Flight Safety Information December 29, 2017 - No. 259 In This Issue Incident: France A388 near Los Angeles on Dec 27th 2017, engine shut down in flight Incident: Lingus A332 at Dublin on Dec 28th 2017, engine shut down in flight Saab 340B - Ground Damage during Towing, Fatality (Japan) Kuwaiti flight to Doha returns due to smoke emission EVAS - Cockpit Smoke Protection ANA flight's mid-air U-turn could result in criminal charges India Grounds Hundreds of Airbus A-320 (NEO) Due to Technical Snag PNG Acting Prime Minister expresses Condolences to Pilots family 'AI's 28 pilots and 9 cabin crew skipped alcohol test in 2017' (India) NZ pilots want tougher penalties for laser attacks Federal oversight of booming regional airlines lacking, investigation finds Aircraft flying on one engine triggers scramble by emergency responders in Butte EVA 777 followed wrong taxi line before pole strike Nepal Airlines seeks consultant to help with operations GE Achieves First ATP Engine Run 'Why African Airlines Pay Higher Insurance Premium' Airlines likely to hire over 7000 pilots in next 5 years (India) Tim Cook required to fly only by private jet EgyptAir signs firm order for 12 Bombardier CSeries aircraft with list price of $1.1 billion Airbus confirms $50 billion jet order, one of the biggest aviation deals in history New Airplane Design Could Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions Russia Says Programming Error Caused Failure of Satellite Launch International Space Experts to Attend Embry-Riddle's 4th Annual Space Traffic Management Conference Certificate Program in Safety Management Systems from SCSI Incident: France A388 near Los Angeles on Dec 27th 2017, engine shut down in flight An Air France Airbus A380-800, registration F-HPJG performing flight AF-66 from Paris Charles de Gaulle (France) to Los Angeles,CA (USA), was descending towards Los Angeles when the crew needed to shut the #2 engine (GP7270, inboard left hand) down due to a low oil pressure indication. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on runway 25L. The airline confirmed the aircraft landed with the #2 engine shut down following a low oil pressure indication. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/AFR66/history/20171227/0920Z/LFPG/KLAX http://avherald.com/h?article=4b2eb5d1&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Lingus A332 at Dublin on Dec 28th 2017, engine shut down in flight An Aer Lingus Airbus A330-200, registration EI-LAX performing flight EI-145 from Dublin (Ireland) to Los Angeles,CA (USA) with 262 passengers and 11 crew, was in the initial climb out of Dublin's runway 28 when the crew reported a fire indication on the right hand engine (CF6), stopped the climb at 5000 feet, worked the related checklists, shut the engine down and discharged a fire agent. The crew subsequently decided to divert to Shannon (Ireland) due to runway requirement. Tower reported he had observed smoke from the engine on departure. The aircraft climbed to 5000 feet for the diversion to Shannon. Shannon approach reported (Dublin) tower had observed no smoke whatsoever. The aircraft burned off fuel at 3000 feet and landed safely on Shannon's runway 06 about 50 minutes after departure and stopped on the runway, the crew advised again they had a fire indication on the right hand engine upon departure from Dublin. Emergency services found no evidence of fire, the aircraft taxied to the apron, where the passengers disembarked normally. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b2ea4ba&opt=0 Back to Top Saab 340B - Ground Damage during Towing, Fatality (Japan) Date: 29-DEC-2017 Time: 12:50 LT Type: Saab 340B Owner/operator: Japan Coast Guard Registration: JA8952 C/n / msn: 340B-405 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 Other fatalities: 1 Airplane damage: Minor Location: Kagoshima Airport (KOJ/RJFK) - Japan Phase: Pushback / towing Nature: Departure airport: Destination airport: Narrative: A male mechanic of Japan Air Commuter received fatal injury when a Saab 340B of Japan Coast Guard, JA8952 named 'Umitsubame (stormy petrel)', tilted left during a tow back to a hanger for maintenance. The left main landing gear was retracted, and the head of the mechanic was caught between the left wing and the ground. Japan Air Commuter undertakes periodic inspections of Saab 340B's of Japan Coast Guard at Kagoshima Airport. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=203539 Back to Top Kuwaiti flight to Doha returns due to smoke emission KUWAIT CITY, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- A Kuwaiti passenger flight for Doha returned to Kuwait airport due to a smoke emission from the luggage compartment, the Kuwait Airways Corporation (KAC) said Thursday. The plane landed safely with passengers aboard unharmed, KAC said in a statement. Measures in line with international aviation safety standards were taken but no fault has been found, the KAC said. Established in 1953 as a private company, KAC is considered one of the oldest companies in the Gulf. The firm was acquired by the Kuwaiti government in 1962. http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-12/29/c_136858361.htm Back to Top Back to Top ANA flight's mid-air U-turn could result in criminal charges The FBI is weighing criminal charges against two brothers who got on a Tokyo-bound flight together in Los Angeles allegedly using a single boarding pass, forcing the plane to turn around mid-flight. Law enforcement sources with knowledge of the situation told ABC News that two brothers went through security at Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday with legitimate tickets, but were booked on separate flights to Tokyo. One had a ticket on an All Nippon Airways flight and the other was booked on a United Airlines plane. The brothers, who have nearly identical names, were able to board the ANA flight together by apparently using a duplicate boarding pass, the sources said. It's unclear how the brother with a United Airlines ticket found a seat on the plane. Their identities have not been revealed, other than being male American citizens. The flight crew didn't become aware of the situation until roughly four hours into the flight. The airline then decided to turn around mid-air and head back to Los Angeles. When the flight landed, the brothers were interviewed by authorities and released. There is no indication anyone was in danger. "During the flight, the cabin crew became aware that one of the passengers boarded the incorrect flight and notified the pilot," ANA said in a statement. "As part of the airline's security procedure, the pilot in command decided to return to the originating airport, where the passenger was disembarked." "ANA is researching the situation currently to