Flight Safety Information September 13, 2018 - No. 187 In This Issue Incident: LOT B788 near Omsk on Sep 11th 2018, engine vibrations Incident: Sun Express B738 near Frankfurt on Sep 10th 2018, unreliable airspeed, altitude disagree Incident: Cathay Pacific A333 at Hong Kong on Sep 10th 2018, operational problem with the landing gear Incident: Severstal CRJ2 at Simferopol on Sep 10th 2018, nose gear problem Incident: Jet2 B738 over North Sea on Sep 12th 2018, hydraulic failure Incident: Iberia A359 near Halifax on Sep 11th 2018, engine shut down in flight Accident: Canada A333 near Bangor on Sep 5th 2018, wake turbulence by B773 injures flight attendant BA jet in emergency landing in Canada after pilots report 'smoke in the cockpit' EVAS - Cockpit Smoke Protection Incident: Egypt B738 at Belgrade on Sep 12th 2018, all 4 main tyres blown on landing LIBIK Fire Suppression Kits for the Cabin and Flight Deck ICAO Safety Report confirms 2017 as aviation's safest year Aviation investigators from 16 nations to attend annual AIR meeting in Taipei CAA Thailand appoint CAAi to implement new aviation regulations ALPA Unveils Plan to Keep Pilot Supply Strong, Air Travel Safe, and Rural Passengers Flying 10,000 drone pilots register to fly in New Zealand airspace TRAIN LIKE A FIGHTER PILOT Directional Aviation Now Owns PrivateFly, Flexjet, and Sentient Jet NASA's Orion Space Capsule Aces Final Parachute Test Before Moon Flight RESEARCH STUDY 2018 CHC Safety and Quality Summit Position Available:...Aircraft Maintenance Technician (180347) Position:...Director of Aviation Safety Helicopter Accident Investigation from SCSI Incident: LOT B788 near Omsk on Sep 11th 2018, engine vibrations A LOT Polish Airlines Boeing 787-800, registration SP-LRG performing flight LO-91 from Warsaw (Poland) to Beijing (China), was enroute at FL390 about 200nm north of Omsk (Russia) when the crew decided to return to Warsaw due to indications of engine (Trent 1000) vibrations. The aircraft descended to FL380 for the way back and landed safely on Warsaw's runway 33 about 4 hours after the decision to return. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Warsaw about 24 hours after landing back. http://avherald.com/h?article=4bd98713&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Sun Express B738 near Frankfurt on Sep 10th 2018, unreliable airspeed, altitude disagree, EEC in alternate mode A Sun Express Deutschland Boeing 737-800, registration D-ASXD performing flight XG-1781 from Dusseldorf (Germany) to Kayseri (Turkey), was enroute at FL320 about 140nm east of Frankfurt/Main (Germany) when the crew decided to divert to Frankfurt reporting their airspeed had become unreliable, the altitude indications disagreed and the engine electronic control (EEC) had reverted to alternate mode. The aircraft entered a hold at FL250 to work the checklists and a further hold at FL130 to burn off fuel and landed safely on Frankfurt's runway 25C about 90 minutes after leaving FL320. The occurrence aircraft, that had departed Dusseldorf with a delay of 4 hours already, remained on the ground in Frankfurt for about 16.5 hours over night, then departed again to Kayseri as flight XG-1781 reaching the destination with a total delay of 21.5 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4bd98557&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Cathay Pacific A333 at Hong Kong on Sep 10th 2018, operational problem with the landing gear A Cathay Pacific Airbus A330-300, registration B-LAQ performing flight CX-332 from Hong Kong to Beijing (China), was in the initial climb out of Hong Kong's runway 07R when the crew requested to stop climb at 5000 feet reporting an "operational problem with the landing gear". The aircraft entered a hold while the crew worked the related checklists and the airport switched runways, the aircraft subsequently landed safely on runway 25R about 35 minutes after departure. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 4.5 hours, then was able to depart again and reached Beijing with a delay of 5 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4bd982fb&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Severstal CRJ2 at Simferopol on Sep 10th 2018, nose gear problem A Severstal Canadair CRJ-200, registration RA-67240 performing flight D2-131 from Cherepovets (Russia) to Simferopol (Ukraine), was on approach to Simferopol when the crew aborted the descent at about 3000 feet and climbed back to FL050 due to a problem with the nose gear. The crew subsequently decided to perform a low approach to runway 19 to have the gear checked from the ground and landed safely on runway 19 about 35 minutes after the first aborted approach. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 6 hours, then positioned back to Cherepovets. Rosaviatsia reported the crew reported a problem with the nose gear, went around, performed a low approach and landed safely. The status of Crimea and Simferopol is disputed. According to international law and United Nations the Crimea belong to the Ukraine although Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. http://avherald.com/h?article=4bd980ae&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Jet2 B738 over North Sea on Sep 12th 2018, hydraulic failure A Jet2.com Boeing 737-800, registration G-JZHG performing flight LS-405 from Leeds,EN (UK) to Paphos (Cyprus), was enroute at FL330 over the North Sea about 170nm east of Manchester,EN (UK) when the crew decided to turn around and divert to Manchester due to a hydraulic failure. The aircraft was on final approach to Manchester's runway 23L when the crew went around at