Flight Safety Information February 26, 2018 - No. 041 In This Issue Incident: UTAir B738 at Moscow on Feb 24th 2018, engine shut down in flight Video of a powerbank thermal runaway in China and successful cool down EVAS - Cockpit Smoke Protection Incident: Southwest B737 near Orlando on Feb 21st 2018, cracked windshield Incident: Kish F100 near Isfahan on Feb 22nd 2018, cracked windshield Incident: United B739 at Green Bay on Feb 23rd 2018, overran runway on landing Beech 100 King Air suffers runway excursion during aborted takeoff from Abbotsford Airport, Canada United Airlines Plane Suffers Blown Tire After Take-Off From New Jersey AirAsia aircraft makes emergency landing in Okinawa Lufthansa pilots accidentally sent out a mid-flight hijack alert Accidents that changed aviation: Ending mid-air collisions IATA rates Nigeria, Africa high on aviation safety Commercial aviation sees safety improvement continue Aviation safety experts focus on heliport safety, altitude integration, weather gathering Trump's personal pilot 'in the mix' to lead the Federal Aviation Administration NTSB: Poor maintenance caused deadly 2016 helicopter crash 5 Montana airports call themselves 'international' but aren't ANA to plow $16bn into new aircraft and technology Aircraft Availability Takes Central Focus at Sikorsky Air Canada Outlines Fleet Overhaul Amid New Aircraft Arrivals Hawaiian Airlines Will Buy Boeing's 787-9 Dreamliner, and It Makes No Sense Boeing to have 51 percent stake in venture with Embraer FlyteAnalytics...By CAPACG Chosen By Westminster College Aviation For Flight Data Monitoring Of Training Fleet Air Force space laboratory invites companies to pitch ideas 2018 HAI HELI-EXPO There's still time to book your place on our Human Factors in Aviation Maintenance course IATA Safety and Flight Operations Conference Position Available: Manager, Maintenance School Support. Inspection Authorization Renewal S A F E T Y S E M I N A R Medallion Foundation - Providing Assurance In Your Systems Incident: UTAir B738 at Moscow on Feb 24th 2018, engine shut down in flight A UTAir Boeing 737-800, registration VQ-BQQ performing flight UT-295 from Moscow Vnukovo to Surgut (Russia), was in the initial climb out of Vnukovo's runway 24 when the crew needed to shut the left hand engine (CFM56) down. The aircraft levelled off at about 9000 feet and returned to Vnukovo for a safe landing on runway 24 about 20 minutes after departure. A replacement Boeing 737-500 registration VP-BVN reached Surgut with a delay of 3 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b55ccd9&opt=256 Back to Top Video of a powerbank thermal runaway in China and successful cool down A China Southern Airlines Boeing 777-300, registration B-2009 performing flight CZ-3539 from Guangzhou to Shanghai Hongqiao (China), was boarding for departure. A passenger had placed his luggage containing a power bank and other equipment in the overhead locker, when the power bank suffered a thermal runway and a fire developed. Flight attendants and passengers extinguished the flames. The airline reported during boarding a passenger placed his luggage into the overhead locker, the luggage containing caught fire, which was promptly extinguished, emergency services responded. The passenger was taken away by police for interviews. No damage beyond the luggage occurred. The aircraft was able to depart with a delay of 3 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b55a181&opt=256 **************** Date: 25-FEB-2018 Time: ca 06:00 UTC Type: Boeing 777-31BER Owner/operator: China Southern Airlines Registration: C/n / msn: Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: None Location: Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN/ZGGG) - China Phase: Standing Nature: Domestic Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN/ZGGG) Destination airport: Shanghai-Hongqiao Airport (SHA/ZSSS) Narrative: While passengers were boarding China Southern Airlines flight CZ3539 at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, China, a power bank inside a passenger's carry on luggage caught fire. The bag was in the overhead bin when flames erupted from the bag. A flight attendant and passenger initially tried to douse the fire with bottles of water and juice. A replacement aircraft (Boeing 777-31BER, B-2009) eventually departed with a delay of three hours. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=206652 Back to Top Back to Top Incident: Southwest B737 near Orlando on Feb 21st 2018, cracked windshield A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700, registration N470WN performing flight WN-6584 from Fort Lauderdale,FL to Nashville,TN (USA), was climbing through FL330 out of Fort Lauderdale when the windshield developed a crack prompting the crew to divert to Orlando,FL (USA), where the aircraft landed safely about 25 minutes later. A replacement Boeing 737-700 registration N917WN reached Nashville with a delay of 90 minutes. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/SWA6584/history/20180222/0140Z/KFLL/KBNA http://avherald.com/h?article=4b54a0b7&opt=256 Back to Top Incident: Kish F100 near Isfahan on Feb 22nd 2018, cracked windshield A Kish Air Fokker 100, registration EP-LCQ performing flight Y9-7184 from Kish Island to Kashan (Iran), was enroute at FL340 about 80nm south of Isfahan (Iran) when the crew decided to divert to Isfahan after the windshield cracked. The aircraft landed safely in Isfahan about 25 minutes later. The aircraft had received a bird strike while climbing out of Kish's runway 27, the bird strike is believed to have caused the later windshield crack. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b549ae6&opt=256 Back to Top Incident: United B739 at Green Bay on Feb 23rd 2018, overran runway on landing A United Airlines Boeing 737-900, registration N30401 performing flight UA-878 from Madison,WI to Minneapolis,MN (USA) with 180 passengers and 7 crew, diverted to Green Bay,WI due to weather and landed on Green Bay's Austin Straubel Airport's runway 06 at 03:16L (09:16Z), but overran the end of the runway by about 250 feet. There were no injuries. The crew radioed tower advising they had overrun the end of the runway due to poor braking action on runway 06, they thought they were okay, no injuries on board and the aircraft was okay, too. They just needed stairs so that passengers could disembark and needed to be towed back onto the runway. The FAA reported the aircraft damaged an airport light. The aircraft had already diverted to Madison,WI due to weather at Minneapolis while performing the scheduled flight UA-878 from Houston Intercontinental,TX (USA) to Minneapolis. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b546c1e&opt=256 Back to Top Beech 100 King Air suffers runway excursion during aborted takeoff from Abbotsford Airport, Canada Status: Preliminary Date: Friday 23 February 2018 Time: ca 12:00 Type: Beechcraft B100 King Air Operator: Island Express Air Registration: C-GIAE C/n / msn: BE-8 First flight: 1976 Crew: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 8 Total: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 10 Airplane damage: Substantial Location: Abbotsford Airport, BC (YXX) ( Canada) Phase: Takeoff (TOF) Nature: Int'l Non Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Abbotsford Airport, BC (YXX/CYXX), Canada Destination airport: ? Narrative: The aircraft experienced a runway excursion during an apparent aborted takeoff attempt at Abbotsford International Airport (CYXX), British Columbia, Canada. The airplane came to rest in a snowy rasberry field and sustained substantial damage. Four of the ten occupants onboard received minor injuries. Six of the occupants onboard the aircraft were not injured. Weather may have been a factor to the incident. https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20180223-0 Back to Top United Airlines Plane Suffers Blown Tire After Take-Off From New Jersey On Sunday night, a United Airlines Flight landed at the Portland International Airport (PDX) in Oregon after popping one of its tires on take-off from New Jersey, said Port of Portland officials. United Airlines Flight 1551 from Newark landed at PDX around 10.30 pm, officials said. According to KATU 