Flight Safety Information September 5, 2018 - No. 181 In This Issue Incident: KLM B789 near Donegal on Sep 4th 2018, hydraulic fault Incident: Rouge B763 near New York on Aug 28th 2018, pilot incapacitated Accident: Vanilla A320 near Miyazaki on Aug 27th 2018, turbulence injures flight attendant Incident: RwandAir B737 near Cape Town on Sep 2nd 2018, loss of cabin pressure Flight school involved in helicopter crash at John Wayne Airport also operated copter in fatal Newport crash September/October 2018 Issue of FAA Safety Briefing Magazine LIBIK Fire Suppression Kits for the Cabin and Flight Deck. NTSB Balloon Recommendations Should Have Been a No-Brainer, Safety Experts Say Kathmandu airport scare after plane skids off runway Industry To Tackle Fuel Contamination Problem Pilot has 'no doubt' drone deliberately tried to collide with aircraft in near-miss (UK) PNG Exceeds Global Aviation Safety Plan Target FAA Commemorates 60 Years of Safety CAAi Launch New Risk-Based Oversight and Surveillance Training Course FAA: White-tailed Deer No.1 Strike Hazard NBAA Says Business Aviation Salaries Up Report: Genghis Khan Airlines Close to Taking First Flight CEO of Pakistan's national airline steps down on order of top court Belgium's VLM Airlines goes into liquidation Russia is Building Its Own V-22 Osprey College or $70,000 a year? Aviation industry scrambles for mechanics as retirements loom India soars above global average in hiring female airline pilots Unmanned Safety Institute's Drone Curriculum Approved by the State of California That hole in the International Space Station was caused by a drill, not a meteorite Japan to build SPACE ELEVATOR connected to Pacific Ocean platform RESEARCH STUDY 2018 International Aviation Safety and Education Summit 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? Incident: KLM B789 near Donegal on Sep 4th 2018, hydraulic fault A KLM Boeing 787-900, registration PH-BHF performing flight KL-661 from Amsterdam (Netherlands) to Houston Intercontinental,TX (USA), was enroute at FL340 about 80nm west of Donegal (Ireland) when the crew decided to return to Amsterdam reporting a minor techncial problem. The aircraft descended to FL320 for the way back and landed safely on Amsterdam's runway 27 about 90 minutes after the decision to return and stopped on the runway. Emergency services reported the gear doors were hanging down, the crew advised they did have a hydraulic fault. The crew shut the engines down for an inspection by the emergency services and subsequently reported that the brakes were becoming quite warm. The aircraft was towed to the apron about 20 minutes after landing. A replacement Boeing 787-900 registration PH-BHL is estimated to reach Houston with a delay of 6.5 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4bd3fe63&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Rouge B763 near New York on Aug 28th 2018, pilot incapacitated An Air Canada Rouge Boeing 767-300, registration C-GBZR performing flight RV-1712 from Toronto,ON (Canada) to Punta Cana (Dominican Republic) with 250 passengers and 8 crew, was enroute at FL330 about 60nm southeast of New York JFK,NY (USA) when one of the pilots became incapacitated prompting the other pilot to declare PAN PAN and to return to Toronto where the aircraft landed safely about 70 minutes later. The Canadian TSB reported shortly after the aircraft had levelled off at cruise level one of the pilots began to feel ill and subsequently became incapacited. The other pilot returned the aircraft to Toronto. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/ROU1712/history/20180828/1520Z/CYYZ/MDPC http://avherald.com/h?article=4bd3f394&opt=0 Back to Top Accident: Vanilla A320 near Miyazaki on Aug 27th 2018, turbulence injures flight attendant A Vanilla Air Airbus A320-200, registration JA14VA performing flight JW-873 from Osaka to Amami (Japan), was enroute at FL300 about 220nm north of Amami and about 35nm east of Miyazaki (Japan) at about 01:50Z when the aircraft encountered turbulence causing one flight attendant to fall and receive injuries. The aircraft continued to Amami for a safe landing. The JTSB reported the flight attendant received a caudal fracture. An investigation has been opened. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground in Amami for about 1:45 hours, then continued service to Tokyo. http://avherald.com/h?article=4bd3ed6d&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: RwandAir B737 near Cape Town on Sep 2nd 2018, loss of cabin pressure A RwandAir Boeing 737-700, registration 9XR-WJ performing flight WB-110 from Harare (Zimbabwe) to Cape Town (South Africa), was enroute at FL380 about 210nm northnortheast of Cape Town when the crew initiated an emergency descent due to the loss of cabin pressure. The crew stopped the descent at FL180 after regaining control of the cabin pressure and continued to Cape Town for a safe landing about 45 minutes after leaving FL380. The aircraft remained on the ground in Cape Town for about 4.5 hours, then departed for the return flight WB-111 to Kigali (Rwanda) skipping the intermediate stop at Harare and climbing to maximum cruise level 250. The aircraft landed in Kigali with a delay of about 4 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4bd35cb1&opt=0 Back to Top Flight school involved in helicopter crash at John Wayne Airport also operated copter in fatal Newport crash, under different name A small helicopter lies on its side after crashing Monday at John Wayne Airport. Two people aboard suffered minor injuries. (Orange County Fire Authority) A flight school that owned and operated a small helicopter that crashed Monday at John Wayne Airport, injuring the two people onboard, is the company that under a different name operated a helicopter that crashed into a Newport Beach home in January, killing three people and injuring two others. In Monday's incident, a flight instructor and a student suffered minor injuries when the two-seat Guimbal Cabri G2 they were flying crashed and tipped onto its side, officials said. The chopper was owned and operated by One Above Aviation, formerly named Revolution Aviation, according to John Wayne Airport spokeswoman Deanne Thompson. The school did not respond to a request for comment. Fire officials responded to the scene just after 3:30 p.m. Monday. The two injured people, who were not identified, were treated and declined further medical attention, according to fire officials. