, maintenance and operational documentation, interviews with witnesses, passengers and crew members, and the aircraft's flight data and cockpit voice recorders, he added. "If we do come up with any safety deficiencies as part of our investigation, we won't sit on it and wait for the report to come out. We will share that with the regulator or the operator or any stakeholders that are required to know about it." Fifteen-year-old Lyman Fern was aboard the plane when it went down. He told the Saskatoon StarPhoenix that everything seemed normal until after takeoff, when the short-haul airliner started rocking back and forth. "On the fourth time, it just went down and the engines cut off, too. It was just dark on the plane. I just closed my eyes," said Fern, who reported being thrown from his seat but sustained only cuts and a headache. West Wind subsequently volunteered to ground its four remaining ATR42s. Rick Philipenko, the Saskatoon-based airline's chief financial officer, told the StarPhoenix the aircraft will remain on the ground until West Wind completes its own internal investigation. Representatives of the Saskatoon-based airline were not available for comment on Wednesday. Cameco Corp. relies heavily on West Wind for access to its northern uranium facilities. Company spokesman Gord Struthers said it is now using alternate carriers, and while schedules have been affected and passengers inconvenienced, there have been no major disruptions. According to the Aviation Safety Network, an independent initiative that aims to provide comprehensive information on airline safety, the Fond du Lac crash is the 22nd hull-loss accident involving an ATR42 since the aircraft was introduced in 1985. http://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/tsb-rules-out-engine-failure-in-fond-du-lac-airliner- crash Back to Top 17 of Air India's best pilots to be off the sky this Winter Divestment-bound national carrier Air India has sent a batch of 17 senior A320 pilots -- who are trained for critical low-visibility operations -- for Boeing command course in the midst of the foggy season, a move that has raised questions. The decision has led to a severe shortage of senior pilots who are trained for low-visibility operations and they are required to be deployed on the northern routes during the winter season. According to an airline source privy to the development, the move raises questions as these pilots are critical to winter operations in the North. Even after completion of the ground course, these pilots would have to wait for at least five to six months to get simulator training as there is already a huge backlog now, the source said. "These senior A320 commanders are CAT-II/III qualified pilots, but have been sent to do their ground classes, which will go for about two months, for B787 flying in the thick of the winter." "Air India was reluctant to send them, but when the pressure came from a Union minister, who has nothing to with the aviation sector, the airline had to give in," the source told PTI. Further, the source said one of the pilots among the 17 is close to the Union minister and wanted the minister to intervene to get the command training on the wide-body plane. The CAT-III-B narrow-body fleet commanders have been sent to the Central Training Establishment in Hyderabad for a two- month ground classes on Boeing Dreamliners amid the foggy season, the source said. Category-III is an advanced navigation system that empowers an aircraft to land under foggy conditions. Category-III-A approach is a precision instrument approach and landing that enables a plane to land with a runway visual range (RVR) of 200 metres while Category-III-B helps in landing with an RVR of under-50 metres. "Moreover, after these pilots finish ground classes, they'll have to go back to fly A320s as the Mumbai simulator facility for training is unlikely to be available to them for the next 5-6 months due to a huge backlog," the source added. Alleging that there is severe shortage of commanders on the A320 fleet, the source said sending away as many as 17 senior pilots at this time of the year would have an adverse impact on operations, particularly in the winter season which is dubious for the fog. "Many flights, including a Mumbai-Chandigarh flight, were delayed recently due to shortage of pilots trained in low visibility operations," the source said. Queries sent to Air India spokesperson G P Rao on the matter did not fetch any response even after a week. The foggy season in the North generally sets in from early December and lasts till mid-February. During this period, domestic airlines are required to deploy only CAT- III-B compliant aircraft and trained crew while operating flights in and out of New Delhi, Jaipur and Lucknow airports. These aerodromes are CAT-III-B-compliant airports. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/17-of-air-indias- best-pilots-to-be-off-the-sky-this-winter/printarticle/62190161.cms Back to Top Austria's Skytaxi suspends ops following crash Skytaxi (Austria) Cessna 510 Citation Mustang Skytaxi (Austria) Cessna 510 Citation Mustang Skytaxi (Austria) (STC, Friedrichshafen) has announced it is temporarily suspending all operations following the fatal crash of its Cessna 510 Mustang near Friedrichshafen last week. The Austrian carrier's Cessna 510 Mustang, OE-FWD (msn 510-0049), crashed near Lake Constance on approach to Friedrichshafen. It had been operating a flight from Egelsbach. "The Skytaxi company has taken the decision not to carry out flights until further notice. First, all open questions related to the cause of the crash must be resolved," the carrier said in a statement posted on its website. The business charter specialist has added that its chief pilot, shareholder and managing director Adi Anderst died in the crash, along with two other persons on board the plane. The German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigations is currently looking into the incident. https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/62665-austrias-skytaxi-suspends-ops-following-crash Back to Top ITU adopts technical principles for enhanced global aircraft flight tracking through 'Automatic dependent surveillance' Above image: Example of an integrated terrestrial and satellite automatic dependant surveillance - broadcast system/ Credit: ITU (From Report ITU-R M.2413-0) This would enhance coverage for aircraft in areas where terrestrial receivers cannot practically be deployed, such as oceanic, trans-polar and remote regions. The United Nations specialised agency for information and communication technologies - the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) announced the adoption of the main technical principles of enhanced aircraft automatic dependent surveillance via satellite, to track in-flight aircraft worldwide. ITU is responsible for establishing worldwide standards that foster seamless interconnection of a vast range of communications systems. The Study Groups of ITU's Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) assemble experts from around the world to develop international standards known asITU-T Recommendations which act as defining elements in the global infrastructure of information and communication technologies (ICTs). According to the press release, there are approximately 59,000 aircraft in flight worldwide, at any given time. The ability to effectively track, monitor and report these aircraft is critical for ensuring the safety of passengers and crew, as well as that of communities on the ground. Since the disappearance of flight MH370 in 2014 over the South China Sea, ITU has undertaken activities to improve the tracking of in-flight aircraft using advanced information and communication technologies. Different aircraft automatic dependent surveillance systems have been standardised within the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), such as terrestrial automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) and automatic dependent surveillance-contract (ADS-C). Aircraft automatic dependent surveillance is a technique in which aircraft automatically provide, via a data link, data from the on-board navigation and position-fixing systems, including aircraft identification, four-dimensional position (e.g. latitude, longitude, altitude and time) and additional data, as appropriate. The technique is termed "automatic" because there is no intervention from the pilot or interrogation from terrestrial stations, and "dependent" because the data is dependent upon on-board systems such as global positioning system and altimeter. The system relays the information to the relevant airline operators and air traffic control centres who then track the aircraft identifying any anomalies in its flight profile and initiate emergency procedures where necessary, enhancing safety in the sky. The technical principles are published in the new technical report: Reception of automatic dependent surveillance broadcast via satellite and compatibility studies with incumbent systems in the frequency band 1 087.7-1 092.3 (REPORT ITU-R M.2413-0). The report provides a description of the current operation of the ICAO standardised ADS-B and study of the implementation of reception of ADS-B via satellite. This would enhance coverage for aircraft suitably equipped, particularly in areas where terrestrial receivers cannot practically be deployed, such as oceanic, trans-polar and remote regions, and be a major step in the implementation of the ICAO global aeronautical distress and safety system. This report was published and adopted by ITU-R Study Group 5, which focuses on systems and networks for fixed, mobile, radiodetermination, amateur and amateur-satellite services. The ITU-R Study Groups develop the global standards (Recommendations), Reports and Handbooks on radiocommunication matters. "The adoption of the technical principles in ITU's report is a major step towards improving international global flight traffic safety, through the cooperation between ITU and ICAO," said François Rancy, Director of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau. "It also advances implementation of World Radiocommunication Conference 2015 decisions on internationally recognized spectrum for aircraft automatic dependent surveillance via satellite." https://www.opengovasia.com/articles/itu-adopts-technical-principles-for-enhanced-global-aircraft- flight-tracking-through-automatic-dependent-surveillance Back to Top Hard A321 landing led Germania to limit manual flights Investigators have disclosed that Germania banned pilots' flying manual visual approaches under supervision, after an unstable descent by a relatively inexperienced first officer led an Airbus A321 to land hard at Fuerteventura. The first officer had logged 96h on type before conducting the ILS approach to runway 01 using manual control of the thrust and attitude. After the A321 was established on final the first officer disengaged the autothrust. On short final, however, the aircraft's airspeed declined and the jet dipped below the glideslope. The captain pointed this out and the first officer increased thrust to compensate. But