about 2000 feet, climbed back to FL070 and entered a hold for about 5 minutes, then positioned for another approach to runway 23L. The aircraft landed safely on runway 23L at a higher than normal speed (about 171 knots over ground) about 90 minutes after departure. A replacement Boeing 737-800 registration G-DRTF departed Manchester about 2 hours after landing of G-JZHG and reached Paphos with a delay of about 3:15 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground about 11.5 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4bd97efe&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Iberia A359 near Halifax on Sep 11th 2018, engine shut down in flight An Iberia Airbus A350-900, registration EC-MYX performing flight IB-6252 from New York JFK,NY (USA) to Madrid,SP (Spain) with 265 passengers and 11 crew, was enroute at FL410 about 70nm southeast of Halifax,NS (Canada) when the crew reported they had needed to shut the left hand engine (Trent XWB) down. The aircraft drifted down to FL250, turned around, the crew decided to return to New York's JFK Airport but when already cleare direct to New York Airport changed their mind to divert to Boston,MA (USA). The aircraft was recleared direct Boston, the crew advised they would be able to vacate the runway, no assistance was needed. The aircraft landed on Boston's runway 33L about 96 minutes after leaving FL410, vacated the runway and taxied to the apron with emergency services in trail. Passengers reported the captain announced one of the engines had lost power and was shut down, they were diverting to Boston. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/IBE6252/history/20180912/0100Z/KJFK/LEMD http://avherald.com/h?article=4bd97c82&opt=0 Back to Top Accident: Canada A333 near Bangor on Sep 5th 2018, wake turbulence by B773 injures flight attendant An Air Canada Airbus A330-300, registration C-GHLM performing flight AC-664 from Montreal,QC to Halifax,NS (Canada), was climbing through about FL340 about 60nm northwest of Bangor,ME (USA) when the aircraft encountered wake turbulence causing minor injuries to a flight attendant. A Swiss International Airlines Boeing 777-300, registration HB-JNI performing flight LX-8 from Zurich (Switzerland) to Chicago O'Hare,IL (USA), was enroute at FL350 and had crossed the flight trajectory of AC-664 about 70 seconds prior to AC-664 reaching the crossing point. About a minute after passing the crossing point LX-8 was cleared and began to climb to FL370. Both aircraft continued to their destinations for safe landings. The FAA reported a flight attendant received unknown injuries when the aircraft encountered wake turbulence near Bangor,ME. http://avherald.com/h?article=4bd9571c&opt=0 Back to Top BA jet in emergency landing in Canada after pilots report 'smoke in the cockpit' A British Airways jet between London and Calgary was forced to make an emergency landing in northern Canada after pilots reported smoke in the cockpit. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner landed in Iqaluit Airport on Baffin Island, Nunavut, and at least one passenger has been treated by medics. Photographs from the scene showed the aircraft, flight BA103, landed safely on the runway and passengers were able to make their way down the stairs to the terminal building. The BA flight was pictured on the tarmac at Iqaluit airport in the Canadian territory of Nunavut +4 Members of the local fire service were seen entering the aircraft after the passengers had been taken off to search for any possible fire. The plane was six hours into its nine-hour flight when the drama unfolded. Polots had to don oxygen masks to complete the landing, it was reported. One passenger was reportedly treated for arm and chest pains at the scene. It was claimed that the fumes were an "electrical burning/fire smell in nature" The jet can seat up to 216 passengers, according to the British Airways website. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6161987/BA-jet-emergency-landing-Canada-pilots-report-smoke-cockpit.html Back to Top Back to Top Incident: Egypt B738 at Belgrade on Sep 12th 2018, all 4 main tyres blown on landing An Egypt Air Boeing 737-800, registration SU-GCO performing positioning flight MS-3100 from Cairo (Egypt) to Belgrade (Serbia), landed on Belgrade's runway 30 at about 04:11L (02:11Z) but came to a stop on the runway with all 4 main tyres blown, the wheel rims damaging the runway surface. There were no injuries, the aircraft received minor damage, the runway surface was damaged, too. The runway was closed for about 8 hours as result. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground 12 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4bd94a18&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top ICAO Safety Report confirms 2017 as aviation's safest year The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) - which works in partnership with the international aviation community to improve safety, emphasising improving safety performance through standardisation, monitoring and implementation - has released its latest Safety Report that shows 2017 was the safest year ever on record for aviation. The 2018 edition of the ICAO Safety Report, released last week, provides a high level summary of ICAO's safety initiatives and achievements to enhance aviation safety in 2017, along with key safety performance indicators pertaining to the 2013-2017 time period. In 2017, there were 4.1 billion passengers travelling by air worldwide on scheduled commercial services. Tragically, these flights resulted in 50 fatalities. Nonetheless, this rate of 12.2 