Flight Safety Information September 19, 2018 - No. 191 In This Issue Incident: British Airways A320 at Alicante on Sep 18th 2018, could not retract gear Incident: France B772 near Paris on Sep 18th 2018, burning smell on board Incident: United B752 near Denver on Sep 18th 2018, odour on board EVAS - Cockpit Smoke Protection Accident: MyCargo B744 at Frankfurt on Sep 16th 2018, dropped part of flaps Incident: Algerie A332 at Algiers on Sep 16th 2018, rejected takeoff due to bird strike Ilyushin Il-20M...was shot down by Syrian ground forces Beechcraft T-6A Texan II Accident ( Texas) Atlas Oryx M-1 (SA 330) Hard landing (South Africa) LIBIK Fire Suppression Kits for the Cabin and Flight Deck ATSB: Objective interpretation of runway surface conditions can help reduce the risk of runway excursion Boeing Chief Technology Officer to Keynote IASS 2018 FAA Sets New Guidance for Certain Instrument Procedures Qatar Airways has 300 plus aircraft worth more than $90bn on order Senate approves full-year funding to repair A-10 aircraft Air Force Wants to Use Artificial Intelligence to Train Pilots The Chinese navy is scouring the country for wannabe fighter pilots to fix a major problem with their carrier fleet Qatar's emir 'gives $500m private jet to Turkey' Delta Air Lines rolls out its first new Airbus A220 from Quebec factory NASA Project Backs Three New Aviation Concepts HIGH ALTITUDE FLYING: WHAT EVERY PILOT NEEDS TO KNOW - Course 2018 CHC Safety and Quality Summit Incident: British Airways A320 at Alicante on Sep 18th 2018, could not retract gear A British Airways Airbus A320-200, registration G-GATU performing flight BA-2631 from Alicante,SP (Spain) to London Gatwick,EN (UK), was climbing out of Alicante's runway 10 when the crew stopped the climb at 6000 feet due to problems retracting the landing gear. The aircraft entered a hold while the crew was working the related checklists and subsequently returned to Alicante for a safe landing on runway 10 about one hour after departure. The Spanish Airport Operator AENA reported the aircraft returned to Alicante due to a malfunction in the landing gear. In the end the aircraft landed normally, no intervention by emergency services was needed. The aircraft is now being examined. http://avherald.com/h?article=4bdd96a3&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: France B772 near Paris on Sep 18th 2018, burning smell on board An Air France Boeing 777-200, registration F-GSPP performing flight AF-474 from Paris Charles de Gaulle (France) to Panama City (Panama), was enroute at FL300 about 190nm southwest of Paris when the crew decided to return to Paris due to a light burning odour on board. The aircraft landed safely back on Charles de Gaulle's runway 27L about one hour later. The airline reported the aircraft returned to Paris as a precautionary measure after light burning smell on board. The passengers disembarked normally. A replacement Boeing 777-200 registration F-GSPN is estimated to reach Panama City with a delay of about 5 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4bdd92f0&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: United B752 near Denver on Sep 18th 2018, odour on board A United Boeing 757-200, registration N12125 performing flight UA-1640 from Los Angeles,CA to Newark,NJ (USA), was enroute at FL370 about 80nm south of Denver,CO (USA) when the crew reported an odour on board and decided to divert to Denver. While descending towards Denver the crew advised that they were okay again, however continued the approach to Denver and landed safely on Denver's runway 26 about 20 minutes after leaving FL370. The FAA reported there was a pecular odour or fumes on board prompting the diversion. The aircraft landed safely. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/UAL1640/history/20180918/1455Z/KLAX/KEWR http://avherald.com/h?article=4bdd9121&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top Accident: MyCargo B744 at Frankfurt on Sep 16th 2018, dropped part of flaps A MyCargo Airlines Boeing 747-400 freighter on behalf of Saudi Arabian Airlines, registration TC-ACM performing freight flight SV-931 (dep Sep 15th) from Dammam (Saudi Arabia) to Frankfurt/Main (Germany), landed on Frankfurt's runway 07R with the crew maintaining routine communication and taxied to the apron. A post flight inspection revealed a right hand trailing edge foreflap was missing from the airframe, the vertical stabilizer/rudder showed a hole. On Sep 18th 2018 Germany's BFU reported, the occurrence was reported to the BFU, the occurrence was rated an accident and is being investigated. Due to the ongoing investigation no further information like, whether the missing flap could be found/recovered or whether the crew did notice any anomaly and