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash. Thompson said no mayday call came from the chopper before it went down. Thompson said she had no information about the copter's planned route. Firefighters assist as a crane lifts a helicopter from a runway after it crashed Monday at John Wayne Airport. The helicopter crashed along Runway 20L at Taxiway J, according to John Wayne Airport officials. The runway, intended for small aircraft, was shut down for about an hour and a half as it was cleaned of oil spilled during the crash, officials said. Airport officials said there was no disruption to commercial flights. The crash occurred about seven months after a four-seat Robinson R44 helicopter operated by Revolution Aviation slammed into a house in Newport Beach's Bayview Terrace community on Jan. 30. Three people aboard the copter died, including Newport resident Joseph Anthony Tena, 60, who had an ownership stake in Revolution Aviation. Revolution Aviation was the focus of a Federal Aviation Administration investigation last year into allegations of improper maintenance, including on the copter that crashed in Newport, documents show. Another copter Revolution Aviation operated crashed at Long Beach Airport in September 2017, shortly after the FAA's Long Beach flight standards district office inspected five of the helicopters the company operated, as well as all its aircraft operations and maintenance records, according to an FAA memo in August last year. In the Long Beach incident, a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter began to shift to the left and right at an altitude of about 40 feet and suddenly and rapidly descended before hitting the ground and rolling onto its side, according to a preliminary NTSB report. The student pilot suffered serious injuries, the report said. Reviews of the copters that eventually went down in Long Beach and Newport Beach found maintenance issues that did not meet FAA or maintenance manual standards, according to the memo. Jeffrey Rafferty, who at the time was the principal maintenance inspector with the FAA in Long Beach, wrote in the memo that "Revolution Aviation has addressed all of the discrepancies brought to their attention by the [aviation safety inspectors] during the investigation and put new processes in place to reduce the likeliness of reoccurrence." FAA spokesman Allen Kenitzer said Tuesday that there is an ongoing investigation into One Above Aviation, though it was unclear whether it is a new investigation or a continuation of the one in 2017. http://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/tn-dpt-me-jwa-crash-20180904-story.html ************** Date: 03-SEP-2018 Time: 15:36 Type: Guimbal Cabri G2 Owner/operator: Spitzer Helicopter LLC Registration: N401SH C/n / msn: 1195 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Substantial Location: John Wayne-Orange County Airport (KSNA), Santa Ana, CA - United States of America Phase: Take off Nature: Training Departure airport: John Wayne-Orange Co (KSNA) Destination airport: Narrative: The aircraft experienced contact with the taxiway surface and subsequent rollover during a takeoff attempt at John Wayne-Orange County Airport (KSNA), Santa Ana, California. The helicopter sustained substantial damage and the two pilots onboard received minor injuries. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=215038 Back to Top Back to Top Back to Top NTSB Balloon Recommendations Should Have Been a No-Brainer, Safety Experts Say * Texas accident pilot would have been denied an FAA medical. NTSB photo of the accident balloon before the accident. Remember that terrible hot-air balloon crash in central Texas a few summers back? The accident claimed 16 lives, including the pilot's, when the balloon struck high-tension power lines following a short, early-morning flight. The crash claimed more lives than any other aviation accident in the previous seven years. Not to mention this was only a balloon, not a Part 121 or Part 135 commercial aircraft operation. At the conclusion of the NTSB's investigation, the Board had no doubts about the most likely cause of the accident, "the pilot's pattern of poor decision-making that led to the initial launch, continued flight in fog and above clouds, and descent near or through clouds that decreased the pilot's ability to see and avoid obstacles." Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impaired medical conditions. The Board said, "The accident pilot had been diagnosed with ... depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, known to cause cognitive deficits that may affect decision-making and, ultimately, safety of flight." Additionally, the NTSB learned, "the pilot had several medical conditions that would have precluded his legal ability to operate any aircraft, including a balloon. He was also taking medications prohibited when piloting. He had been arrested on four occasions for driving under the influence." In all likelihood, any normal aviation medical examiner would have deferred or denied this pilot's application for a medical certificate. Strangely however, unlike every other airman in the system who accepts money for their services, commercial balloon pilots are not required to maintain an FAA medical certificate. The reason for this loophole is still unknown. The NTSB recommended the agency dig into this issue, which the FAA agreed to do. In his closing statement to the public hearing on the accident last fall, NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt said, "Today's recommendations, if acted on, will help to bring the safety standards and oversight of commercial passenger carrying balloon operations closer to those that apply to powered flight. Balloon pilots, their passengers, and their passengers' loved ones, deserve no less". The NTSB and the FAA have exchanged documents that prove the agency is reviewing its oversight of the commercial balloon industry and the possibility of demanding that commercial balloon pilots hold an FAA medical. The last official correspondence between FAA and the NTSB was in December 2017. Considering how the media these days refuses to let go of any transportation incident or accident, I'm left wondering why people paying good money for a balloon ride, people who assume their pilot has the right stuff, are no safer today than they were during that foggy morning takeoff in July 2016. https://www.flyingmag.com/NTSB-concludes-investigation-fatal-texas-balloon-crash Back to Top Kathmandu airport scare after plane skids off runway * The incident comes amid mounting safety concerns over cracks on the runway's surface Nepal has a poor air safety record and Nepal-based airlines are banned from flying in European Union airspace. Kathmandu: Nepal's only international airport had to be closed for some 11 hours after a domestic aircraft skidded off the recently repaired runway, officials said Sunday. The Jetstream 41 was flying in to Kathmandu from Nepalgunj in southern Nepal late Saturday with 21 passengers onboard when it suffered a runway excursion before coming to a halt onto the adjoining grassland. Nobody was hurt in the incident but incoming and outgoing flights to Nepal's sole international air gateway were diverted while authorities tried to remove the aircraft, which had become stuck in mud. The airport reopened at 8 am Sunday after the aircraft was moved. The incident comes amid mounting safety concerns over cracks on the runway's surface, which was repaired only recently. "An investigation committee will look into the cause of the incident. Other flights have safely landed, we don't believe the runway was an issue," the airport's general manager Raj Kumar Chettri told AFP. Nepal has a poor air safety record and Nepal-based airlines are banned from flying in European Union airspace. In April a Malaysian jet with 139 people on board aborted its takeoff and skidded off the runway. In March, a US-Bangla Airways plane crashed near the airport, killing 51 people. The Himalayan nation has some of the world's most remote and tricky runways, flanked by snow-capped peaks with approaches that pose a challenge for even accomplished pilots. https://gulfnews.com/news/asia/nepal/kathmandu-airport-scare-after-plane-skids-off-runway-1.2273652 Back to Top Industry To Tackle Fuel Contamination Problem NBAA's safety committee will join in an industry hazard assessment on the risks associated with fuel contamination, after the August 14 incident that nearly downed a