Flight Safety Information April 13, 2018 - No. 075 In This Issue Accident: Vietjet A321 at Da Nang on Apr 11th 2018, both engines stalled, both engines EGT overtemped Incident: British Airways B772 near Munich on Apr 12th 2018, engine trouble, engine shut down in flight Incident: Gol B738 at Brasilia on Apr 9th 2018, takeoff with landed aircraft still on runway Incident: United B763 over Atlantic on Apr 3rd 2018, engine shut down in flight Incident: Avianca A318 near Cali on Mar 27th 2018, GPWS alert and Alpha Floor Incident: Easyjet A319 at Isle of Man on Mar 31st 2017, smoke in cockpit Cockpit smoke forces Delta flight from MSP to make emergency landing in Fargo EVAS - cockpit Smoke Protection Incident: Wizz A320 at Skopje on Mar 29th 2018, engine shut down in flight Preliminary report: Gulfstream G450 departed Salzburg, Austria, with landing gear safety pins installed Dassault Mirage 2000-5 Fatal Accident (Greece) Incident: British Airways A388 enroute on Apr 1st 2018, iPad caught fire 'Flight Deck LIBIK - Lithium-Ion Battery Incident Kit NTSB: Tesla Booted From Crash Investigation For Not Following Rules NTSB Wants CFIT Training for Fixed-wing Part 135 Pilots Helicopter firm reviews flight safety (New Zealand) New Airbus A321LR Claims Long-Distance Record With 4750 Mile Flight Embraer and Boeing discussing a commercial aviation alliance Rocketmine Is First UAS Operator In Africa To Obtain Both BCV and BARS Certifications EASA launches EU-wide GA safety campaign Emirates adds AOG product for urgent aircraft part transport There is a good reason why this drone flies near aircraft Rolls-Royce warns on need for extra engine checks House Armed Services Panel Presses Top Military Aviators on Safety Concerns Preventing Helicopter Pilot Shortages in Law Enforcement The Commercial Drone Alliance Wants FAA to Regulate Hobby Pilots Boeing Joins Saab in Race for World's Biggest Fighter Jet Deal Atlanta Tops List Of World's Busiest Airports With 104 Million Passengers Vaughn College Partners with Delta Air Lines to Meet Demand for Aviation Maintenance Professionals POSITION AVAILABLE: Deputy Director of Safety POSITION AVAILABLE: Internal Evaluation Program Auditor I ERAU - PhD in Aviation Safety Operating Systems Air Safety Investigation Professional Education Course TU Delft University RESEARCH SURVEY - I RESEARCH SURVEY - II GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY - 1 GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY - 2 GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY - 3 Accident: Vietjet A321 at Da Nang on Apr 11th 2018, both engines stalled, both engines EGT overtemperature, one engine shut down in flight, electrical problems A Vietjet Airbus A321-200, registration VN-A651 performing flight VJ-627 from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), was in the initial climb out of Da Nang's runway 35L when both engines (CFM56) showed EGT OVERTEMPERATURE warnings prompting the crew to stop the climb at 4000 feet and to return to Da Nang, the left hand engine stalled, the EGT overtemperature indications continued, the right hand engine stalled, both engines continued to show EGT overtemperature indications. The left hand engine was shut down 2 minutes after the first indications, the crew received an AC essential bus fault, a DC Bus 1 fault indication and a fuel inerting system fault. The aircraft managed to land safely on Da Nang's runway 35R about 15 minutes after departure. The aircraft is still on the ground in Da Nang. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b7415f2&opt=256 Back to Top Incident: British Airways B772 near Munich on Apr 12th 2018, engine trouble, engine shut down in flight A British Airways Boeing 777-200, registration G-YMMA performing flight BA-118 from Bangalore (India) to London Heathrow,EN (UK), was enroute at FL360 about 50nm east of Budapest (Hungary) when the crew descended the aircraft to FL240 due to a problem with the right hand engine (Trent 895). The aircraft continued through Slovakia into Czechia, when the crew needed to shut the engine down due to the loss of engine oil pressure south of Prague (Czech Republic). The crew requested emergency services on stand by for the arrival and decided to divert to Munich (Germany), where the aircraft landed safely on runway 08R about 75 minutes after leaving FL360. A replacement Boeing 767-300 registration G-BNWZ positioned to Munich and reached London with a delay of about 9 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b741f3b&opt=256 Back to Top Incident: Gol B738 at Brasilia on Apr 9th 2018, takeoff with landed aircraft still on runway A Gol Transportes Aereos Boeing 737-800, registration PR-GTN performing flight G3-1732 from Brasilia,DF to Sao Luis,MA (Brazil) with 154 passengers and 6 crew, was accelerating for takeoff from Brasilia's runway 11L when the crew recognized the previous landing, an air force aircraft, was still on the runway near taxiway F. The Boeing continued takeoff passing close to the air force plane and landed in Sao Luis without further incident. Brazil's CENIPA rated the occurrence a serious incident and opened an investigation. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b7412aa&opt=256 Back to Top Incident: United B763 over Atlantic on Apr 3rd 2018, engine shut down in flight A United Boeing 767-300, registration N648UA performing flight UA-908 from Amsterdam (Netherlands) to Chicago O'Hare,IL (USA) with 205 passengers and 14 crew, was enroute at FL320 over the Atlantic Ocean about 200nm northeast of Goose Bay,NL (Canada) when the crew heard a bang, noticed the aircraft yawing and the N1 and N2 indications of the left engine (PW4060) decreased. The crew declared emergency advising they were descending, began to descend the aircraft and worked the related checklist. The engine was shut down, the aircraft drifted down to FL200 and diverted to Goose Bay for a safe landing. The Canadian TSB reported the crew attempted to restart the engine, however abandoned the attempted because the engine surged twice and EGT readings were erratic. The engine was replaced. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b740f36&opt=256 Back to Top Incident: Avianca A318 near Cali on Mar 27th 2018, GPWS alert and Alpha Floor An Avianca Airbus A318-100, registration N596EL performing flight AV-9745 from Bogota to Cali (Colombia), was descending towards Cali following the MANGA 8 standard arrival route, when the crew received a GPWS alert "TERRAIN! TERRAIN! PULL UP!" at 14,000 feet MSL and a radar height of 1500 feet. The crew initiated an evasive maneouver, ALPHA FLOOR activated. The aircraft subsequently continued the approach for a safe landing in Cali. Colombia's AIP rated the occurrence a serious incident and opened an investigation. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/AVA9745/history/20180328/0225Z/SKBO/SKCL Map (Graphics: AVH/Google Earth): http://avherald.com/h?article=4b740005&opt=256 Back to Top Incident: Easyjet A319 at Isle of Man on Mar 31st 2017, smoke in cockpit An Easyjet Airbus A319-100, registration G-EZIM performing flight U2-458 from Isle of Man to Bristol,EN (UK), was in the initial climb out of Isle of Man's runway 26 when the crew stopped the climb at 5000 feet reporting smoke in the cockpit and returned to Isle of Man for a safe landing on runway 26 about 10 minutes after departure. The British AAIB rated the occurrence a serious incident and opened an investigation. On Apr 12th 2018 the AAIB released their bulletin reporting the aircraft had been dispatched under minimum equipment list (MEL) requirements with the #1 air cycle machine (ACM) seized. In accordance with the MEL it was used in heat exchanger mode after takeoff. The AAIB stated it was probable that in this mode air flowing through the damaged ACM produced the smell and smoke/mist. The AAIB wrote: "The commander stated that the co-pilot had selected Pack 1 on after reaching 1,000 ft aal and Pack 2 about 10 seconds later. The occurrence of the smoke was not soon enough after selecting the packs on for him to associate this as being a possible cause. The smoke visually dispersed after about 2 to 3 minutes but the acrid smell remained. He commented that his main concern was the possibility of receiving an avionics smoke message on the ECAM which would have resulted in needing to consider setting the emergency electrical configuration. This would have increased the landing distance required while the landing distance available at the Isle of Man was only 1,613 m. He said they had insufficient time to troubleshoot or consult the Quick Reference Handbook and he was surprised at how quickly the 11 minutes passed. It was only