Flight Safety Information December 22, 2017 - No. 254 In This Issue Incident: British Airways B788 at Montreal on Dec 11th 2017, hot brakes Incident: Aeroflot A320 enroute on Dec 18th 2017, cargo shifted in flight Incident: Taftan MD82 at Tehran on Dec 18th 2017, engine shut down in flight Incident: Skywest CRJ2 at Ithaca on Dec 17th 2017, flaps problem United flight makes emergency landing after smoke reported on aircraft EVAS - Cockpit Smoke Protection Tool bag may have caused Ontario helicopter crash that killed 4: Transportation Safety Board Two guns stopped at BWI Airport in past week, authorities say 375 air safety violations reported this year: Jayant Sinha (India) DJI forces UK pilots to sit a 'knowledge quiz' before takeoff NTSB's Paul Schuda Dies in Aircraft Accident EASA orders airlines to replace some Rolls-Royce engines Southwest flight attendant mistakes Tempe father for human trafficker Boeing KC-46 receives 767 certification Legislators Promote Women In Aviation Piper Reports Hefty Increase in Aircraft Deliveries Sonic boom or bust? Dreams of super-fast jet travel revival face headwinds Boeing Seeking Deal With Brazilian Aerospace Titan Boeing, flydubai Finalize Order for 175 737 MAX Airplanes SPACE TOURISM: RUSSIA PLANS LUXURY HOTEL ON THE ISS Fly with AvSax 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: British Airways B788 at Montreal on Dec 11th 2017, hot brakes A British Airways Boeing 787-800, registration G-ZBJA performing flight BA-94 from Montreal,QC (Canada) to London Heathrow,EN (UK), was about to depart from Montreal's runway 06R, when emergency services were called out to check the aircraft. The Canadian TSB reported the aircraft was accelerating for takeoff from Montreal's runway 06R when the crew rejected takeoff at low speed and declared emergency reporting overheating brakes. The aircraft slowed and stopped, emergency services responded and checked the aircraft. Following the checks the aircraft was able to depart without hassle. A video taken by ground observers makes clear the aircraft was holding short of runway 06R reporting ready for departure when tower advised there was smoke coming from the right hand side, engine or main gear, subsequently clarifying a Dash pilot reported the smoke was coming from the main gear. Emergency services responded, checked the aircraft, which subsequently lined up runway 06R and departed. The occurrence aircraft departed about 20 minutes after the rejected takeoff. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b29e967&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Aeroflot A320 enroute on Dec 18th 2017, cargo shifted in flight An Aeroflot Airbus A320-200, registration VQ-BIU performing flight SU-1161 from Rostov to Moscow Sheremetyevo (Russia) with 129 passengers and 6 crew, completed what appeared to be an uneventful flight with a safe landing in Moscow. When ground handlers wanted to unload the luggage from the cargo bays, they found a luggage container in the aft cargo bay had not been fastened, the locks were still open. The container had shifted in flight, however, without causing any damage. Rosaviatsia opened an investigation into the occurrence. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b29dd0b&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Taftan MD82 at Tehran on Dec 18th 2017, engine shut down in flight A Taftan Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-82, registration EP-CBI performing flight HH-6245 from Tehran Mehrabad to Ahwaz (Iran) with 159 passengers and 10 crew, was in the initial climb out of Tehran when the crew stopped the climb due to an engine (JT8D) failure and returned to Tehran for a safe landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b29cd65&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Skywest CRJ2 at Ithaca on Dec 17th 2017, flaps problem A Skywest Canadair CRJ-200 on behalf of Delta Airlines, registration N931EV performing flight OO-7390/DL-7390 from Detroit,MI to Ithaca,NY (USA), was on approach to Ithaca (longest runway 2130 meters/6980 feet) when the crew stopped the descent at 3500 feet due to a problem with the flaps. The crew subsequently decided to divert to Syracuse (longest runway 2740 meters/9000 feet), prepared for a landing at a higher than normal speed and performed a safe landing at a higher speed (about 170 knots over ground) on Syracuse's runway 10 about 30 minutes after aborting the approach to Ithaca. A passenger reported the crew announced multiple attempts to deploy the flaps into landing position failed, they would diverted to Syracuse and land at a faster than normal speed, hard braking and reverse thrust would be used. After the aircraft had reached the apron, the passengers were kept on board for about 30 minutes, then disembarked, the bags were unloaded and the passengers were sent to Ithaca on taxis. