Flight Safety Information February 5, 2018 - No. 026 In This Issue Incident: Frontier A320 near Tampa on Feb 3rd 2018, LiOn fire on board Incident: American B772 near Bermuda on Feb 4th 2018, cargo smoke indication Accident: American A321 near Wichita on Feb 3rd 2018, fumes on board EVAS - Cockpit Smoke Protection Incident: Pobeda B738 at Istanbul on Feb 2nd 2018, incorrect missed approach causes loss of separation Incident: France B773 at Hong Kong on Feb 2nd 2018, engine fire detection system indication Drone hovers right above jet landing at Las Vegas airport Russia limits AOC validity of Azur Air until March 20 over safety issues South African CAA temporarily grounded 12 CemAir aircraft over maintenance issue Rolls-Royce Launches "IntelligentEngine" Concept Tech companies have a leg up on airlines, experts warn Singapore Airshow: Airbus showcases latest wide-body aircraft ICAO Secretary General: Aviation Industry is the Promoter and Driver of the Sustainable Development New Software Will Prevent F-35 Pilots from Flying into the Ground Japan insurer to offer certified drone pilots liability coverage Etihad phasing out five Boeing 777-200LRs after U.S. routes cut SpaceX receives commercial launch license for first Falcon Heavy flight GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY ISASI Kapustin Memorial Scholarship Applications Due in April Position: Assistant/Associate Professor - Tenure Track Faculty - Aviation Technology Position: Manager, Safety Programs Cranfield Short Course - Put your safety assessment skills into practice European Society of Air Safety Investigators (ESASI) - 2018 - Call for Presentations 2018 Air Charter Safety Symposium | March 13-14, 2018 in Ashburn, VA Book:...Angle of Attack Today's Photo ADVERTISE WITH FLIGHT SAFETY INFORMATION Back to Top Incident: Frontier A320 near Tampa on Feb 3rd 2018, LiOn fire on board A Frontier Airlines Airbus A320-200, registration N205FR performing flight F9-1883 from Orlando,FL to Phoenix,AZ (USA), was climbing through FL300 out of Orlando when the crew reported smoke in the cabin and decided to divert to Tampa,FL (USA). The crew advised that there was smoke in the cabin believed to originate from a LithiumIon battery, the cabin was on oxygen, the flight deck was not on oxygen. Later into the approach the crew advised that there had been an actual fire, the fire was now out. On final approach in contact with tower the crew advised they wanted to taxi the aircraft to the gate and have emergency services board the aircraft at the gate, the fire was out for now. The aircraft landed on Tampa's runway 01L and stopped on the taxiway while a gate was being sorted out. After the gate was assigned the aircraft continued taxi with emergency services in trail, the crew advised the device had been put on ice in the forward lavatory and should be recovered by emergency services from there. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground in Tampa for about 6 hours, then continued the flight and reached Phoenix with a delay of about 6:45 hours. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/FFT1883/history/20180204/0137Z/KMCO/KPHX http://avherald.com/h?article=4b481737&opt=256 Back to Top Incident: American B772 near Bermuda on Feb 4th 2018, cargo smoke indication An American Airlines Boeing 777-200, registration N757AN performing flight AA-973 (dep Feb 3rd) from New York JFK,NY (USA) to Rio de Janeiro Galeao,RJ (Brazil) with 201 people on board, was enroute at FL350 about 210nm northnorthwest of Bermuda (Bermuda) when upon establishing VHF redio contact with Bermuda area control the crew declared Mayday advising "We have indication of a fire, a cargo fire" and requested to divert to Bermuda. ATC cleared the flight direct to Bermuda. The crew descend the aircraft to 10,000 feet, the crew further advised they had indication of a fire but the temperature was cool. ATC advised that the tower at Bermuda was not staffed at the time, explained pilot controlled runway lighting to the crew and informed the crew that emergency services have been alerted and were on standby for their arrival. The aircraft landed safely on Bermuda's runway 12 about 38 minutes after leaving FL350. The passengers disembarked via mobile stairs, then emergency services on oxygen entered the aft cargo hold but did not find any trace of fire, heat or smoke. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Bermuda about 11 hours after landing. The passengers have been rebooked onto flights back to JFK and further on to other flights to Rio de Janeiro. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b481480&opt=256 Back to Top Accident: American A321 near Wichita on Feb 3rd 2018, fumes on board An American Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration N169UW performing flight AA-2057 from Charlotte,NC to Los Angeles,CA (USA), was enroute at FL300 about 140nm west of Wichita,KS (USA) when the crew decided to turn around and divert to Wichita reporting a number of crew felt ill following an odour of burnt plastics on board. The aircraft landed safely at Wichita's Mid Continent Airport about 35 minutes after turning around. Six crew suffering from headaches were assessed at the airport. Emergency services reported the aircraft never declared emergency, however, reported an odour of burnt plastics on board, a number of crew felt light headed about one hour after the odour. Six members of the crew were taken to first aid with headaches as a precaution. A replacement crew is being flown in to continue the flight. The cause of the odour is not yet known. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/AAL2057/history/20180203/1420Z/KCLT/KLAX http://avherald.com/h?article=4b47931f&opt=256 Back to Top Back to Top Incident: Pobeda B738 at Istanbul on Feb 2nd 2018, incorrect missed approach causes loss of separation A Pobeda Boeing 737-800, registration VQ-BTH performing flight DP-837 from Moscow Vnukovo (Russia) to Istanbul (Turkey), was on final approach to Istanbul's runway 23 when the crew decided to go around from low height but did not turn left immediately as instructed by the missed approach procedure and continued straight ahead. A Pegasus Boeing 737-800 registration TC-IZE performing flight PC-3303 from Istanbul to Izmir (Turkey), departed Istanbul's runway 17R and was in the initial climb through about 700 feet AGL when the Pobeda 737 crossed their flight path twice turning onto the missed approach. The Pegasus Boeing stopped the climb at about 1000 feet thus remaining below the Pobeda. After being clear of conflict the Pobeda joined the correct missed approach procedure, positioned for another approach and landed safely on runway 23 about 21 minutes later. The Pegasus continued the climb and landed safely in Izmir. Turkey's Civil Aviation Authority reported the separation between the two aircraft reduced to 700 feet vertical with about 250 meters/0.13nm horizontal separation. An investigation has been opened into the occurrence rated a serious incident. