Flight Safety Information January 24, 2019 - No. 018 In This Issue Incident: Delta A320 at New York on Jan 21st 2019, flaps problem Incident: LOT DH8D at Poznan on Jan 16th 2019, engine shut down in flight Incident: Lufthansa A320 at Munich on Jan 21st 2019, strong acid odour in cockpit EVAS - Cockpit Smoke Protection Incident: National Express B463 at Sydney on Jan 22nd 2019, removal of tail stand recommended prior to takeoff South African Airways stops flights to Blantyre, Malawi due to safety concerns Air Safety 'Deteriorating By The Day' Amid Shutdown, Union Leaders Warn Newark Pilot Says Drone 'Probably 20 Feet, 30 Feet' From Wing Could a Long Shot Aviation Strike Be the Most Effective Tool to End the Shutdown? Impact of Tucson International Airport's solar panels, one year update Boeing's experimental autonomous aircraft completes its first test flight Could women solve the global pilot shortage? Bahrain to sink Boeing jet for underwater theme park Position: Audit Production Manager Position Available Aircraft Fire Hazards, Protection and Investigation Incident: Delta A320 at New York on Jan 21st 2019, flaps problem A Delta Airlines Airbus A320-200, registration N374NW performing flight DL-1894 from New York La Guardia,NY to Boston,MA (USA), was in climbing out of La Guardia's runway 04 when the crew stopped the climb at 5000 feet reporting a flaps issue and requested vectors while working the checklists. The crew subsequently decided to divert to New York's JFK Airport for a safe landing on runway 31L at a normal speed about 45 minutes after departure. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 2.5 hours, then departed JFK for Boston and reached Boston with a delay of about 4 hours. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL1894/history/20190121/1410Z/KLGA/KBOS http://avherald.com/h?article=4c340b02&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: LOT DH8D at Poznan on Jan 16th 2019, engine shut down in flight A LOT Polish Airlines de Havilland Dash 8-400, registration SP-EQC performing flight LO-3957 from Warsaw to Poznan (Poland), was descending towards Poznan when the crew needed to shut an engine (PW150) down. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on Poznan's runway 28. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 93 hours, then positioned to Warsaw as flight LO-9006, remained on the ground in Warsaw for another 33 hours, then returned to service. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c33ff5b&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Lufthansa A320 at Munich on Jan 21st 2019, strong acid odour in cockpit A Lufthansa Airbus A320-200, registration D-AIWB performing flight LH-2135 from Muenster to Munich (Germany), was on final approach to Munich's runway 08L when the crew declared Mayday reporting they had a strong acid odour in the cockpit, they were able to continue landing. The aircraft touched down on runway 08L about 3 minutes later. Emergency services reported they could not observe anything out of the ordinary. The aircraft taxied to the apron. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 10:45 hours, then returned to service. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c34080b&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top Incident: National Express B463 at Sydney on Jan 22nd 2019, removal of tail stand recommended prior to departure A National Jet Express British Aerospace BAe-146-300, registration VH-NJZ performing flight XM-7443 from Sydney,NS to Brisbane,QL (Australia), departed Sydney's runway 16R, however, the rear tail stand had remained attached and separated during rotation for takeoff, the tail stand came to a stop on the runway surface as foreign object debris. The aircraft climbed to FL250 enroute and landed safely on Brisbane's runway 14 about 90 minutes after departure. Australia's Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) reported: "At about 0455 on 22 January the aircraft took off with the rear tail stand attached. After take-off the tail stand sheared off resulting in foreign object debris on the runway." The aircraft did not sustain damage. The occurrence, described as "Aircraft preparation event", was rated an incident and is being investigated by the ATSB. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c33dd8b&opt=0 Back to Top South African Airways stops flights to Blantyre, Malawi due to safety concerns 23 January 2019 South African Airways (SAA) decided to cancel its operations into and from Blantyre Chileka International Airport, (BLZ/FWCL), Malawi due to safety concerns. The decision was made after the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) reported finding "Level 1" safety issues at the airport. According to the SACAA the Level 1 finding primarily relates to the inadequacy of aviation infrastructure facilities and related emergency support services offered at Chileka International Airport. The SACAA inspection exposed several non-compliances some of which were cause for serious concern. Notably, the airport's perimeter fence is vandalised and falls short of the set international standards. Due to lack of maintenance, both the ambulance and fire engine