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/SKW7390/history/20171218/0255Z/KDTW/KITH http://avherald.com/h?article=4b294f17&opt=0 Back to Top United flight makes emergency landing after smoke reported on aircraft A United Airlines flight made an emergency landing in College Station on Thursday after smoke was reported onboard the aircraft. COLLEGE STATION, Tex. (KBTX)- An airplane made an emergency landing in College Station on Thursday after smoke was reported onboard the aircraft, reports CBS affiliate KBTX. According to online flight records, United Airlines Flight 6266 departed Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston at 6:04 p.m. and landed at Easterwood Airport at 6:43 p.m. The plane was en route to Boise, Idaho before it was diverted due to a report of smoke in the fuselage of the aircraft. Mesa Airlines sent a statement to KHOU 11 News Thursday evening confirming they were operating the United Express Flight 6266. The flight diverted to College Station due to a mechanical issue, the airlines said. "We have our two young children with us, so we're just glad to be safe and on the ground," said passenger Troy Schrenk. He said he never saw smoke in the cabin, but it did "feel considerably warmer" than normal. Firefighters responding to the incident were unable to find the source of the smoke, according to College Station Fire Battalion Chief Greg Rodgers. Smoke detectors on the aircraft were activated around the same time flight attendants saw smoke, about 7 minutes after take-off from IAH, according to the College Station Fire Department. Firefighters said nothing was found by crews in cabin or cargo areas. No injuries were reported and officials said the plane was at full capacity. All passengers safely unloaded and their baggage was retrieved. A new plane is scheduled to arrive at 9:10 p.m. and will depart for Boise at 9:40 p.m. http://www.khou.com/news/united-flight-makes-emergency-landing-after-smoke-reported-on- aircraft/501599427 Back to Top Back to Top Tool bag may have caused Ontario helicopter crash that killed 4: Transportation Safety Board Though their investigation is still considered preliminary, the Transportation Safety Board says a cloth tool bag was blown off a platform attached to the side of the chopper during mid-air power line maintenance work and hit the helicopter's tail rotor. Mark Carcasole reports. An improperly secured tool bag hit the rear rotor of a helicopter before the aircraft crashed in eastern Ontario, killing four people on board, the Transportation Safety Board said Thursday, as it issued a warning on the risks of unsecured cargo. The board said its preliminary investigation into the Dec. 14 crash near Tweed, Ont., suggested the tool bag being carried on a platform outside the Hydro One helicopter was the main cause of the deadly incident. Shortly before the crash, the helicopter's pilot picked up three linemen at the base of a high-power transmission tower and was transporting them to a nearby staging area, the TSB said. A few bags used for tools and supplies were being carried on the platform extending out of the right side of the helicopter. The bags are normally secured with double-lock carabiners, the TSB said. "While nearing the staging area, one of the bags ... blew off the platform and along with its attached carabiner struck and damaged the tail rotor," Peter Rowntree, a senior TSB investigator told reporters on Thursday. "A heavily-damaged carabiner, a damaged bag along with the tip of a tail rotor blade were found approximately 600 metres away from the crash site." Investigators also found that two of the three seatbelts in the helicopter's passenger area were unfastened, Rowntree said. "All three passengers became separated from the helicopter while it was still airborne," he said. Rowntree said the TSB investigation into the crash continues and will examine helicopter maintenance records, pilot training, operational policies and previous occurrences involving the helicopter model involved. Weather is not being considered a factor in the crash, he said. The TSB issued a safety advisory Thursday in light of the crash, saying cargo must be adequately secured at all times and warning that passengers who don't wear seat belts risk serious injury or death in an emergency. The men killed in the crash were identified by Hydro One as 39-year-old James Baragar, 27-year- old Kyle Shorrock, and Jeff Howes and Darcy Jansen, both 26. Hydro One has said Baragar, the pilot, had been with the company since 2009. Greg Kiraly, Hydro One's chief operating officer, said Thursday that the utility is treating the matter with "the utmost seriousness." "We are pleased that the TSB has been able to release this preliminary information and we will be incorporating today's safety bulletin into our own review of our operating practices and procedures," Kiraly said. The helicopter did not have a cockpit voice recorder or a flight data recorder, but the TSB has said it recovered a GPS, which will help in the investigation. https://globalnews.ca/news/3929272/hydro-one-helicopter-crash-update/ Back to Top Two guns stopped at BWI Airport in past week, authorities say Two guns were stopped at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport checkpoints in the past week, bringing this year's total to 24 - matching last year's number, the Transportation Security Administration said. The number is up sharply from recent years, both at BWI and airports nationwide, despite ongoing efforts by authorities to remind passengers to leave weapons and other prohibited items at home. The penalty can be stiff, too: Passengers who bring firearms into security areas of airports can face a civil penalty of up to $13,000, and a first offense is often $3,900, according to TSA spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein. In the most recent incident, Jerome Best, 69, of Syracuse, N.Y., was arrested after TSA officers found a loaded, .38 caliber gun in his carry-on luggage at the airport Wednesday, the Transportation Security Administration said. Best faces state weapons charges, Maryland Transportation Authority police said. TSA officers found the gun as it was going through the X-Ray machine, the agency said. He told authorities he forgot he was carrying his "38 Special" handgun with him, the TSA said. No attorney was listed for Best, and he could not be reached for comment at a phone number listed for his Syracuse home Thursday. In the earlier incident, Joseph Johnson, 30, was arrested Dec. 13 at the airport with a .380 caliber