Flight Safety Information July 16, 2018 - No. 142 In This Issue Incident: KLM B744 near Denver on Jul 13th 2018, engine shut down in flight Incident: Busan A321 near Tokyo on Jul 14th 2018, engine shut down in flight Incident: France A319 at Munich on Jul 14th 2018, loss of positioning system Incident: Khabarovsk AN24 near Okha on Jul 12th 2018, total electrical failure, comms via smartphone Incident: Brussels A319 near Toulouse on Jul 13th 2018, odour in cockpit EVAS - Cockpit Smoke Protection Accident: Ryanair B738 near Frankfurt on Jul 13th 2018, loss of cabin pressure, 33 passengers feeling unwell Sukhoi Superjet new winglet test aircraft has partial gear-up landing at Zhukovsky Airport, Russia Ryanair passengers hurt after aircraft loses pressure...More than 30 Ryanair passengers were hurt Small drone found on tarmac of San Francisco International Airport LIBIK Fire Suppression Kits for the Cabin and Flight Deck. Report: FAA failed to properly address safety complaints in American Airlines' flight test program Airline seat standards coming, as safety concerns, passenger complaints mount Swiss Near-Miss Collisions Between Drones and Aircraft on the Rise Josh Olds Appointed President of Unmanned Safety Institute Rolls-Royce Offers Airlines Credits for 787 Groundings Mitsubishi Progresses on MRJ Testing Arralis antenna a boost for aircraft satellite links Emirates Denies Being Hit By Pilot Shortage Airbus Near $6 Billion A350 Jet Sale to Taiwan's StarLux Scotland chosen as site for first British space port 2018 CHC SAFETY & QUALITY SUMMIT October 2nd - 4th, 2018 UAE AOC For Sale Business Aviation Safety Consortium (BASC) issues 50th Safety Compliance Certificate New HFACS workshop...Las Vegas, NV...September 4th & 5th, 2018 PROVIDING ASSURANCE IN YOUR SYSTEMS 64th Air Safety Forum - Join Us! HIGH ALTITUDE FLYING: WHAT EVERY PILOT NEEDS TO KNOW - New Online Course - Fall 2018 GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY - 1 Incident: KLM B744 near Denver on Jul 13th 2018, engine shut down in flight A KLM Boeing 747-400, registration PH-BFS performing flight KL-602 from Los Angeles,CA (USA) to Amsterdam (Netherlands), was enroute at FL330 about 120nm west of Denver,CO (USA) when the crew initiated a drift down to FL280. The crew subsequently requested to return to Los Angeles advising ATC that this was not an emergency, they had consulted with dispatch and maintenance, had shut the #3 engine (CF6, inboard right hand) down after receiving an engine low oil pressure indication. The aircraft turned around and returned to Los Angeles for a safe landing on Los Angeles' runway 25R about 100 minutes later. The flight was cancelled. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Los Angeles about 34 hours after landing back. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/KLM602/history/20180713/2040Z/KLAX/EHAM http://avherald.com/h?article=4bb2ee99&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Busan A321 near Tokyo on Jul 14th 2018, engine shut down in flight An Air Busan Airbus A321-200, registration HL7729 performing flight BX-184 from Daegu (South Korea) to Sapporo (Japan) with 174 people on board, was enroute at FL310 about 100nm northwest of Tokyo's Narita Airport when the crew needed to shut an engine (V2533) down. The crew decided to divert to Tokyo's Narita Airport where the aircraft landed safely on runway 16R about 30 minutes later. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground for 17.5 hours, then continued the flight to Sapporo as flight BX-1844 and subsequently performed the return flight. The airline reported the aircraft diverted to Tokyo due to an engine failure. http://avherald.com/h?article=4bb2eb67&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: France A319 at Munich on Jul 14th 2018, loss of positioning system An Air France Airbus A319-100, registration F-GRHB performing flight AF-1123 from Munich (Germany) to Paris Charles de Gaulle (France), was in the initial climb out of Munich's runway 26L when the crew reported they had lost their positioning system, they were maintaining runway heading and needed radar vectors to return to Munich. The aircraft stopped the climb at 5000 feet, was vectored for the approach and landed safely back on runway 26L about 20 minutes after departure. According to information The Aviation Herald received both GPS systems showed a fault. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 2:45 hours, then was able to depart and reached Paris with a delay of 3.5 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4bb25227&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Khabarovsk AN24 near Okha on Jul 12th 2018, total electrical failure, comms via smartphone A Khabarovsk Airlines Antonov AN-24, registration RA-46643 performing flight RNI-474 from Okha to Khabarovsk (Russia) with 27 passengers and 5 crew, was climbing through FL170 out of Okha when all electrical power was lost from the aircraft resulting in failure of communication, navigation and other systems depending on electrical power. The crew decided to divert to the nearest available airfield, Nikolaevsk-on-Amur. The navigator on board made contact with ATC using his smartphone and advised of the pending emergency landing. On approach to Nikolaevsk the crew performed a manual gear extension. On short final the electrical power supply briefly reconnected permitting the crew to extend the flaps. The aircraft landed without further incident. http://avherald.com/h?article=4bb2226d&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Brussels A319 near Toulouse on Jul 13th 2018, odour in cockpit A Brussels Airlines Airbus A319-100, registration OO-SSI performing flight SN-3765 from Brussels (Belgium) to Palma Mallorca,SP (Spain) with 140 people on board, was enroute at FL390 about 90nm northeast of Toulouse (France) when the crew decided to divert to Toulouse reporting an unusual odour in the cockpit. The aircraft landed safely on Toulouse's runway 32R about 20 minutes later. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 6 hours, then continued the journey and reached Palma Mallorca with a delay of about 6.5 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4bb1a914&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top Accident: Ryanair B738 near Frankfurt on Jul 13th 2018, loss of cabin pressure, 33 passengers feeling unwell A Ryanair Boeing 737-800, registration EI-ENM performing flight FR-7312 from Dublin (Ireland) to Zadar (Croatia) with 189 people on board, was enroute at FL370 about 120nm southwest of Frankfurt/Hahn (Germany), still in French Airspace, when the crew initiated an emergency descent to FL080, the passenger oxygen masks were released. The crew reported a number of passengers felt unwell with ear pain and nausea, a few passengers were bleeding out of their ears. The aircraft landed safely on Frankfurt/Hahn's runway 03 about 35 minutes after leaving FL370. Germany's Police reported that passengers reported there had been a bang sound, not all too loud, then the passenger oxygen masks came down and the crew initiated a descent. The passengers complained about pain in their ears and nausea. 