Flight Safety Information April 9, 2018 - No. 071 In This Issue Incident: Allegiant MD83 at Sioux Falls on Apr 8th 2018, overran runway on landing Accident: Mega AN26 at Kuajok and Wau on Apr 5th 2018, cow strike on takeoff, left main gear collapse Incident: Sunexpress B738 near Bucharest on Apr 7th 2018, cargo smoke indication EVAS - Cockpit Smoke Protection Incident: Royal B763 near Delhi on Apr 7th 2018, engine failure Jet Airways flight 9W545 contacted a catering van as it was taxiing (India) Toddler hit by oxygen tank on American Airlines flight at DFW Airport 'Flight Deck LIBIK - Lithium-Ion Battery Incident Kit Pilots had safety concerns months before NYC helicopter crash IATA launches new program to improve safety of animals traveling by air Watch NASA's crash-test dummies take a beating to make aviation safer FAA Safety Assurance System Data Collection Ceases, Pending Review Airbus's odd-looking BelugaXL aircraft is one step closer to its maiden flight Fresh blow for Airbus as Boeing wins $12bn jet order from American Airlines NASA wants to make the first Starliner test flight a fully operational mission ERAU - PhD in Aviation Safety Operating Systems Air Safety Investigation Professional Education Course TU Delft University Positions Available:...PNG Accident Investigation Commission RESEARCH SURVEY - I RESEARCH SURVEY - II GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY - 1 GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY - 2 Incident: Allegiant MD83 at Sioux Falls on Apr 8th 2018, overran runway on landing An Allegiant McDonnell Douglas MD-83, registration N429NV performing flight G4-456 from Las Vegas,NV to Sioux Falls,SD (USA), had been advised of 1800 on the RVR, braking action was reported good. The aircraft performed the ILS approach for runway 21 and landed on runway 21. On roll out the crew reported the braking action was nil and subsequently advised they had gone beyond the runway and were off the runway. The aircraft came to a stop about 20 feet past the runway end. There were no injuries, the aircraft received minor if any damage. The runway was closed. The passengers disembarked onto the runway and were bussed to the terminal. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/AAY456/history/20180408/1432Z/KLAS/KFSD Related NOTAMs: 04/081 (A1096/18) - RWY 03/21 CLSD. 08 APR 20:18 2018 UNTIL 09 APR 22:00 2018. CREATED: 08 APR 20:18 2018 04/083 (A1099/18) - RWY 03 RTHL OUT OF SERVICE. 08 APR 20:41 2018 UNTIL 11 APR 18:00 2018 ESTIMATED. CREATED: 08 APR 20:42 2018 Metars: KFSD 081756Z 12017G28KT 1/4SM SN FZFG VV008 M02/M04 A2979 RMK AO2 PK WND 11032/1727 SFC VIS 1/2 SLP107 P0005 60023 T10221044 11011 21028 58013 RVRNO= KFSD 081656Z 13016G24KT 1/4SM SN FZFG VV005 M02/M04 A2981 RMK AO2 PK WND 14028/1607 SLP111 P0004 T10221039 RVRNO= KFSD 081633Z 12017G27KT 1/4SM +SN FZFG VV006 M02/M04 A2981 RMK AO2 PK WND 14028/1607 TWR VIS 1/4 P0002 T10221039 RVRNO= KFSD 081621Z 13015G26KT 1/2SM SN FZFG VV009 M02/M04 A2982 RMK AO2 PK WND 14028/1607 TWR VIS 3/4 P0002 T10221039 RVRNO= KFSD 081603Z 13015KT 3/4SM -SN BR OVC011 M02/M04 A2982 RMK AO2 P0001 T10221044 RVRNO= KFSD 081556Z 13015G24KT 1 1/2SM -SN BR OVC011 M02/M04 A2983 RMK AO2 SNE18B20 SLP118 P0000 T10221044= KFSD 081552Z 13017G24KT 1 1/2SM -SN BR BKN009 OVC014 M02/M04 A2983 RMK AO2 SNE18B20 P0000= KFSD 081544Z 14016G24KT 2SM -SN BR BKN009 OVC014 M02/M04 A2984 RMK AO2 TWR VIS 2 1/2 SNE18B20 P0000 T10221044= KFSD 081538Z 13017G25KT 1 3/4SM -SN BR OVC011 M02/M04 A2984 RMK AO2 TWR VIS 2 1/2 SNE18B20 P0000 T10221044= KFSD 081535Z 13015G25KT 2SM -SN BR BKN011 OVC021 M02/M04 A2984 RMK AO2 TWR VIS 2 1/2 SNE18B20 P0000 T10221044= KFSD 081528Z 13015KT 3SM -SN BR BKN011 OVC021 M02/M04 A2984 RMK AO2 SNE18B20 P0000 T10221044= KFSD 081518Z 14018G24KT 5SM BR BKN009 BKN013 OVC055 M02/M04 A2984 RMK AO2 SNE18 P0000 T10221044= KFSD 081513Z 14016KT 2 1/2SM -SN BR BKN011 OVC016 M02/M04 A2984 RMK AO2 TWR VIS 4 P0000 T10221044= KFSD 081507Z 13014KT 1 3/4SM -SN BR BKN009 OVC013 M02/M04 A2984 RMK AO2 TWR VIS 2 1/2 P0000 T10221044= KFSD 081456Z 13012G23KT 3/4SM -SN BR VV008 M02/M04 A2984 RMK AO2 PK WND 13027/1410 SLP124 P0004 60014 T10221044 58009 RVRNO= KFSD 081356Z 14015KT 1/2SM -SN FZFG VV009 M02/M04 A2986 RMK AO2 SLP129 P0006 T10221044 RVRNO= KFSD 081347Z 14014G21KT 1/4SM +SN FZFG VV009 M02/M04 A2987 RMK AO2 TWR VIS 3/4 P0005 T10221044 RVRNO= KFSD 081319Z 14014KT 1/2SM SN FZFG VV012 M03/M04 A2987 RMK AO2 TWR VIS 3/4 P0002 T10281044 RVRNO= http://avherald.com/h?article=4b718fd5&opt=0 Back to Top Accident: Mega AN26 at Kuajok and Wau on Apr 5th 2018, cow strike on takeoff, left main gear collapse on landing A Mega Airlines Antonov AN-26 on behalf of Ultimate Air, registration UP-AN607 performing a cargo flight from Kuajok to Wau (South Sudan) with 5 crew and a cargo of medical stocks for UNICEF, landed on Wau's runway 09 at about 16:00L (13:00Z), however, on touch down the left main gear collapsed. The aircraft came to a stop on the runway near the left edge about 1100 meters/3600 feet past the runway threshold. No injuries are being reported, the aircraft sustained substantial damage. Wau Airport reported on Apr 6th 2018, the aircraft had suffered a hydraulic failure resulting in the collapse of the gear. The airport reopened on Friday (Apr 6th). An aviation source provided additional photos and reported the aircraft struck a cow with its left main gear on departure from Kuajok, the fate of the cow is unknown. No weather data are available for Wau. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b6f7b73&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Sunexpress B738 near Bucharest on Apr 7th 2018, cargo smoke indication A Sunexpress Boeing 737-800, registration D-ASXO performing flight XG-1381 (dep Apr 6th) from Dusseldorf (Germany) to Adana (Turkey) with 195 passengers and 6 crew, was enroute at FL370 about 50nm west of Bucharest (Romania) when the crew received a cargo smoke indication, declared emergency and diverted to Bucharest's Otopeni Airport maintaining high speed (320 KIAS) below FL100. The aircraft landed safely on runway 08R about 20 minutes after leaving FL370, vacated the runway and taxied to the apron with emergency services in trail. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Bucharest about 22 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b70d88d&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top Incident: Royal B763 near Delhi on Apr 7th 2018, engine failure A Royal Flight Boeing 767-300, registration VP-BLC performing flight RL-8772 from Phu Quoc (Vietnam) to Ekaterinburg (Russia) with 345 people on board, was enroute at FL320 about 400nm eastsoutheast of Delhi (India) when one of the engines (CF6) failed prompting the crew to drift the aircraft down to FL180 and divert to Delhi for a safe landing on runway 11 about 90 minutes later. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b70b52d&opt=0 Back to Top Jet Airways flight 9W545 contacted a catering van as it was taxiing (India) Date: 08-APR-2018 Time: ca 19:40 Type: Boeing 737-85R (WL) Owner/operator: Jet Airways Registration: VT-JFZ C/n / msn: 39069/5112 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 133 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Unknown Location: Delhi-Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL/VIDP) - India Phase: Taxi Nature: International Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Dubai Airport (DXB/OMDB) Destination airport: Delhi-Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL/VIDP) Narrative: Jet Airways flight 9W545 contacted a catering van as it was taxiing at Delhi-Indira Gandhi International Airport in India. The aircraft had arrived from Dubai and taxied to parking bay 20R. The aircraft turned right to the park spot when the righ hand wing tip scraped the roof of the catering van. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=209000 Back to Top Toddler hit by oxygen tank on American Airlines flight at DFW Airport American Airlines is investigating after a 1-year-old boy was hit in the head by an oxygen tank that fell from the ceiling during a flight to Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. According to the toddler's mother, 33-year-old Jennifer Zanone, of Denver, the incident occurred on her American Airlines flight AA126 traveling from Hong Kong to DFW around 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Zanone said that upon landing, an entire ceiling panel, including a tank full of oxygen, fell onto the head of her son who was sitting on her lap in seat 35L. She said they were directed to wait for a gate agent to document the incident, but that no one appeared. "We stood there waiting for an agent and our stroller until the captain himself walked off the flight and apologized to us," said Zanone. "After leaving the gate area, we went to the next customer service area to try to report the incident and were given the runaround for an hour and a half. While the apologies were appreciated, documentation of the incident would have been preferred." In an email statement, American Airlines stated that its flight attendants offered to request medical personnel upon arrival, but that the request was declined by Mrs. Zanone. "American's primary concern is for the Zanone family and their young child. Our customer relations team has spoken with Mrs. Zanone to offer additional support and obtain details of what transpired at Dallas/Fort Worth yesterday. Customers trust us to take care of them and we take that responsibility seriously," the statement said. Zanone said she did decline medical assistance, but grew frustrated by what she perceived as a lack of response by the airline after arrival. "We were offered medical assistance immediately following the incident and we did decline because I didn't know what the medic could do on site with a jet-lagged, exhausted child so I chose to monitor himself until I could get him back to his own doctor," said Zanone. She