determine how the passenger boarded the flight," the airline added. Among the hundreds of frustrated passengers aboard the ANA flight was model Chrissy Teigen and her husband, R&B superstar John Legend. Teigen, who has more than 9.2 million followers on Twitter, sent out a flurry of tweets Tuesday night when the plane made an abrupt U-turn on its way to Japan's capital. By the end of the night, Teigen had sent more than two dozen tweets about the travel nightmare and racked up hundreds of thousands of likes and retweets. The 32-year-old model said she spent a total of eight hours and 20 minutes in the air, only to end up back at Los Angeles International Airport. Newlyweds Devin McIntyre and Justine Williams, both of Washington, D.C., were embarking on their honeymoon after visiting relatives in Los Angeles. They both expressed disappointment that they lost a day from their honeymoon due to the airline's mistake, despite being compensated 30,000 yen, or about $265. "You can't make up a day. There's no compensation that gives us back that day," McIntyre told ABC News after arriving at Tokyo International Airport on Wednesday. "And then the feeling of turning around in the middle of a flight doesn't make sense. We tried to get the rationale on that decision, but nobody would give it to us." The couple described the ordeal as a "horrible experience" and said they do not believe they were compensated enough because the sum "doesn't make up for the lost hotel and restaurant reservations and 24 hours of time in Tokyo." "I mean, everybody on the flight was very nice. The crew and the people on the ground were all police. But, it seemed like there was a lack of leadership," McIntyre said. "Nobody was communicating, and they still need to step up and do the right thing." FBI agents told ABC News on Wednesday night that they aren't in a position to arrest anyone or press charges yet, but the investigation is ongoing. If investigators determine there was intent to board the incorrect flight, one of the brothers could be accused of being a stowaway, which is a federal crime and punishable up to five years in prison. Meanwhile, the airline could face hefty fines from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection for allowing the passenger on board and failing to make an accurate headcount. https://www.yahoo.com/gma/ana-flights-mid-air-u-turn-could-result-153905865--abc-news-topstories.html Back to Top India Grounds Hundreds of Airbus A-320 (NEO) Due to Technical Snag The recurrent technical snag in Pratt & Whitney's engines have dealt a crippling blow to India's largest low-cost carrier IndiGo's business of late with almost eight hundred flights canceled since June. New Delhi (Sputnik) - India's largest low-cost carrier IndiGo had to cancel hundreds of its flight on Friday as American aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney's (P&W) engines powering the Airbus A-320 (NEO) encountered serious technical snags. IndiGo has grounded at least eight NEOs following consistent flaws in the engine; the last one was grounded on Wednesday this week when engine number two of the aircraft NEO (VT-ITK) failed. "Our 8 Neos are grounded. Our schedule was planned in the month of June itself pertaining to non-availability of these aircraft for the month of July, August and September. The affected passengers have already been accommodated with suitable options," an IndiGo spokesperson said. The delivery of A 320 Neo aircraft to Indian operators started in the first quarter of 2016. Subsequently, operators started facing problem with the PW 1100G-JM engine fitted on these aircraft due to wearing of bearing seal plate and combustion chamber distress. "Both Indigo and GoAir have confirmed that these issues have impacted the delivery of aircraft. Further, national carrier Air India has also experienced delay in deliveries of some A320 Neo aircraft fitted with CFM Leap 1A26 engines by few days due to non-availability of engines at Airbus facility," Jayant Sinha, India's Minister for Civil Aviation said. Meanwhile, Airbus has assured India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation that it would soon address the combustion chamber distress problem. "Regrettably, there have been days when we have had to ground as many as nine A320 Neo (planes) due to lack of spare engines. While we do receive certain compensation from Pratt & Whitney for these groundings, the operational disruptions are quite challenging and we are not happy with that situation," Aditya Ghosh, IndiGo president, and whole-time director had said during the post-Q1 earnings call on July 31. https://sputniknews.com/asia/201708181056579190-india-airbus-snag/ Back to Top PNG Acting Prime Minister expresses Condolences to Pilots family Back to Top 'AI's 28 pilots and 9 cabin crew skipped alcohol test in 2017' (India) As part of the safety regulations of Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), all pilots and cabin crew must undergo the breath analyser (BA) test, before and after flights. Twenty eight pilots and nine cabin crew of Air India skipped the mandatory alcohol test this year, the Centre informed parliament today. As part of the safety regulations of Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), all pilots and cabin crew must undergo the breath analyser (BA) test, before and after flights. "As on 21.12.2017, 28 pilots and 9 cabin crew have skipped the BA test," Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha said in response to a question in Lok Sabha. He said the license of these pilots and cabin crew were suspended for three months. Any crew member, who tests positive in the pre-flight medical check or refuses to take a breath analyser test, is taken off flying duty for at least four weeks, and the airline is required to initiate disciplinary proceedings, according to civil aviation rules. Air India was also involved in a controversy earlier this year when the DGCA warned that more than 500 of its pilots and crew could be grounded for skipping the alcohol test. Then Air India CMD Rajiv Bansal had written to the DGCA, requesting it to take a lenient view as he said that the airline management had misinterpreted the rules and had taken corrective measures. http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/ais-28-pilots-and-9-cabin-crew-skipped-alcohol-test-in-2017-2471021.html Back to Top NZ pilots want tougher penalties for laser attacks Pilots want harsher penalties for those caught shining lasers at aircraft as the number of laser attacks continues to rise. Civil Aviation Authority figures show that there were 155 reported laser incidents to the end of November this year, up from 152 incidents in total for 2016. What may seem like a bit of innocuous fun can cause