33 passengers were treated by medical staff attending to the aircraft and were taken to hospitals. A passenger reported following a bang sound, the release of the oxygen masks and the descent passengers were feeling unwell with ear pain and nausea, a number of passengers were even bleeding out of their ears. One woman was taken to an ambulance on a stretcher. The airport reported several occupants on board of the aircraft complained about health issues and were taken care of by doctors and paramedics. Several ambulances took passengers to hospitals. The airline reported an inflight depressurization, in line with standard operating procedures the crew released the passenger oxygen masks and initiated a controlled descent. The aircraft landed safely, the passengers disembarked, a small number of passengers received medical attention as precaution. Hotel accomodation was authorized, however, there was shortage of hotel rooms available. The passengers are to be taken to Zadar by a replacement aircraft the following day. A replacement Boeing 737-800 registration EI-EVD reached Zadar the following day with a delay of about 13 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4bb20f20&opt=0 Back to Top Sukhoi Superjet new winglet test aircraft has partial gear-up landing at Zhukovsky Airport, Russia Date: 12-JUL-2018 Time: Type: Sukhoi Superjet 100-95LR Owner/operator: Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Registration: 97006 C/n / msn: 95032 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Minor Location: Moskva-Zhukovsky (Ramenskoye) Airport (ZIA/UUBW) - Russia Phase: Landing Nature: Test Departure airport: Moskva-Zhukovsky (Ramenskoye) Airport (ZIA/UUBW) Destination airport: Moskva-Zhukovsky (Ramenskoye) Airport (ZIA/UUBW) Narrative: A Sukhoi Superjet 100-95LR flight test aircraft sustained minor damage in a partial gear-up landing at the Gromov Flight Research Institute at Moscow's Zhukovsky Airport. The aircraft was being flown to test the aerodynamic characteristics of new winglets (also called 'sabrelets'). It appeared that the right-hand landing gear could not be fully deployed after the planned flight program was completed. Subsequently, a forced landing was carried out on a foamed runway. On board were three people: a test pilot, an engineer for flight testing and a representative of the certification center; no one was hurt. Sukhoi reported that the damage to the aircraft was "insignificant" and that the aircraft will be restored to continue testing. The aircraft involved in the incident was produced in February 2013 and first flew with new winglets on December 21, 2017. From the time of commissioning, it had performed 535 flying hours for 294 test flights. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=213318 Back to Top Ryanair passengers hurt after aircraft loses pressure More than 30 Ryanair passengers were hurt after one of its aircraft lost pressure in mid-air. German police said 33 of 189 passengers were admitted to hospital, some bleeding from their ears, after a flight from Dublin to Zadar in Croatia had to make an emergency landing in Frankfurt Hahn airport on Saturday. The aircraft reportedly descended 26,000ft in seven minutes. It is standard procedure in the event of in-flight depressurisation to descend rapidly to an altitude at which passengers and crew can breathe unassisted. The airline said oxygen masks were deployed and the crew carried out a "controlled descent". Passengers also criticised their treatment once they had landed, saying they had not been given enough food and drink and had been forced to sleep on a concrete basement floor or on camp beds. Ryanair said: "The aircraft landed normally and customers disembarked, where a small number received medical attention as a precaution. "Customers were provided with refreshment vouchers and hotel accommodation was authorised, however there was a shortage of available accommodation." http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/articles/307723/ryanair-passengers-hurt-after-aircraft-loses-pressure Back to Top Small drone found on tarmac of San Francisco International Airport On July 12th a small drone was recovered on the tarmac near a fence within San Francisco International Airport. While not impeding any flights, this incident certainly raises questions about how airports can ensure safety to manned aircraft that are taking off and landing. Although it might look harmless, the fear is that these small drones can have a big impact on the integrity of the larger manned aircraft in case of a collision. According to the FAA rules, you're not allowed to fly your drone within a 5-mile radius of any airport, unless you have obtained special permission. It is unclear at this point in time, what kind of drone has been found, who flew it and why it was flown so close to the airport. SFO officials confirmed with NBC Bay Area that the size of the drone was 1 foot by 1 foot and looked like a toy. Exactly which drone was being used is still unconfirmed. Also unconfirmed is what exactly happened to the drone found on the tarmac. Whether it fell from the sky due to a hardware issue, loss of battery power or pilot error is all under investigation. THE FAA'S RULES AROUND AIRPORTS Experienced drone pilots are (and should be) familiar with the procedures to fly near an airport. If within a 5-mile radius you must call the approach tower to gain clearance, and chances are if you are planning to fly in the parking lot of the airport the answer will be a strong no. The drone flight that took place before this aircraft was found on the tarmac was almost certainly not authorized by SFO or the FAA. The FAA also requires all pilots to register by providing personal information and $5. Once registered, a number is given to each pilot which is to be displayed on all of their drones, this way the pilot can easily be found. This would be the perfect scenario to find out who might be responsible for flying their drone so close to the San Francisco airport. Some drone manufacturers, like DJI, have special restriction zones around the runway areas hardcoded into their geofencing, making it impossible to fly your drone into such an airspace, to prevent exactly these kinds of scenarios. DJI's restriction on can only be lifted with a special code from the Chinese drone manufacturer, which can be requested here. In the past, skilled hackers were able to get around these restrictions so that they could fly higher than what is officially allowed or even enter those no-fly zones from DJI. We have not come across any recent cases where this has happened, which might indicate that DJI has beefed up their software and firmware on their newer drones. https://dronedj.com/2018/07/14/drone-tarmac-airport/ Back to Top Back to Top Report: FAA failed to properly address safety complaints in American Airlines' flight test program A 737 jet taxis into the American Airlines maintenance base in Tulsa last year. A new report has found issues with FAA