Flight Safety Information January 9, 2018 - No. 007 In This Issue Accident: British Airways A319 at Verona on Jan 3rd 2018, severe turbulence injures 3 Incident: Europa B738 at Madrid on Jan 6th 2018, smoke in cabin EVAS - Cockpit Smoke Protecton Cessna 208B Grand Caravan Accident (South Sudan) Dassault Falcon 2000EX lands next to runway at Aspen Airport, Colorado Jet Airways sacks two pilots who fought in cockpit on London-Mumbai flight US Navy locates crashed aircraft thousands of feet deep in the Pacific FAA Outlines Limits of Voluntary Drug/Alcohol Disclosure Empire Airlines' Safety Management System Accepted by the FAA Things You Need to Know about Part 107 The world's most punctual airports and airlines in 2018 revealed Panasonic promises 20 times faster airplane Wi-Fi Turkish Airlines Signs Agreement For 25 Airbus A350-900 Aircraft HYBRID HELO LANDS CERTIFICATION Call for Papers - ISASI 2018 Cabin Operations Safety Conference ASAP WITHOUT THE ADMINISTRATIVE HEADACHE MITRE - SMS Course - March 2018 Accident: British Airways A319 at Verona on Jan 3rd 2018, severe turbulence injures 3 A British Airways Airbus A319-100, registration G-DBCA performing flight BA-2596 from London Gatwick,EN (UK) to Verona (Italy), was descending towards Verona when the aircraft encountered severe turbulence causing serious injuries to a flight attendant and injuries to two other occupants, the level of injuries is being determined. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on Verona's runway 04. Italy's ANSV reported the occurrence was rated an accident, an investigation has been opened. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground in Verona for 50 hours before returning to service. Metars: LIPX 031850Z 24003KT 200V320 CAVOK 02/01 Q1008= LIPX 031820Z 02005KT CAVOK 02/01 Q1008= LIPX 031750Z 19010KT CAVOK 04/02 Q1007= LIPX 031720Z 18007KT CAVOK 04/02 Q1007= LIPX 031650Z 19005KT 9999 FEW090 04/02 Q1007= LIPX 031620Z 20004KT 150V230 9999 SCT090 05/02 Q1006= LIPX 031550Z 27006KT 180V320 9999 FEW010 SCT025 BKN090 05/03 Q1005= LIPX 031520Z 19003KT 9999 FEW020 SCT045 BKN090 05/03 Q1004= LIPX 031450Z 12004KT 9999 -DZ FEW030 SCT050 BKN090 06/03 Q1003= LIPX 031420Z 34003KT 300V010 9999 FEW040 SCT060 BKN090 06/02 Q1003= LIPX 031350Z VRB02KT 9999 SCT040 BKN080 06/02 Q1003= LIPX 031320Z VRB02KT 9999 SCT050 SCT080 06/01 Q1003= LIPX 031250Z 10003KT 360V140 9999 SCT060 SCT080 06/01 Q1004= LIPX 031220Z 15003KT 090V240 9999 FEW060 07/00 Q1005= http://avherald.com/h?article=4b360b62&opt=1280 Back to Top Incident: Europa B738 at Madrid on Jan 6th 2018, smoke in cabin An Air Europa Boeing 737-800, registration EC-JHL performing flight UX-1017 from Madrid,SP (Spain) to London Gatwick,EN (UK), was in the initial climb out of Madrid's runway 36R when the crew stopped the climb at about FL060 reporting smoke in the cabin and returned to Madrid for a safe landing on runway 32R about 25 minutes after departure. A passenger reported about 1-2 minutes after departure smoke began to emanate from the forward galley. A flight attendant rushed forward with a fire extinguisher, another flight attendant wearing her smoke hood went into the galley. The passenger didn't think the fire extinguisher was used. The captain subsequently announced there had been a problem with one of the air conditioning packs and they were returning to Madrid, there was no danger, no emergency had been declared. Another aircraft took them to London with a delay of about 4 hours. A replacement Boeing 737-800 registration EC-LYR reached Gatwick with a delay of 4 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b363f5a&opt=256 Back to Top Back to Top Cessna 208B Grand Caravan Accident (South Sudan) Status: Preliminary Date: Sunday 7 January 2018 Type: Cessna 208B Grand Caravan Operator: Unknown Registration: 5Y-FDC C/n / msn: 208B-1280 First flight: 2007 Engines: 1 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A Crew: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Total: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Airplane damage: Destroyed Airplane fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Akobo ( South Sudan) Phase: Unknown (UNK) Nature: Unknown Departure airport: ? Destination airport: ? Narrative: A Cessna 208B Grand Caravan was destroyed by fire following an accident at Akobo in South Sudan. https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20180107-0 Back to Top Dassault Falcon 2000EX lands next to runway at Aspen Airport, Colorado, USA Date: 07-JAN-2018 Time: 10:17 LT Type: Dassault Falcon 2000EX Owner/operator: Private Registration: N726DC C/n / msn: 50 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: None Category: Incident Location: Aspen Airport, CO (ASE/KASE) - United States of America Phase: Landing Nature: Unknown Departure airport: Denver-Centennial Airport, CO (APA/KAPA) Destination airport: Aspen Airport, CO (ASE/KASE) Narrative: A Dassault Falcon 2000EX corporate jet landed on the grass/snow adjacent