Flight Safety Information July 10, 2018 - No. 138 In This Issue Incident: Austrian A320 near Tehran on Jul 5th 2018, airframe vibrations Incident: Asiana A359 over Pacific on Jul 8th 2018, abnormal tyre pressure indication Incident: Expressjet E145 at Fargo on Jul 9th 2018, smoke in cockpit EVAS - Cockpit Smoke Protection Accident: Gol B738 near Belo Horizonte on Jul 9th 2018, sudden aircraft movement injures 2 flight attendants Incident: Bratsk YK40 at Aldan on Jul 9th 2018, runway excursion China Airlines Boeing 737-800 in low fuel emergency after three failed approaches at Toyama Airport Allegiant jet clips other Allegiant jet at VPS; second incident draws FAA scrutiny Fuel truck crashes into United Airlines plane at Dulles Airport in Virginia Cracked Windshield Forces Tokyo-Bound American Airlines Flight Back to O'Hare LIBIK Fire Suppression Kits for the Cabin and Flight Deck. U.S. Bizav Flying Stumbles in June, Says Argus Metal fatigue caused fatal Airbus helicopter crash: Norway final report Meet The Most Crowded Airlines: Load Factor Hits All-Time High Conklin & de Decker Release 2018 Aircraft Performance Comparator Horizon Air closes the gap in pilot hiring Marines Will Offer Up To $210K To Keep Pilots From Leaving AViCON 2018: Early Bird Ticket Sale Ending This Week 64th Air Safety Forum - Join Us! HIGH ALTITUDE FLYING: WHAT EVERY PILOT NEEDS TO KNOW - New Online Course - Fall 2018 GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Incident: Austrian A320 near Tehran on Jul 5th 2018, airframe vibrations An Austrian Airlines Airbus A320-200, registration OE-LBO performing flight OS-874 from Tehran Imam Khomeini (Iran) to Vienna (Austria), was climbing out of Tehran when the crew stopped the climb at FL270 and descended the aircraft to FL250 again due to unusual airframe vibrations. The aircraft diverted to Trabzon (Turkey), where the aircraft landed without further incident about 2 hours after departure from Tehran. The airline reported the unusual airframe vibrations originated at a defective component of the aircraft's horizontal tail. A maintenance team was dispatched to Trabzon to repair the aircraft. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground in Trabzon for 96 hours, then returned to service performing flight OS-1492 from Trabzon to Vienna. http://avherald.com/h?article=4baf22f4&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Asiana A359 over Pacific on Jul 8th 2018, abnormal tyre pressure indication An Asiana Airbus A350-900, registration HL8078 performing flight OZ-204 from Seoul (Souh Korea) to Los Angeles,CA (USA) with 307 people on board, was enroute at FL350 about 90 minutes into the Pacific crossing about 600nm east of Tokyo (Japan) when the crew decided to turn around and return to Seoul due to an abnormal tyre pressure indication. The aircraft descended to FL340 for the return and landed safely back in Seoul about 3.5 hours later. The airline reported the crew received an abnormal tyre pressure indication. A replacement aircraft took the passengers to Los Angeles the following morning. A replacement A350-900 registration HL7579 reached Los Angeles with a delay of about 12 hours. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/AAR204/history/20180708/1140Z/RKSI/KLAX http://avherald.com/h?article=4baf215c&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Expressjet E145 at Fargo on Jul 9th 2018, smoke in cockpit An Expressjet Embraer ERJ-145 on behalf of United, registration N12136 performing flight UA-4632 from Denver,CO to Fargo,ND (USA) with 40 people on board, was on approach to Fargo when the crew reported smoke in the cockpit. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on runway 36. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Fargo about 3 hours after landing. The return flight UA-4661 was cancelled. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/UAL4632/history/20180709/1620Z/KDEN/KFAR http://avherald.com/h?article=4baf1fb4&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top Accident: Gol B738 near Belo Horizonte on Jul 9th 2018, sudden aircraft movement injures 2 flight attendants A Gol Linhas Aereas Boeing 737-800, registration PR-GXU performing flight G3-9126 from Belo Horizonte,MG to Fortaleza,CE (Brazil), was enroute at FL390 about 320nm north of Belo Horizonte when the crew decided to turn around and return to Belo Horizonte after sudden aircraft movements had caused two flight attendants to lift off from the cabin floor and fall uncontrolled sustaining injuries. The aircraft descended to FL380 for the return and landed safely back in Belo Horizonte about 100 minutes after departure. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 8 hours, then departed again and reached Fortaleza with a delay of 10 hours. A passenger reported the aircraft suddenly rolled sharply to the right, the crew subsequently announced they had performed an evasive maneouver to avoid another aircraft. Two flight attendants lifted off the floor in the sudden movement and fell receiving injuries. The airline reported the aircraft encountered turbulence causing two injuries on board. http://avherald.com/h?article=4baf1e29&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Bratsk YK40 at Aldan on Jul 9th 2018, runway excursion An AeroBratsk Yakovlev Yak-40, registration RA-87397 performing a charter flight from Olekminsk to Aldan (Russia) with 18 passengers and 7 crew, landed at Olekminsk but went off the runway and stopped with all gear on soft ground, the nose about to enter a nearby forest. There were no injuries, the aircraft sustained no damage. Russia's Ministry of Emergency (MCHS) reported there were no injuries and no damage when the aircraft "made a trip outside the runway". One operations vehicle staffed by 3 people and one technical unit with 5 people on board arrived immediately at the aircraft. RA-87397 off the runway (Photo: MCHS): http://avherald.com/h?article=4baf1bf8&opt=0 Back to Top China Airlines Boeing 737-800 in low fuel emergency after three failed approaches at Toyama Airport, Japan Date: 08-JUL-2018 Time: 12:40 LT Type: Boeing 737-8AL(WL) Owner/operator: China Airlines Registration: B-18667 C/n / msn: 61777/6283 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 155 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: None Category: Serious incident Location: 20km southeast of Toyama Airport (TOY/RJNT) - Japan Phase: En route Nature: International Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Taipei/Taoyuan International Airport (TPE/RCTP), Taiwan Destination airport: Toyama Airport (TOY/RJNT), Japan Investigating agency: JTSB Narrative: China Airlines' flight CAL/CI170 from Taipei/Taoyuan, Taiwan to Toyama, Japan, operated by a Boeing 737-8AL, declared a fuel emergency at 12:40 LT/03:40 UTC, after three failed approach to Toyama due to bad weather. The fuel emergency was declared at about 20km southeast of Toyama Airport at altitude of 4500m (15000ft) while diverting to Nagoya/Chubu International Airport (NGO/RJGG), Japan after failed attempts to land on runway 20 in tailwind conditions at ca. 12:00 LT/03:00 UTC, 12:14 LT/03:14 UTC and 12:27 LT/03:27 UTC. The airplane made a safe landing at Chubu with priority. This occurrence was rated as a serious incident. The weather data at Toyama (runway 02/20 with 2000m x 45m dimension): RJNT 080200Z 32004KT 270V030 9999 FEW010 SCT100 27/23 Q1013 RJNT 080300Z 36009KT 9999 FEW010 SCT090 28/22 Q1013 RJNT 080334Z 35011KT 9999 FEW010 SCT090 32/20 Q1013 RMK 1CU010 4AC090 A2992 RJNT 080400Z 01010KT 340V050 9999 FEW015 SCT100 31/20 Q1013 https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=213090 Back to Top Allegiant jet clips other Allegiant jet at VPS; second incident draws FAA scrutiny VALPARAISO - The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a pair of incidents involving airplanes at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) last week and Monday morning. The FAA told the Daily News on Monday that it was investigating an incident that occurred July 5 at 1:35 p.m. involving Allegiant Air 1991, which originated from Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. According to the FAA, the Airbus A320 aircraft landed on Runway 19, rolled off the side of the runway then back onto the runway. The aircraft then taxied to the gate and passengers exited the aircraft normally. In a separate incident that occurred Monday morning at 1 a.m., Allegiant Air 1913, an Airbus A320 arriving from Springfield, Missouri, was pulling into a gate at VPS when it "made contact" with Allegiant Air 1927, also an Airbus A320, which was parked at a nearby gate. No one was on board Allegiant 1927 when the event occurred, the FAA said. An FAA spokesman was unsure of the number of people on board Allegiant 1913. http://www.thedestinlog.com/news/20180709/allegiant-jet-clips-other-allegiant-jet-at-vps-second- incident-draws-faa-scrutiny Back to Top Fuel truck crashes into United Airlines plane at Dulles Airport in Virginia Fuel truck crashes