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b478f7a&opt=256 Back to Top Incident: France B773 at Hong Kong on Feb 2nd 2018, engine fire detection system indication An Air France Boeing 777-300, registration F-GSQB performing flight AF-185 (scheduled dep Feb 1st, act. dep Feb 2nd) from Hong Kong (China) to Paris Charles de Gaulle (France), was climbing out of Hong Kong when the crew stopped the climb at 8100 meters (FL266) due to an engine (GE90) fire detection system indication. The crew worked the related checklists and returned the aircraft to Hong Kong burning off fuel prior to landing. The aircraft landed safely on Hong Kong's runway 07L about 3:40 hours after departure, the crew advised ATC after landing that no further assistance from the emergency services was needed, the aircraft taxied to the gate. A passenger reported the captain announced there had been a fire indication for one of the engines. The aircraft returned to Hong Kong. It emerged after landing that the fire indication had been false due to faulty sensor. They were taken to hotels nonetheless. Hong Kong's ATC reported the crew informed them about a suspected engine malfunction. The aircraft burned off fuel entering a hold near Hong Kong. Air France reported the aircraft returned due to a malfunction of the fire detection system on one of the engines. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b46adf3&opt=256 Back to Top Drone hovers right above jet landing at Las Vegas airport No, it's not legal, but that didn't stop someone from taking a remote joyride on McCarran International Airport's flight path. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating an incident in which someone apparently piloted a drone right above a jet landing at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas. The KLAS TV station's LasVegasNow.com website published video Thursday taken at an unknown time from a drone hovering over the city as a jet approaches and then passes underneath. The FAA said Friday it's "aware of the incident and is investigating" but declined further comment. Drones, piloted from the ground but providing an eye in the sky, promise new business opportunities for everybody from real estate photographers to oil refinery operators. And they can help police handle dangerous gunfire scenes. But anyone can buy one of the aircraft, and enforcing restrictions can be tough. The Know Before You Fly website, from the FAA and drone and model aircraft groups, steers people toward 2,500 designated model aircraft flying sites. It can be tricky knowing where drone use is illegal, though. Airports are on the list, of course, but so are many military sites, US landmarks and the Super Bowl. The FAA can fine individuals up to $1,437 for each violation of flight safety rules. Business' fines can reach $32,666 per violation. Then there are criminal penalties of up to $250,000 in fines and three years in prison. Remote-control aircraft have been around for decades, but drones are a novelty and add photos and videos into the mix. And the existing model-aircraft industry isn't happy about the Las Vegas drone flight. "All drone and model aircraft pilots must stay well clear of manned aircraft. We condemn the type of operation depicted in this video," said Chad Budreau, director of government affairs for the Academy of Model Aeronautics, in a statement. "Anyone who violates aviation regulations or endangers public safety must be held accountable for their actions. We urge the FAA to take strong enforcement action against this drone pilot, and against any future violators." https://www.cnet.com/news/drone-hovers-over-jet-landing-at-las-vegas-airport/ Back to Top Russia limits AOC validity of Azur Air until March 20 over safety issues The Russian Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) limited the validity of Azur Air's Air Operator Certificate (AOC) until March 20, 2018 over safety issues. The decision was made on the basis of an unscheduled audit of Azur Air. In the course of the inspection conducted by Rosaviatsiya in December 2017, the air carrier's activity revealed inconsistencies and shortcomings concerning the maintenance of airworthiness of aircraft and the organization of flight operations. The airline has until March 20 to rectify all issues. Until that date, the Azur can continue to operate. If the issues have not been rectified by then, the airline's AOC may be suspended, Rosaviatsiya said in a statement. Azur Air was founded in 1992 as Katekavia and was rebranded Azur Air in 2014. The airline operates five Boeing 737-800, eight Boeing 757-200's and seven Boeing 767-300's on domestic and holiday flights. https://news.aviation-safety.net/2018/02/03/russia-limits-aoc-validity-azur-air-march-20-safety- issues/ Back to Top South African CAA temporarily grounded 12 CemAir aircraft over maintenance issue The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) temporarily withdrew the Certificate of Airworthiness (CoA) privileges for 12 aircraft being operated by CemAir over maintenance issues. The suspension became effective at 06:00 AM on Friday, 02 February 2018 and automatically expired after 24 hours at 05:00 AM on Saturday, 03 February 2018. The decision to withdraw CoA privileges follows the discovery during an audit by SACAA inspectors that some of the aircraft that were serviced at CemAir's Aircraft Maintenance Organisation (AMO) were released back to service or cleared as airworthy by unqualified personnel. This is in contravention of Part 43 and Part 121 of the South African Civil Aviation Regulations. This practice posed an imminent danger for crew members, passengers, and the public at large, and has a direct impact on aviation safety, since the airworthiness status of the aircraft concerned cannot be confirmed and/or is questionable, according to a CAA statement. CemAir was founded in 2005 and operates a fleet of Canadair Regional Jet CRJ-100ER/200ER aircraft and de Havilland Canada DHC-8's. https://news.aviation-safety.net/2018/02/03/south-african-caa-temporarily-grounded-12-cemair- aircraft-released-back-service-unqualified-personnel/ Back to Top Rolls-Royce Launches "IntelligentEngine" Concept British engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce (Stand N23) is launching a new "IntelligentEngine" concept at the Singapore Airshow this week, continuing its push towards utilizing "Big Data." The IntelligentEngine vision is based on a belief that the worlds of product and service have become so closely connected that they are now inseparable, said the company. According to Richard Goodhead, senior v-p marketing for Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace, the Intelligent Engine is "the confluence of three concepts-product, services and digital-coming together." He said that when Total Care started for Trent engines, "the [three] circles started to overlap" and now Rolls is "taking far more data and doing far more with it." Goodhead also said it can be represented by the "Three Cs-connected, contextually aware and comprehending," meaning the engine can learn from its own experiences and those of other engines. "In addition to designing, testing, and maintaining engines in the digital realm, the IntelligentEngine vision sets out a future where an engine will be increasingly connected, contextually aware and comprehending, helping to deliver greater reliability and efficiency," said Goodhead. Dominic Horwood, Rolls-Royce director, customer and services-civil aerospace, said: "In the nearer term, it will focus us on