Dassault Falcon 900EX in Florida, the second such incident involving diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) contamination in less than a year. "That will include leveraging subject matter experts and industry partners to identify hazard causes and develop targeted mitigations, as well as outreach to FBOs and fuel providers to review their fuel and additive handling practices," said NBAA safety committee vice chair Tom Huff. In December 2017, following the first confirmed instance of DEF-tainted fuel, which occurred in Omaha, Nebraska, NATA released a DEF contamination prevention training course through its Safety 1st Supplemental Safety Training program. It was provided free to anyone in the industry to help prevent future incidents. The FAA also issued a special airworthiness information bulletin (SAIB) on the matter. "Despite that advisory, this latest incident demonstrates that while rare, these incidents do occur, and highlights the need to closely examine methods to mitigate and eliminate this potential hazard," said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. Meanwhile, Fair Wind Air Charter, which operated the Falcon 900EX that made an emergency return to Miami Opa-Locka Airport after experiencing clogged fuel filters and engine shutdowns, is calling for aviation industry groups, lawmakers, and federal regulatory agencies to take immediate action to eliminate the risk and associated hazards tied to this type of jet fuel contamination. In hopes of facilitating necessary recommendations and actions to achieve a system-wide, long-term solution, the Florida-based company noted it has reached out to the heads of the U.S. Department of Transportation, FAA, and EPA, as well as elected officials in Congress, and industry groups such as NBAA, NATA, and AOPA. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2018-09-04/industry-tackle-fuel-contamination- problem Back to Top Pilot has 'no doubt' drone deliberately tried to collide with aircraft in near-miss (UK) * Near-misses between drones and aircrafts rose from six events in 2014 to 93 last year Gadget was flying just 20 feet below plane when it avoided mid-air collision, as aircraft came in to land at RAF Northolt, west London A drone was flown towards a light aircraft in a bid to cause a mid-air collision, a pilot has claimed. The near-miss happen as the PA31 aircraft was coming in to land at RAF Northolt, west London, on 11 June. The gadget was flown just 20 feet below the plane. A report by the UK Airprox Board (UKAB), based on the recollection of the PA31 pilot, stated: "He lost sight of it under the nose and looked down at the wing root and identified it as a small white drone of the lightweight hobbyist type, it was about 20 feet below the aircraft as he passed over it. "He reported that he had no doubt that it was being deliberately flown under the flight path in an attempt to collide with an aircraft." The document went on: "He reported that the drone had passed close to his right wing and that it was possibly launched from a park." The UKAB classified the incident as having the most serious degree of risk. Research part-funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) found that a drone weighing 400 grams could smash a helicopter windscreen, and one weighing 2kg could critically damage an airliner's windscreen. The number of near-misses between drones and aircraft has risen from six events in 2014 to 93 last year. The DfT is considering banning children from owning drones weighing at least 250 grams as part of a safety crackdown. Children would only be able to fly the heavier devices if they were owned and registered by an adult. Other measures included in a consultation launched last month include giving police the power to issue on- the-spot fines of up to £300 for misuse and the ability to seize drones being used irresponsibly. The DfT is also considering using new technology to protect public events, critical national infrastructure and prisons from drone disruption. Drones are banned from flying above 400 feet, and within one kilometre (0.6 miles) of airport boundaries. Anyone breaching these restrictions faces penalties of up to £2,500 and could also be charged with recklessly or negligently acting in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft or any person in an aircraft, which has a maximum sentence of five years in prison. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/drone-pilot-near-miss-collision-raf-aircraft-west- london-a8519191.html Back to Top PNG Exceeds Global Aviation Safety Plan Target Apart From Fiji, Papua New Guinea Has Now Achieved And Exceeded The Global Aviation Safety Plan Target Of 60.1 Per Cent. This is regional settings among the smaller island countries of the South Pacific region beside Australia and New Zealand. "Today, I am very proud to inform PNG that we have been given an updated overall,'' Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said. Effective Implementation (EI) score of 62.16 per cent from the previous 50.4 per cent, he said. He said the National Executive Council has endorsed the report submitted by the Minister for Civil Aviation, Alfred Manase, on the recent International Civil Aviation Organization (lCAO) Coordinated Validation Mission on the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. ''The important thing coming out also from the lCAD validation mission is that they found no issues with our safety oversight system that warrants a Significant Safety Concerns (SSCS) to be served on Papua New Guinea," Mr O'Neill said. The effective implementation score or rating of 62.16 per cent reflects the level of implementation of the eight safety Critical Elements and is an indication of a CASA PNG's capability for safety oversight over the civil aviation system in Papua New Guinea. These critical elements are building blocks upon which an effective safety oversight system is based and they are the safety defence tools of a safety oversight system. The bigger picture in aviation safety, this result also allows CASA PNG to commence its implementation of the State Safety program framework based on data collection as required under the Beijing Declaration and in the longer term implement advanced safety oversight including predictive risk management. Furthermore, the result will also kick start CASA PNG's goal under its Corporate Plan to pursue Category 1 approval from the U.S Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) which when obtained will enable commencement of direct commercial air operations between the United States of America and Papua New Guinea. Mr Manase commended the CASA Board, management and staff for the tireless work that they have undertaken to take PNG to this global arena of aviation. The organisation set itself a near term objectives and priorities to achieve a 60% or above t he effective Implementation of the critical elements which has now been realised. They are now aligning their priorities with the indicators contained In the Beijing Declaration which has also been Included in the MTDP III. "As Minister responsible for Civil Aviation, I am pleased that PNG is a leader in the South Pacific Region and will continue to support and Implement the lCAO initiative of "No Country Left Behind" by assisting the Smaller Islands States of the Pacific Region,'' Mr Manase said. This has commenced with the signing of a MoU by National Airport Corporation with Solomon Islands Minister of Communication and Aviation recently. "The Government will continue to provide the support to CASA to ensure that PNG continues to progressively enhance safety oversight capability to achieve a score equal to or higher than the Global Average EI by 2022 and implement the State Safety Program (SSP) by 2025 as required under the Asia Pacific Beijing Declaration," said Mr Manase. He said at the political level, the Government will continue to ensure that our commitment to global aviation safety and security contained in the Beijing Declaration is met. https://postcourier.com.pg/png-exceeds-global-aviation-safety-plan-target/ Back to Top FAA Commemorates 60 Years of Safety Past and present FAA leaders and employees gathered in Washington, DC on August 30, 2018 to commemorate the FAA's 60th Anniversary. The theme of the event was Remember, Respect, Renew. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao kicked off the event and praised the FAA employees' efforts over the past six decades. She expressed her support of FAA's safety efforts by stating, "I stand with you today to renew our shared commitment to safety in the skies as our number one priority." FAA Acting Administrator Dan Elwell identified emerging safety and technological challenges faced by the FAA, including drones, supersonic aircraft, and commercial space launches. He reaffirmed his confidence in FAA's employees' abilities to meet these challenges and further acknowledged employees' efforts in continuous safety improvements. Elwell said, "I am especially proud that your exceptional skills and accomplishments will lead us well into the next generation." A short video captures highlights of the 60th Anniversary event. https://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12428222/faa-commemorates-60-years-of-safety Back to Top CAAi Launch New Risk-Based Oversight and Surveillance Training Course The training arm of the UK Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA), CAA International (CAAi), has announced a brand new, two-day training course on risk-based oversight and surveillance. Risk-Based Oversight, or Performance-Based Regulation as it is commonly known in the UK, is an oversight system which compliments compliance-based auditing. A risk-based approach allows regulators to fully identify and understand risks, allowing for a better allocation of CAA resource to directly influence and mitigate those conditions that threaten aviation safety the most. In 2014, the UK CAA was one of the first aviation regulators to adopt a risk-based approach. The UK CAA recognised that with more demand being placed on the aviation industry, compliance-based oversight was not enough to fully manage the safety risks that exist. This new course, developed by active UK CAA regulators, aims to provide a foundation of risk and performance-based oversight principles. Delegates will learn how to measure an entity to determine baseline oversight levels, identify the key components of a risk-based oversight audit cycle, the importance of the collaboration between the entity oversight team members to fully determine the risk picture and the analytical techniques needed to produce safety performance indicators to monitor trends and identify risks. Mark Vincent, Risk-Based Oversight Manager at the UK CAA said, "Global interest in risk-based or performance-based oversight has made steady progress over the past few years. With both EASA and ICAO advocating a risk-based approach, many more regulators are keen to adopt. Using the UK's approach to risk- based oversight and lessons learnt, this course will allow aviation professionals to explore risk-based oversight principles in practice and give fellow regulators the confidence to develop and implement risk-based surveillance in their industry. The CAA's first Risk Based Oversight & Surveillance course will take place at the CAA's London Gatwick training facilities in November 2018. https://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12428199/caai-launch-new-risk-based-oversight-and- surveillance-training-course Back to Top FAA: White-tailed Deer No.1 Strike Hazard In a recent Advisory Circular on wildlife hazards to aviation (PDF), the FAA ranked the white-tailed deer as the most dangerous animal, with 84 percent of deer strikes causing damage to the aircraft. The rest of the top 10 hazards are birds, especially the snow goose, turkey vulture and Canada goose. The only other mammal in the top 20 is the coyote. The FAA notes that the ranking includes only species with at least 100 reported strikes of civil aircraft, and the hazard scores are based on the amount of damage and the effect on the flight. Several hazardous species, such as great egrets, black vultures and white pelicans, are not ranked only because they had not been struck often enough to make the cut. "Although these hazard rankings can help focus hazardous wildlife management efforts on those species or groups that represent the greatest threats to safe air operations in the airport environment," the AC notes, "care should be given to consider any hazardous species of significant mass, flocking or flight behavior, or habitat preferences [as a danger to aircraft]." In 2016, pilots reported 13,408 wildlife strikes. Reports can be submitted online or via mobile phone. https://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/FAA-White-tailed-Deer-No1-Strike-Hazard-231482-1.html Back to Top NBAA Says Business Aviation Salaries Up The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) released the results of its annual Compensation Survey last week, showing an overall increase in pay for industry employees of 3 to 4 percent on average compared to the 2017 survey results. The 2018 survey collected salary data on 16 job descriptions from 790 member companies that represent 4,130 employees. "The survey shows that our members are adjusting and keeping up with industry trends," said Peter Korns, NBAA's manager of tax, operations and workforce engagement. "As our industry continues to work to attract and retain quality talent we are seeing real efforts to fairly compensate pilots and mechanics who may otherwise seek out alternative opportunities." According to NBAA's data, the category experiencing the largest salary increase was aviation department managers (non-flying), where compensation was up 30 percent from the 2017 numbers for an average of $205,000. Maintenance foremen salaries increased 14 percent to $127,000 and senior captains saw a 12 percent increase to average $164,000. The survey wasn't all good news, however. Line service personnel average salary dropped by 10 percent and dispatcher salaries experienced a 12 percent decrease, which NBAA says is cause for further analysis. https://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/NBAA-Says-Business-Aviation-Salaries-Up-231463-1.html Back to Top Report: Genghis Khan Airlines Close to Taking First Flight The C919 roll out marked a milestone for Comac (Photo: Zhang Anchao/Comac) According to XinHua, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has approved Genghis Khan Airlines to start operations. The brand-new carrier may commence the flight operations as early as early 2019. Genghis Khan Airlines was established in 2015 and selected Hohhot Airport as their main hub. Hohhot is the capital city of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China, which is located at northwest of Beijing and is just a short 90-minute flight away. Inner