temporary blindness and put small aircraft passengers at risk, is the message from the New Zealand Air Line Pilot's Association. "Lasers are not toys and pilots and air traffic controllers have been very concerned that it would only be a matter of time before a serious accident would result from such dangerous and irresponsible use," NZALPA President and airline pilot Tim Robinson said. NZALPA is pushing for laser attacks to be considered an equivalent offence to high jacking and bomb threats. Laser perpetrators can face up to three years in jail or a fine of $2000 if convicted of possession of a high-power laser or up to 14 years in jail if convicted under the Crimes Act for endangering transport. Mr Robinson said pilots described the temporary blindness and resulting headaches caused by laser pointers "as one of the most terrifying things they've ever gone through". Civil Aviation Authority spokeswoman Philippa Lagan said temporary blindness was really dangerous, especially for smaller aircraft and helicopters that only had one pilot onboard. "While people may think it's a fun thing to do the implications are a massive concern." Ms Lagan said they are working with police and the pilot's association to raise awareness of the risks but were also considering other options if the trend continued. "If the number does continue to go up, a possibility could be lobbying the government to get bans on them," she said. http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2017/12/nz-pilots-want-tougher-penalties-for-laser-attacks.html Back to Top Federal oversight of booming regional airlines lacking, investigation finds The Federal Aviation Administration isn't providing adequate oversight to regional air carriers that now account for more than 40 percent of all U.S. commercial flights, in some cases missing signs of financial distress and failing to fully scrutinize pilot training, an internal investigation has found. "FAA's process for identifying periods of transition and growth at regional air carriers is ineffective in key areas" and "inspectors do not adjust air carrier surveillance in response to changes because the tools they have to assess risk are ineffective," the Transportation Department's inspector general concluded in a report released over the Christmas holidays. The flaws in FAA's oversight of regional carriers were so glaring that one of its manuals contained a mathematical error that artificially inflated the carrier's financial safety scores - and no one noticed, the IG reported. "The instructions tell inspectors to evaluate air carriers in 9 categories on a scale of 1-10; those scores are then tallied for a potential total score of 9-90," the report said. "However, the decision aid actually includes 10 categories, which means the total score should be from 10-100. "Since a higher score indicates a lower risk of financial distress, inspection teams could inadvertently select a lower risk level than they might have if the total score included all 10 categories." The scoring had been used so long that FAA officials did not know "how the risk indicators were developed, why the risk indicators were weighted equally, or if these risk indicators were still valid given today's operating environment," the IG noted. The weak oversight has real consequences beyond scoring, the watchdog warned. For instance, FAA inspectors failed to recognize that Republic Airways Holdings was in financial distress before the air carrier filed for bankruptcy, the report said. Signs of the financial strain that should have been detected included a "drastic decline in stock prices, a decrease in scheduled flights due to a pilot shortage, a lawsuit from one of its mainline partners for failing to complete contractually scheduled flights, and an increase in the pilot attrition rate," the report noted. In another instance, an FAA office received complaints regarding the quality of training and flying skills of new pilots at a regional carrier that was not named in the report. The FAA made plans to conduct observations of new first officers and additional observations of the newly promoted captains at this carrier, but due to lack of resources they only completed a portion of the planned reviews. As a result FAA inspectors did not address the complaint regarding the air carrier's training program and the flying skills of its newly hired pilots, investigators found. The current oversight system is so lax that even a serious deficiency at a carrier can go unfixed, the report added. "Even if a hazard with a high risk is identified, it is possible for inspectors to close out the process without eliminating or mitigating that risk, provided that they consider the new level of risk to be 'acceptable,' the report warned. The report quoted FAA inspectors as saying they had low confidence in the FAA's current Safety Assurance System's ability to detect or target risks at the regional carriers. The FAA "still has a substantial amount of work ahead to effectively implement its risk-based, data-driven oversight system and ensure that its inspectors have the tools, knowledge, and guidance they need to identify risks and adjust surveillance at regional carriers," the inspector general found. The FAA agreed with the inspector general's finding and promised to implement 10 recommended improvements, ranging from changing the defective scoring system to giving inspectors stronger guidance on how to resolve issues they detect in the field. "The FAA is revising its inspector guidance to provide more comprehensive and standardized procedures for air carrier oversight. The FAA is also improving the capabilities and performance of its risk management tools available for FAA inspectors to assess financial distress or rapid growth or downsizing risk," the agency said in a letter to the IG. "These enhancements will result in more consistent inspection practices and will improve the detection of systemic deficiencies and increase the effectiveness of air carrier safety oversight performed by the FAA," the letter added. The findings come as the regional airline industry has become a central cog in commercial travel. During the 1970s regional air carriers were used primarily to provide flights to smaller cities that were unable to support major airline service. Now regional carrier operate 10,000 flights a day that account for more than 40 percent of all commercial flights. And everything from the size of planes to the length of the trips has grown. "The average plane size flown by regional carriers grew from 24 seats in 1990 to 61 in 2015, and the average trip increased from 194 miles in 1990 to 478 miles in 2015," the IG noted. http://thehill.com/policy/transportation/366692-federal-oversight-of-booming-regional-airlines-lacking-investigation