said after she posted an image of the fallen ceiling panel to Twitter, the airline responded to her on social media. American Airlines is investigating an accident aboard on of their airplanes that landed at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport on Saturday where a 1-year-old boy was hit in the head by an oxygen tank that fell from the ceiling. In the email statement, the airline said that the aircraft was inspected and repaired by their DFW Tech Ops team. The plane was put back in service on Saturday night. "Our Dallas/Fort Worth and Tech Ops teams are also working to gather more information and facts surrounding this unfortunate incident," the statement said. Zanone has returned home to Denver and she said her son appears to be OK. She said she has not filed a lawsuit against the airline and is hoping to get a resolution worked out soon. "He is acting himself today," Zanone said. "All I want is for documentation of the incident, which the flight attendant assured me would be performed." http://www.star-telegram.com/news/business/aviation/american-airlines/article208305409.html Back to Top Back to Top Pilots had safety concerns months before NYC helicopter crash, lawyer says (CNN)Months before a helicopter crashed in New York's East River, killing five people, pilots at Liberty Helicopters warned management of safety issues, an attorney representing several pilots said. "Safety has been a concern amongst my clients for a while now," attorney Debra Katz said. "They also have a tremendous concern about retaliation within both companies." NTSB calls for ban on 'unsafe harness systems' after NYC helicopter crash Five people died when the Liberty Helicopters chopper crashed on March 11. The pilot, who managed to free himself, was the sole survivor. The passengers had chartered the trip for a private photo shoot through FlyNYON, a tourist helicopter company. The helicopter, with the doors removed so passengers could take unobscured photographs, had engine problems and crashed in the East River. The pilots who made the warnings were not identified, but Katz said some still work at Liberty Helicopters and others had been employed by the company. Katz said the pilots sent emails to management at Liberty Helicopters and FlyNYON, discussing safety concerns. NYC helicopter company had 3 crashes in 11 years -- how did they happen? Patrick Day, chief executive officer of NYONair, said the company rejects the "allegation that anyone at FlyNYON did not heed issues" cited by Liberty pilots. His company also rejects claims it "failed to respond to safety concerns," he said. FlyNYON is a company of NYONair. "FlyNYON takes great pride in the safety of our operation. We trusted the pilots, the aircraft and the operation sufficiently to put our own staff and families on doors-off flights regularly," Day said in a statement given to CNN on Sunday. It was Liberty Helicopters' third crash in the past 11 years. CNN has reached out to Liberty Helicopters for comment. Crash prompts industry review The commercial air tour industry is facing increasing scrutiny after the crash. After what experts described as years of scant oversight, the Federal Aviation Administration is conducting a top- to-bottom review of its rules governing the industry. The FAA issued an order suspending "doors off" flights involving "restraints that cannot be released quickly in an emergency." Deadly helicopter crash raises questions over safety and regulation for popular tours The order affected "several dozen" national helicopter tour companies offering doors-off flights, the FAA said. The NTSB had said the harness used by the passengers on the chopper was not evaluated by the FAA. The system was not installed by Liberty Helicopters but was a collection of "off-the-shelf components" provided to the passengers by FlyNYON, the agency said. The level of instruction offered to passengers has also come into question since there's no requirement to specifically instruct passengers on escaping harnesses during an emergency. "This accident has the potential to be a watershed event for the industry," Peter Goelz, a former managing director of the National Transportation Safety Board had said. Engine showed no sign of abnormalities Before the crash, the pilot "observed engine pressure and fuel pressure warning lights and believed he had experienced an engine failure," according to a preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board. As the pilot made his way to the East River to execute an emergency landing, "he reached down for the emergency fuel shutoff lever, he realized that it was in the off position. He noted that a portion of the front seat passenger's tether was underneath the lever." NTSB releases preliminary report on New York City helicopter crash The pilot attempted to restart the engine as the helicopter fell toward the river, but the engine "wasn't spooling up fast enough," leading him to turn off the emergency fuel lever