developing the skills, tools and technology we need to deliver an engine that is connected, contextually aware and comprehending. In the longer term, our ambition is unbounded; we could be looking at engines that understand their own condition and can heal themselves, or even engines with interchangeable cores." In December 2017 Rolls-Royce launched R2 Data Labs, which it described as "an acceleration hub" for data innovation. Horwood said this is playing a key role in achieving the aims of the IntelligentEngine, "Using advanced data analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning...to unlock design, manufacturing, and operational efficiencies within Rolls-Royce." The launch of R2 Data Labs came after it formed a partnership with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), also complementing a preferred partner agreement with Microsoft for cloud solutions, "[Positioning] Rolls-Royce closely alongside two globally recognized digital service providers." THE AAAC Another recent development supporting the IntelligentEngine vision was the opening of the Airlines Aircraft Availability Centre in June 2017. The new center is situated at Rolls's headquarters in Derby, UK, and is "ready for the transformation in volume and richness of data-from kilobytes of data per flight to terabytes," said the company. "This, when combined with our engineering teams' expertise, creates new insights which allow better and faster services decisions to be made. That work is complemented by Rolls-Royce's global network of customer service centers, created to work locally with customers, by providing in-depth expertise." Combining Rolls-Royce data with customer data will lead to "dramatic improvements to airline economics in terms of aircraft availability and fuel efficiency," the company claimed. R-R said the new approach would take the focus beyond maintenance services, and from activities representing only 4 percent of an airline's direct operating costs to nearly 70 percent. "Those availability services involve a growing understanding of what 'the perfect fuel-saving flight' involves-one which accounts for weather, air traffic control restrictions and advises airlines on the most efficient way to fly in different conditions. This offers airlines the opportunity to save millions of dollars when a one percent fuel saving equates to a $250,000 saving per aircraft per year." PRODUCT MANUFACTURING Digital capability also completes a loop within Rolls-Royce-not only informing product design and services, but also manufacturing. One example, it said, is the Joint Lab to develop Smart Manufacturing technologies set up by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Rolls-Royce, and Singapore Aero Engine Services Limited (SAESL). The parties announced last year a plan to invest up to S$60 million (US$45.5 million) to set up a lab to develop next-generation aerospace manufacturing, as well as MRO capabilities enabled by advanced processes, automation and digital technologies. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2018-02-05/rolls-royce-launches- intelligentengine-concept Back to Top Tech companies have a leg up on airlines, experts warn * Airlines must increase their use of disruptive technology, warned officials at the Singapore Airshow Aviation Leadership Summit. * Big data is one field where technology firms could have a competitive advantage over traditional aviation players, said Henrik Hololei, director-general for mobility and transport at the European Commission. As more tech companies enter the transportation market, their capabilities with big data and other disruptive technologies could spell trouble for airlines. An Amazon-branded Boeing 767 freighter, nicknamed Amazon One, flies over Lake Washington during the Seattle Seafair Air Show on Aug. 5, 2016 in Seattle. "A tech giant who extracts customer behavior will be much better placed than an airline, for example, which only has information on its own operations," said Henrik Hololei, director-general for mobility and transport at the European Commission. Speaking at the Singapore Airshow Aviation Leadership Summit on Monday, a day before the Southeast Asian nation kicks off its annual air show, Hololei pointed to Amazon as an example. The world's largest online retailer announced air cargo services for its U.S. deliveries in 2016, raising fears that CEO Jeff Bezos could soon compete with global logistics giants such as FedEx or DHL. From Google's self-driving car to Uber's helicopter tie-up with Airbus, a number of Silicon Valley names are now concentrating research and investment on moving customers from point A to point B. Tech firms enjoy access to huge stores of data and boast the ability to process that information, which means they "know better what the customer wants," Hololei said. Once a company flies a drone, it may have more ambitious plans in the pipeline, he cautioned. Leveraging data analytics offers a number of benefits for airlines, from optimized on-the-ground operations such as baggage tracking to increased revenues. "Technology is moving at a faster pace than we can use it," Bahrain's Transport and Telecommunications Minister Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed said at the summit. "Airline operators will be forced to invest in technology." In that spirit, Boeing has assembled 800 analytics experts to create a new division focused on using data for customer solutions. Called Boeing AnalytX, the unit launched last year and is already doing business with the likes of Korean Air, Delta Air Lines and Turkish Airlines. Goh Choon Phong, CEO of Singapore Airlines, told CNBC that his company wasn't worried about its big data abilities. "Airlines have their own advantage when it comes to data and interactions with customers," Phong said on the summit's sidelines. "I don't think you can find any other business where you have customers, in some sense, with you for the duration of a whole flight," he continued. That's an opportunity for airlines to get to know passengers even better, he added. The carrier is currently hiring for several big data-related jobs, according to its website, as it embarks on a multi-year plan to upgrade operations. "If we can understand our customers better, surely we can use that data to serve them better," Phong said. The executive also shrugged off the possibility of future competition from tech firms. Singapore, the carrier's home market, is so open that "anybody can set up an airline," he said, suggesting that general competition wasn't a new concern. https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/05/singapore-air-show-airlines-tech-companies-and-big-data.html Back to Top Singapore Airshow: Airbus showcases latest wide-body aircraft An Airbus A350-1000 is seen on display, ahead of the Singapore Airshow 2018. SINGAPORE - Airbus is showcasing its twin-engine A350-1000 at the Singapore Airshow this week, as it looks to garner more interest in the company's latest wide-body aircraft. This is the first time the 366-seat jetliner - a longer variant of the 325-seat A350-900 which is already been flown commercially - has come to Singapore. Airbus said in a press conference on Monday (Feb 5) that it has received 169 orders for the twin- aisle A350-1000 