after landing that the flight crew discussed the faulty pack as being a possible cause." The AAIB analysed: In this event on G-EZIM, the smells and smoke/mist experienced by the flight crew and cabin crew occurred after Pack 1 was turned on, which was believed to contain a seized ACM. Turning the pack on in 'heat exchanger mode' results in air flowing through the ACM and it is possible that this airflow caused the ACM to turn, but due to a problem with the air bearings there was friction which generated heat and smells. This scenario does not explain why the symptoms did not occur on the earlier flight. However, the ACM in Pack 1 was found to be damaged and replacing it has resulted in no further occurrences of smells or smoke/mist, which increases the likelihood that the ACM was the cause. The manufacturer's manuals permit an air-conditioning pack to be operated in 'heat exchanger mode' when the ACM has seized. Operating a pack in 'heat exchanger mode' with an ACM in such a condition could result in the airflow being sufficient to turn what was considered to be a seized ACM. The friction from this operation could then produce undesirable smells and potential smoke/mist into the cabin and cockpit air systems. The aircraft operator is reviewing what action should be taken in the future when an ACM is determined to be seized. http://avherald.com/h?article=4a793774&opt=256 Back to Top Cockpit smoke forces Delta flight from MSP to make emergency landing in Fargo FARGO, N.D. - A Delta Air Lines flight headed from Minneapolis-St. Paul to Anchorage, Alaska, made an emergency landing at Fargo's Hector International Airport on Thursday after reports of smoke in the cockpit. The flight departed Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport at 5:55 p.m. and was carrying 189 passengers, according to Shawn Dobberstein, executive director of Fargo's Municipal Airport Authority. The Delta plane was flying over the Bismarck area when it was forced to turn around and fly to Fargo, Dobberstein said. The plane was able to land safely at Hector at about 7:30 p.m., with firefighters greeting the plane when it touched down. A flight from Minneapolis-St. Paul was to arrive in Fargo at 11 p.m. to pick up the stranded passengers and take them to their destination. Delta ordered pizza for the passengers during the wait. https://www.twincities.com/2018/04/12/cockpit-smoke-forces-delta-flight-from-msp-to-make-emergency- landing-in-fargo/ Back to Top Back to Top Incident: Wizz A320 at Skopje on Mar 29th 2018, engine shut down in flight A Wizz Air Airbus A320-200, registration HA-LWK performing flight W6-7732 from Basel/Mulhouse (Switzerland/France) to Skopje (Macedonia), was on approach to Skopje when the crew needed to shut the left hand engine (V2527) down. The aircraft continued for a safe landing. Macedonia's AIB rated the occurrence a serious incident and opened an investigation. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b73fadd&opt=256 Back to Top Preliminary report: Gulfstream G450 departed Salzburg, Austria, with landing gear safety pins installed Status: Preliminary - official Date: Tuesday 11 April 2017 Time: 10:30 Type: Gulfstream G450 Operator: H&S Air LLC Registration: N667HS C/n / msn: 4131 First flight: 2008 Total airframe hrs: 2618 Cycles: 1023 Engines: 2 Rolls-Royce Tay 611-8C Crew: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 Total: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4 Airplane damage: Substantial Airplane fate: Repaired Location: Salzburg-W. A. Mozart Airport (SZG) ( Austria) Phase: Landing (LDG) Nature: Executive Departure airport: Salzburg-W. A. Mozart Airport (SZG/LOWS), Austria Destination airport: Bangor International Airport, ME (BGR/KBGR), United States of America Narrative: The Gulfstream G450 took off from Salzburg Airport, Austria, at 10:12, bound for Bangor International Airport, Maine, USA. A few seconds after taking off from runway 33, the landing gear lever was selected to the Up position. About 20 seconds later, the crew discovered that the landing gear had not retracted. The landing gear remained in the Down & Locked position because the landing gear safety pins were set. The crew suspected that the safety pins were still set and decided to land back at Salzburg Airport, which was carried out on runway 15. After a flight time of about 5 minutes, the aircraft left the runway at about 10:17 on taxiway E. They were instructed by the control tower to taxi back to the parking area (apron). The aircraft was stopped shortly after taxiing on taxiway E, as the crew noticed an increased rolling resistance of the aircraft, whereby the crew suspected a burst tyre. The crew decided to check directly at the taxiway whether the safety pins were still on the landing gear, to remove them if necessary and to check whether a tire was defective. The control tower of Salzburg Airport was not informed about this by the pilots. The co-pilot opened the cabin door and left the aircraft to perform these checks. Meanwhile, the pilot left the cockpit to inform the passengers in the cabin of the situation. At 10:20 and 10:22, the Salzburg Tower controller tried without success to make contact with the aircraft's crew. An aircraft passing taxiway L informed the controller about a person on the taxiway who had left the aircraft in question. The co-pilot, who had gone to the landing gear, recognized that the safety pins were installed and tried to remove them. When this attempt failed because hydraulic pressure was applied to the landing gear cylinder and the safety pin was jammed, he operated the landing gear door control valves of the nose and main landing gear several times and installed the landing gear doors control valve pins. This closed the landing gear doors, the main cylinders of the hydraulics of the main and nose landing gear were depressurized and the safety pins could be removed. After the co-pilot removed the nose landing gear door pin, the nose landing gear doors opened and the nose landing gear folded at about 10:30. The aircraft nose lowered and hit the taxiway. 5 to 10 seconds later the engines were switched off. No indication could be found that both the Landing Gear Failure to Retract and the Attempted Landing Gear Retraction with Safety Pins Installed Checklist were executed from the time the installed Safety Pins were detected until the time of the accident. https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20170411-0 Back to Top Dassault Mirage 2000-5 Fatal Accident (Greece) Date: 12-APR-2018 Time: 09:00 GMT Type: Dassault Mirage 2000-5 Owner/operator: Hellenic Air Force Registration: C/n / msn: Fatalities: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: coast off Skyros - Greece Phase: En route Nature: Military Departure airport: Destination airport: Narrative: The Greek military fighter jet crashed under unknown circumstances. The pilot died in the crash. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=209157 Back to Top Incident: British Airways A388 enroute on Apr 1st 2018, iPad caught fire A British Airways Airbus A380-800, registration G-XLEK performing flight BA-268 (dep Mar 31st) from Los Angeles,CA (USA) to London Heathrow,EN (UK), was enroute when a passenger's iPad caught fire prompting cabin crew to extinguish the fire, cool the device down and secure it. The aircraft continued the journey to London for a safe landing. The AAIB reported "Passenger iPad caught fire; extinguished by cabin crew", rated the occurrence a serious incident and opened an investigation. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b73f5a8&opt=256 Back to Top Back to Top NTSB: Tesla Booted From Crash Investigation For Not Following Rules Tesla vehicles sit parked outside of a new Tesla showroom and service center in Red Hook, Brooklyn in 2016. The National Transportation Safety Board, which is looking into the fatal crash last month of an SUV using Tesla's Autopilot system, said it is removing the high-tech automaker from the probe for improperly disclosing details of the investigation. Tesla says it withdrew from the investigation. The NTSB is examining last month's crash of a 2017 Tesla Model X near Mountain View, Calif. The vehicle crashed into a concrete lane divider, killing the driver, Walter Huang. Earlier this week, Tesla blamed Huang for the accident, which the NTSB contends runs counter to agency protocols. As Bloomberg notes, "The NTSB guards the integrity of its investigations closely, demanding that participants adhere to rules about what information they can release and their expected cooperation. These so-called parties to investigations must sign legal agreements laying out their responsibilities." "Tesla violated the party agreement by releasing investigative information before it was vetted and confirmed by the NTSB," the agency said in a statement. "Such releases of incomplete information often lead to speculation and incorrect assumptions about the probable cause of a crash." https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/04/13/602081183/ntsb-tesla-booted-from-crash-investigation- for-not-following-rules Back to Top NTSB Wants CFIT Training for Fixed-wing Part 135 Pilots The NTSB issued five recommendations to the FAA and reiterated eight previously issued recommendations seeking terrain-avoidance training for Part 135 fixed-wing pilots. The latest recommendations, issued this week, stem from the Safety Board's investigation into the Oct. 2, 2016 crash of a Cessna 208 in which the two pilots and a passenger died when the single-engine turboprop hit a mountain near Togiak, Alaska. The aircraft was operated by Hageland Aviation under Part 135 in daylight VMC. Based on its investigation of the accident, the NTSB again has called for fixed-wing commuter and air-taxi pilots to receive the same controlled-flight-into-terrain (CFIT)-avoidance training as their rotary-wing counterparts. Currently, only Part 135 helicopter operators are required to train their pilots using an FAA-approved CFIT- avoidance training program. While Hageland offered CFIT training based on guidance from the non-profit Medallion Foundation, the Safety Board found the training was "outdated and did not address specific CFIT risks Hageland pilots face while flying under visual flight rules near Alaska's mountainous terrain." The Medallion Foundation was formed by the Alaska Air Carriers Association in 2001 to "improve pilot safety awareness and reduce air carrier insurance rates." The investigation also found that while Hageland aircraft were equipped with a terrain avoidance warning system (TAWS), "pilots routinely turned off the aural and visual alerts while flying at altitudes below the TAWS alerting threshold to avoid receiving nuisance warnings, preventing the system from providing the intended protections." As the result of its investigations into previous fatal accidents involving Hageland-operated aircraft, in 2014 the NTSB issued several recommendations for the FAA to audit aviation operations and training of Hageland pilots. "Although these recommendations were closed after the FAA reported acceptable action, this investigation found gaps in Hageland's CRM training and the FAA's oversight of that training." Between April 1997 and October 2016, 23 people were killed in six crashes involving Hageland-operated airplanes-five Cessna 208s and one Cessna F406 twin turboprop-according to Safety Board records. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2018-04-12/ntsb-wants-cfit-training-fixed-wing- part-135-pilots Back to Top Helicopter firm reviews flight safety (New Zealand) The Helicopter Line's aircraft was significantly damaged in the September 2016 crash. A Queenstown helicopter company is reviewing its safety processes after four crashes in three years. A report into the last of the crashes, on September 12, 2016, at Mt Sale, north of Arrowtown, was released by the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) yesterday. It found the helicopter's approach was "relatively fast, low and close to the landing site". "This is a technique that might not give pilots enough time to confirm the actual wind before landing, nor does it ensure that their intended escape routes remain usable throughout the approach," the report states. The crash was The Helicopter Line's fourth serious landing crash in three years. One of the passengers, an Australian man, suffered a minor injury to his knee. The helicopter was substantially damaged. On the day of the crash the weather was clear, and The Helicopter Line was undertaking tourist flights in the area. One of the flights was to take five passengers to Mt Vanguard. Soon after take-off the pilot saw the weather had deteriorated in that direction, and changed the destination to Mt Sale. "He said that the approach proceeded normally until the final stage, when the rate of descent suddenly increased, so he increased the power to go around. Although the helicopter responded to the pilot's control inputs, it struck the ground hard with the landing gear and the main rotor blades, and came to rest on its left side." TAIC found the helicopter was operating normally. The pilot had the required training and experience for the flight. It identified The Helicopter Line had had four serious landing accidents in three years. "While there were some similarities in the circumstances, the factors for most of these accidents were not determined conclusively by the commission's inquiries or by the operator's internal investigations." TAIC recommended the chief executive of The Helicopter Line, with the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority, review its safety management system audit process to ensure its safety policy, safety assurance, risk management, and promotion of safety were sound. Other key lessons raised were that human factors could have "both positive and negative effects on situational awareness", and it was important for pilots to remain vigilant for changes in environmental conditions. Mark Quickfall, chairman of The Helicopter Line owner Skyline Enterprises, said the company had begun a safety audit review process before the report was released. Mr Quickfall will meet TAIC officials in May to discuss the company's review process. "Any accident for a tourism provider is a concern," he said. "We're very keen to make sure our operations are robust." The pilot involved in the crash was no longer working for the company, Mr Quickfall confirmed. He declined to say whether that was because of the incident. The company had not had any serious landing crashes since September 2016, he said. Auckland man Jerome Box (52) died and seven people were injured in 2014, when a Squirrel helicopter operated by another Skyline subsidiary, Harris Mountains Heliski, crashed west of Lake Wanaka. https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/queenstown/helicopter-firm-reviews-flight-safety Back to Top New Airbus A321LR Claims Long-Distance Record With 4750 Mile Flight The A321LR test aircraft is shown at Mahé in the Seychelles islands ahead of its record-breaking flight to Toulouse, France, which covered a total distance of 4,750 nautical miles in 11 hours. (Photo: Airbus) Airbus claims their new variant of the popular A321 family, the A321LR for 'long range', has the longest range of any single-aisle (ie, compact and economical) jetliner. (Take that, Boeing 737 Max, seems to be the subtext of the Airbus announcement.) The new plane recently completed a 4750-mile nautical mile flight, which Airbus claims as a record. The A321LR, in both dimensions and capacity, also represents the latest 'stretch' of the versatile A320/A321 single-aisle twinjet. The A321LR showed its impressive range with a long flight over the ocean from Mahé in the Seychelles islands to Toulouse, France, covering a total distance of 4,750 nautical miles. Airbus says the aircraft is ideally suited to transatlantic routes, allowing airlines to tap into new long-haul markets that were not previously accessible with current single-aisle aircraft. For example, routes covering the 3,965-mile distance from New York to Berlin or even the 4,068 miles from Boston to Warsaw might be possible with the A321LR. The plane is said to be 27% more efficient than the aging Being 757. Primera Air plans to use the plane in a "low- cost, high density" configuration, on flights such as its planned Paris-Toronto route of 3,752 nautical miles. Norwegian Air is also planning to order the plane for routes from the Washington, DC area to Europe, which might potentially even cover the 4012-mile span from Copenhagen to Baltimore. According to Airbus, one way the A321LR achieves its long range is by adding a third auxiliary center fuel tank. Set for an introduction later in 2018, the plane can handle up to 240 passengers with what Airbus calls the widest single-aisle fuselage in the sky. The increased fuel and passenger load helps account for its increased maximum take-off weight of 97 tons, compared to 93.5 tons for the current A321. As for the long-distance 'record' for single-aisle jetliners, most likely the record is an informal one, as it's part of the A321LR's 100-hour flight test and certification program. That puts it in a different category than the speed record recently set by a Norwegian Air 787 Dreamliner flying across the Atlantic from NY to London Gatwick (a