2, an ABC affiliated station, on take-off, the airplane blew at least one of its tires. Reports said emergency services were standing by the runway at PDX to assist with the landing. Officials didn't release a statement regarding the number of passengers on board the plane, however, there were no injuries reported. The airlines has not yet issued a statement concerning the incident. United Airline United Airlines popped a tire on take-off at New Jersey airport on Sunday. In this photo, a United Airlines airplane passes the skyline of lower Manhattan and One World Trade Center as it heads to a runway at Newark Liberty Airport in New Jersey, Jan. 20, 2018. Photo: Getty Earlier in November, in another incident that involved ruptured tires and bumpy landing, United Airlines flight 961 from Frankfurt, Germany, had a rough landing at New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport. According to reports, upon touch down, the airplane had several tires blow. The airline later confirmed it experienced "tire issues" while landing. Though the passengers were shaken by the incident, no injuries were reported. One of the passenger described the landing as hitting few potholes. "It was like crazy. I almost went flying out of my seat," Briana Oakland of Long Island told News 12. A spokesperson for the airline said in a statement, "The aircraft landed safely and customers were deplaned and bussed to the terminal." A month after the incident, in December, United Airlines had to abort take-off from Newark Liberty International Airport on Christmas Eve, due to a blown tire in its left landing gear. The blown tire led to a damaged engine, reports said. Forty four passengers and three crew members were evacuated with no injuries. Although the mishaps with United Airlines were handled well with zero injuries, the frequency of the incidents should give one pause. In a span of few months, a handful reports involving United Airlines has raised concerns regarding safety. Earlier this month, a United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Honolulu, Hawaii, experienced issues with an errant covering of an engine. The covering of the engine flew off mid-flight scaring passengers and raising a distress alert. In a statement to Business Insider, United Airlines said: "United flight 1175 traveling to Honolulu from San Francisco landed safely after the pilots called for an emergency landing because of a loss of the engine cowling (the covering of the engine). Our pilots followed all necessary protocols to safely land the aircraft. The aircraft taxied to the gate and passengers deplaned normally." The plane made a safe emergency landing after the incident. "There was a loud bang...and then the plane really started shaking," passenger Allison Sudiacal told KGMB-TV, a CBS-affiliated television station. "There was a loud boom and then it was like rattling and the plane was kind of shaking like boom, boom, boom." http://www.ibtimes.com/united-airlines-plane-suffers-blown-tire-after-take-new-jersey-2657509 Back to Top AirAsia aircraft makes emergency landing in Okinawa (File pix) An AirAsia aircraft made an emergency landing on Monday at Okinawa's Naha Airport because of engine trouble, China's Xinhua news agency quoted Japan's Ministry of Transport as saying. Pix by Mohd Adam Arinin TOKYO: An AirAsia aircraft made an emergency landing on Monday at Okinawa's Naha Airport because of engine trouble, China's Xinhua news agency quoted Japan's Ministry of Transport as saying. None of the 379 passengers and crew members aboard the AirAsia X flight bound for Kuala Lumpur were injured in the emergency landing by the Malaysian budget carrier. The ministry said the aircraft's right engine indicated problems at 2.15am local time, forcing the captain to shut down the troubled engine, and declare an emergency landing. The aircraft touched down at Naha Airport at 3 am local time. It had initially departed from Tokyo's Haneda Airport. In a statement today, AirAsia X confirmed that Flight D7 523 bound for Kuala Lumpur from Tokyo, which departed on Sunday was diverted to Okinawa, Japan due to a technical issue. "The aircraft landed safely in Okinawa at 2.59am local time today with 369 passengers and 10 crew on board," it wrote. It said a rescue flight, Flight D7 689 will be sent out from Kuala Lumpur to transport the affected passengers back to Kuala Lumpur. "The D7 689 flight is scheduled to depart from Okinawa at 21.30pm local time today and arrive in Kuala Lumpur at 2.00am Tuesday. "All necessary assistance is being provided to passengers on board and they will be kept updated on the new departure time," it said. https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2018/02/339135/airasia-aircraft-makes-emergency-landing-okinawa Back to Top Lufthansa pilots accidentally sent out a mid-flight hijack alert An airline spokesperson has since described the incident as "very unusual." Pilots of a Lufthansa flight accidentally triggered a hijack alert as their plane was landing at Frankfurt Airport this week. There had been a technical problem in the cockpit, a spokesperson for the airline said, and the pilots could send out messages to air traffic control but could not receive. When they tried to report the problem, they instead accidentally entered a code that signaled the plane was being hijacked. About 15 minutes later, the pilots realized their mistake but by that time, action had already been taken on the ground. Security was on high alert; the German army and local and federal police were at the ready; the German air force was preparing fighter jets to intercept the plane if necessary. The aircraft, an Embraer ERJ-190, was carrying 43 passengers from Aberdeen, Scotland, to Frankfurt. It landed safely, with a slight 15-minute delay. Once on the ground, mechanics repaired the aircraft's communication system. It flew again, without problems, a few hours later. A Lufthansa spokesperson said that the incident was "very unusual." Not only is there a code to signal hijackings to air traffic, pilots have a secret code to alert cabin crew. By dinging the seatbelt sign several times, pilots can signal an emergency situation to cabin crew without alarming passengers. http://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-news/pilots-accidentally-sent-hijack-alert Back to Top Accidents that changed aviation: Ending mid-air collisions Author: John Cox, USA TODAY The first collision between airliners occurred in 1922 in France. The loss of both airplanes and all occupants proved the need for better air-traffic control. Following the accident investigation, recommendations for airways (highways in the sky) and onboard radios were made. Air-traffic control was born. As airliners grew and improved, the demand for better air-traffic control grew. Larger cities became more crowded as increasing number of airplanes flew in and out. Pilots reported their positions regularly via the radio to let others know where they were and their estimated time over the next required reporting point, but collisions still occurred. In the 1930s, '40s and early '50s, there were 13 accidents involving collision of airliners. Improvements were being made, but the collision of TWA Flight 2 and United Flight 718 on June 30, 1956, causing 128 fatalities, was the catalyst for change in aviation. For the first time, more than 100 people had perished in an aviation accident. The United DC-7 and TWA Constellation collided at 21,000 feet above the Grand Canyon. A memorial of this tragedy remains at the spot of the collision. Investigators found that the TWA pilots were flying visually after receiving clearance from the air-traffic controller. They were maneuvering around clouds and did not see the United flight. Both flights were off the airway on which they were told to fly. An outcry from the public and politicians quickly arose. As a result of the Grand Canyon accident and others, in 1958 the Federal Aviation Administration was formed and made responsible for all airspace in the United States. Upgraded air-traffic control facilities were built, allowing for positive control of airliners in the airspace. The number of collisions decreased, but occasionally an airliner still collided with another