April 30, 2018 - No. 034 In This Issue S7 Technics to expand types and capabilities Buoyant Avocet Announces Landmark PTF Work Vietnam Airlines Considers Creating Cargo Unit to Boost Revenue Delhi High Court asks for latest position on air safety from DGCA Gulfstream To Expand In Savannah Artificial intelligence promises advantages for airlines and their passengers Boeing Announces Global Distribution Agreement for GE Aviation T700 Engines SIAEC in non-binding pact with Cebu Air to expand MRO services in the Philippines Workforce Shortage in Spotlight at RACCA Conference Flybe engineers return triumphant from 'MRO Olympics' SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to return to the Earth next week S7 Technics to expand types and capabilities The customer list of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) specialist S7 Technics includes almost all Russian operators of Boeing and Airbus aircraft. It is no surprise then that the importance of this MRO-provider (until recently widely known as Engineering Holding) to the Russian commercial aviation business is difficult to overestimate. In this interview with Russian Aviation Insider, Roman Fedorov, S7 Technics' deputy director for finance, elaborates on the current progress of the Russian and CIS region's leading MRO company, and shares his thoughts on several key topics, such as billowing airline capacities. Opinions about the air transport industry from such pivotal service providers can never be a run-of-the-mill thing. AIRPLANES TO SPARE Russian Aviation Insider: How would you describe the current state of affairs regarding the Russian and CIS aviation maintenance market, and how do you feel about the achievements of the MRO industry in 2017? Roman Fedorov: Emotions are not what we need here. We'd rather have a candid, scientific analysis. When talking about the maintenance and repair sector, we should take a look at what is going on in the airline business in general, as well as the overall condition of the air transport market in the region. Because there are no actual signs in the market to indicate it will consume all the excessive capacities, there are currently no fundamental justifiable reasons for the significant fleet expansion. Insider:Yes, but how will this development influence the MRO sector? RF: The air transport market is facing a situation where the available capacities (ASKs) still remain high, and some airlines have tended to take unreasonable decisions. This trend will affect the MRO industry because all these factors influence, for example, the skilled personnel market. We also see that a large number of airlines are trying to establish their own specific competences in the sphere of aircraft maintenance, which in most cases is unjustified from both an economic and operational perspective. And all of this is happening in the environment of general staff shortages. The consequence of this is the synthetic creation of a so-called manpower deficit and, as a result, we now have a situation where the average workload of technical specialists at an individual airline's in-house line station is equal to literally half a flight per day - whilst the pay is often up to 1.5 times that of the industry's average. It has also led to an artificial shortage of dedicated technical experts. As a result, highly qualified specialists are opting to work for those companies offering better pay and fewer hours. All this breeds a certain disproportion and creates an unstable market in which, on the one hand, it affects the MRO specialist businesses because as a rule they enjoy a greater staff utilisation rate compared to airline-affiliated service companies and, on the other, it becomes an issue for carriers: if there is insufficient business in a model like that, sooner or later it will fade away. There is a situation where a vast number of airports not only host several airline-affiliated line stations but also provide maintenance services themselves. This adds up to a problem, because with that [small] amount of traffic volumes, all the jobs could instead have been efficiently accomplished by a single MRO-provider. So, to my mind, the general trend is as follows: there are players which took risky decisions to excessively grow their fleets, while the share of the key player [Aeroflot group] has grown bigger - we are fully aware of that. NEW AIRCRAFT TYPES AND ENGINES Insider:What was S7 Technics' main focus in 2017? RF: Among other things, in 2017, supporting the growth of S7, our parent airline, was a big challenge for us. Apart from boosting its traffic, the company introduced new types to its fleet: the Embraer E170 and the Airbus A320neo. So we set a goal to become Russia's first and preferred service provider on these additional aircraft types - initially for our parent carrier, followed by support for third-party customers as well. We believe that the future belongs to these types of aircraft. We have already initiated talks with aircraft manufacturers to discuss