Flight Safety Information September 3, 2018 - No. 179 In This Issue UTAir Boeing 737-800 suffers runway excursion accident after landing Sochi, Russia Yeti Airlines BAe Jetstream 41 suffers runway excursion after landing at Kathmandu Airport, Nepal Incident: Lufthansa Cityline CRJ9 near Frankfurt on Sep 2nd 2018, light smoke on board Accident: Hawaiian B763 over Pacific on Aug 31st 2018, peppered leak Incident: Indigo A320 near Varanasi on Aug 30th 2018, cargo smoke indication Accident: UPS B752 near Cedar Rapids on Aug 29th 2018, smoke in cockpit EVAS - Cockpit Smoke Protection Incident: Norra AT72 at Helsinki on Sep 2nd 2018, burst two tyres on landing Incident: GoAir A320N at Bangalore on Sep 1st 2018, engine shut down in flight Incident: American A320 at Fort Myers on Aug 30th 2018, approached wrong airport and went around Mil Mi-8MTV Fatal Accident (Afghanistan) LIBIK Fire Suppression Kits for the Cabin and Flight Deck. NTSB to determine cause of SFO near-miss on taxiway Are aircraft evacuation tests realistic? video EasyJet Moves Pilots to New Licenses to Stem No-Deal Brexit Risk Should the government regulate aircraft cabin temperatures? Passengers have role to play in aviation safety ARSA Urges Review Of FAA ICA Enforcement Aviation Industry Leaders Rely on Embry-Riddle's Professional Education Programs at Their Workplace Argus: Business Aircraft Ops Flourished in First Half How the Swissair Flight 111 tragedy changed airline safety Antonov An-225: World's biggest unfinished airplane lies hidden in warehouse UAE names 2 astronauts to go to International Space Station RESEARCH STUDY Automated Vehicles & Meteorology Summit...23-24 October 2018 Become a BowTie Expert (Until September 1st take advantage of the early bird fee) NTSB Basic Aircraft Accident Investigation Course (AS101) How do you track safety? Position Available: Internal Evaluation Program Auditor I Position Available: Litigation Associate - Aviation and Aerospace UTAir Boeing 737-800 suffers runway excursion accident after landing Sochi, Russia Status: Preliminary Date: Saturday 1 September 2018 Time: 02:57 Type: Boeing 737-8AS (WL) Operator: UTAir Registration: VQ-BJI C/n / msn: 29937/1238 First flight: 2002-10-30 (15 years 10 months) Engines: 2 CFMI CFM56-7B26 Crew: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 6 Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 166 Total: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 172 Aircraft damage: Destroyed Aircraft fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Adler/Sochi Airport (AER) ( Russia) Phase: Landing (LDG) Nature: Domestic Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Moskva-Vnukovo Airport (VKO/UUWW), Russia Destination airport: Adler/Sochi Airport (AER/URSS), Russia Flightnumber: UT579 Narrative: UTAir flight 579, a Boeing 737-800, suffered a runway excursion accident after landing at Adler/Sochi Airport, Russia. The aircraft departed Moscow's Vnukovo Airport at 00:32 hours local time on a domestic flight to Sochi. Weather at Sochi was poor due to the presence of a thunderstorm in the area. The aircraft descended for an approach to runway 06. At 02:25 flight 579 did not turn onto runway heading but instead climbed to 7000 feet and repositioned for a new approach to runway 06. This approach was aborted close to the runway threshold, at 02:45 hours local time and a go around was executed. The aircraft circled for another approach and touched down at 02:57. It was unable to stop on the remaining runway and overran. The aircraft crashed through a fence and came to rest on a dry and rocky surface in a river bed. Eighteen passengers were injured. The aircraft sustained serious damage. The airport shift supervisor, who was one of the first responders to the accident, died of a heart attack at the scene. https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20180901-0 Back to Top Yeti Airlines BAe Jetstream 41 suffers runway excursion after landing at Kathmandu Airport, Nepal Date: 01-SEP-2018 Time: 20:30 LT Type: British Aerospace Jetstream 41 Owner/operator: Yeti Airlines Registration: 9N-AHW C/n / msn: 41078 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 24 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Minor Location: Kathmandu-Tribhuvan Airport (KTM/VNKT) - Nepal Phase: Landing Nature: Domestic Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Nepalganj Airport (KEP/VNNG) Destination airport: Kathmandu-Tribhuvan Airport (KTM/VNKT) Narrative: Yeti Airlines flight 1424, a Jetstream 41, suffered a runway excursion at Kathmandu-Tribhuvan Airport, Nepal. The nose landing gear collapsed as the aircraft came to a stop in the grass near taxiways D and E. There were 21 passengers and 3 crew members onboard. Five of the passengers sustained minor injuries. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=214940 Back to Top Incident: Lufthansa Cityline CRJ9 near Frankfurt on Sep 2nd 2018, light smoke on board A Lufthansa Cityline Canadair CRJ-900, registration D-ACNF performing flight LH-1007 from Brussels (Belgium) to Frankfurt/Main (Germany) with 73 people on board, was descending towards Frankfurt when the crew reported light smoke on board. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on Frankfurt's runway 07C about 15 minutes later. The airline reported after takeoff from Brussels the crew noticed light smoke on board and informed Frankfurt Airport. All occupants were able to disembark normally, emergency services were on a precautionary stand by and did not detect any trace of fire, heat or smoke after landing. The source of the smoke is unknown, the aircraft is being examined. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Frankfurt about 10 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4bd2a7a1&opt=0 Back to Top Accident: Hawaiian B763 over Pacific on Aug 31st 2018, peppered leak A Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 767-300, registration N583HA performing flight HA-23 from Oakland,CA to Kahului,HI (USA) with 256 passengers and 10 crew, was enroute over the Pacific Ocean when a number of passenger noticed some unusual odour and subsequenty suffered breathing problems. The passengers were moved to the back of the cabin. The aircraft continued to Kahului for a safe landing. 12 passengers and 3 crew needed to medically assessed and treated at the airport and were released. Maui Police reported a pepper spray illegally brought on board of the aircraft caused the odour and breathing problems. The Police is investigating. The FAA also opened an investigation, as does the TSA responsible for screening of the carry on luggage. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/HAL23/history/20180831/1410Z/KOAK/PHOG http://avherald.com/h?article=4bd1f7a2&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Indigo A320 near Varanasi on Aug 30th 2018, cargo smoke indication An Indigo Airbus A320-200, registration VT-IHN performing flight 6E-832 from Kolkata to Jaipur (India) with 84 passengers, was enroute at FL380 about 90nm south of Varanasi when the crew received a cargo smoke indication and decided to divert to Varanasi where the aircraft landed safely about 20 minutes later. Emergency services did not find any trace of fire, heat or smoke. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 3 hours, then continued the journey and reached Jaipur with a delay of about 3 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4bd1ef09&opt=0 Back to Top Accident: UPS B752 near Cedar Rapids on Aug 29th 2018, smoke in cockpit A UPS United Parcel Service Boeing 757-200, registration N474UP performing flight 5X-634 from Rockford,IL to Saint Louis,MO (USA) with 2 crew, was enroute at FL340 about 110nm south of Cedar Rapids,IA (USA) when the crew reported smoke in the cockpit and decided to divert to Cedar Rapids. The aircraft landed on Cedar Rapid's runway 27 and was evacuated. Emergency services closed the airfield. The FAA reported one flight crew sustained a serious injury during the evacuation. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/UPS634/history/20180829/0838Z/KRFD/KSTL http://avherald.com/h?article=4bd1265c&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top Incident: Norra AT72 at Helsinki on Sep 2nd 2018, burst two tyres on landing A Norra Nordic Regional Airlines Avions de Transport Regional ATR-72-212A on behalf of Finnair, registration OH-ATG performing flight AY-1074 from Riga (Latvia) to Helsinki (Finland), landed on Helsinki's runway 22L but burst two main tyres on landing. The crew was able to vacate the runway and stopped the aircraft on taxiway Z. Tower closed the runway for a runway inspection and sent the following approach into a go around. The passengers disembarked onto the taxiway and were bussed to the terminal. The occurrence aircraft returned to service about 8 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4bd2a58c&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: GoAir A320N at Bangalore on Sep 1st 2018, engine shut down in flight A GoAir Airbus A320-200N, registration VT-WGJ performing flight G8-283 from Bangalore to Pune (India) with 169 people on board, was climbing out of Bangalore's runway 27 when the crew stopped the climb at about FL130 due to the failure of the left hand engine (PW1127) following vibrations and an magnetic chip detector indication. The crew shut the engine down and returned to Bangalore for a safe landing on runway 27 about 20 minutes after departure. A replacement A320-200 registration VT-WAG reached Pune with a delay of 2.5 hours. India's DGCA have opened an investigation. http://avherald.com/h?article=4bd2a379&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: American A320 at Fort Myers on Aug 30th 2018, approached wrong airport and went around An American Airlines Airbus A320-200, registration N123UW performing flight AA-862 from Philadelphia,PA to Ft. Myers,FL (USA), was cleared for a visual approach to Ft. Myers' runway 06, reported the airport in sight and was handed off to tower. The aircraft lined up with runway 05 of nearby Page Field, about 3nm from Ft. Myers Airport, and descended to about 800 feet MSL, about one minute after being handed off to tower the crew announced they were going around. ATC vectored them for the approach to runway 06, the aircraft performed a safe visual landing to Fort Myers' runway 06 on second approach about 6 minutes after the go around. FAA radar data confirm the aircraft was on short final to Page Field's runway 05 descending through 800 feet MSL. A pilot on Page Field's frequency queried Page Field Tower whether they had seen the Airbus, tower replied they had seen the American A320 on short final to runway 05 indeed. http://avherald.com/h?article=4bd139c6&opt=0 Back to Top Mil Mi-8MTV Fatal Accident (Afghanistan) Date: 02-SEP-2018 Time: 07:30 LT Type: Mil Mi-8MTV Owner/operator: Valan International Cargo Charter Registration: ER-MHR C/n / msn: 95952 Fatalities: Fatalities: 12 / Occupants: 14 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Shaheen Corps headquarters, northern Balkh province - Afghanistan Phase: Take off Nature: Military Departure airport: Shaheen Corps headquarters Destination airport: Faryab province Narrative: A Mil Mi-8MTV helicopter crashed during takeoff from the Shaheen Corps headquarters in Afghanistan. A post-impact fire erupted. Several occupants were killed or injured. On board the helicopter were three Ukrainian crew members, four public order police soldiers, four army soldiers, and two national police soldiers. The helicopter was reportedly chartered by the Afghanistan Army. A total of twelve occupants died in the crash, two pilots and ten passengers. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=214975 Back to Top Back to Top NTSB to determine cause of SFO near-miss on taxiway Security camera shows Air Canada's near miss VIDEO: The NTSB released shocking black-and-white video from a SFO surveillance camera showing the moment when an Air Canada plane last July nearly landed on four fully loaded airplanes lined up on a taxiway. (Courtesy of NTSB) SAN FRANCISCO - The National Transportation Safety Board will hold a meeting next month to determine the probable cause of how an Air Canada jet liner nearly landed on a crowded SFO taxiway in what could have been one of the deadliest aviation disasters ever. The board will also issue safety recommendations aimed at preventing similar close calls in the future. The NTSB determined that Air Canada flight 759, an Airbus A320 was cleared to land on runway 28R at San Francisco International Airport on July 7, 2017, but the airplane instead lined up with parallel taxiway C, which had four fully loaded airplanes awaiting takeoff clearance. Investigators determined the Air Canada flight dropped to about 60 feet above the ground before aborting the landing. The tail of the Philippine Airlines Airbus A340, which Air Canada flew over, stands at 55 feet, six inches, which means the planes could have come as close as five feet to each other. In the NTSB performance study, the NTSB estimated the distance between the two planes at about 13.5 feet. The hearing will be Sept. 25 in the NTSB board room in Washington, D.C. https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/08/31/ntsb-to-determine-cause-of-sfo-near-miss-on-taxiway/ Back to Top Are aircraft evacuation tests realistic? video British Airways Aircraft Slide Deploy As a condition of certification, aircraft manufacturers are required to demonstrate that their aircraft can be completely evacuated in 90 seconds in an emergency. In order to prove this, the manufacturer will conscript a planeload of "passengers" of different ages, genders and sizes, block a