into United Airlines plane at Washington Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Va., Monday, July 9, 2018. (SkyTrak7) DULLES, Va. (WJLA) - A fuel truck crashed into a United Airlines plane Monday at Washington Dulles International Airport. The truck struck a Boeing 777, which was parked at Gate D5. No passengers were on board the plane at the time of the incident and no injuries were reported. Airport officials say "preliminary reports indicate minor damage to the left aircraft engine casing." United Airlines released the following statement regarding the crash: "The vehicle of a vendor servicing United 915 from Washington Dulles to Paris accidentally made contact with the Boeing 777 aircraft. No customers were onboard the aircraft when this occurred. The flight will experience a slight delay as we swap aircraft. We apologize to our customers for the delay." http://wjla.com/news/local/fuel-truck-crashes-into-united-airlines-plane-at-dulles-airport Back to Top Cracked Windshield Forces Tokyo-Bound American Airlines Flight Back to O'Hare A cracked windshield on an American Airlines flight headed from Chicago to Tokyo forced the flight to return to O'Hare International Airport Monday, the airline said. Flight 153, a Boeing 787-8 aircraft, was carrying 164 passengers and 13 crew members on it Monday afternoon, according to an American Airlines spokeswoman. "As a reminder, aircraft windshields have multiple layers," the spokeswoman said. "Our maintenance team will evaluate the aircraft once it has landed and we will work to get our customers to their destination as quickly and safely as we can." https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Cracked-Windshield-Sends-American-Airlines-Flight-Back-to- OHare-487702281.html Back to Top Back to Top U.S. Bizav Flying Stumbles in June, Says Argus Expectations that more preowned business aircraft sales would translate into higher utilization rates were dashed as business aviation activity in the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean fell 0.1 percent year-over- year last month, according to TraqPak data released today by aviation researcher Argus International. This marks the first year-to-date decrease. Despite the dismal results in June, Argus expects flying to increase 3.6 percent this month. While Part 135 has been the stalwart of increases in flight activity over the past few years, the segment managed only to stay on par with last year. Part 91 flying dipped 0.1 percent from a year ago, while fractional activity decreased by 0.7 percent. By aircraft category, midsize and large-cabin jets were able to stay in the black, posting 1.4 percent and 1.5 percent year-over-year increases, respectively. Turboprop flying slid 1.9 percent, while light jet activity dropped by 0.5 percent. Part 135 large-cabin jet flying saw the only double-digit gain in individual categories, rising 11.5 percent; paradoxically, fractional large-cabin jets posted the only double-digit decrease, falling 21 percent. In the U.S., the Southeast region by far was home to the largest number of departures last month, at 53,587. The Western region, including California, Nevada, and Arizona, accounted for the next highest departure tally, at 31,232. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2018-07-09/us-bizav-flying-stumbles-june- says-argus Back to Top Metal fatigue caused fatal Airbus helicopter crash: Norway final report OSLO (Reuters) - The crash of an Airbus Super Puma helicopter that killed all 13 people aboard was the result of metal fatigue in its gearbox, Norway's Accident Investigation Board (AIBN) said in its final report on Thursday, confirming past findings. The 2016 crash occurred after the Super Puma's main rotor blades separated from the helicopter as it was ferrying passengers from a Norwegian offshore oil platform operated by Equinor, then known as Statoil. "The accident was a result of a fatigue fracture in a second stage planet gear in the epicyclic module of the main rotor gearbox," investigators reiterated on Thursday. "Cracks initiated from a micro-pit at the surface and developed subsurface to a catastrophic failure without being detected." Investigators said they had excluded material unconformity and mechanical failure, as well as maintenance actions by the helicopter operator, as causes for the crash. Nor was there any connection between the crew handling and the accident, said the report. Among the 12 recommendations they made, investigators said Airbus should