support programs for other aircraft types, but these will be steps that will follow. Currently, we are focused on the maximum extension in terms of the E170 and A320neo aircraft. Insider: Perhaps there is something else? RF: I guess it is also worth devoting a few words on those projects that we are currently implementing within our company. We are gradually moving towards launching another, bigger maintenance and repair shop for CFM56 engines at Mineralnye Vody airport, our second after Moscow. All reconstruction works at production facilities there were finalised in 2017 and new equipment was ordered. Along with increasing our presence in the engine-servicing sector, we are also working to enhance the skillsets of our personnel and to mastering more complicated types of engine repairs than we currently provide. For example, we have broadened the list of our services to include combustor chamber replacement as well as the renewal of the most thermal stressed parts of the turbine nozzle assembly and fan works. This all means we are gradually able to perform ever more profound engine repairs, depending on customers' needs. As for overhauls, or the so-called Core Performance Restoration, our Swiss partner SR Technics, the company that helped us with arrangements for the only maintenance and repair shop for CFM56 engines, is in charge of that. We do not intend to develop it further [into Core Performance Restoration] just for the sake of it. We have identified that the specialist works we have opted for are in great demand and we are determined to offer the market a unique and competitive product. We have also grown bigger to include CFM56-3 services as we still see the demand there for this. Previously, we used to carry out maintenance works on CFM56-3s in conjunction with other MRO companies. Although the number of aircraft powered by these types of engines is gradually reducing in the region, we sense that demand from airlines which still operate Boeing 737CLs is not yet fully met. In many cases, these aircraft are owned by their operators, so it is more economically viable for them not to fully overhaul the engines - but instead to support them through a wisely customised scope of repair works (in particular with regard to the remaining lifetime of expensive engine components) - and continue along this more economically viable path. What's important is that we can eliminate almost all engine problems on our own and have the support from our partners should we need assistance with some other specific tasks. In terms of engines, we also offer customised fleet management services. S7 Technics has created a department which, in addition to our engine repair services division, provides assistance in developing engine maintenance planning programs for airlines and for the establishment of a meticulous fleet operations strategy in terms of operational issues, reliability and economics. Insider: What do you mean by 'engine maintenance planning program? RF: This is about planning the repair works on an engine over its lifetime with regard to predicting any potential operating limitations and return-to-lessor requirements. This service package defines an optimal scope of repair works to anticipate and eliminate engine faults, bringing in necessary upgrades, and omitting those components that are not in optimum technical condition and have a high residual operation time. It is clear that proactively performing such repairs at our base often perfectly solves the issue of minimising maintenance costs throughout an engine's entire lifetime, whilst at the same time providing enhanced availability and reduced heavy overhauls. Furthermore, in addition to the planned repair, if the company is interested in carrying out a simultaneous preventative upgrade aimed at enhancing reliability, it achieves another crucial objective: a reduction in the number of off-schedule events, failures and faults. Where these options are not available, airlines more often usually have to send their engines abroad for overhaul, or take them off the wings even where there is a substantial remaining lifetime still in place. Today, S7 Technics is eager to offer optimisation of an airline's single biggest cost item in the continued airworthiness requirements domain (engines can represent some 50 per cent of direct operational costs). We observe that a remarkably large number of Russian airlines find themselves in a less than perfect situation with regard to engine maintenance issues. Thus, a helping hand of professional experts is certainly needed. Insider: When the ruble depreciated some time ago, what we heard from MRO industry representatives back then gave the impression that Russian maintenance companies were offering some of the lowest man-hour prices available. There were expectations therefore that Russia could turn into an attractive venue for foreign airlines to have their aircraft serviced. Do you think S7 Technics has managed to achieve this potential? RF: Actually our