fatalities per billion passengers represents the safest year ever on the record for aviation. The number of fatal accidents also decreased, to five from seven in 2016, which is also the lowest on the recent record. Despite a spike in fatalities due to a number of acts of unlawful interference in 2014 and the tragic events which caused significant loss of life in 2015, there was a general trend of lower number of fatal accidents and fatalities over the past 10 years. The effective implementation (EI) of ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and Procedures for Air Navigation Services (PANS) is key to the safety, security and sustainability of flight and aviation development. The ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) Continuous Monitoring Approach (CMA) measures each of ICAO's 192 member States' EI; the 2018 Safety Report shows that the global EI average increased from 64.7% in 2016 to 65.5% in 2017, and 69.19 per cent of the States have achieved the target of 60% EI, as suggested by the Global Aviation Safety Plan (GASP) 2017-2019 edition. The Report also shows that in 2017, the number of Significant Safety Concerns (SSCs) was halved from 8 in 8 States in 2016 to 4 in 4 States. ICAO is committed to building on this momentum of improving aviation safety and enabling seamless cooperation and communication among stakeholders. The Organisation is particularly focused on its safety priorities, which include Runway Safety, Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT), Loss of Control Inflight (LOCI), and is continuing to promote the development and implementation of new safety initiatives. Partnership and cooperation will continue to be key in this regard. ICAO will therefore pursue collaboration with established regional bodies/organisations, such as Regional Aviation Safety Groups (RASGs), Regional Safety Oversight Organisations (RSOOs) and Regional Accident and Incident Investigation Organisations (RAIOs) and the promotion and development of the capacity building and implementation support necessary to address emerging safety issues. The current and previous editions of the ICAO Safety Report can be downloaded from the ICAO website, here . https://www.adsadvance.co.uk/icao-safety-report-confirms-2017-as-aviation-s-safest-year.html Back to Top Aviation investigators from 16 nations to attend annual AIR meeting in Taipei Aviation accident investigators from 16 nations are to attend an international conference on flight safety in Taipei next week, the Aviation Safety Council said on Tuesday. About 40 investigators are to participate in the annual Accident Investigator Recorder (AIR) meeting, which is to focus on marine salvage, processing damaged flight recorders and new investigation technologies, council Director Kuan Wen-lin (???) said. As a founding member of AIR, Taiwan can have a significant influence on the global aviation community, although it is not a member of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), he said. For example, Taiwan has the key role of maintaining an AIR platform called the International Recorder Investigator Group, on which flight safety information is discussed, Kuan said. Almost all flight safety issues deliberated at the ICAO are usually discussed first on the platform among AIR members, he said. AIR was established in 2003 by the council, the US National Transportation Safety Board, Transportation Safety Board of Canada, Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety in France and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. It now has 25 members. It was created in recognition of the importance of maintaining dialogue about global flight safety cooperation and technology developments, including advances related to cockpit voice recorders and flight recorders. The investigators attending the conference from Tuesday to Thursday are coming from the US, the UK, France, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Brazil, Russia and Papua New Guinea, Kuan said. Taiwan last hosted an AIR conference in 2008, with professionals from the US, the UK, France, Germany, Australia, Singapore, the Netherlands and Hong Kong attending. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2018/09/13/2003700341 Back to Top CAA Thailand appoint CAAi to implement new aviation regulations Monday 10th September 2018 - Bangkok, Thailand. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has selected the UK CAA's technical cooperation arm, CAA International (CAAi), to review, draft and implement new ICAO complaint aviation regulations and procedures. Under the next phase of the capacity building programme, CAAi will assess the Thai Aviation Board Regulations (CABRs) against the ICAO Annexes, Standards and Recommended Practices and EASA standards, and support CAAT in redrafting the Thai regulations to align with the requirements of Thailand's aviation industry. CAAi will also assist CAAT with the development of procedures, manuals, forms and checklists to support the practical implementation of the new regulations. CAAi has been working with CAAT since 2016 to help create a sustainable aviation regulator for Thailand. In 2017, CAAi helped CAAT recertify its Thai registered international airlines to ICAO standards, which led to the removal of a Significant Safety Concern (SSC) raised by ICAO in 2015. The agreement was signed at a special ceremony in Bangkok by Dr Chula Sukmanop, Director General at CAA Thailand and Ms Maria Rueda, Managing Director at CAAi. Speaking after the ceremony, Rueda said, "We are delighted to continue our support to CAA Thailand. With over 800,000 