Flight Safety Information July 31, 2018 - No. 153 In This Issue Incident: Condor B763 at Frankfurt on Jul 30th 2018, could not retract nose gear Incident: Jetblue A321 near Nashville on Jul 29th 2018, cargo hold smoke indication Smell of smoke forces emergency landing at Buffalo airport EVAS - Cockpit Smoke Protection Incident: Wizz A320 at Tel Aviv on Jul 30th 2018, engine shut down in flight Incident: Canada B788 at Tokyo on Jul 30th 2018, turns off runway into dead end Piper PA-60-602P Aerostar Fatal Accident (Maine) LIBIK Fire Suppression Kits for the Cabin and Flight Deck. No Plane. No Remains. And Now, No Real Answers on Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 PSA: Drone flight restrictions are in force in the UK from today Shocking footage from drone flying next to Airbus A380 outrages pilots TSA will install 40 luggage CT scanners in airports this year Formal Signing of EU-China Bilateral Safety Pact Stalls "Retired" F-117 Stealth Fighters Seen Flying Over Nevada Air Force, AMC pursue initiatives to better retain pilots 2018 DFW ISASI Chapter Dinner ISASI 2018 2018 CHC SAFETY & QUALITY SUMMIT October 2nd - 4th, 2018 PROVIDING ASSURANCE IN YOUR SYSTEMS GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Incident: Condor B763 at Frankfurt on Jul 30th 2018, could not retract nose gear A Condor Boeing 767-300, registration D-ABUL performing flight DE-2098 from Frankfurt/Main (Germany) to Pittsburgh,PA (USA), was climbing out of Frankfurt's runway 25C when the crew stopped the climb at FL140 due to being unable to retract the nose gear. The aircraft burned off fuel and returned to Frankfurt for a safe landing on runway 25C about 2.5 hours after departure. http://avherald.com/h?article=4bbc22b1&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Jetblue A321 near Nashville on Jul 29th 2018, cargo hold smoke indication A Jetblue Airbus A321-200, registration N982JB performing flight B6-23 from New York JFK,NY to Los Angeles,CA (USA), was enroute at FL340 about 190nm west of Nashville,TN when the crew received a forward cargo smoke indication and decided to divert to Nashville. The smoke indication ceased while descending towards Nashville, the crew continued the diversion for a safe landing on Nashville's runway 31 about 35 minutes after leaving FL340. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 2:15 hours, then continued the journey and reached Los Angeles with a delay of 3:25 hours. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/JBU23/history/20180729/0959Z/KJFK/KLAX http://avherald.com/h?article=4bbc2481&opt=0 Back to Top Smell of smoke forces emergency landing at Buffalo airport The smell of smoke forced the emergency landing Monday of an American Airlines flight from Philadelphia at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport in Cheektowaga. A spokeswoman for the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority said the emergency landing occurred about 3 p.m., and was precipitated after a number of people on board the plane, American Airlines Flight 9879, noticed a smell of smoke. Initial reports were that there was smoke in the cockpit, but emergency crews did not find any evidence of a fire, the spokeswoman said. There were 37 people on board the plane, including the crew. No one was hurt. The exact cause of the odor is under investigation, according to the spokeswoman. https://buffalonews.com/2018/07/30/smell-of-smoke-forces-emergency-landing-at-buffalo-airport/ Back to Top Back to Top Incident: Wizz A320 at Tel Aviv on Jul 30th 2018, engine shut down in flight A Wizz Air Airbus A320-200, registration HA-LWO performing flight W6-2542 from Tel Aviv (Israel) to Riga (Latvia) with 182 people on board, was climbing through FL170 out of Tel Aviv's runway 26 when the crew stopped the climb due to a problem with one of the engines (V2527), shut the engine down and returned to Tel Aviv for a safe landing on runway 21 about 40 minutes after departure. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground about 5 hours after landing back. http://avherald.com/h?article=4bbbed60&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Canada B788 at Tokyo on Jul 30th 2018, turns off runway into dead end An Air Canada Boeing 787-800, registration C-GHPV performing flight AC-5 (dep Jul 29th) from Montreal,QC (Canada) to Tokyo Narita (Japan) with 201 passengers and 11 crew, landed on Tokyo Narita's runway 16L and slowed to taxi speed. The aircraft subsequently vacated the runway via an apparent high speed turn off but became stuck due to the taxiway's surface not being paved with the tail not being clear of the runway protected area. The runway needed to be closed and remained closed for more than 6.5 hours. Japan's Ministry of Transport reported the aircraft became stuck prior to the entry into taxiway B7 at the southern end of the runway, where it entered a taxiway under construction in error. AIP Japan's current aerodrome charts do not show the taxiway under construction nor do the NOTAMs include any information about that taxiway under construction possibly being confused with B7. Related NOTAMs: A3201/18 - RWY 16L/34R-CLSD DUE TO DISABLED ACFT. 30 JUL 06:59 2018 UNTIL UFN. CREATED: 30 JUL 07:00 2018 A2657/18 - TWY B[BTN N-HOLD AND G] B7 B8 B9 E1 G[BTN B AND V1-HOLD] K[BTN B AND E2]-CLSD DUE TO CONST RMK/EXC ACFT IN AIC 025/13 ITEM 2. 