again, the report says. The NTSB said it had interviewed Liberty Helicopters' personnel, including the pilot, adding that the helicopter's engine showed no sign of abnormalities. When the helicopter crashed, the five passengers drowned because they were unable to break free from harnesses meant to prevent them from falling out. The pilot told NTSB investigators he provided a safety briefing to the passengers before takeoff. The briefing included a description of how to use a cutting tool to sever their restraints, the pilot said. Day said the FAA in October finished a "site inspection" of a flight operated by Liberty Helicopter with FlyNYON passengers. "Inspectors observed the harness and tethering process and continued to permit their use on Liberty and FlyNYON operated flights without issue," Day said. He said the company hopes the NTSB will come up with "all of the causes of this tragic accident" and that FlyNYON will be working closely with authorities. "It is our pilots that interface with our customers and keep them safe. We value our pilots, and all our employees, above all else, always have, and not only appreciate their input but actively encourage them to contribute," he said. https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/08/us/nyc-helicopter-crash-pilots-warnings/index.html Back to Top IATA launches new program to improve safety of animals traveling by air The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has launched a new standardized global certification program to improve the safety and welfare of animals traveling by air. The Center of Excellence for Independent Validators for Live Animals Logistics (CEIV Live Animals) provides stakeholders across the air cargo supply chain with the assurance that CEIV Live Animals certified companies are operating to the highest standards in the transport of live animals. "Last year millions of animals travelled safely and securely by air. Animal owners and shippers rely heavily on airlines to carry their precious cargo. As an industry, we have a duty of care to ensure that standards and best practices are in place around the world to protect the welfare of these animals. For those shipping live animals the CEIV Live Animals program will provide a reliable quality benchmark. Just as CEIV Pharma helped provide quality standards for temperature sensitive healthcare shipments, the new program extends that expertise to the important field of transporting and handling of animals," said Nick Careen IATA's Senior Vice President of Airport, Passenger, Cargo and Security. Handling and transporting live animals is challenging. Each type of animal has its specific requirements-not limited to the physical. It is critical to take into consideration the emotional response of the animals when placed in a special-purpose, if unfamiliar, environment by trained professionals. These were prerequisites for the development of the CEIV Live Animals program which is based on the IATA Live Animals Regulations (LAR), the worldwide standard for transporting animals by air. The IATA LAR are based on professional and operational input from industry experts, including veterinarians, animal welfare experts as well as government agencies involved in the regulation of animal transportation and non-governmental organizations with an interest in animal transportation. The CEIV Live Animals program increases the level of competency, operations, quality management and professionalism in the handling and transportation of live animals in the air freight industry while reinforcing training and compliance across the supply chain. Independent validators conduct training and onsite audits to ensure the animals' safety and welfare when travelling by air across the world. Live Pilots Understanding the complex needs of stakeholders involved in the handling and transportation of animals by air was also key in developing the program. The City of London's Heathrow Animal Reception Centre (HARC) and Air Canada Cargo played a key role in helping to pilot the CEIV Live Animal program. Robert Quest, Assistant Director, Port Health and Public Protection, HARC said, "Last year some 16,000 dogs and cats, 400 horses, 200,000 reptiles, 2,000 birds and 28 million fish travelled through HARC. Ensuring the safety and welfare of these animals is our main priority. So partnering with IATA to develop the CEIV Live Animals program was important to us. We look forward to continuing to work closely with IATA to further enhance the program and support its worldwide adoption by companies across the supply chain in the pursuit of operational excellence in the handling and transport of live animals by air." Air Canada Cargo, Vice President Tim Strauss said, "Whether it is a family relocating with their pet, a flock of sheep relocating overseas or zoo animals travelling to support conservation efforts, transporting animals by air is a complex and highly planned operation. Ensuring that animals travel in