are not dependable. The cancelation of SAA's Blantyre operations became effective Saturday, 19 January 2019 and will remain in place until such time that the findings raised by the SACAA have been adequately addressed and a follow up inspection regarding the findings has been conducted. https://news.aviation-safety.net/2019/01/23/south-african-airways-stops-flights-to- malawi-due-to-safety-concerns/ Back to Top Back to Top Air Safety 'Deteriorating By The Day' Amid Shutdown, Union Leaders Warn The president of the National Air Traffic Controller's Association has warned that he holds deep concerns for the safety and security of airlines and travelers. headshot Union leaders representing air traffic controllers, pilots and flight attendants hold grave concerns for the nation's air safety as the partial government shutdown enters Day 33. A joint statement released Wednesday by the presidents of the National Air Traffic Controller's Association (NATCA), Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA warned of the incalculable risk to the safety and security of airlines and travelers. "This is already the longest government shutdown in the history of the United States and there is no end in sight," the union leaders said. "In our risk averse industry, we cannot even calculate the level of risk currently at play, nor predict the point at which the entire system will break. It is unprecedented." Urging "Congress and the White House to take all necessary steps to end this shutdown immediately," the union leaders said that they found it "unconscionable that aviation professionals are being asked to work without pay and in an air safety environment that is deteriorating by the day." Speaking to CNN's Chris Cuomo on Wednesday night, NATCA President Paul Rinaldi said that he had not intended "to put fear into anybody" when the statement was issued but that his concerns were both deep and real. He warned that air traffic controllers "in many of our busy facilities across the country" were currently working six 10-hour days a week due to a "staffing crisis" that has been exacerbated by the shutdown. "The government needs to open now," he said. "Our national airspace system is an economic engine for this country. $1.5 trillion in gross domestic product yearly, 11 million well-paying jobs, and it moves packages and people from all over the world. We cannot allow this to be reduced by 50 percent. It's going to affect everyone from Wall Street to Main Street." Earlier this month, air traffic controllers became the third group of federal employees to sue the Trump administration over the shutdown. The NATCA filed a lawsuit seeking a temporary restraining order against the federal government, alleging it had violated the Fifth Amendment by depriving controllers of "hard-earned compensation without the requisite due process." https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/air-safety-government-shutdown- warning_us_5c4944dee4b0e1872d40f088 Back to Top Newark Pilot Says Drone 'Probably 20 Feet, 30 Feet' From Wing By Alan Levin * Reports from two pilots prompted temporary halt to landings * Drone Causes Ground Stop At Newark Airport The pilot on the United Airlines flight nearing Newark Liberty International Airport was given plenty of warning by air-traffic control that a drone was in his vicinity. Still, he sounded stunned at what he saw. "We missed the drone by about 30 feet off our right wing," the pilot radioed, stifling an incredulous chortle. The United crew's report was the second sighting within minutes and that was all it took for controllers to halt arrivals at one of the New York area's busy airports, triggering hours of delays. More than 40 flights headed to Newark were disrupted as the airport temporarily shut down arrivals Tuesday after the report from the United pilot. "OK, and looks like about the same altitude?" the air-traffic controller replied, according to a recording of Tuesday afternoon's incident made available by the website LiveATC.net. "Exact same altitude," the pilot of United Flight 2335 said. "It was our exact same altitude, probably 20 feet, 30 feet off our right." A pilot on Southwest Airlines Co. Flight 476 first reported the device at 4:44 p.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration and the flight-tracking website FlightAware. The temporary halt to arrivals forced 43 flights to hold, nine of which had to divert to other airports, FAA said. Earlier: Flights Resume at Newark Airport After Drone Sighted Nearby "We're not going to run anybody else through there right now," the controller told a Delta Air Lines Inc. flight that was behind the United jet. The FAA resumed arrivals within an hour, but had to delay dozens of other flights through the evening in an attempt to ease congestion from the initial event. The disruption at Newark, a major hub in the New York metropolitan area, stoked fears of drone disruptions as U.S. regulators seek to expand civilian uses of the robotic aircraft while tightening security. It also recalled incidents at London's Gatwick Airport, which was disrupted over three successive days last month after drone sightings, and Heathrow Airport, which was