airplane. While the FAA was improving air-traffic control, scientists were looking for a technology that could help pilots avoid the risk of collision. By the late 1970s, the push was producing results. A new system known as the Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) was maturing and ready for testing. With TCAS, if there is a potential collision developing, the system alerts the pilots and provides climb and descend instructions. In 1981, Piedmont Airlines flew the first operational TCAS on a regularly scheduled flight. Two Piedmont Boeing 727s flew with specially trained observers to validate the system. It worked. Airlines and manufacturers worked with the FAA to improve TCAS and implementation began, but, sadly, not quickly enough to avoid a midair collision near Los Angeles in 1986. An AeroMexico DC-9 struck a private airplane as it descended to land at LAX. All aboard both airplanes perished. The need for TCAS was clear. The FAA recognized the safety improvement offered by TCAS, mandating it for all airliners with more than 30 seats in 1993. Since TCAS become standard equipment in airliners, the risk of mid-air collision has dropped dramatically. Aviation safety depends on people, organizations and technology. Working together and utilizing the technology is the story of how the number of mid-air collisions has fallen to near zero. http://www.wwltv.com/article/news/nation-now/accidents-that-changed-aviation-ending-mid-air-collisions/465-ae7342c3-537b-4dc2-af84-56f49f7ab60f Back to Top IATA rates Nigeria, Africa high on aviation safety Despite recent incidents in the Nigeria's aviation, the International Air Transport Association says safety has improved in Africa and the rest of the world in recent times. In its 2017 safety performance, which was released on Thursday, IATA said the commercial airline industry showed continued strong improvements in safety. The report stated, "The all accident rate measured in accidents per one million flights was 1.08, an improvement over the all accident rate of 1.68 in 2016 and the rate of 2.01 for the previous five-year period from 2012 to 2016," the association noted. "The 2017 rate for major jet accidents, measured in jet hull losses per one million flights, was 0.11, which was the equivalent of one major accident for every 8.7 million flights. This was an improvement over the rate of 0.39 achieved in 2016 and also better than the five-year rate from 2012 to 2016 of 0.33." The association said Sub-Saharan Africa continued to make strong progress on safety with airlines in the region having zero jet hull losses and zero fatal accidents involving jets or turboprops for a second consecutive year. "Both the turboprop hull loss rate and the all accident rates declined against the average of the previous five years. However, the turboprop hull loss rate increased compared to 2016 (5.70 vs. 1.52). In turn, this largely was responsible for causing an increase in the all accident rate compared to 2016 (6.87 vs. 2.43)," IATA stated. The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, IATA, Alexandre de Juniac, said 2017 was a very good year for aviation safety. He explained, "Some 4.1 billion travellers flew safely on 41.8 million flights. We saw improvements in nearly all key metrics globally and in most regions. And our determination to make this very safe industry even safer continues. In 2017 there were incidents and accidents that we will learn from through the investigation process, just as we will learn from the recent tragedies in Russia and Iran. "Complementing that knowledge are insights we can gain from the millions of flights that operate safely. Data from these operations is powering the development of predictive analytics that will eventually enable us to eliminate the conditions that can lead to accidents. The industry knows that every fatality is a tragedy. Our common goal is for every flight to take-off and land safely." He, however, stated that African governments must accelerate the implementation of the International Civil Aviation Organisation's safety-related standards and recommended practices (SARPS). "As of year-end 2017, only 25 African countries had at least 60 per cent SARPS implementation," Juniac added. http://punchng.com/iata-rates-nigeria-africa-high-on-aviation-safety/ Back to Top Commercial aviation sees safety improvement continue The commercial airline industry continued to see strong improvements in safety in 2017. Data from IATA shows an all-accident rate, measured in accidents per million flights, of 1.08, down from 1.68 in 2016 and 2.01 in the previous five-year period between 2012 and 2016. The 2017 rate for major jet accidents, measured in jet hull losses per million flights, was 0.11, equivalent to one major accident for every 8.7 million flights, down from 0.39 in 2016 and down from 0.33 in the previous five-year period. According to the data, there were six fatal accidents, with 19 deaths among passengers and crew. This is against an average of 10.8 fatal accidents and around 315 deaths per year in the previous five-year period. There were nine fatal accidents and 202 deaths in 2016. Not one of the fatal accidents involved a passenger jet, with five involving turboprop aircraft and one a cargo jet. The cargo jet incident also resulted in the deaths of 35 people on the ground as well as the jet's crew. Not one of the fatal accidents involved a passenger jet, with five involving turboprop aircraft and one a cargo jet. IATA member airlines did not experience any fatal accidents or hull losses with jet or turboprop equipment. Commenting, IATA Director General and CEO Alexandre de Juniac said lessons would be learned from 2017's incidents and accidents, as well as from the millions of safe flights with resulting data, leading to the development of predictive analytics that will eventually eliminate the conditions that can lead to accidents. http://airlines.iata.org/news/commercial-aviation-sees-safety-improvement-continue Back to Top Aviation safety experts focus on heliport safety, altitude integration, weather gathering Last week more than 50 aviation safety professionals and leaders from industry and government came together in Washington DC for this year's USHST Infrastructure Summit. The summit is designed as an industry and government collaborative effort comprised of groups that are involved with; impacted by; have federal, state or local regulatory oversite, jurisdiction and/or enforcement of; or provide general advisory/council on: • Heliport Safety, Standardization, Education and Oversight • Low Altitude IFR Infrastructure Design and Integration • Aviation Weather Gathering, Dissemination and Reporting "The goal of the summit is to define what is needed for helicopter and vertical lift operations infrastructure within the National Airspace System (NAS) Strategic Plan for the next 15 years," said Tom Judge, USHST Infrastructure committee chairman and executive director for the LifeFlight of Maine. "The format of the meeting is a problem-solving discussion between industry and government stakeholders and our partner federal regulators. Each year we develop an action plan and measure progress towards a more integrated system building on yearly tasks." "With all the current discussions on Capitol Hill about improving and upgrading the U.S.'s infrastructure, aviation absolutely must be a part of that discussion," said Rex Alexander, one of the coordinators for the Summit. "A properly designed low-level infrastructure will be critical to providing a harmonious airspace for all of the current and future users looking to conduct business in the NAS. With the current and continued influx of UAS, drone and VTOL aircraft coming into the market, setting up a well thought out foundation now will be vital for ensuring safety and accessibility for all parties." Participants in this year's summit included representatives from: Association of Air Medical Services, Association of Critical Care Transport, American Helicopter Society International, Airbus Helicopters, Air Medical Operators Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, American Society of Testing & Materials Int., Bell Helicopter, Boston MedFlight, Department of the