from 11 customers, including Japan Airlines, British Airways and Etihad, as of December last year. The firm's marketing director Francois Obe said the aircraft is ideal for the Asia-Pacific region. "We see an exploding Trans-Pacific market. A lot of people are willing to fly between the American continent - it is not limited to North America - into Asia. This is where the trend is. This is exactly what the A350-1000 is designed to do," Mr Obe told reporters at the Singapore Airshow. Singapore is the seventh stop of a "world tour" on which Airbus is taking its A350-1000 test aircraft. It has also showcased the plane - with a fully functional cabin - in cities such as Seoul, Hong Kong and Taipei. After Singapore, the plane will be flown to Bangkok, Sydney, Auckland, Tokyo and Manila. More than 50 per cent of the A350-1000's airframe is composite material, making it lighter. Airbus touts it as burning 25 per cent less fuel than a competitor's equivalent model. This month, Airbus is expected to deliver the first A350-1000 to launch customer Qatar Airways. The delivery was originally scheduled for late last year but has been delayed due to issues with installing the business class seats, according to a Reuters report. This is because of a more complex configuration required by the Middle Eastern carrier, with seats that face each other and lie-flat double beds. Asked about the delay on Monday, Mr Obe said: "It's not up to us to release delivery dates, it's traditionally a privilege of the customer. "What we want is to deliver an aircraft that really meets the high level of expectations of Qatar Airways," Mr Obe added. The A350-1000 is on static display at the Singapore Airshow until Thursday. The Airshow, held at the Changi Exhibition Centre, officially opens on Tuesday, and will host 65 of the top 100 global aerospace companies such as Airbus, Boeing and Rolls-Royce. Over 1,000 companies from 50 countries and regions will be involved in the four trade days. More than 130,000 visitors are expected, most of them on Feb 10 and 11 when it is open to the public. http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapore-airshow-airbus-showcases-its-latest-wide-body- aircraft Back to Top ICAO Secretary General: Aviation Industry is the Promoter and Driver of the Sustainable Development BEIJING, Feb. 5, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- China Aviation Daily published an article regarding the importance of aviation industry in the sustainable development of global economy, a view expressed by ICAO Secretary General Liu Fang at the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation. Below is the article: Air transport now plays an increasingly important role in promoting the interconnection of the world and driving the global economic development. In the meantime, air transport industry also faces a number of challenges including safety and sustainable development. As a specialized agency of the United Nations, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) acts as an important platform for the civil aviation cooperation among nations and continuously implements various measures to facilitate the widespread cooperation of the civil aviation sectors of ICAO member states. The first Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation was held in Beijing on Jan.31 - Feb.1, featuring the theme of "Sharing, Inclusion, Collaboration and Jointly Shaping the Future Aviation of Asia Pacific". Liu Fang, ICAO Secretary General, said that the civil aviation sector of China had seen rapid growth in recent years while maintaining relatively high level of safety and operational efficiency. The civil aviation industry contributes greatly to the economic development of the Asia Pacific region, and the aviation safety and accident rate of the region is also declining. The whole civil aviation industry has much potential and a promising future. In the meantime, however, some ICAO member states in the Asia Pacific region have yet to establish an effective regulatory system for the aviation safety. Due to the lack of sufficient safety oversight and human resources, their air traffic management level still need to be enhanced. With the promotion and popularity of digital technologies in the civil aviation industry, the internet security also poses a threat to the aviation safety and security. Liu pointed out that the APAC states should strengthen their building of air traffic services, improve their air traffic management level, establish new route structures, accelerate the development of infrastructure including airports, change the design and operation mode of airports, and follow the growing trend of future air transportation. Liu indicated that ICAO will strengthen its cooperation with APAC states with focus on assistance. She hoped that the first Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation could act as a high-level platform for technological cooperation and assistance for the Asia Pacific region and foster a safer and more sustainable development of the aviation industry of the region. The Conference adopted the Beijing Declaration, which reflects the common concerns, common positions and common vision of all APAC member states in terms of aviation safety, air navigation services, accident investigation and human resources. It is not only a consensus on promoting the development of the aviation industry in the Asia Pacific region, but will also be a multilateral policy guideline for promoting the development of Asia Pacific civil aviation in the future. In addition, it will be of great significance in strengthening the cooperation among the states in the field of civil aviation, further enhancing the level of aviation safety in the Asia Pacific region, promoting the healthy, sustained and high-quality development of civil aviation in the region, and letting aviation play its important role in the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.The implementation of the Declaration will also promote the development of the civil aviation industry of states in the Asia Pacific region along the Belt and Road. http://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/ICAO-Secretary-General-Aviation-Industry-is-the- Promoter-and-Driver-of-the-Sustainable-Development-1014964399 Back to Top New Software Will Prevent F-35 Pilots from Flying into the Ground A U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II demonstration aircraft takes off during the AirPower over Hampton Roads Open House at Langley Air Force Base, Va., April 24, 2016. (U.S. Air Force/Senior Airman R. Alex Durbin) Even experienced fighter pilots are at risk of a phenomenon known as Controlled Flight Into Terrain, or CFIT. In 2016, it claimed the life of Marine Maj. Richard "Sterling" Norton during F/A-18 Hornet training at 29 Palms, California. Bottom line: When you're multitasking in mid-air at speeds of up to 1,000 miles per hour, it's easy to get disoriented. But the military's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is about to get a new automatic technology that will prevent pilots from flying into the ground by mistake. And it's coming about five years earlier than scheduled. The F-35 Joint Program Office announced this week that the aircraft will receive