staff overseeing American's flight test program, which had been based in Tulsa. MATT BARNARD/ Tulsa World file The Federal Aviation Administration hasn't fully addressed safety concerns raised from an American Airlines flight test program then-based in Tulsa, according to a report released this week from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Office of the Inspector General. The OIG conducted the audit between April 2017 and May 2018 after the Allied Pilots Association, which represents American Airlines pilots, contacted the government watchdog agency in February 2017 about multiple safety issues at the flight test program, including the use of unqualified pilots. The association said the concerns had been "largely unaddressed for over 18 months." Todd Wissing is a first officer with the Allied Pilots Association. "If they don't do the job properly and the airplane is allowed to fly through with problems by cutting corners and not complying with company manuals and regulations, like the FAA found, that's a concern that these airplanes are now going to be carrying passengers when they have their problems," he said Friday by phone. American Airlines' Tulsa Maintenance Base, also known as Tech Ops-Tulsa, employs about 5,200 people and handles aircraft overhaul and component and avionics repair. American's flight test program, which last year moved from Tulsa to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, trains about 20 pilots who perform certain nonroutine flight operations, including maintenance verification flights and flying damaged aircraft to a repair facility. FAA staff overseeing American Airlines lacked objectivity and didn't follow the agency's guidelines for addressing complaints when the agency received the Allied Pilots Association's letter, the OIG audit states. Specifically, the inspector, who had developed a personal relationship with the head of the AA flight test program, did not properly investigate safety complaints, the report claims. Wissing on Friday identified the inspector as Robert Neumeier and the head of the flight test program as Capt. Delvin Young. The FAA inspector assigned to investigate the complaint had conversations with the head of the AA flight test program about "problem pilots," a reference to pilots who filed complaints, according to the audit. Rather than objectively review the basis for their complaints, as called for in FAA guidance, the inspector requested and received information from American Airlines that could have been used to discredit the pilots who voiced concerns, the report states. Further, the inspector made plans, using his government-issued computer and email account, to travel abroad with the head of the flight test program and introduce him to the inspector's family. During an interview about potential inspector impartiality, an FAA flight operations frontline manager referred to the AA flight test manager as "perfect" and someone who "could do no wrong," and to the airline as "golden," according to the report. "These comments raise concerns about the lack of objectivity at this FAA office," the audit states. During the audit, the inspector at the center of the complaint retired and the carrier began making changes to the flight test program, according to the report. American Airlines on Friday declined to comment on the status of Young, citing personnel issues, although Wissing said Young was laterally assigned to a check airman position. American Airlines placed the flight test group under new leadership last fall and began a top-to-bottom internal review, shortly after which the FAA began its own review, according to a statement released through AA spokeswoman Linda Brock. "American has been working with the FAA and the Allied Pilots Association to address concerns that were raised in these reviews," the statement says. "Last week, we notified the FAA that we have taken action to address and implement nearly all of the recommendations made in order to follow best practices and strengthen the safety of the program. "Safety is at the forefront of every decision American makes, and we are proud of our strong safety culture and safety record." https://www.tulsaworld.com/business/aerospace/report-faa-failed-to-properly-address-safety- complaints-in-american/article_e688c7fb-5bdd-5de4-955a-cc9562797697.html Back to Top Airline seat standards coming, as safety concerns, passenger complaints mount If you've asked yourself, "How much smaller can these airline seats get?," there's good news for you: Not much. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Bill working its way through Congress requires the agency to set minimum seat width and pitch standards within a year. Separately, the Department of Transportation Inspector General has begun an audit to determine whether evacuations in today's more cramped airline cabins can still meet the 90-second standard for deplaning passengers in an emergency. And, despite the government's recent reluctance to regulate this issue, it seems we're on course for the government to set a seat standard of some kind. But let's take a moment to consider what would happen if officials declared, "Enough is enough. These seats can't get any smaller." It's high time. A new study by airline consulting firm ICF recently showed passengers are losing personal space on many aircraft at a troubling rate. In the U.S. domestic fleet, the average number of seats per aircraft has increased by nearly 8% over the past 15 years. The average Airbus A321 has gained 19 seats in that period, rising from 169 to 188 seats. The average Boeing 737-8 has another 13 seats squeezed on board during that time, going from 152 to 165 seats. "The seat situation is unbearably uncomfortable," says Steven Marinoff, a retired public school administrator from Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and a frequent air traveler. "You shouldn't have to pay a premium to have a comfortable experience." Pat Vosburgh is 5'11" and says she's no fan of government regulations that interfere with business. But on this issue, she's also willing to make an exception. "Seats have gotten narrower and legroom shorter," says Vosburgh, a real estate agent from St. Petersburg, Florida. "The airlines are looking for ways to put more people in planes, but at the sacrifice of comfort." Minimum seat standards might also improve passenger wellness. "The argument about health is more prominent on long-haul flights," says aviation educator and author Triant Flouris. With a greater mandated legroom and more space to move, passengers are less likely to develop a blood clot. But the main benefit of more space would be psychological. Not feeling as if you're trapped in a claustrophobic aluminum tube with nowhere to go may cut down the number of air rage incidents. On the other hand, seat comfort could decrease a little. "If airlines can't reduce space, padding and comfort will be the first to go," predicts Zander Futernick, founder of ZED Aerospace. He says low-cost carriers have "completed their race to the bottom" by cutting