workload keeps on growing. However, the question of attracting foreign customers is still open. So far, because of political reasons and ?ustoms issues, there is plenty of room for improvement and development. One could blame this on the overall political climate or other reasons, but it is clear to us that it is we who should first and foremost work harder to change the situation. On the other hand, even with the ruble depreciation and, against all logic, a substantial number of Russian airlines, including those with state backing, have continued to carry out their maintenance checks abroad. The decision-making process in Russia is a mystery to me. It seems the lessons of the past have still not been learned. It's okay for a private airline, I guess. But when public companies subsidised by the Russian government continue to carry out a big part of their maintenance checks abroad, reasoning that it is allegedly quicker and less expensive this way and with a whole bunch of MRO providers fully approved to conduct base maintenance on foreign-made aircraft back home - it definitely raises flags. Because S7 Technics receives its external orders on a 100 per cent tender basis, we know for sure both what we offer and what our competitors can offer. It looks to us as if there are some non-economic reasons that are influencing them to choose their partners. And these attitudes unfortunately are still strong. Not only do we think this is wrong, but it is not good because it also undermines the fundamentals of the industry itself. It distorts the situation, placing pressure on foreign providers and creates an improper perception of the Russian market in general. Insider:Nevertheless, did the S7 Technics holding revenues grow in 2017? RF: Of course. Insider:And why? Could that be attributed to some more profound and complex projects? RF: If we take a look at our repair works, we will see that the number of heavy checks has not changed much over the past two to three years. But the structure of our work has significantly changed. We are becoming a centre of excellence in terms of the heaviest checks, for example six- and 12-year checks and their equivalents, such as lease returns. So our activity in terms of man-hours is growing. This totally makes sense because we are in the process of an internal transformation. Currently, we are looking to broaden our activities and introduce new sources of income which will provide some extra revenue streams. So we should not judge our results simply by looking at the man-hour figures. The revenues are going up. In 2017, they increased by 11 per cent over 2016 year-on-year. With regard to 2018, we will see. We have deliberately included transformational projects, which I cannot unveil at the moment, as they are in research and development right now. On the one hand, these transformations will lay the foundations for our future, especially in the MRO segment where there is plenty of room for growth right now. On the other hand, we expect the year of 2018 will resemble 2017 in terms of operating performance. This will allow us to conduct some of the internal transformation processes to secure our future growth from 2019 onwards. http://www.rusaviainsider.com/s7-technics-expand-types-capabilities/ Back to Top Buoyant Avocet Announces Landmark PTF Work Avocet Aviation Services, the Orlando-based MRO operating close to the city's Sanford Airport, has signed what it describes as the industry's first Airbus A321 passenger-to-freighter (PTF) modifications work involving the development of a cargo door prototype. Announced in early April following an agreement being reached in late 2017, Avocet will partner with 321 Precision Conversions on the project for the Airbus A321 aircraft. The prototype modifications on the aircraft in Orlando came after meeting aircraft modifications specialist Precision's specific criteria during the tendering process. The formation of the partnership was due to both companies being a good fit for one another, says Edward Gray, Avocet's general manager and chief of operations. "We were able to bid for this work and ideally, we also fit Precision's desire to work with a medium-size company that they could take under wing and form a partnership." Gray says factoring in the PTF announcement, the company has had a strong start to 2018 which has also seen it open a second repair facility in Lakeland, Florida in February around 90 miles west of its Orlando base. Services at the 26,000 sq. ft Lakeland Linder Regional Airport site include heavy and line maintenance, engine services and paint and aircraft refinishing. "Capabilities and approvals at Lakeland mirror the ones we hold in Sanford from the FAA and EASA," Gray says. At its Sanford headquarters, Avocet operates three locations consisting of a Part-145 repair station, a component business and a teardown operation for end of life aircraft. Its teardown operation isn't exclusive to older aircraft types. Gray says it isn't uncommon for Avocet to tear down