Back to Top Aircraft flying on one engine triggers scramble by emergency responders in Butte A Gulfstream III jet aircraft landed shortly after 2 p.m. Thursday at the Bert Mooney Airport in Butte. The aircraft landed without incident, and no injuries were reported. A plane travelling from Kalispell to Salt Lake lost the use of one engine and landed safely in Butte on Thursday afternoon. Police, fire, and other emergency responders scrambled shortly after 2 p.m. Thursday to the Bert Mooney Airport in Butte after a report that a Gulfstream III jet aircraft was inbound with one engine not in service. Ultimately, the aircraft landed without incident and no one was injured. Pam Chamberlin, business manager at Bert Mooney, said the airport became aware of the disabled aircraft after hearing from a control tower in Salt Lake City. Staff there indicated that the pilot was requesting emergency and fire personnel be put on standby, including the airport's own fire department. Emergency crews, told that the aircraft anticipated a hard landing, raced to the airport and vicinity. Butte-Silver Bow Sheriff Ed Lester said a warning light had indicated a potential problem with a thrust reverser and protocol called for the pilot to shut down that engine. Occupants included two pilots and a flight attendant, Lester said, and the plane was headed from Kalispell to Salt Lake City. According to Chamberlin, the plane is owned by Global Air Charters Inc., based out of St. Paul, Minnesota. The names of the pilots and flight attendant are not being released, she said, and the airport will file an incident report with the FAA. Lester said the incident caused "a few moments of anxiety here at the airport and for first responders." http://mtstandard.com/news/local/aircraft-flying-on-one-engine-triggers-scramble-by-emergency-responders/article_480fd68d-584f-5da3-9879-6d0362e6dbef.html Back to Top EVA 777 followed wrong taxi line before pole strike The aircraft had been taxiing at Toronto for departure to Taipei on 2 December. Transportation Safety Board of Canada says the aircraft had been cleared to taxi to runway 33R after de-icing, via taxiways V, E and D. While passing through a pad on the airport's main de-icing facility, the 777 followed the southern taxi line marked '1S' rather than the central line '1C'. The two are parallel and separated by around 30m. As a result the aircraft's right wing struck two light poles, one of which broke off at its base and fell. The 777 (B-16718) sustained substantial damage to the leading edge of its wing and outboard slats. No fuel leak or fire occurred and none of the 240 passengers and 22 crew members was injured. www.flightglobal.com Back to Top Nepal Airlines seeks consultant to help with operations The consultant will have to work on various aspects including developing the airline's flight operations training and standards, be involved in operational audits, prepare the airline for the IATA Operational Safety Audit, as well as prepare necessary operation and safety-related manuals for its fleet. The contract will last for a year. Proposals must be submitted to the airline by noon of 10 January 2018. www.flightglobal.com Back to Top GE Achieves First ATP Engine Run GE's 1,240-shp ATP engine is being developed for Cessna's Denali single-engine turboprop. On December 22, GE Aviation completed the first run of its new Advanced Turboprop (ATP) engine at GE's Prague engine manufacturing facility in the Czech Republic. The first application for the 1,240-shp ATP is the Cessna Denali single-engine turboprop, which is scheduled to fly in late 2018. Engine certification testing begins in 2018. With a 16:1 overall pressure ratio, the engine is expected to offer 20 percent lower fuel burn and 10 percent higher cruise power compared with competing engines. Time between overhaul is set at 4,000 hours. The ATP is part of a family that will include engines in the 1,000- to 1,600-shp range. According to GE, the ATP "is the first turboprop engine in its class to introduce two stages of variable stator vanes and cooled high-pressure turbine blades." Manufacturing will be simpler due to extensive use of 3D printed components (additive manufacturing) to make 35 percent of the engine's parts such as sumps, bearing housings, frames, exhaust case, combustor liner, heat exchangers, and stationary flow path components. Additive manufacturing replaces 855 conventionally manufactured parts with just 12 parts and lowers engine weight by 5 percent. This adds up to a 1 percent specific fuel consumption improvement. "Running the Advanced Turboprop engine this year was our biggest and most important goal," said Brad Mottier, vice president and general manager of GE Aviation's BGA and Integrated Systems organization. "This milestone comes as a result of two years of tremendous effort by a worldwide team. We're developing a real catalyst for the BGA market, and we're executing on plan. The integration of proven technologies has expedited the design, development, and certification cycle of the engine." Under an agreement recently finalized with the Czech Republic, GE Aviation is building a turboprop headquarters for development, test, and engine-production in Prague, and this facility will eventually employ an additional 500 people. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/general-aviation/2017-12-27/ge-achieves-first-atp-engine-run Back to Top 'Why African Airlines Pay Higher Insurance Premium' The Managing Director, Ethiopia Airlines International Operations, Mr. Esayas WoldeMariam has explained why African airlines pay higher insurance premium than their counterparts in other parts of the world, especially Europe, the Americas and others parts of Asia. WoldeMariam attributed the high insurance premium to low capacity of most airlines in the region and the inability to build a high standard of safety among the operators in the region. "Insurance companies are always there assessing their own risk, so risk assessment is based on the past experiences, safety standard and what have you. So, for any African operator to have a palatable insurance expense, we Africans need to build our capability of safety records by way of safety assessment, safety avoidance, accident predictions and our aviation facilities and our safety equipment, which are expected to be of world standard. "Once African airlines are able to achieve these standards, then insurance companies will be comfortable to cover aircraft with acceptable insurance premium and that is exactly what Ethiopian Airlines is doing. This is because the safety area of aviation is over regulated. There are Safety Audit Offering Airlines (SAOA), EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency), the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which