02-06 09-13 16-20 23-27 30 31 1430/2020, 02 JUL 14:30 2018 UNTIL 31 JUL 20:20 2018. CREATED: 02 JUL 05:48 2018 Aerial photo of aircraft off the runway (Photo: NHK): http://avherald.com/h?article=4bbbea30&opt=0 Back to Top Piper PA-60-602P Aerostar Fatal Accident (Maine) Date: 30-JUL-2018 Time: 10:55 Type: Piper PA-60-602P Aerostar Owner/operator: Private Registration: C-GRRS C/n / msn: 60-8265026 Fatalities: Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Greenville Municipal Airport (3B1), Greenville, ME - United States of America Phase: Approach Nature: Unknown Departure airport: Pembroke (CYTA) Destination airport: Charlottetown (CYYG) Narrative: Subsequent to an inflight emergency, the aircraft impacted airport adjacent field terrain during the landing attempt at Greenville Municipal Airport (3B1), Greenville, Maine. The airplane sustained unreported damage and the three occupants onboard received fatal injuries. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=213840 Back to Top Back to Top No Plane. No Remains. And Now, No Real Answers on Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. Kok Soo Chon, second from right, described a panel's findings on Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 during a news conference on Monday in Putrajaya, Malaysia.CreditFazry Ismail/EPA, via Shutterstock HONG KONG - One of the greatest aviation mysteries of all time deepened on Monday when the official government inquiry into the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 released a 495-page report that gave no definitive answers as to the fate of the airliner. The plane was heading north from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Beijing on March 8, 2014, when it deviated from its scheduled path, turning west across the Malay Peninsula. It is believed to have turned south after radar contact was lost and crashed somewhere in the southern Indian Ocean after running out of fuel. No significant pieces of the wreckage of the jetliner, a Boeing 777, have ever been found. Nor have any remains of the 239 people on board. The absence of definitive answers in the report, which was released at a news conference, devastated families of the victims, who have waited more than four years for the searches and investigations to be concluded. Intan Maizura Othaman, whose husband, Mohd Hazrin Mohamed Hasnan, was a steward on the flight, told reporters after a briefing for family members that she was angered by the absence of answers. "It is so frustrating, as nobody during the briefing can answer our questions," Bernama, the Malaysian state news agency, quoted her as saying. The long-awaited report offered no conclusion on what caused the plane with 239 people aboard to veer off course, cease radio communications and vanish. The head of the safety investigation team, Kok Soo Chon, said the available evidence - including the plane's deviation from its flight course, which tests showed was done manually rather than by autopilot, and the switching off of a transponder - "irresistibly point" to "unlawful interference," which could mean that the plane was hijacked. But he added that the panel found no indication of who might have interfered or why, and that any criminal inquiry would be the responsibility of law enforcement authorities, not safety investigators. While Mr. Kok did not directly address theories that the disappearance was the result of pilot suicide, he said investigators were "not of the opinion that it could have been an event committed by the pilot." Background checks on the passengers by local law enforcement agencies also revealed "a clean bill of health for everybody," he added. The disappearance of Flight 370 led to numerous conspiracy theories. And the report, by offering no final conclusion, will do little to settle the matter. But the investigators did dampen some of the most provocative theories. The possibility that a member of the flight crew intentionally downed the plane, as with Germanwings Flight 9525, which investigators say the co-pilot intentionally crashed in 2015, has been pushed by some experts. The report detailed an extensive examination of the pilot, Zaharie Ahmad Shah, and the first officer, Fariq Abdul Hamid, including their financial status, health, tone of voice on radio communications and even their gait as they walked to work on the day the plane disappeared. The investigators "could not detect any abnormality," Mr. Kok said. Investigators also considered data saved on a flight simulator at Mr. Zaharie's home, which showed seven coordinates that would create a flight path from Kuala Lumpur to the southern Indian Ocean. The manner in which those points were saved made it impossible to draw any conclusions, Mr. Kok said. A police investigation "concluded that there were no unusual activities other than game-related flight simulations," the report said. While Mr. Kok suggested the possibility of "unlawful interference by a third party," investigators could not establish that anyone except the pilot had flown the plane. Mr. Kok said there had been no threats or credible claims of responsibility for the plane's disappearance, which might have been expected as part of a plan to take it down intentionally. Technology that would allow someone to pilot the aircraft remotely had not been installed on this plane, the report said. No mechanical issues that would affect the plane's airworthiness were identified either. "The aircraft was well-maintained," Mr. Kok said. Other possible factors - like lithium-ion batteries that could have caught fire and the presence of mangosteen