Flight Safety Information January 31, 2019 - No. 023 In This Issue Incident: Avianca A319 near Bogota on Jan 27th 2019, hail strike Incident: SA Airlink E135 near Windhoek on Jan 28th 2019, cabin did not pressurize Incident: TUI B38M near Chania on Jan 29th 2019, engine problem Incident: Southern Air B734 at Cincinnati on Jan 30th 2019, hydraulic failure Incident: Scoot B789 near Darwin on Jan 29th 2019, cracked windshield Incident: Cathay Pacific B773 near Hong Kong on Jan 26th 2019, captain incapacitated Incident: Jetblue A320 near Orlando on Jan 30th 2019, fumes on board EVAS - Cockpit Smoke Protection KC-130H Hercules - Ground Damage (Israel) Aircraft debris found in medevac-plane search near Kake Aviation Safety Always' - Speedy Accident Investigations Essential, Expert Says 'Pakistan fully supports global policies for safe aviation' The FAA wants your drone far, far away from the Super Bowl U.S. regulator to free up flights by Vietnam airlines: sources Leading Aviation Service Provider AAR Corp Launches Campaign To Reverse Erosion Of Sector Workforce Shorter Contracts, Hefty Bonuses Available for Air Force Pilots Boeing speeds 787 line to prepare for output of 14 jets a month Boeing embeds staff at CFM International in 'intense effort' to boost 737 Max engine production Is Earth's Magnetic Field Flipping Soon? ONLINE SURVEY REQUEST Aircraft Maintenance Investigation from SCSI IATA Safety & Flight Ops Conference - 2-4 April - Barcelona 2019 AIR CHARTER SAFETY SYMPOSIUM Aircraft Fire Hazards, Protection and Investigation Incident: Avianca A319 near Bogota on Jan 27th 2019, hail strike An Avianca Airbus A319-100, registration N694AV performing flight AV-8464 from Cali to Bogota (Colombia), was descending towards Bogota when the aircraft encountered hail causing both windshields to crack and a deformation of the radome. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on Bogota's runway 31R. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Bogota 3 days later. Metars: SKBO 280000Z 30004KT 9999 FEW020 16/12 A3028= SKBO 272300Z 25008KT 9999 FEW020 17/11 A3026= SKBO 272200Z 28011KT 9999 SCT020TCU 19/11 A3024 RMK TCU/SE= SKBO 272100Z 25012KT 9999 SCT020TCU 20/11 A3023 RMK TCU/NE= SKBO 272000Z 28012KT 9999 SCT020 21/10 A3025= SKBO 271900Z 23012KT 9999 BKN020 19/10 A3028= SKBO 271800Z 29010KT 9999 BKN020 21/10 A3030= The aircraft seen after landing: http://avherald.com/h?article=4c38d002&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: SA Airlink E135 near Windhoek on Jan 28th 2019, cabin did not pressurize A South African Airlink Embraer ERJ-135, registration ZS-OUV performing flight 4Z-8127 from Windhoek (Namibia) to Cape Town (South Africa) with about 19 passengers, was climbing out of Windhoek, when the passenger oxygen masks were released, the crew stopped the climb and returned to Windhoek for a safe landing. A passenger reported they were just about to climb through the clouds about 15 minutes into the flight when the oxygen masks were released. The crew subsequently announced a cabin pressurization problem. The aircraft landed about 20 minutes after the announcement. The passenger counted 19 passengers on board. A number of passengers were rebooked onto the next flight SA-8125, the others boarded a replacement aircraft and reached Cape Town with a delay of 6 hours. The occurrence aircraft positioned to Johannesburg (South Africa) later the day. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c38cc07&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: TUI B38M near Chania on Jan 29th 2019, engine problem A TUI Airways Boeing 737-8 MAX, registration G-TUMA performing flight BY-643 from Hurghada (Egypt) to Manchester,EN (UK) with 147 passengers, was enroute at FL360 about 250nm southeast of Chania (Greece) when the crew decided to divert to Chania due to an abnormal engine (LEAP) indication. The aircraft descended to FL320 initially, then drifted down and landed safely in Chania about 50 minutes after leaving FL360. The airline reported the aircraft diverted to Chania due to a technical problem, the flight was postponed to the following day. A replacement Boeing 737-800 registration G-FDZR positioned to Chania, resumed the flight the following day and reached Manchester with a delay of 21 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Chania about 29 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c38c91c&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Southern Air B734 at Cincinnati on Jan 30th 2019, hydraulic failure A Southern Air Boeing 737-400 freighter, registration N311GT performing flight 9S-197 (dep Jan 29th) from Salt Lake City,UT to Cincinnati,KY (USA) with 3 crew, was descending towards Cincinnati's Northern Kentucky Airport when the crew declared emergency reporting a hydraulic failure. The crew advised they wanted to continue the approach to runway 27 and landed safely on runway 27 about 12 minutes later. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground about 15.5 hours after landing. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/SOO197/history/20190130/0411Z/KSLC/KCVG http://avherald.com/h?article=4c38c44f&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Scoot B789 near Darwin on Jan 29th 2019, cracked windshield A Scoot Boeing 787-9, registration 9V-OJC performing flight TR-6 from Singapore (Singapore) to Coolangatta,QL (Australia) with 341 people on board, was enroute at FL390 about 480nm west of Darwin,NT (Australia) when the left hand windshield cracked prompting the crew to turn around and return to Singapore. The aircraft climbed to FL400 for the return. The aircraft landed safely in Singapore about 3 hours later. The airline reported the outer pane of the windshield was damaged. The flight diverted to Singapore as a precaution and landed there about 3 hours later. A replacement Boeing 787-9 registration 9V-OJF reached Coolangatta with a delay of about 8 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c38b901&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Cathay Pacific B773 near Hong Kong on Jan 26th 2019, captain incapacitated A Cathay Pacific Boeing 777-300, registration B-HNP performing flight CX-583 from Sapporo (Japan) to Hong Kong (China) with 357 people on board, was enroute at FL380 about one hour prior to estimated arrival when the first officer declared PAN PAN reporting the captain had become incapacitated. The aircraft continued to Hong Kong for a safe landing on runway 07L about one hour later, emergency services were on stand by. The captain was taken to a hospital by an ambulance awaiting the aircraft. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c38b6e0&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Jetblue A320 near Orlando on Jan 30th 2019, fumes on board A Jetblue Airbus A320-200, registration N523JB performing flight B6-198 from Orlando,FL to New York La Guardia,NY (USA) with 88 people on board, was climbing through about FL360 when the crew stopped the climb (maximum about FL368) reporting fumes in the cockpit. The aircraft returned to Orlando for a safe landing on runway 36R about 53 minutes after departure. Three cabin crew and three passengers were examined by medical staff awaiting the aircraft, nobody needed to be taken to a hospital. A replacement A320-200 registration N559JB reached New York with a delay of 4:20 hours. Passengers reported they had been exposed to "dangerous fumes". The airport reported the crew reported fumes in the cockpit and returned to Orlando. Three crew and three passengers requested evaluation by medical services, however, none needed to be taken to a hospital. The airline reported the aircraft returned to Orlando out of abundance of caution after the crew reported an odour. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/JBU198/history/20190130/1140Z/KMCO/KLGA http://avherald.com/h?article=4c38b498&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top KC-130H Hercules - Ground Damage (Israel) Date: 30-JAN-2019 Time: Type: Lockheed KC-130H Hercules Owner/operator: Israeli Air Force Registration: 4X-FBY C/n / msn: 4660 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 Aircraft damage: Substantial Location: Nevatim Israeli AFB (VTM/LLNV), Be'er Sheva - Israel Phase: Standing Nature: Military Departure airport: Destination airport: Narrative: While doing engine run-up for maintenance, the plane No.522 Lockheed KC-130H Hercules rolled from the run-up area into a ditch. 2 ground personal were lightly injured. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=221303 Back to Top Aircraft debris found in medevac-plane search near Kake Searchers have found aircraft debris, as they seek a medevac aircraft carrying three people missing near the Southeast Alaska community of Kake since Tuesday night. On Wednesday night Guardian Flight, the operator of the missing King Air 200, released the names of its Juneau-based crew - pilot Patrick Coyle, 63, flight nurse Stacie Rae Morse, 30, and flight paramedic Margaret Langston Allen, 43. "We continue to ask for prayers and support as we focus on these crew members and their families during this very difficult time," Guardian Flight officials wrote. Randy Lyman, the company's senior vice president of operations, said Tuesday night that Guardian Flight had initiated a