take another look at the design of the main gearbox of the Super Puma. "The Accident Investigation Board Norway recommends that Airbus Helicopters revise the type design to improve the robustness, reliability and safety of the main gearbox in AS 332 L2 and EC 225 LP (helicopters)." Airbus Helicopters said it welcomed the conclusion of the investigation and took note of the findings in the report. "Airbus Helicopters is committed to the continuous improvement of the H225 MGB with the objective of increasing robustness, reliability and safety, as highlighted in the AIBN recommendation," said an Airbus spokesman. "This includes, among other initiatives, a roadmap for the development of new vibration monitoring methods which will be shared with industry in due course." The Super Puma has come under intense media and regulatory scrutiny in Britain after a series of incidents linked to gearbox problems including a 2009 crash off Peterhead, Scotland, in which the rotor also flew off and 16 people died. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-norway-crash-airbus/metal-fatigue-caused-fatal-airbus-helicopter- crash-norway-final-report-idUSKBN1JW2V5 Back to Top Meet The Most Crowded Airlines: Load Factor Hits All-Time High Irish airline Ryanair's CEO Michael O'Leary poses during a press conference June 27, 2017 in Rome. Ryanair reported a load factor of 94.7% in 2017. Photo credit FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images Summer is here. That means even more packed planes and sweltering airports. If you think that airline flights are much more crowded than they used to be, you're not wrong. The passenger load factor (PLF) of commercial airlines has risen significantly over the past decade. In 2005, airlines had an average load factor of 75.2%, so on average, just three out of every four seats were sold. The recession of 2007-2010 stopped load factor growth. But by 2018, the average airline load factor hit 81.7% worldwide. In the US load factor has increased on domestic flights from 67.88% in 2002 to 86.08% in 2018, while the number of domestic flights has stayed almost constant, from 8,085,083 in 2002 to 8,176,610 in 2017. The US airline industry has clearly gotten better in filling seats as revenue passenger miles rose from 471,652,206 in 2002 to 684,221,393 in 2017. The days of having a whole row to stretch out in coach, or even an empty middle seat separating you from your neighbor, increasingly seem like a distant memory. The airlines hardly weep over this, as they busily shrink seats and cram additional rows into smaller, more fuel-efficient jets. And the fuller those jets fly, the more profitable they are. As one might expect, the low-cost carriers often have the highest load factors. But even there, load factor can plateau or even drop. Frontier Airlines, for example, grew its load factor from 73.5% in 2004 to an astounding 91.28% in 2013. Since then, however, load factor, though still robust, has dropped back to 86.36% in 2017. One reason may be increased competition, with major airlines now offering the dread 'basic economy' fare, beginning with Delta's 'experiment' in 2014. So which airlines have the most packed planes? As of July 2017, the hands-down leader was Ireland's Ryanair. In 2016, Ryanair's load factor was 93.1% The airline actually increased that in 2017, to a tightly crammed 94.7%. The airline has something of a 'cattle car' reputation, and its CEO, Michael O'Leary, has suggested such money-making (and publicity-grabbing) schemes as stand-up seating and charging to use the aircraft lavatory. Nonetheless, Ryanair successfully packed in 130 million Millennials and other budget travelers in the 2017-2018 fiscal year. As Victoria Moores, European editor for Air Transport World, said of Ryanair, "If you look at their load factor, which is the percentage of the aircraft that is filled, they are filling 95% of every aircraft on average." But other carriers challenged Ryanair for the passenger packing prize. Four other carriers boasted 90% or better load factors in 2017, led by India's Spicejet, which flew an average of 92.8% full. It was closely followed by Europe's easyJet, 92.4%, and WizzAir, 91%. Air Asia boasted a 90.9% 'occupancy rate.' An advertisement for SpiceJet Ltd. during an event in Mumbai, India, on Dec. 9, 2017. SpiceJet, an Indian budget carrier that's seen its stock zoom 10-fold in three years, wants to open up the third-biggest aviation market even more by targeting the billion Indians who've