Interior, Federal Aviation Administration, Helicopter Association International, HeliExperts International LLC, Hughes Aerospace Corp., Leonardo Helicopters, Levitate Capital, LifeFlight of Maine, Protean LLC, Maryland State Police Aviation Command, National Association of State Aviation Officials, National Center for Atmospheric Research, National EMS Pilots Association, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Transportation Safety Board, Praxis Aerospace Concepts International, Inc., Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics, Uber Technologies, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Forest Service, and U.S. Helicopter Safety Team. Presentations from the infrastructure summit will be available on the USHST website. More information about the USHST, its reports, safety tools, "Reel Safety" presentations and YouTube safety videos can also be found on the website and on Facebook and Twitter. https://www.verticalmag.com/press-releases/aviation-safety-experts-focus-heliport-safety-altitude-integration-weather-gathering/ Back to Top Trump's personal pilot 'in the mix' to lead the Federal Aviation Administration President Trump's personal pilot is "in the mix" to lead the Federal Aviation Administration, a White House official confirmed Sunday night. Axios first reported that John Dunkin, Trump's longtime pilot, who flew him around the country on a Boeing 757 during the 2016 campaign, is on the Trump administration's shortlist to head the FAA, which regulates civil aviation in the United States. A White House official told The Washington Post that Dunkin has had a preliminary conversation with administration officials about the job, but said Trump is not putting his thumb on the scale in the selection process. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a personnel issue, said Dunkin is more qualified for the job than many people may realize. "John Dunkin isn't just a pilot," an unnamed administration official told Axios. "He's managed airline and corporate flight departments, certified airlines from start-up under FAA regulations, and oversaw the Trump presidential campaign's air fleet, which included managing all aviation transportation for travel to 203 cities in 43 states over the course of 21 months." Trump has cited Dunkin's expertise before. During a meeting with top airline executives a year ago, he relayed that one of his most trusted sources about the nation's aviation system was his personal pilot. "I have a pilot who's a real expert," Trump said at the meeting. "My pilot, he's a smart guy, and he knows what's going on." Dan Elwell, a former FAA deputy administrator, has been serving as acting administrator since last month, when the five-year term of Michael Huerta ended. Elwell is a former airline executive. Huerta previously held senior positions in the Transportation Department. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2018/02/25/trumps-personal-pilot-in-the-mix-to-lead-the-federal-aviation-administration/?utm_term=.9cd2122382ab Back to Top NTSB: Poor maintenance caused deadly 2016 helicopter crash A fatal 2016 helicopter crash into Pearl Harbor was the result of faulty maintenance, according to a report from the National Transportation Safety Board. In February 2016, a commercial pilot was giving a local air tour with four passengers on board when he noticed that the cabin was vibrating. The pilot began charting course for the nearest airport destination, but when the vibration stopped, he continued the tour. The vibrating soon returned accompanied by a grinding sensation. When the pilot re-initiated an emergency landing, the helicopter lost lift and fell from the sky 20 feet above the water near Pearl Harbor. Three of the passengers were able to exit the helicopter, but one remained trapped in the middle seat. The crash resulted in the death of a 16-year-old passenger and three serious injuries, as well as one minor injury. A post-accident examination of the helicopter revealed that the engine-to-transmission drive shaft was separated on the transmission side. Further examination found that the shaft wasn't properly lubricated and exposed to elevated temperatures, according to the NTSB report. The National Transportation Safety Board determined that this oversight resulted in a low main rotor rpm (rotations per minute) and the helicopter's crash into water. "It is likely that, when this maintenance was conducted, grease was not applied to the forward coupling as specified in the manufacturer's maintenance manual," the report reads. "Further review of maintenance records revealed no entries pertaining to a current annual inspection or 100-hour inspection. Additionally, a component inspection sheet provided by the operator revealed that several required component inspections were overdue and had not been completed at the time of the accident." NTSB found that the crash may have been prevented with an additional inspection that could have uncovered maintenance issues. http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/37584241/ntsb-report-finds-that-poor-maintenance-caused-deadly-helicopter-crash-in-2016 Back to Top 5 Montana airports call themselves 'international' but aren't Neptune Aviation's Tanker 10 was installed last year at the entrance of Missoula International Airport. So why can't you fly the friendly skies straight to, say, Canada from any of them? It's a matter of demand. "Montana markets are pretty small and the Canadian market is small compared to the U.S. market, so that creates challenges," said Brian Sprenger, who directs the state's boomingest airport, Bozeman Yellowstone International. "It's probably not as much a customs conversation as it is the question of: Is there enough traffic to support commercial flights?" said Missoula International Airport director Cris Jensen. "The airlines have just never really had a reason to want to do it." Sprenger said people forget that not all aircraft arriving in Montana are airliners. "In fact, we have at Bozeman over 130 aircraft that arrive directly from foreign locations every year, including direct from South America, Europe and Asia. But each of these are business/private aircraft." Bozeman Yellowstone can handle them because airport officials and supporters such as the Yellowstone Club put up money to remodel part of the old terminal building to staff a U.S. Customs office. It opened and welcomed its first flight from Calgary on July 1, 2012. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) staffs the 2,300-foot facility Thursdays through Mondays. Glacier Park International in Kalispell and Great Falls International, the two major airports closest to the Canadian border, have maintained staffed U.S. Customs facilities for years. The Kalispell airport cleared more than 500 aircraft into the U.S. last year, director Rob Ratkowski said. In many cases, the private international flights are heading elsewhere, touching down at the closest port to the border to clear customs. Farther south, neither Billings Logan International, the state's second-largest airport, or Missoula, No. 3, have customs facilities and probably won't in at least the near future. "We've gone through the pricing and requirements from the customs people several times and found the same thing each time: It is cost-prohibitive at this point," Jensen said. He figures it would cost between $500,000 and $750,000 to build a separate facility with public access and pay benefits and wages to an officer. And that doesn't take into account maintenance and operation costs. "We kind of looked at potential users, and in our case Washington Corp. would be our only regular user," Jensen said. "We talked about splitting costs and charging whoever else would use it, but the numbers still don't pencil out." As it is, Washington Co. corporate jets and others flying into Missoula from foreign ports must clear customs elsewhere. Prior to the events of 9/11 in 2001, most airports had customs. "Once the Department of Homeland Security was in place, one of the first things they did was to kill the Customs at a number of those airports, including Billings," Billings Logan director Kevin Ploehn said in an email. "Much effort was put into trying to get