legroom. Now they're removing padding and other standard seat features, such as tray tables. The legacy carriers will probably do the same if seat standards happen. Prices could climb, too. Of course, critics of regulation always say that new rules will make prices go up, but with no way to add new seats to the aircraft, the only way to increase revenue would be to raise fares. Some observers hope minimum seat standards never happen. "The only way to change things is through the market," says Pat Askew, director of aviation at HKS, a design firm. "Passengers must be more vocal about the unacceptability of tight seating and be willing to pay more for a ticket, like premium economy." But on balance, the rules could result in reduced in-flight incidents involving angry passengers and fewer complaints, says Kent Gourdin, who directs the Global Logistics and Transportation program at the College of Charleston. The devil is in the details. What will the minimum seat size look like? No one knows. "Depends on what the plan is," Gourdin says. Regulation may be worth it. Because during the next aviation disaster, being able to evacuate a plane could save lives safely. Maybe your life. And how do you put a price tag on that? How to get more comfortable airline seats now * Avoid "low cost" carriers. Airlines like Allegiant, Frontier, and Spirit have a well-deserved reputation for small seats and a scarcity of personal space. Let's just put it this way - people don't fly those carriers for their comfort. * Look for the good seats in economy. The exit row and bulkhead seats typically have more room than a standard seat, if you can afford them. The worst seats are the ones in the rear of the aircraft, which don't recline. Stay out of those if you can. Southwest now offers the most standard legroom, with 32 inches of seat "pitch" - a rough measure of legroom on a plane - according to Seatguru.com. * Travel with pillows and blankets. Even if you're in a "premium" seat, it's also true that the cushions aren't what they used to be. Bring your bedware to keep things civil on your next flight. https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/advice/2018/07/15/airline-seat-standards-government- regulations-coming/777040002/ Back to Top Swiss Near-Miss Collisions Between Drones and Aircraft on the Rise The Swiss have seen a disconcerting increase in irresponsible drone use and UAV registration could soon be introduced. According to Swiss Info, there are an estimated 100,000 hobby drones in Switzerland, with the country's Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) claiming 85 reports of near-misses between drones and conventional aircraft in 2017. That number is nearly twice as high as the previous year's figure of 48. Last year, a drone's near-miss with an Airbus A330 at Zurich Airport sparked concern for inefficient unamanned aerial vehicle regulation. Last month's near-miss with yet another airplane thoroughly solidified that concern.g While the country has yet to introduce mandatory drone registration for vehicles weighing under 66 pounds (30 kilograms), lawmakers certainly seem ready to impose the regulation sooner rather than later. The incentive for FOCA to reassess Swiss drone laws was only bolstered when a small drone crashed into a helicopter this past May. "This resulted in damages amounting to tens of thousands of Swiss francs," said FOCA's Urs Holderegger. "This could have consequences for drone pilots. The question arises: will the insurance pay for this?" Swiss law prohibits drone users from piloting their UAVs beyond the visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) or within 3.1 miles (5 kilometers) of airports. Swiss law also states that disrupting federal aviation can result in a fine, or a maximum of three years in prison. For the pilot who recently flew his drone over Ticino's Verzasca Dam, a structure cinematically immortalized by the opening stunt in 1995's GoldenEye, that means at least two potential charges which are now being investigated by local police. Fortunately for FOCA, as well as all Swiss airplane and helicopter pilots, the statistics of irresponsible drone use have slowed down this year. Holderegger's hope is that this means dramatically fewer near- misses with conventional aircraft. Holderegger added, however, that the substantial decrease in drone misuse could simply be a result of the unusually bad weather the country's seen this year. For the sake of airspace safety, and the reputation of responsible drone users worldwide, we hope that decrease continues on its downward trajectory. http://www.thedrive.com/tech/22151/swiss-near-miss-collisions-between-drones-and-aircraft-on-the-rise Back to Top Josh Olds Appointed President of Unmanned Safety Institute The Unmanned Safety Institute announced that Joshua Olds, Co-Founder & Vice President, has succeeded Aaron Greenwald as the President of the Unmanned Safety Institute (USI) company effective immediately. Mr. Greenwald is stepping down from the position to pursue a Masters of Business Administration. "I am very happy to lead such an exciting and fast-growing business," said Mr. Olds. "Since the company's founding in 2014, USI has become the preeminent leader in UAS training and education in the academic and commercial space, and with the majority acquisition of USI by ARGUS International in 2016, we have created the UAS industry's only offering that covers the entire operational ecosystem needed to set up and manage a world class drone program." Mr. Olds has been part of the Unmanned Safety Institute for four years, since the company's inception. During that time, Mr. Olds has worked as the Vice President of Operations, leading the development of both industry and collegiate level content and curriculum for education and training. He also led the development of the ARGUS Organizational Unmanned Industry Standard. Mr. Olds serves as a member on the UAS FAA Safety Team (FAAST) and as an advisory board member for the Energy Drone Coalition. His work in the unmanned industry earned him an award for individual Airmanship and Contribution to the UAS Industry by the Association for Unmanned Vehicles International. Joe Moeggenberg, President and CEO of ARGUS, commented, "Josh is not only a recognized and respected thought leader on the topic of safe and effective UAS operations, but his hands-on experience operating UAS and teaching in an academic setting, provide a level insight on the entire industry that is sorely needed. Unmanned operations offer the aviation industry its next big growth channel, but the labor pool needed to achieve the UAS growth forecasts in each industry cluster is now sitting in middle and high school career and technical education classrooms, and this is where Josh has been incredibly effective." With the USI founders all having backgrounds in aviation, they quickly recognized that operational best practices and standards would need to be established in order for the unmanned industry to reach its full potential. Having witnessed the effectiveness and value of time-honored