fruit in the plane's cargo, which was considered unusual - were considered. But such materials had been carried dozens of times before on the same route without incident, the report said. The panel said it would disband, but declined to call the report final. "It is too presumptuous of us to say this is the final report," said Mr. Kok, a former director general of Malaysia's Civil Aviation Department. "No wreckage has been found. The victims have not been found. How could this be final?" Families of the 239 people who disappeared with the plane had expected clearer answers in the report, and were left disappointed. "1,605 days of roller coaster, families still have no closure with the release of the latest 495 pages safety investigation report," Voice370, a group of family members, said on its Facebook page. "The team concluded that they were unable to determine the real cause for the disappearance of #mh370. Simply unacceptable as a 'final' report. How can we prevent another MH370 incident in future?" Most of the passengers were from China, followed by Malaysian citizens. After the aircraft disappeared, an air search of nearly two months was carried out, followed by an underwater search, primarily by private contractors. Investigators tried to determine where the plane went down by overlapping its fuel estimates with a 400-mile arc along which its final satellite communication was made. Ships scoured a zone of more than 46,000 square miles before calling off an official search last year that cost a total of $150 million. Another search carried out by an American company with support from the Malaysian government ended in May after covering an additional 43,000 square miles, also without finding the plane. The Malaysian safety investigators said on Monday that they had waited to release their report until after the search was concluded. A small amount of debris from the plane has been found, including what was thought to be a part of its wing, discovered on the French island of Réunion, east of Madagascar, in 2015. An American lawyer found another piece, a gray triangle of fiberglass composite and aluminum with the words "No Step" stenciled on one side, in Mozambique in February 2016. The discovery of those objects supports the theory that the plane broke apart upon entering the southern Indian Ocean, and that pieces that stayed afloat then traveled west on currents that run from Australia to Africa. The investigators said on Monday that they had found several shortcomings in procedure among various bodies responsible for the flight's safety. The handover of responsibility for the flight from air traffic control in Malaysia to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, was premature by three minutes, and the Vietnamese authorities were late in recognizing that the plane had vanished, the report said. But Mr. Kok said none of these factors were responsible for the plane's disappearance. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/30/world/asia/malaysia-airlines-flight-370-report.html Back to Top PSA: Drone flight restrictions are in force in the UK from today Consumers using drones in the UK have new safety restrictions they must obey starting today, with a change to the law prohibiting drones from being flown above 400ft or within 1km of an airport boundary. Anyone caught flouting the new restrictions could be charged with recklessly or negligently acting in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft or a person in an aircraft - which carries a penalty of up to five years in prison or an unlimited fine, or both. The safety restrictions were announced by the government in May, and have been brought in via an amendment the 2016 Air Navigation Order. They're a stop-gap because the government has also been working on a full drone bill - which was originally slated for Spring but has been delayed. However the height and airport flight restrictions for drones were pushed forward, given the clear safety risks - after a year-on-year increase in reports of drone incidents involving aircraft. The Civil Aviation Authority has today published research to coincide with the new laws, saying it's found widespread support among the public for safety regulations for drones. Commenting in a statement, the regulator's assistant director Jonathan Nicholson said: "Drones are here to stay, not only as a recreational pastime, but as a vital tool in many industries - from agriculture to blue-light services - so increasing public trust through safe drone flying is crucial." "As recreational drone use becomes increasingly widespread across the UK it is heartening to see that awareness of the Dronecode has also continued to rise - a clear sign that most drone users take their responsibility seriously and are a credit to the community," he added, referring to the (informal) set of rules developed by the body to promote safe use of consumer drones - ahead of the government legislating. Additional measures the government has confirmed it will legislate for - announced last summer - include a requirement for owners of drones weighing 250 grams or more to register with the CAA, and for drone pilots to take an online safety test. The CAA says these additional requirements will be enforced from November 30, 2019 - with more information on the registration scheme set to follow next year. For now, though, UK drone owners just need to make sure they're not flying too high or too close to airports. Earlier this