stand-down of its entire fleet until more information is available. The U.S. Coast Guard emphasized Wednesday afternoon that it wasn't clear whether the discovery was linked to the missing aircraft. "It was reported that debris from a plane was located in the water approximately 22 miles west of Kake, near the south tip of Admiralty Island in the Chatham Strait," Coast Guard officials wrote. "The Coast Guard cannot confirm the debris is from the overdue aircraft." Coast Guard spokeswoman Chief Petty Officer Charly Hengen said Wednesday evening that a Wrangell Search and Rescue floatplane initially spotted the debris from the air, before it was retrieved by the crew of the Coast Guard cutter Anacapa. "It appears to be a piece of aircraft wing," Hengen said. Additional pieces of debris were found Wednesday by an MH-60 Jayhawk crew out of Air Station Sitka, according to Hengen. Another cutter, the Bailey Barco, had been sent Wednesday to assist the Anacapa in the search. "The electronic locating transmitter is not broadcasting for the overdue aircraft," Coast Guard officials wrote in a statement at midday Wednesday. David Berg, assistant chief of the Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department, said firefighters there had traveled 50 miles to the search area Wednesday morning in a 32-foot boat. It was reported that there was material from a wing of a plane was located in the water about 22 miles west of Kake. The Coast Guard can't confirm the debris is from the overdue aircraft, but crews are continuing the search in challenging weather conditions. As a first responder, Berg offered a realistic assessment of any potential rescue within the search area. "You can imagine it's going to be very difficult for someone to survive, having gone down in an airplane and yet being exposed to the weather, these kinds of conditions," Berg said. "Fortunately it's not freezing; it's been between 32 and 40 in the area." Hengen said the King Air 200 had taken off Tuesday from Anchorage with three people on board. It had been expected in Kake at 6:19 p.m., but never arrived. "They were going there to pick up a person in Kake," Hengen said. On Wednesday, Hengen said the Coast Guard wasn't aware of any distress transmissions from the missing flight. "Nothing was reported like that," Hengen said. "They just lost radar contact." Hengen said the search area was based on the King Air's last known position. "It is roughly a 30-by-20 square-nautical-mile area inside of that search grid," she said. Alaska State Troopers spokesman Tim DeSpain said the plane was reported missing at about 7 p.m. Tuesday. In addition to the Coast Guard cutters and a Sitka-based MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, the Alaska Army National Guard has sent a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter to assist in Wednesday's search. Petersburg Search and Rescue, as well as troopers and Alaska Marine Highway System ferries were also involved in the search effort. Good Samaritans in the area have also helped look for the plane. Hengen said Wednesday evening that search efforts will now be refocused on the area where the wing was discovered. "The Anacapa and the Bailey Barco will continue the search through the night," she said. "The rest of the SAR team, they are staying the night in Kake and are going to continue the search at first light." Berg said the Petersburg searchers were set to spend the night in Kake, then resume their work Thursday morning. He expressed a special sympathy for the Guardian Flight crew, saying their flights are a familiar sight. "We work very closely, hand-in-hand with the folks from Guardian and we certainly know those people; they come into Petersburg and pick up our patients on a regular basis," Berg said. "You know, this is part of our family, and it's real important to us as a community to be behind the effort." https://www.ktva.com/story/39874254/coast-guard-searching-for-missing-plane-near-kake Back to Top Back to Top 'Aviation Safety Always' - Speedy Accident Investigations Essential, Expert Says As a result of the recent partial U.S. government shutdown, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was unable to dispatch investigators to 15 new aviation accidents. In addition, when 90 percent of the NTSB's staff members were furloughed because of the shutdown, work stopped on 1,815 ongoing general aviation and limited aviation safety investigations, the agency reported. For example, news accounts noted, "A small plane crash in Michigan that killed the 83-year-old pilot was left untouched for days until investigators arrived." What happens when aviation