scheduled commercial flight) in just 5 hours, 9 minutes. Speaking of speed records, the A321LR apparently did not set one, as it made the 4750 nautical mile flight in 11 hours, at about 425 nm per hour. By contrast, cruising speed for the A321 is listed at 515 miles per hour, while maximum speed is 541mph. But the 162 passengers did not complain about the long jaunt, cramped conditions or limited opportunities to stretch their legs in the jet's single-aisle. That's because the A321LR "carried 162 human heat-replicating dummy passengers" in addition to its 16-member test crew. After the flight, test engineer Jim Fawcett said of the A321LR, "It is an excellent aircraft that keeps its promises in terms of flight behavior, passenger comfort and fuel consumption." https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelgoldstein/2018/04/12/new-airbus-a321lr-claims-long-distance-record-with- 4750-mile-flight/#37adca391b74 Back to Top Embraer and Boeing discussing a commercial aviation alliance BRASILIA (Reuters) - Embraer SA (EMBR3.SA) and Boeing Co (BA.N) are discussing setting up a new company focused on commercial aviation but have not yet reached an accord, the Brazilian planemaker said in a Thursday securities filing. The Boeing building is seen next to Boeing Field in Seattle, Washington, U.S., March 26, 2018. REUTERS/Lindsey Wasson The arrangement would exclude Embraer's defense and "potentially" its business jet divisions from the alliance, the filing said. Reuters reported earlier in the day that a new proposal had been submitted to Brazil's government on Tuesday but there were still issues to be ironed out. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-embraer-m-a-boeing/embraer-and-boeing-discussing-a-commercial-aviation- alliance-idUSKBN1HJ3G0 Back to Top Rocketmine Is First UAS Operator In Africa To Obtain Both BCV and BARS Certifications Rocketmine, a South African based subsidiary of the Delta Drone Group, has become the first drone operator in Africa to obtain both Basic Compliance Verification (BCV) and Basic Aviation Risk Standards (BARS) certifications, after almost a year of intense auditing through independent consultants. This achievement speaks directly to the excellent safety and compliance culture in which the company operates. Rocketmine's own Safety and Quality departments, in conjunction with highly qualified pilots and operational staff, drew on daily safety experience and practice to complete these rigorous audits. "This is a huge endorsement for the Rocketmine brand; particularly for our Safety and Quality departments, who manage our strict and extensive safety structures," explains Christopher Clark, Rocketmine's Managing Director. "It is independent verification that our safety and compliance standards remain at the highest levels possible." The BARS Standard was developed by the Flight Safety Foundation to meet an identified need for common global aviation safety assessments and audit protocol. It is completely independent and quality controlled; the first of its kind in the resource industry and is drawn from the collective experience of numerous companies as well as industry best practice. Both the Rocketmine BARS and BCV audits were completed by SGS Aviation Compliance - an international, independent aviation consultancy - using dedicated standards for RPAS Operators. Within these standards, the company was specifically assessed within its own specialist role as a drone survey operator. The remote and onsite assessments included examination of Organisational and Management Structure and supporting documents, Operational approvals, exemptions and privileges and supporting documents, presence of a Safety Management System, Quality Risk Management frameworks and systems and Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) fleet details, as well as supporting documentation of RPA Pilots and crew and Civil Aviation Authority permission approvals. The process is stringent, thorough and detailed. It also requires dedicated resources to prepare and deliver the correct documentation, as well as existing safety systems against which compliance is measured. The Rocketmine team devoted just over 11 months to this project; demonstrating that all areas of the audit were fully satisfied. Once achieved the audits are conducted on an annual basis to ensure continued compliance. This achievement once again demonstrates that Rocketmine continues to be industry leaders in safety, compliance and operational standards. "Being the first drone operator in Africa to obtain both the BCV and BARS certifications is one more thing that sets us apart of the rest." - Chris Clark About Rocketmine: Rocketmine is Africa's leading premier drone data service provider. Fully licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to provide professional and cost-effective services; while focusing on delivering, safe, reliable, and accurate data to clients. Rocketmine provides customized drone data solutions to improve operational efficiencies and systems. Clients trust Rocketmine's experience and expertise with over 7 500+ flight hours in multiple sectors and owning the largest fleet in Africa. Rocketmine is a Delta Drone company. For more information visit www.rocketmine.com http://uasweekly.com/2018/04/12/rocketmine-is-first-uas-operator-in-africa-to-obtain-both-bcv-and-bars-certifications/ Back to Top EASA launches EU-wide GA safety campaign EASA and aviation authorities throughout Europe have launched a coordinated safety promotion campaign on avoiding airspace infringement. The campaign which addresses European general aviation pilots and flying instructors has been prepared because airspace infringements of general aviation aircraft have steadily risen in the past 10 years. The campaign seeks to reach out via websites, videos and further information materials produced by EASA as well as national aviation authorities from the UK, Finland and Belgium. The videos in particular take a more country- specific look at the subject while underlining the common European safety issues, rules and recommendations with regard to airspace infringement. Besides the campaign on avoiding airspace infringement, EASA is going further in its safety promotion and communication efforts, such as the new GA community site to be launched next week. It will allow the GA community to connect, share insights and keep each other updated on various general aviation topics. Also, EASA on its website recently started a monthly cartoon, Sunny Swift, which tells stories in many different European languages about tricky situations while flying, and how to avoid or solve them. http://www.airtrafficmanagement.net/2018/04/easa-launches-euwide-ga-safety-campaign/ Back to Top Emirates adds AOG product for urgent aircraft part transport Emirates SkyCargo is adding a new airfreight product to its catalog with the launch of Emirates AOG for priority transport of aircraft parts. With service to 141 destinations in 75 countries, Dubai-based Emirates is well aware of the importance of quickly resolving Aircraft on Ground (AOG) maintenance issues which prevent aircraft from flying. In many cases, AOG issues require a part that is not available locally. SkyCargo's AOG product minimizes transport time by matching parts to the quickest possible flight connections. To accommodate the urgent nature of such shipments, Emirates AOG also includes such features as late cut-off times for cargo acceptance, expedited delivery once the cargo reaches its destination, and tracking visibility during transportation. As part of Emirates AOG, the carrier is also creating a red "Must Go" bag for bulk loading of small shipments. The color is intended to alert staff to the urgent nature of the shipment and promote priority handling during transit. "Emirates AOG builds on a number of our strengths - our extensive network spanning over 155 destinations across six continents, our frequency of operations to destinations as well as our own vast experience in transporting aircraft parts for Emirates' fleet," said Nabil Sultan, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Cargo. https://aircargoworld.com/allposts/emirates-adds-aog-product-for-urgent-aircraft-part-transport/ Back to Top There is a good reason why this drone flies near aircraft Ordinarily, you don't want drones going anywhere near planes. A small flying machine colliding with a large flying machine - one with people on board - almost certainly isn't going to end well, which is why strict flying bans are in place around airports for quadcopters and other remotely controlled aerial devices. So why is Airbus happily flying drones right up close to its own