safe, healthy and humane conditions requires coordination across the supply chain. Air Canada Cargo is delighted to be part of the CEIV Live Animals program." Endangered Species Also Addressed CEIV Live Animals also focuses on the importance to comply with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) requirements including the CITES Guidelines for the Non-Air Transport of Live Wild Animals and Plants available in the LAR. CITES is the legally-binding agreement with 183 Parties (182 States and the EU), regulating international trade in more than 36,000 species of animals and plants. "Worldwide international standards and regulations govern the safety and welfare of animals being transport by air. The CEIV Live Animals program helps to ensure that any legitimately traded wildlife adheres to the IATA standards and CITES requirements and we welcome its development. It is through industry working cooperatively together that can we can most effectively implement these agreed standards and requirements, and also identify and tackle illegal trade in wildlife" said John E Scanlon, the Secretary General of CITES. https://www.eturbonews.com/181915/iata-launches-new-program-to-improve-safety-of-animals-traveling-by-air Back to Top Watch NASA's crash-test dummies take a beating to make aviation safer NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia recently offered a fascinating peek at its work to make aviation safer for us all, from passengers in airplanes to astronauts in space capsules. A video posted on YouTube explains how the team's work "ranges from next-generation aircraft to water-impact tests that evaluate the splashdown of Orion astronaut crew capsules returning from space." Many of the experiments involve the use of crash-test dummies, similar to the ones used by car safety designers working on ways to improve the protection of a vehicle's occupants in the event of a collision. NASA's dummies are packed with sensors that provide engineers with a slew of data from each impact test. With crash scenarios aplenty, the video clips may not offer the best viewing experience for nervous fliers, but for those interested in the team's work, the brief insight is sure to prove fascinating. "Everything that you want to know about injury occurs anywhere from one-tenth to four-tenths of a second [during impact]," explains Martin Annett, a structural impact dynamics engineer at the Langley Research Center. "We have to be able to capture a lot of data within that time-frame." Annett says that developments in technology mean the instrumentation that records the data "has gotten a lot smaller - you can now put a suite of sensors just in the back of the head and then the data will be stored on a laptop. We can then take a look at that data, evaluate that against injury criteria, [and] compute different injury criteria." The engineer says that when it comes to, say, astronauts, the team can use the data to improve the design of suits and helmets. The latter, for example, places extra weight on the neck and upper body, so keeping helmets light and properly balanced are essential for reducing the chances of injury if an impact occurs at any stage during a mission, particularly when the astronauts return to Earth. One of the clips shows the cross-section of a plane fuselage - complete with the sensor-laden dummy passengers - hitting the ground with great force following a vertical drop. Annett describes the importance of energy- absorbing seats in such a scenario, with tests allowing the team to learn about the likely effect of such an impact on humans. The dummies get battered every which way, but the ongoing research is leading to better designs across the aviation industry, for which anyone who ever leaves the ground in a flying machine (or space capsule) will surely be grateful. Coincidental to NASA's crash test dummies video release, Qy Research announced The Global Automotive Crash Test Dummies Industry 2018 Market Research Report, according to Technological Critic. This study is an in-depth look at the current state of the automotive crash test dummy business. https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/nasa-crash-test-dummies/ Back to Top FAA Safety Assurance System Data Collection Ceases, Pending Review SAS data collection requirement halted by FAA after certificate holders protest paperwork burden. The FAA has-at least temporarily-ceased requiring certificate holders to complete safety assurance system (SAS) data collection forms (e.g., "data collection tools," or "DCTs"). Notice 8900.451 states that these forms "are intended for inspector use only and should not be given to the certificate holder to complete." The notice was issued after the Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA) pointed out that the agency failed to obtain requisite Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the collection of information, a step required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The