couple of exits, introduce smoke into the cabin and set off the alarms - and set the stopwatch ticking. There's plenty wrong with this scenario. In a real life emergency, your chances of survival are far better in an aircraft that can be totally evacuated in 90 seconds, even if the proof fell short of reality. The aircraft has not just come to a screeching, terrifying, metal-shredding halt. There's no flaming engines, no blood, no hysteria, no banged-up bodies to climb over, nobody is trying to wrench their carry-ons from an overhead compartment. The passengers in this demonstration are prepped, they know they're going to have to get out of a "stricken" aircraft, with zero chance of dying. Does this mean the 90-second rule is futile? Not at all. In a real life emergency, your chances of survival are far better in an aircraft that can be totally evacuated in 90 seconds, even if the proof fell short of reality. https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/106772108/are-aircraft-evacuation-tests-realistic Back to Top EasyJet Moves Pilots to New Licenses to Stem No-Deal Brexit Risk • Crew based outside U.K. to shift to Austrian, German permits • Effort is latest attempt to limit disruption from lack of deal EasyJet Plc is shifting its pilots based in mainland Europe to Austrian and German licenses in an effort to minimize the potential fall-out from a no-deal Brexit. The 1,400 affected will be moved to licenses issued by Austria from November, an official at the Luton, England-based carrier said. German crew will be registered locally, while British pilots operating in the U.K. won't change. "Depending on the outcome of Brexit, U.K.-issued pilot licences may not be valid within the EU," the company said, adding that it had agreed on the solution with the relevant regulators, including the U.K.'s Civil Aviation Authority. The change will incur a "limited cost" per pilot, it said. The aviation could potentially be one of the worst-hit on the scheduled exit day of March 29 if Prime Minister Theresa May and her counterparts in the EU fail to reach a working agreement. Without continued regulatory cooperation, the CAA -- which also provides licenses for aircraft parts and engines manufactured in Britain -- would no longer be recognized internationally, risking mass groundings. The move is the latest effort by EasyJet, which last year created a new airline based in Vienna specifically to keep its EU planes flying after Brexit, shifting the registration for 110 aircraft to the unit. It began assessing options for the unit days after the U.K.'s Brexit referendum in mid-2016, when the leave vote wiped out a third of EasyJet's market value. Along with Irish discounter Ryanair Holdings Plc, EasyJet has also been shoring up its shareholder base on the continent to avoid falling afoul of airline ownership restrictions that require carriers to be majority owned by nationals. U.K. Transport Minister Chris Grayling in July indicated that an agreement that would allow flights to continue would be reached even without an wider accord with the bloc. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-08-31/easyjet-moves-pilots-to-new-licenses-to-stem-no-deal-brexit-risk Back to Top Should the government regulate aircraft cabin temperatures? • Flight attendants' group petitions DOT to set acceptable limits The economy section of the A380 - the world's only twin-deck, two - aisle airliner, offering the widest cabin of any aircraft. The Emirates A380 jumbo jet landed at San Francisco International Airport on August 4, 2008 to take invited guests and members of the press on a two hour flight. Based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the super jumbo jet will offer non-stop flights out of SFO to Dubai starting in December. Photo: Michael Maloney, The Chronicle If you've ever sweated and sweltered in an aircraft cabin that was too hot - or shivered in one that was freezing - you might sympathize with a new petition from the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) that urges the Transportation Department to regulate cabin temperatures. The organization said that for years, it has heard reports from its members about incidents of extreme temperatures endured by passengers and crew - usually when the plane was on the ground, but sometimes in flight. With passenger load factors (percentage of seats occupied) often exceeding 85 percent during peak months, extreme temperatures on board the aircraft "have intensified the problems created by in-fight crowding," the AFA said. The petition cited some incidents reported in the media, like one last summer in Denver when an overheated infant on an aircraft had to be taken away in an ambulance. But "media reports of temperature events represent the tip of the iceberg," the AFA said, attaching documents that cited a number of such reports from flight crews that received no attention in the press. The association said it conducted its own studies by issuing digital temperature/humidity probes to flight attendants so they could measure cabin conditions while they worked. "These data show clearly that unhealthy levels of 'heat index,' which is a measure of how hot it really feels when relative humidity is factored in with the actual air temperature, occur too often in the cabins of commercial aircraft," AFA said. https://www.sfgate.com/chris-mcginnis/article/Should-the-government-regulate-aircraft-cabin-13127106.php Back to Top Passengers have role to play in aviation safety • Travellers must do their part to follow instructions and help others get off the aircraft The crash of AeroMexico Flight 2341 last month is a reminder to all involved in aviation that our safety work is never done. Many were amazed to learn there were no fatalities among the 103 passengers and crew, although some sustained serious injuries. Actually, most airplane accidents are survivable. That is a testament to aircraft designers and manufacturers, to safety regulators who work closely with the industry and to flight crew who rise to the occasion in an emergency, doing their utmost to get everyone off the aircraft as quickly and safely as possible. Passengers also have a role to play in keeping safe. Those who like to sit in emergency exit rows are familiar with the special responsibilities that come with the extra legroom in the event an evacuation is necessary. But even those who are not asked to directly participate in helping their fellow passengers get out of the aircraft need to be prepared. There are far more passengers on a flight than cabin staff. No matter how good the crew are, they can't look after every passenger. So as passengers, we need to do our part as well. Read the safety card and locate the closest emergency exit - and an alternative. Turn your mobile devices to airplane mode when requested. Follow crew instructions, and