are regulating safety of flight operations," he said. WoldeMariam said all these agencies come every year to Ethiopia to audit the airline. "They review our facilities and renew our safety licenses every year. And that does not come easily because we have to live safety every day. It is not only for the audit purpose which we conduct once in a year but we just have to live it. So it all boils down to meeting the safety requirements because aviation is something very, very safety orientated. Because once the aircraft leaves the ground it needs to land back safely with all the souls it is carrying. So it is for a purpose that safety is being given a big emphasis. Therefore, insurance evaluation depends on our safety capabilities and safety records, the better it is, the lower we pay. So all what we need to do is safety oversight, trainings and our aviation academy gives a lot of training as far as aviation safety and cargo logistic are concerned especially for African students," he said. He added that the airline has discounted price for African students from everywhere in Africa in its aviation academy, noting that the airline has more aviation professionals who trained in the school. https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2017/12/29/why-african-airlines-pay-higher-insurance-premium/ Back to Top Airlines likely to hire over 7000 pilots in next 5 years (India) NEW DELHI: Domestic carriers are expected to hire more than 7,000 pilots over the next five years, the government informed Parliament today. These vacancies are likely to emerge as Indian airlines plan to induct more than 900 aircraft into their fleets in the coming years. "The Indian Scheduled Airline Operators have estimated employment opportunities for about 3,700 pilots and 3,600 co- pilots in the next five years," said Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha in response to a question in the Lok Sabha. A total of 3,603 pilots and 3,914 co-pilots, and 15,030 cabin crew are currently employed by scheduled Indian airlines as per data maintained by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Sinha added. In response to a question on whether Air India has a shortage of pilots and cabin crew, the government said that the airline has sufficient number of pilots and flight. It added Air India's regional subsidiary Airline Allied Service Limited or Alliance Air plans to hire pilots from abroad because of shortage of ATR commanders. "Airline Allied Service Limited is facing shortage of ATR commanders. Alliance Air is having a fleet of ATR 72-600 and ATR 42-320 aircraft. The commanders for these aircraft are not available in the Indian market," Sinha said. These pilots will be in addition to those provided by the aircraft leasing company along with leased aircraft under a separate pilot agreement. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/airlines-likely-to-hire-over-7000-pilots-in-next-5-years-government/articleshow/62283306.cms Back to Top Tim Cook required to fly only by private jet Apple requires its chief executive Tim Cook to use only private jets for personal safety Apple's chief executive Tim Cook has been ordered by the firm to use only private jets for both business and personal transport. In documents filed with the US markets regulator, Apple said the policy was "in the interests of security and efficiency". Apple reported that Mr Cook's personal travel expenses came to $93,109 (£69,253) in 2017. His personal security expenses came to $224,216, the tech giant added. In 2017, the chief executive's salary was just over $3m. He also received $9.3m in bonuses, plus $89m of shares that were promised to him if he met certain targets. http://www.bbc.com/news/business-42505265 Back to Top EgyptAir signs firm order for 12 Bombardier CSeries aircraft with list price of $1.1 billion The CSeries has also been ordered by Iraqi Airways, Saudi Gulf and Gulf Air MONTREAL - Bombardier Commercial Aircraft says EgyptAir has signed a firm agreement to purchase a dozen CS300 aircraft along with purchase rights for an additional 12 of the aircraft. EgyptAir's letter of intent to buy the aircraft was announced Nov. 14 during the Dubai Air Show. Based on the list price of the CS300, Bombardier says the contract is worth approximately US$1.1 billion and would double to US$2.2 billion should EgyptAir buy the other 12 aircraft. The CSeries has also been ordered by Iraqi Airways, Saudi Gulf and Gulf Air. "Welcoming EgyptAir to the family of CSeries operators is another landmark moment for Bombardier," said Fred Cromer, the president, of Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. "The aircraft is performing exceptionally well, the industry recognizes the C Series as best in class, and this order from another well-established airline is testament to its tremendous value." http://business.financialpost.com/transportation/airlines/egyptair-signs-firm-order-for-bombardier-c-series-aircraft Back to Top Airbus confirms $50 billion jet order, one of the biggest aviation deals in history • Airbus has confirmed a mammoth order of 430 jets worth a total $49.5 billion • Veteran airline investor Bill Franke of Indigo Partners inked the deal, comprising of 274 A320neos and 156A321neos • The European plane maker has also announced a $5.42 billion deal to sell 50 A320 neos to China Aircraft Leasing Bill Franke, Managing Partner of Indigo Partners (L) and John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer Customers, Airbus Commercial Aircraft (R) at the Dubai air show in November. Airbus has said it has now confirmed its mammoth $49.5 billion order to supply 430 aircraft to U.S. private equity fund Indigo Partners. Veteran airline investor Bill Franke of Indigo Partners signed the preliminary order at the Dubai Airshow in November which will trigger delivery of 274 A320neos and 156 A321neos. The deal is Airbus's largest ever single order and provides aircraft for Wizz Air, Frontier Airlines, Jetsmart and Mexico's Volaris. Indigo has stakes in all four airlines. Bill Franke, managing partner of Indigo Partners, said in a statement Thursday that the deal would help give customers of the ultra-low cost carriers "even more value". The aircraft in the spotlight at the 2017 Dubai Airshow The list price of the aircraft is $49.5 billion but Airbus has previously confirmed that the private equity firm would not pay that price with the final cost not being revealed. Franke, who secured financing to conduct the deal on a sale and lease-back basis, said engine selections will be made at a later date. In a separate deal announced Friday, Airbus has revealed that China Aircraft Leasing (CALC) has signed up to buy 50 A320neos in a deal worth $5.42 