relatively young aircraft, citing a recent project taking apart an A321 that was less than 10 years old. "This is because parts are so valuable," he says. "The engine is immediately sold which made the operator most of their money back, while the on-board avionics are advanced and the landing gear had plenty of time left on it which also meant it was immediately sold." http://www.mro-network.com/maintenance-repair-overhaul/buoyant-avocet-announces-landmark-ptf-work Back to Top Vietnam Airlines Considers Creating Cargo Unit to Boost Revenue Vietnam Airlines Corp., which has been transforming its fleet with new widebody planes and expanding services, is looking to further boost growth by starting a dedicated cargo unit. The Southeast Asian nation has become a major manufacturing hub, with companies such as Samsung Electronics Co. annually producing billions of dollars in devices, providing an air freight opportunity for the national carrier, Vietnam Airlines Chief Executive Officer Duong Tri Thanh told Juliette Saly in a Bloomberg Television interview. Investments by companies such as Samsung, LG Electronics Inc. and Nestle SA have made the country a manufacturing powerhouse, fueling economic growth that's been among the fastest in the region. Gross domestic product rose 7.4 percent in the first quarter and the government forecasts growth of as much as 7.5 percent this year. The government is also looking to attract more visitors and develop tourism as a key industry. "We expect a higher number of international passengers, especially from Japan and Korea, and more middle-class passengers domestically, thanks to Vietnam's fast economic growth," Thanh said. The carrier is seeking dominance in the country the International Air Transport Association says will be among the world's top five fastest growing air travel markets in the next 20 years. Competing with the nation's largest private carrier, VietJet Aviation Joint Stock Co., the state-owned airline is also focusing on attracting premium passengers at the front-end as faster economic growth drives incomes higher. Strengthening Growth Vietnam's economy grew at the fastest pace since at least 2010 The national carrier -- which sold an 8.8 percent stake to ANA Holdings Inc. in 2016 -- forecasts serving 23.4 million passengers this year, up from 22 million in 2017. In 2016, Vietnam Airlines signed a deal with Airbus SE to buy 10 A350 wide-bodied aircraft with a list price of $3.1 billion. It also earlier ordered 19 Boeing Co. 787-9 Dreamliners. It plans to have 110 planes by 2020 and 150 by 2030, versus 92 planes now. The airline is planing a route to Los Angeles by late 2019 or early 2020. Last year, it formed a venture with Air France to add 17 more destinations in Europe to the original three. The state-owned airline, currently listed on Hanoi's Unlisted Public Company Market -- the so-called over-the-counter regulated market -- plans to list shares on the country's benchmark stock exchange in Ho Chi Minh City no later than the third quarter, Thanh said. The government has pledged to reduce its stake to 51 percent around 2019 to 2020, from about 86 percent now. The carrier forecasts a pretax profit of 2 trillion dong ($87.8 million) this year, rising from about 1.85 trillion dong in 2017, Thanh said. Vietnam Airlines' unconsolidated pretax profit jumped 30 percent in the first quarter to 875 billion dong, with a 25 percent growth in its number of international passengers, according to Thanh. Shares of Vietnam Airlines rose 9 percent to 37,600 dong at the close in Hanoi trading Friday. Vietnam Airlines and ST Aerospace Supplies last week signed an agreement in Singapore to form a joint venture to provide aircraft component maintenance, repair and overhaul services in Vietnam. The agreement will help the airline have a quicker maintenance turnaround on its aircraft as well as create an opportunity to service other airlines in the region, Thanh said. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-29/vietnam-airlines-considers-creating-cargo-unit-to-boost-revenue Back to Top Delhi High Court asks for latest position on air safety from DGCA NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has sought from the civil aviation regulator, DGCA, the latest position regarding air safety, probe into aircraft accidents and recruitment of flight operations inspectors. A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar asked for the information after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) claimed that it has been following all precautions to ensure flight safety in the country. With the direction, the court listed the matter for further hearing on August 2. The court was hearing a PIL alleging that private airlines are violating and circumventing mandatory provisions for air safety and airworthiness issued by the DGCA. The plea has also claimed that the regulator has no mechanism to effectively check the non-compliance and blatant violation of the provisions. Refuting the allegations