never flown before, either because they can't afford it or because they don't live near a functioning airport. Photographer: Dhiraj Singh/Bloomberg Low-cost airlines around the world filled out the rest of the top 10 highest load factor list, including Transavia, 89.5%, Go Air, 88.9%, Viva Aerobus 88.7%, Tigerair Australia, 88.7% and surprisingly, KLM, 88.4%. Other notable names in the top 20: Norwegian Air Shuttle (87.7%), Delta Airlines 86.2% (15th in the world in terms of load fact but the top US carrier), Hawaiian, 85.6%, Alaska, 85.5% and Jet Blue, 85%. Interestingly, American and United did not make the list of the top 30 airline load factor leaders. Such load factors, of course, are subject to fluctuation, due to economic conditions, season, cost and promotion (price wars are less frequent these days) and other factors. All of the top 30 airlines on this list have a load factor higher than the industry average of 81.5% in 2017. A high load factor, in itself, does not necessarily mean profitability. Norwegian Air Shuttle, which has disrupted the airline industry with its low-cost long-haul flights, boasted a far-above-industry average 87.7% load factor in 2017. Yet the seemingly ever-expanding airline reported a full-year loss of NKr299m (about $37.26 million) in 2017, down from a profit of NKr1.14bn (about $142 million) in 2016. On the flipside of the coin, Emirates reported a relatively light load factor of 77.2%, well below the global average of 81.5%. Yet according to Emirates, the airline is still extremely profitable with parent Emirates Group reporting $1.1 billion in profits. But in general, the lower the load factor, the lower the profit. Etihad Airlines, one of the largest carriers in the Gulf region, had a load factor of 78.5% in 2017--and has lost $3.4 billion in the last two years. Other airlines with relatively low load factors in 2017 include Flybe at 76%, Austrian (76.8%) and Virgin Atlantic (78.8 %). And load factor leader RyanAir? Packing in passengers leads to profits, apparently. Despite labor actions, rising fuel costs and scheduling snafus, the Irish airline said profits after tax rose 10% to €1.45bn ($1.71 billion), delivering a 20% net margin. By contrast, American Airlines, with its load factor of 82.6%, delivered a profit of $1.9 billion, after flying around 80 million more passengers per year than Ryanair, an "efficient beast" indeed. https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelgoldstein/2018/07/09/meet-the-most-crowded-airlines-load-factor- hits-all-time-high/#21019a8254fb Back to Top Conklin & de Decker Release 2018 Aircraft Performance Comparator July 9, 2018 -- Orleans, MA -- Conklin & de Decker has announced the release of their 2018 Aircraft Performance Comparator with the most comprehensive aircraft comparison data available to the industry. Part of a family of innovative software products created by Conklin & de Decker, the Aircraft Performance Comparator (APC) is a must-have tool for anyone acquiring a business jet, turboprop, piston, or helicopter and needs to compare aircraft performance data, quickly and easily. The newly updated APC program allows aircraft buyers, dealers and brokers to easily overlay, or compare side-by-side, aircraft interiors and exteriors, and evaluate the critical performance data points that are collected directly from the manufacturer's approved flight and performance manuals. Range versus payload, baggage area sizes, and critical performance details are all easily accessible with APC. Users make apples-to-apples comparisons from the extensive database of over 300 aircraft that are displayed on the same scale, for a thorough evaluation. New in the 2018 edition of the Aircraft Performance Comparator (APC): Embraer Legacy 650E, Phenom 300E jets added Airbus H215C1 helicopter added Updated aircraft images for crisper presentations and more... Aircraft Performance Comparator subscribers also receive, at no additional charge, full access to Conklin & de Decker's Aviation Resource Library that provides online access to more tools & information such as the AircraftPediaTM, a unique online aircraft reference tool containing interior and exterior aircraft drawings; hi-resolution aircraft color images, histories, and general cost, performance, and engine information. All this information can be accessed via any web-browser or mobile device. "Aircraft buyers today need the most current and comprehensive data to decide which new or pre-owned aircraft is right for them