people flying to Thailand from the UK alone each year, the UK CAA remains committed to helping CAAT strengthen its regulatory framework to best support Thailand's projected market growth over the years to come." Also in attendance was Mr Mark Smithson, Deputy Director for the British Embassy's Department of International Trade. Commenting after the ceremony, Smithson said, "I am delighted to attend the signing of the agreement between the CAAi and the Ministry of Transport to develop new regulations and continue to raise aviation safety in Thailand. The ongoing collaboration and sharing of expertise between the CAAi and the Thai authorities to build long-term sustainability, local capacity and raise aviation standards exemplifies the close ties and depth of the partnership between our two countries". The project is expected to start immediately and last 26 months. For more information, please contact Stuart Coates, Senior Manager - International Marketing & Communications; stuart.coates@caa.co.uk Photo (left to right). Ms Maria Rueda, CAAi Managing Director; Mr Mark Smithson, Deputy Director for the British Embassy's Department of International Trade; Mr Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, Minister of Transport; and Dr Chula Sukmanop, Director General of the CAA Thailand. Back to Top ALPA Unveils Plan to Keep Pilot Supply Strong, Air Travel Safe, and Rural Passengers Flying WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 12, 2018--In a letter sent today to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA) offered high-impact policy solutions to inspire young people to become airline pilots and provide air service to small and rural communities while maintaining the extraordinary level of aviation safety that U.S. passengers and shippers expect and demand. "No organization is more committed than the Air Line Pilots Association, International to ensuring we have enough qualified pilots in the United States to meet future demand," said Capt. Tim Canoll, ALPA's president. "With the right policies, the U.S. government can help inspire young people to become airline pilots while making certain that air transportation in this country remains the safest in the world." ALPA's policy solutions are especially relevant this week as the Federal Aviation Administration hosts an Aviation Workforce Symposium in Washington, D.C. The union's clear and bold plan to address pilot supply includes key policy actions to make it easier for veterans to become pilots.encourage more women to become pilots.ensure more students can afford to become pilots.inspire the next generation to become pilots. "Every one of our members has made the decision to become an airline pilot, which gives ALPA a unique understanding of what it takes to inspire the next generation of trained and qualified aviators to join the profession," said Capt. Canoll. For more than 30 years, ALPA has promoted the profession to a broad range of audiences. The union's recent activities include visiting 24 universities over the 2017-18 academic year.formalizing 11 collegiate professional development/mentoring programs.reaching more than 15,500 preK-12 students during the 2017-18 academic year at elementary, middle, and high schools and at community events and museums.attending events such as AirVenture at Oshkosh, the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals Annual Convention, the National Gay Pilots Association Industry Expo, and the Women in Aviation International Conference.establishing a scholarship program for students who are active in ACE Clubs and enrolled in aviation degree programs.launching, with others in the aviation industry, Aviation Works 4 U , a one-stop shop for exploring a career in aviation. "We applaud Secretary Chao for leading this week's symposium as part of an effort to bring more qualified pilots into the best profession in the world," concluded Capt. Canoll. "Our union stands ready, willing, and able to work with anyone who is serious about addressing the pilot supply issue while keeping our passengers, crews, and cargo safe." Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world's largest airline pilot union, representing more than 60,000 pilots at 34 U.S. and Canadian airlines. Visit the ALPA website at alpa.org or follow us on Twitter @WeAreALPA. https://pilotonline.com/news/government/nation/article_c55afb8f-f474-5fc0-b439-81b032c13259.html Back to Top 10,000 drone pilots register to fly in New Zealand airspace More than 10,000 drone pilots are now registered with Airshare to fly in New Zealand airspace. The online hub for drone pilots operated by Airways announced today that its database of registered pilots has topped the milestone mark. Drone pilots have enthusiastically adopted Airshare since its launch in December 2014 to access flight information and log flights directly with air traffic control. However registrations have soared over the last year, with close to 1000 in the last three months alone. Recreational pilots account for 80 per cent of registrations and those flying for commercial purposes make up the remainder. Registered pilots are logging around 600 drone flights through the system every week across New Zealand. Airshare's registration provides a way to identify drones and their owners, and also to reach and educate drone pilots who may be new to aviation. "Hitting the 10,000 mark is excellent news as it reflects drone pilots' growing awareness of their safety responsibilities," Airways CEO Graeme Sumner says. "It's extremely encouraging to see so many recreational pilots signing up as they are the group that we