month it emerged the government is considering age restrictions on drone use too. Though it remains to be seen whether or not those proposals will make it into the future drone bill. https://techcrunch.com/2018/07/30/psa-drone-flight-restrictions-are-in-force-in-the-uk-from-today/ Back to Top Shocking footage from drone flying next to Airbus A380 outrages pilots As drones become more popular and accessible to the general public, near-miss scares inside no-fly areas are on the rise. The latest incident happened recently in Mauritius, the resort island off the coast of Madagascar. Video posted online shows a drone flying frighteningly close to an Airbus A380 taking off with hundreds of people onboard. The owner of the drone has since gone to ground, most likely because if they're identified, they'd be in for some serious punishment. Although this particular video was filmed overseas, there's also been a massive increase in the number of drone-related incidents in New Zealand. In April, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said they were "hopping mad" with the growing number of people breaking the laws around safe drone use. Air New Zealand also came out strongly against drone misbehavior in March. The airline's captain David Morgan said dangerous drone flying was "reckless behavior" that's putting the safety of the traveling public at risk. Those comments came after a drone was spotted on the approach to Auckland Airport, forcing delays to more than 20 flights. One flight from Tokyo had to divert to Ohakea Air Force base, 500km away. This Mauritius video is so alarming to some, that they've labeled it a fake. However, experts have analysed the footage frame-by-frame and have confirmed its authenticity. President of the NZ Airline pilots association Tim Robinson said it should be as difficult to operate a drone as it is to drive a car, or even fly an aircraft. "A formalised registration and licensing regime will give those in the air, as well as those on the ground, comfort in knowing that drone operators meet at least minimum competency standards," he said. Mauritius authorities have been contacted for comment. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/travel/2018/07/shocking-footage-from-drone-flying-next-to-airbus-a380-outrages-pilots.html Back to Top TSA will install 40 luggage CT scanners in airports this year The technology gives agents clearer views of luggage contents. The TSA has been using CT scanners to screen airline passengers' luggage since last year -- early tests of the technology have been taking place in Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport and Boston's Logan International Airport. But now, the agency has shared its plans for CT technology going forward, including expansions into additional airports. American Airlines announced earlier this month that a CT scanner was being set up in New York's JFK airport and the TSA says Baltimore-Washington International Airport, Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport and Washington-Dulles International Airport are among those that will have CT scanners in the near future. "TSA is committed in getting the best technology to enhance security and improve the screening experience," TSA Administrator David Pekoske said in a statement. "Use of CT technology substantially improves TSA's threat detection capability at the checkpoint. By leveraging strong partnerships with industry, we are able to deploy new technology quickly and see an immediate improvement in security effectiveness." The scanners give TSA agents clearer views of luggage contents than do traditional x-ray machines, and images can be rotated 360 degrees. In the future, the machines may allow passengers to leave items like laptops and liquids in their bags as they go through security checkpoints. By the end of the year, the TSA plans to have up to 40 scanners placed in various airports and by the end of fiscal year 2019, it aims to have 145 machines deployed. Sixteen CT scanners will also be placed in federal testing facilities by the end of 2018. Along with the airports listed above, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, Houston Hobby Airport, Indianapolis International Airport, McCarran International Airport, Oakland International Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, San Diego International Airport and St. Louis Lambert International Airport will receive the remainder of the first 15 units. Additional airports will receive CT scanners in the coming months. https://www.engadget.com/2018/07/30/tsa-install-40-luggage-ct-scanners-airports/ Back to Top Formal Signing of EU-China Bilateral Safety Pact Stalls China is holding back on the formal signing of a bilateral aviation safety agreement (BASA) with the European Union due to a difference in interpretation of some provisions and their practical implementation. The European Commission and China on Dec. 8, 2017 initialed a draft BASA, aimed at removing the duplication of oversight and certification activities for aeronautical products by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC). EU member countries in June adopted the text, negotiated on their behalf by the commission's director-general for transport with the help of EASA. Officials expected the EU and China to formally sign the bilateral safety agreement at the high-level EU-China summit in Beijing earlier this month in the presence of transport commissioner Violeta Bulc. The EU-China BASA is