to the west (right) of runway 15 at Aspen Airport, Colorado, USA. There was no damage according to the FAA. The aircraft was able to taxi to the platform. The aircraft originated from Denver-Centennial Airport at 09:42 LT. Weather reported at Aspen about the incident time (10:17 LT / 1717Z): KASE 071753Z 00000KT 10SM FEW010 SCT021 01/M04 A3025 RMK AO2 SLP217 T00111039 10011 21017 51023 KASE 071653Z 00000KT 10SM FEW010 BKN041 M01/M03 A3021 RMK AO2 SLP211 T10061028 https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=204035 Back to Top Jet Airways sacks two pilots who fought in cockpit on London-Mumbai flight • Jet Airways has sacked its two senior commanders who were involved in a cockpit fight • The two pilots had got into a fight while flying from London to Mumbai on January 1 • According to sources the 'co-pilot' may also end up losing his flying licence NEW DELHI: Jet Airways has sacked its two senior commanders who were involved in a cockpit fight while flying from London to Mumbai on January 1. "Consequent to the review of the events on board Flight 9W 119 London-Mumbai of January 1, 2018, Jet Airways has terminated services of both the cockpit crew with immediate effect," said a Jet Airways spokesperson. Flight 9W 119 of January 1 was operated by two commanders. Jet's senior most Boeing 777 commander was flying as co-pilot and his deputy was the commander of this flight. The "co-pilot" had allegedly slapped the lady commander and then the cockpit was left unmanned on two occasions when he went out to bring her back in. The two Jet pilots' troubles are unlikely to end with the airline sacking them. The "co-pilot", according to top sources could end up losing his flying licence. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken a very serious view of this unprecedented episode. DGCA should inititiate criminal proccedings for putting the passenger in possible danger "The cockpit fight was a shocking and a very serious incident. Both the pilots were out of the cockpit a couple of times and there was no one there. What if they had been locked out of the cockpit? This is unheard of and calls for extreme action," said a top DGCA official. The 'extreme' measure for licensed professionals like pilots is cancellation of licence by the issuing agency (in this case, the DGCA) after which they can no longer operate flights and fly only as a passenger. Asked why action was taken only against the co-pilot, another regulatory official said: "It is alleged the lady commander was hit by the co-pilot and she left the cockpit. As per rules, one pilot can leave the cockpit as long as another is there. So she left when one pilot was still on the controls. While the probe will examine her role as well, prima facie the co-pilot's hitting the commander and then leaving the cockpit to bring her back in - leaving the cockpit unmanned - led us to suspend his flying licence immediately." https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/jet-airways-sacks-two-pilots-who-fought-in-cockpit-of-london-mumbai-flight/articleshow/62426015.cms Back to Top US Navy locates crashed aircraft thousands of feet deep in the Pacific A C-2A Greyhound assigned to Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 40 lands on the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. US Navy Photo TOKYO (AP) - The US Navy has located a transport aircraft deep on the Pacific Ocean floor where it crashed in November, killing three sailors on board. The C-2A "Greyhound" aircraft, which was traveling to the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan when it crashed the day before Thanksgiving in the Philippine Sea, rests at a depth of about 18,500 feet (5,640 meters), the Japan-based 7th Fleet said in a statement Saturday. Salvaging it will be the deepest recovery attempt of an aircraft to date, the Navy said. The plane was located last week by a contracted salvage vessel that deployed a pinger locator that picked up the aircraft's emergency signal. After marking the location, the search team returned to port in Japan. C-2A Greyhound USS Ronald Reagan Michael Feddersen/US Navy In the coming weeks, the team will return to the site with a side-scan sonar and remote operated vehicle to map the debris field and attach heavy lines for lifting the aircraft to the surface, the statement said. "Despite very challenging conditions, every effort will be made to recover the aircraft and our fallen sailors," the Navy said, adding that the mission was initially delayed by the poor weather. Eight people were rescued and the dead were identified as Lt. Steven Combs Jr. and Airman Apprentice Bryan Grosso of Florida and Airman Matthew Chialastri of Louisiana. Elizabeth Combs has said that her brother was piloting the aircraft and managed to settle it in the sea, allowing for the rescue of the eight people. The Navy called Combs' actions "heroic." The cause of the crash is under investigation. The 7th Fleet had two fatal naval accidents