this was insufficient and the captain repeated the suggestion, before realising the aircraft was sinking rapidly while close to the ground. Although the captain took control to execute a go-around, this was too late to avoid a hard 3.3g impact with the runway before the aircraft became airborne again. The first officer carried out the second approach, with automation, and the aircraft landed without further incident 9min later. Spanish investigation authority CIAIAC says the carrier acknowledged that its Airbus crews were "not well trained" for manual approaches owing to a "routine practice" of using automatic systems. The captain had believed that the first officer, despite having less than 100h on type, was sufficiently proficient to operate with fewer automated flight systems - a viewpoint supported by the pilot's training record. He had informed the first officer that most pilots in training were reticent and hesitant to use manual thrust, and suggested flying the approach without autopilot or autothrust. Weather conditions were good and the crew had visual contact with the runway. The first officer had prior experience and was confident, according to the captain's testimony to the inquiry, and appreciated the opportunity. But CIAIAC says the decision not to use the automatic systems contributed to the hard landing and that the decision to execute a go-around was "late". Germania subsequently prohibited flying manually, with manual thrust, during supervised visual approaches on 22 July last year, six days after the Fuerteventura event. CIAIAC adds that the carrier has also been redefining conditions and restrictions for manual flight. www.flightglobal.com Back to Top Allegiant loses another senior executive Allegiant Air chief information officer Scott Allard has resigned, marking the latest in a series of senior executive departures over the past few years. Robert Wilson, senior vice-president of information systems at the Last Vegas-based carrier, will act as interim chief information officer until a replacement is found, Allegiant says. Allard's resignation is effective 31 December. Allegiant does not say why Allard resigned. The airline has lost a number of senior executives, including chief operating officer Jude Bricker and chief financial officer Andrew Levy, over the past few years. Allard joined Allegiant in the chief information officer role in 2011. www.flightglobal.com Back to Top Civil Aviation Authority signs MoU with SESAR project (QATAR) Brussels: The Civil Aviation Authority has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) project to achieve more efficient management of air traffic between the State of Qatar and European countries as well as all the countries of the world. This Memorandum aims to enhance cooperation in the field of air traffic management modernization initiatives in Qatar and Europe in order to contribute to the development and harmonization of global aviation standards. It also covers ways to cooperate in the exchange of all information and expertise on the development of air traffic management, and all related activities. The Memorandum of Cooperation was signed by HE Chairman of Civil Aviation Authority Abdullah bin Nasser Turki Al Subaey, and Executive Director of SESAR Florian Guillermet. Commenting on the Signing of the memorandum, HE Chairman of Civil Aviation Authority said that the aviation sector in Qatar is significantly growing which is reflected on air traffic services and the efficient use of air space in the country, therefore, joint cooperation with SESAR will have a positive impact in creating a balance and interoperability among Air traffic systems, for the benefit of airlines as well as of travellers. HE also expressed the pride of signing this Memorandum of Cooperation, which will be implemented by the beginning of 2018. SESAR Executive Director said that as a global industry, aviation requires continued cooperation in interoperability between countries, with the goal of providing smooth and efficient air traffic across all regions. Through this Memorandum, he said that both sides aim to move together towards ensuring global aviation that is not only robust but has more intelligent and environmental solutions at more affordable prices for both airlines and travelers around the world. https://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/21/12/2017/Civil-Aviation-Authority-signs-MoU-with- SESAR-project Back to Top Airborne Wireless Network Adds GE Aviation to Team Airborne Wireless Network, GE Aviation Airborne Wireless Network (AWN) announced it has entered into a support agreement with GE Aviation, anticipating that the relationship should significantly accelerate the development of its hybrid radio and free-optics communications system to be demonstrated in 2018. Per the agreement, GE will provide tactical-grade inertial reference units with embedded GPS that AWN will use for heading, pointing, attitude and stabilization for its communications system. AWN intends to create a high-speed broadband airborne wireless network by linking commercial aircraft in flight. Each aircraft participating in the network will act as an airborne repeater or router, sending and receiving broadband signals from one aircraft to the next. AWN has stated it will not provide retail customer coverage to end users, but instead act as a wholesale carrier with target customers, such as internet service providers and telephone companies. http://www.aviationtoday.com/2017/12/20/airborne-wireless-network-adds-ge-aviation-team/ Back to Top Top court acquits Korean