not yet signed by the parties, the Council of the EU and EASA confirmed to AIN. "Differences in the interpretation of particular provisions in the BASA and their practical implementation have prevented the Chinese side to sign the document. These differences need to be further discussed and a potential solution to be negotiated," an EASA spokesman said. He declined to detail which provisions the Chinese authorities wanted to renegotiate. An EASA official close to the matter said the issue centered on a more general difference in expectation from the Chinese party. China always strived for full reciprocal recognition, but the agreement's annexes set some restrictions on CAAC-certified products entering the EU market "to take account of the different levels of maturity of the regulatory systems implemented in the EU and in China," an EU official explained. For instance, EASA will exercise special procedures and scrutiny during the first validation of a given product category. Talks on the BASA appendix on technical implementation procedures continue. The delay in the ratification and execution of the EU-China BASA comes as unwelcome news for the European aerospace industry and the general aviation business, which had anticipated moving to a regime of reciprocal recognition of certifications. Eliminating the need for an additional certification of their product or part--on top of their EASA certification--by the CAAC saves costs and eliminates burdensome administration. Airbus did not answer a request for comment by AIN, but Europe's largest aerospace OEM appears frustrated by the delay. The agreement foresees namely that an EASA production certificate can extend to include EU manufacturing sites in China. "Europe risks falling behind the U.S.," a representative of an aerospace lobby group noted. The U.S. and the CAAC in October last year signed the so-called Implementation Procedures for Airworthiness document under the U.S.-China BASA, allowing each authority to rely on approvals completed by the other with respect to design, production, and airworthiness as well as continued airworthiness ATR is not relying on a wider EU-China certification framework. "We continue working directly with the Chinese authorities to obtain certification of our -600 series," an ATR spokesman told AIN. The CAAC received and accepted the filing. "We hope the Chinese authorities will certify the aircraft before the end of this year," he said. "The airworthiness approval would unlock large commercial opportunities." The Franco-Italian turboprop manufacturer signed MOUs for 13 ATR72s with two Chinese airlines, in 2017, and the sides can finalize the contracts only once the aircraft gains certification to operate in China. ATR estimates it could place up to 300 aircraft in the country over the next 20 years. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2018-07-30/formal-signing-eu-china-bilateral-safety-pact-stalls Back to Top "Retired" F-117 Stealth Fighters Seen Flying Over Nevada Ten years after retirement, at least two Nighthawks are still flying missions doing who knows what. The F-117 Nighthawk, the first purpose-built stealth aircraft to enter combat, was retired in 2008 after a relatively short but eventful flying career. Aviation enthusiasts still catch glimpses of the "retired" jet flying from time to time. The latest sighting took place last week in the skies over Nevada, prompting the question: What are they doing? According to the YouTube video description, the video was taken on July 26, 2018 at the top secret Tonopah Test Range in Nevada. The video shows two F-117As, callsigns NIGHT 17 and NIGHT 19, taxing on the runway then flying low over the nearby hills. The F-117A was retired in 2008, though a handful of planes apparently fly with Lockheed Martin pilots. There are a number of theories as to what the planes are doing. One explanation is that one of the planes is unmanned. A similar sighting in 2016 prompted observers to note one of the aircraft has a mysterious bulge behind the cockpit that observers think could be some kind of antenna. The stealth fighters also could be involved in tests of new sensors designed to pick up stealth aircraft, such as the Russian Sukhoi Su-57 or Chinese Chengdu J-20. The F-117s do seem to conduct several low altitude passes over the ground, possibly in direct view of a ground-based radar or infrared sensor. Alternately, they could be testing upgrades for the F-22 Raptor or F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The F-117's combat-ready days are over. The aircraft are being slowly taken out of flying condition and made permanently unserviceable, suitable only for gate guardian duty or museums. Still, whatever these F-117s are doing at the Tonopah Test Range however is highly classified, cutting-edge stuff. https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/a22593862/retired-f-117-stealth-fighters-flying-nevada/ Back to Top Air Force, AMC pursue initiatives to better retain pilots By: Maj. Gen. Samuel C. Mahaney Capt. Thomas Beltz, C-17 Globemaster III pilot with the 514th Air Mobility Wing, closes in to refuel with a KC-10 Extender over the Atlantic Ocean in February. Air Mobility Command has begun several initiatives to improve pilot retention. (Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen/Air Force) Keeping experienced pilots flying for the Air Force has become a major challenge in recent years, but through ongoing efforts in Air Mobility