are finding it more difficult to reach." There is currently no legal requirement for drone pilots to be registered to fly and the Airshare system is voluntary. "We would like to see mandatory registration and training requirements for drone pilots implemented to make sure all airspace users are able to continue to fly safely," Mr Sumner says. In May Airways surveyed 1460 drone pilots for the inaugural Drone Tracker report. Sixty per cent of respondents to the survey supported mandatory registration and 59 per cent said they support mandatory training. Airways is progressing with the development of a future drone traffic management system to safely integrate drones into New Zealand's wider airspace network. Trials are underway to test technologies that will allow drones to be accurately tracked once they are beyond the pilot's line of site, and provide detect and avoidance capability to keep them safely separated from other aircraft. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1809/S00332/10000-drone-pilots-register-to-fly-in-new-zealand-airspace.htm Back to Top TRAIN LIKE A FIGHTER PILOT The FAA recently gave a pair of retired U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 pilots permission to offer advanced training to certificated pilots in Italian-made jet trainers, with a syllabus crafted to wrap horsepower and thrills around a solid grounding in safety and risk management. Tom Paquin has logged more than 120 hours since acquiring the first of the Victory Aviation Company LLC SIAI-Marchetti S.211s. Photo by Chris Koelzer, Victory Aviation Company LLC. Chris Koelzer and Tom Paquin both flew combat missions in carrier-based F/A-18 Hornets, and met while serving in a Texas-based reserve unit about 10 years ago. Koelzer said, in a telephone interview, that the pair's shared goal is to impart the disciplined approach to aviation they learned in the military to civilian pilots. Paquin, after a successful venture into post-military business life in the biofuels industry, acquired a vintage North American T-6 Texan (an SNJ version built for the U.S. Navy) and began offering advanced training. Now, Victory Aviation Company LLC has stepped up the horsepower, acquiring a pair of SIAI-Marchetti S.211 jets and securing FAA approval (a letter of deviation authority, or LODA) that allows them to offer flight training in these rare Italian birds, ranging from basic familiarization to formation flying, upset recovery, and military-style, scenario-based training. Koelzer said Dave Hirschman's writeup on the Marchetti S.211 in the April issue of AOPA Pilot stimulated a lot of interest in their offerings. Not long after EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was over, they had flown with about 18 clients. So far, they are all private individuals (with private pilot certificates, at minimum) seeking a thrill ride that also sharpens their skills and introduces them to unusual attitudes-with a kick. "We want to offer jet flying and just kind of help people take their flying to the next level," Koelzer said. "All of the philosophical and attitude things you need to be a safe (aviator)." Customers can log time in the back seat of the S.211. Photo by John Clover, courtesy of Victory Aviation Company LLC. Based in Denton, Texas, but willing to travel (the S.211 has a range of about 600 nautical miles), Koelzer has begun talking with corporate flight departments and networking at National Business Aviation Association events to drum up interest in using the jets that served as trainers for the air forces of Singapore and the Philippines as advanced trainers for pilots of Cessna Citations and similar models. "I think we can put together a training program to match any pilot experience level," Koelzer said. And while jet time tends to be pricey, the pair are offering an introductory rate in 2018 of $2,250 per hour, a $250 discount that will also be offered for block-time purchases in 2019 and beyond. Koelzer said that for those interested in learning the fine points of formation flying, the second jet will also likely be offered at a favorable rate. "I will say that Tom as the owner of this whole lash-up... he would love to just go out there and fly," Koelzer said, noting that Paquin has already logged about 120 hours in the S.211 in the past year. One of Victory Aviation's two S.211s has been retrofitted with a Garmin panel identical to this one. Photo by Doug Matthews of Classic Fighters, courtesy of Victory Aviation Company LLC. A standard 60-minute training sortie is time enough for basic familiarization (including a hefty helping of ground school for piston pilots not used to turbine aircraft), including stalls, aerobatic maneuvers, and a few unusual attitudes, and no small amount of fun. Koelzer said the S.211, despite sporting a lot less horsepower than the F/A-18, has hydraulically boosted ailerons and highly responsive handling characteristics to go with a 4,200 fpm climb rate. "It's way more forgiving to fly, and easy to fly, than a Hornet," Koelzer said, noting that one customer, a Van's RV-6 owner, managed to land the S.211 on the first try. For those with ambition to buy one of the 13 other S.211s currently in the United States, or those who want to earn the authorization to fly this experimental turbine aircraft on their own, the basic prerequisites for the experimental aircraft authorization for their pilot certificate include 1,000 hours of total time and 500 hours of pilot-in-command time, along with the high-altitude and complex aircraft endorsements. Koelzer said that a pilot with those basic qualifications but no previous