aviation safety practices, USI set out to create a company that would help individuals, enterprises, and organization to integrate and operate Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for civil or commercial purposes, relying on manned aviation safety practices to develop courses and curriculum that have benefited more than 680 organizations and more than 6000 customers around the world. USI is widely recognized as the global leader in UAS training and certification delivering the most highly- regarded training program of its kind, including turn-key UAS technical education and training programs now being offered in hundreds of high schools, community colleges, and four-year universities around the country. USI is the only training and certification organization that is accepted by the FAA, endorsed by major aviation insurance providers, and whose training programs have been evaluated and recommended for college credit by the American Council on Education (ACE). http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12420462/josh-olds-appointed-president-of-unmanned- safety-institute Back to Top Rolls-Royce Offers Airlines Credits for 787 Groundings * U.K. manufacturer aims to limit payout over engine-wear issues * Move would bolster cash flow but eat into repair revenue Engine maker Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc plans to offer airlines maintenance credits, limiting direct compensation for grounding Boeing Co. 787 planes in a bid to minimize the impact of unexpected wear issues on cash flow, according to people familiar with the matter. Under the offer, airlines would benefit from reduced engine-overhaul fees, as well as credits for future orders, after the problems with Rolls's Trent 1000 turbines led to unscheduled shop visits, according to the people, who asked not to be named as the proposal is confidential. That would help Rolls meet a 450 million-pound ($595 million) cash-flow target that's under pressure from the extra costs, pushing those outlays out to later years. A spokesman for London-based Rolls-Royce declined to comment. Chief Executive Officer Warren East has already cut back on travel expenses, IT upgrades and spending on new programs in an effort to meet the cash goal. While the offer of maintenance credits would help Rolls stay on target, the move risks eating into a critical source of revenue. Like other engine makers, Rolls sells its power plants at a loss and makes most of its money from long-term repair contracts. Trent 1000-powered 787 operators from British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. to Air New Zealand and Japan's ANA Holdings Inc. has been forced to cancel hundreds of flights as a result of the maintenance groundings. Some carriers have leased in alternative aircraft or even bought new ones in order to cope. Dreamliner groundings peaked at under 50 last month. Rolls-Royce's 787 troubles come as East leads a wider restructuring of the U.K. company, including the elimination of 4,600 jobs following on from earlier redundancies and the sales of two units. The measures are aimed at reaching 1 billion pounds in annual cash flow by 2020. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-07-15/rolls-royce-is-said-to-offer-airlines-credits-for- 787-groundings Back to Top Mitsubishi Progresses on MRJ Testing After a series of delays with the MRJ program, Mitsubishi (Chalet C2, P6) has announced progress in flight-test development including the coming addition of new test aircraft, upgrade of type certification aircraft to final configuration, and type certificate (TC) testing with Japanese and U.S. aviation authorities. For the first time the aircraft is appearing at the Farnborough International Airshow, where it is part of the daily flying display. Alex Bellamy, chief development officer and head of program management for the MRJ program, expressed confidence in the future of the MRJ. "We've changed the way we operate as a management system," he said. "We've brought in new expertise to enhance our team. We have laser focus on delivery for our launch customer, ANA, in 2020. We've accomplished the schedule we set out to accomplish over the last 12 months. So that focus is very important; our focus got us here today, and the countdown to delivery has begun." The company has joined the wings for MRJ90 Aircraft 7 and Aircraft 10, both of which will join the existing four test aircraft next year at the MRJ's flight test center in Moses Lake, Washington. "For Aircraft 1 through 4, we're going to maximize the learning out of those, and we're about to enter an upgrade period with those aircraft to bring them up to final TC configuration," added Bellamy. "Aircraft 7 and 10 will be introduced next year and they will be operating at high capacity to bring us through to delivery in mid-2020." Now more than 50 percent complete, the test program has logged over 2,000 flight hours. The four test aircraft have undergone full envelope testing, including in hot and cold, high and low, and fast and slow environments. "All of the dimensions of the envelope from altitude to speed to environmental extremes; we've taken the aircraft there," said Bellamy. Mitsubishi has worked closely with the Japan Civil Aviation Board and the FAA for full-scale TC testing. "We started flight testing with the JCAB and FAA witnessing our engine rotor lock TC test late last year," explained Bellamy. "The majority of activity will come in the third to fourth quarter of this year and then into next year. Additionally, the first harnesses have arrived in Nagoya and are currently being prepared for installation." Bellamy said the MRJ will now undergo the next phase of flight testing, which includes evaluation of runway performance. U.S. MARKET POTENTIAL Mitsubishi expects nearly 900 regional jets to need replacement between 2022 and 2027 as they face retirement. Yugo Fukuhara, Mitsubishi Aircraft vice president and general manager of sales and marketing, noted that the MRJ will enter the market at an ideal time to exploit the coming need for new regional jets. "Our regional jet market includes over 5,000 expected regional jet deliveries over the next 20 years, and the MRJ70 will be an ideal product to get into the North American marketplace under the current scope clause," said Fukuhara. "[The MRJ90 is] in a very good position for U.S. scope relief while the MRJ70 is scope-compliant." Most orders for the MRJ90 are from U.S. regionals SkyWest and Trans States Airlines, both of which operate under mainline scope clauses that limit their regional affiliates to jets carrying 76 passengers and a maximum takeoff weight of 86,000 pounds. The MRJ90 and Embraer's E175-E2, although appropriate for a 76-seat layout in a two-class configuration, have takeoff weights that exceed the scope limits. Mitsubishi and Embraer hope the airlines can negotiate a relaxation of those limits when the labor agreements of the three U.S. major airlines become amendable in 2019 and 2020. "Where we stand on the MRJ90, we've decided to launch the MRJ70 strategy team, which will move