in Asian waters last year, leaving 17 sailors dead and prompting the removal of eight top Navy officers from their posts, including the fleet commander. http://www.businessinsider.com/us-navy-locates-crashed-aircraft-thousands-of-feet-deep-in-the-pacific-2018-1 Back to Top FAA Outlines Limits of Voluntary Drug/Alcohol Disclosure The FAA program that permits employers to voluntarily report violations of the drug and alcohol testing regulations as a means to avoid agency penalty enforcement action does not come without limitations. According to new Advisory Circular 120-117, the FAA does not accept a voluntary disclosure if the violation is discovered "during, or in anticipation of, an FAA investigation/inspection or in association with an accident or incident." An employer's submission must also meet the following conditions to be covered under this program: the FAA is notified before it learns of violation by other means; the violation is inadvertent; the violation does not reflect a lack of qualification; and immediate action and development of a comprehensive fix satisfactory to the FAA is taken. If the FAA becomes aware that the disclosure did not meet the requirements for acceptance under the program, the acceptance will be withdrawn. "In such a circumstance, the FAA may use the evidence gathered under the program to proceed with enforcement action," the agency said in the AC. The circular also describes how information under the program is to be submitted and what to expect from the FAA in response. Finally, it notes that records the FAA accepts in accordance with this AC "are protected from release to the public." https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2018-01-08/faa-outlines-limits-voluntary-drug/alcohol-disclosure Back to Top Empire Airlines' Safety Management System Accepted by the FAA Empire Airlines based at the Coeur d'Alene Airport in Hayden, Idaho has received FAA formal acceptance of the airline's Safety Management System (SMS) at the conclusion of a 2.5 year implementation project. A new federal regulation requires all U.S. airlines to implement formal safety management systems on or before March 9, 2018. The safety management system centers on safety risk management as a proactive means of identifying and managing risk, ensuring that resources are best dedicated to appropriately managing and mitigating risk in operations. Every employee in the company has received training in the safety management system, including principals of safety risk management and minimizing safety risk in daily activities. The airline has also received FAA acceptance of its Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) program for all fleets of aircraft, which provides the airline the capability of monitoring hundreds of data parameters for every flight to ensure safety of operations. Empire Airlines operates a fleet of 56 turboprop aircraft in fifteen western states under contract with FedEx Express and Hawaiian Airlines. SOURCE Empire Airlines http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12389973/empire-airlines-safety-management-system-accepted-by-the-faa Back to Top Things You Need to Know about Part 107 Part 107 is a certification that you can get to operate a drone for commercial purposes. This allows you to sell photographs that you take, film weddings, and much more. The first national regulations concerning the use of Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) were released by the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on June 21, 2016. This set of regulations, fondly called "Part 107", is explained in a 624-page publication. The rules under Part 107 mainly apply to the commercial use of drones, although a few restrictions apply to drone use of any kind. Fortunately, you won't need to read all 624 pages of these new FAA regulations. In this article, we have summarized the most relevant highlights of Part 107. What are the operational limitations under Part 107? The unmanned aircraft (or drone) must weigh less than 55 pounds Unmanned aircraft weighing between 0.55 and 55 pounds must be registered with the FAA. The unmanned aircraft must remain within the line of sight of the remote pilot at all times. Should this not be possible (such as when the pilot is using FPV goggles), then there must be a second observer to establish the line of sight. This line of sight needs to be established without any vision-enhancing device other than corrective lenses. Neither the pilot nor a secondary observer can be responsible for more than one aircraft at a time. Unmanned aircraft may not fly over people who are not directly participating in the operation, under a covered structure, or inside a covered stationary vehicle. Flight is allowed only during daylight. Flight during twilight (30 minutes before sunrise or 30 minutes after sunset) is allowed only with appropriate anti-collision lighting. The unmanned aircraft may only have a maximum groundspeed of 100 