briefly shut down earlier this month when drone were sighted near its runways. Tuesday's device was spotted about nine miles north of Newark, over nearby Teterboro Airport. The FAA reported the device was at an altitude of 3,500 feet. The pilots on the Southwest jet said in a radio call it was at 3,600 feet. Drones Swarm Skies, Towing Security, Privacy Issues: QuickTake "Be advised, there's something on final here," the Southwest pilot said in the first indication of a problem, according to the LifeATC.net recording, referring to the route planes take on their final approach to landing. "We thought maybe it was a drone. But there's definitely something on final here." "You say something on final?" the controller said. "I'm not sure what you mean. Are you saying like an object or something?" "Yes sir, an object. And it definitely looks like a drone," the pilot said. The Southwest pilot said the object was "pretty close," though he estimated it was about a quarter of a mile away to their right. The controller then began warning other flights to be on alert for the object. At one of the nation's most congested and delay-prone airports, even a brief halt to landings can ripple though the day and cause disruptions for hours. The airport has also been plagued by delays in passenger security screening blamed on the partial government shutdown that began Dec. 22. On Monday, travelers waited as long as 40 minutes, according to the Transportation Security Administration. The shutdown has also meant that FAA's controllers are working without pay and some support workers -- including some who would help investigate incidents like the one at Newark -- are furloughed. Notification that air-traffic workers will miss their second paycheck begins today. Proposed Rules The incidents in London and Newark highlight a growing problem with drones: the potential for massive disruptions of commercial air travel by their mere presence. The U.S. government is drafting proposals that would track drones and identify their users in real time, but the rules are years away from becoming final. The world's largest civilian drone maker, China-based SZ DJI Technology Co. Ltd., issued a statement saying it would assist in any investigation, but raising doubts that a pilot could see such a small craft at that altitude. "Spotting one from a plane flying at more than 100 mph strains the limits of physical possibility," said company spokesman Adam Lisberg. The FAA has recorded hundreds of sightings of drones by pilots, including at Newark and other major commercial airports. There has been one confirmed collision in the U.S. between a drone and a traditional aircraft, an Army helicopter, which had minor damage, in 2017. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-22/newark-airport-flights-are- halted-by-faa-after-reports-of-drones Back to Top Could a Long Shot Aviation Strike Be the Most Effective Tool to End the Shutdown? A press conference at LAX from the union that represents TSA employees. As the White House chief of staff prepares for a shutdown that could last into March, the president orchestrates deals that only square with his own party, and Democrats let the GOP bask in Trump's abysmal polling numbers, it appears that the nation's longest-ever shutdown probably isn't going anywhere. But, increasingly, it seems that a solution could be pushed on Trump from outside industry - specifically from the airport, where everyone imaginable, from CEOs to ATCs, are furious with the shutdown's effects on flight safety, or for simply not getting paid. On Wednesday, the unions representing air traffic controllers, pilots, and flight attendants released a grim statement on the state of aviation during the shutdown. "In our risk averse industry, we cannot even calculate the level of risk currently at play, nor predict the point at which the entire system will break," said the statement from the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, the Air Line Pilots Association, and the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA. The statement continues, claiming that the unions "are not confident that system-wide analyses of safety reporting data" are accurate due to the shutdown. "As union leaders, we find it unconscionable that aviation professionals are being asked to work without pay and in an air safety environment that is deteriorating by the day. To avoid disruption to our aviation system, we urge Congress and the White House to take all necessary steps to end this shutdown immediately." The president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA Sara Nelson went a step further, imploring a "general strike" among members of American labor unions. "Almost a million workers are locked out or being forced to work without pay," Nelson said on Monday, at a ceremony honoring Martin Luther King Jr. "Others are going to work when our work space is increasingly unsafe. What is the labor movement waiting for? Go back with the fierce urgency of now to talk with your locals and international unions about all workers joining together to end this shutdown with a general strike." It is important to note that Nelson did not call for a general strike