above all, when told to evacuate, do not stop to grab your bag from the overhead bin. It slows down the evacuation process for everyone. Luggage may also damage the emergency slides. No one wants to be separated from their bag, but escaping quickly and doing your part to ensure others get out must take priority. Airline accidents are extremely rare. Last year, some 4.1 billion travellers flew safely on 41.8 million flights. There were 45 accidents, of which six involved loss of life, with 19 fatalities among passengers and crew. None of the six occurred on a passenger jet. Based on the 2017 safety performance, on average, a person would have to travel by air every day for 6,033 years before experiencing an accident in which at least one passenger was killed. Aviation safety is built on partnerships and global standards, and for more than 70 years, the International Air Transport Association (Iata) has teamed up with airline members, safety regulators, airports, air navigation service providers and others in the global safety community to help reduce accidents. This year, we are celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Iata Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), the world's first globally-recognised operational safety standard. Every member of Iata must pass an IOSA audit and remain on the IOSA registry in good standing. Last year, the all-accident rate for airlines on the IOSA registry was nearly four times better than that of non-IOSA airlines. Non-members also recognise the value of IOSA. Of the 435 airlines on the registry, 34 per cent are not members of Iata. I call aviation the Business of Freedom as it liberates people to lead better, more fulfilling lives, with virtually none of the risk long journeys used to entail. We need everyone to do their part to help make the Business of Freedom even safer - and that includes passengers. https://www.tnp.sg/news/views/passengers-have-role-play-aviation-safety Back to Top ARSA Urges Review Of FAA ICA Enforcement The Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA) has asked for a review of FAA enforcement of rules regarding instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA) such as aircraft maintenance manuals. In a comment filed with the U.S. Small Business Administration National Ombudsman's office, ARSA stated that it believes "the FAA strictly enforces the requirement that repair stations possess maintenance manuals but does not enforce rules requiring design approval holders to make manuals available." ARSA claims that the FAA's current enforcement practices are creating administrative and financial burdens for small businesses. "ARSA has attempted to work with the FAA for more than three decades to bring consistency to the agency's application of its ICA rules," said ARSA Executive Director Sarah MacLeod. "Unfortunately, our concerns have failed to illicit serious consideration or any discernible action." The Office of the National Ombudsman has no authority to make policy changes. It was established by Congress in 1996 to assist small businesses experiencing excessive or unfair federal regulatory enforcement actions and to act as an impartial liaison between those businesses and regulatory agencies. ARSA also requested that its comment (PDF) be sent to the Office of the Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Transportation. https://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/ARSA-Urges-Review-of-FAA-ICA-Enforcement-231462-1.html Back to Top Aviation Industry Leaders Rely on Embry-Riddle's Professional Education Programs at Their Workplace DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is recognized as one of the global leaders in aerospace and aviation education. Professional Education at Embry-Riddle builds on this success by providing year-round open-enrollment short courses and by creating customized education and training on-site to meet the needs of aviation business professionals. The Pro-Ed staff begins with existing courses, then works with a business to select complementary management topics, instructors and content experts focused on the challenges of the organization. In the past few months several national and international organizations have selected Embry-Riddle as their training provider for specialized education: The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) provides full life-cycle support of naval aviation aircraft, weapons and systems operated by Sailors and Marines. The Pro-Ed team worked with NAVAIR's leadership to offer a General Aviation (GA) Aircraft Systems short-course on-campus to familiarize their engineers with various systems found on GA aircraft with a focus on enhanced operating principles and troubleshooting techniques using the College of Aviation's Aircraft Systems and Turbine Engine Labs. Airport Authority Hong Kong arranged an on-site Aviation Safety Management System (SMS) Short-Course for 30 delegates from their organization including airfield staff members. Cyient, a provider of engineering, manufacturing, geospatial, network, and operations management services in Melbourne, Fla. offered an Embry-Riddle System Safety Engineering and Certification short-course to its staff. Embry-Riddle conducted an Aviation Leadership Training Program for a major aerospace manufacturer with worldwide global service operations. The course focused on Airline Fleet and Route Planning, Aircraft Financing and Leasing, and Airline Operations and Management. Industry and Subject Matter Experts Embry-Riddle Pro-Ed instructors come from all areas of industry and all parts of the world bringing experience and years of practical knowledge to all our professional education programs. Embry-Riddle also has over 2,500 faculty and subject matter experts and can create and manage almost any training scenario. Embry-Riddle's continuing education programs support business professionals in the aviation, aerospace, business and risk management industries train to the highest standards by offering the best in degree alternative education and training. Choose from a Choice of Instructional Methods Live at a business location anywhere in the world Live in a classroom or conference room setting Live online via EagleVision, the university's web-conferencing platform A blend of any of the above Continuing Education Units can be awarded for Professional Education courses and participants receive a permanent training record they can take with them upon completion. To learn more about specialized professional education for your business, please contact Sarah Ochs, Director of Professional Programs at Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach Campus atdbproed@erau.edu; (386) 226-6928 or go to https://proed.erau.edu/training-for-organizations/. https://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12426881/aviation-industry-leaders-rely-on-embry-riddles-professional-education-programs-at-their-workplace