Customs back but the Department of Homeland Security basically said if you want it, pay for it. "So far Bozeman is the only one to go down that very expensive path." No one polices the names of an airport, though some are federally designated as international, usually by the Secretary of the Treasury. Great Falls International is one of three on the list in Montana. The other two? Cut Bank Airport and Havre City-County Airport. A 2015 list of Montana airports where CBP inspection services are normally available includes Great Falls, Bozeman, Kalispell and Cut Bank ports, along with five others: Bert Mooney in Butte, Helena Regional, Del Bonita/Whetstone International north of Cut Bank, East Poplar International, and Ross International at Sweetgrass. Billings Logan has lost the international status it gained in 1971, and Ploehn said he realizes it's "a bit confusing" to still call it that. "We approached our Commission a few years back about changing but they were not interested at that time, hoping that somehow we would be able to put Customs back in place," he said. "The effort to change an airport's name is a bit of an endeavor as our name is listed in a number of publications and pilot notice sites. So it takes a bit of planning to make the change." Missoula's airport was known as Johnson-Bell Field for much of the second half of the 20th century, in honor of aviation pioneers Bob Johnson and H.O. Bell. Some still refer to it as that, though it was changed to Missoula International in the 1980s. "That's really a holdover from long ago when we did have a customs officer," Jensen said. "It was before my time but my understanding is that the officer retired and an officer would drive over from Butte when there was a need. But that practice ended long ago." "We haven't changed because frankly we're cheap," Jensen added with a chuckle. "There's signage, letterhead, business cards and all that, so we've just resisted changing our name because it's going to cost money to do it." Nonetheless, change is in the wind in Missoula. As part of $100,000 expansion of the terminal over the next four years, the airport is hiring a public relations firm. One of its tasks will be to look at rebranding the facility. "We've actually, within the last couple of weeks, been having conversations about a new name," said Jensen. "Kalispell went to Glacier Park (International) and you have Bozeman Yellowstone. So we're contemplating something like that." The idea is to come up with a name that appeals to someone, say, on the East Coast who's looking for a western Montana experience. "If you search for Yellowstone Park, you also likely get a link to Bozeman Yellowstone International," Jensen said. "We don't have a national park we can kind of hitch our name to, but it's something we're wrestling with." Among the early suggestions: Missoula Bearport and Missoula Wilderness Airport. Bearport started out as a crazy suggestion, but has gained traction. "We might even do something like a public poll or survey," Jensen said. "The process is kind of fun. There's a lot of creative people out there. Who knows? It ultimately might be the Missoula Intergalactic Airport." For now it'll stay Missoula International. Or, as Jensen said he sometimes calls it, "Missoula Wannabe International." http://missoulian.com/news/local/montana-airports-call-themselves-international-but-aren-t/article_a615ff36-c66e-5f4d-9f5b-6b0a980e5bc8.html Back to Top ANA to plow $16bn into new aircraft and technology • Investment will help improve efficiency amid labor shortage • More aircraft will help ANA Holdings expand its network of international routes. TOKYO -- ANA Holdings will invest about 1.7 trillion yen ($15.9 billion) over the next five years to introduce labor-saving technologies and purchase aircraft needed to expand international service. The investment target for fiscal 2018 to fiscal 2022, announced Friday, represents a roughly 30% jump from the previous five-year period. "Aside from purchasing aircraft, we will make strategic investments in areas like cutting-edge technology," President and CEO Shinya Katanozaka said at a news conference that day. ANA's interim business plan through fiscal 2022, released Feb. 1, calls for expanding its international route network and improving technological capabilities. The Tokyo-based company, the parent of All Nippon Airways, plans to invest 390 billion yen in fiscal 2018 and anywhere from 310 billion yen to 355 billion yen per year from fiscal 2019 to fiscal 2022. Excluding the 353 billion yen estimate for fiscal 2017, the company has invested less than 300 billion yen in recent fiscal years. ANA also operates the budget carriers Peach Aviation and Vanilla Air. Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways' main rival, will invest an average of about 220 billion yen from fiscal 2018 to fiscal 2020, according to its midterm plan released last year. Since JAL used public funds to rebuild itself from bankruptcy, the government placed limits on activities like investment until last spring. ANA plans to firm up its lead in capacity and service by outpacing JAL in investment. ANA will spend around 200 billion yen per fiscal year on aircraft-related investments. In addition to Airbus A380 superjumbo passenger jets, ANA is expected to buy Boeing 777s for use as cargo planes between Japan and North America. "I want to strengthen European operations since we have received complaints about supply gaps," said Yuji Hirako, president and CEO of All Nippon Airways. ANA is also actively investing in the latest technologies. "I want to improve competitiveness and the work environment by using such technology as machine translation and robotic suits," said Katanozaka. The airline is also considering the use of artificial intelligence to assist call centers and self-driving vehicles in airports. In addition, a new training center for pilots and cabin crew will be built. The challenge is to generate profits amid the spending spree. In fiscal 2022, the last year of its midterm plan, ANA expects sales to grow 27% from its fiscal 2017 forecast to 2.45 trillion yen and operating profit to rise 38% to 220 billion yen. Yet the operating margin would come to 9%, lower than the 9.3% target for fiscal 2020 set in its previous five-year plan. https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Companies/ANA-to-plow-16bn-into-new-aircraft-and-technology Back to Top Aircraft Availability Takes Central Focus at Sikorsky Sikorsky S-92 While its sales lag, Sikorsky remains concentrated on supporting a fleet of some 1,000 civil helicopters worldwide, said company director fleet management supportability and training Simon Gharibian. Its biggest focus, Gharibian added, "is to ensure availability of the aircraft, that is operating and available and ready for a mission." To that end, over the last two years Sikorsky (Booth N5315) has made significant progress reducing aircraft on ground (AOG) turnaround time, Gharibian said. In 2016, AOG turnaround time dropped 66 percent and total AOG volume dropped 72 percent. "We've seen a further 20 percent drop on the turnaround time, so now we are averaging under our original target of 24 hours. We've gone as low as 16 hours on monthly averages and an additional drop of 30 percent in monthly occurrences," he pointed out, crediting the improved performance to better process improvement and forecasting. "It's about having the right parts in the right place at the right time. That's been significantly helped by increasing utilization of our forward stocking locations and tracking how effective they have been in servicing the demand of the region they cover," Gharibian said. "The reduction in volume has been achieved by leveraging the inventory for AOGs and routine and urgent orders so they don't age into AOGs." Achieving this level of performance encompasses several elements. It starts with Sikorsky's four forward parts-stocking locations and its Atlanta parts hub, expanding the number of parts the company is stocking and improving inventory turn rates, according to Gharibian. Then it extends to Sikorsky's initiatives and relationships with service centers and customers, as well as the company's recent service-related innovations. Sikorsky