aircraft? It's actually to make planes safer, as the aerospace giant is using the machines to help with visual checks of aircraft, "considerably reducing aircraft downtime and improving the quality of inspection reports," Airbus says. The company unveiled its Advanced Inspection Drone this week in Florida at the MRO Americas exposition, a gathering of aviation maintenance professionals from around the world. Designed for use inside a hangar away from the elements, the custom-built quadcopter uses a laser-based obstacle detection and anti-collision system to ensure it never gets too close to the parked plane. Following a predefined inspection path, the machine flies around the aircraft, all the time capturing high-resolution images of its exterior. The data is sent wirelessly to a tablet, allowing the operator to review it in real-time. For a more detailed look, the images are transferred to a desktop inspection station, where a technician uses dedicated software capable of detecting any visual surface damage by comparing the real-world images against the aircraft's 3D structural model. "The new inspection process will take only three hours, including 30 minutes of image capture by the drone, and will improve operator safety," the company said. "By contrast, traditional aircraft visual inspection is performed from the ground or using a telescopic platform, in particular for the upper parts of the aircraft, a process which could typically last up to one day." So as you can see, using drones in this way drastically reduces the inspection time, enabling the airplane to return to service more quickly while at the same time offering enhancements to the overall quality of the inspection reports. Airbus says its new drone platform is part of its "Hangar of the Future" initiative that brings together innovative technologies such as drones and collaborative robots for aircraft inspection. The aerospace company says it's already demonstrated its Advanced Inspection Drone to several airlines, many of which have expressed an interest in incorporating it into their own aircraft maintenance procedures. The kit will be available for use in the final quarter of this year. https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/airbus-advanced-inspection-drone/ Back to Top Rolls-Royce warns on need for extra engine checks Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC (RR.LN) on Friday warned of extra inspections of some engines powering Boeing Co. (BA) 787 Dreamliners that would impact airline customers and consume extra cash. The more frequent checks of known problems with its Trent 1000 engines could cause further disruptions to airliner operators, Rolls-Royce said. Air-safety regulators are expected to mandate the further checks in the coming days, according to the company. A number of airlines, including Japan's All Nippon Airways Co., Britain's Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd., and Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA (NAS.OS) have had to ground planes because of previous checks Rolls-Royce had to carry out. That hit passenger travel and raised costs. Rolls-Royce Chief Executive Warren East said the company regrets the impact on customers. Boeing, the world's No. 1 planemaker, said it is aware of its engine supplier's latest setback and that it is "deploying support teams to mitigate service disruption." About 25% of all in-service Dreamliners use Rolls-Royce engines, the Chicago-based planemaker said. General Electric Co. (GE) builds the rival engine used on Boeing's 787. Some parts in the Rolls-Royce engines aren't lasting as long as expected, requiring the extra checks and repairs. Mr. East said costs from the additional checks could drag into next year, but that the exact costs aren't fully known. Shares in London-based Rolls-Royce fell 2.18% in early London trading. Rolls-Royce last month said cash costs from additional inspections and fixes to the Dreamliner engines and others powering Airbus SE (AIR.FR) A380 superjumbos would rise to around 340 million pounds ($482.9 million) this year. That sum will now be higher, Mr. East said Friday. Rolls-Royce said it will reprioritize discretionary expenditure to minimize the impact. Mr. East said that this could affect some research-and-development spending, lead to a deferral in information-technology spending, and cause travel expenses cutbacks. Rolls-Royce reaffirmed its free-cash-flow guidance for the year of approximately GBP450 million. The closely- watched Rolls-Royce target of about GBP1 billion in free cash around 2020 hasn't changed, Mr. East said. Rolls-Royce, which is no longer affiliated with the luxury car maker, said the additional checks affect around 380 of the so-called Package C engines--one of the production standards used on Dreamliners. Rolls-Royce has made a big bet on powering long-range airplanes after exiting the market to power more numerous single-aisle planes six years ago. It expects to power about half the world's long-haul planes by 2020. Fixing all the engines currently affected could take until 2022, the company has said. https://www.marketwatch.com/story/rolls-royce-warns-on-need-for-extra-engine-checks-2018-04-13 Back to Top House Armed Services Panel Presses Top Military Aviators on Safety Concerns F-35A Lightning II aircraft receive aerial refuelings from a Travis KC-10 Extender July 13, 2016 on the flight from England to the United States. US Air Force photo. CAPITOL HILL - Lawmakers concerned with a recent uptick in deadly military aviation incidents pressed Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps leaders for details and possible solutions during a Thursday hearing. In the past three and a half weeks, 16 service members were killed in aviation accidents, said Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio), chair of the House Armed Services tactical air and land forces subcommittee. "Let there be no doubt that we are experiencing a crisis in military readiness and we must address this now," Turner said. "More U.S. military service members have died in aircraft mishaps over the past year than have died while serving in Afghanistan." Since March, the following deadly incidents have occurred: * March 14, Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet crashed on the approach to Naval Air Station Key West, killing both aircrew. * March 15, an Air Force HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter crashed in Western Iraq, killing seven airmen. * April 3 an Air Force F-16 from the Thunderbirds demonstration crashed killing the pilot. * April 3, a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter crashed during a training exercise in California, killing four Marines onboard. * April 6, an Army AH-64E Apache crashed near Fort Campbell, killing two soldiers. Each will be investigated to determine a root cause, said Vice. Adm. Paul Grosklags, the commander of the Naval Air Systems Command. With the Navy receiving a funding increase in both the Fiscal Year 2018 and 2019 budgets the future mishap rate could decrease as the Navy plans to direct more money to aircraft maintenance, spare parts, and providing more flight time for aircrews, Grosklags said. "Each one of those mishaps will have a unique cause, so there's not a universal panacea," he said. Turner suggested the Navy could and should be doing more to determine if there are systemic issues causing what he called an, "aggregate of mishaps." "Admiral, I appreciate your dedication to get to a root cause, but I don't buy that, that it's merely just individual incidents," Turner said. The Marine Corps is focusing on improving their aircraft maintenance, including recently spending about $13.5 million on reenlistment bonuses for enlisted personnel who are qualified aircraft repair and maintenance inspectors or quality assurance staff, said Lt. Gen. Steven Rudder, the deputy commandant for aviation. "We had 676 Marines, corporals, sergeants, staff sergeants take that," Rudder said. These aircraft maintainers provide stability to the crews keeping the aircraft in working order, and help train the less experienced crew members, Rudder said. When asked how to provide an update on solving the ongoing physiological episodes problem, Grosklags said the Navy was following suggestions made by a NASA report to look for more than mechanical fixes. "Mechanical fixes, in the end as we've examined, have not panned out to not be as valuable as originally thought," Grosklags said. Instead, the Navy looking for PE root causes. An example, Grosklags said, was a one PE caused by a pilot inadvertently hitting a switch. Initially, he said, the Navy did not think it was necessary