when, can be provided. Those details will probably become available in the preliminary or interim report respective final report. http://avherald.com/h?article=4bdd50d7&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Algerie A332 at Algiers on Sep 16th 2018, rejected takeoff due to bird strike An Air Algerie Airbus A330-200, registration 7T-VJA performing flight AH-4062 from Algiers (Algeria) to Dubai (United Arab Emirates) with 250 people on board, was accelerating for takeoff from Algiers' runway 09 when an engine (CF6) ingested a bird and emitted a loud bang prompting the crew to reject takeoff at high speed (close to V1). The aircraft slowed safely. The passengers disembarked via mobile stairs. A replacement A330-200 registration 7T-VJV reached Dubai with a delay of about 2 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Algiers about 26 hours after the rejected takeoff. http://avherald.com/h?article=4bdcfa91&opt=0 Back to Top Ilyushin Il-20M was shot down by Syrian ground forces Status: Date: Monday 17 September 2018 Time: 22:07 Type: Ilyushin Il-20M Operator: Russian Air Force Registration: RF-93610 C/n / msn: 173011504 First flight: Crew: Fatalities: / Occupants: Passengers: Fatalities: / Occupants: Total: Fatalities: 15 / Occupants: 15 Aircraft damage: Damaged beyond repair Location: 35 km (21.9 mls) W off Latakia-Khmeimim Air Base (LTK) ( Syria) Phase: En route (ENR) Nature: Military Departure airport: Latakia-Khmeimim Air Base (LTK/OSLK), Syria Destination airport: Latakia-Khmeimim Air Base (LTK/OSLK), Syria Narrative: An Ilyushin Il-20M reconnaissance aircraft of the Russian Air Force crashed into the sea off Latakia-Khmeimim Air Base, Syria, after being hit by a missile. The aircraft had departed Khmeimim Air Base at 20:31. At 22:07, while turning towards the air base over the Mediterranean Sea, it was shot down by Syrian ground forces using an S-200 surface-to-air missile system. At the same time four Israeli F-16 jets were in the same area, targeting Latakia. The Syrian forces inadvertently shot down the Russian aircraft while firing at the F-16 jets. https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20180917-0 Back to Top Beechcraft T-6A Texan II Accident ( Texas) Date: 18-SEP-2018 Time: c16:00LT Type: Beechcraft T-6A Texan II Owner/operator: US Air Force (USAF) Registration: 05-6209 C/n / msn: PT361 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Rolling Oaks Mall, San Antonio, TX - United States of America Phase: En route Nature: Military Departure airport: Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Destination airport: Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Narrative: The military trainer crashed in a field and both pilots ejected sutaining only minor injuries. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=215489 Back to Top Atlas Oryx M-1 (SA 330) Hard landing (South Africa) Date: 18-SEP-2018 Time: Type: Atlas Oryx M-1 (SA 330) Owner/operator: South African Air Force Registration: C/n / msn: Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Substantial Location: Roodewal Air Force Base, Limpopo - South Africa Phase: Landing Nature: Demo/Airshow/Display Departure airport: Roodewal Air Force Base Destination airport: Roodewal Air Force Base Narrative: The helicopter touched down hard, causing the tail boom to break during a demonstration. One occupants suffered minor injuries https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=215482 Back to Top Back to Top ATSB: Objective interpretation of runway surface conditions can help reduce the risk of runway excursions The ATSB is advising pilots to be conservative when relying on pilot reports for runway surface conditions, in particular, when the conditions are considered damp. The ATSB's investigation into the reduced braking effectiveness during landing of a Boeing 737-800 at Christchurch International Airport (New Zealand), 11 May 2015, highlights the how misperceptions of runway surface conditions can lead to runway excursions. After touch down on runway 29, the Boeing 737-800 did not decelerate as expected during the later stages of the landing roll. The crew overrode the autobrakes, applied hard manual braking and retained the use of reverse thrust until the end of the runway. The aircraft stopped about 5 metres from the end of the runway. The ATSB found that, due to an increased workload, the crew misperceived the runway surface conditions, believing it to have a damp surface condition when in fact it was wet. This resulted in the aircraft's expected landing performance not being achieved. Considerable efforts have been made by organisations such as the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to address this issue with the introduction of the runway condition assessment matrix. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) will be adopting the FAA's runway condition assessment matrix in November 2020. The Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) have advised the ATSB they anticipate aligning their runway condition definitions with ICAO post 2020. Until then, pilots are advised to apply a conservative approach when relying other pilot reports for runway surface conditions, in particular, when the conditions are considered damp, the ATSB states. https://news.aviation-safety.net/2018/09/18/atsb-objective-interpretation-of-runway-surface-conditions-can-help-reduce-the-risk-of-runway-excursions/ Back to Top Boeing Chief Technology Officer to Keynote IASS 2018 ALEXANDRIA, Va. - The Boeing Company's chief technology officer, Greg Hyslop, D.Sc., will be the opening keynote speaker at Flight Safety Foundation's 71st annual International Air Safety Summit (IASS 2018) in Seattle. Hyslop is scheduled to speak on Monday, Nov. 12, the opening day of the three-day IASS 2018, which is expected to draw as many as 400 aviation safety professionals from around the world. Boeing is the host sponsor of IASS 2018, which will be held at the Sheraton Seattle. "We are very excited that Dr. Hyslop will be opening IASS 2018," Foundation President and CEO Jon Beatty. "Boeing is a cutting-edge technology company and a global leader in aviation safety. Dr Hyslop opening the industry's premier annual safety event is a perfect match." Hyslop leads Boeing's technology team and oversees the development and implementation of the enterprise technology investment strategy. His portfolio of responsibilities includes the companywide Boeing Engineering function; Boeing Research & Technology, the company's advanced central research and development organization; Boeing Test & Evaluation, the team that verifies and validates Boeing's commercial and defense products; and the Intellectual Property Management organization, which works to protect and strategically leverage the company's intellectual property. In his role leading the Engineering function, which includes more than 40,000 engineers around the world, Hyslop partners with the Engineering leaders for Boeing business units to ensure One Boeing solutions that support programs across the enterprise. He also plays a key role in decisions that affect the technical integrity of Boeing products, services and processes. He reports to Boeing Chairman, President and CEO Dennis Muilenburg and is a member of the company's Executive Council. Boeing is a long-time Benefactor member of the Foundation and one of its most active corporate supporters. John Hamilton, vice president of Engineering at Boeing Commercial Airplanes, is the chairman of Foundation's Board of Governors. "It would be difficult to overstate our appreciation for all of Boeing's support of the Foundation and of aviation safety," said Beatty. Early registration discounts are available until Friday, September 14. More information on pricing and how to register can be found on our website https://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12430196/boeing-chief-technology-officer-to-keynote-iass-2018 Back to Top FAA Sets New Guidance for Certain Instrument Procedures Two recently published draft advisory circulars provide guidance on obtaining FAA approval concerning instrument flight procedures (IFPs) by non-agency providers. Comments on both documents must be submitted by October 7. Draft AC 90-110B delivers assistance for non-agency service providers to become FAA-approved to develop public, space-based IFPs, area navigation performance (RNP) and area navigation global positioning systems (RNAV GPS) and other future capabilities. The document also serves as advice for FAA flight standards personnel directly associated with the procedure development process "and/or charged with the responsibility to authorize and provide oversight of non-FAA service providers." Meanwhile, draft AC 90-113B offers approved methods for conducting satellite-enabled performance-based navigation (PBN) IFPs for airplanes and helicopters. It also addresses validation of helicopter WAAS special IFPs. Additionally, the draft contains ground validation, pre-flight validation (including simulator evaluation and obstacle assessment), and flight validation procedures. Both circulars are related by their discussion of non-FAA service providers and the application of recent revisions to FAA branch designations. Organizational changes include the elimination of regional flight standards offices and the creation of four functional organizations: Air Carrier Safety Assurance, General Aviation Safety Assurance, Safety Standards, and Foundational Business. Flight Procedure Implementation and the Oversight Branch realigns under Safety Standards and is now the Flight Procedures and Airspace Group. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2018-09-18/faa-sets-new-guidance-certain-instrument-procedures Back to Top Qatar Airways has 300 plus aircraft worth more than $90bn on order Aircraft on order illustrates the national carrier's appetite for growth and expansion in the face of illegal blockade by the country's neighbours and other challenging geopolitical conditions Qatar Airways has more than 300 aircraft worth more than $90bn on order, illustrating the national carrier's appetite for growth and expansion in the face of illegal blockade by the country's neighbours and other challenging geopolitical conditions. Aircraft on order include planes from both the leading manufacturers- Boeing and Airbus. On order include 100 Boeing 777Sx (including options), 60 Boeing 737 Max 8 (including 20 firm), 30 Boeing 787s, seven Boeing 777-300ER and three Boeing 777F, 80 Airbus A320 neo (including options), 54 Airbus A350s, eight Airbus A330 freighter (options) and one Airbus A380. During the year Qatar Airways reached another important milestone when it welcomed its 200th aircraft into the fleet. As of March 31, 2018 Qatar Airways fleet stood at 213 aircraft with an average age of under five years, making the airline "one of the youngest fleets flying the skies" today. In the months that followed the blockade, Qatar Airways took many steps to ensure that the impact of the blockade on the airline was "contained and controlled". In its Annual Report 2018, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar al-Baker said, "As much as possible we continued with a 'business as usual attitude' while we made adjustments to the deployment of our aircraft that had previously been flying to the now 18 blockaded destinations. "New destinations to Sohar, Prague and Kyiv were quickly announced and launched within 10 weeks while a number of aircraft and crew were leased to British Airways to overcome the strike impacting their operations during the peak summer season." Al-Baker noted, "Our expansion continued apace throughout the year with additional services being added to our global network to popular destinations such as St. Petersburg, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Penang and Canberra. In total our route map increased by 14 new destinations during the financial year, connecting our passengers to even more exciting business and leisure hot spots around the world. "This turbulent year though has inevitably had an impact on our financial results, which reflect the negative effect the illegal blockade has had on our airline. However, I am pleased to say that thanks to our robust business planning, swift actions in the face of the crisis, our passenger-focused solutions and dedicated staff, the impact has been minimised - and has certainly not been as negative as our neighbouring countries may have hoped for." https://www.gulf-times.com/story/606500/Qatar-Airways-has-300-plus-aircraft-worth-more-than-90bn-on-order Back to Top Senate approves full-year funding to repair A-10 aircraft Bill supported by Crapo and Risch Washington, D.C. - The nation's A-10 aircraft, like those flown by the 124th Fighter Wing of the Idaho Air National Guard, will receive necessary upgrades under a measure approved by the U.S. Senate on Tuesday. The $65 million funding will be dedicated to upgrading the wing infrastructure for the aging but critical A-10 fleet nationwide. "The bill we approved will provide critical upgrades to A-10 aircraft, like the ones stationed at Gowen Field in Boise," Crapo said. "The A-10 and the pilots who fly this aircraft have been a crucial part of our national security mission for decades, yet many battle-worn A-10s require new wings in order to continue flying. This bill will help get that accomplished and extend the life and mission of these planes." "The A-10 has been a critical warfighter in our nation's fleet for decades and continues to be an important asset as tensions rise in military theatres around the world," Risch said. "As our servicemen and women at Gowen Field boldly defend our nation in global missions, this bill helps make certain they have the necessary resources to be successful." Both Senators from Idaho signed a letter to Senate and House appropriations negotiators supporting the additional funding for A-10 improvements. The bill, approved on a 93-7 vote, will fund operations in the departments of Labor, HHS, Education, and Defense for Fiscal Year 2019. The measure will now go to the House of Representatives which is expected to take up the bill next week. https://www.kivitv.com/news/senate-approves-full-year-funding-to-repair-a-10-aircraft Back to Top Air Force