has 23 authorized service centers worldwide, including the addition of Thai Aviation Services last year. Gharibian said Sikorsky works closely with the service centers to ensure quality and keep costs "as low as possible for our customers." More than a decade ago, Sikorsky formed a maintenance review steering group with customers that convenes every six months to review inspection intervals, maintenance manuals, and specific tasks. Gharibian said the group "just continuously hammers at tasks and removes inspections that we feel are not necessary. We constantly take feedback from experienced users and roll that into the maintenance program." This approach has produced demonstrable savings. On the S-92, for example, the first major inspection has been pushed out from 1,250 to 1,500 hours. "We've been able to shift hundreds of line items to that later inspection interval. At the same time, we've been able to eliminate or move out inspection intervals at some of the lower time periods altogether thanks to some very rich customer data." And there is a lot of data. "We already have 1.25 million hours of maintenance and HUMS data from the S-92 and we want to take advantage of this data to ensure we keep inventory and positioning as efficient as possible," Gharibian said. Now, Sikorsky is going to get that data faster. Last year Sikorsky-in cooperation with PHI and Metro Aviation-added real-time health-usage and monitoring (HUMS) capability to the S-92, not only adding to its maintenance history data base, but speeding maintenance and operational decision making. The system, which uses Outerlink Global Solutions, enables operators to view, assess, and track aircraft data, as well as provide additional information to aircraft crew and ground support teams to enhance operational and maintenance decisions. It automatically monitors 5,000 parameters coming off the aircraft, allows live HUMS download either on demand by pilots or ground crews or can be automatically triggered by major event on the aircraft such as a caution or warning. Live HUMS information can rapidly speed maintenance, thanks to Sikorsky's next-generation customer portal, Sikorsky360, Gharibian said. "In the last year we've been able to tie all our digital tools together into an integrated support network. Now HUMS information comes off the aircraft, goes into a maintenance management system and interactive technical manual than can provide recommendations on needed maintenance very rapidly. That's integrated and tightly coupled with the new Sikorsky360 customer portal so that the customer knows what maintenance they need to do with recommendations for parts and consumables to order in a shopping cart and they can get those parts on order in one seamless system," he noted. Going forward, Gharibian said Sikorsky would continue to leverage investments in "speed, autonomy, and intelligence" to reduce customer costs by working with the FAA to expand usage-based parts and components lifing and developing new ways its aircraft can be flown more efficiently-in ways that extend the lives of critical parts and components. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2018-02-25/aircraft-availability-takes-central-focus-sikorsky Back to Top Air Canada Outlines Fleet Overhaul Amid New Aircraft Arrivals Air Canada's first 737 MAX at Boeing Field (Photo: Chuyi Chuang) With new aircraft arriving from Boeing and Bombardier, Air Canada and its low-cost subsidiary Air Canada Rouge have announced several changes to their fleets. The expected changes will see modern and more efficient planes replace the current aging aircraft types in their fleets. The aircraft replacement concerns Air Canada's Embraer 190s and Air Canada Rouge's narrowbody fleet. On the mainline Air Canada side, all remaining twenty-five Embraer EMB-190IGWs will be removed from service by mid-2019. "Our expectation is that we will sell them into the marketplace," CEO Calin Rovinescu said. The Embraer regional jets, Air Canada's smallest aircraft, will be replaced by Airbus A319-100 in the short term, and then by the new Bombardier CS300 aircraft as they enter Air Canada's fleet. This is expected to happen in late 2019. The airline has forty-five of the Canadian-built short to medium-haul aircraft on order with the manufacturer. "We have made decisions to accelerate the removal of the Embraer-190s from our mainline fleet. To do this we will retain the A319-100 aircraft a little bit longer than initially planned at the bridge to the deliveries of the Bombardier CSeries scheduled to commence in late 2019. The Airbus 319 aircraft typically has a lower CASM (Cost per Available Seat Mile) than the Embraer-190," Air Canada Chief Financial Officer Mike Rousseau said. Whether the switch from Embraer to Bombardier benefits passengers remains to be seen. All of Air Canada's Embraer jets had extremely generous seat pitch and width, even in economy class, and a 2-2 configuration. Their comfort may be hard to beat, even by the new CS300, which feature a 3-2 configuration. On the Air Canada Rouge side, the situation is more significant- both in terms of numbers and in terms of marketing strategy. The low-cost Rouge is expected to convert its entire narrowbody fleet to a high-density, single-class layout. This more clearly distinguishes the brand Rouge as the low-cost carrier from the mainline Air Canada brand. In this process, Air Canada may choose to assign all of its Boeing B737 MAX to Rouge. Currently, Air Canada has a total of 61 737 MAX aircraft due from Boeing, including 49 B737 MAX 8s and 12 B737 MAX 9s. Four of the 8s have already been delivered. They would be added to the 20 A319-100s and 6 A321s, as well as 24 widebody B767-300ERs Air Canada Rouge operates today. The carrier believes that its low-cost unit will be well-positioned to compete with WestJet's low-cost counterpart, Swoop, as well as other players such as Flair Airlines. "Air Canada Rouge could also take over some regional routes from Air Canada Jazz," Rovinescu further explained. If this change does happen, Rouge will gain in size and importance in the Air Canada world. Rouge would grow at a much fast rate than the mainline brand and could help Air Canada make inroads into the low-cost carrier scene not just in Canada, but across North America and even beyond. Whether this is good for passengers, however, is another matter. https://airlinegeeks.com/2018/02/25/air-canada-outlines-fleet-overhaul-amid-new-aircraft-arrivals/ Back to Top Hawaiian Airlines Will Buy Boeing's 787-9 Dreamliner, and It Makes No Sense Boeing (NYSE: BA) just pulled off a huge coup in its home market. It has convinced Hawaiian Holdings (NASDAQ: HA) to cancel a firm order for six Airbus (NASDAQOTH: EADSY) A330-800neos and order Boeing's 787-9 instead, according to Scott Hamilton of Leeham News and Comment. This is an important win for Boeing. While Hawaiian Airlines had an all-Boeing fleet just a decade ago, it has become a repeat customer for Airbus in recent years. However, from Hawaiian's perspective, adding further complexity to the fleet is a bizarre choice. Hawaiian Airlines had a clear fleet strategy Hawaiian Airlines is currently nearing the end of a fleet transition that has lasted for much of the past decade. The carrier will retire the last of its Boeing 767s by the end of 2018. For the most part, they have been replaced by Airbus' A330-200 -- a plane that's roughly 10%-15% larger, has somewhat more range, and can carry significantly more cargo. A Hawaiian Airlines A330 flying over the ocean, with mountains in the background The A330-200 is the backbone of Hawaiian Airlines' long-haul fleet. Image source: Hawaiian Airlines. More recently, Hawaiian Airlines has added the Airbus A321neo to its fleet. The A321neo is much smaller than the 767, is vastly more fuel efficient, and will be an ideal fit for some of the carrier's lower-demand routes between the West Coast and Hawaii. In the past year, Hawaiian's management has touted that the carrier finally has the right planes for the right markets. The Boeing 717 is a perfect fit for its short-haul routes within Hawaii, the A321neo is ideally suited to the West Coast-Hawaii market, and the A330 will cover the rest of Hawaiian's