FAA's SAS is meant to be a risk-based, data-driven oversight system. While the system is applicable to a subset of certificate holders-including those governed by Parts 121, 135 and 145-the end goal is to create an all- encompassing system that would be used to evaluate certification of and compliance with all of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations by applicants and certificate holders. Despite the agency's contention that SAS "does not impose additional requirements on certificate holders," ARSA said regulator action was at times held hostage until the unsanctioned paperwork was completed. "This association has emails and other written communications from FAA personnel stating that the certificate holder must complete the DCTs before certification or changes to existing certificates and authority can and will take place," said Marshall Filler, ARSA managing director and general counsel, in a Feb. 1 letter to the agency. JAT306/Adobe Stock An industry watchdog objects to unsanctioned information collection. ARSA pointed out that the Paperwork Reduction Act is meant to ensure the government does not impose an undue burden on small businesses. Agency Information Collection Requests (ICRs) initiated under the act can take up to 10 months to process. An OMB Paperwork Reduction Act timeline includes a 30-day notice and comment period as well as a 30-day OMB review period. And that clock does not start ticking until after the ICR is submitted, a feat in and of itself. Under OMB guidance, the agency is required to provide justification for the data collection and a long list of supporting documentation. "Regardless whether the agency obtains OMB approval, we expect to see some fundamental changes," said Filler. "As currently constituted, we find it hard to believe the OMB would countenance a paperwork burden of this magnitude dropped on applicants and certificate holders under the current DCTs." In the meantime, the notice states that agency representatives may collect certain information on a "voluntary" basis. The legality of that practice may, however, be called into question, given the statute's applicability to voluntary-as well as mandatory-government data collection. http://www.mro-network.com/safety-regulatory/faa-safety-assurance-system-data-collection-ceases-pending- review Back to Top Airbus's odd-looking BelugaXL aircraft is one step closer to its maiden flight If you've ever seen one of Airbus's "bloated" Beluga aircraft, you certainly won't have forgotten about it. Named after the Arctic whale for its similar appearance, the huge and rather odd-looking airplane has been in service for the last 20 years, flying large aircraft components - think fuselage sections, wings, and tails - from European suppliers to Airbus's assembly plants in Toulouse, France and Hamburg, Germany. Now the company is prepping the maiden flight of a new version of the Beluga, one even bigger than the five currently in service. Called, appropriately enough, the BelugaXL, Airbus revealed in a recent tweet that it has now fixed the engines to the new plane as it gears up for its first-ever flight over Toulouse this summer. Airbus says the 184-foot-long plane combines outsized cargo-carrying capability with the speed and efficiency of its A300-600 airliner. The front of the Beluga opens up, allowing cargo to be loaded into the cavernous "bubble" space. The cockpit is placed lower than you'll find it on an A300-600 to avoid having to disconnect electrical, hydraulic, and flight control systems each time cargo is loaded and unloaded. The latest version of Airbus's super-transporter can take 6 tons of extra cargo compared to the current BelugaXT, increasing the limit to 53 tons. It's also 20 feet longer and 3 feet wider than its predecessor, allowing the company to make further efficiency improvements when it comes to moving large airplane parts. For example, the new design will be able to carry two Airbus A350 wings (instead of just one as with the current Beluga), as well as sections of the double-decker A380, currently the world's largest passenger plane. Up to now, many of the assembled sections used for the construction of the A380 are too large even for the current Beluga to carry. This forces upon Airbus a complex logistical operation involving road and sea transportation to ensure safe delivery of the components to Airbus's facility in Toulouse for final assembly. This extraordinary video on the Smithsonian Channel shows the A380's wings and fuselage being squeezed through the narrow streets of a French village on their way to the facility. The BelugaXL will change all that, and, of course, help to get the parts to the assembly site in a more timely fashion. Boeing has an equivalent aircraft called the Dreamlifter that it uses to transport the wings of its 787 Dreamliner plane. Following test flights that are set to start in the coming months, Airbus plans to build a total of five BelugaXL planes