and the Aircraft Performance Comparator is the perfect tool for the job," commented David Wyndham, Vice President of Conklin & de Decker. "We continue to add value to our subscribers, and one way is by providing access to additional tools like AircraftPedia," added Wyndham. The price for the latest edition of the Aircraft Performance Comparator is $875 for jets, $725 for turboprops or helicopters and $525 for the piston database. Additional user licenses are $200 and customized reports for individual aircraft can be special ordered for $125 per aircraft. The Aircraft Performance Comparator databases can be ordered online, by calling +1-817-277-6403, or emailing sales@conklindd.com. About Conklin & de Decker Conklin & de Decker, a JSSI Company, is a leader in aviation research, consulting and education with offices in Massachusetts, Texas and Arizona. The mission of Conklin & de Decker is to enable the general aviation industry to make more informed decisions when dealing with the purchase, operation and disposition of aircraft by furnishing objective and impartial information. Founded in 1984, Conklin & de Decker focuses on fixed- and rotary- wing aircraft operating cost, performance and specification databases, maintenance management software, financial management, fleet planning, market research, aviation tax issues, and financial, tax and management seminars. Conklin & de Decker consults with numerous individuals, corporations, and government agencies worldwide. More information on their products and services, copies of articles published, and a unique "Members Only" section can be found on their website, www.conklindd.com. http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12419775/conklin-de-decker-release-2018-aircraft- performance-comparator Back to Top Horizon Air closes the gap in pilot hiring A Horizon Air plane takes off * Skies are blue for the next crop of Pacific Northwest regional airline pilots. Over the past few years, a confluence of forces including the recession, Federal Aviation Administration rules and low wages drained pilots from smaller, regional airlines like Skywest and Horizon Air. Pilot shortages forced Horizon to cancel flights. Then the economy took off, oil prices dropped, and the regionals put more money on the table. "There's some financial incentives now that didn't exist a few years ago," says Carlos Zendejas, the chief pilot for Horizon who oversees the company's recruiting efforts. The only regional with a significant Oregon presence, Horizon, an Alaska Airlines subsidiary, maintains a large operations center at the Portland Airport. The Seattle Times reported in 2017 that a pilot shortage forced the airline to cancel 600 flights in September, and another 700 in October. This year the airline stepped up its recruiting efforts, beginning with wages and benefits. Starting pay soared from $30,000 a year to $40,000, plus signing bonuses of $10,000 to $25,000 for new recruits and 401K matching funds. That adds up to a total compensation package of around $80,000. Horizon also shortened the time it takes for pilots to advance their careers. The regionals are the airline equivalents of minor league baseball teams. Pilots spend a few years there, then hope to progress to the big leagues, international carriers like Alaska Airlines and Delta. The hourly wage for a first-year first officer at Horizon ($40) is less than half the amount ($90) for parent company Alaska, according to Airline Pilot Central, a pilot career information website. Horizon pilots used to languish for years in low-paying first officer positions, but now they can make captain as early as their second year, Zendejas says. Another program allows Horizon pilots an early interview with the parent company, Alaska. Zendejas says the goal is for around 50% of new Alaska pilots to come from Horizon. The airline is on track with its hiring goals. It plans to hire 349 pilots in 2018, and has made 200 hires halfway through the year. There are still challenges to overcome to build a sustainable talent pipeline. Portland does not number among the major aviation hubs, like Dallas, Atlanta or Seattle, says Louis Smith, president of Future & Active Pilot Advisors, a national career consulting service for pilots. That makes it difficult to attract talented pilots. Horizon pays a chunk of pilots' flight school bill, up to $7,500, but that just chips away at the total training costs of up to $80,000. "They're catching up," Smith says, "But they're having