gun with an obliterated serial number, loaded with six bullets, including one in the chamber, the TSA said. When the gun went across the X-Ray monitor, Johnson "realized his attempt at sneaking the gun past the checkpoint had been thwarted, and he left the checkpoint area," the TSA said. Johnson - who was prohibited from possessing a weapon, according to Maryland Transportation Authority Police - faces a slew of charges, including illegally possessing a gun and obliterating the serial number, in addition to usual state weapons charges. An attorney listed for Johnson did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday. Passengers traveling through any airport should make sure any prohibited items are removed before leaving the house, said Maryland Transportation Authority Police spokesman Lt. Kevin Ayd. "The MDTA Police remind passengers to double check their carry-on bags prior to traveling," Ayd said. http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-bwi-gun-20171221-story.html Back to Top 375 air safety violations reported this year: Jayant Sinha (India) According to Jayant Sinha, DGCA has carried out five regulatory audits of the scheduled airlines to detect any deviations/ non-compliance to the laid down regulations. NEW DELHI: As many as 375 air safety violations have been reported till December 15 this year, the government told the Lok Sabha today. Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha said there were 431 air safety violations reported in 2016. "However, in the year 2017 (till December 15) there have been 375 air safety violations. Therefore, the number of air safety violations reported in the current year has not increased compared to previous year," he said in a written reply. According to Sinha, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has carried out five regulatory audits of the scheduled airlines to detect any deviations/ non-compliance to the laid down regulations. "The findings made during the audits were followed up with concerned operator for the appropriate remedial action," he added. However, details about timeline and airlines were not disclosed. Sinha said, "lack of proper system to facilitate management of the distribution and revision of operational documents" and "accident/ incident reporting system is not proper" were among the salient audit observations. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/375-air-safety- violations-reported-this-year-jayant-sinha/articleshow/62194539.cms Back to Top DJI forces UK pilots to sit a 'knowledge quiz' before takeoff The questions will appear inside the DJI GO 4 app. If you're hoping for a DJI drone this Christmas, be prepared for one teeny-tiny roadblock as you rush into the back garden with controller in hand. Today, the company has announced a mandatory "Knowledge Quiz" for all of its customers in the UK. It will live in the DJI GO 4 app - which is basically required to use the company's snap-on controller - and pose eight questions about safe, common sense flying. In short, you won't be able to fly until you've answered them all successfully. So if you haven't already, it's worth swatting up on our handy guide to UK drone regulations. DJI launched a similar quiz for US pilots earlier this year. The UK-specific version has the blessing of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which oversees British drone laws, and the ARPAS-UK, a trade association for remotely piloted aircraft. The quiz also precedes new legislation, due in spring 2018, that will force UK drone pilots to sit a safety awareness test. It's not clear, however, if DJI's knowledge quiz is the same, or supplementary, to this government exam. Regardless, it sounds like a good initiative to ensure drone-related accidents are kept to a minimum. https://www.engadget.com/2017/12/21/dji-drone-knowledge-quiz-pilots-uk/ Back to Top NTSB's Paul Schuda Dies in Aircraft Accident * Senior official also served as a Major in the Civil Air Patrol. Dr. Paul Schuda, Director of the NTSB Training Center, discussed the art and science of aircraft accident investigation during a June class. Paul Schuda, director of the NTSB Training Center in Ashburn, Virginia, died last Saturday when the Cessna 210 he was riding in crashed in southeastern Indiana approximately 40 miles northwest of Cincinnati. The aircraft impacted the ground in a heavily wooded area at approximately 9 p.m. local time. The accident also claimed the life of the pilot, Louis Cantilena, and his daughter. Two dogs were also aboard the aircraft, one of which survived. According to the Associated Press, Indiana State Police Sgt. Wheeles said the Cessna had taken off from an airport outside Columbus, Indiana, while en route from Kansas City, Missouri, to Frederick, Maryland. Reports indicate the aircraft began losing altitude southwest of Oldenburg Indiana at 8:52 p.m. ET and disappeared from radar a short time later. Both Schuda and Cantilena were majors in the Civil Air Patrol, the civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. Schuda served as the Capitol Wing's standardization/evaluation officer and assistant director of operations. He was also an instructor at CAP's Col. Roland Butler Powered Flight Academy at Blackstone, Virginia and previously worked as the Congressional Squadron's chief of staff from 2006-2012. Schuda previously served as deputy director for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Policy and Special Projects staff and as a professor of chemistry at the University of Maryland, College Park. In a statement, Schuda's family said, "He found his calling. He loved his work. He was a great husband and father." Paul Schuda is survived by his wife and two grown