very quickly into the product team," added Bellamy. "We're intent on growing our family quickly. The MRJ70 will bring choice into the marketplace. I feel comfortable with where we are with the 90 now, so we can take on the next challenge and bring all of the synergies from the 90 and roll them into the 70." Pratt & Whitney's Geared Turbofan PW1200G engine powers the MRJ90, and the PW1217G version was certified for the MRJ90 last year. "The MRJ engine itself has accumulated some of the highest levels of hours and cycles that we see in the development program at this stage. All of the performance parameters that we are looking for and keeping an eye on as they go through their flight test program have been as expected. That is good news for the product as we go forward toward entry into service," said Bryan Rivard, P&W program director for the PW1200G. Engines are being built in Nagoya, Japan, and P&W, he said, "is going to support the capacity that's demanded to support the aircraft sales that come" for the MRJ line. "The engine-airframe interface is excellent," said Martin Trout, a test pilot for the MRJ90 certification program, "with good fuel economy with the aerodynamics of the aircraft as well as the geared turbofan performance. We get very good fuel burns, a very quiet footprint, and very low emissions." Mitsubishi's MRJ order book currently lists firm orders for more than 200 airplanes and options and purchase rights covering more than 170. It also holds a letter of intent from a leasing company covering firm orders for 10 airplanes and options on another 10. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2018-07-16/mitsubishi-progresses-mrj-testing Back to Top Arralis antenna a boost for aircraft satellite links Arralis has introduced a new Ka band phased array aircraft antenna that it says will great improve the throughput of satellites to aircraft. Arralis says the antenna relies on the company's analogue phase shifts, which allow the satellite beam to steered electronically. It has applications both for commercial and military aircraft. "The Arralis compact, lightweight and aerodynamic Ka band phased array antennas, that need no stabilisation requirements, are 400% smaller than their Ku band counterparts and are made specifically with airliners, business jets, military aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles in mind," says the company. "The innovative antenna will open up the aircraft markets to high data rates and low latency satellite communications." https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/farnborough-arralis-antenna-a-boost-for-aircraft-sa-450197/ Back to Top Emirates Denies Being Hit By Pilot Shortage Several rumors have been circulating in the international press that Emirates has been parking aircraft in Dubai due to a pilot exodus in favor of Chinese airlines offering superior pay and terms. While AIN has been able to ascertain that at least 14 aircraft, including Boeing 777-300s and Airbus 380-800s, have been parked at Al-Maktoum International Airport of late, the true reasons for this are unclear. Emirates has been keen to play down the situation, saying that the summer months, aligned with the timing of the Ramadan fasting month, from mid-May to mid-June, when Muslim travelers are less keen to fly during daylight hours, have led to a lull. But the airline did not address the China rumors. "Our fleet deployment and operating schedules are regularly reviewed in line with seasonal travel patterns and to ensure optimal utilization across our network. We do have some aircraft units on the ground over slower periods, which is common industry practice, but we do not wish to go into details, preferring to keep our plans fluid, which gives us the agility to respond to market demand," an Emirates spokesperson told AIN. Boeing's Current Market Outlook predicts that China will require 253,000 pilots, or 40 percent of the 637,000 the world requires, between 2017-36. North America will need 18 percent, Europe 17 percent and the Middle East 10 percent. As of March 31, 2018, Emirates' fleet consisted of 268 aircraft-255 passenger-carriers and 13 freighters. The passenger fleet included 102 A380-800s, 138 B777-300LRs, 10 B777-200LRs and five B777-300s. The fleet also included 13 B777-200LRF freighters. When AIN asked Tim Sanders, manager of compliance and quality assurance at Exclusive Jet Management Asia, Shanghai, China, about the possibility of an Emirates pilot exodus to Chinese airlines, he said: "As the shortage within China has been impacted greatly by rapid growth that far outreaches the ability to train new Chinese pilots, the Chinese airline industry has resorted to ever-increasing salary and benefit packages to entice experienced pilots to come fly in China," he said. "These Chinese airline benefit packages, among other things, offer flexible choices of off-time schedules, some including the ability to work as little as 30 days on and 30 days off. Additionally, they often include paid airfare back to [the pilot's] home country during a pilot's off days. "During 'On Days' the pilot will typically work only 20 out of 28 days-four weeks-due to duty limitations, so pilots are not overworked when on rotation. When adding this benefit to salary packages exceeding $300,000 per year and other benefits, it is hard to compete with." Sanders explained that even seasoned ex-pat pilots faced one obstacle that could hold them back from moving to Chinese airlines, which was also a problem for the airlines: medical qualifications. "The China CAAC [Civil Aviation Authority] has the strictest medical standards in the world. Pilots who have taken [their test]...[liken it to] an astronaut physical exam. The standards are so high that, historically, whether the applicant is Chinese or foreign, only about 35 percent pass the exam. "The two most restrictive areas are height-to-weight ratio and vision. However, even deformation of [an] internal organ, even when functioning correctly, can also raise red flags...In short, the exam is far above the criteria laid out by ICAO, which is the world standard for medical fitness of pilots." Other pilot sourcing agencies agree that pilot pay has been rising dramatically in China. "The pay in China keeps going up year after year, and compared to five or six years ago, it is up substantially. Currently, [salaries are] more than $26,000 per month for A320 or B737 captains," Dave Ross, U.S. partner of Wasinc International, which sources pilots for the China market, told AIN. "For sure, the Chinese are more willing to pay what it takes to attract foreign captains." Certainly, flight schools all over the world report greater-than-usual interest from China. "We were thinking of buying a fight school in the U.S., and went around and looked at a few. I would say 75 percent of students [in the U.S.] are Chinese. The schools are just packed with Chinese cadets. The problem with Chinese airspace is that it is militarily controlled, and their flight schools have a hard time processing cadets for that reason. There are many cadets