mph. The unmanned aircraft may fly at a maximum altitude of only 400 feet above ground. Flight over 400 feet is allowed as long as the aircraft remains within 400 feet of a structure (where there is no air traffic). Only operations in Class G airspace is allowed without permission from air traffic control (ATC). ATC permission is required to operate an unmanned aircraft in Class B, C, D, and E airspace. No aircraft operation is allowed from a moving aircraft or vehicle. In the case of a moving vehicle, an aircraft can be operated over a sparsely populated area. A person is not allowed to operate an unmanned aircraft if he/she has existing physical or mental conditions that will hamper the ability to pilot the aircraft. Do I need to get a drone license? How do I get one? A drone license, sometimes called a remote pilot certificate, is needed for remote pilots who will use their drones for commercial purposes. Commercial operations can be done by a pilot without a drone license, but the pilot has to under the direct supervision of a person who holds a license. Getting a drone license is a simple process, but it may take a considerable amount of effort. You will need to pass a knowledge test that can be administered in any one of almost 700 testing centers in the United States. To be able to take the test, you must be at least 16 years of age, have a government-issued ID, and be able to speak, read, write, and understand English. Taking the test costs $150. Passing the test is not as easy as it sounds, but you may take an online training course provided by FAA. Your remote pilot certificate will be awarded to you upon passing the knowledge test, and after successful completion of a security vetting conducted by the TSA. Take note that the license is valid only for 2 years, after which you will have to retake the knowledge test to renew your license. Being a licensed drone pilot does come with a few responsibilities. You are expected to ensure that your drone can operate safely by conducting a pre-flight inspection of using specific aircraft and control stations checks. The FAA also requires you to report within 10 days any accidents that lead to personal injury or to property damage amounting to at least $500. Should the FAA request that you submit your drone for inspection, or any other associated documents, you are required to comply. Taking the knowledge test may be waived if you currently hold a Part 61 pilot certificate. However, you must have completed a flight review in the last 24 months, and must a take a short UAS online training course developed by FAA. Are there exceptions to Part 107? Unmanned aircraft may operate outside the boundaries of Part 107 given very special circumstances. These operations may include non-daylight operations, operations from a moving vehicle, operations near aircraft or airports, operations of multiple aircrafts, and operating over non-participating people. The FAA may grant waivers for such activities by applying a risk-based and metered approach. However, no details regarding this process have been revealed yet. Does Part 107 allow drones to carry payloads? Yes, drones are allowed to carry property with a few limitations. The payload must be securely attached to the aircraft, and must not adversely affect the aircraft's flight ability and controllability. The aircraft must not be carrying any hazardous substances. The weight of the aircraft, along with its payload and any other attachments, must not exceed the 55 pound limit. The aircraft must still remain within line of sight of the pilot, and cannot be operated from a moving vehicle or aircraft. Part 107 also stipulates that the flight can only take place within the bounds of a State. Do I need to follow any other rules aside from Part 107? FAA acknowledges that small areas and communities may implement more locally appropriate rules regarding drone flight. Part 107 recognizes the authority of local state and municipality governments to regulate drone flight to address their own security and privacy concerns, and compels drone pilots to follow these local rules. Part 107 provides a measure of safety by implementing regulations and requirements for drone flight. The requirement of a drone license for commercial operations also ensures that commercial drone pilots are well-versed in relevant topics such as air control and drone operations. These rules actually are not very restrictive. If you are a new drone pilot, it would be a very good idea to be familiar with these rules first before doing your very first flight. http://3dinsider.com/part-107-info/ Back to Top The world's most punctual airports and airlines in 2018 revealed (CNN) - Delayed flight cost you that big deal, ruin your family get-together or just plain consume you with apoplectic rage? Take a deep breath, count to 10, punch your travel pillow and then read on. Because here's news that could help prevent it ever happening again. Travel analyst OAG has just