Back to Top Argus: Business Aircraft Ops Flourished in First Half Pilatus PC-12 According to Argus, turboprops accounted for nearly one-third of the more than 1.5 million business aircraft flights in the first half of this year. This was thanks in part to workhorses such as the Pilatus PC-12 turboprop single. (Photo: Pilatus Aircraft) Business aviation activity has "soared to new highs" with the Part 135 community leading the gains, with the operating segment up 4.5 percent year-over-year in the first six months, according to business aviation safety and research specialist Argus. In its 2018 Mid-Year Business Aviation Review covering flights to/from the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean, Argus reported that flight activity has increased in five out of the first six months of the year and has climbed 2.3 percent from the same period in 2017. Flight hours have increased 2.6 percent in the period. Part 135 activity posted its first year-over-year decline in 25 months in June, but showed increases in every other month. February was a high-water mark, jumping 8.8 percent. However, Argus noted, the rate of growth is slowing more recently. Along with the gains in charter, Part 91 operations rose in four of the first six months, with April the strongest month with a 4 percent year-over-year increase. While also showing some improvement in four months in the first half, total operations have been fairly flat in the fractional market. By aircraft category, large-cabin aircraft logged the biggest increase in operations, up 3.8 percent in the period, followed by mid-cabins at 2.9 percent. Turboprops marked a 1.9 percent ascent, while small-cabin jets marked a 1.5 percent improvement. Gama Aviation, with a fleet size of 117, has led flight hours tracked by Argus, reaching 72,885 in the first half of the year. This is up from the 61,651 hours Argus tracked in the same period in 2017, when its fleet stood at 99 aircraft. Executive Jet Management, with a fleet of 136 aircraft, followed in flight hours. Other most-active charter operators, from a flight-hours standpoint, included XOJet, Delta Private Jets, and Jet Linx. Florida, California, and Texas have led the nation in business aviation departures in the first six months, while Delaware, Rhode Island, and Vermont logged the fewest. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday remain the busiest days for travel, each averaging more than 9,000 flights per day. Thursday gets top honors at 10,000 flights per day on average. Argus forecasts that flight activity will continue its upward trend, increasing in total by 0.8 percent in the third quarter versus the same period last year. July activity was up 0.9 percent year-over-year, and August was tracking at a similar rate. September will be up by almost as much, at 0.8 percent, Argus said. The company anticipates a 2.3 percent year-over-year increase in October, expecting flights to hit the 280,000 mark for the first time since March 2008. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2018-08-31/argus-business-aircraft-ops-flourished-first-half Back to Top How the Swissair Flight 111 tragedy changed airline safety Twenty years after Swissair Flight 111 killed 229 people off the coast of Nova Scotia, the investigation into the deadly crash continues to have an enduring legacy on safety in the airline industry around the world. Vic Gerden led the 4.5-year, $57-million Transportation Safety Board investigation into the worst aviation disaster ever in Canadian airspace to try and piece together the millions of fragments from the destroyed jetliner. "We recovered a couple of million pieces, but some of the pieces were so small that it was a challenge to reassemble them properly," Gerden told Global News on the 20th anniversary of the crash. "There are also 165 miles of wire and much of those pieces were in small pieces that were perhaps a metre in length. "It was a challenge to put it all together, but at the end of the day, I believe we ended up with a very thorough, unbiased and a fully accepted report." Investigators conducted tests at labs in the U.S., Switzerland, Germany and Canada as part of the technical investigation into the crash, which involved reconstructing parts of the shattered plane. "All of that takes a great deal of time and in the process, we also attempted to determine what ... were the safety deficiencies that led to this accident," he said. RCMP Sgt. Duane Cooper worked on the investigation and remembers the challenges in recovering parts of the 500,000-pound plane, discovered roughly 55 metres below the Atlantic Ocean. "We had to devise different ways to get all those pieces from the bottom of the ocean into CFB Shearwater so that we could actually do an accident investigation with the transportation safety board," Cooper told Global News. Cooper said that is was imperative to recover every scrap of evidence. Eventually, 98 per cent of the aircraft was recovered. "A piece could be as small as a dime, or it could be as large as half this room. Everything from engines from the plane all the way down to little pieces of wiring," he said. "Even little pieces of wiring they determined would be important potentially as evidence in the investigation." In the days and weeks after the crash, the families were given daily updates on the investigation, Gerden said. As the investigation dragged into the months and years, families of victims were allowed into the hanger where the wreckage reconstruction was being conducted whenever they visited Halifax. "I think the families realized why it was taking an extended period of time and they were very supportive of the investigation and I'm certainly appreciative," he said. On Sept. 2, 1998, the doomed flight left JFK international airport heading for Geneva, Switzerland, carrying 215 passengers and 14 crews members. Less than an hour into the flight, the two pilots detected the faint smell of smoke and declared "Pan Pan Pan" - an international signal indicating a problem that's not yet an emergency. A sparking wire in the cockpit above and behind the pilots head had started a fire, igniting the flammable insulation that quickly disabled the plane and crept throughout the fuselage. Audio from air traffic control tapes revealed the final desperate moments as pilots tried in vain, amid rapidly worsening fire conditions, to keep the plane in the air. "Swissair one eleven heavy is declaring emergency," says one of the pilots, as the second pilot makes a simultaneous transmission: "We are declaring emergency now." The plane struck the water just after 10:30 p.m. AT killing everyone on board. In March 2003, the TSB has issued its final report that made 23 air safety recommendations, ranging