Mongolia has an area of 1.183 million kilometers squared. In recent years, an improvement in airport facilities has not attracted carriers as originally planned. According to the company proposal, the airline will use Chinese-manufactured Comac ARJ21 aircraft and hope to operate a fleet of 25 the type. It plans to fly 40 destinations and 60 routes within the first five years. In the next eight years, a fleet of 50 aircraft are expected and the airline has set a goal to reach 80 destinations and 150 routes, the route map will be covering the country's major cities, Mongolia and Russia. Inner Mongolia has 28 civil airports, the most airports in a region of China. In 2017, 58 airlines served across the region, reaching 116 destinations and 426 routes, including 37 international route and 21 destinations. In the first seven months of 2018, the total passengers volume of the airports in Inner Mongolia was 14.28 million, an increase of 17.6 percent over the same period last year. Expecting rapid economic growth, the number of airports will 50 by 2030. At that point, Hohhot will become a major hub for the region.The airline has already employed maintenance personal, safety regulators, safety management teams and customer services agents. Hao Yutao, the chairman of Genghis Khan, said, "the airline has reached an agreement with Commercial Aircraft Cooperation Of China Ltd (COMAC). The company is going to setup Aero institute, aircraft maintenance center and training center in the region and support surrounding airports." As a result of the rapid economic growth in China, the airline network of Inner Mongolia can't meet popular demand. Genghis Khan Airlines commencing service may solve the region's problems, but the airline has to face competition with the high speed train in the long run, meaning the future is cautiously optimistic. https://airlinegeeks.com/2018/09/01/report-genghis-khan-airlines-close-to-taking-first-flight/ Back to Top CEO of Pakistan's national airline steps down on order of top court ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - The chief executive of Pakistan's loss-making national airline on Tuesday stepped down on the order of the Supreme Court, which has ruled his appointment was made in violation of the rules and regulations. The court order was the latest blow to Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), which was reported last year to be losing up to $30 million per month, as well as the latest sign of the Supreme Court taking a hands-on approach to government-run businesses. PIA named Musharraf Rasool Cyan as its chief executive late last year, entrusting him with turning around the national carrier's fortunes. Cyan, who the PIA had described as a "professional technocrat", was tasked by the outgoing government of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to improve the carrier's reputation, which was dented by allegations of financial mismanagement. A three-member panel headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar ruled on Monday that Cyan neither met the criteria for the job, nor had any aviation experience. The PIA's counsel Naeem Bukhari argued aviation experience wasn't mandatory for the job, which the court rejected. One of the three judges remarked that Cyan's appointed was illegal because he got the job due to his links with an adviser to the former prime minister. The PIA's spokesman, Mashhood Tajwar, told Reuters by phone that the "court decision has been implemented in letter and spirit." He said Cyan had relinquished his duties. Tajwar said the airlines' board of governors would find an interim CEO until a permanent replacement was made. Cyan's appointment followed the removal of the PIA's German chief executive Bernd Hildenbrand, who was ousted in April last year after authorities launched a corruption investigation into the leasing of planes from a Sri Lankan carrier. In an interview with Reuters in March 2017, Hildenbrand said PIA was losing about 3.1 billion rupees ($30 million) per month, while Gulf-based rivals such as Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines were eating into its market share. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-airlines-ceo/ceo-of-pakistans-national-airline-steps-down-on- order-of-top-court-idUSKCN1LK18O Back to Top Belgium's VLM Airlines goes into liquidation Belgian carrier VLM Airlines went into liquidation Aug. 31, the second European regional airline to dissolve last week after Swiss regional SkyWork Airlines ceased operations Aug. 29. VLM owner Dutch investment company SHS Aviation, the majority shareholder of SHS Antwerp Aviation (VLM), made the decision to dissolve the airline at an extraordinary general assembly. In 2017, the Antwerp-based airline was resurrected with new investors and management, having collapsed into bankruptcy the previous year. Earlier in August, it was announced VLM would discontinue flights to Aberdeen, Birmingham (UK), Cologne- Bonn (Germany), Maribor (Slovenia), Munich and Rostock (Germany), and that VLM would henceforth focus on charter and ACMI business, as well as the Antwerp (Belgium)-London City Airport (UK) and Antwerp- Zurich (Switzerland) routes. Also, scheduled flights from Antwerp to London City and Zurich have been canceled. The settlement takes effect immediately. VLM operated five 50-seat Fokker F50s. Youri Steverlynck and Birgitta Van Itterbeek (Monard Law) were appointed as liquidators. They are responsible for the contacts with potential buyers. http://atwonline.com/airlines/belgium-s-vlm-airlines-goes-liquidation Back to Top Russia is Building Its Own V-22 Osprey * But is it a good idea? Russia is building a tilt-rotor transport aircraft that could be Moscow's equivalent of America's V-22 Osprey. "Russian Airborne Forces are working on the possibility of using convertiplanes to deliver paratroopers on the battlefield," according to Sputnik News, citing an unnamed Russian defense industry source. "Before the end of September, it is planned to get the customer specification and start the experimental design work for this aircraft," the source said. Sputnik News didn't provide any more details. But Russia has previously announced other tilt-rotor projects. In October 2017, arms maker Rostec said it would be building a prototype of Russia's first electric helicopter as a tilt-rotor aircraft. It will be based on the unmanned VRT30 tilt-rotor, or "convertiplane." "The helicopter, which is expected to be ready in 2019, will have a takeoff weight of 1.5 tons and be completely electric," the company said. "The main aim of the company is to create a low noise, zero emissions machine that is efficient and reliable." Tilt-rotor aircraft are a somewhat complicated marriage of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter: propellers on the wings can swivel horizontally to enable the aircraft to fly like a normal fixed-wing aircraft, or positioned vertically like the rotors on a helicopter. In theory, this allows a tilt-rotor to fly at the higher speeds and fuel efficiency of fixed-wing aircraft, but then transform into a helicopter for landing or hovering. But a 1.5-ton aircraft wouldn't be much use for Russian paratroopers, except perhaps for reconnaissance, or transport of small cargoes. The U.S. V-22 Osprey, the prime example of a military tilt-rotor aircraft, weighs about 17 tons and carries 24 troops or 10 tons of cargo. Used primarily by the U.S. Marine Corps as a transport, the Osprey program has