made in the public interest litigation, the DGCA said that it has safety oversight and surveillance programmes for airworthiness management and aircraft maintenance. It told the court that all of the civil aviation planes in operation in the country are following the aircraft maintenance programme. The regulator also claimed that there are no shortage of flight operation inspectors. However, the petitioner, Alok Kumar, has claimed that there are 72 vacant posts of flight operation inspectors in the DGCA. http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2018/apr/29/delhi-high-court-asks-for-latest-position-on-air-safety-from-dgca-1807915.html Back to Top Gulfstream To Expand In Savannah Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. today announced plans to build a new service center at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport in response to its growing customer fleet's needs for maintenance and service. The service center is expected to open in the second quarter of 2019 and create about 200 jobs. Gulfstream will invest approximately US$55 million to build the 202,000-square-foot/18,766-square-meter maintenance, repair and overhaul facility on the east side of the airport. The building will include hangar space, offices and back shops, and will complement the main Gulfstream Savannah Service Center, the world's largest purpose-built business jet maintenance facility. Attending the expansion announcement event were state and local dignitaries, including Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal and U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter. The event was held at Savannah Technical College's Aviation Training Center, whose students will play a key role in Gulfstream's growth. When the new service center, named Savannah Service Center East, is completed, Gulfstream will have more than 1 million sq ft/92,903 sq m of dedicated customer-support hangar space, offices and back shops in Savannah. Like the existing Savannah service center, the new Savannah location will offer a wide range of services, including aircraft-on-ground resources, hourly and calendar-driven airframe inspections, avionics installations and interior refurbishments. In addition to Savannah, Gulfstream operates service centers in Brunswick, Georgia; Long Beach, California; Cahokia, Illinois; Appleton; Dallas; Las Vegas ; Westfield, Massachusetts; West Palm Beach, Florida; Beijing; Sorocaba, Brazil; and Luton, England. Savannah Technical College's aviation technology division offers associate degree, diploma and certificate programs in aircraft structural technology and aviation maintenance, including airframe and powerplant. The aviation maintenance technology program is certified by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. The college's nearly 30,000-sq-ft/2,787-sq-m Aviation Training Center at its Crossroads campus near Gulfstream includes labs, classrooms and a 5,000-sq-ft/465-sq m-hangar. Students also benefit from hands-on training with resources donated by Gulfstream, including a Gulfstream G100 business jet that the college has used since June 2014. https://www.rustourismnews.com/2018/04/30/gulfstream-to-expand-in-savannah/ Back to Top Artificial intelligence promises advantages for airlines and their passengers MONTREAL - Canada's two largest airlines say artificial intelligence can be a game-changer for aviation by helping to boost revenues, pare costs and provide passengers with a more personalized travel experience. Air Canada and WestJet are joining airlines around the world by spending undisclosed amounts of money on AI in an effort to harness technology that promises revolutionary advantages for both carriers and passengers. Several large airlines in the U.S. and Europe have deployed AI in chatbots that respond to common passenger questions, machine learning algorithms to help automate airline operations and facial recognition to verify identification for luggage and boarding. "It's really an untouched area for the airline industry that we need to develop very fast," new WestJet CEO Ed Sims said in an interview, adding he'd like to use the technology to create a "virtual concierge service" similar to Amazon Alexa or Google Home. The aviation sector's investment in AI is expected to grow from US$152 million this year to US$2.22 billion by 2025, for a compounded annual growth rate of more than 46 per cent, according to a report from research firm Markets and Markets. New technologies like AI are essential as a doubling of global passengers over the next two decades strains air traffic control, airport and aircraft systems, according to data from the International Air Transport Association. Many of the benefits will occur behind the scenes in airline operations, but that is expected to trickle down to passengers through improved efficiency and cost savings. Artificial intelligence will be critical to improving the passenger experience before, during and after flights, said Rodrigo Acuna