children. The NTSB is investigating the cause of the accident. https://www.flyingmag.com/ntsbs-paul-schuda-dies-in-aircraft-accident Back to Top EASA orders airlines to replace some Rolls-Royce engines FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The European aviation safety regulator ordered airlines to replace some Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines on their aircraft as some components are suspected of having corroded. FILE PHOTO - A Rolls-Royce logo is seen at the company aerospace engineering and development site in Bristol in Britain December 17, 2015. REUTERS/Toby Melville The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said, to reduce the risk of both engines shutting down in flight, a new life cycle limit must be applied to 15 engines with specific serial numbers. In cases where a plane has two affected engines installed, airlines must replace one of them, it said in an Emergency Airworthiness Directive published on its website on Thursday. Rolls-Royce told investors in August that 400 to 500 Trent 1000 engines were affected by problems with components wearing out earlier than expected, according to a conference call transcript. The affected engines are primarily installed on Boeing 787 aircraft, according to EASA. "This directive mandates action we are taking as part of the continual development of our pro- active engine management program," a Rolls-Royce spokesman said. Several airlines including Air New Zealand, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Japan's ANA Holdings have previously reported problems with Rolls-Royce Trent engines, leading to extra inspection and maintenance and prompting them to cancel or delay some flights. British Airways, ANA, Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines' low-cost arm Scoot said they did not have any of the specific engines referred to in the directive in their fleets. A Boeing spokesman declined immediate comment. The Trent 1000 powered the first 787-8 to enter service in 2011. The latest version of the engine, the Trent 1000 TEN, entered service in November and will power Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft operated by Air New Zealand, Norwegian and Scoot. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-rolls-royce-hldg-engines/easa-orders-airlines-to-replace-some- rolls-royce-engines-idUSKBN1EF18L Back to Top Southwest flight attendant mistakes Tempe father for human trafficker The family of a man questioned by officers at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport-suspected of human trafficking with his daughter as the victim-said Southwest Airlines needs to update its employee training. TEMPE, Ariz. - The family of a man questioned by officers at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport-suspected of human trafficking with his daughter as the victim-said Southwest Airlines needs to update its employee training. It happened Wednesday, and Renee and Brian Smith said they didn't want the airline to stop working to prevent human trafficking, they just want to make sure its employees are trained on the diversity of today's families so actual victims don't fall through the cracks. When Brian and his daughter, Georgiana, landed at Sky Harbor, they never expected to be greeted by two officers at the gate. "The one officer starts walking with me and I just think, it's just a random interview," Brian Smith said, adding, "they just mentioned that the flight attendant had some concerns with the passenger that I was with." The attendant's concern - that his 16-year-old-daughter-adopted from China-may be a victim of human trafficking. Brian Smith wondered, "Are people properly trained, you know, at Southwest ... will I be profiled because I have an Asian daughter?" Mom and big brother were on the same flight, but sitting one row behind. "If they're making mistakes, then they could do a better job," Renee Smith said. Other than their daughter not being Caucasian like them, the Smiths were confused about what may have been behind the concerns. "With the proper training or the proper questions, rather than, 'Do you want a drink? 'Do you want a snack?' This could've all been avoided," Brian Smith said. Southwest Airlines emailed 12 News the following statement: "We extend a heartfelt apology to the family who flies often with us. Following conversations with authorities on the ground after the flight, we're continuing our conversation with the family and with our Employees whose vigilance is aimed at aiding law enforcement in successfully stopping a growing number of trafficking situations. Our Flight Attendants undergo training to recognize expert-identified, common behavioral indicators of such situations. A look at Southwest's workforce and the hundreds of thousands of Customers we carry everyday highlights a celebration of diversity that's at the Heart of Southwest's every success." The Smiths said Thursday, in a day when families come in all colors, shapes and sizes, awareness and training needed to keep up for the safety of all children. "When profiling takes place, they're missing real victims because they're focusing on people who aren't victims," Renee said. Renee worried about the impact on Georgiana, who is diagnosed with a communication disorder. "She processes things different than people who don't have that disorder," Renee explained. The Smiths said Thursday afternoon, after calling the airline Wednesday, they had yet to hear back. http://www.12news.com/news/local/arizona/southwest-flight-attendant-mistakes-tempe-father-for- human-trafficker-1/501631815 Back to Top Boeing KC-46 receives 767 certification The Boeing has received an amended type certificate for