with the aim of putting them into service in mid-2019. The current fleet will be gradually retired through 2025, the company said. https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/airbus-making-progress-with-belugaxl/ Back to Top Fresh blow for Airbus as Boeing wins $12bn jet order from American Airlines The deal for wide-bodied aircraft is the latest in a series of setbacks for the European manufacturer's A330neo aircraft The American Airlines order is a 'powerful endorsement' for Boeing. Boeing has won a crucial contest to supply 47 new 787 Dreamliner jets to American Airlines, beating European rival Airbus for the highly coveted order of wide-body, long-haul aircraft. "This was a difficult decision between the Boeing 787 and the Airbus A350 and A330neo and we thank both manufacturers for their aggressive efforts to earn more of American's business. In the end, our goal to simplify our fleet made the 787 a more compelling choice," American Airlines president Robert Isom said in a statement. The deal, at a list price of more than $12bn, is the latest in a series of blows to the Airbus A330neo. It comes just weeks after Hawaiian Airlines dropped an order for six of the jets in favor of the 787, leaving that variant of long- haul A330neo with no customers. "This new order is a powerful endorsement of the 787 family's unique passenger appeal and unmatched ability to help airlines open new routes and grow profitably," Boeing chief executive Kevin McAllister said in a statement. Reuters had previously reported that Boeing was primed to emerge triumphant in the hard-fought widebody contest, bringing along in its victory engine maker General Electric, whose engines are expected to power the Boeing aircraft. As part of the deal, American and Boeing have reached an agreement to defer the delivery of 40 737 narrowbody jets previously scheduled to arrive between 2020 and 2022 to "better align with planned retirements of other narrowbody aircraft". https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/apr/07/fresh-blow-for-airbus-as-boeing-wins-12bn-jet-order-from- american-airlines Back to Top NASA wants to make the first Starliner test flight a fully operational mission NASA hopes to accelerate the timeline for accelerate the timeline to certify private companies to transport astronauts to and from the International Space Station (ISS). The Agency is turning a previously scheduled Starliner test flight into a full-fledged mission. It's a bold move, but some scientists worry that such an aggressive venture could jeopardize crew safety. The updated schedule, proposed by Boeing in a contract modification, would add a third blue-suited crew member to the Starliner "Crew Flight Test" and extend the mission from two weeks to a full six months, according to Florida Today. NASA's current contract with Russia to ferry astronauts to the ISS aboard Soyuz spacecraft expires in 2019. Purchasing additional Soyuz seats is not an option, due to the long lead times involved. However, the two private contractors, Boeing's Starliner and SpaceX's Crew Dragon, will likely not be certified for four-person crews by that time. "It was clear to us that we needed to provide NASA with additional flexibility to ensure the station remains fully staffed and fully operational until the Commercial Crew Program providers can pick up a more regular cadence of flying long-duration crew rotation missions," Boeing said in a statement. "This contract modification provides NASA with additional schedule margin if needed," Bill Gerstenmaier of NASA added. "We appreciate Boeing's willingness to evolve its flight to ensure we have continued access to space for our astronauts." In 2014, NASA awarded a $4.2 billion contract to Boeing and a $2.6 billion contract to SpaceX for two test flights and six operational missions. Boeing and SpaceX will both launch unmanned test flights later this summer, and the original plan was to follow those missions up with second test flights with two-person crews before the end of the year. Schedule pressure was a factor in the two shuttle disasters, and scientists on the NASA Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel have warned the agency not to be too hasty. As recently as 2012, however, NASA expanded the scope of the Dragon capsule test launch by packing it with supplies for the ISS and proceeding with the launch as if it was a regular operational mission. At a presentation in March, NASA's Kathy Lueders admitted that the new timeline was aggressive but achievable, reported Space News. "In a perfect schedule, it all could come together," she said. "We really want to give them the time to do this right. Yes, we want them to do it as fast as possible, but we're not willing to sacrifice the safety of the crew." https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/nasa-boeing-starliner-test-flight-operational-mission/ Back to Top Back to Top Back to Top Air Safety Investigation Professional