from making airlines teach flight crews aggressive in-flight fire-fighting strategies, tougher aircraft wiring tests, and calls for emergency power sources to keep vital flight and voice recorders running. Gerden said that as a result of the report, the industry now conducts much tougher flammability tests on materials used in aircraft and has removed metallized Mylar blanket insulation. "Thermal acoustical insulation material was a large part of what fed the fire in that aircraft," he said. "Since then the certification standards for that material have been made more stringent, that particular material has been removed from about 1,500 airplanes and it's not allowed in future airplanes." The report also recommended that pilots should try to land at the first sign of smoke, rather than trying to dump fuel, and that all aircraft systems, including oxygen, hydraulics and air conditioning, should be tested to see how they might contribute to a fire or how they might fail during a fire. While the final report never concluded what part of the electrical wiring was at fault, a newly installed in-flight entertainment system was believed to be the culprit. Swissair, now defunct, removed the entertainment systems shortly after the accident. Family members of victims of the crash of Swissair Flight 111 embrace as they pay respects on the deck of HMCS Goose Bay at the crash site off the coast of Nova Scotia on Nov. 28, 1998. The TSB also cleared the crew of any wrongdoing as investigators determined that even if the plane had not diverted to dump fuel, it would still have been unable to reach Halifax. Gerden left the TSB 13 years ago for the private sector and said the anniversary of the crash is still raw for many families. "The families and loved ones had to deal with a terrible tragedy and I'm sure it's still not easy for them," Gerden said. "I do think about them." But now 20 years after the crash, Gerden thanked the hundreds people involved in the multi-national investigation, including pilot associations, manufacturers, Swiss and U.S. airline investigators and countless individuals throughout Halifax. "I take my hat off to them. Everybody did a really fine job to make the best of what was a tragedy," he said. "I'm very proud of the work that was done by all of the responding organizations and by the transportation safety board investigators who put their hearts and souls into making sure that we did the best that could be done." https://globalnews.ca/news/4419429/swissair-flight-111-crash-airline-safety/ Back to Top Antonov An-225: World's biggest unfinished airplane lies hidden in warehouse Half-built Antonov An-255: A gigantic hangar outside the Ukrainian capital Kiev contains the unfinished pieces of one of the most spectacular legacies of Soviet aircraft engineering, an Antonov An-225. Click through the gallery for more photos: Pavlo Fedykovych Kiev, Ukraine (CNN) - On the outskirts of Kiev, somewhere between the city's Nyvky and Sviatoshyn metro stations, sits a drab industrial building that you could drive past a thousand times without guessing it contains an extraordinary secret. Inside can be found the unfinished chapter of one of the greatest feats of Soviet aviation ever conceived. The only clue is the building's size. It's gargantuan. It needs to be. Because it contains something equally vast -- the largest airplane that was never completed. The aircraft is an Antonov An-225, conceived by Soviet engineers in the dying days of the Cold War as a gigantic, gravity-defying workhorse that would help communism's ongoing race into space and assert the East's dominance of the skies. The Antonov AN-225 is the biggest airplane in the world. Mriya's wingspan measures 290 feet, that's longer than five semi-truck trailers set end-to-end. Only one An-225 was ever built by the Kiev-based Antonov company, which came up with the design. Romantically named Mriya, (Ukranian for dream), it first took flight in 1988 and has been in service ever since, drawing crowds of admirers wherever it spreads its huge wings. Construction was begun on a second plane, a sister for this aerial leviathan. But while Mriya is breaking world records in the skies, her twin still lies in pieces, only able to dream about leaving the ground. The fate of Mriya's hidden sister is a fascinating story about big ambitions and even bigger frustrations caught up in the turbulent history of modern Ukraine after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The story isn't over though. Antonov remains optimistic it'll get the second An-225 off the ground. It recently granted CNN Travel an exclusive tour of the half-built aircraft, an intriuging glimpse at the legacy of one of the marvels of the modern aviation world. Reaching the unfinished An-225's hangar involves being escorted by car through the vast industrial landscape west of Kiev that Antonov occupies. Entering the building is like stepping into a cathedral of mechanics -- it's surprisingly calm and tranquil. The cavernous, endless space swallows up the machinery and airplane parts within. Workers can occasionally be glimpsed in the distance, but the sound of their activity is lost, absorbed by the giant metallic structure. Towering over everything is the massive fuselage of the unfinished An-225. It's a beast of a thing. If ever completed, it will have a length of 84 meters (276 feet) -- a whole 9 meters longer than the world's largest passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380 superjumbo. It's an impressive sight, although it is slightly depressing to see this potentially majestic airplane in pieces. The wings that would give it a span of 88.4 meters are unattached, stretching off to one side. The nose gear, a mechanism the size of a house, is also nearby. So how did it get here? The story of the An-225 begins back in the 1960 and '70s when the Soviet Union was locked in a race into space with the United States. By the end of the 1970s, the need arose for transporting large and heavy loads from their places of assembly to the Baikonur Cosmodrome, the sprawling spaceport in the deserts of Kazakhstan that was the launchpad for Yuri Gagarin's pioneering space voyage of 1961. The cargo in question was the Buran spacecraft, the Soviet Union's answer to NASA's Space Shuttle. Since there were at the time no airplanes capable of carrying it, the Antonov company was ordered to develop one. What emerged was the An-225 megaplane -- the biggest and most powerful airplane ever to successfully enter service. And on December 21, 1988, three years after she was first conceived, Mriya safely transported the Buran spacecraft to Baikonur. To this day, Mriya remains the heaviest aircraft ever built. Powered by six turbofan engines, she has a maximum payload weight of 250 tonnes, which can be carried inside or on its back. It boasts the largest