been long dogged by questions over the safety, reliability and survivability of the design. So will Russia build an aircraft similar to the Osprey? Interestingly, Russian media specified that the tilt-rotor would be used by Russia's airborne forces. Russian paratroopers embrace the air assault concept: the Mi-24 Hind helicopter is designated by Russia as an air assault helicopter, a heavily armed and armored "flying infantry fighting vehicle" that can carry eight paratroopers behind enemy lines, and then support them with a massive arsenal of cannon, rockets and missiles. Despite plans to turn the V-22 into a gunship , the Osprey could hardly be described as heavily armed or armored, and certainly not by Russian standards. Russia's paratrooper force, the VDV, has traditionally spearheaded Moscow's foreign conflicts, including Afghanistan and Syria. A transport aircraft/helicopter that could land troops to seize an airhead, and then provide them with heavy fire support, would be invaluable. On the other hand, the harsh laws of physics might make such a heavy design unfeasible. For now, Russia's tilt-rotor remains an unknown. https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/russia-building-its-own-v-22-osprey-30507 Back to Top College or $70,000 a year? Aviation industry scrambles for mechanics as retirements loom * Boeing estimates the aviation industry will need 754,000 new aircraft technicians over the next 20 years. * About 30 percent of the current ranks of aircraft mechanics are at or near retirement age and they're retiring faster than they're being replaced, the Aviation Technician Education Council said. * Young mechanics can quickly earn $72,000 a year. Thomas Maharis of Queens recently started working for Delta, repairing the airline's cabins, at a starting rate of about $25 an hour. The aviation industry needs to hire thousands of more people like Thomas Maharis. Maharis, recent high school graduate who lives with his family in the Howard Beach section of Queens, is earning $25 an hour as an entry-level aircraft technician. In four overnight shifts a week at nearby John F. Kennedy International Airport, Maharis, 19, repairs aircraft cabins after planes are done flying for the day for Delta Air Lines, where he started working in June. One recent task: Cutting out a fabric eye mask that got stuck in a seat track. His assignments vary, depending on what breaks, or how rough passengers are with the aircraft. "There's plenty of stuff people do to the vents," he said. Airlines, manufacturers of airplanes like Boeing and aircraft engine-makers such as General Electric, are racing to ensure a pipeline of technicians to fix and maintain their aircraft as a wave of current employees approach retirement. In July, Boeing, the world's largest aircraft manufacturer, forecast that the aviation industry will need 754,000 new aircraft technicians over the next two decades, more than 80 percent of them for the growing commercial aviation sector. That crunch comes amid a wave of retirements that's sweeping other corners of the industry like pilots. About 30 percent of aircraft mechanics are at or near retirement age and they're retiring faster than they're being replaced, the Aviation Technician Education Council, said in December. The average age of a mechanic is 51. More than a quarter are older than 64 years. The next generation After a couple of years of experience, Maharis can earn $35 an hour fixing the body of the airplane, which works out to about $72,000 a year. The median annual U.S. household income in 2016 was $59,039, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Maharis grew up flying remote-controlled airplanes and said he knew from childhood that he wanted to work in aviation. He said he's considering going to college online but is so far holding off. Maharis is a graduate of Aviation High School in the Long Island City section of Queens. The school has been training students to become aircraft mechanics since the 1930s, and puts students on track to receive licenses required by the Federal Aviation Administration to fix engines and airframes. Some students stay on for a fifth year. At their graduation ceremony students don't wear traditional mortarboards and tassels. Instead they wear dark blue pants and light blue button-down shirts, similar to a mechanics uniform. Since they don't wear mortar boards, they threw paper airplanes in the air as the principal presented the class of 2018. Students have a grueling schedule because of the additional training. Some students even travel out to JFK to practice on a donated Boeing 727 aircraft, once operated by FedEx. "We are probably the only students in New York City who get upset on snow days," salutatorian Genesis Santana told the crowd at the graduation ceremony, held at sunset at the high school's hangar. "Hashtag: Shop is life." College still rules Companies are laying plans to refill pipelines as demand for airliners, and the constant fixes they require, are growing. Maharis, who graduated in 2017, is an outlier at the biggest public aviation high school in the country, as 80 percent of students go on to college, the traditional path even as crippling student debt continues to grow. "They have been hearing the word 'college' their whole lives," said Aviation High School's principal, Steven Jackson. Irwin Perdomo took two buses and a subway to get to school every day. He just graduated in June but wants to go to college and study aviation law so he can earn more when he enters the field. "I need to finish my education," he said. Jackson said more students are taking and passing their qualifying exams for FAA licenses, however, a sign of increased interest in a job in the field. In the past academic year about 55 percent of the pool of 600 students qualified, up from around 40 percent in the 2016-17 academic year. Recent graduates from the high school were hired by Panasonic and JetBlue Airways, whose headquarters is a short walk from the school. Hundreds of JetBlue mechanics and technicians have graduated from Aviation High School and the New York-based airline operates a mechanics' one-year apprentice program with full- time benefits. Throughout the year, these individuals work on JetBlue's aircraft at hangars in New York and Boston and are promoted, if successful, to technician upon completion, said spokeswoman Tamara Young. In late July, Delta said it would provide $350,000 in grants to nine aviation schools around the country, including Aviation High School. The airline plans to hire 2,000 mechanics over the next decade to cover retirements, said spokesman Drake Castaneda. Students from Aviation High School in Queens learn how to repair and maintain planes using an old FedEx Boeing 727 jet at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens. Other industries are also turning to the school for a pipeline of workers, including the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which runs New York's subway and commuter rail, and even a Queens company that makes hot-water boilers, said Jackson. In another part of the country, General Electric, whose jet engines are among the world's most popular, is scrambling to staff a plant in Lafayette, Indiana, to keep up with demand for airliners around the world. Some of its models are sold out through the middle of the next decade. Last year, some 400 engines came out of the factory, but it wants to ramp that pace to 1,800 in 