turbine experience could be expected to complete the qualification within about 10 hours, more or less. "It might be a $20,000 proposition," Koelzer said. Given the relative rarity of the S.211, Koelzer expects that upset recovery training will be their most popular option. One customer, he noted, owns an L-39 Albatros, and pronounced the S.211 a good-looking alternative with a fit and finish that's less utilitarian. One of the two Victory Aviation S.211s has been retrofitted with a Garmin panel, by the way. https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2018/september/11/train-like-a-fighter-pilot Back to Top Directional Aviation Now Owns PrivateFly, Flexjet, and Sentient Jet PrivateFly CEO Adam Twidell assures customers that the digital charter will stay on its current course. Flexjet Bombardier Challenger Gulfstream Learjet aircraft Photo: Paul Bowen A private-aviation industry giant just got a little bigger by grabbing a larger chunk of the charter broker business. Directional Aviation, the private investment firm that owns fractional-ownership company Flexjet, the jet-card company Sentient Jet, and the business-aircraft remanufacturer Nextant Aerospace, has acquired PrivateFly, a web-based charter broker that is headquartered in England and has an office in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. PrivateFly joins Flexjet and Sentient Jet as part of Directional Aviation's OneSky portfolio of private-jet travel providers. OneSky also includes SkyJet, another web-based charter broker. It's based in Massachusetts and has been in business since 1997. According to the executives at OneSky and PrivateFly, SkyJet and PrivateFly will continue to operate independently and under their current brand names for the time being. So as with most business acquisitions, it's likely that-initially at least-employees of the two companies will experience more changes than customers will. PrivateFly CEO Adam Twidell is a former Royal Air Force pilot who developed the technology for PrivateFly's online booking platform and cofounded the company 10 years ago with marketing pro Carol Cork. In PrivateFly's company blog, Twidell wrote, "Carol and I will continue to lead the company, and the day-to-day operations will run as usual. Our fantastic teams in Europe and in the U.S. will also remain. Thus our customers, operators, and partners will receive the same 24/7 expert service that they have come to know and expect from PrivateFly." PrivateFly, which opened its Florida office last year, has expanded its platform over the years so that it now includes websites and digital apps tailored with languages and content for 19 different countries. Whatever eventually becomes of PrivateFly, we hope it continues to conduct its pilot surveys, which offer fascinating insight for travelers, and the company blog, where Twidell and others write about such subjects as the origin of the term FBO, why aircraft tend to be white, and Air Horse One-the Boeing 727 specially outfitted for transporting Thoroughbreds and other equine competitors. It's a great read. That's not all the news that Directional Aviation has announced. It says that its flagship company, Flexjet, saw a 17 percent increase in fractional and lease sales in the first half of 2018 compared with the first half of 2017. Most of the bump came in the long-range heavy-jet category, where sales of Gulfstream G450 shares more than doubled and all available hours in the two Gulfstream G650s that were delivered at the end of 2017 were sold. As a sign of the good times at Flexjet, the company plans to take delivery of 19 new aircraft by the end of this year, including two more G650s. https://robbreport.com/motors/aviation/directional-aviation-owns-privatefly-flexjet-sentient-jet-2816864/ Back to Top NASA's Orion Space Capsule Aces Final Parachute Test Before Moon Flight A test version of NASA's Orion spacecraft safely touched down today (Sept. 12) under three parachutes, completing the final parachute test to get the vehicle ready for a journey around the moon and back. While it will take several weeks to go through the data, early indications are that the test was a success. In this test, which wrapped up around 11 a.m. EDT (8 a.m. PDT, or 1500 GMT), Orion safely deployed all its parachutes in sequence after being released from a C-17 aircraft about 6 miles (9.5 kilometers) up. Orion then touched down at the U.S. Army's Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona near a group of spectators and NASA officials. Among them was Orion program manager Mark Kirasich, who spoke briefly on NASA Television before the test. Watched a perfect test on perfect day with @AstroKomrade and the parachute team! Congrats to all for the great work! "Orion is our new human exploration spacecraft, and this is a spacecraft that will take people farther in space than we've ever gone before," Kirasich said. The spacecraft has to endure searing heat upon coming back to Earth, because it will return at high speeds from far away; in 2019 or 2020, for example, an uncrewed Orion, launched with NASA's new Space Launch System rocket, is expected to loop around the moon on a mission that will take several weeks. "After today if all goes to plan, we are ready for flight. That is just astounding," added astronaut Randy Bresnik on NASA Television. He joked that he was looking forward to counting to 11, representing the number of parachutes Orion had to deploy before reaching the ground. Orion has four sets of parachutes that, working together, will bring the spacecraft home safely from trips to the moon or from deep space. The