wingspan of any airplane in operational service. Because of its size, pilots need special training to cope with the challenges of maneuvering the An-225. One of the airplane's quirks is its ability to perform a so-called "elephant dance," a term used in aviation when the nose gear "kneels" to make cargo loading easier. With Mriya declared a success, the Soviet Union forged ahead with plans to build three more An-225s. Construction of the second began in 1989 amid equally high expectations. Then history intervened. In 1991 the Soviet Union collapsed, taking with it the Soviet space program. In the chaos that followed, production continued on the second plane, but it was eventually halted in 1994. While its manufacturer Antonov successfully transitioned from communism to capitalism, the end of Soviet funding for the ambitious megaplane project meant the unfinished aircraft was in limbo. The changing geopolitical landscape meant that Mriya was no longer relevant. With the technological rivalry of the two global superpowers ending abruptly, the race to build bigger and more powerful engineering status symbols was at an end. The An-225's impressive capabilities suddenly were deemed excessive for the modern aviation world -- and certainly one gargantuan aircraft was enough. With very few oversized payloads needing transportation, another Antonov, the 170-tonne capacity An-124 Ruslan, was doing most of the work. Furthermore, when Ukraine was plunged into a revolution in 2014 that set it at odds with Russia, it lost a key supplier of parts and equipment, putting another question mark over the second An-225's future. Antonov, however, says finishing the build should be relatively simple. Growing private sector interest in space exploration, tourism and communications -- and the prospect of heavy payloads in need of transportation -- may yet decide the aircraft's fate. "When there is a need to solve such a problem, there will be a demand for the completion of the second aircraft and the investors will appear," says Gennadiy Silchenko, Antonov's An-225 program director. Today, the second An-225 is about 70% completed. All the essential components of its superstructure have been manufactured, including the fuselage, wings, nose gear and tail. Surveying the giant jigsaw puzzle of airplane parts, Silchenko insists they could be quickly assembled should sufficient funding -- between $250 million and $350 million -- arrive. Once the investment is in, he says, the existing parts will be connected, the control panel developed and the horizontal stabilizer finished. Then the second An-225 would be ready for conquering the skies. Because it's been kept in a state of conservation, Silchenko adds, the completed aircraft will be as-new, with no limitations on its capabilities. Assembly nearly happened in 2016, when China expressed an interest in completing the construction, but because of difficulties of transporting the aircraft parts to Chinese soil, it never happened. Silchenko says that while the company is still open for different options, the aircraft could be successfully put together and completed only in Kiev. Should it ever leave Kiev, the second An-225 would certainly cause a sensation -- if the adulation of its sister aircraft is anything to go by. Cult following An-225 Antonov flies into Perth The completed An-225 attracts crowds wherever it flies. Greg Wood/AFP/Getty Images Because of its design and size, Mriya has a cult following among plane lovers who frequently gather to see it land and take off during commercial flights. A crowd of more than 15,000 spectators came to Perth Airport in western Australia to witness the plane arrive during a visit in May 2016. Among reasons for its popularity are the mind-blowing 240 world records the An-225 holds, including transportation of the heaviest commercial cargo and carrying the largest single piece of cargo. It's also won hearts for participating in humanitarian operations. In 2010, it transported 110 tonnes of equipment and supplies to the Dominican Republic to help with relief efforts in neighboring Haiti after a devastating earthquake. Needless to say, Mriya has also come to the attention of Hollywood. A CGI-generated aircraft inspired by the An-225 appeared in sci-fi apocalypse movie "2012." A similar rendering starred alongside Vin Diesel in "Fast and Furious 6." The airplane also served as the inspiration for Jetstorm, a shape-shifting robot in the 2007 "Transformers" film. With performances like that, maybe an encore is overdue. https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/antonov-an-225-kiev-ukraine/index.html Back to Top UAE names 2 astronauts to go to International Space Station The ruler of Dubai has announced the names of two astronauts from the United Arab Emirates who will be heading to the International Space Station, a first for the Gulf nation. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who also serves as the UAE's vice president and prime minister, made the announcement on Monday on Twitter. Sheikh Mohammed named the astronauts as Hazza al-Mansouri and Sultan al-Nayadi. Their missions are scheduled for next year. The UAE has a fledgling space program with big ambitions. It hopes to launch its first locally made satellite, KhalifaSat, in October from Japan. It also wants to launch a probe to Mars in 2020. The UAE says it wants to colonize Mars by 2117, with a fully functioning city of 600,000. https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/uae-names-astronauts-international-space-station-57570688 Back to Top RESEARCH STUDY Dear Participants, You are being asked to participate in a research study of your opinions of criminalization in aviation accidents. This study is expected to take approximately 10 minutes of your time. In order to participate, you must be at least 18 years old and a certified pilot. Participation in this study is voluntary, and you may choose to opt out of the study at any time. If you choose to opt out, your data will be immediately destroyed. We appreciate your consideration and time to complete our study. Please click on or copy and paste the URL below: https://goo.gl/forms/NiIYySfv0ObrPzYJ2 For more information, please contact: Dr. Scott R. Winter winte25e@erau.edu We appreciate your interest and participation! Back to Top Automated Vehicles & Meteorology Summit 23-24 October 2018 Washington, DC The American Meteorological Society (AMS) is organizing the Automated Vehicles and Meteorology Summit on 23-24 October 2018 in Washington, DC. The summit is focused on both surface and aerial transportation, and will bring together stakeholders from across industry, government and academia to discuss the challenges of poor weather affecting in situ and remote sensing capabilities needed to enable fully automated vehicles on the ground and in the air, and