the 767-2C that serves as the baseline aircraft for conversion into the US Air Force KC-46A tanker, the company says. Boeing expects to deliver the first KC-46 to the air force next year but first must receive two certifications from the US Federal Aviation Administration. In addition to the amended certification for the 767-2C, the programme is still working on qualifying for a supplemental type certification for the modifications required to convert the aircraft into a military tanker. "We continue to make good progress on the STC effort - 83% complete at present -- and have moved into the FAA flight testing phase," Boeing KC-46 programme manager Mike Gibbons says in a statement. Prior to the 767 certification, Boeing completed a series of ground and flight tests focusing on the aircraft's avionics, autoflight and environmental control systems, as well as its new fuel system. Boeing has six KC-46 test aircraft supporting the certification effort. So far, KC-46s have refueled four different fighters -- F-16, F/A-18, AV-8B and A-10 -- and three airlifters or tankers, including the C-17, KC-10 and other KC-46 aircraft. In a report last spring, the Government Accountability Office attributed some of the KC-46 programme's schedule delays to delayed FAA certifications. https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/boeing-kc-46-receives-767-certification-444409/ Back to Top Legislators Promote Women In Aviation Bipartisan bills introduced in the House and Senate this week aim to promote aviation education and careers for women and girls. Senators Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, sponsored a bill that would promote expanding the role of women in the aviation workforce. The bill would direct the FAA to create a Women in Aviation Advisory Board, and to submit a report to Congress on the status of women in aviation today and how opportunities for them could be expanded. Also, in the House, Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-Conn., and Rep. Steve Knight, R-Calif., introduced the Women in Aerospace Education Act. The act aims to support programs that would engage girls at a young age and encourage them to enter fields that have historically had few women participating. It also would encourage universities to incorporate aerospace engineering experiences at the National Laboratories and NASA into their teacher-training curriculum, and would direct NASA to strengthen the promotion of NASA internship and fellowship programs toward women. This wouldn't affect the selection process for these programs, but would focus on the marketing and recruiting strategies, to encourage more women to apply. "For many years, the aerospace industry has been predominantly male, despite the fact that women have equally excelled in the STEM fields of study," said Rep. Knight. "By actively engaging this half of the workforce to enter the industry, this bill will help ensure the lasting dominance of American air and space innovation." The Act was passed by the House on Tuesday, by a vote of 409-17. https://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Legislators-Promote-Women-In-Aviation-230079-1.html Back to Top Piper Reports Hefty Increase in Aircraft Deliveries * Demand for training aircraft remains strong. Piper Aircraft reported a double-digit growth in aircraft revenue and deliveries in 2017. What better way to interpret the economic tea leaves than a peek at the end-of-year numbers. For Piper Aircraft, data released yesterday showed a company-reported, double-digit growth in aircraft revenue and deliveries in 2017. Prominent in those numbers was the increase in demand for Piper's training and M-class aircraft. While GAMA's 2017 year-end data on Piper is not yet available, 3rd quarter shipments indicate the company was on track to exceed 2016's 127 aircraft delivered. Following GAMA's November report that showed Piper had already delivered 99 aircraft this year, a Piper spokesman told Flying the company expects total deliveries this year to reach 160 airframes. Piper said increased demand resulted in a rise in production volume significant enough that employee count at the Vero Beach aircraft builder climbed to more than 900, 300 of which joined the company in the past 18 months, representing a 20 percent increase in workers. Company CEO Simon Caldecott said, "With aircraft orders in place for 2018 and several long-term contracts for trainer aircraft, the near-term forecast is stable. Additionally, our commitment to a level-loaded, build to order business model further enhances stability and creates consistent work load for the team." Level-loading balances production to ensure the company has adequate staff on site. Piper's fleet ranges from single and twin-engine piston powered aircraft to single-engine turboprops. https://www.flyingmag.com/piper-reports-hefty-increase-in-aircraft-deliveries Back to Top Sonic boom or bust? Dreams of super-fast jet travel revival face headwinds (Reuters) - Supersonic passenger travel, which died out with the Concorde's demise in 2003, will make a comeback by the mid-2020s if three entrepreneurial U.S.-based companies can make jets quiet and efficient enough to win over buyers and fliers. An artist's impression shows Boom's 55-seat supersonic aircraft (below) and Boom's XB-1 supersonic demonstrator in this undated handout obtained by Reuters December 4, 2017. REUTERS/Boom Supersonic Handout via REUTERS Fifteen years ago, Boeing Co (BA.N) canceled plans to build the near-supersonic Sonic Cruiser, the last big attempt by a major manufacturer to speed up commercial travel. Now Japan Airlines Co Ltd (9201.T) and Virgin Group are backing one of the three U.S. supersonic projects, Denver-based Boom Technology Inc, which plans a 55-seat all business class jet. Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) is partnering with Aerion Corp to develop smaller supersonic business jets, with Spike Aerospace Inc also targeting the private jet market given many see the super-rich as the likeliest early adopters of supersonic travel. Concorde was developed in the 1960s, meaning this is hardly a new technology. But the program was government-backed, with only 14 jets ever delivered to then-government owned British Airways (ICAG.L) and Air France (AIRF.PA). Other airline orders evaporated as the purchase price soared and they were eventually retired as maintenance costs rose and passenger revenue fell. New players are relying on venture capital funding models. "This is more about engines and economics than it is about airframes," Richard Aboulafia, the vice president of analysis at aerospace research firm Teal Group, said of the challenges of a supersonic revival. To make the project economics stack up the engines need to be far more fuel efficient and less noisy than those used by Concorde or fighter jets. That has proven tough to engineer, especially at higher speeds like the Concorde's Mach 2, which halved the travel time from London to New York to 3.5 hours. 'REALISTIC PROJECT' Engine manufacturers and jet makers have spent decades improving fuel efficiency, expanding range and reducing noise. But to get up to mach speed, a supersonic jet requires an engine core more like those on the commercial jets of the 1970s and 1980s which noisily gobble more air and fuel. "A large fraction of the benefits we have in efficiency and noise reduction we are going to lose as soon as we have to go back to that sort of architecture," said Daniel Edgington-Mitchell, an aerospace engineering lecturer at Melbourne's Monash University. Aerion, the most advanced of the proposed supersonic jet projects, is working with GE Aviation (GE.N) to develop an engine based on a core used in F-16 fighters and Boeing 737s that was developed in the 1970s, a GE spokesman said. In a sign of the challenges involved using an older engine core rather than spending $1 billion-plus to engineer a new one, Aerion has reduced the jet's planned speed from Mach 1.6 to 1.4. Today's top business jets fly at around Mach 0.9 and commercial jets at Mach 0.85. Jeff Miller, Aerion's head of marketing, said the speed had fallen to meet noise standards and due to temperature limits involved with adapting an existing engine core. Aerion, chaired by billionaire businessman Robert Bass, plans for the 12-seat, $120 million jet to make its first test flight in 2023, with entry into service in 2025. "Aerion has researched the problems since 2003 and therefore reached the highest degree of realism," Leeham Co analyst Bjorn Fehrm said, comparing it to the loftier supersonic ambitions of Boom and Spike. "If one wants to go faster, a suitable core is harder to find." FASTER IS BETTER Boom wants a $200 million jet capable of Mach 2.2 and Spike aims for a $100 million jet at Mach 1.6, down from an earlier Mach 1.8. Both want their jets to enter service in 2023, two years earlier than Aerion. Several industry sources said those timelines appeared unrealistic because the companies have yet to select engines and will face testing and certification challenges. Boom founder and CEO Blake Scholl said the company was examining an adaptation of an existing engine as well as a clean-sheet option, with more to say next year. Spike CEO Vik Kachoria said his company was in talks with two engine suppliers. Both are working on smaller demonstrator aircraft with different engines designed to prove the concept is achievable within their proposed timeframes. Engine maker Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC (RR.L) said it was interested in supersonic work. United Technologies Corp's (UTX.N) Pratt & Whitney division said it was "not currently" working with Boom and did not respond to a question on Spike, while GE did not provide comment on either project. Scholl said airlines need a speed of at least Mach 2 to make the supersonic business case stake up because that would shave one day off a trans-Atlantic itinerary and two days off trans-Pacific trips. For now, only over-water itineraries are under consideration due to widespread bans on civilian supersonic flights over land. "Faster speeds not only are better for passengers, they are better for airlines, who get to turn the plane around and fly more segments in the same day, possibly even with the same crew," Scholl said. Japan Airlines and Virgin Group, which declined to comment, have a combined 30 options over Boom jets, with three other as-yet-unnamed customers signed on for another 46. Former British Airways chief Concorde pilot Mike Bannister said the biggest hurdle for Boom was to develop jets at a price that would stack up for airlines, or early orders would evaporate as they had with Concorde. "The technical challenges, whilst great, are surmountable," said Bannister, who was the captain of the last-ever commercial Concorde flight and has advised Boom's team. "It is an absolute delight to be able to see on the horizon the prospect of another supersonic airliner, particularly for my family because my daughter who is 24 is a commercial pilot. I would love to see my daughter flying it." https://www.reuters.com/article/us-airplane-supersonic/sonic-boom-or-bust-dreams-of-super-fast- jet-travel-revival-face-headwinds-idUSKBN1EG0GI Back to Top Boeing Seeking Deal With Brazilian Aerospace Titan * Options are said to include a partnership to market planes * Talks follow European planemaker's deal with Bombardier An eagle design sits on the nose of an Embraer SA E195-E2 aircraft. Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg Boeing Co. is considering a "potential combination" with Brazil's Embraer SA, the companies said, setting the stage for a blockbuster deal that would expand the U.S. aerospace giant's reach into the highly competitive market for smaller jets. The options include a joint venture that would enable the companies to cross-sell their complementary lineups of commercial jets and negotiate better deals with suppliers, said a person familiar with the matter. Such a partnership would stop short of a politically risky takeover by Boeing, said the person, who asked not to be named because the talks are private. Boeing's potential Embraer deal raises the prospect of a duopoly with Airbus SE that would extend into the market for smaller planes, where manufacturers in Canada, Russia, Japan and China are emerging as competitive threats. Airbus secured its role two months ago by agreeing to take control of Bombardier Inc.'s C Series program -- the target of a trade complaint by Boeing. "That space is just not big enough, in my view, to support more than two OEMs," said John Plueger, chief executive officer of Air Lease Corp., using an industry acronym for original equipment manufacturers. Embraer's American depositary receipts jumped a record 22 percent to $24.42 at the close in New York. Boeing fell 1 percent to $295.03. The Chicago-based company's 90 percent advance this year is the biggest on the Dow Jones Industrial Average. 'Under Discussion' The planemakers provided few details publicly beyond saying that the shape of the tie-up "remains under discussion," and would require approval by the Brazilian government, regulators and Embraer shareholders. An outright acquisition would be Boeing's largest since it bought U.S. rival McDonnell Douglas Corp. in 1997, and would advance a consolidation wave sweeping through the aerospace sector. While Boeing has focused on "bolt-on" deals since then, Chief Executive Officer Dennis Muilenburg and chief strategist Greg Smith signaled a willingness to consider bolder strategic moves this year when they promoted Kent Fisher, a rising star, to head the team that handles large mergers and strategic partnerships. But a takeover would mark a shift away from the company's emphasis on handing cash back to shareholders through dividends and stock buybacks, a key driver of this year's stock surge. It would also be likely to spark political opposition -- and Brazil holds a "golden share" in Embraer that gives it veto power over an acquisition. Presidential Power Brazilian President Michel Temer told defense officials he won't allow control of the company to change hands, according to the newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo. "National pride is an important consideration here that could define the structure of these arrangements," Robert Spingarn, an aerospace analyst at Credit Suisse Group AG, said in a note to clients Thursday. "Accordingly, we think JVs could be preferable in certain circumstances over outright mergers." For years, Boeing and Airbus have focused on larger, more profitable jetliners and shifted away from planes with 100 seats or less, which have similar development costs while selling for commodity-like prices. Airbus's deal with Bombardier, and Boeing's talks with Embraer, signal that the big planemakers intend to deny a foothold to newcomers such as Russia's Sukhoi. A closer relationship with Embraer would also offer benefits to Boeing beyond having a product to compete with an Airbus-backed C Series, JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s Carlos Louro and Seth Seifman said in a report. One is the chance to develop low-cost manufacturing capability, since Boeing makes all its planes in the U.S, they said. Another is to benefit from the same supply-chain efficiencies that Airbus and Bombardier are planning. A third is the opportunity to limit potential cooperation between Embraer and China's Comac, an emerging rival. Created in 1969 by the Brazilian government and privatized in 1994, Embraer has been held up as a source of national pride and an example of efficiency and innovation in a commodities-driven country, though corruption scandals in the past few years have tainted that image. Airbus Competition The Sao Jose dos Campos-based company has enjoyed a collegial relationship with Boeing over the years. The news of Airbus's C Series venture fanned speculation that the two might draw closer to ward off the competitive threat. Boeing is also Embraer's commercial and maintenance partner for the KC-390, a military cargo plane still being developed. The landscape for commercial aerospace -- and Embraer's upgraded E2 jets -- changed when Bombardier shocked the industry by handing over the C Series to Airbus at no cost after pouring $6 billion into the narrow-body program. "I'm sure Embraer's view of the likely success of their product in the E2 was materially altered by the Airbus transaction for the C Series,'' said Carter Copeland, an analyst at Melius Research. "They went from competing against a distressed Bombardier to competing against a healthy and extremely competitive entity in Airbus. That changes the mindset of the leadership team at Embraer.'' https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-22/boeing-explores-embraer-tie-up-to-match- airbus-s-small-jet-foray Back to Top Boeing, flydubai Finalize Order for 175 737 MAX Airplanes * Largest single-aisle jet order in Middle East history pushes total MAX orders above 4,200 * Airline to fly several models of 737 MAX family to suit its growing network DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Dec. 21, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] and flydubai finalized the purchase of 175 737 MAX airplanes in the largest single-aisle jet order in Middle East history. The deal - which includes options for an additional 50 jets - is valued at $27 billion at current list prices. Announced as a commitment at the 2017 Dubai Airshow, the deal allows flydubai to take advantage of the 737 MAX family's flexibility and commonality, while using the unique size and range of the MAX 8, MAX 9 and MAX 10 to suit its growing network. "I am delighted that we end 2017 with today's announcement representing the next chapter in flydubai's success story," said Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO, flydubai. "This is our largest order in our eight-year history and our third order with Boeing whose aircraft have given us the ability to carry 44 million passengers since we began operations. With up to 296 aircraft on order, we have become one of the world's top ten airlines in terms of order backlog and we look forward to continuing to enhance the connectivity of Dubai's aviation hub." flydubai, an all-Boeing operator, first ordered the 737 MAX in 2013 with a purchase of 75 jets. The carrier has taken delivery of five MAX airplanes from that order. "We are excited to finalize this landmark agreement with our partners at flydubai and we thank them for placing their trust in the 737 MAX family," said Ihssane Mounir, senior vice president, Global Sales & Marketing, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "As one of the first operators of the 737 MAX 8, their order for more models-including the recently launched MAX 10-is a vote of confidence in the MAX family's exceptional fuel efficiency, reliability and flexibility. We look forward to hundreds of MAX airplanes supporting flydubai's continued success." The 737 MAX has racked up 640 net orders this year and more than 4,200 orders since the program launched, making the MAX the best-selling airplane in Boeing history. The MAX family of airplanes offers seating for about 130 to just over 200 passengers with a range of 3,200 to 3,800 nautical miles. All of the jets use the latest technology CFM International LEAP-1B engines, Advanced Technology winglets and other improvements to deliver the highest efficiency, reliability and passenger comfort in the single-aisle market. Contact: Saffana Michael Boeing Commercial Airplanes +9 7150-4590651 saffana.michael2@boeing.com http://www.morningstar.com/news/pr-news-wire/PRNews_20171221SF75719/boeing-flydubai- finalize-order-for-175-737-max-airplanes.html Back to Top SPACE TOURISM: RUSSIA PLANS LUXURY HOTEL ON THE ISS Russia's space agency is planning a new luxury hotel module for the International Space Station (ISS) that will allow space tourists to visit the satellite for up to a month at a time. A detailed business proposal from the Roscosmos State Corporation seen by Popular Mechanics revealed that the high-comfort module would contain four private sleeping quarters and would cost visitors between $40 million and $60 million per trip. Tourists would also have the opportunity to take part in a space walk alongside professional astronauts aboard the ISS, as well as have access to exercise equipment, WiFi and personal washing facilities. The 51-foot-long hotel module would reportedly resemble the Science and Power Module (NEM-1), which is scheduled for delivery to the ISS in 2021. American astronaut Joseph Tanner waves to the camera during a space walk as part of the STS-115 mission to the International Space Station, September 2006. Future space tourists could be able to take part in space walks with professional astronauts. NASA/GETTY IMAGES The luxury hotel is expected to cost between $279 million and $446 million to build and will be funded with a mix of private and state investments. Passengers will be expected to pay for the trip in installments, beginning two years before their launch date. Other space tourism projects currently under development include private ventures by Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic, Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin, and Russian firm KosmoKurs. Earlier this year, Blue Origin unveiled concept images of a capsule that it hopes will take passengers to the edge of the Earth's atmosphere, 62 miles above the planet. In a video released last week, Blue Origin showed what a trip might look like with a test flight using mannequin passengers in place of humans. Bezos said one of the biggest draws to his firm for any potential tourist is that the capsules will feature the "largest windows ever in space," allowing passengers to fully appreciate the curvature of the Earth. "We've been designing the capsule interior with an eye toward precision engineering, safety, and comfort," Bezos said in March. "Every seat's a window seat." Read more: China plans world's biggest rocket in space tourism race Blue Origin hopes to take the first paying passengers to the edge of space within the next two years, while KosmoKurs says it expects to receive its first passengers in 2020. Virgin Galactic is yet to set a date for when its craft will be passenger-ready, though it has already started accepting money from customers interested in coming aboard. "When we are confident we can safely carry our customers to space, we will start doing so," the company said in a statement last year. "We feel incredibly honored that our earliest paying customers already number more than the total number of humans who have ever been to space." http://www.newsweek.com/space-tourism-russia-plans-luxury-hotel-iss-755392 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 Curt Lewis