Agost, head of AI Research at Amadeus IT Group. The global travel technology company has partnered with Air Canada to install a passenger service system that will improve service on everything from reservations to personalized customer service and simplified rebooking. Personalizing offers based on the customer's interests and price preferences will shorten the searches travellers make before booking flights, said Steve Peterson, global travel and transportation lead for the IBM Institute for Business Value. "Rather than give you a laundry list that you have to whittle down, it gives you a [few] options all of which are very compelling because they're based on who you are and what you want," he said. Behind the scenes, Air Canada CEO Calin Rovinescu says advanced analytics are required to keep its planes flying more than 16 hours a day to spread out its costs. AI systems can predict when maintenance is required even before a part is broken, allowing for quick repairs and minimizing time on the ground. "That kind of data on an ongoing basis will make our entire fleet much, much more efficient and that's one of the real drivers, one of the real benefits of investing in new generation technology," he told an international aerospace conference. Algorithms can be used to predict passenger behaviour and reduce overbooking by analyzing inputs such as historical passenger data, weather patterns and time of day to better predict how many people won't show up for a flight. Fuel requirements can be optimized days before a flight departs by predicting baggage loads based on variables such as nationality, destination and type of traveller. After flights, algorithms can monitor social media for passenger sentiment to understand the passenger experience. In terms of data security, people's personal information is at less risk of being breached in aviation because most AI systems use generalized data and permissioned access to existing data such as travel history to determine which profile the passenger resembles, said Peterson. "While the individual details about specific passengers are 'used' to draw conclusions, they do not put passenger data 'at risk' when properly configured," he said. Aircraft manufacturers like Bombardier, Boeing and Airbus are using AI to scan reams of data to monitor their planes in flight. So-called health monitoring on planes such as its C Series allows data to be analyzed more quickly and accurately, enabling preventative actions to be immediately conveyed to airlines, said Bombardier CEO Alain Bellemare. AI could eventually be used on all systems of aircraft, including brakes, generators, valves, engines and avionics to extend the life of parts and minimize disruptions, offering a huge savings for operators, added Robert Dewar, vice president and general manager of the C Series program. "Planes will be less late, they'll be more reliable and of course if they're lower cost obviously the customer benefits," he said in an interview. AI systems using natural language processing can scan millions of maintenance logs to predict component failure and recommend fixes, says Mark Roboff of SparkCognition, which focuses most of its efforts on predictive maintenance. "If you can shrink down maintenance-related delays to near zero for someone like Air Canada, that could save them $100 million a year, easy," he said. The Texas-based firm, which received an investment from Boeing's Horizon X venture arm, is also testing the use of AI for augmented autopilot that would engage in urgent situations unfolding in the cockpit. https://www.kamloopsmatters.com/national-business/artificial-intelligence-promises-advantages-for-airlines-and-their-passengers-908423 Back to Top Boeing Announces Global Distribution Agreement for GE Aviation T700 Engines CHICAGO - Boeing [NYSE: BA], through its subsidiary Aviall, today announced it signed a multi-year parts distribution agreement with GE Aviation to support the T700 engine. Under this agreement, Aviall will market and distribute components needed to support the maintenance, repair and overhaul of the GE T700 engine models that power civil and international military helicopters for customers in more than 30 countries. Aviall, a Boeing Company, will market and distribute parts to support the GE Aviation T700 engine which powers some of the world's most prolific rotorcraft. "GE and Aviall share a strong, strategic relationship, having already signed spares distribution agreements serving our J85, F110, CF6, CFM and CF34 engines," said Cristina Seda-Hoelle, General Manager of GE Aviation's Military Customer Services. "We look forward to working with Aviall to provide the best possible customer experience and further build upon the T700's four-decade legacy." Since entering production in 1978, the T700 has powered a variety of civilian, commercial and military applications that support transport, medical evacuation, air rescue, marine patrol and defense missions around the world. "We appreciate the confidence that GE