to move the switch location. But after further investigation, Grosklags said Navy investigators found the location was a problem. "It turned out the pilots were hitting that switch many more times, that weren't causing PE but had the potential to," Grosklags said. Turner also asked about a possible safety issue involving the half-a-million-dollar F-35 pilot helmet. During a visit to Hill Air Force Base last week, Turner said pilots said their helmets were not providing adequate visual acuity during night operations. They'd heard Marine Corps and Navy F-35 pilots had similar experiences. The problem was a software issue, Rudder said. Pilots with the first Marine Corps F-35B operational squadron, currently deployed USS Wasp (LHD-1), reported the night vision was a bit fuzzy, but Rudder said he'd been told the problem was being fixed. Rep. Niki Tsongas, (D-Mass.), the subcommittees ranking member asked for more information about a recently reported F-35 production pause. The F-35 joint program office did not accept delivery of 5 aircraft because of a problem discovered during an inspection of the fighters, said Lt. Gen. Arnold Bunch, in charge of research and development for the Air Force. Of the jets on hold, Bunch said three were for the Air Force, one was for Norway and one was for Australia. These are different versions than the F-35 used by the Marine Corps or Navy. The problem is a hole drilled into the aircraft was not properly treated for corrosion prevention, and it was not corrected, Bunch said. Adding to Bunch's statement, Grosklags said, "This is a mistake made by the contractor during production and they should pay for that out of their bottom line not out of our top line." https://news.usni.org/2018/04/12/top-military-aviators-pressed-for-safety-plans-by-lawmakers Back to Top Preventing Helicopter Pilot Shortages in Law Enforcement Los Angeles Police Department H125 Los Angeles Police Department flies the Airbus Helicopters H125. Photo courtesy of Airbus Helicopters The looming helicopter pilot shortage in the U.S. will certainly bolster our illusions of grandeur. There was a lot of discussion about this topic at Heli-Expo in Las Vegas at the end of February. A Helicopter Association International (HAI) study predicts there will be a shortage of 7,649 pilots in the U.S. over the next 18 years. So let's examine how this shortage might affect law enforcement aviation units and what could be done by unit commanders to proactively address the problem. There is not a central clearinghouse for pilot data for law enforcement aviation units. But it seems pretty clear that there is already a shortage of law enforcement helicopter pilots. And if HAI's study were correct, that shortage will continue to be an issue and may get worse. It may get worse because the study is based on an expected increase in the total number of airframes over the next 20 years. However, the number of law enforcement helicopters has remained relatively constant over the past 10 years. With the proliferation of drones across the industry and the aging military surplus fleet, it is more likely that the law enforcement helicopter fleet will remain flat or decrease in size over the next 10 years. Causes of Pilot Shortages Across the U.S., most aviation units require their pilots to be sworn law enforcement officers, and this is unlikely to change any time soon. Prospective pilots are usually required to have three to five years of experience with their agency, which means there is a limited pool of individuals from which to choose. And even if the candidate has a private fixed-wing rating, it could take six to 18 months to fully train a person as a commercial helicopter pilot with the necessary operational experience to fly effectively with a tactical flight officer (TFO). This still doesn't address why there is currently a shortage of law enforcement helicopter pilots. One reason is that many aviation units were formed when the 1208 program began releasing surplus aircraft to local agencies back in the mid-1990s (approximately one-third of the U.S. law enforcement fleet is military surplus helicopters). Many of these senior pilots are now retiring, creating the need to train new pilots. Other pilots are leaving to fly for air-medical operators, and still more are leaving to the airlines. The exodus of pilots from law enforcement agencies is even more problematic due to the way that government operates - it moves at the speed of molasses. Most law enforcement administrators will not hire or train new pilots until there is an actual vacancy created by a retirement or resignation. So, if it takes up to 18 months to train a pilot, there would be long-term pilot vacancies within aviation units. These vacancies would create a higher workload for the existing unit members with no relief in sight. Possible Solutions Now that we understand some of the reasons for the helicopter pilot shortage in law enforcement - as well as the limitations of working for government agencies - we can develop some solutions for dealing with it to keep our pilot staff at full strength. Have a succession plan. The first step in dealing with vacancies is to plan for them before they happen. If your unit develops TFOs into pilots, then start training them early, even if they become pilots before you have a vacancy. Consider asking your administration to allocate an additional pilot position to your unit to facilitate training new pilots. If this isn't possible, then get approval to develop a pool of back-up pilots using former military or fixed-wing pilots from within the agency to fill future vacancies. Be flexible with requirements. It may be necessary to relax or bend your current requirements when selecting pilots for your unit. I'm certainly not suggesting that unqualified applicants be selected, but it may be necessary to hire a skilled pilot from another agency who does not have the required amount of time on the road as a patrol officer, deputy or trooper. Be creative. Offer competitive pay. One of the biggest challenges in law enforcement aviation is keeping pay competitive. Ways to keep pay at a higher level is by offering a flight-pay bonus or by creating a pay scale for pilots that is separate from the steps offered for other sworn members. Many agencies have successfully done this with support from the administration and labor unions. Competitive pay can also encourage existing pilot staff to remain with the agency. Consider non-sworn pilots. Even though most agencies use sworn pilots exclusively, some agencies are adding non-sworn pilots as part of their pilot staff. Sworn pilots often retire from service to come back as non-sworn pilots who continue working for the agency for many years. The shortage of law enforcement helicopter pilots will be an issue for many years to come, but aviation unit commanders can take steps to minimize the effects of the problem on their agencies. Having a succession plan, being flexible with selection requirements, offering competitive pay and considering non-sworn pilots are several ways we can keep our positions full and continue to focus on our mission of catching bad guys and protecting the public. http://www.rotorandwing.com/2018/04/12/preventing-helicopter-pilot-shortages-law-enforcement/ Back to Top The Commercial Drone Alliance Wants FAA to Regulate Hobby Pilots The trade group wants to regulate airspace in order to implement an organized traffic grid in the skies. While the Federal Aviation Administration doesn't subject recreational drone pilots to the same stringent regulations that commercial operators must undergo, companies like Alphabet Inc.'s Project Wing are calling for Congress to level the playing field. As one of the major corporate forces attempting to establish a cohesive, regulated air-traffic management system for U.S. airspace, the company is seeking restrictions on hobby pilots. Proposed regulations could more efficiently clear up airspace for the inevitable standardization of commercial aerial deliveries. According to Bloomberg, the request to Congress comes from a trade group that represents not only Project Wing, but other commercial drone clients, and is founded on the apparent need to restrict hobbyists and the millions of drones they own and operate from flying as freely as they have been. In 2012, Congress legislated an exemption that has kept hobby users from the strictures imposed on corporate users, as long as they adhere to the common safety rules established by various groups. Apparently, this is a major point of focus for those attempting to more effectively regulate airspace in order to implement an organized traffic grid in the