difficulty. They're going to have to spend a lot more time and money." New hire bonuses also do little to ease the attrition rate of experienced pilots at the regionals. Zendejas says Horizon's pilot staffing is tied to the need at major airlines. As the economy booms, the majors are taking more regional pilots, meaning they need to be replaced at a faster rate. On the other hand, new sources of pilots have sprung up that didn't exist a few years ago. The vast majority of pilots used to come from the military. Now, more civilian career changers are enrolling in flight schools, Smith says, hoping to move "from cubicles to cockpits." He's also seeing an uptick in "woodwork pilots," discouraged aviators that are returning to the industry as wages and working conditions improve. "It's been a long time since the outlook has been so good for being a commercial pilot," Zendejas says. "It's not a bad time to be doing this." https://www.oregonbusiness.com/article/transportation/item/18409-horizon-air-closes-the-gap-in-pilot- hiring Back to Top Marines Will Offer Up To $210K To Keep Pilots From Leaving MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. - The Marine Corps will offer pilots up to $210,000 to stay on for another six years as the military fights to keep its aviators from trading in their uniforms for jobs with commercial airlines. Marine fixed-wing, rotary and tiltrotor pilots will see a slew of financial and flexible-career incentives in fiscal 2019 as part of the service's annual aviation bonus plan. Details will be released in an upcoming Marine Corps-wide administrative message, which Lt. Gen. Michael Rocco, a career aviator and head of Manpower and Reserve Affairs, signed Friday. "One of the things I'm pretty excited about is that we gave them options," Rocco said. "We gave the [officers] choices ... where if they want to, they can sign up for two, four or six years." Manpower officials hope staggering pilots' contracts not only stabilizes the "inventory" of aviators so everyone doesn't leave at once, he said, but also signals to Marines that leaders want them to have more choices in their careers. The Air Force and Navy have announced similar bonuses for pilots. Rocco said the Corps hasn't lost as many aviators to commercial airlines as the Air Force. But the bonuses will help make it competitive with the Navy and Air Force, said Maj. Clif Rateike, the aviation officer planner. The bonuses will target the captains and majors the Marine Corps wants to retain. Pilots in 10 military occupational specialties - AV-8 Harrier pilot; F-35B Joint Strike Fighter pilot; F/A-18 Hornet pilot; F/A-18 weapons system officer; MV-22 Osprey pilot; KC-130 Hercules co-pilot; KC-130 pilot; UH-1 pilot; AH-1 pilot; and CH-53 pilot - will qualify. Fixed-wing and MV-22 pilots with less than 11 years in uniform who are willing to serve another six will see the biggest bumps with an extra $35,000 per year, or $210,000 paid out over the life of their contract. Marines who prefer a lump-sum option can pocket $178,500 at once, according to a draft copy of the MARADMIN. Those with less than 11 years in who want to stay only another four years can pocket an extra $30,000 per year, or $120,000 total. Pilots of those aircraft who've served between 11 and 13 years can also earn $120,000 over a four-year contract, and those with 13 to 14 years in qualify for $60,000 over two years. F/A-18 weapons systems officers and Huey, Cobra or CH-53 pilots with less than 13 years in are eligible for $80,000 over four years. Marines in those MOSs with between 13 and 14 years in can pocket $40,000 - $20,000 per year - if they sign on for another two years. Factors such as retention in a particular MOS and the number of pilots in the pipeline to fill those slots influenced the bonus rates, Rateike said. But offering incentives to every community is important for morale, Rocco said, adding that, early in his career, he saw some Cobra pilots qualify for bonuses while Huey pilots were left out. "That's a terrible environment to be in, where somebody's basically doing the same job ... and [one] gets a bonus and you're not," he said. "Here, there is a bonus for everyone." 