Wants to Use Artificial Intelligence to Train Pilots Second Lt. Kenneth Soyars, 14th Student Squadron student pilot, takes off during a virtual reality flight simulation Jan. 10, 2018, at Columbus Air Force Base, Miss. Two subjects flew at a time but no other subjects were allowed to watch or learn from other individuals' sorties. The Adaptive Flight Training Study pushed subjects to learn through the VR technology. (Keith Holcomb/U.S. Air Force) The head of Air Force training said Tuesday that the service wants artificial intelligence to become the go-to coach that helps airmen learn faster and better than ever before. Lt. Gen. Steven Kwast, commander of Air Education and Training Command, said he hopes that the results of testing, scheduled to be completed next year, will show that futuristic tools such as AI, virtual reality and super-computing can improve the speed and effectiveness of the human brain. "The data is very promising that we can accentuate the adult human brain to learn faster, better and, I'll say, more sticky, meaning when you learn something longer and better," Kwast told a group of defense reporters at the Air Force Association's Air, Space & Cyber Conference. He used pilot training as an example of how artificial intelligence can be used as a coach in a flight simulator. "Let's take a loop: A pilot has to do a loop, and the artificial intelligence is watching you do that loop. And, as you pull back on the stick, it can tell what you are doing and says, 'Hey, you are pulling back too much. ... Hey, your nose is starting to drift to the right a little bit. Keep your eye on the horizon,' " Kwast said. "So the artificial intelligence is watching you. It's learning from you, and it's learning how you are learning, and it's giving you advice that's helping you real-time adjust your learning, so you aren't making mistakes and not even knowing you are making a mistake." As it becomes less expensive to create realistic, three-dimensional training environments, AI can adapt that environment to the way people learn, he said. "It will even suggest, 'You are more of a visual learner or you are more of a text learner. It's better for you to read it first and then do it. And for you, it's better for you to see it first and then do it.' These are the things the artificial intelligence is helping us with." Kwast said the testing results, which should be ready by next summer, will likely apply to a lot more than pilot training. "This is about every skill set in the Air Force," he said. "Whether you are a maintainer, whether you are a cyber expert, whether you are a defender, whether you are a pilot -- it doesn't matter. It's about a human being learning a job. And the question is whether you can use the technologies of our age in new and novel, useful ways to accentuate that learning." Air Force officials stress that AI would be used to supplement the limited number of human instructors available and allow students to have "24/7" access to simulators without picking up bad habits. "We are not looking to remove the human element from training and education," said Brig. Gen. Jim Sears, director of Plans, Programs and Requirements at AETC. "We are just looking at amplifying it and enhancing it and making it better." https://www.military.com/daily-news/2018/09/18/air-force-wants-use-artificial-intelligence-train-pilots.html Back to Top The Chinese navy is scouring the country for wannabe fighter pilots to fix a major problem with their carrier fleet J-15 fighters from China's Liaoning aircraft carrier conduct a drill in an area of South China Sea • Chinese recruiters are scouring the country in search of suitable carrier pilots for China's expanding fleet of aircraft carriers. • The Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy faces a pilot shortage, among other problems, as it attempts to build a blue water navy capable of power projection. • The ongoing pilot recruitment program reportedly marks the first time the navy has directly recruited pilots to fly the carrier-based Shenyang J-15 "Flying Shark" fighter jets. China's navy needs Maverick and Goose - and many, many more fighter jocks for its growing carrier force. The Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy is desperately searching for pilots to fill its carrier air wings as the country pushes to build a formidable carrier fleet. The PLAN launched its 2019 pilot recruitment program Sunday, with "the highlight of this year's recruitment [being] the selection of future carrier-borne aircraft pilot cadets," according to the Chinese military, which noted that as China's armed forces shift from "shore-based" to "carrier-based" abilities, the PLAN intends to develop a pilot recruitment system "with Chinese naval characteristics