Education Course TU Delft University Are you interested in understanding the process behind an air safety investigation? Join TU Delft's professional education course and learn more about the challenges faced during an investigation. With a focus on the legal framework behind air safety investigations world-wide and the generic procedures followed during aviation occurrence, this course is intended for both technical and non-technical professionals. With the Air Safety Investigation course, you will have the opportunity to experience the accident investigation process and throughout a variety of learning activities you will be able to enhance your observation skills, fact-finding skills and analytical skills. If you want to learn more about this amazing professional course or to share with others, please visit: https://online-learning.tudelft.nl/courses/air-safety-investigation/ Back to Top Positions Available: PNG Accident Investigation Commission Back to Top RESEARCH SURVEY - I Dear Participants, I would like to have some help with a questionnaire I created (only 8 questions) aiming to find it if Aviation Industry understands Safety as an organizational or corporate value. I would be grateful if you could disseminate the surveymonkey link SURVEY LINK: Is Safety an Organisational Value? Survey (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/65MM65D) The Survey ends on April the 22nd and I will create and report with the findings and my opinion at May the 15th.I could send you also the report when is ready. Thank you in advance for your assistance Kind Regards Dimitrios Soukeras,MBA(ER) Lieutenant Colonel HAA(Ret.)-Helicopter Pilot SJSU Faculty Member Office:+302661054690 Mobile:+306947006664 Email: d.soukeras@yahoo.com P.O. BOX 391, 49100 CORFU , GREECE Back to Top RESEARCH SURVEY - II Dear Participants, You are being asked to participate in a research study of your experience on retaining your manual flying skills during flight. This survey study is expected to take approximately 5 minutes of your time. In order to participate, you must be at least 18 years old and currently employed as an airline transport pilot in the United States. Participation in this study is voluntary, and you may choose to opt out of the study at any time. If you choose to opt out, your data will be destroyed. We appreciate your consideration and time to complete our study. Please click on or copy and paste the URL below: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/R8NCDGC For more information, please contact: Gajapriya Tamilselvan: gtamilselvan2014@my.fit.edu Or Dr. Scott Winter: winte25e@erau.edu We appreciate your interest and participation! Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY - 1 International airline pilot and 39-year veteran of flying, Karlene Petitt, has instructed pilots on Boeing aircraft for over 21 years, and holds type ratings on B777, A330, B747-400, B747-200, B767, B757, B737, and B727. She is working on her PhD in Aviation with a focus on safety at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Petitt is researching the impact of training, aircraft understanding, safety culture, aviation passion, and manual flight tendencies, to better understand the impact on performance. If the pilot is always blamed for errors, the underlying factors may never be identified. The survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes and is anonymous. If you fly for a commercial operation, with a two (or more) person crew (corporate, charter, or airline) please visit http://petittaviationresearch.com to learn more and access the link to the survey that can be found at the bottom of the page. If you know any commercial pilot who qualifies, please share this link with them: http://petittaviationresearch.com The more pilots you send this to, the more impact we can make. Thank you! Karlene Petitt MBA. MHS. Doctoral Candidate Aviation ERAU Typed: B777, A330, B747-400, B747-200, B767, B757, B737, B727, http://karlenepetitt.blogspot.com Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY - 2 Dear Participant: Graduate students at Lewis University have invited you to participate in a research project entitled: Evaluating, Attitudes, and Opinions on the Cyber Threat Vulnerabilities of Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast. The purpose of this survey is to collect survey data from the aviation communities on beliefs of current ADS-B security and its present issues. This study has been approved by Lewis University's Institutional Review Board (IRB). The survey is anonymous. Participation in this research is completely voluntary and you may refuse to participate without consequence. The survey will take approximately ten minutes to complete. If you would like to know the results of this research, contact faculty advisor Dr. Erik Baker at bakerer@lewisu.edu. Thank you for your consideration. Your help is greatly appreciated. Survey link: https://goo.gl/forms/MP1833a6acHXBLGn2 Curt Lewis