first set is three forward bay cover parachutes, which are supposed to release a cover that protects Orion during the fiery re-entry at 32 times the speed of sound. Next, Orion deploys two drogue parachutes to stabilize the spacecraft and slow it down. Following that, three pilot parachutes are released to help deploy the three main parachutes. The main chutes then remain deployed all the way until Orion touches down. This parachute test is the last one for Orion after a decade of development, Kirasich said. The spacecraft is expected to form the backbone of NASA's deep-space exploration plans, which include a Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway space station around the moon in the next decade. https://www.space.com/41802-nasa-orion-aces-final-parachute-test.html 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 In less than a month, delegates and speakers from across the aviation, safety, energy, insurance and legal will gather in Texas to discuss the latest in safety best practices and knowledge at the 14th CHC Safety & Quality Summit. The Summit will take place October 2-4 at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center More than 40 invited speakers will deliver presentations and lead approximately 80 concurrent sessions between October 2 and October 4 on this year's theme "Building Safety at Every Level: Does this start at the top or with front line employees?" While the Summit is less than a month away, there is still time for interested attendees to register and make arrangements to join industry colleagues at this premiere aviation safety event. Attendees can register at www.chcsafetyqualitysummit.com. For those who have already registered and plan on attending, be sure to log in and sign up for your sessions before they fill up. Most sessions are offered multiple times to ensure everyone has the opportunity to attend those they would like to. Those attending the Summit will also have the opportunity to sign up to participate in pre- and post-Summit courses this year as well. The pre and post courses include Accident/Incident Investigation Analysis, A Practitioners' Guide to Building a Safety Case, HFACS Training and BowTie XP. Detailed descriptions and additional information are available on the Summit website here. "We look forward to what promises to be another great Summit," said Duncan Trapp, VP, Safety & Quality, CHC. "Bringing together all these professionals each year, from our speakers and invited guests to our delegates and sponsors, is always a beneficial and valuable experience. We're ready to get going next month, and hope that everyone attending has a productive three days with us." About CHC For more than 70 years, CHC Helicopter has provided safe, reliable, cost-effective helicopter service in some of the most remote and challenging environments around the world. With extensive experience transporting customers in the oil and gas industry, supporting search-and-rescue and EMS contracts, and providing maintenance, repair and overhaul services, our dedication to safety and reputation for quality and innovation help our customers reach beyond what they thought possible. Visit www.chcheli.com for information. Contact Information MEDIA Cameron Meyer Communications Specialist CHC Helicopter +1 214.262.7391 Cameron.Meyer@chcheli.com Summit Contact Irina Sakgaev Safety & Quality Applications Specialist CHC Helicopter +1 604.232.7302 summit@chcheli.com Back to Top Position Available: Aircraft Maintenance Technician (180347) Embry-Riddle is accepting applications for the position of Aircraft Maintenance Technician in the Fleet Maintenance Department at our Daytona Beach Campus. The Aircraft Maintenance Technician will use the methods, techniques and practices prescribed in the current manufacturer's maintenance manual or instructions to ensure continued airworthiness of aircraft, engines, propellers, and appliances in accordance with applicable Federal Aviation Regulations. Complete all necessary entries in appropriate maintenance forms, work orders, internal inspection forms, malfunction and defect reports, and aircraft logbooks. Report defective shop equipment or equipment requiring certification to the Aircraft Maintenance Supervisor. Supervise assigned shift and accomplish all duties in the absence of shift supervisor. Assist/supervise apprentice and technician I maintenance personnel, and the work environment to ensure cleanliness and safety. Be thoroughly familiar with the requirements of the FAA approved inspection program, FAA regulations pertaining to aircraft maintenance, airworthiness directives, advisory circular, manufacturers' service bulletins and engineering orders, as required. Properly document all parts, appliances, and materials used in maintenance of aircraft. Assist Maintenance Supervisor and Aircraft Parts Manager in inventory control functions. Accomplished Scheduled Maintenance and quickly respond to unscheduled maintenance requirements with minimal supervision. Support and assist the Aircraft Maintenance Supervisor(s) in the accomplishment of the overall maintenance effort. Perform unscheduled maintenance on all University aircraft on ERAU flight line on weekends and holidays. Other duties as assigned. Qualifications High School Diploma or GED. Current Airframe and Powerplant Certificate required with no violations. Progressive working knowledge of FAR 145, 91 and 43. Aircraft Maintenance experience in maintaining light general aviation aircraft preferred. Basic PC Software Skills (e.g. spreadsheet, word processing & database etc.) Familiarity with Microsoft operating