billion at list prices. The European plane maker said the latest order brings CALC's total order book with Airbus up to around 200 single aisle aircraft. CALC is currently the largest aircraft operating lessor in China and is listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Chinese companies have placed huge aircraft orders in the past year. During a visit by President Xi Jinping to Germany in July, Airbus announced a $22 billion order to supply 140 planes. https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/29/airbus-confirms-50-billion-jet-order-one-of-the-biggest-aviation-deals-in-history.html Back to Top New Airplane Design Could Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions • The craft could save up to 66 percent in fuel and fly by 2035 Scale model of the "double bubble" D8 aircraft. Credit: NASA Langley David C. Bowman Airplane emissions are a big problem for the climate-and steadily rising. If the aviation sector were a country, it would rank seventh worldwide in carbon pollution. Experts predict that aircraft emissions, on their current trajectory, will triple by 2050 as demand for flights increases. To prevent this dire scenario, a team of scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, along with government and industry collaborators, is attempting to fundamentally redesign airplanes. Their concept, dubbed the "double-bubble" D8, could significantly reduce aviation's carbon footprint and improve fuel efficiency if validated in full-scale tests. It entails major changes to the standard 180-passenger Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 aircraft-for example, the fuselage has a wider, more oval shape than a conventional jet. "It's like two bubbles [joined] side by side," explains Alejandra Uranga, an assistant professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering now at the University of Southern California. This modification lets the fuselage itself generate some lift, says Uranga, who is a co-principal investigator for the project, alongside Edward Greitzer of M.I.T. The altered body shape allows the wings and tail to be smaller and lighter, and the aircraft's nose is also more aerodynamic. The most significant change, though, is the engine position. Air slows down as it flows over the top of a conventional plane, thereby creating drag and making the craft less efficient. But the D8 design moves the jet's engines from their usual spot underneath the wings to atop the plane's body, by the tail-where they suck in and reaccelerate the slow layer of air, greatly reducing drag. These alterations would make the aircraft use 37 percent less fuel than a typical passenger jet, Uranga says. The project's chief engineer Mark Drela, Uranga, Greitzer and their collaborators at M.I.T., nasa, Aurora Flight Sciences and Pratt & Whitney have already built and tested an 11th-scale model of the aircraft in a nasa wind tunnel. Combining the new design with future technological advances could further reduce fuel use and ultimately add up to 66 percent in fuel savings in two decades, Uranga says. Other experts note that the D8's developers must still overcome economic obstacles while ensuring that the engines are robust enough to handle the new configuration. Still, "it's a very compelling idea and design," says Brian J. German, an aerospace engineer at the Georgia Institute of Technology, who was not involved in the work. Aurora is now exploring the development of a half-scale prototype plane. If the effort succeeds, travelers may fly in one of these jets as soon as 2035. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-airplane-design-could-reduce-greenhouse-gas-emissions/ Back to Top Russia Says Programming Error Caused Failure of Satellite Launch FILE - A Russian Soyuz rocket, center in the background, carrying satellites stands on the launchpad at the new Vostochny Cosmodrome near Uglegorsk, in eastern Siberia in the Amur region, Russia, April 27, 2016. MOSCOW - Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Wednesday that the failed launch of a 2.6 billion-ruble ($44.95 million) satellite last month was due to an embarrassing programming error. Russian space agency Roscosmos said last month that it had lost contact with the newly launched weather satellite - the Meteor-M - after it blasted off from Russia's new Vostochny cosmodrome in the Far East. Eighteen smaller satellites belonging to scientific, research and commercial companies from Russia, Norway, Sweden, the United States, Japan, Canada and Germany were on board the same rocket. Speaking to Rossiya 24 state TV channel, Rogozin said the failure had been caused by human error. The rocket carrying the satellites had been programmed with the wrong coordinates, he said, saying it had been given bearings for takeoff from a different cosmodrome - Baikonur - which Moscow leases from Kazakhstan. "The rocket was really programmed as if it was taking off from Baikonur," said Rogozin. "They didn't get the coordinates right." The Vostochny spaceport, laid out in the thick taiga forest of the Amur region, is the first civilian rocket launch site in Russia. In April last year, after delays and massive costs overruns, Russia launched its first rocket from Vostochny, a day after a technical glitch forced an embarrassing postponement of the event in the presence of President Vladimir Putin. https://www.voanews.com/a/russia-says-programming-error-caused-failure-of-satellite-launch/4181573.html Back to Top International Space Experts to Attend Embry-Riddle's 4th Annual Space Traffic Management Conference With more satellites being deployed into space and private companies racing toward their first human spaceflights, the 4th Annual Space Traffic Management Conference will discuss these critical topics and a variety of changes facing the industry. The Spaceflight Operations Program and Applied Aviation Sciences Department of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's College of Aviation will host the five-day conference Jan. 15 through 19 at Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach Campus. The theme this year is "Seeking Sustainable Solutions." "The conference was created to provide a forum for discourse to academia and leaders of government and industry, from multiple disciplines and different aspects of the air/space traffic management set of issues. Because it is an annual event, each year builds upon the ones before," said Dr. Diane Howard, conference chair and an Embry-Riddle assistant professor of Spaceflight Operations. Panelists include top aviation and aerospace executives; Federal Aviation Administration managers; the U.S. Department of State director of the Office of Space and Advanced Technology; a retired NASA astronaut representing the