accident investigations are delayed? Anthony Brickhouse, associate professor of Aerospace and Occupational Safety and manager of the Aerospace Forensics Laboratory at Embry-Riddle, said that aviation safety can be compromised if accident investigations are postponed. During the shutdown, he noted, local law-enforcement officials, coroners and medical examiners would have been called to assess any serious aviation accident scenes. Wreckage would have been removed to a hangar or another secure location. Key evidence, from fuel leaks to switch positions and instrument readings, can be destroyed or damaged if investigations are delayed, he said; even the relocation of wreckage can jeopardize evidence if it is not properly handled. Making matters worse, Brickhouse said, many Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials, who could have helped with some of the accident investigations, were also furloughed. "The NTSB doesn't go to every single accident site," he explained. "Sometimes, the FAA sends an inspector, but they know what types of photos to take and evidence to collect. With the shutdown, the FAA didn't go, the NTSB didn't go, and local law-enforcement are not going to gather evidence in the same way, no matter how conscientious they may be." In any accident investigation, Brickhouse said, "You want to learn what happened, why it happened, and how we can prevent it from happening again. It's like putting a puzzle back together. When we don't get a chance to physically see the crash site and the wreckage, that can impede our understanding of what happened." Brickhouse emphasized, however, that he's confident Embry-Riddle alumnus Robert Sumwalt, chairman of the NTSB, together with top NTSB leadership and management, had contingency plans in place during the government shutdown. "As a safety professional, I don't use the phrase, 'safety first' - I say 'safety always,' and to accomplish that, ideally in a perfect world, NTSB investigators would continue to function even during a government shutdown," Brickhouse said. "With that said, I'm confident in the leadership of NTSB Chairman Sumwalt, his fellow Board members, and his team of outstanding investigators, engineers and support staff." https://ui.constantcontact.com/rnavmap/emcf/email/edit?flow=edit&camefrom=view&campaign=4dc8f634- e1f5-46d6-b07c-700d22f458e1 Back to Top 'Pakistan fully supports global policies for safe aviation' Islamabad : Federal Minister for Aviation and Privatisation Muhammad Mian Soomro formally opened the 27th Steering Committee Meeting (SCM) of Cooperative Development of Operational Safety and Continuing Airworthiness Programme - South Asia (COSCAP-SA). The COSCAP-SA Steering Committee meets, at least once a year. So far its 26 meetings have been held in different member states. The meeting is being held in a hotel in Islamabad from 29 to 31 January 2019, hosted by Pakistan and is being organised by Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Speaking at the inaugural session of SCM, the federal minister reaffirmed that Pakistan fully supports global policies and guidelines for a safe, efficient, sustainable and viable civil aviation. He informed the participants that for building a strong and dependable air transport system, Pakistan has upgraded its air navigation infrastructure and installed adequate communication, navigation and surveillance facilities. Enumerating the recent achievements made in Pakistan's aviation sector he apprised that a newly built Islamabad International Airport is the most modern Greenfield airport in the country. A number of other international airports have recently been expanded and up-graded. He further said that construction of New Gwadar International Airport will not only make a robust air transport system of the country but will also trigger the economic growth in Pakistan. Referring the theme of the meeting "Together for aviation Safety", Muhammad Mian Soomro emphasized that it must be put to work in the interest of aviation sector of South Asia region. He expressed hope that this meeting will place emphasis on fostering sustained, peaceful and unifying ties amongst all member states directed towards improving aviation safety. Earlier in his welcome address Secretary Aviation Division and Director General, Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority Squadron Leader (r) Shahrukh Nusrat said that Pakistan firmly believes in the philosophy of sustained advancement in the field of civil aviation. "Our efforts for sustained growth in civil aviation are evident from the re-vamping of our National Aviation Policy and the associated re-vitalization