Air heiress in nut rage case Heather Cho The top court upheld a lower court ruling that acquitted former Korean Air Executive Vice President Heather Cho, Thursday, of the "nut rage" case three years ago that triggered nationwide outrage over the rich and powerful abusing their positions. Cho is the eldest daughter of Chairman Cho Yang-ho of Korean Air, the country's largest full-service carrier. In the first 13-member full-panel ruling deliberated by the 13 Supreme Court justices including chief justice Kim Meong-su after he took the top post, the court said she did not violate aviation law by ordering the plane to change its air route, an offense that carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison. "The air route, the point of contention here, should be interpreted as referring to the aircraft's course when it is flying, not when it is taxiing on the ground," the court said. "The lower court's ruling was apt in making such a determination, and there was no misinterpretation of the law that requires a review." Cho was indicted in January 2015 for ordering a plane bound for Incheon to return to the gate from a taxiing area at JFK on Dec. 5, 2014. Mistakenly, the prosecution said Cho forced a flight that departed from JFK International Airport in New York bound for Incheon to change course. She ordered the plane to return to remove the chief flight attendant because she considered it a failure of first-class cabin service for a junior attendant to serve macadamia nuts in a bag and not on a plate, as she considered it a hassle for passengers to open the plastic bag. Cho also faced charges of committing acts of violence that disturbed flight safety, coercion, interfering with a business and interfering with the official duties of the flight crew by abusing her authority, all of which carry far less harsh sentences. Cho had pleaded not guilty to the main charge, arguing the airport runway should not be considered part of the "air route." She claimed she had ordered the chief flight attendant off the plane because he failed to memorize the service manual. A lower court sentenced her to one year in prison for obstructing aviation safety by ordering a taxiing plane to return to the gate over in-flight service. The conviction followed the court's ruling that it was questionable whether Cho really felt remorse about her actions, which the court deemed trampled on the integrity of humanity. However, she was released in May 2015 after an appellate court sentenced her to a 10-month prison term suspended for two years. The Seoul High Court acquitted her, saying the prosecution sought to interpret the definition of air route too restrictively to punish Cho. The so-called nut-rage case drew fierce public uproar over long-held practices exhibited by Korea's family-owned businesses, or chaebol, referred to as "gapjil," in which the rich and powerful do not care about the repercussions of their actions because they think they can get away with anything simply by paying people off or firing them. Children of chaebol families usually assume mid- to executive-level positions in their parents' companies at a young age regardless of their qualifications, simply because they can. This deeply embedded sense of entitlement _ a feeling of limitless power without any responsibilities _ has long ailed Korea, where young people without any such status ended up coining the term "Hell Joseon," a sarcastic expression comparing the name of the old Korean kingdom, Joseon, with hell. https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2017/12/356_241281.html Back to Top FAA Internal Training on Repair Station Certification Open to Industry SOURCE: AERONAUTICAL REPAIR STATION ASSOCIATION (ARSA) DEC 20, 2017 From Jan. 8-12, 2018, the FAA is hosting the year's first installment of its week-long training session "Certification and Surveillance of Part 145 Repair Stations." It will be administered in person at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City and is open to industry enrollment. The course is designed to provide aviation safety inspectors with knowledge and skills necessary to participate as certification project team members for repair stations. Attending a session like this is the perfect opportunity for an industry professional to go directly to the source and see what the FAA is teaching its own personnel; it helps a lot to understand the perspective of an ASI if you know what they've been told about the rules...and it provides an opportunity to help the agency make the whole process better. The course includes: (1) Information on the differences between certification of repair stations located inside and outside the United States. (2) Overview of international agreements for maintenance. (3) Instruction on application of risk-based certification management. (4) Review of what ASIs should look for during continuing surveillance. Click here to view course information on the FAA Academy website. A limited number of seats are available. Anyone interested in attending can initiate a request by emailing Carl Hayes at carl.hayes@faa.gov. The following information should be included in the initial message: Requesting organization. Contact name. Email address. Phone number. Number of students from requesting organization. Name and email address of each student. Number and name of the requested course: 21058 Certification and Surveillance of Part 145 Repair Stations. Training date: Jan. 8-12, 2018. Tuition cost per student per class: $622.56. Once students are enrolled, they will receive a welcome letter from the course