skies. Last Wednesday, the Commercial Drone Alliance urged lawmakers to revoke the exemption passed in 2012, which would essentially place recreational users in the same category as their corporate counterparts in terms of FAA regulation. According to the CDA press release, every single drone should "abide by some common sense, low-cost 'rules of the road' around remote identification and more." The CDA apparently feels that the current rules have been giving hobby users "the mistaken impression they are flying legally." While it's certainly true that there has been some highly irresponsible drone use across the country, the request to make every drone user subject to the FAA regulation imposed on corporate clients seems like a big ask, and arguably unwarranted. As for who actually comprises this alliance, Bloomberg reports that CNN, Ford Motor Co., and the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers are all members. Additionally, while Amazon's Prime Air isn't part of this group, it has reportedly been eager to impose similar FAA-designated strictures on hobby pilots in order to more thoroughly make way for its own aerial delivery services. The FAA is currently, and seemingly constantly, working on regulations in regards to hobby users, making the CDA's requests logical in terms of timing. As this is very much an ongoing issue, we'll make sure to report on any substantial developments heading our way. http://www.thedrive.com/tech/20060/the-commercial-drone-alliance-wants-faa-to-regulate-hobby-pilots Back to Top Boeing Joins Saab in Race for World's Biggest Fighter Jet Deal * Boeing, with HAL and Mahindra, offers to build F-18 locally * Saab, Lockheed already announced local partners for the deal Boeing Co. proposed to build fighter jets in India along with two local firms, as the U.S. giant prepares to bid for the world's biggest combat aircraft order, joining the likes of Lockheed Martin Corp. and Saab AB. Boeing will partner state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. and Mahindra Defense Systems to manufacture the F/A- 18 Super Hornet in India at a new facility, which can also be used for other requirements, it said in an emailed statement. An Indian tender for 110 combat aircraft announced last week mandates building at least 85 percent of the order locally. The deal is likely to be at least $15 billion. Getting new aircraft is crucial for Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the South Asian nation faces increased risks from neighboring Pakistan and China at a time when the Russian MiG fighters -- India's mainstay -- are being phased out. Local production is at the heart of Modi's 'Make in India' policy, which aims to promote domestic manufacturing. Boeing's announcement comes after Lockheed partnered with salt-to-software conglomerate Tata Group to bid for the order with its F-16 jets, and Saab teamed with billionaire Gautam Adani to offer its Gripen jets. The country's air force and navy require as many as 400 single- and double-engine combat aircraft, according to the government. After scrapping an order with Dassault Aviation for 126 Rafale jets worth $11 billion in 2015, a process that took nearly a decade, Modi's administration bought 36 jets separately to speed up the process. Under the new tender, the winner will have to deliver the first jet within three years of securing the contract. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-12/boeing-joins-saab-in-race-for-world-s-biggest-fighter-jet- deal Back to Top Atlanta Tops List Of World's Busiest Airports With 104 Million Passengers Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport has again been named the world's busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic. (AP Photo/David Goldman) Waited in a line at the airport lately? Whether one waits at the ticket counter, the security screening station or the toilet, airports seem jam-packed. Now, the release of 2017 world airport traffic rankings by Airports Council International (ACI) confirms you can believe your eyes. Total passengers grew 6.6%, and total international passengers grew 8.4%, according to ACI figures based on 1,202 airports worldwide. Passenger traffic at the world's 20 busiest airports grew by 5.2% in 2017. The top twenty airports accounted for 17% of global passenger traffic, pushing nearly 1.5 billion passengers through their terminals in 2017. And while you'll encounter people, rather than pallets, inside the terminals, cargo flights are packing airports as well. ACI estimates that total cargo (including mail) grew 7.9%, while international freight grew 9.9%. Atlanta-Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) won the crowded crown again, processing almost 104 million passengers, nearly 285,000 travelers per day. A long-time Delta stronghold, ATL is strategically located, with 80% of the US population just a two-hour flight away. The ACI study found Beijing (PEK), the gateway to China's 1.4 billion people, to be the world's second busiest airport. And while the United Emirates has a population of less than 10 million, it boasts the world's third-busiest airport, Dubai (DXB).) DXB is also the world's busiest airport in terms of international passengers. As a major connection point for long-haul international flights to Europe, Asia, North America, and Oceania, (and home to the world's largest fleet of superjumbo 550-seat Airbus A380 aircraft), total passenger traffic at DXB grew 5.5% in 2017. Asian airports showed the most growth in 2017, with Tokyo growing 6.5% to 85.4 million, Hong Kong growing 3.4% to 72 million, Shanghai growing 6.1% to 70 million, Jakarta growing 8.3%, Incheon in Korea up 7.5% and Singapore up 6%. But the growth champion was New Delhi, which grew an incredible 14.1% to 63 million. Delhi jumped 6 places in the busiest airports ranking, from 22nd to 16, the largest leap. Guangzhou (CAN), in China, grew 10.3% to almost 66 million making it the second fastest growing airport. An airport that is not on the list is notable for its absence. That's New York's JFK, which fell off the top 20 list this year, although US airports in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas-Ft. Worth and even Denver were among the 20 busiest in the world. JFK was also the only US airport among the busiest for international travelers, holding 19th place with 32.4 million international arrivals and departures. (The leader, Dubai, had 87.7 million international passengers.) Air cargo volumes at the 20 busiest airports (which handled a whopping 43% of world air cargo) grew by 6.8% in 2017. Hong Kong (HKG) was the leader, growing 9.4% and handling more than five million metric tons of air cargo. Shanghai (PVG), and Doha (DOH) grew 11.2%, and 15.0% respectively. Centrally located Chicago-O'Hare (ORD), experienced growth of 12.6%, helped by a stronger economy in the US and on the inbound side, a strong US dollar. So how do the world's busiest airports track with the world's "best" and "most punctual" airports? As you'd expect, not too well. While three US airports make the Top Ten of the "busiest" list, (Atlanta, Chicago, LA) none make the top ten "best" list of world airports from Skytrax. The Skytrax top ten was led by Singapore, Seoul, and Tokyo, all among the busiest as well. The best performance a US airport could muster was 29th place, captured by Denver International. And how did US airports fare in OAG's 2018 Punctuality League? One US airport did make the OAG ist of most timely (on-time) large airports, but it wasn't O'Hare, DFW, LAX or JFK. Instead, it's Salt Lake City, (SLC), with an on-time percentage of 86.01% in 2017. Osaka, at 88.4% on-time, SLC, at 86%, Sapporo, 84.9%, and interestingly, Brasilia, 84.5% and Rio, 84.2%, led large airports in on-time percentage. So with the spring and summer travel seasons upon us, at least travelers can take solace in knowing they won't be alone waiting at the airport. https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelgoldstein/2018/04/10/atlanta-tops-list-of-worlds-busiest-airports-with- 104-million-passengers/#ca490be7c6c3 Back to Top Vaughn College Partners with Delta Air Lines to Meet Demand for Aviation Maintenance Professionals http://www.prweb.com/releases/2018/04/prweb15405448.htm Delta Air Lines has announced a strategic partnership with Vaughn College to enhance the aviation maintenance training and opportunities for the College's Aviation Training Institute (ATI) students. The program will link Vaughn students with working professionals and will give them experience with real-time operating procedures and tools. At the completion of the program, Vaughn students will be ready to enter various