to explore development opportunities for reducing risk, accelerating adoption, and supporting operations. https://www.ametsoc.org/index.cfm/ams/meetings-events/ams-meetings/automated-vehicles-meteorology-summit/?utm_source=Subscribers&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Newsletter&_zs=R0nfc1&_zl=4XJ65 Back to Top Back to Top NTSB Basic Aircraft Accident Investigation Course (AS101) This two-week course being held at the National Transportation Safety Board Training Center in Ashburn Virginia on September 17-28, 2018 provides participants with a comprehensive overview of the procedures and methods used and the skills required to investigate an aircraft accident. Examples from recent investigations will be used to demonstrate particular aspects of the investigative process. Instructors include: NTSB Investigators, Aircraft Manufacturer Investigators, and Industry professionals. Attendees will have the opportunity to practice their investigative skills through several hands-on wreckage examinations. Upon completion of this course the participant will be able to: • Discuss the entire NTSB investigative process, from when the NTSB receives the initial notification that an accident has occurred through the issuance of the final report and determination of the accident's probable cause • Define the five major aspects of site management at an accident scene • Identify how safety recommendations - the primary accomplishments of an accident investigation - are developed and issued • Identify what questions to ask accident witnesses to elicit the most accurate information • Distinguish the difference between structural failures that may have caused the accident and structural damage that occurred as a result of the accident • Confidently interact with the media at the accident site and during the on-going investigation For further information and to register for the course, please visit: https://www.ntsb.gov/Training_Center/Pages/2018/AS101.aspx Back to Top How do you track safety? Take the Safety Performance Survey: flightsafety.org/safetysurvey Why are we conducting a survey? Flight Safety Foundation is developing a Global Safety Information Project (GSIP) Safety Performance Monitoring Handbook to provide guidance and best practices for safety performance monitoring. Your survey responses will be instrumental in our data-driven development process. Who should take the survey? We encourage responses from employees of ANSPs, airline/aircraft operators, airports, manufacturers, maintenance organizations, training organizations, and regulators. Simply visit flightsafety.org/safetysurvey to participate. What is GSIP? GSIP is a worldwide initiative that guides the aviation community's response to challenges that may emerge from safety data collection and processing systems. Learn more about GSIP at flightsafety.org/gsip. Back to Top Title: Internal Evaluation Program Auditor I Job Code: 6921 Department: Safety Reports To: Manager of Internal Evaluations What does an Internal Evaluation Program Auditor do for Allegiant? Perform evaluations in accordance with department schedule and special evaluations as directed by the Mgr. of Internal Evaluations. What are some of the daily duties of an Internal Evaluation Program Auditor? • Performs scheduled and special evaluations, including identifying and defining issues, reviewing and analyzing evidence, and documenting findings and concerns • Collect objective evidence necessary to substantiate findings or concerns • Prepares evaluation reports • Recommends solutions to findings or concerns • Monitors the development and implementation of corrective action plans • Maintains and updates internal evaluation files • Verifies the implementation of solutions and corrective action plans What are the minimum requirements to be an Internal Evaluation Program Auditor? • A & P certificate preferred • Pilot certificate, A & P certificate, or Dispatch certificate or • 1 year of auditing experience • Work experience in 14 CFR Part 121 air carrier operations: stations, training, quality control, maintenance, operations, safety or a combination thereof preferred • Working knowledge of SMS, DOD principles and the FAA SAS DCTs required • Previous experience maintaining and enhancing corporate safety standards and safe operation practices preferred • Proficient verbal, written, and presentation communication skills • Bachelor's degree in related field preferred • Certified Quality Auditor preferred What other skills, knowledge, and qualifications are needed to be an Internal Evaluation Program Auditor? • Proficient verbal, written, and presentation communication skills • Must pass a background check and pre-employment drug screen • Must have authorization to work in the U.S. as defined in the Immigrations Act of 1986 What are the physical requirements of an Internal Evaluation Program Auditor? • Office environment APPLY HERE Allegiant Travel Company is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, marital status, military service status, protected veterans, union/non-union activity, citizenship status, or other characteristic protected by state or federal law or local ordinance. EEO/AA/Minority/Female/Veteran/Disability Allegiant supports a healthy, non-smoking work environment. Back to Top Litigation Associate - Aviation and Aerospace Clyde & Co is a leading, sector-focused global law firm with 415 partners, 2,200 legal professionals and 3,800 staff in 52 offices and associated offices on six continents. The firm specializes in the sectors that move, build and power our connected world and the insurance that underpins it, namely: transportation, infrastructure, energy, trade & commodities and insurance. The Los Angeles and San Francisco offices have an opportunity for a mid-level associate (JD 2014 - 2012) to join our aviation, aerospace and transportation litigation and regulatory practice. Our team is passionate about our practice and committed to efficiently and effectively meeting litigation and client driven deadlines. Experience in the field of aviation and/or products liability is a plus, but not required. Discovery and law and motion practice experience is desired. Preferred candidates will possess the following skills and characteristics: • Strong work ethic • Superior writing skills • Attention to detail • Strong organization and time management skills • Capable of working within a team • Excellent academic credentials and work history • Admitted to CA Bar Please submit cover letter, resume, writing sample and transcript HERE. We value diversity in our work place and it is the policy of the Firm to recruit, hire, promote, reassign, compensate and train highly qualified persons without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, age, disability or any other basis protected by applicable law. Curt Lewis