Association of Space Explorers; a manager from the German Aerospace Center; professors from Embry-Riddle and other universities reporting on various research; and more. Conference participants will have a chance to participate in roundtable discussions and international panels. Topics include commercial space transportation and impacts on the National Airspace System; security issues; challenges and benefits of increasing small satellite constellations capacity; integrating satellite-based ADS-B; communication standards for space traffic; government research needs; future models of space traffic management; and international initiatives. Scheduled moderators include: • Dr. T.S. Kelso, technical program manager for AGI/Space Data Association • Jillianne Pierce, Esq., Federal Government Relations Manager for Space Florida • Maria Lucas-Rhimbassen, a Ph.D. candidate in Space Law at the University of Toulouse • Victoria Samson, Washington Office director for Secure World Foundation, which promotes cooperative solutions for space sustainability • Dr. Dirk-Roger Schmitt, business manager with the German Aerospace Center • Dr. Mark Skinner, senior project leader for Space Traffic Management at The Aerospace Corporation and longtime manager and scientist for The Boeing Company • Eric Stallmer, president of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, which promotes the development of commercial human spaceflight A governance panel of professors from various universities including University of Toulouse, Georgetown University Law Center and University of Mississippi School of Law will address various topics and presentations ranging from the Uniform International Space Traffic Standards and the Implications of Space Debris Becoming a Space Resource, to the legal and regulatory status of high-altitude balloons. The conference will also include unique tabletop space flight simulations and demonstrations as well as tours of various labs on the Embry-Riddle campus and the NextGen Test Bed, a Federal Aviation Administration initiative to modernize the nation's air traffic control systems to make air travel safer, more efficient, and more economical, that is operated by Embry-Riddle. For more details on the conference agenda or to register, go to http://commons.erau.edu/stm/ https://news.erau.edu/headlines/international-space-experts-to-attend-embry-riddles-4th-annual-space-traffic-management-conference/ Back to Top World class aviation safety training from SCSI Southern California Safety Institute Excellence in Aviation Safety Training for over 30 Years Aircraft Accident Investigation Certificate Receive credit for the two foundation courses toward the SCSI AAI Certificate in one visit Aircraft Accident Investigation 5-16 February 2018 Long Beach, California All attendees of this course receive a complimentary one-year membership in ISASI. Scroll down for details Human Factors in Accident Investigation 19-23 February 20-18 Long Beach, CaliforniaScroll down for details Electives Helicopter Accident Investigation 26 February-2 March 2018 Long Beach, CaliforniaScroll down for details Gas Turbine Accident Investigation 5-9 March 2018 Long Beach, CaliforniaScroll down for details Aircraft Maintenance Investigation 12-16 March 2018 Long Beach, CaliforniaScroll down for details Investigation Management 19-23 March 2018 Long Beach, CaliforniaScroll down for details Cabin Accident Investigation 16-20 April 2018 Long Beach, CaliforniaScroll down for details Each of these courses can be taken individually or as part of a series in the SCSI Aircraft Accident Investigation Certificate Program. There is an increasing need for well trained and qualified accident investigators throughout the aviation industry. New regulations and challenging accidents have and will continue to increase the demand for qualified, knowledgeable investigators. Helping to meet the need for trained accident investigators is the purpose of the SCSI Certificate in Aircraft Accident Investigation. This SCSI certificate formally acknowledges that you have received the training and possess the knowledge to succeed in the Aircraft Accident Investigation profession. This SCSI certificate program has been carefully designed by the SCSI instructional staff and covers the core areas of knowledge and training required in accident investigation. You will take classroom courses and spend time in the SCSI crash lab with "hands-on" investigation training as you complete this certificate program. Aircraft Accident Investigation 5-16 February 2018 Long Beach, California In this course you will become familiar with the regulatory requirements for investigation and reporting, not only those requirements applicable to the United States, but also those of ICAO Annex 13 upon which almost all modern individual reporting and investigation requirements are based regardless of nation. Once you understand the reporting requirements you will learn about how to comply with the operator's responsibilities to preserve evidence and support the investigation. You will learn how to set up an interim response team that will collect and preserve evidence. You will learn what evidence to preserve and how to preserve it. You will also learn about the hazards at an accident site and how to protect yourself. This course covers all aspects of investigation from applicable rules and regulations through investigation technology, analysis and reports. You will develop an understanding of the entire investigation process and be well prepared to participate in future investigations. SCSI has assembled a crash lab of several exhibits from all over the world to allow our students a practical hands-on approach to investigation training. We routinely set aside dedicated time within the AAI course for a practical application of techniques discussed in the classroom. The AAI course includes a class visit to a material failures analysis laboratory and concludes with a crash laboratory investigation exercise. For more information, please visit the course information page at www.scsi-inc.com. Human Factors in Accident Investigation 19-23 February 2018 Long Beach, California Human error is implicated in most, if not all, aviation accidents. Accident investigators, therefore, need information, tools, and procedures to discover the role human error has played in an accident/incident being investigated. This course teaches the required material for investigators (a) to identify the human error issues involved in an accident wherever they occurred (e.g., in the cockpit, ATC, management, maintenance, etc.), and (b) to know when and how to call on the required Human Factors experts for further analysis. The course focuses on what the investigator needs to know about the individual