highly- specialized positions in aviation maintenance operations. The ATI offers a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-approved program that prepares graduates for the FAA's Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) exams. FAA-certified technicians are responsible for maintaining aircraft and making sure that they are ready to fly. Students are able to complete the program in as few as 16 months, obtain their A&P certificates and enter a field with great growth and income potential. Boeing's 2017 market outlook predicts a need for more than 640,000 aviation technicians worldwide between 2017 and 2036, due to industry growth, the retirement of the current workforce and advances in aviation technology. In an effort to meet that demand, Delta has partnered with Vaughn College and 40 other institutions around the United States to train students in all aspects of aviation maintenance, from basic repairs to more complex processes. "The ATI provides our students with a strong base knowledge of what they'll be doing when they enter the workforce," said Domenic Proscia, vice president of training at Vaughn. "Delta's partnership provides our students a deeper understanding of how these machines operate and hands-on experience that ensures they'll know how to keep them running smoothly." "This partnership is going to be a great enhancement for our students, in terms of their education and their career prospects," said Fredrick Parham, associate director of the Aviation Training Institute. "Delta's program is going to provide Vaughn students with cutting-edge tools and experiences that will set them apart and put them on a path toward continued professional growth." Vaughn College has a long-standing reputation for student success. Ninety-seven percent of Vaughn graduates are employed or continuing their education within one year, 82 percent in their field of study. In 2017, Vaughn was named number one in upward mobility in a study published by The New York Times and was the best at moving students from the bottom 40 percent to the top 40 percent in income and demonstrated the power of a Vaughn degree. Founded in 1932, Vaughn College is a private, four-year college that enrolls more than 1,500 students in master's, bachelor's and associate degree programs in engineering, technology, management and aviation on its main campus in New York City and online. The student-faculty ratio of 14 to 1 ensures a highly personalized learning environment. Ninety-eight percent of Vaughn College graduates are placed in professional positions or choose to continue their education within one year of graduation. They work in 20 countries and all 50 states. The institution serves many first-generation college students and is recognized by the US Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution. For more information, visit http://www.vaughn.edu. Back to Top Deputy Director of Safety Overview: The Deputy Director of Safety is responsible for supporting the association's existing aviation safety programs, and developing new safety initiatives to benefit HAI's membership. Essential Functions of the Position Include, but Are Not Limited To: * Providing auxiliary support to the Director of Safety * Serving as the HAI safety representative on various industry, government, and international boards, task forces, and meetings * Providing feedback for the association's response to proposed safety-related regulations and legislative initiatives * Collecting, researching, and analyzing safety and accident data for subsequent statistical reporting * Developing and implementing new HAI industry safety initiatives * Routinely interacting with aviation related agencies and organizations in support of the rotorcraft industry * Supporting all aspects of HAI's voluntary accreditation programs (IS-BAO & HAI APS) that assist helicopter operators in reducing incidents and accidents, while improving industry safety culture * Providing safety supervision for flight activities at the association's annual trade show and exposition, HAI HELI-EXPO® * Responding to requests for rotorcraft safety assistance from HAI members and the general public * Serving as staff liaison for assigned HAI committees * Contributing content for use in HAI's printed and electronic publications * Making safety presentations on behalf of HAI as necessary * Other duties as assigned The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. Desired Qualifications for the Position Include: * College or advanced degree related to aviation safety and/or management * Five or more years of related helicopter safety background, training, and experience * Certificated helicopter pilot and/or maintenance technician * Previous experience with helicopter or other aviation-related organization * Prior international experience preferred * Familiarization with auditing protocols and accreditation programs * A passionate commitment to the promotion of helicopter safety * Highly motivated, able to work independently and in a team environment * Excellent written and verbal communication skills with prior experience in creating and delivering written proposals and public presentations * Research, data analysis, and report writing experience * Proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite * Detail oriented, self-starter, with strong organizational and time management skills * Ability to travel The above qualifications are representative, but not all-inclusive, of the experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the position. APPLY HERE https://www.rotor.org/portals/1/eblast/deuty_d.html Back to Top Title: Internal Evaluation Program Auditor I Job Code: 6921 Department: Safety Reports To: Manager of Internal Evaluations What does an Internal Evaluation Program Auditor do for Allegiant? Perform evaluations in accordance with department schedule and special evaluations as directed by the Mgr. of Internal Evaluations. What are some of the daily duties of an Internal Evaluation Program Auditor? * Performs scheduled and special evaluations, including identifying and defining issues, reviewing and analyzing evidence, and documenting findings and concerns * Collect objective evidence necessary to substantiate findings or concerns * Prepares evaluation reports * Recommends solutions to findings or concerns * Monitors the development and implementation of corrective action plans * Maintains and updates internal evaluation files * Verifies the implementation of solutions and corrective action plans What are the minimum requirements to be an Internal Evaluation Program Auditor? * A & P certificate preferred * Pilot certificate, A & P certificate, or Dispatch certificate or * 1 year of auditing experience * Work experience in 14 CFR Part 121 air carrier operations: stations, training, quality control, maintenance, operations, safety or a combination thereof preferred * Working knowledge of SMS, DOD principles and the FAA SAS DCTs required * Previous experience maintaining and enhancing corporate safety standards and safe operation practices preferred * Proficient verbal, written, and presentation communication skills * Bachelor's degree in related field preferred * Certified Quality Auditor preferred What other skills, knowledge, and qualifications are needed to be an Internal Evaluation Program Auditor? * Proficient verbal, written, and presentation communication skills * Must pass a background check and pre-employment drug screen * Must have authorization to work in the U.S. as defined in the Immigrations Act of 1986 What are the physical requirements of an Internal Evaluation Program Auditor? * Office environment APPLY HERE Allegiant Travel Company is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, marital status, military service status, protected veterans, union/non-union activity, citizenship status, or other characteristic protected by state or federal law or local ordinance. EEO/AA/Minority/Female/Veteran/Disability Allegiant supports a healthy, non-smoking work environment. 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 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 Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY - 3 Dear Participant: Hello my name is DEREK HAYNES and I am an MSc student at City University of London and a Captain on the B787. However would you kindly please spare me a few minutes of your valuable time to complete my Air Transport Management MSc Jet Airline Pilot Survey - preferably by 30th April 2018, (it is anonymous). It takes <10 mins. Thanks a million, Derek. The survey can be completed here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/TWKHCFK Curt Lewis