Aviation has placed in us to provide global support to the T700 engine - the engine that is relied upon for so many critical missions," said Eric Strafel, Aviall President and CEO. "We believe this agreement is a testament to our enduring relationship with GE Aviation and our ability to provide value through increased material availability through our 40 international locations and an unwavering commitment to mission preparedness." Aviall's worldwide distribution network will provide localized support for customers relying on the T700 engine for fleet readiness. As an established global aerospace and defense distributor, Aviall has a long-standing history of connecting customers with strategically-positioned product solutions, designed to meet current and future needs. https://www.ajot.com/news/boeing-announces-global-distribution-agreement-for-ge-aviation-t700-engines Back to Top SIAEC in non-binding pact with Cebu Air to expand MRO services in the Philippines SIA Engineering Company Limited (SIAEC) and Cebu Air Inc have entered into a non-binding letter of intent to further collaborate to expand maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services in the Philippines. The growth opportunities have an estimated investment value of US$15-20 million, SIAEC said on Sunday. Currently, they have two existing joint ventures in the Philippines - Aviation Partnership (Philippines) Corporation (APPC) and SIA Engineering (Philippines) Corporation (SIAEP). APPC provides line maintenance services in four major international airports, namely, Manila, Cebu, Davao and Clark, as well as other secondary airports in the Philippines; SIAEP, which is located in Clark in the Philippines, has three hangars and provides heavy maintenance aircraft checks, including backshop support and line maintenance services. https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/siaec-in-non-binding-pact-with-cebu-air-to-expand-mro-services-in-the-philippines Back to Top Workforce Shortage in Spotlight at RACCA Conference The regional air cargo industry enjoys healthy demand for its services but faces ongoing challenges in recruiting pilots and maintenance technicians to fill available jobs. That was the message this week at the 16th Annual Spring Conference of the Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association (RACCA) in Scottsdale, Arizona. Of course, that issue is hardly unique to the RACCA membership comprised of companies flying Part 135 and Part 121 cargo operations, and even some passenger service. The association welcomed Capt. Warren Christie, senior vice president for safety, security, and training for JetBlue Airways, to offer attendees perspective on the carrier's approach to the matter. JetBlue uses seven "gateway" paths for potential pilot candidates, including recruitment from other positions at the carrier to its ab initio program operated in conjunction with training provider CAE. "We all have a vested interest in having pilots fly airplanes, whether you're a supplier, an OEM, or an operator," Christie noted. "This is about ensuring we continue this healthy pipeline we have today, rather than using hope as a strategy." RACCA president Stan Bernstein hopes regional carriers recognize the potential benefits from adopting a similarly multi-faceted approach to the issue, noting pilots may become captains at RACCA member companies at 1,200 hours, flying turbine aircraft often in a single-pilot environment. "We like to think RACCA members offer a path to an airline pilot job in perhaps the most experienced way possible, which best prepares the candidate for the job," he told AIN, adding the association is "hopeful" the FAA will soon allow logging of second-in-command time in aircraft certified for one pilot. The RACCA conference also included operator sessions with OEMs such as Textron Aviation and Pratt & Whitney Canada, a TSA sensitive security information update, and progress towards regulations governing the use of unmanned cargo aircraft. Retired USAF SR-71 pilot and event keynote speaker Maj. Brian Shul led a separate presentation focused on operational safety practices. Bernstein reported record attendance for this year's event, with about 360 attendees from across the U.S. and overseas. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2018-04-27/workforce-shortage-spotlight-racca-conference Back to Top Flybe engineers return triumphant from 'MRO Olympics' A six-strong team of talented engineers employed by Flybe, has returned home to Exeter from the US, triumphant having retained a top award won last year and placing third overall in the International Team category out of the largest ever field taking part in the annual 2018 Aviation Maintenance Competition in Florida. The prestigious event that took place between 9th-11th April, is regarded as the 'MRO Olympics' (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul), incorporating both practical and theoretical tasks set to test skill and highlight technical prowess in