of Governmental role in Regulations, the strengthening of Aviation Safety and Security practices, the liberalization of market access and traffic rights for our bilateral Partners and the pivotal modernization of airports and aerodromes," he added. He also emphasized that civil aviation authorities are regulators but they should also be the facilitators for the progression and sustainability of Aviation Sector around the globe. He further emphasised that this Meeting of Steering Committee, is not a mere forum, it signifies a genuine desire of continual efforts towards strengthening civil aviation oversight capabilities and improving the level of effective implementation resulting in enhanced Aviation Safety of the Member States. In his keynote address, Hussain Jaleel, Chairman of COSCAP-SA and Chief Executive, Civil Aviation Authority Maldives highlighted the efforts of COSCAP-SA to promote the aviation safety as well as meet the professional proficiency requirements of ICAO. He also mentioned that how the forum is facilitating by imparting trainings and skill development of stakeholders in South Asian states under COSCAP-SA. He also thanked Pakistan and Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority for organising the meeting in such a befitting manner and extending the warm hospitality to all the delegates. Speaking on the occasion Arun Mishra, Regional Director, International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) of Asia Pacific Region apprised that a total of 4.3 billion passengers were carried by air transport on scheduled services in 2018 which indicates a 6.1 per cent increase over 2017. He revealed that over half of the world's 1.4 billion tourists who travelled across international borders last year were transported by air, and that air transport now carries some 35% of world trade by value. In this regard, he said, the Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region with an increase of 7.3 per cent. He informed that aviation activities in South Asian countries have an average compliance level of 68.59% which is above the global average of 67.03%. "Owing to dynamic growth of South Asian region's air transport industry the entire global aviation community, with all stakeholders and partners must pledge the highest level of commitment to face growth challenges to maximize the benefits of aviation" he remarked. However, he lamented that South Asian region critically lacks in qualified personnel in aviation safety oversight system, which is one of the main obstacles in its robust growth. Captain Marie Helene Zubryckyj, Chief Technical Adviser COSCAP-SA also spoke on the occasion. She described the objectives of the meeting and provided the details of the agenda of all the three days of SC meeting. Later she conducted the introductory session of all the delegates. It may be mentioned that the Co-operative Development of Operational Safety and Continuing Airworthiness Programme - South Asia (COSCAP-SA) is a co-operative programme under the aegis of Int'l Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) of eight South Asian countries, namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The core function of COSCAP-SA is to enhance capacity building of its Member States by providing Training and Technical Assistance in civil aviation sector. The Programme is supported / sponsored by Airbus, Boeing, Director General Civil Aviation France, European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Federal Aviation Administration FAA (USA) and other int'l aviation organizations / forums. The idea of COSCAP was conceived in 1997 and COSCAP-SA started working in 1998. So far it has completed its 4 phases of 5 years each. Now, it has entered into its Phase-V. The COSCAP-SA is managed by a Steering Committee consisting of the Directors General of civil aviation administration of its Member States; Director, ICAO Technical Cooperation Bureau; Regional Director, ICAO Asia Pacific Region; and the Chief Technical Adviser (CTA) https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/425799-pakistan-fully-supports-global-policies-for-safe-aviation Back to Top The FAA wants your drone far, far away from the Super Bowl Violators could face criminal prosecution (CNN) - You better think twice before flying a drone anywhere near the Super Bowl in Atlanta. The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a temporary flight restriction within a 30-nautical-mile radius of the Mercedes-Benz stadium from Friday until after the game on Sunday. Violators could face civil penalties that exceed $20,000 and potential criminal prosecution for flying