manager providing specific instructions for access to the facility. For more information on logistics, individuals can reach out to the FAA Academy Student Services Section. Information regarding lodging options is also available through the FAA Academy Housing List. Beginning with the session in January, the course is currently scheduled to be held ten times in 2018. While seat availability cannot yet be determined for future sessions, consider contacting the FAA about getting your people into the classroom. http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12387770/faa-internal-training-on-repair-station- certification-open-to-industry Back to Top Zambia partners with Ethiopian Airlines to revive national carrier Zambia is set to relaunch a national carrier in partnership with the Ethiopian Airlines. In Summary Zambia's national carrier ran broke largely due to patronage and abuse by the political establishment and was liquidated in 1994. The country is set to relaunch a national carrier in partnership with the Ethiopian Airlines. Zambia is set to relaunch a national carrier in partnership with the Ethiopian Airlines, the government has announced. "Cabinet has approved the re-establishment of the long-awaited national airline at an initial estimated cost of $30 million," Transport minister Brian Mushimba told journalists. AIRLINE The long-awaited national airline was finally incorporated and will operate as Zambia Airways 2014 Limited, which will be a successor of the defunct Zambia Airways. Zambia Airways was liquidated in 1994 and since then, the southern African country has had no national airline. The Zambian government will be the majority shareholder in the partnership, Mr Mushimba said. SURVIVED Zambia Airways ran broke largely due to patronage and abuse by the political establishment. Zambia Airways was founded in 1964 as a subsidiary of Central African Airways. Ethiopian Airlines was launched in 1946, and distinguished itself as a pioneer in African aviation industry. It has outlived the various governments that have ruled Ethiopia over the years. http://www.nation.co.ke/news/africa/Zambia-revive-national-airline-partners-with-Ethiopian- Airlines/1066-4236588-kajg54z/index.html Back to Top Second Y-9 transport aircraft enters service with PLAGF, says report A second Shaanxi Aircraft Corporation (SAC) Yunshuji-9 (Y-9) transport aircraft has entered service with China's People's Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF), according to a report by the state- owned China Daily newspaper. The medium-lift transport, which is powered by four turboprops, was delivered on 15 December to an aviation brigade of the 81st Group Army, reported the media outlet, pointing out that the first aircraft of the type was received by the PLAGF in December 2016. Citing a PLAGF statement, the paper reported that the second Y-9 will further enhance the service's "long-range transport capabilities". It also noted that the two Y-9s will now be despatched on training missions on plateaus and used to practise tactical manoeuvres. http://www.janes.com/article/76569/second-y-9-transport-aircraft-enters-service-with-plagf-says- report Back to Top This Student Team is Designing a Functional Jet Engine Model with the Help of Rolls Royce There's a shortage of students in STEM subjects. Whether its developing rockets to Mars, the new future of public transport or a bridge, society needs engineers to make it happen.3D Hubs Student Grant finalist JetX are a team of aerospace engineering students working with Rolls Royce to create the world's first functional 3D printed jet engine model that will provide instant design feedback and show people that studying engineering doesn't mean you're glued to a textbook. The JetX team is looking to fix the shortage of STEM students by getting more potential engineers involved and interested in this field. The project started back in 2013 at the University of Glasgow when Chris Triantafyllou, the President and Founder of JetX, spotted the need for more hands-on learning to get people engaged with the subject. Alongside this, he saw two important skills for future engineers to master, but with no outlet to gain direct experience. By building such an ambitious project and working with Rolls Royce, JetX hopes to show that engineering isn't just writing down theorems and mathematical equations but about making a real impact with the work you do. The functional X-plorer 1 model is 75 cm long, with span diameter of 27 cm and weighs in at 8.1 kg. Over 50 young engineers have been tirelessly working on the project, developing over 965 3D printed parts, 300 fasteners and 10 integrated sensors into one high-bypass turbofan model. The entire design has been done from scratch with every single piece modeled in line with current aero-propulsion theories. The process of design, consultation, analysis and execution is giving this team of young engineers hands-on training to become the next generation of innovators in the aerospace industry. Multiple considerations where taken into account when building the Xplorer-1. Chris goes on to explain where it began: "The first step in optimizing the design is to perform computational analyses to investigate how the flow changes throughout the engine, as well as the effect that specific forces and loading conditions have on the parts. When several designs are available for one part, CFD analyses are performed with tools that include Solidworks Flow Simulation, ANSYS Fluent & Star CCM+ on single stators, rotors or multi-stage segments to assess which one performs the best." On top of this, the JetX team also carries out Finite Element Analyses to identify high-stress concentrations and assess whether the failure is likely under different loading conditions. The centrifugal forces generated can be significant even on a model of this size and failure scenarios are also modeled to assess whether an impact would be contained. Once designs are completed the parts are produced on a 3D printer, JetX currently use a desktop FDM printer utilizing materials such as PLA, ABS, Nylon, PETG and more for testing. The model was made exclusively from FDM printed parts, with the shortest print lasting just 7 minutes and longest being over 58 hours for the main PCU casing. 