that can adapt to carrier-borne requirements." The language appears to indicate a strategic shift from home defense to power projection on the high seas, thinking consistent with Chinese efforts to build an advanced blue water navy. The lack of pilots trained for carrier-borne operations and combat has been a problem for China in recent years. "They don't have a whole lot of pilots. Not a lot of capacity in that area," Matthew Funaiole, a fellow with the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, explained to Business Insider in August. By the end of 2016, there were only 25 pilots qualified to fly China's carrier-based fighters, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported Tuesday. Recruiters will travel across the country to 23 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions to find suitable navy aviators. "Some of the pilot cadets recruited this year will receive the top and most systematic training as carrier-borne aircraft pilots," a PLAN Pilot Recruitment Office official revealed. Pilots selected and trained to fly carrier-based aircraft will fly the fourth-generation Shenyang J-15 Flying Shark, the heaviest carrier-based fighter jet in operation today and the type of fighter that composes the carrier air wing for China's only operational aircraft carrier, the Liaoning. The ongoing recruitment program, according to SCMP, marks the first time the Chinese navy has directly recruited pilots for the J-15, a problematic derivative of a Soviet prototype which has been blamed for several fatal training accidents. In the past, aviators from the navy and air force who were trained to fly other types of aircraft were pulled to fly the J-15. "Becoming a naval pilot is the best choice for those who want to become heroes of the sky and the sea," the Chinese military stressed Tuesday, emphasizing the Chinese military's interest in developing advanced power projection capabilities. China is rapidly building an aircraft carrier fleet with one carrier already in service, another undergoing sea trials, and a third in development, but China is still very new to complex carrier operations. Chinese Navy pilots successfully completed their first nighttime takeoffs and landings in May. "An elite team among the pilots also has carried out night landings, widely considered the riskiest carrier-based action, and have become capable of performing round-the-clock, all-weather operations," the China Daily reported Wednesday. In addition to a pilot shortage, China still struggles with power and propulsion, aircraft numbers and reliability, carrier launch systems, and a limited experience with carrier operations. https://www.businessinsider.com/china-searches-for-pilots-to-fill-the-ranks-of-its-carrier-wings-2018-9 Back to Top Qatar's emir 'gives $500m private jet to Turkey' The Boeing 747-8i is described as "the largest and most expensive private jet in the world" Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says it has been given a jet worth around $500m (£380m) by Qatar's emir. Mr Erdogan said Sheikh Tamim Al Thani had donated the Boeing 747-8i to the Turkish state after hearing that it was interested in buying it. Opposition MPs had expressed concern that the president was using taxpayers' money to buy a jet as the country struggles to avert a financial crisis. Turkey has backed Qatar in a year-long stand-off with other Arab states. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain severed all diplomatic and trade links with the tiny gas-rich state over its close ties to Iran and its alleged support for jihadists - a charge it denies. Turkey sent food by sea and air to prevent shortages in Qatar's supermarkets after its only land border was closed and ships serving it were banned from many ports. The Boeing 747-8i was described by The Drive website as "the largest and most expensive private jet in the world" when it was put on sale last month. The aircraft was reportedly only delivered to Qatar in 2015, after being refitted to carry 76 passengers, rather than the usual 400. On board are staterooms, lounges, boardrooms, first class seating areas, and even a hospital. After the jet landed in Turkey last week, an opposition MP tabled a parliamentary question asking Vice-President Fuat Oktay to disclose whether it had been purchased by the state. Speaking to reporters flying with him from Azerbaijan to Turkey over the weekend, Mr Erdogan said Qatar's emir had given the plane as a gift after learning that the Turkish government had expressed an interest in it. "He said: 'I won't take money from Turkey. I give this as a present to Turkey'," the president quoted Sheikh Hamad as saying. Mr Erdogan told reporters the plane was being repainted, adding: "God willing, we can have a trip with it when all is over." Last month, Qatar's emir approved a package of economic projects, investments and deposits worth $15bn (£11.4bn) to support Turkey's economy and currency. The Turkish lira has lost almost 40% of its value against the dollar this year, driven by worries over Mr Erdogan's influence on monetary policy and a diplomatic row with the United States. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-45550537 Back to Top Delta Air Lines rolls out its first new Airbus A220 from Quebec factory Delta's first Airbus A220-100 rolled out of the paint shop at the Airbus assembly line in Mirabel, Quebec. Delta's first ever A220-100 passenger jet recently rolled out of the Airbus aircraft paint shop in Mirabel, Quebec. The first of the Atlanta-based airline's 75 new regional jets will be flight tested this fall before it enters service in early 2019, Delta and Airbus said. Delta ordered 75 of the jets - formerly the Bombardier CSeries until Airbus took over the program - back in 2016. Delta A220s will eventually provide service at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and at other large Delta hub airports, though Delta has not disclosed details of when the jets will be introduced to its aircraft fleet and where. Delta will be first U.S. airline to take delivery of the A220, Airbus said, adding the jets will feature state-of-the art interiors and enjoy improved fuel economy compared to existing regional jet models. Larry Cato, a program manager on Delta's fleet management team, travelled to Quebec to mark the moment at the jet assembly plant. "There's nothing like seeing years of planning come together in the shape of a freshly painted aircraft," Cato said in a Delta news release. "It's a major milestone for the future of our fleet." Delta said that painting of its new regional jet took nine days, 200 rolls of masking tape and 165 gallons of special aircraft paint to complete. The typical A220, which has larger passenger windows than most current regional jets, will have 116 seats and have a range of 2,950 nautical miles. The jets are powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1500G geared turbofan engines. European customers for the Airbus A220 include Swiss Air and Air Baltic. Boeing is still working on finalizing its own joint venture with Brazilian aircraft maker Embraer, maker of the rival E2 regional jet. Embraer is already pitching its new regional jets to Alaska Airines. https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2018/09/18/delta-air-lines-rolls-out-new-airbus-a220.html?ana=yahoo&yptr=yahoo Back to Top NASA Project Backs Three New Aviation Concepts NASA has announced that it will be allocating resources for three aviation-oriented ideas as part of its Convergent Aeronautics Solutions (CAS) project. The ideas selected for the project's 2019 fiscal year are a seamless composite assembly technique, new ways to reduce and shed heat generated by an electric motor, and replacing lithium batteries with a water-based option. The concepts were chosen from among more than a dozen proposals. According to NASA, the composites project is working on a new manufacturing technique to bond composite structures together, potentially removing the need for bolts and rivets and resulting in a seamless, fully bonded part. In addition to exploring new designs for electric or hybrid-electric power systems, the High-Efficiency Electrified Aircraft Thermal Research (HEATheR) project is aiming to reduce the size and number of parts needed for an electric motor, resulting in less heat being generated. HEATheR is also looking into ideas for shedding heat, which include using the skin of the aircraft "as a sort of radiator." The last idea chosen for CAS this year is the Aqueous, QUick-charging battery Integration For Electric flight Research (AQUIFER) project. AQUIFER is exploring aviation applications for a rim motor powered by a flow battery, which uses an iron-infused, water-based solution to generate electricity. "This year's selections represent a broad range of research topics," said director of NASA's Transformative Aeronautics Concepts program John Cavolowsky, "yet each could significantly contribute to building future aircraft that are more energy efficient, produce fewer emissions and are quieter." NASA says the goal of CAS is to give new ideas "time and resources to determine if they are technically feasible and perhaps worthy of additional pursuit within NASA or industry." This will be the fourth year for the project. https://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/NASA-Project-Backs-Three-New-Aviation-Concepts-231545-1.html Back to top Register Here Phone: (231)720-0930 (9-6 EST) 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 Curt Lewis