among aviation workers, a theoretical stoppage that would have a startling impact on American industry, halting pretty much any business or leisure that has prioritized planes over rail in the last 50 years. But given Nelson's strong statement, the unions' stance, the general malaise among aviation workers, and the reporting that Mick Mulvaney may be preparing to take the shutdown into March, such a strike is no longer outside the Overton window of airport talk. Indeed, such a walk-out has happened before: in 1981, almost 13,000 air traffic controllers picketed after talks between the union and the Federal Aviation Administration broke down. That strike, however, set a rough precedent for any inkling of one today: Reagan fired 11,500 controllers and banned them from federal employment for life, citing a law that prohibits strikes by federal workers. The remaining ATCs were back in the tower within days. But even Congressional Republicans are floating the idea of an illegal TSA strike as a potential shutdown-ender. According to Robert Costa, as early as last week, two "senior Republican lawmakers" said that "the only way this breaks open is if TSA employees stay home and Americans get furious about their flights. That's the only out, they say. And they're close to the [White House.]" And in an interview with Slate, historian and 1981 ATC strike expert Josh McCartin cites an important difference between the walk- out almost 40 years ago and the hypothetical one today: the Reagan administration had years to prepare for the union talks - two years before controllers' contracts ran out it was obvious there would be a dispute - while the chaotic Trump administration might flub a scenario like this, even with years to prepare. Meanwhile, as the shutdown passed its one-month anniversary, thousands of unpaid TSA workers are engaging in a pseudo- picket of their own: as of Monday, 7.5 percent of TSA's 57,000 employees called out, compared to 3.3 percent on the same day in 2018. http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/01/could-an-unlikely-aviation-strike-end-the- shutdown.html Back to Top Impact of Tucson International Airport's solar panels, one year update TUCSON, Ariz. - The Tucson International Airport (TIA) adopted using solar energy a year ago, in the hopes to save money and to leave a smaller carbon footprint. To date the system has generated 16.3 kilowatt hours of energy and has saved the airport more than $800,000. "Well, as you can imagine, the energy for an airport is rather high so anytime we can take advantage of savings, like the solar project, we're very excited. Its a win-win for both the TAA (Tucson Airport Authority) and the environment. And it minimizes our carbon footprint in the community," said Danette Bewley, the vice president of operations and COO at TIA. The solar project's focus is powering the airport's terminals, a significant portion of the airport's power. "So the Airport Authority has enjoyed about $35,000 a month in savings from both phase 1 and phase 2 of our solar project," said Bewley. Phase 1 only included a section of the parking lot, while Phase 2 officially converted every overhang to hold solar panels. In total, 1,360 solar panels are generating energy and saving the airport money. "When we're efficient, we can pass those saving along to our tenants, especially the airlines. And the low our costs are, the more attractive our airport is to airlines," said Bewley. The airport's solar project has come to an end - stopping with the parking lot - but this is not the end of TIA's environmental projects. "We're never done. We're always seeking new ways to improve and to save energy," said Bewley. This $14 million project was funded by FAA grants, ADOT, and TAA funds. https://www.kgun9.com/news/local-news/impact-of-tucson-international-airports-solar- panels-one-year-update Back to Top Boeing's experimental autonomous aircraft completes its first test flight The latest 'flying car' test as the aviation industry moves toward urban aerial mobility Boeing Aurora Flight Sciences, a subsidiary of aerospace giant Boeing, said Wednesday that it recently conducted the first test flight of its all-electric autonomous passenger air vehicle. The unpiloted vehicle took off vertically, hovered for a few seconds, and then landed at the company's test site in Manassas, Virginia. Boeing said that future flights will test forward, wing-borne flight, as well as the transition phase between vertical and forward-flight modes. THE UNPILOTED VEHICLE TOOK OFF VERTICALLY, HOVERED FOR A FEW SECONDS, AND THEN LANDED It's a significant step toward a future in which autonomous, electric "flying taxis" zip from skyscraper to skyscraper, bearing passengers and cargo in service of an entirely new form of urban mobility. Boeing is just one of dozens of companies that are pursuing some form of urban air taxi service, but as one of the largest aviation companies in the world, clearly it has the resources and the engineering prowess to get something in the air sooner than later. The reason Boeing's efforts here are notable is because, simply put, there are no electric-powered aircraft, or even gas-electric hybrid