systems, Access, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook/email, and Internet end-user applications preferred. Excellent communication skills required Please apply online at www.erau.edu/jobs, Requisition # 180347 Back to Top Position: Director of Aviation Safety Conduct Aviation Safety Program for the College of Aviation (COA); coordinate with and assist the Flight Training Department in the development, implementation, and maintenance of aviation safety programs the purpose of which is the preservation of human, material, and financial resources while maintaining maximum operational effectiveness; and assist the College of Aviation Safety Council. Assume Daytona Beach Campus senior investigator responsibilities for any accident or incident which is reportable under Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 830, as amended. Represent the Daytona Beach Campus under the party participant provisions of Title 49 of the CFR, Part 830, as amended. The COA Director of Aviation Safety has the following authority: A) Define Daytona Beach Campus investigation and reporting procedures for aviation hazards, incidents, accidents and related data collection. B) Develop the necessary forms and instructions for implementing COA aviation safety programs and initiatives. C) Define and require the reporting of any aviation safety related event D) Conduct investigation of aviation safety events and hazards E) Recommend to the Dean of the COA and the Chief Flight Instructor the grounding of any flight student or flight instructor pilot involved in a safety event which is under investigation by the COA Aviation Safety Department F) Conduct aviation safety inspections/audits of campus flight-related operations, facilities, or contractor providing flight-related services to include the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO). G) Represent Daytona Beach Campus regarding aviation safety matters in dealing with government agencies and professional organizations H) Assume Daytona Beach campus senior investigator responsibilities for any accident or accident, which is reportable under Title 49 of the CFR, Part 830, as amended. Represent Daytona Beach Campus under the party participant provision of Title 49 of the CFR, Part 830, as amended. I) Assume Daytona Beach senior investigator responsibilities for any Daytona Beach Campus related aviation safety event J) Represent the COA at campus and University Safety Council meetings K) Coordinate with the University Safety Officer on university aviation safety-related issues. The COA Director of Aviation Safety has the following responsibilities: Manage the COA aviation Safety Program which includes the following (100%): Provide regular reports on aviation safety to the Dean, COA, Daytona Beach Campus, Chair, Flight Training Department, University Safety Officer, and the Chief Flight Instructor. Present reports to University officers as requested or deemed necessary and approved by the Dean, COA (10%) Maintain, review, and recommend revision of University Aviation Safety Programs (2.5%) Support and promote University Aviation Safety Programs (10%) Provide timely advice, feedback, recommendations and assistance, on aviation safety to line managers in the COA (5%) Maintain, manage and review the Flight Departments Safety Management System (SMS) (5%) Maintain and manage the Flight Departments Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) program (5%) Maintain a reporting system for hazards, incidents, accidents and fatigue (20%) Maintain an aviation safety data analysis program (5%) Conduct and manage the Flight Departments risk management program to include routinely scheduled risk assessment and management of change meetings (2.5%) Manage and facilitate the Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) for Flight, Fleet Maintenance and AMS Part 145 Engine Repair Station (5%) Distribute aviation safety information to include emails, newsletters and postings (3%) Conduct regular meetings with instructor pilots, team safety leaders, and flight students (2%) Manage the College of Aviation (COA) Aviation Safety Advisory Council (ASAC) regularly scheduled meetings (2.5%) Provide aviation safety training as required by the Aviation Safety Programs (5%) Develop and maintain an aviation safety emergency response plan (ERP) (2.5%) Oversee and manage the Flight Departments drug testing program (2.5%) Facilitate confidential communication between students, instructor pilots, and flight administration (3%) Serve on the College of Aviation Safety Council (1%) Administer the campus safety awards program (1%) Meet with local air traffic control, FSDO, aviation safety agencies and representatives to discuss aviation safety-related matters on a regular basis (5%) Act as an Aviation Safety Counselor and facilitate FAA Aviation Safety Seminars as dictated by the University Aviation Safety Programs (1%) Serve on the Aircraft Accident Investigation Board as a non-voting member (0.5%) Other duties as assigned by the Dean of the College of Aviation. (1%) Qualifications Bachelor's degree required. 3-5 years' direct related work experience required. Familiar with Safety Management Systems (SMS) and Aviation Safety Action (ASAP) programs. Analytical skills with proficiency in Microsoft operating systems, Access, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook/email, and Internet end-user applications. FAA Certificated Flight Instructor/Instrument CFI, CFII, MEI, Airplane Single and Multiengine; Instrument Airplane preferred. Please apply online at www.erau.edu/jobs , Requisition # 180393 Curt Lewis