aviation maintenance. This year, 72 teams took part from across the world, including those from such global giants as Boeing, United Airlines, Qantas and the US Army and Airforce. Flybe's team comprised: Luke Thomas - Supervisor Mechanical (Team Coach and 2017 Leader) Walter Spence - Supervisor Mechanical (Captain and Team Leader) Dan Bell - Supervisor Mechanical Lee Bartram - Supervisor Avionics Joseph (Joe) Smith - Technical Support Engineer Mitchell Osborne - Mechanical Fitter; employed after completing Flybe Engineering Diploma at Flybe Training Academy. Christine Ourmieres-Widener, Flybe CEO, herself a qualified aircraft engineer, said: "We are all exceptionally proud of the great achievement of this local talented team of Flybe engineers. They have a true passion and their outstanding performance in triumphing over such a large number of teams from some incredibly respected global brands and organisations is testament to the skill they have so clearly demonstrated in their chosen profession. That last year's Team Leader has been so dedicated in mentoring the new 2018 team, and that one of this year's team qualified through our own four-year Engineering Diploma in partnership with Exeter College, is the icing on the cake. They are all a credit to Flybe and typify the passion and commitment we have to excellence and teamwork in all we do across the company." Flybe Supervisor Mechanical and Team Coach, Luke Thomas, said the team did themselves and the company proud. "It demonstrated once again how our engineers can go toe to toe with the best in the world and still deliver. Their commitment and effort into training beforehand was obvious. The competition was harder this year with more tasks and there were 20 additional teams competing compared to last year." The Flybe team represented a wide spectrum of engineering experience, with some having been with Flybe for over 10 years and others with just a short time under their belt. Mitchell is 'home-grown' having recently qualified as a fully licensed engineer through the airline's four-year Engineering Diploma conducted in partnership with Exeter College. http://www.adsadvance.co.uk/flybe-engineers-return-triumphant-from-mro-olympics-.html Back to Top SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to return to the Earth next week The Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-14) launched on April 02 from the Cape Canaveral that took the resupply ship Dragon to the International Space Station is set to embark on its journey to return to the Earth soon next week when its Dragon spacecraft is expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean. SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft is expected to release from the ISS at 10:22 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday (May 02) with the target to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Baja, California in the United States. The return mission will have science experiments and cargo. Dragon spacecraft launched aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched at 4:30 p.m. from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station LC40 with its Dragon spacecraft carrying 5,800 pounds of equipment, science experiments, and food supplies to the astronauts living at the ISS. It was 14th of the total 20 mission contracted by NASA under its Commercial Resupply Services contract that will end in 2020. The Falcon 9 rocket at 156-foot is one of the biggest operation rocket. The CRS-14 mission used two reused components to complete the supply from the Earth to the ISS i.e. its booster was used back in CRS-12 in August 2017 while its Dragon spacecraft which is about to return on May 02 was used in April 2016 on its CRS-8 mission. SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft is presently the only spacecraft to return to the Earth after a mission to the ISS carrying equipment, science experiments, cargo and even a passenger if required. According to the manifest, the upcoming Dragon spacecraft will enter into the Earth's atmosphere with the passenger 'Robonaut 2', a humanoid robot developed collectively by General Motors and NASA that was sent to serve on the International Space Station back in 2011. Robonaut 2 has undergone various repairs and tweaks onboard the space station, however, it is being sent to the Earth to conduct further repairs to its electrical systems. Once repaired, the robot will be sent to the ISS later next year. SpaceX has been servicing CRS missions to the ISS since 2012 with a contract spanning to 2020. NASA recently awarded the contract to SpaceX, Sierra Nevada, and Orbital ATK that will be followed through 2024 where NASA will use the capability of these three service providers which show peculiar cargo carrying capacity. Orbital ATK is expected to take its next resupply mission to the ISS on May 20 that will be broadcast live on NASA TV. https://sciexaminer.com/news/space/spacex-dragon-spacecraft-return-earth-next-week-4569.html Curt Lewis