aircraft, in commercial operation today. Flying requires an incredible amount of energy, and present battery technology just doesn't offer the power-to-weight ratio needed to achieve liftoff. Most experts predict that it will be years, if not decades, before the technology catches up. Powered by an electric propulsion system, Boeing says the prototype is designed for fully autonomous flight from takeoff to landing, with a range of up to 50 miles (80.47 kilometers). Measuring 30 feet (9.14 meters) long and 28 feet (8.53 meters) wide, its airframe integrates the propulsion and wing systems to achieve efficient hover and forward flight (also known as vertical takeoff and landing, or VTOL). The test was conducted by Boeing's futuristic NeXt division, which also oversees its heavy-duty drone prototype that's capable of lifting a 500-pound payload. The so-called "cargo air vehicle" conducted its first indoor flight test last year, and will move to outdoor testing in 2019, Boeing says. Aurora Flight Sciences, an aviation and aeronautics research company, was acquired by Boeing in 2017. It is one of a handful of firms that have partnered with Uber in an effort to develop a network of "flying taxis" that operate on the ride-hailing company's forthcoming "Uber Air" product, which it plans to launch in 2023. A POSSIBLE CONTENDER FOR THE FORTHCOMING "UBER AIR" SERVICE In it's announcement about the test flight, Boeing made no mention of Uber, but did underscore its goal of unlocking "the potential of the urban air mobility market." For its part, Uber praised Boeing and Aurora for being "officially first in flight for Uber." Earlier this month, helicopter manufacturer Bell brought a scale model of its Nexus VTOL aircraft to CES in Las Vegas. Drones and flying taxis aren't Boeing's only VTOL projects in the works. The company is also the primary sponsor of a $2 million contest to build a functional jetpack. The competition seeks entrants who can produce a safe, quiet, ultra-compact personal flying device capable of carrying a single person 20 miles or more without refueling or recharging. The finalists were announced last June. And Boeing isn't the only aerospace giant interested in electric flight. Last year, rival Airbus demonstrated its Vahana eVTOL aircraft in a test flight very similar to Boeing's. But unlike Boeing, Airbus plans on launching its own flying taxi network, sans Uber. So for these public companies like Boeing (market cap $201 billion) and Airbus ($73 billion) with all their stockholders and board members, to be invested in a ludicrous-sounding venture like "flying taxis," it can't help but feel like we're on the cusp of some major breakthroughs. https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/23/18194332/boeing-electric-autonomous-aircraft- test-flight-vtol-aurora-flight-sciences Back to Top Could women solve the global pilot shortage? 'The perception was women didn't fly aircraft' Claire Banks is about to fulfil her childhood dream of flying planes for a living. After almost a decade as a physiotherapist, her aviation career is now ready to take off. The 36-year-old from Lancashire in the north of England has just been offered a job as a pilot by UK carrier EasyJet, joining a small but growing number of women around the world flying commercial aircraft. Once seen as a very male job, Claire says that attitudes have thankfully changed over the past two decades. "On leaving school it [becoming a pilot] wasn't really an option for me, there was very little information, and the perception was that women didn't fly aircraft," she says. "But the industry is now working hard to change that perception, and they're making the career accessible to absolutely everybody." Easyjet wants 20% of all its new pilots to be women by the end of next year With the global aviation industry warning of a shortfall of pilots as demand for air travel rises strongly, recruiting more women could go a long way to solving the problem. Worldwide air passenger numbers are expected to increase by 6% in 2019, to a record 4.59 billion, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Looking further ahead it predicts that levels could reach 8.2 billion by 2037, led by demand in China, India and Indonesia. Boeing, the world's largest plane-maker, says that if passenger numbers do rise to that amount, an extra 635,000 commercial pilots will be needed over the next 18 years. At the moment just 5% of airline pilots are women, according to the International Society of Women Airline Pilots (ISWAP). Which airline has the most female pilots? That number will need to increase to meet the industry's expected growth, says Robin Glover-Faure, president of L3 Commercial Training Solutions, one of the world's biggest trainers of pilots. L3 trains pilots for more than 40 airlines, including British Airways and Qatar. Mr Glover-Faure says that to meet the requirement for new pilots "we're going to have to appeal to a more diverse group of people that have got the talent but come from backgrounds where maybe they haven't considered being a pilot before". Air France is one of few airlines that pays for the training of new pilots The company is also putting money