drones, the FAA said. "We want everyone to come and have an awesome time and see this amazing venue but we also want you to leave your drones at home," said NFL Chief Security Officer Cathy Lanier. As Super Bowl Sunday approaches, a massive security operation is underway in downtown Atlanta. Thousands of law enforcement officials have started patrolling -- with dogs, on horseback, and in helicopters. US Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen said Secret Service officers and even the US Coast Guard are also joining local and state agencies to keep fans safe. "We are also ensuring that criminals don't use these events to exploit the most vulnerable among us," Nielsen said about the ongoing operations to address sex trafficking. In the past four days, authorities have rescued four victims and made 33 arrests for sex trafficking, but they declined to discuss details about the cases on Wednesday. On game day, leave your firearms at home and bring a clear bag to the stadium. Security will turn away fans who bring large purses, but not those carrying small clutch bags or clear bags no larger than 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches. http://www.wfmz.com/sports/the-faa-wants-your-drone-far-far-away-from-the-super-bowl/996087897 Back to Top U.S. regulator to free up flights by Vietnam airlines: sources WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is expected to grant a Category 1 rating to Vietnam soon, giving its airlines the opportunity to fly to the United States and codeshare with American carriers, two U.S. officials said on Wednesday. There are currently no non-stop flights between the two countries, despite a large market catering to tourism and visits by friends and relatives. Vietnam Airlines JSC and Bamboo Airways have both expressed the desire to fly to the United States, but are barred from doing so until the Southeast Asian nation receives the Category 1 rating. The U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Category 1 rating should be issued in the coming weeks. Last year, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration sent a team to Vietnam to conduct a safety assessment, industry publication Aviation Week said. The F.A.A. did not immediately respond to a request from Reuters for comment. Unlike Thailand, which once had a Category 1 rating and is seeking to regain it after a downgrade to Category 2, Vietnam does not hold a F.A.A. rating. Vietnam's rapidly growing aviation market saw traffic increase 16 percent on average each year from 2010 to 2017, data from its civil aviation regulator shows. Its airlines, which also include budget carriers VietJet Aviation JSC and Jetstar Pacific, are major customers of Boeing Co and Airbus SE. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-vietnam-aviation/u-s-regulator-to-free-up-flights-by-vietnam- airlines-sources-idUSKCN1PP0EJ Back to Top Leading Aviation Service Provider AAR Corp Launches Campaign To Reverse Erosion Of Sector Workforce The global aviation industry is undergoing an unprecedented expansion that is expected to double the number of commercial aircraft in operation over the next 20 years. There has been much discussion in the industry about where all the pilots needed to fly those planes will come from. Much less attention is being given to an equally pressing workforce issue: training and credentialing hundreds of thousands of aircraft maintenance technicians and other support personnel so that the global fleet can be kept safe and ready to fly. Boeing estimates 189,000 new aviation technicians will be needed in North America alone to meet expected levels of demand through 2037, and that figure doesn't even include military demand. Workforce trends are not encouraging. Roughly 30% of the personnel providing aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul-MRO in industry shorthand-are expected to retire over the next several years. Meanwhile, recruiting of new workers to the field is lagging, in some cases creating bidding wars for talent. If these trends are not reversed, they will slow the expansion of air travel. Against that backdrop, I interviewed AAR Corporation CEO John Holmes on January 29 about what industry can do to improve the outlook for populating MRO facilities with more skilled personnel. AAR is the biggest independent MRO operator in the United States, employing 3,000 workers at five major MRO sites located mostly in the nation's industrial heartland. It also operates two large MRO sites in Canada, and has an overseas presence in more than a dozen countries. John Holmes, only the third CEO in AAR Corp's 60+ years of operation, says