revealed its Punctuality League for 2018, naming the airlines and airports with the world's best timekeeping. And it's potentially good news for anyone flying via Tokyo (or looking for a cheap ticket to Latvia). Drawing on full-year data from 57 million flight records in 2017 -- the most OAG has ever tracked in a single year -- the UK-based analyst has created a ranking of the best on-time performance for the world's largest airlines and airports. Its definition of on-time performance, or OTP, is flights that arrive or depart within 14 minutes and 59 seconds of their scheduled times. The most punctual airline in the world -- with 90.01% of flights on time -- is Latvian flag carrier airBaltic. Headquartered in Riga International Airport, airBaltic flies to 68 destinations in Europe, the US and the Middle East. Most punctual airlines 1. airBaltic (90.01%). (Top Mainline Airline and Top Airline in Europe). 2. Hong Kong Airlines (88.83%). (Top Airline in Asia-Pacific). 3. Hawaiian Airlines (87.24%). (Top Airline in North America). 4. Copa Airways (86.39%). (Top Airline in Latin America). 5. Qantas Airways (86.18%). 6. Japan Airlines (85.27%). (Top Mega Airline). 7. Vueling Airlines (85.35%). (Top Low-Cost Carrier). 8. Jetstar Asia (85.08%). 9. Skymark Airlines (85.00%). 10. Aer Lingus (84.46%). Qatar Airways, in 15th place with an OTP of 82.95%, is the Top Airline in the Middle East and Africa category. OAG notes in its report that the gap is closing between the service offered by low-cost carriers and mainstream airlines. "This year, six of the Top 20 airlines are LCCs, up from four last year and two in 2015," it says. Most punctual airports OAG ranked airports around the world with an annual minimum of 2.5 million departing seats. As with airlines, the higher the passenger traffic, the tougher the challenges, so OAG has broken down the rankings according to the size of the airport. For the third year in a row, the most punctual mega airport (30 million+ seats) is Japan's Tokyo Haneda (86.75%). The top major airport (20 - 30 million seats) is Minneapolis-Saint Paul (85.72%) while the top large airport (10 - 20 million seats) is Japan's Osaka Airport (88.45%). The UK's Birmingham Airport is the top medium airport (5 - 10 million seats), with on-time performance of 89.52%. Spain's Tenerife North is the top small airport (2.5 - 5 million seats), with 90.05% of flights arriving or departing on schedule. Tenerife North "is the only airport in the world to achieve OTP of over 90% in 2017," notes OAG. Elsewhere in Spain, "Fuerteventura (FUE) has really climbed the rankings this year, making it into the Top 20 for the first time, as has Bilbao (BIO)." Busiest routes For the first time, this year OAG has also released data on the on-time performance of the world's busiest international and domestic routes: Busiest international routes: 1. Hong Kong to Taipei: 29,494 flights with an OTP of 70.92%. 2. Kuala Lumpur to Singapore: 29,383 flights with an OTP of 78.52%. 3. Jakarta to Singapore: 26,872 flights with an OTP of 77.38%. Busiest domestic routes: 1. Jeju to Seoul Gimpa (South Korea): 64,991 flights with an OTP of 74.06%. 2. Melbourne to Sydney (Australia): 54,519 flights with an OTP of 74.10%. 3. Mumbai to Delhi (India): 47,462 flights with an OTP of 59.14%. With record-breaking passenger volumes and ever-expanding flight networks, airlines and airports have faced a big challenge keeping everything on track in 2017. Aside from maintaining impressive punctuality records, the aviation industry is also to be commended for what was the safest year in flying history. http://www.cnn.com/travel/article/most-punctual-airline-and-airports-2018/index.html Back to Top Panasonic promises 20 times faster airplane Wi-Fi Panasonic's Tom Gebhardt talks about airplane Wi-Fi. If you've used Wi-Fi aboard an airliner, it can be a godsend on long flights. But it is also frustrating because it's so slow. Panasonic announced that its third generation of satellite-based airborne connectivity will be 20 times faster than previous versions of bringing you Internet connectivity in the sky. Panasonic North America CEO Tom Gebhardt made the announcement at the Japanese electronics company's press event at CES 2018, the big tech trade show this week in Las Vegas. "Our third-generation communication network is a step function change," Gebhardt said. The airlines Southwest and United will start installing the new system this quarter. "It will greatly improve connectivity, and open the possibility of video streaming in the sky," Gebhardt said. So forget about those naps or reading books on airplanes. Now you can livestream to your friends how much fun you're having in row 27A, or you can watch streamed Netflix movies instead of all of those airplane movies. https://venturebeat.com/2018/01/08/panasonic-promises-20-times-faster-airplane-wi-fi/ Back to Top Turkish Airlines Signs Agreement For 25 Airbus A350-900 Aircraft An Airbus A350-900XWB at Chicago