into finding more female pilots through a scholarship scheme. It is now helping 10 women a year fund the training, which normally costs in the region of £100,000, and can take up to 24 months. Most airlines now require would-be pilots to pay to do such courses, but often with the guarantee of a job once they have completed it. Recruits such as Claire Banks use savings, or borrow money from parents. Other people take out loans. Some carriers, such as Air France, however, cover the cost of training new pilots. Mr Glover-Faure says that in the long term, finding more female pilots means breaking down "some of the perception barriers" by going to schools and recruitment fairs to explain that being a pilot is an option for a "very diverse group of people". Only 5% of commercial aircraft passengers around the world are female EasyJet, which is one of Europe's biggest airlines, is also actively trying to recruit more women as pilots. David Morgan, its director of flight operations, is in charge of pilot recruitment. He says there is currently "an acute shortage of females coming into the industry". To do its bit to rectify this, EasyJet is now aiming for 20% of its new pilots to be female by next year. Currently only 5.4%, or 215 of its total 4,000 pilots, are women. Another carrier that is working hard to get more female pilots is Virgin Australia. It has set itself one of the toughest targets for new recruits - aiming to have a 50:50 gender balance for its cadet pilots. Lucinda Gemmell, head of human resources at Virgin Australia, says that out of its latest intake of 16 pilot cadets, nine are women. The airline says it is proud to have improved on two women out of 10 in its previous class, and Ms Gemmell adds that Virgin Australia wants "to ensure that our workforce is representative of the communities in which we live, work and fly". At the last count only 5.7% of its pilots are women. Speaking in a personal capacity, ISWAP's Kathy McCullough says that more has to be done across the industry to help female pilots balance their careers with motherhood. She adds that change is needed to lower the number of women who give up flying so that they can take care of their children. EasyJet's David Morgan says that his airline offers flexible working patterns. "Many of our female pilots are on part-time contracts, or on a flexible working pattern where they can accommodate both their professional life and also their home life," he says. Kathy McCullough adds that a more serious industry-wide problem is that some female pilots have reported sexual harassment. For widespread change to happen she thinks the aviation industry needs its own #MeToo moment, and that "more women need to speak out about the harassment that they've received". However, she adds that the problem they face is that "it's perceived as whingeing". It wasn't until the mid-1970s that major American airlines began recruiting female pilots, and Mrs McCullough says the "dismal numbers" of female pilots 40 years later is the proof that issues have not been adequately addressed. More than half of Virgin Australia's latest trainee pilots are women While the wider societal #MeToo movement started in the US, its airlines lag behind many around the world when it comes to numbers of female pilots. At the biggest three US carriers by passenger numbers, 4.2% of American Airlines' pilots are female, compared with 4.7% at Delta and 3.6% at Southwest, according to ISWAP. By comparison, at least 10% of pilots are female at eight major Indian airlines. Other carriers that reach double figures are Qantas Link in Australia (11.6%), Iceland Air (10.9%) and South African Express (12.1%). IATA is now working on what it calls a "major study" that aims to identify the best ways to recruit, retain and promote women in aviation. New EasyJet pilot Claire Banks says: "The fact that there is a pilot shortage provides a really good opportunity to get that information out there, and really drive the initiative that females can be commercial pilots." https://www.bbc.com/news/business-46876007 Back to Top Bahrain to sink Boeing jet for underwater theme park The Persian gulf country of Bahrain is hoping to attract divers from across the globe with a new "underwater theme park" -- an expansive diving site spanning 100,000 square meters with some unusual features. BAHRAIN - The Persian gulf country of Bahrain is hoping to attract divers from across the globe with a new "underwater theme park" - an expansive diving site spanning 100,000 square meters with some unusual features. The centerpiece of this underwater extravaganza? A sunken Boeing 747. It might be of dubious taste - but that's not putting the project managers off the concept. The 70-meter-long plane due to be lowered in the water is a decommissioned, specially prepared aircraft. The sub-aquatic project is the product of a partnership between the Supreme Council for Environment, Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA), and the private sector. Announced via the state-run Bahrain News Agency, the diving site will apparently also feature a replica Bahraini pearl merchant's house, artificial coral reefs and art sculptures. The site