the automatic ground collision avoidance system, or Auto-GCAS, software that initiates an automatic recovery maneuver when "impact with the ground is imminent." It uses GPS positioning and altitude readings to predict upcoming collisions, according to a JPO release. When a crash is imminent, the system warns the pilot to prompt a recovery maneuver. But if no action is taken, Auto-GCAS will take over, righting the aircraft and executing a 5-G pull to get the plane safely off its collision course. Only after the threat has been avoided does the system hand controls back to the pilot. Auto-GCAS has been in use by the Air Force's F-16 Fighting Falcon fleet since 2014 and has been credited with saving the lives of seven pilots in six different aircraft. In one dramatic episode reported in 2016, an Arizona Air National Guard pilot was saved after losing consciousness in the cockpit and entering a dive. Unclassified footage of the episode shows the aircraft headed for the ground like a missile before the system intervenes. "As the first recorded save happened just four months after completion of [F-16] testing, the F-35 Joint Program Office has placed a premium on the quickest possible implementation of Auto-GCAS," JPO officials said in the release. The move comes as the Marine Corps' F-35B prepares to depart on its first shipboard deployment in the Pacific later this year, closely followed by another deployment that is expected to include operations in the Middle East. Officials with the Joint Program Office did not immediately provide responses to Military.com questions about which aircraft squadrons or which variant would be the first to receive Auto-GCAS. But it's supposed to be installed across the fleet by 2019. The program executive officer for the F-35, Vice Adm. Mat Winter, said officials estimate expediting the technology, given existing statistics, will save three aircraft and three pilots. "Our acquisition team is working with the warfighters to ensure Auto-GCAS is in every F-35," Winter said in a statement. "... Over the service life of the F-35 fleet, having Auto-GCAS is estimated to prevent more than 26 ground collisions from happening." https://www.military.com/defensetech/2018/02/02/new-software-will-prevent-f-35-pilots-flying- ground.html Back to Top Japan insurer to offer certified drone pilots liability coverage * Tokio Marine policies to be mandatory for licensed operators * Drones are playing a bigger role in businesses these days, creating demand for operator insurance. © Reuters TOKYO -- Drones are taking to the sky in ever-growing numbers as they evolve from hobbyist toy to essential business tool. And more unmanned aerial vehicles means more crashes. Sensing a business opportunity, Japan's Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance, a unit of Tokio Marine Holdings, this month introduced accident insurance for certified drone pilots. The insurer sells the policies under an arrangement with Japan's Drone Pilot Association, which will require that its pilots be insured. The association will pay the premiums for the policies, which will cover drone operators who complete a training program at an accredited school. The association, an organization registered with the transport ministry, issues professional certificates. The association requires newly certified pilots to carry insurance in response to the growing number of headline-grabbing crashes in Japan in recent years. The policies will provide liability coverage, including injuries and damage to structures and cars, arising from drone crashes. Coverage is set at 100 million yen ($913,000) for individuals and 10 million yen for businesses. Corporate policyholders can buy additional coverage up to 1 billion yen. The association has accredited 30 drone pilot schools in Japan. Starting in 2019, it will add 70 more schools to the list, eventually bringing the number of schools to 100 and the number of insured pilots to around 10,000. Tokio Marine is seeking tie-ups with others in the drone industry to increase sales of the policies. https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Trends/Japan-insurer-to-offer-certified-drone-pilots-liability- coverage Back to Top Etihad phasing out five Boeing 777-200LRs after U.S. routes cut DUBAI (Reuters) - Abu Dhabi-owned Etihad Airways is pulling five Boeing 777-200LR passenger jets from its fleet after deciding last year to drop some flights that the aircraft were used on, according to the airline and sources. An Etihad spokesman said it was phasing out the long-range jets as part of its fleet renewal process. The airline has over a hundred aircraft on order to be delivered over the next seven years, mostly wide-body jets. Five sources said the 777-200LRs were deemed surplus following a decision last year to reduce flights to the United States, and might be sold. Etihad stopped flying to San Francisco last October, and will end flights to Dallas Fort Worth next month. It continues to fly to Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Washington D.C. using 777-300s and A380s. The 777-200LRs had also been used on flights to Brazil's Sao Paulo, which Etihad stopped flying to in 2017. Etihad sold all seven of its A340 jets last year, a source said, and on Jan. 24 Etihad told Reuters that it had stopped using five Airbus cargo planes. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/etihad-phasing-five-boeing-777-200lrs-u-routes-150825458- -finance.html Back to Top SpaceX receives commercial launch license for first Falcon Heavy flight The Federal Aviation Administration has approved a launch license for SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket set for blastoff Tuesday, giving the U.S. government's regulatory green light for the heavy-lifter to dispatch Elon Musk's used electric sports car on a one-way trip into deep space. Dated Feb. 2, the FAA launch license clears a final regulatory hurdle for the Falcon Heavy's test launch from pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The launch window Tuesday opens at 1:30 p.m. EST (1830 GMT) and extends until 4 p.m. EST (2100 GMT). The official weather forecast issued Sunday by the U.S. Air Force's 45th Weather Squadron predicts an 80 percent chance of favorable conditions during Tuesday's launch window. "On Tuesday, winds will become easterly at 15 mph, bringing a few low-level clouds in off the water," forecasters wrote in Sunday's outlook. "The main weather concerns are liftoff winds and thick clouds. Maximum upper-level winds will be from the west at 90 knots near 40,000 feet." Made up of three rocket boosters derived from SpaceX's Falcon 9 launcher, the triple-core Falcon Heavy will produce more thrust than any rocket currently flying, and the most by any vehicle since the space shuttle. The commercial launch license approved by the FAA gives SpaceX authorization to launch the Falcon Heavy rocket "transporting the modified Tesla Roadster (mass simulator) to a hyperbolic orbit." SpaceX plans to boost the electric car with enough speed to escape the bonds of Earth's gravity, steering the Roadster on a "hyperbolic" trajectory away from the planet into a heliocentric orbit around the sun. The orbit will take the automobile as far as the distance of Mars. The Tesla Roadster weighs