route network -- particularly flights to Asia and the South Pacific. One potential weak point of Hawaiian's fleet strategy is that the A330 is a 25-year-old aircraft platform. However, Airbus addressed this concern in 2014 when it decided to develop a re-engined A330neo that will virtually eliminate the fuel-efficiency advantage of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner. A330neo deliveries are set to begin later this year. Hawaiian waffles on the A330neo Hawaiian Airlines ordered six A330-800neos soon after Airbus started selling the re-engined models. However, while the larger A330-900neo variant has been moderately successful -- albeit far from a blockbuster, with 214 firm orders as of last month -- Hawaiian is currently the only customer for the A330-800neo. This made Hawaiian's management nervous, as "orphan" aircraft are more difficult to maintain, finance, and resell. As a result, the company began rethinking its decision last fall. Hawaiian Airlines considered both the Boeing 787 and Airbus' A350-900 as alternatives to its A330-800neo order. While the company claims that it hasn't committed to any aircraft deal, multiple sources have indicated that it's buying the 787-9 Dreamliner from Boeing. Why not the A330-900neo? Hawaiian's preference for the 787-9 over the A350-900 and the A330-800neo makes sense. The lack of interest for the A330-800neo from other airlines is a big mark against that airplane, while the A350-900 is simply too large for Hawaiian Airlines. However, the A330-900neo would be roughly equivalent in size to the 787-9, while maintaining commonality with the existing A330-200 fleet. This would offer significant cost advantages in terms of pilot training. While Boeing reportedly offered extremely aggressive pricing on the 787-9 to secure the order from Hawaiian Airlines, Airbus could have beaten that price due to the low production cost of the A330neo. It doesn't seem that Hawaiian seriously considered this option, though. The 787-9's one real advantage over the A330-900neo is additional range. Hawaiian Airlines' management has talked about the possibility of flying nonstop to London, which is more than 7,000 miles from Honolulu. Yet flying to London hardly seems like an urgent priority. At its 2016 investor day, Hawaiian Airlines identified 18 potential new destinations that are all within the range of the A330-200 or the A330-900neo. What it means for investors Ordering the 787-9 isn't necessarily a bad move for Hawaiian Airlines. The 787-9 should reduce unit costs significantly on Hawaiian's longer routes, such as Honolulu-New York and Honolulu-Sydney. It's just perplexing that a company with less than $3 billion of annual revenue would want to take on the complexity of adding yet another aircraft type to the fleet when there was no clear need to do so. A Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner flying over a river Hawaiian Airlines is the latest convert to Boeing's popular 787-9 model. Image source: Boeing. On the bright side, this move should push back some capital spending. Hawaiian's A330-800neo deliveries were scheduled to begin next year, whereas the 787-9 probably isn't available until at least 2020. This will free up some cash for Hawaiian Holdings' share-buyback program. From Boeing's perspective, getting a Dreamliner order from Hawaiian Airlines is a solid win, even though the initial order is only for six aircraft and the price was low. First, the 787-9 is set to be Hawaiian's growth platform for long-haul routes, which could lead to further orders down the road. Second, if Boeing eventually upgrades the Dreamliner with new engines, it will be in good position to win a replacement order for Hawaiian's fleet of 24 A330s in the 2030s. Meanwhile, Airbus is the clear loser here. Hawaiian's decision to abandon its A330neo order puts further pressure on an aircraft program that hasn't gotten much support from airlines. Lining up more A330neo customers should be the top priority for Airbus' sales team in 2018. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/hawaiian-airlines-buy-boeing-apos-201000588.html Back to Top Boeing to have 51 percent stake in venture with Embraer - paper FILE PHOTO: The Boeing logo is seen on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner airplane in Long Beach, California March 14, 2012. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo BRASILIA (Reuters) - Boeing Co will have a 51 percent stake in a joint company currently being negotiated with Brazilian aircraft maker Embraer, O Globo newspaper columnist Lauro Jardim reported on Sunday. Boeing has agreed to a Brazilian government demand that the U.S. company have no more than a 51 percent controlling share, Jardim said, without citing sources. Embraer said it would not comment on the matter. Boeing did not respond to a request for comment. Boeing has sought Brazilian government approval of the partnership with Embraer that would create a new company focused on commercial aviation, excluding Embraer's defense unit, Reuters reported three weeks ago. The Valor Economico newspaper later reported that Boeing's proposal would give it an 80 percent to 90 percent stake in a new commercial jet business with Embraer. Embraer is the world's third largest planemaker and the leader in the 70-seat to 130-seat regional jet market. With the proposed tie-up Boeing would be the market leader in the smaller passenger jet market, creating stiffer competition for the CSeries aircraft program designed by Canada's Bombardier Inc and backed by European rival Airbus SE. Boeing's initial plan to buy Embraer was rejected by the Brazilian government because it did not want a foreign company to control its defense unit for strategic security reasons. The government maintains a so-called golden share in Embraer, a former state enterprise, that gives it veto power over strategic decisions, including Boeing's push for a tie-up. On Thursday Brazilian Defense Minister Raul Jungmann told reporters that Boeing had understood Brazil's refusal to give up control of Embraer. He said negotiations on the creation of a third company were advancing well. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/boeing-51-percent-stake-venture-embraer-paper-030640465--sector.html Back to Top FlyteAnalytics™ By CAPACG Chosen By Westminster College Aviation For Flight Data Monitoring Of Training Fleet "FDM for GA" Easy and Affordable FDM for General Aviation with FlyteAnalytics™ DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA, USA, February 24, 2018 /EINPresswire.com/ -- FlyteAnalytics™ will serve as the Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) solution for Westminster College Aviation's Cessna 172 aircraft, enabling the college to monitor its internal flight operational quality assurance program. "A solid flight data management program is a crucial part of a safety management system providing risk management and safety assurance," said Larry McCarroll, CEO of CAPACG, the company that created the flight data analysis program. "FlyteAnalytics™ compliments a safety management system and the state-of-the-art analysis tool has the ability to process large quantities of flight data from current and future technically advanced aircraft types without the need for adding costly hardware." "FlyteAnalytics™ has provided our flight operations with an excellent resource to increase the effectiveness of our Safety Management System," said Brad McQueen, Chair of Aviation Studies at Westminster College. "Being able to easily and accurately monitor our flight training data will allow us to be much more predictive and efficient in our efforts to ensure the highest levels of safety." About Westminster College Westminster is a private, independent and comprehensive college in Salt Lake City, Utah. Students experience the liberal arts blended with professional programs in an atmosphere dedicated to civic engagement. With the goal of enabling its graduates to live vibrant, just and successful lives, Westminster provides transformational learning experiences for both undergraduate and graduate students in a truly student-centered environment. Faculty focus on teaching, learning and developing distinctive, innovative programs, while