his industry needs to be more innovative in attracting talent if it is to grow at its full potential.AAR CORPORATION Holmes says "this workforce issue has become one of my top priorities," because it threatens to limit growth in an industry that has been expanding by leaps and bounds. He says that AAR (a contributor to my think tank) is paying more to attract talent, but industry needs to grow the pipeline of new recruits to the field. Holmes has introduced several initiatives under the banner of Eagle Pathways to bridge the gap in what the industry calls "middle skills." That phrase refers to the fact that most of the skills utilized by the MRO workforce do not require four years of college. They typically require a two-year technical degree, or certification by industry and government agencies (the same is true of most jobs in the U.S. economy). But there are barriers to entry for many potential workers that prevent them from tapping into a fast growing and well-paying career path. AAR Corp proposes to change that through a series of public-private partnerships with community colleges located near its MRO sites. In January it announced the expansion of on-going training programs at schools in Illinois and Minnesota aimed at giving prospective employees "portable, stackable" credentials that can open the door to industry opportunities. Students who pursue aviation careers will be eligible for up to $15,000 in tuition reimbursements as an inducement to complete their studies. Because the schools are close to AAR's operational sites, students are provided the opportunity for real- world, hands-on experience in maintaining and repairing aircraft. MRO is by its nature a labor-intensive business that does not lend itself to automation. Every plane is to some degree unique in its features and condition, and AAR supports virtually all of the planes built by Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier and Embraer. In addition to providing heavy maintenance inspections, airframe upgrades and modifications, it repairs over 6,000 different components. So students involved in the Eagle Pathways program can obtain a great deal of practical experience that gives them a head start in becoming aviation technicians. But that is just the beginning of what CEO Holmes has begun as his company pursues every option for growing its skilled workforce. In some cases, its public awareness efforts reach down to the middle school level, alerting students to career pathways they may not have considered in the past. One avenue that Holmes is pursuing is an update of Federal Aviation Administration certification procedures for maintainers working with composites. Composites are increasingly common in modern airframe design, but the FAA mandates requirements that impede the migration of experienced military maintainers into the private sector. Holmes says that imposes an unnecessary burden on veterans. More broadly, he says that the industry needs to look harder for workers in demographics that were neglected previously, such as minorities. Women currently make up less than 3% of the MRO touch-labor workforce, even though they have been a major factor in bolstering industrial performance during past military mobilizations. John Holmes says that with unemployment below 4%, his industry needs to be more imaginative in recruiting new talent. Holmes says that AAR Corp is in a unique position to address the emerging gap in middle skills: "No other independent out there does all the things we do, and that's why we are leading the charge." He emphasizes that the kind of skills his workers possess don't just lead to well-paying jobs, they lead to careers with good benefits and plenty of opportunities for advancement. But CEO Holmes also stresses that the workforce gap can't be fully bridged without government involvement: "We want to continue growing our partnerships with government-federal, state and local-but this is a challenge that can't be solved by industry alone." Oklahoma Senator James Inhofe, himself an aircraft owner, has tacitly acknowledged that fact by adding money to legislation for education and training of aircraft maintainers. There is a hidden issue here that tends to be overlooked in Washington debates about how best to bolster the nation's industrial strength. When aircraft operators can't find MRO options in the U.S. that meet their needs, they turn to offshore alternatives, especially in Asia. The U.S. thus ends up exporting core competencies in which it established the world standard. So fixing the shortfall in aircraft support skills is yet another competitiveness challenge for the