2019. https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/03/airlines-search-for-young-mechanics-as-retirement-wave-looms.html Back to Top India soars above global average in hiring female airline pilots NEW DELHI (Reuters) - When Shweta Singh wanted to become a pilot in India 20 years ago, she had to first persuade her parents to let her pick an uncommon profession for women, then deal with unwelcoming male colleagues in the cockpit. Iram Khan, 17, practices on a flight simulator as her instructor looks on at the Bombay Flying Club's College of Aviation in Mumbai, India, August 28, 2018. PREUTERS/Danish Siddiqui Today, she says, it would be a much easier career to embrace. More Indian women want to become pilots, and more benefits await them: union-mandated equal pay, a safe workplace, day care services and a booming aviation sector. India has the highest proportion of female commercial pilots in the world at 12 percent, despite the country's patriarchal society, which typically frowns on women in such jobs. "It was difficult," Singh said, recalling her early days of being a pilot. "It was a male-dominated area and not easy to break into." But society is changing, said Singh, a senior trainer at Jet Airways Ltd (JET.NS) on temporary assignment to India's aviation regulator as deputy chief flight operations inspector. The percentage of female pilots in India is twice as high as in most Western countries, including the United States and Australia. Globally, less than 5 percent of pilots are women, according to the International Society of Women Airline Pilots. Demand for pilots globally is surging. Planemaker Boeing Co (BA.N) estimates a need for 790,000 new pilots globally over the next 20 years, double the current workforce, as air travel rises. India is the world's fastest-growing aviation market, with domestic capacity growing 22 percent in the first half of the year, so airlines there are under particular pressure. Recruiting more women is an obvious way to help solve the pilot shortage, but social constraints have worked against that, said Maria Bucur, a professor of history and gender studies at Indiana University. Shweta Singh, a Jet Airways pilot, poses for a picture inside her house in Gurugram, India, September 3, 2018. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi "The training and stressful work needed to become and work as a pilot require choices of women that go against most of the gendered expectations our society has of them at that age: to have babies," she said. EQUAL RIGHTS Because pilot pay is based on seniority and flying hours under union agreements, it is one of the rare professions in India where there is no gender pay gap. The starting salary, including flying allowance, for pilots there is $25,000 to $47,000 a year depending on the airline and type of aircraft. That is similar to the starting salary for corporate lawyers or architects. About 13 percent of the pilots at IndiGo, operated by InterGlobe Aviation Ltd (INGL.NS), are women, up from 10 percent five years ago, the company said. Some of IndiGo's 330 female pilots are also managers. The company provides day care and says it offers pregnant women office duties and an allowance equivalent to what they would have earned flying, helping them "constructively stay engaged with the profession." At SpiceJet Ltd, (SPJT.BO) 12 percent of pilots are women, including some department heads, and there is a mandate to grow that to 33 percent in the next three years, chairman Ajay Singh said this year at the Farnborough Airshow in Britain. The company also gives women a fixed monthly flying schedule. Because everyday safety can be a concern for women in India, airlines offer a pick-up and drop-off service from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Women are accompanied by an armed guard - a practice introduced after a horrific rape in New Delhi in 2012. "It is the safest job. Women are more protected here than in any other place," Singh said. CHANGING SOCIETY A year after graduating from flight school in 2002, Rupinder Kaur struggled to find a job and wondered whether spending 2 million rupees to get her flying license had been the "biggest blunder" of her life. It took a year, she said, but she finally landed a job at a regional airline, Air Deccan. Now, with India's aviation market booming, finding work is easier, says Kaur, 37, a pilot at IndiGo working on secondment with India's aviation regulator as a flight operations instructor. "In India it is generally a rat race, where you choose a profession based on what the majority of people are doing," she said, adding that airlines should ensure women make up a certain percentage of their workforce, especially in piloting. "It is still not that easy for us. We have to give our 200 percent," she said, because women are expected to efficiently manage families and jobs. The stakes are high for the country as a whole. Women contribute 18 percent to India's gross domestic product, and only a quarter of India's workforce is female, according to a report by consultant McKinsey. In China, women contribute 41 percent of the country's economy and make up nearly half the workforce. Recruiting more women to work could help India boost its GDP by 18 percent, or $770 billion, over the usual annual growth, McKinsey said. There are signs that the number of female pilots in India will keep rising. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-pilots-women-analysis/india-soars-above-global-average-in-hiring-female-airline-pilots-idUSKCN1LL0OC Back to Top Unmanned Safety Institute's Drone Curriculum Approved by the State of California CINCINNATI, Ohio, Sept. 4, 2018 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) - Unmanned Safety Institute (USI), the world- leader in remote pilot training and certification, announced today that their Small UAS Safety Certification has been certified by the University of California (UC) A-G program. UC A-G approval will enable high school students to use USI's four-course curriculum to meet admissions requirements to any state education institute. Current program guidelines require students who are applying to the UC school system to complete 15 year-long A-G courses prior to finishing high school. Unmanned Safety Institute The Unmanned Safety Institute's STEM curriculum, which has been approved by several State Departments of Education, is currently being utilized in 20 states across the country, in an effort to establish industry standards for safety training and UAS professional UAS operations as part of the drone industry's workforce development program. To date, USI has trained over 5,000 students in the field of unmanned aerial systems. "Unmanned Safety Institute is incredibly fortunate to be able to support California and its UAS workforce development", said Joshua Olds, President of USI. "We are excited to work with schools like California Baptist University and those in the Sweetwater Union High School District, giving their students the upper hand in an evolving, high-skill, high-wage career path." The Small UAS Safety Certification™ is comprised of four courses totaling over 180 hours of instruction. Students who successfully complete the program are eligible to take USI's credentialing exam leading to the Small UAS Safety Certification, an industry certification demonstrating expertise in the safe and professional application of remotely piloted aircraft making them highly qualified for careers in the burgeoning industry of Unmanned