about 2,760 pounds (1,250 kilograms), measures nearly 13 feet (3.9 meters) long and spans about 5.7 feet (1.7 meters) wide, according to Car and Driver magazine. Photos of the Tesla Roadster released by SpaceX show it dwarfed by the size of the launcher's clamshell-like payload shroud, which extends 43 feet (13.1 meters) tall and 17 feet (5.2 meters) in diameter. SpaceX claims the Falcon Heavy can haul 140,660 pounds (63,800 kilograms) into low Earth orbit a few hundred miles up, up to 37,040 pounds (16,800 kilograms) to Mars, or 7,720 pounds (3,500 kilograms) to Pluto. A Falcon Heavy mission sells for around $90 million, the company says on its website. Those numbers assume SpaceX will not recover any of the Falcon Heavy's boosters. The fuel reserve required for landings will diminish the rocket's performance. For comparison, the Delta 4-Heavy rocket, operated by SpaceX rival United Launch Alliance, can haul up to 63,471 pounds (28,790 kilograms) to a low-altitude orbit approximately 120 miles (200 kilometers) above Earth when launched to the east from Cape Canaveral, according to a launch vehicle data sheet published by ULA. NASA's planned Space Launch System, set for a maiden flight in late 2019 or early 2020, will carry more than 154,000 pounds (70,000 kilograms) to low Earth orbit and produce a maximum thrust of 8.8 million pounds. A souped-up model of the SLS with an enlarged upper stage launching in the early 2020s could haul more than 230,000 pounds (105 metric tons) to low Earth orbit. The SLS is being designed with surplus space shuttle engine and booster components, and the space agency intends to use the multibillion-dollar mega-rocket to send astronaut crews to the moon, and eventually beyond. The Tesla Roadster's weight and dimensions fall well under the Falcon Heavy's capacity, and would not stress the lift capability of SpaceX's smaller, single-core Falcon 9 rocket or Atlas, Delta and Ariane boosters operated by rivals United Launch Alliance and Arianespace. "I love the thought of a car drifting apparently endlessly through space and perhaps being discovered by an alien race millions of years in the future," Musk tweeted in December. Musk said the midnight cherry red Tesla Roadster, which sells for $200,000 brand new, will be playing David Bowie's iconic hit "Space Oddity" as it soars into the cosmos. Whimsical passengers are nothing new for SpaceX. The company's first Dragon capsule test flight carried a wheel of cheese to Earth orbit and back, a nod to a "Monty Python" comedy sketch. The restrictions of interplanetary travel, which require precise alignments between the planets, will keep the Roadster well away from Mars, assuaging concerns that the car could inadvertently crash into the red planet. The FAA license "includes landing of the Falcon Heavy first stage core and side boosters as indicated in the license application," officials wrote in the document. "A flight is concluded upon SpaceX's last exercise of control over the Falcon Heavy vehicle, including the safing of Falcon Heavy vehicle stages or components that reach a hyperbolic orbit." The license requires SpaceX to hold $110 million in third-party liability insurance - or "otherwise demonstrate financial responsibility" - to cover property damages from a potential launch accident, roughly two to three times the FAA's insurance requirement for a Falcon 9 launch from pad 39A. SpaceX must also hold $100 million in government property insurance, along with $72 million to cover claims from damage incurred during Falcon Heavy pre-flight operations at the Kennedy Space Center. Most of the FAA's commercial launch licenses are granted for missions with destinations in Earth orbit, but the Falcon Heavy's is not the first for a flight departing the planet entirely. An Athena rocket launched under the FAA's licensing authority in 1998 with the Lunar Prospector probe sent to orbit the moon, and a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket launched into polar orbit under FAA oversight in 2016 with a commercial Earth observation satellite, then the Atlas 5's Centaur upper stage reignited to head on an Earth escape trajectory into heliocentric orbit. NASA and U.S. military payloads riding on ULA and SpaceX rockets, such as Mars rovers and other interplanetary probes, do not need an FAA launch license. SpaceX developed the Falcon Heavy to lift heavier payloads into space than the company's Falcon 9 rocket, and to compete with other heavy-lifters for contracts to haul massive spacecraft for the U.S. military and NASA. The Falcon Heavy may also find a niche in deploying large commercial satellites, or launching clusters of smaller spacecraft to support the build-out of planned broadband communications networks. But going into Tuesday's test flight, only three Falcon Heavy missions are confirmed in SpaceX's backlog after the test launch: Two for commercial telecom companies Arabsat and ViaSat, and one for the Air Force. Another company, Inmarsat, has an option to launch a future satellite on a Falcon Heavy. Some customers that reserved launches on SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket switched their satellites to the smaller Falcon 9, which benefited from multiple thrust and performance upgrades to carry some payloads that originally required the triple-core rocket. Inmarsat and Intelsat had planned launches on the Falcon Heavy, but both ended up flying their satellites on the Falcon 9. The ViaSat 2 satellite built to provide high-speed Internet access across the United States was supposed to launch on a Falcon Heavy, but the firm move its launch to a European Ariane 5 rocket, citing schedule worries. ViaSat retained its contract with SpaceX to launch a future satellite on a Falcon Heavy. Powering off the launch pad with 4.7 million pounds of thrust from 27 Merlin main engines, the Falcon Heavy will head to the east from Florida's Space Coast on a trajectory arcing over the Atlantic Ocean. Its two side boosters - modified Falcon 9 rocket cores recovered after previous launches - will shut down and fall away a couple of minutes into the flight. The side-mounted rockets will fire cold-gas nitrogen thrusters to flip around and fly tail-first, before reigniting to head for automated touchdowns at SpaceX's landing complex at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station around 9 miles (13 kilometers) south of pad 39A. Twin sonic booms will crack across the spaceport as the boosters return to Cape Canaveral for staggered landings, slowed with the help of rocket thrust. The rocket's center core, stiffened to withstand the extra loads of a Falcon Heavy launch, will head for touchdown on SpaceX's drone ship positioned downrange in the Atlantic Ocean.. The Falcon Heavy weighs more than 3.1 million pounds (1.4 million kilograms) fully loaded with kerosene and liquid oxygen propellants. Most of that propellant weight will be consumed in the first few minutes of the flight. Tuesday's launch promises to put on a spectacular show for spectators at the Florida spaceport. The Falcon Heavy's ground-shaking thrust, coupled with the untried dual landings, should make for a memorable one-two punch for rocket geeks gathered on beaches and causeways surrounding Cape Canaveral. Musk unveiled the