students thrive on Westminster's urban Sugar House campus within minutes of the Rocky Mountains. For more information, visit www.westminstercollege.edu or follow WestminsterSLC on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. About CAPACG dba FlyteAnalytics™ Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, CAPACG is a Flight Data analysis team focusing on capturing an operator's "Drifts from SOPs" and giving the operator information and knowledge to correct the drifts before becoming hazards. Utilizing their FlyteAnalytics™ software affordable Flight Data Analysis is available to General Aviation aircraft by harvesting Data from Technically Advanced Aircraft utilizing Garmin G1000© or similar avionics. No added hardware required. CAPACG is an expert in developing, implementing and operating FDM programs. Additional information can be found at www.capacg.com. Larry D McCarroll CAPACG LLC dba FlyteAnalytics™ 386-795-0507 email us here X-Plane™ Animation with FlyteAnalytics™ https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/433876972/flyteanalytics-by-capacg-chosen-by-westminster-college-aviation-for-flight-data-monitoring-of-training-fleet Back to Top Air Force space laboratory invites companies to pitch ideas An Air Force Research Laboratory experimental satellite and two other spacecraft are launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. Credit: United Launch Alliance • The Air Force Research Laboratory is interested in private-sector proposals on innovative space technologies, from launch, payload adapters, on-orbit systems, communications links, ground systems and user equipment. Submissions are due April 9. WASHINGTON - The space-focused branch of the Air Force Research Laboratory is seeking proposals from the private sector "to advance the technology and scientific knowledge supporting all aspects of space systems," said a solicitation posted Feb. 23. The request from the AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate comes as U.S. Air Force senior leaders continue to push for faster technological change and innovation in the space business. They warn that rival nations threaten to erode the United States' ability and freedom to operate in outer space and have asked military laboratories to gin up fresh ideas. The space directorate is interested in industry pitches on everything from launch, payload adapters, on-orbit systems, communications links, ground systems and user equipment. AFRL is especially keen on attracting bids from small businesses but the project is a "full and open competition." The solicitation explained that the United States military operations depend heavily on space systems to support combat forces around the world. And it pointed out that innovative technologies are need to ensure U.S. space systems can operate under any circumstance, even under enemy attack. "Traditionally, space systems have operated unhindered in an uncontested environment. However, as space becomes increasingly competitive, congested and contested, new concepts, approaches, technologies and architectures are required," said the announcement. The AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate is located at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. It is one of the nation's premier sites for space research and development. "Our mission is to develop and transition innovative high-payoff space technologies supporting the war fighter, while leveraging commercial, civil and other government space capabilities," states the agency's website. The directorate is known for educational outreach programs for students, such as the Space Scholars and the University Nanosatellite Program. It has three branches: The battle space environment division focused on space weather sensing and modeling. The spacecraft technology division develops next-generation spacecraft buses and payloads. The integrated experiments and evaluation division brings together ground, space and near-space technologies into a virtual digital environment. Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson has been a proponent of greater outreach to the private sector for obvious reasons. "In a world where far more innovation is happening outside the government than inside it, connecting to the broader scientific enterprise is vital," Wilson told a science and technology conference recently. Wilson in September launched a review of the Air Force technology strategy. It directed the Air Force Research Laboratory to set priorities for future investments. China is the emerging space power that mostly worries Air Force leaders because of how quickly it is deploying new technology. "For the United States Air Force, our pacing threat is China because China is modernizing very rapidly," Wilson told reporters. Experts see China leading the way in groundbreaking space technologies like quantum communications satellites that are immune to cyber attacks. The AFRL has done some research in this area but the Pentagon has not funded a program of record. http://spacenews.com/air-force-space-laboratory-invites-companies-to-pitch-ideas/ Back to Top Back to Top There's still time to book your place on our Human Factors in Aviation Maintenance course 19 - 23 Mar 2018 This course will provide you with in-depth knowledge of a wide range of human factors issues in aviation maintenance. You will also gain practical skills to manage human error, through the application of key theories and tools covered throughout the course. The challenges associated with practical application of currently-available safety tools are examined, together with the latest strategies to enhance understanding and management of maintenance error. Practical exercises will enable you to apply your knowledge and skills to real-life scenarios. By visiting Cranfield's B737-400 aircraft, you will have the opportunity to observe the specific features of the aircraft systems and understand the challenges faced by frontline operators. Groups are expected to conduct an investigation based on a specific maintenance error scenario by using well-known investigation tools and taxonomies such MEDA, HFACS etc. Key topics include: • The nature of the maintenance environment • Maintenance management • Designing for human factors • Human error management in maintenance 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. Read our blog: http://saiblog.cranfield.ac.uk/ Contact an advisor: shortcourse@cranfield.ac.uk T: +44 (0)1234 754189 Department of Aerospace - Manager, Maintenance School Support Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) is seeking qualified applicants to fill a Maintenance School Support Manager position. Responsibilities include maintaining 14 CFR Part 147 maintenance school aircraft, engines, and training aids essential to the Maintenance Management degree; providing facilities management essential to the operation of the Miller Lanier Airway Science building (AWS) located at the Murfreesboro Municipal Airport; coordinating AWS repairs with campus; and maintaining simulation training devices. All applicants must possess two (2) years of aircraft maintenance experience requiring an FAA A&P certificate. Experience includes general aviation maintenance, flight school maintenance, corporate, or Part 121 airline maintenance. One (1) year of maintenance personnel management experience preferred, in addition to required experience. Bachelor's degree and FAA A&P certificate are required. Inspection Authorization (IA) and 30 hour OSHA Outreach Training Program for General Industry are preferred. Must be eligible to work in the U.S. Application review will begin on March 21st and will continue until the position is filled. Proof of U.S. citizenship OR eligibility for U.S. employment will be required prior to employment (Immigration Control Act of 1986). Clery Act crime statistics for MTSU available at http://police.mtsu.edu/crime_statistics.htm or by contacting MTSU Public Safety at 615-898-2424. MTSU, a culturally diverse university, is an equal opportunity, affirmative action educational institution and employer. Women, ethnic minorities, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. To apply, go to https://mtsujobs.mtsu.edu Curt Lewis