Aircraft Systems, commonly referred to as "drones." Students are then enrolled in USI's Career Pathways Initiative, providing them with a direct link to employers that are looking for professional remote pilots. USI is in the process of expanding the program into other states across the country and are currently training teachers to facilitate the curriculum for the upcoming 2018-2019 school year. USI's courses and program information can be found by on the UC A-G Approved Course List by searching for "Unmanned Safety Institute" at https://hs-articulation.ucop.edu/agcourselist#/list/search/institution. Courses in the curriculum, each earning students three credits, include: Unmanned Aircraft - five units of study including robotic aircraft and data links. UAS Applications - five units of study including applications, regulations, and operating in the NAS. UAS Personnel - three units of study including human factors and aeronautical decision making. Safety Management - four units of study including safety policy and safety risk management. "CBU is pleased to be part of the pathway program with USI," said Dr. John Marselus, Chair of the Department of Aviation Science at California Baptist University. "We share a common premise of taking the strong foundation already provided through years of experience in the manned aviation world and applying it to unmanned aviation. By teaching and applying areas such as Aeronautical Decision Making, Risk Management, and proven techniques and training programs, the next generation of professional aviators will be prepared to meet the many opportunities of unmanned aviation. "CBU is the next logical step for those who would like to build upon what they have learned in USI and take the next step whether it is in commercial, military, or missionary aviation." About Unmanned Safety Institute: The Unmanned Safety Institute (USI) is the industry's most widely recognized leader in flight safety solutions for individuals, academia, and organizations focused on integrating and operating UAS for civil or commercial purposes. The Unmanned Safety Institute, widely recognized as "best-in-class" provides UAS flight safety training and certification to operational standards based on the adoption and modification of time-honored aviation safety practices. With over 150 instructors and over 6,000 customers around the world, including several Fortune 500 enterprises, USI is widely recognized as the global leader in UAS training and certification delivering the most highly-regarded training program of its kind. 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. Discover more at https://www.unmannedsafetyinstitute.org/ MEDIA CONTACT: Alexis Creedy, Marketing & Communications Unmanned Safety Institute 407-499-2054 alexis.creedy[at]unmannedsafetyinstitute.org https://www.send2press.com/wire/unmanned-safety-institutes-drone-curriculum-approved-by-the-state-of- california/ Back to Top That hole in the International Space Station was caused by a drill, not a meteorite, and the search is on for the culprit Last week, astronauts aboard the International Space Station woke to an alarm warning them of a pretty serious situation. The space station was losing pressure, which means a leak had formed somewhere on the spacecraft. With a finite amount of breathable air, the race was on to find the location of the leak and do something to fix it. It wasn't long before a tiny hole was discovered in the Russian-built Soyuz spacecraft docked to the space station. The tiny opening was thought to be the result of damage from a micrometeorite, which isn't unheard of, and the crew quickly came up with a plan to repair it. Now, days later, Russian space agency Roscosmos says the hole wasn't made by Mother Nature, but by a person with a drill, and tensions are high. The images of the hole are pretty damning. It doesn't look much like the result of a fast-moving space rock, and certainly appears to be drilled. There even appears to be marks on the paint-covered metal from where a drill bounced along the surface before finding purchase and slicing its way through. So, who did it? As ScienceAlert reports, this whodunit has taken a seriously wild turn over the past day or two. No, this isn't a Clue-like scenario where one of the six members of the current ISS crew is the baddie; Roscosmos believes the hole was drilled in the spacecraft prior to it ever leaving Earth, and they're searching for the individual in the manufacturing process who is responsible for it. Multiple unnamed sources have spoken with Russian media outlet RIA Novosti and hinted that an internal investigation at the corporation that builds the spacecraft, Energia, has already yielded results. According to those sources, the person has been identified and apparently explained that the hole was drilled by accident and not with malicious intent. A fabric seal was placed over the hole to hide the mistake, and it lasted a couple of months before eventually breaking open in space. No word yet on what kind of punishment, if any, the individual will suffer, but sending a manned spacecraft into the sky with a hole in the side is obviously a pretty serious misstep. https://www.yahoo.com/news/hole-international-space-station-caused-drill-not-meteorite-132934282.html Back to Top Japan to build SPACE ELEVATOR connected to Pacific Ocean platform JAPAN is set to begin tests on a space elevator which could one day see a lift travel all the way into the cosmos. Japan to build SPACE ELEVATOR connected to Pacific Ocean platform (Image: GETTY) In the next week, scientists from Japan are set to send two miniature satellites to the International Space Station (ISS) in what could be the first of a monumental space elevator. The two tiny satellites, which will be attached by a 10 metre steel cable, will be released from the ISS on September 11 to mark the start of an extraordinary study. Once the satellites have been released from the ISS, a small motorised container will travel between the ends. Cameras will be attached to either end of the cable so researchers can monitor how the box manoeuvres between the satellites. The researchers will be analysing whether there are any unexpected changes or oscillations in the way the container moves from side to side. If it goes as expected and scientists believe the model can be replicated on a much larger scale, it could be the first part of an ambitious project that will see an elevator go from Earth to space. Yoji Ishikawa, team leader from Japan's Shizuoka University, said: "In theory, a space elevator is highly plausible. Space travel may become something popular in the future." Japanese firm Obayashi Corp, which is participating in the study, said that it wants a space station some 36,000km in orbit by 2050, with a long tether connected to a platform in the Pacific Ocean. The journey would take more than a week to travel between base and the space station (Image: GETTY) The company has plans to build six elevators, each measuring 18m in length by 7.2m in diameter, which could hold 30 people each and travel at 200km an hour. But it would take more than a week to travel between base and the space station and the project would cost 10 trillion yen (£70 billion). https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1012949/japan-space-elevator-platform-shizuoka-university-latest 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 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. Curt Lewis