Falcon Heavy rocket in 2011, and proclaimed then the launcher would be ready for blastoff in 2013. SpaceX said it slowed development of the Falcon Heavy to focus on other projects, including the recovery of Falcon 9 rocket stages for reuse, and to resolve technical problems that destroyed two Falcon 9 rockets in 2015 and 2016, one in flight and another on the launch pad. Musk announced in September his updated vision for settling Mars - SpaceX's ultimate mission - and announced that his company is working on a giant new rocket dubbed the BFR that could send cargo and crew ships to the red planet, or perhaps the moon if a lunar base becomes reality. The Falcon Heavy's long road to liftoff turned out to be a bigger challenge than expected, and Musk has done his best to downplay expectations. "At first it sounds real easy, you just stick two first stages on as strap-on boosters, but then everything changes," Musk said in remarks at a space conference in July. "All the loads change, aerodynamics totally change. You've tripled the vibration and acoustics. You sort of break the qualification levels on so much of the hardware." A critical hotfire test Jan. 24 was the first time all 27 of the Falcon Heavy's engines ignited together. SpaceX does not have a test stand at its Central Texas development site to support such a high- thrust firing. "This is one of those things that's really difficult to test on the ground," Musk said in July. "We can fire the engines on the ground, and we can try to simulate the dynamics of having 27 instead of nine booster engines, and the airflow as it goes through transonic (as it exceeds the speed of sound). It's going to see heavy transonic buffet. How does it behave at Max-Q (maximum dynamic pressure)? "There's a lot of risk associated with Falcon Heavy, a real good chance that that vehicle does not make it to orbit," Musk said, referring to the inaugural test launch. "I want to make sure to set expectations accordingly. I hope it makes it far enough beyond the pad so that it does not cause pad damage. I would consider even that a win, to be honest." The energy generated by the Falcon Heavy's 27 main engines will eclipse the 2.9 million pounds of thrust produced by the European Ariane 5 rocket, the current world leader in liftoff thrust, and will put out more than double the power of a United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy launcher at liftoff. Overall, the Falcon Heavy is slated to produce the fourth-highest thrust level of any rocket in history, surpassed by the Soviet Union's N1 moon rocket, which never had a fully successful launch, NASA's Apollo-era Saturn 5 launcher, the Russian Energia rocket and the space shuttle. https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/02/04/spacex-receives-commercial-launch-license-for-first- falcon-heavy-flight/ Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Ph.D. Research Survey Request - Win a $100 Amazon Gift Card Research Title: General Aviation Pilot Acceptance and Adoption of Electronic Flight Bag Technology Researcher: Troy Techau If you are you a pilot and have flown in general aviation (14 CFR § 91) in the past year, you can fill out a survey and get a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card. I'm Troy Techau, a Ph.D. Candidate at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and the title of my research is General Aviation Pilot Acceptance and Adoption of Electronic Flight Bag Technology. Why do some general aviation pilots choose to use electronic flight bags (EFBs), and others choose not to use EFBs during their flight operations? I'm interested in the opinions of pilots that use EFBs as well as those pilots that do not use EFBs. As an incentive for completing the survey, you'll have the option of entering a drawing to win a $100 Amazon gift card. The survey is anonymous, and should take at most 15-20 minutes. Please visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/efb4 to get started! Questions? Contact me at techaut@my.erau.edu, or Dr. Steven Hampton at hamptons@erau.edu. Back to Top ISASI Kapustin Memorial Scholarship Applications Due in April Applications for the 2018 ISASI Rudolph Kapustin Memorial Scholarship must be submitted on or before April 15, 2018, says ISASI Secretary Chad Balentine, who serves as Scholarship Committee Chairman. Balentine noted that this worthy program is designed to encourage and assist college-level students interested in the field of aviation safety and aircraft occurrence investigation. ISASI funds the Rudolf Kapustin Memorial Scholarship through donations and will provide an annual allocation of funds for the scholarship if funds are available. Applicants must be enrolled as full time students in an ISASI recognized education program, which includes courses in aircraft engineering and/or operations, aviation psychology, aviation safety and/or aircraft occurrence investigation, etc. Applicants must have major or minor subjects that focus on aviation safety/investigation. A student who has received the annual ISASI Rudolf Kapustin Memorial Scholarship will not be eligible to apply for it again. Students who wish to apply should go to http://isasi.org/Documents/Forms/ISASI%20Rudolf%20Kapustin%20Memorial%20Scholarship%20Form%20Jan%2010%202018%200923.pdf for guidelines and the application form. Chad Balentine ISASI International Secretary Kapustin Scholarship Selection Committee Chairman email: chad.balentine@isasi.org Phone: 703.689.4225 Back to Top Assistant/Associate Professor - Tenure Track Faculty - Aviation Technology Job Duties: Indiana State University's Aviation Technology Department is seeking applications for a Tenure-Track Assistant/Associate Professor Faculty position. Duties include supporting the Unmanned Systems Program and teaching undergraduate courses in the Aviation Department degree programs. This is a nine-month position with the possibility of summer teaching assignments. Qualifications: Required Education: Master's degree in Aviation, Education, Electronics, Engineering, Engineering Technology, Robotics or an Unmanned Systems related field and demonstrated experience in UVS in academia. Must have a minimum of 18 graduate hours in aviation or unmanned systems related courses. Completion of an appropriate doctorate degree will be required within 5 years. Must have extensive knowledge in unmanned systems procedures, components, and applications. Must have extensive knowledge and demonstrated experience in unmanned systems operations to include land, marine, and aerial types. Must have demonstrated experience in operating unmanned systems in manual, semi- autonomous, and autonomous modes. Must have extensive knowledge of FAA airspace and regulatory issues. Department: The Aviation Technology Department in a part of the College of Technology and currently offers the following BS degrees: Professional Aviation Flight Technology, Aviation Management, and Unmanned Systems. Application Process: For full-consideration, please submit your application by March 1, 2018. To view the full description and to apply, please visit: http://jobs.indstate.edu/postings/20462. If you have questions please contact Dr. Richard Baker, Chair, Faculty Search Committee, Department of Aviation, Indiana State University, Terre