O'Hare Turkish Airlines has signed a provisional agreement with Airbus for 25 A350-900 aircraft. The Turkish flag carrier signed the agreement on Friday during a visit by Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan to Paris. The provisional agreement, the terms of which are currently under negotiation, was signed by Erdogan at an event in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron. Speaking of the announcement, llker Ayci, Chairman of Turkish Airlines board said in a statement the addition of these aircraft will allow the airline to meet its 2023 growth targets. Ayci said: "We declare our mutual goodwill in concluding negotiations in order to bring Airbus' newest wide-bodied models into our fleet. The purpose of our negotiations towards the addition of these aircraft to our fleet is to meet our long-haul needs for Istanbul's new airport as well as to further strengthen our firm within our 2023 targets." He continued to state: "With this agreement today, we have signed our good will to carry on and finalize the acquisition with Airbus. Our agreement is a significant step forward in enhancing our passengers flight experience. This order is set to play a key role in our growing business in the years to come." The airline recently highlighted its 2018 targets, hoping to welcome 74 million passengers in 2018, consisting of 33 million on its domestic services and 41 million on its international routes. The airline carried 51.6 million passengers in the first nine months of 2017, posting a $263 million net profit. Turkish Airlines is also anticipating an increase in jet fuel consumption of 9 percent compared to 2017, with the price per tonne of fuel expected to be $633 in 2018. With the anticipated increase, the airline will be eagerly anticipating the arrival of the A350 aircraft, which offers modern fuel efficient Rolls Royce engines and an aerodynamic design with unrivaled levels of operational efficiency within the industry. The aircraft offers a 25 percent reduction in fuel burn and emissions. The latest agreement comes just months after the carrier signed a provisional agreement with U.S. rival Boeing. Back in September, the carrier signed an agreement for an order of 40 Boeing 787-9 aircraft, due for delivery between 2019 and 2023. The agreements come as the airline continues to replace its aging widebody fleet while adding further capacity ahead of its move to the new Istanbul airport. The new airport will open with three runways and one terminal, with an expected capacity of 90 million passengers. The airline is intending on utilising the larger capacity of the airport, and its new modern fleet to further expand its international routes with IIker Ayci stating "With Turkish Airlines serving more destinations than any other airline around the world, we will be delighted to rely on our new A350 XWB to further develop our major international routes from Turkey." The airline intends to start operations from the new airport after it opens phase 1 in late October. https://airlinegeeks.com/2018/01/07/turkish-airlines-signs-agreement-for-25-airbus-a350-900-aircraft/ Back to Top HYBRID HELO LANDS CERTIFICATION A hybrid-electric helicopter with eight rotors and two seats will make its first test flight Jan. 8 in Las Vegas, as Workhorse Group Inc. hopes to make a splashy entrance to the Consumer Electronics Show with the SureFly, a drone-like design scaled up to carry people. The Ohio-based Workhorse Group plans to spin SureFly into its own company, and bring this overgrown drone (which will eventually be flown by a computer) to market with a target price of $200,000, offering a 400-pound payload capacity and a range of up to 70 miles. Powered by a modified, 200-horsepower Honda engine that generates electricity for the motors, SureFly sports four motor arms with two propellers on each, a design unveiled at the Paris Air Show and EAA AirVenture in 2017, where AOPA took a close-up look at the concept. The company is accepting $1,000 deposits on a vehicle it hopes to deliver in two to three years, and announced Jan. 3 that the FAA has granted an experimental airworthiness certificate that will facilitate test flights, starting with the Jan. 8 mission that will combine engineering and advertising just ahead of the popular electronics show. Workhorse Group produces a range of terrestrial electric vehicle products including the all-important battery pack used by the SureFly design. The plan is to start with human pilots aboard, and eventually develop autonomous flight capability and deploy SureFly in emergency medical and air taxi applications. Safety features will include flight control and stabilization systems that can keep the SureFly airborne even if one or more motors fail, enough battery power to land safely in case of combustion engine failure, and a parachute if all else fails. https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2018/january/04/hybrid-helo-lands-certification Curt Lewis