Command and in the Air Force as a whole, the service hopes to reverse that trend. The Air Force historically strives to retain 65 percent of its pilots at the end of their flight training service commitment of 10 years. As recently as two years ago, the primary means of retaining pilots was an Aviation Retention Bonus. Despite this program, which can pay as much as $420,000 over several years, the rate at which pilots take the bonus has continued to decline. Low 'take rates' for the past several years have led to a current shortfall of about 2,000 pilots across the Air Force's mobility and fighter pilot communities. As commercial airlines continue hiring at a high rate, the pilot shortage could grow even more severe if Air Force pilots continue to choose the airline lifestyle at the current rate. Air Force leadership is laser-focused on the retention challenge. Last May, when the commander of Air Mobility Command, Gen. Carlton Everhart II, appointed me to lead his Aviation Retention Task Force, we took inputs from nearly 800 airmen. The inputs clearly indicated a need to improve the quality of life and quality of service for our airmen and their families. It was clear that if we didn't address these issues, we would continue to lose airmen in increasing numbers over the coming years. Within two months of getting this feedback, Gen. Everhart approved 12 initiatives designed to put more emphasis on flying as a career and to reduce the deployment burden on airmen and families. In September 2017, I attended an Aircrew Summit hosted by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein. In this summit, the chief approved even more initiatives that would provide airmen (fliers and non-fliers alike) with a better quality of life and service. Gen. Goldfein endorsed an Aviator Technical Track beta test program proposed by the AMC commander - paving the way for a select group of air mobility airmen to concentrate on flying duties. Should this AMC beta test prove successful, it will be a foundational element of the chief of staff's efforts to revitalize the squadrons. These aviator technical track program pioneers will bolster core flying competencies and provide experienced mentors within the units to younger aviators. The chief of staff didn't stop there, however. He also approved an initiative to allow the reduction of 365-day deployments. Gen. Everhart subsequently slashed the number in AMC by 55 percent - from 47 to 26. Gen. Goldfein also said that he wanted to reduce the number of airmen on deployed staffs. Just a month later, in October 2017, I deployed as the director of mobility forces for U.S. Air Forces Central Command. By the time I arrived, I found Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian, the AFCENT commander, implementing the deployed staff reductions requested by Gen. Goldfein. I also saw him further reduce the burden on airmen and their families by repositioning more than 50 deployed airmen to Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. Senior Airman Eric Pashnick, 5th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron crew chief, inspects an engine on a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft in May at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. (Staff Sgt. Christopher Stoltz/Air Force) Senior Airman Eric Pashnick, 5th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron crew chief, inspects an engine on a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft in May at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. (Staff Sgt. Christopher Stoltz/Air Force) Highly trained and skilled pilots and other essential airmen such as maintainers, are the most critical part of the world's greatest air and space force. I'm proud that in just a little over one year I have seen the problem of airman retention progress from a challenge, to feedback, to implementation of measures that are improving quality of life and quality of service. This progress is just the beginning. Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson and Gen. Goldfein continue to take steps to improve the lives of airmen and families so they're happier and feel encouraged to stay in the Air Force longer. Maj. Gen. Samuel C. "Bo" Mahaney is deputy director of Air Mobility Command operations, strategic deterrence and nuclear integration at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. He also serves as chairman of the Air Mobility Command Aviation Retention Task Force. He has held numerous commands at the center, wing and group level. He is a former Harvard national security fellow and Georgetown legislative fellow. His views are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Air Force, the Department of Defense or Military Times and its staff. https://www.airforcetimes.com/opinion/commentary/2018/07/29/air-force-amc-pursue-initiatives-to-better-retain-pilots/ Back to Top Back to Top ISASI 2018 Intercontinental Hotel, Festival City, Dubai. 30 October to 1 November, 2018 "The Future of Aircraft Accident Investigation" ISASI is pleased to announce that the preliminary Technical Program for ISASI 2018 is now posted. It is, of course, subject to change between now and the end of October. All up to date information, including registration forms for the seminar and a reservation link for the hotel can be found at http://isasiannualseminar.com/ We look forward to seeing all of you in Dubai. Back to Top Back to Top 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