human and the various factors which tend to make humans make mistakes including the ability to process information, deal with a physiologically challenging environment, and perform within a potentially sub-optimal workplace. Training and negative transfer, as well as procedures, will be presented as additional factors leading to human error. This course provides the accident investigator with a solid foundation for the recognition of 'Human Error' issues and a process to discover them. It can be taken individually or as part of a series of courses in the SCSI Aircraft Accident Investigation Certificate Program. Practical examples and case studies will enhance your theoretical knowledge. Who should attend • Individuals who need to understand the human error issues in aviation accidents and how human error and human limitations can cause accidents. • Accident Investigators or those who participate in accident investigation. For more information, please visit the course information page at www.scsi-inc.com. Helicopter Accident Investigation 26 February-2 March 2018 Long Beach, California Helicopter accidents provide many new challenges for the investigator principally because of the dynamic factors involved in helicopter performance. Knowledge and experience in fixed wing aircraft accident investigation does provide a basic reference since most systems found on helicopters are similar to those found on fixed wing aircraft. There are however some very distinct differences. Most unique are the rotor systems and the aerodynamics of rotary wing flight. The course leads you through examples of the unique aspects of helicopter operations and helicopter aerodynamics as they relate to accidents. This course is for individuals who will be involved in rotary wing accident investigations in any capacity and assumes that the attendee has either experience in accident investigation or has completed a course such as SCSI's Aircraft Accident Investigation (AAI) course. For more information, please visit the course information page at www.scsi-inc.com. Gas Turbine Accident Investigation 5-9 March 2018 Long Beach, California Investigating the engine aspects of aviation accidents is a complex, difficult challenge. This is especially true when the new high technology gas turbine engines now in use in commercial aviation are involved. This course is aimed at gas turbine engines installed in aircraft as part of the propulsion system. The course offers an in-depth understanding of all the leading causes of engine related incidents and accidents as well as an up-to-date understanding of the interaction between these causes, the aircraft and the flight crew. For more information, please visit the course information page at www.scsi-inc.com. Aircraft Maintenance Investigation 12-16 March 2018 Long Beach, California This course's primary elements include maintenance principles, investigative techniques and development of corrective actions. These elements are reinforced with actual incident and accident examples and case studies. The principles and techniques discussed in this course are applicable to all branches of aviation, including commercial operations, the military, and general aviation. While this course is primarily concerned with larger commercial operators, almost all of the principles, lessons and examples are directly transferable across the spectrum of aircraft operations. For more information, please visit the course information page at www.scsi-inc.com. Investigation Management 19-23 March 2018 Long Beach, California This course is a unique, practitioner-oriented course in the field of aircraft accident investigation and prevention designed for a wide range of government and industry aviation safety investigators and managers. It is designed specially for those who will be investigators in charge (IIC) or who will have to manage or participate in accident investigations in a variety of settings and situations ranging from small local accidents to large international settings. The principles covered in the course are applicable to civil and military investigation management. The course addresses the subject from both the government and the industry perspective giving a unique breadth and depth to the coverage. As part of the course, time is made available to discuss the particular investigation management problems and current issues faced by each attendee. For more information, please visit the course information page at www.scsi-inc.com. Cabin Accident Investigation 16-20 April 2018 Long Beach, California This course focuses on the aircraft cabin environment and related investigation requirements. Attendees will be presented with information to satisfy the requirements for participation in a major investigation assigned to Cabin Safety and Survivability groups. In addition attendees will become familiar with the design requirements for major transport aircraft with particular focus on survivability considerations. Finally, each attendee will learn the unique requirements for interviewing survivors and completely documenting the cabin for deficiencies, injuries sustained during the aircraft accident, escape from the aircraft, and survivability in the post-crash environment. This course will include a practical team experience in reviewing accident data, documenting the cabin interior and analyzing contributing factors for survivability. While the CAI course can be taken without previous investigation experience, it is recommended that a basic aircraft accident investigation course or experience precede this course so that the attendee will be familiar with fundamental investigation techniques, impact assessment dynamics and systems investigation. Who Should Attend This course is designed for: • The Aircraft Accident Investigator to increase appreciation for the Aircraft Cabin design and survivability aspects, and • The Cabin Safety Specialist who requires dedicated training in order to be a "Party Participant" More generally, this course is designed for anyone who is interested in, who participates in, or plans to participate in aircraft cabin accident investigations, who need to better understand the requirements, techniques, and tasks involved in cabin accident investigation. For more information, please visit the course information page at www.scsi-inc.com. Location: the Marriott Hotel in Long Beach, California These courses will be held at the Marriott Hotel in Long Beach, California next to the Long Beach Airport (LGB). Or contact our registrar Denise Davalloo for the SCSI hotel discount rate and receive great savings on your stay! Registration Telephone: 800-545-3766 or 310-517-8844 ext. 104 Email: denise.davalloo@scsi-inc.com Web: http://www.scsi-inc.com/registration.php Curt Lewis