3D printing was used for the project as alternative manufacturing technologies such as CNC would have been far too expensive for the number of one-off parts the team needed. Chris went on to say: "The transition from CAD to part is simpler and the amount you spend goes a long way with 3D printing especially when using an FFF 3D printer." A key advantage to using an affordable manufacturing method was JetX's ability to rapidly change parts when new they found new optimizations with their testing. An example was when a connection to the shaft was technically too weak as a 3D printed part, but they needed a quick solution to prove it could sustain the load. Chris goes to highlight how 3D printing kept them agile: "It took 21 prototypes and only 7 days to get to the part we needed, using another manufacturing method would have meant months and the cost would be £1,000's or even £10,000's." The internals of the Xplorer-1 feature a custom built Engine Monitoring System (EMS) in which everything was developed in-house including the PCB designs, purpose-built software and user interface. The EMS consists of wireless transceivers, 2 mbed micro-controllers, temperature sensors, differential pressure sensor, LED rotational speed sensors, a vibration sensor and an airspeed sensor. All of this culminates in the creation of a fireless engine in which students can pass compressed air through the engine to then take measurements with the wide array of sensors. You can then see the performance of the engine in front of you and electronically, making it easier to analyze each stage of the flow. This leads to more iterations and parts to be created. Through this process, the team continues to develop their skills for future career paths in engineering. The next step for the project will be to continue to iterate and improve the engine, not only in its performance but in the way it provides data on its performance. Rolls Royce has joined the project to help with the technical side of things, including advising on industry practices to try to get the engines iterations as close to the real process as possible. The project will also look to further its engagement in STEM fields, encouraging students to get outside of the lecture environment and to apply their learning. Eventually, Chris would love to see the project turned into a competition where universities compete to build the most efficient engine to inspire others and to build on the success they have had in Glasgow. http://www.core77.com/projects/71158/This-Student-Team-is-Designing-a-Functional-Jet-Engine- Model-with-the-Help-of-Rolls-Royce Back to Top Twenty ninth anniversary of the bombing of Pan AM 103 is today. A memorial ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery at 1:30pm. It is held at the Pan Am 103 Cairn. Pan Am 103 Cairn Back to Top Preparing Together: Aviation Disaster Planning, Response, and Recovery Conference As 2017 winds down and we begin to look to 2018, we wanted to inform you of a conference you might find of interest. Please see below for more information on the Preparing Together: Aviation Disaster Planning, Response, and Recovery Conference. What: A committee of local Indianapolis industry leaders, aviation crisis management experts, and Indiana state government officials have developed a conference focused on improving outcomes for those affected by an aviation disaster or critical incident. The Preparing Together: Aviation Disaster Planning, Response, and Recovery Conference is an educational forum exploring the intersection of federal regulations and local responsibilities following an aircraft disaster. This conference is being offered in conjunction with the 2018 Indiana Emergency Response Conference. The aviation conference will focus on: * Federal laws and guidance documents for aviation disaster response * Roles, processes, and response timelines of agencies involved * The interrelationship of responding agencies' roles * The Family Assistance Center, Passenger Gathering Area, and Friends and Relatives Center * Lessons learned from other major aircraft accidents and airport incidents * How the aviation disaster assistance model can apply to other critical incidents * How inter-agency cooperation is essential to recovery Where: Indianapolis, Indiana When: September 11- 12, 2018 Who: This conference is for individuals and organizations who would respond to a major aircraft accident and those who provide victim assistance, including airports (commercial, general aviation, military), commercial air carriers, business aviation operators, air medical transport, emergency response agencies (fire, EMS, law enforcement), local and state government, medical examiners/coroners, hospitals and healthcare organizations, American Red Cross, non-government disaster response agencies, mental health professionals, and other interested groups. For more information: http://www.createaresilientcommunity.com/ Registration for the conference will open in 2018. Accommodations: Discounted rate available at the Sheraton Indianapolis Hotel at Keystone Crossing. Hotel registration is now open. Book a room: http://bit.ly/hotelprepinav Sponsorship opportunities available. Contact: Jennifer Stansberry Miller - 317.371.7208, preparein@gmail.com Back to Top Najeeb E. Halaby Graduate Student Fellowship The Najeeb E. Halaby Graduate Student Fellowship was established by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) to shape the next generation of aviation researchers, honoring the late Najeeb Elias Halaby, an eminent aviator and administrator, for his vision and more than five decades of extraordinary contributions to aviation (https://ral.ucar.edu/opportunity/halaby-fellowship). The Fellowship The recipient of a Najeeb E. Halaby Graduate Student Fellowship will spend three months (in 2018 or early 2019) in residence with NCAR's Aviation Weather Research Program, which Mr. Halaby was instrumental in establishing in the 1980s. As the nation's leader in addressing aviation weather research, NCAR plays a unique role in meeting user needs by transferring research results to operations through its Research Application Laboratory (http://www.ral.ucar.edu/). The Fellow will conduct research broadly aimed at improving the integration of weather into decision support tools for enhanced mitigation of weather sensitivities (e.g., weather impact avoidance) and management of air traffic. The Fellowship will provide: * a monthly stipend for three months, including temporary living expenses * round-trip travel expenses to and from Boulder, CO * travel to a conference to present results * page charges for one publication of key results Eligibility and Application The Halaby Fellowship targets graduate students (late Masters or early PhD level) enrolled in an aviation-relevant department or program of a domestic or international university. Interested candidates should have advanced research skills, far-reaching vision, and dedication to get things accomplished. Consideration for this Fellowship will be given to candidates based on the following submitted material: * Curriculum vitae * Proposal (maximum five pages) presenting the research to be conducted at NCAR, the anticipated outcome of that, and how the proposed effort ties into the candidate's ongoing graduate research project(s) * Contact information for three references (one of which should be the student's primary advisor) NCAR will accept applications for the Halaby Fellowship each year. Email Applications by February 28, 2018 to halabyfellowship@ucar.edu Back to Top Accident investigators: develop your interviewing and legal skills Download our 17/18 short course brochure As an accident investigator, you need to be able to effectively interview witnesses, successfully gather evidence and later present your findings in court. These specialist skills lie at the core of a successful accident investigation, enabling you to clearly draw conclusions that can be acted upon to improve the future safety of the transport industry. Here at Cranfield, we offer two continuing professional development (CPD) programmes specifically covering these vital areas, which are next running in spring 2018. Interviewing Techniques for Accident Investigators: 05 - 09 Mar 2018 This course combines theoretical learning with practical sessions involving interviews of live witnesses, with video debriefing, to provide you with a learning experience supported by the latest academic thinking in investigative interviewing. Legal Skills for Accident Investigators: 19 - 23 Mar 2018 The course will offer you an introduction to the various legal processes within the Common law and Civil law legal systems, military inquiries, and both civil and criminal litigation. It has been developed in collaboration with experienced lawyers and the professional accident investigation community and includes an opportunity to practice defending your report in a mock courtroom. The Cranfield Safety and Accident Investigation Centre (CSAIC) offers an extensive range of CPD programmes, which provide insight and knowledge to support accident investigators. We also provide safety and accident investigation consultancy services and would love to speak to you about your organisation's particular requirements. Find out more: Download your free brochure Back to Top The European Society of Air Safety Investigators (ESASI) is pleased to announce that REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN for the next ESASI seminar which will be held in Riga, Latvia on the 23rd and 24th May 2018. Further details regarding the 2018 seminar and previous seminars, can be found at - www.ESASI.eu ESASI still welcomes proposals for presentations to be given during the 2018 seminar. The presentations 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, and * topical case studies. Details of proposed presentations should be sent to Brian McDermid, by the 6th February 2018, at presentations@esasi.eu. The ESASI committee will select the presentations in late February 2018. Steve - ESASI Secretary Steve Hull IEng FRAeS FISASI Aviation Director & Head of Training Annapolis, MD USA || San Francisco, CA USA || London, UK || Panama City, Panama RTI 34 Lime Street London EC3M 7AT Tel: +44 (0) 20 7481 2150 Mobile: +44 (0) 07800 608933 Steve.hull@rtiforensics.com www.rtiforensics.com Back to Top Today's Photo The Last Delta 747 at DTW Photo courtesy of: Charlie Roberts Manager of Quality Control Swift Air, LLC Curt Lewis