out in the U.S. or Australia," said Ross. Kit Darby, of Kit Darby Aviation Consulting, based in Peachtree City, Georgia, was unable to substantiate rumors that Emirates pilots are leaving for Chinese airlines. But he noted, "Emirates pilots haven't been the highest paid for some time. It's a good job, but not the best paid." He said the beginning of the retirement boom meant a decade of looming and severe pilot shortages worldwide. "The two things driving pilot demand are growth and retirement. The retirement numbers will double and triple in the next few years and are not yet near their peak, which is due in three or four years and [will] stay high for three to four more years. The problem is going to get a lot worse before it gets better. We don't have an eight to nine-year supply of pilots;we are out of pilots now," he said. "We are not going to be able to meet our business plans even if we do all of the things we can think of- and more. We have a current problem that is getting worse and many of the solutions will not deliver the large number of pilots needed for years in the future." Aviation analyst Richard Aboulafia, vice president of analysis at the Teal Group of Fairfax, Virginia, said he could not accept the theory about Chinese airlines poaching Emirates pilots. "They have parked a bunch of planes, but I don't accept the Chinese airlines and pilots story for a minute. Emirates is a well-run airline. Only a monstrously incompetent airline would let such a large flock of pilots leave for better terms, without itself offering better terms, and again Emirates is well run. This looks like an overcapacity problem blamed on a pilots problem," he said. Although Emirates addressed the overcapacity issue, it did not talk pilot rostering. "I'm afraid we do not wish to talk specific numbers. It is common industry practice to manage capacity in this manner. These months are well known to be the low season for the industry/Gulf carriers. Plus, the low season coincides with Ramadan this year," the Emirates spokesperson said. "[I]n 2014 when the runways at our Dubai airport hub needed to be closed for repairs, the airport also chose this exact same time period [May-July] to conduct those repairs-to minimize traffic impact. Similarly, next year [2019] one of Dubai airport's runways will need renovation, and again, it is this same time period [low season], when the works are being planned." According to recent news reports, Etihad is to offer its pilots two-year secondments to Emirates, as the two airlines increase cooperation in an effort to deal with the rumored pilot shortages. Spokesmen for both airlines confirmed to Abu Dhabi-based English language daily newspaper, The National, that the rationalization steps were taking place. "An internal letter dated June 21 ... [said] the airline had invited staff to submit non-binding expressions of interest for the secondment opportunity, ahead of a roadshow with Emirates' recruitment team to be held at Etihad's Abu Dhabi headquarters," the newspaper said. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2018-07-15/emirates-denies-being-hit-pilot- shortage Back to Top Airbus Near $6 Billion A350 Jet Sale to Taiwan's StarLux Airbus SE is close to an agreement to sell wide-body jetliners valued at about $6 billion at list prices to Taiwanese startup StarLux Airlines, according to a person familiar with the matter. The talks cover 12 A350-1000 aircraft and five of the smaller A350-900s, said the person, who asked not to be named discussing a confidential negotiation. A final deal hasn't been reached and a deal could still fall through, the person said. The A350, Airbus's most-successful new-generation wide-body, competes fiercely for orders with Boeing Co.'s rival 787 Dreamliner and the U.S. planemaker's coming 777X. Flight Global reported in March that StarLux, founded by former Eva Airways Chairman Chang Kuo-wei, was in talks with both companies for up to 14 aircraft it could use to begin long-haul service to North America by 2021. Airbus, based in Toulouse, France, declined to comment. StarLux, based in Taipei, couldn't be reached. Reuters reported earlier that a deal was near. The A350, which began commercial service in 2015, is a twin-engine plane whose body is made primarily of a carbon fiber-reinforced polymer. It's part of a new generation of planes that offer fuel savings and comparatively greater range than their predecessors. A StarLux order for a dozen of the -1000 models would help give a boost to the larger version of the aircraft, which seats more people and hasn't sold as well as the -900 model. Airbus and Boeing are poised to announce a slew of orders at the Farnborough air show, which starts on Monday. While Airbus's A330neo has proven less popular than the A350, sales activity is starting to pick up. Bloomberg reported on Saturday that the European planemaker is close to a deal to sell an additional 34 A330neos to AirAsia Group Bhd. That plane has a current backlog of 224 aircraft including 10 booked last month from an unidentified customer which is expected to be disclosed at the show as Indonesian discount carrier Lion Mentari Airlines PT, the person said. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-07-15/airbus-is-said-near-6-billion-a350-jet-sale-to- taiwan-s-starlux Back to Top Scotland chosen as site for first British space port LONDON - The U.K. Space Agency said Sunday that it had chosen a peninsula on Scotland's north coast as the site of the country's first space port. "Scotland is the best place in the U.K. to reach in-demand satellite orbits with vertically launched rockets," the agency said in a statement. According to the head of the agency, Graham Turnock, the new space port will "help kick-start an exciting new era for the U.K. space industry." The choice of Sutherland for the new space port confirms Scotland's ambitions in the sector. According to industry experts, Glasgow is the city, outside of the United States, which produces the most satellites, specializing in small devices which can be used for weather forecasts, like GPS systems. The U.K. is seeking to develop its own space industry after its role in European space projects was called into question by Brexit. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/07/16/world/science-health-world/scotland-chosen-site-first- british-space-port/#.W0xxK9VKjIU Back to Top Back to Top UAE AOC For Sale Fully staffed and licensed United Arab Emirates LLC with Aircraft Operating Certificate available for buy-in with expedited full control and ownership with GCAA approval. Aircraft listed for sale separately. Opportunity for operator to utilize their own aircraft and equipment. Certificates, staff, administration offices, and equipment only. Licensed Commercial Activities - Non-scheduled passenger air transportation-international - Passengers transportation via helicopters - Passengers transportation via rental planes - Passengers transportation via hovercrafts - Non-scheduled freight air transport-internationally - Air transportation equipment leasing - Aviation consultancy - Airplanes Management and Operation - Onshore and Offshore Oil and Gas Fields and Facilities Services Interested, serious buyers only may contact us at: info@gi-aviation.com Back to Top Business Aviation Safety Consortium (BASC) issues 50th Safety Compliance Certificate Aviation Department Manager cites enthusiasm, innovation, fulfillment of organizational needs, ease of facilitation, and the absence of an encompassing governing structure as reasons for membership. On June 25, 2018, the Business Aviation Safety Consortium (BASC), issued the 50th Safety Compliance Certificate in its brief eighteen-month existence. The certificate is issued upon the organization's participation in Data Sharing, a quarterly Continuing Education/Safety Round Table (CE/SRT), and an Annex 6 Part II, Annex 19, and ICAO Document 9859 internal and external auditing program. Ken Winters, Aviation Department Manager of Professional Care I/Palace Air, credited numerous factors for his decision for the department to become members of BASC. He specifically cited enthusiasm, innovation, fulfillment of organizational needs, ease of facilitation, and the absence of a large encompassing governing structure. The Founder and President of BASC, Rick Malczynski, commented that although the explosive growth of the organization is not a total surprise, the overall success and satisfaction levels of the members early on is a welcome accomplishment. He shared, "I cannot take credit for a lot of what has taken place here. Elite operators and top-tier providers came to me over the past several years and emphatically shared what they desired in an inclusive program. I was just crazy enough to take the project on!" One of the pillars of the program is the Continuing Education program, which has featured speakers from The Mitre Corporation, Air Charter Safety Foundation, and The Presage Group. The upcoming Third Quarter Continuing Education (Innovation of effective Safety Performance Indicator (SPI) programs) will be presented by three subject matter experts that are members of BASC, John Mitchell of Bunn, Brett Minturn of Kroger, and Skip Geddes of NASCAR. Finally, Malczynski commented on the diversity of the membership, "We are an inclusive organization. Membership is comprised of a significant number of IS-BAO registered operators, operators that use facilitated/hosted/automated SMS programs, operators that submit hazard reports via a hand-written hard copy format, single aircraft and complex multi-aircraft operators. I am also proud to say that forty percent of our Standardization Board (comprised solely of operators) is made up of women, and they are usually the "go to" source when it comes to fresh ideas and execution. The sky is the limit at this point, and I can't wait to see what these class organizations achieve as we work together towards continued excellence!" ### About the Business Aviation Safety Consortium (AviationConsortium.com, LLC or BASC): Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, BASC serves as a logical partner for SMS, regulatory, and operational excellence verification for high performing business aviation organizations. BASC was founded in 2016 and accepted the first member in January of 2017. For more information, visit http://www.aviationconsortium.com Back to Top New HFACS workshop Las Vegas, NV September 4th & 5th, 2018 HFACS, Inc. offers professional development training on our innovative HFACS/HFIX methodologies. Our intensive, two-day workshops teach updated cutting-edge techniques to help your organization identify the causes of errors and develop preventative measures to lower your risk and improve performance. You have been included in our new email database as we begin using this important tool for communication on upcoming workshops as well as being the first to hear about any special offers. Please forward this to any interested co- workers so they may also stay connected. How to register: To register visit hfacs.com or call 800-320-0833 or email dnlmccnn@gmail.com, or info@hfacs.com Attendees of the workshop will learn how to: * Integrate human factors and system safety concepts into the root cause analysis (RCA) process * Utilize the Human Factors Analysis & Classification System (HFACS®) to identify systemic causes of human error during accidents, incidents, and/or near misses. * Integrate HFACS into traditional RCA tools like the fishbone diagram, fault trees, and link analysis using HFACS * Implement the Human Factors Intervention matriX (HFIX®) to develop innovative corrective action programs All attendees of the workshop will receive: * HFACS Textbook * HFACS-RCA Handbook (including HFACS Interview Guide & HFACS/HFIX Checklists) * Complimentary Associate HFACS Professional (AHP) Certification * Opportunity to join the largest Listserv catering to human factors accident investigation and error management Already attended a 2-day workshop? Don't miss out on our special offers! * Our workshops have been updated to feature the newest information * If you have already attended our 2-day HFACS course, don't miss out on the opportunity to attend another workshop as a "refresher" for a discounted rate of $200 * Or bring a full-paying customer with you and receive free refresher course registration For any additional questions and information, contact dnlmccnn@gmail.com, or info@hfacs.com or call 800-320-0833 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 Dear pilots, My name is Michail Karyotakis, F-16 Fighter Pilot and postgraduate student 'Air Safety Management' at City University of London. Currently, I am working on my research project, which is the final part of my studies at City to gain a Master of Science (MSc) degree. My research project, entitled 'Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in the 21st century. On attaining safer UAS flights based on current and future challenges and considerations.', aims to determine how UAS flights can become safe enough, so manned and unmanned air operations could be conducted simultaneously without compromising the safe performance of the entire aviation industry. To support my project research with data I have created a web survey for pilots, and via this way, I kindly ask your help by participating in the survey. The survey is not affiliated with any airline, training organisation, or any other. Participation in the survey is voluntary and anonymous (if desired by the participant). The survey will take about 12 minutes of your time to complete and is open for participation until 13 August 2018. Also, I would be very grateful if you could forward this message to other pilots in your contact list or spread the word in the airline or air force you are working for. Please click the link below to enter the survey: SURVEY WEB LINK: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LC6RXZN Thank you in advance for your time and patience. Your participation is highly appreciated. Kind regards, Michail Karyotakis * Mobile phone number: +30 6983514058 * Student email: michail.karyotakis@city.ac.uk Curt Lewis