is intended to be ready for explorers by summer 2019, so plans are already in full swing. Eco-friendly? The organizers say the new Bahrain attraction will be eco-friendly - promoting marine life growth. But marine specialist Adriana Humanes, who has a PhD in Marine Ecology from James Cook University, Australia and is currently based at Newcastle University in the UK, says that artificial coral reefs are not always ecologically sound. "As corals reefs in good health state become less abundant and divers become more skilled and experienced, artificial reefs have become popular alternatives used by governments and the tourism industry to attract visitors to certain areas of interest," says Humanes. "Wreck diving is one of the oldest methods used to construct artificial reefs by providing a structure to marine sessile organisms and fishes." Humanes says that wreck diving provides "unique, diverse and intriguing diving experiences" - but clarifies that there may be downsides. "Their materials - copper, copper alloys, aluminum, lead and steel, petroleum hydrocarbons and other potential pollutant - can be subject to corrosion, [passing] heavy metals into the seawater and affecting the surrounding marine organisms. Corrosion will also lead to the subsequent loss of structural integrity, potentially affecting marine life living in the area or becoming a safety threat to visitor divers." The Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Agency said the aircraft will be specially prepared before it is lowered into the water. "All aircraft surfaces will be subjected to a high-pressure wash with bio-friendly detergents to ensure all post-production coatings, oil and grime are removed," a spokesperson tells CNN Travel. "Furthermore, a vast amount of time has been spent removing contaminants from the aircraft. This has included removing all wiring, all hydraulic, pneumatic and fuel systems, and all adhesives, insulation, plastics, rubbers, chemicals or other potential toxic substances." Aircraft turned artificial reef Bahrain's proposition is not the first time an airplane's been deliberately sunk to create a diving attraction. In the US, a Boeing 727 jet was sunk off the coast of Miami in 1993. It was later damaged during Hurricane Gordon in summer 1995. Meanwhile at Mermet Springs in Illinois, a Boeing 727 that featured in the 1990s movie "U.S. Marshals" now lies below water and forms part of a popular diving site. Over in Canada, divers can explore a decommissioned Boeing 737 in the Stuart Channel near Chemainus, British Columbia. In Turkey, an Airbus was lowered into the waters off the Aegean coast a couple of years ago, intended to be an artificial reef. The upcoming Bahrain underwater park is also part of a wider trend for underwater tourist attractions. From the Maldives' underwater hotel - where you can enjoy the marine view without getting wet - to America's underwater museum, located off the coast of Florida, where divers can explore striking statues and sculptures. https://fox6now.com/2019/01/23/bahrain-to-sink-boeing-jet-for-underwater-theme- park/ Back to Top Aircraft Fire Hazards, Protection and Investigation Course presented by N. Albert Moussa, PhD, PE July 9 to 11, 2019 BlazeTech Corporation 29 B Montvale Ave, Woburn MA 01801 USA. Dear Colleague, While commercial air transport is very safe, the advent of new technologies poses fire safety challenges that will be treated in this course. This offering draws upon Dr. Moussa's work in this area since 1971 as well as related courses that BlazeTech has been teaching since 1998. Lectures will include Li and Li-ion battery fires, flammability of carbon fiber and glass fiber composites, emerging aviation fluids, engine fires, fuel tank fire/explosion, fire extinguishment methods, protection methods, aircraft accident investigation, and fire/explosion pattern recognition. Recent accidents are continuously added to the course. For each type of fire, this course will provide a cohesive integrated presentation of fundamentals, small- and large-scale testing, computer modeling, standards and specifications, and real accident investigation - as outlined in the course brochure. This integrated approach will enable you to address safety issues related to current and new systems and circumstances, and to investigate one of a kind fire and explosion accidents. The course will benefit professionals who are responsible for commercial aircraft, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles including design, equipment selection, test, operation, maintenance, safety management system, hazard/risk assessment, and accident investigation. View Brochure for course content and registration form (also embedded below). View Testmonials of previous attendees and their Companies. View some of the technical references discussed in this course. We also offer this course at the client site as well as customized courses on fire and explosion in other areas. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. Albert Moussa, Ph.D., P.E. BlazeTech Corporation 29B Montvale Ave. Woburn, MA 01801-7021 781-759-0700 x200 781-759-0703 fax www.blazetech.com firecourse@blazetech.com LinkedIn Curt Lewis