'A business decision' The Marine Corps can't compete with the salaries some commercial airlines are offering pilots, said Col. Gaines Ward, the manpower plans officer. But bonuses can influence a Marine's decision when it comes time to decide whether to stay or go. Col. Sean DeWolfe, the aviation colonels monitor, said every Marine reaches that point in his or her career. Deciding whether to sign another contract becomes a personal decision. "I didn't stick around because there was a bonus. I wanted to be around Marines, and a bonus just happened to be there," he said. "I have acquaintances though where the bonus did keep them in... because at that point, it becomes a business decision when you reach that crossroad." Like many Marines, pilots face that decision point around the 10-year mark, Ward said, which is why the aviation bonuses target those around that mark. Aviation bonuses have been helpful in getting pilots to stay in the past, but it's not the only factor Marines weigh. Pilots' work-life balance and day-to-day life in the squadrons are also areas the Corps is monitoring closely, he added. Pilots aren't the only Marines who can earn big bonuses in 2019. Earlier this week, leaders announced a host of re-enlistment bonuses for enlisted personnel in dozens of specialties, including squad leaders, air- traffic controllers and counterintelligence Marines. https://taskandpurpose.com/marine-corps-acip-pilot-incentives-money/ Back to Top Back to Top 64th Air Safety Forum - Join Us! safetyforum.alpa.org July 30 - August 2, 2018 | Washington, DC CONFIRMED KEYNOTES INCLUDE * Senator Tammy Duckworth * Capt. Tim Canoll - President, Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l * The Honorable Dan Elwell - Acting Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration * The Honorable Howard "Skip" Elliott - Administrator, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) * Mr. Paul Rinaldi - President, National Air Traffic Controllers Association PANELS INCLUDE(visit safetyforum.alpa.org for panel descriptions) * Fire In The Hold: Anticipating/Preventing Fires from Passenger Checked Baggage * Meet the Doctors * Pilot Peer Support: The Next Phase In ALPA's Approach to Pilot Wellness * Disruptive Passengers: Keeping Problems Off the Airplane * Data Mining for Safer Skies * Flight Deck Access in the Post 9/11 Age * Pilots & Controllers -- Managing Change in an Evolving NAS AGENDA AT A GLANCE (visit safetyforum.alpa.org for agenda details) MONDAY, JULY 30 (all Monday sessions are invite only) 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. General Session (Open only to ALPA Members) 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. ASO Workshops, Council Meetings, Trainings, Jumpseat Forum & Aviation Security Forum TUESDAY, JULY 31 (all Tuesday sessions are invite only) 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. - ASO Workshops, Council Meetings, Trainings, Jumpseat Forum & Aviation Security Forum WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. - Jumpseat Council Meeting (ALPA members only) 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. - Ask Your ASO (ALPA members only) 12:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. - Air Safety Forum (open to the public) THURSDAY, AUGUST 2 (open to the public) 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Air Safety Forum 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. - ALPA Air Safety Forum Awards Reception 7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. - ALPA Air Safety Forum Awards Banquet THANK YOU SPONSORS & EXHIBITORS! Sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities available. Email airsafetyforum@alpa.org for more information. Back to Top This course was created in collaboration with Curt Lewis's Flight Safety Information. Learn more from Beyond Risk Management Producer, Captain Elaine Parker, at https://vimeo.com/273989821 Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY I am a student of Air Safety Management in City University of London and I am passionate about Human Factors and Psychology in Aviation. I designed a questionnaire which measures the level of self- control in pilots and cabin crew. The questionnaire is part of my research for Final Project titled: "The Role of Self-Control in Aircrew Performance Managing emotional responses to enhance rational decision- making". The Final Project aims to address the subject of self-control - an acquired cognitive skill that enhances the ability to take intelligent decisions and promotes rational choices in both daily operations and emergencies by pilots and cabin crew. Survey Links: Flight Crew - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KWB6NKV Cabin Crew - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KSDY9DK regards, Malgorzata Wroblewska Curt Lewis