Haute IN 47809. richard.baker@indstate.edu; (812) 237-2641 About the Institution: Established in 1865, Indiana State University is a four-year public university that integrates teaching, research, and creative activity in an engaging, challenging, and supportive learning environment to prepare productive citizens of the world. Indiana State is dedicated to teaching and the creation of knowledge while maintaining its longstanding commitment to inclusiveness. Located in Southwest Indiana, Indiana State University is conveniently located 10 minutes from I- 70 making trips to Indianapolis, St. Louis, Chicago and Cincinnati easily accessible. Indiana State University sits in the central part of downtown Terre Haute making the commute to shopping, food, housing, arts, sports and entertainment within 15 minutes to campus. Indiana State University has been listed by both Forbes and the Princeton Review as one of the top schools in the Midwest for the 5th and 13th year, respectively. U.S. News Best Colleges rankings describe Indiana State University as pedestrian friendly and beautifully landscaped, and has been recognized by Princeton Review as one the most environmentally responsible colleges. Indiana State University's commitment to community engagement and public service sets it apart. Students are motivated to apply both knowledge and creativity with local surrounding communities and counties. As a medium size public university, Indiana State University is known to have one of the most diverse student populations in the State of Indiana. With approximately 12,000 undergraduate students and 2,000 graduate students, our minority student population is nearly 25%. Indiana State University continues to grow in enrollment and is committed to student development, leadership, and success. Indiana State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All are encouraged to apply including women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans. Back to Top OVERVIEW The Manager, Safety Programs is primarily responsible for the oversight and management of Endeavor Air's Voluntary Safety Programs, including the Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP), Flight Operational Quality Assurance (FOQA), Fatigue Risk Management, and Line Operations Safety Audit (LOSA). Based in Minneapolis, MN; the Manager, Safety Programs plays a key role in identifying hazards that affect safety of flight, analyzing the hazards using a combination of traditional investigative methods and advanced data analysis techniques, and ensuring appropriate mitigation strategies are developed and implemented. RESPONSIBILITIES * Responsible for developing and executing a proactive and predictive data analysis plan to create industry leading safety programs * Directs and facilitates the identification and management of safety hazards in support of Endeavor's Safety Management System (SMS) * Oversees the collection, review, analysis, and mitigations of all reported safety events, as appropriate * Maintains the department safety reporting systems (Q-Pulse and WBAT) to ensure accurate and up-to-date incident tracking * Develops recommendations to enhance safety and compliance based on information derived from safety investigations * Utilizes industry data sources to calibrate Endeavor's safety programs against other airlines * Manages the monthly and quarterly safety newsletters to frontline employees * Produces FAA quarterly reports for the ASAP and FOQA programs * Ensures the proper functioning of GDRAS (Ground Data Replay and Analysis System) software, hardware, and associated programs * Oversees the data collection process from the aircraft in conjunction with Maintenance and Engineering * Works closely with employee unions to ensure proper staffing for participation in ASAP, FOQA, LOSA, and Fatigue programs * Maintains the FOQA system's organization, security, data storage, report retrieval, trending and event databases * Serves as the primary company contact for NTSB and FAA investigations * Participates as an active member of Endeavor Air's Accident Investigation team during NTSB investigations * Presents safety data to stakeholders inside and outside of the organization to include meetings with senior management, employee training events, and industry conferences * Identifies safety issues for review by management, including the CASS and Flight Standards Review Boards, communicating data trends, reports, and risk analyses * Ensure ongoing compliance with applicable rules, regulations, and corrective measures * Computer work, in a typical office environment for the majority of the day * Ability to work in a warehouse, industrial, airline hanger, or outdoor environment as required * This position is "on call" 24 hours per day * Must be willing, able and prepared to participate in extremely stressful work situations, such as aircraft accidents and incidents * Other duties as assigned JOB QUALIFICATIONS * Bachelor's degree in an aviation related field * 5 years of experience working in a safety management role * Previous experience providing work direction in a leadership role, motivating and mentoring employees * Experience working with federal or state regulatory agencies * Competency in FAA and NTSB regulations, FAA voluntary safety programs (ASAP, FOQA, LOSA), reporting requirements, and internal policy * Competency in the understanding of Safety Management Systems * Exceptional investigative, analytical, organizational and communications (written and verbal) skills are essential and required * Excellent organizational and analytical skills * Strong interpersonal skills with focus on communication and problem resolution * Strong work ethic, reliable, self-motivated with a positive attitude * Repetitive motion such as typing on the computer and phone work * Occasional physical exertion such as: pulling, pushing, reaching, bending, standing, walking, and light lifting of boxes, bags files, and electronic equipment not in excess of 30 lbs. APPLY HERE Back to Top Put your safety assessment skills into practice Download our 17/18 short course brochure Are you looking to acquire practical experience in conducting a system safety assessment (SSA) on an aircraft? Our upcoming continuing professional development (CPD) programme will provide you with the relevant skills and knowledge: Applied Safety Assessment Workshop: 06 - 10 Aug 2018 This course brings together the considerable expertise of RGW Cherry and Associates and Cranfield University, to deliver a level of training that is world-class. The course combines theoretical teaching with hands-on, practical sessions. You will carry out safety analyses on a system installed on an aircraft using drawings, schematics and the actual aircraft as appropriate. These analyses will form an integral part of the workshop objective of producing a comprehensive SSA. Key topics include: * Functional hazard assessment (FHA) * Particular risks * Enhanced fault tree analysis (EFTA) * Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) * Zonal safety analysis 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. For more information, visit: www.cranfield.ac.uk/transportsystems/asaw Or contact an advisor on: shortcourse@cranfield.ac.uk T: +44 (0)1234 754189 Curt Lewis