nation. John Holmes is confident that AAR Corp's Eagle Pathways initiatives can change the vector of current workforce trends, enabling his company and others to grow steadily with the rest of the global aviation sector. But he is convinced that keeping his labor-intensive segment of the industry humming will require an ongoing commitment to imaginative, inclusive training practices that may have been missing in the past. https://www.forbes.com/sites/lorenthompson/2019/01/30/leading-mro-operator-aar-corp-launches- campaign-to-reverse-erosion-of-sector-workforce/#736b1e401038 Back to Top Shorter Contracts, Hefty Bonuses Available for Air Force Pilots Capts. Wes Sloat (left) and Jared Barkemeger, 7th Airlift Squadron pilots, operate a C-17 Globemaster III during takeoff from the flight line of Fort Bragg, N.C., during Operation Panther Storm, July 27, 2017. (U.S. Air Force/Staff Sgt. Keith James) The U.S. Air Force's air mobility and special operations pilots will see a substantial increase if they choose to take advantage of this year's aviation bonus program. The service last week announced that air mobility pilots (Air Force Specialty Code 11M) who fly aircraft such as the C-17 Globemaster III and C-130 Hercules, and special operations pilots (Specialty Code 11S) who fly aircraft such as the MC-130 Combat Talon will see a bonus bump to $35,000 this year from $30,000 last year. The increase is due to declining take rates, said Capt. Carrie Volpe, an Air Force spokeswoman. Additionally, all pilots who are eligible for the 2019 program can sign up for shorter-term contracts. The Air Force reduced the minimum contract term from four years to three, she said. "The aviation bonus program is a critical component to increasing retention in a very competitive job market," Volpe said in an email Wednesday. "However, we know the choice to stay in uniform isn't solely a financial consideration. Much like their initial decision to serve, airmen consider a number of factors when they contemplate leaving the Air Force." While some categories are seeing increased bonuses, the service has reduced the offer for combat search- and-rescue rotary-wing pilots (Specialty Code 11H) from $28,000 to $25,000 per year for contract lengths of three to nine years, based on "the health of the career field," officials said. The Air Force added air battle managers (Specialty Code 13B) to the program. These airmen, who provide command and control to air and ground units, could receive $20,000 annually for three-to-six-year contracts or $25,000 annually for seven-to-nine year contracts, the service said. The remaining breakdown: Bomber pilots (11B), fighter pilots (11F) and mobility pilots (11M) Annual payments of $35,000 for contract lengths of three to 12 years. Lump-sum, up-front payment options of $100,000 exist for seven- to nine-year contracts and $200,000 for 10- to 12-year contracts. Remotely piloted aircraft pilots (18X/11U) and special operations forces pilots (11S) Annual payments of $35,000 for contract lengths of three to 12 years. Command and control/intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance pilots (11R) and combat search-and- rescue fixed-wing pilots (11H) Annual payments of $30,000 for contract lengths of three to nine years and $35,000 for contract lengths of 10 to 12 years. A lump-sum, up-front payment option of $100,000 exists for seven- to nine-year contracts. Combat search and rescue rotary-wing pilots (11H) Annual payments of $25,000 for contract lengths of three to nine years. Combat systems officers (12X) and air battle managers (13B) Annual payments of $20,000 for contract lengths of three to six years and $25,000 for contract lengths of seven to nine years. First-time bonus applicants or those whose bonus programs have expired may enroll with the following stipulations: both manned and unmanned pilots are eligible for annual payments of $25,000 to $35,000 based on the member's set AFSC contract length ranging from three to nine years. These contracts may not extend the pilot's time in service beyond 24 years. Secondly, combat systems officers and air battle managers applying for the first time can receive annual payments of $20,000 for contract lengths of three to five years and must have 19 years or more of "total active federal military service," the Air Force said. Their bonuses too may not extend their time in service beyond 24 years, officials said. The fiscal 2017 National Defense Authorization Act for the first time allowed the Air Force to increase aviation retention pay from $25,000 to $35,000 per year and flight pay up to $1,000 per month "as needed to address manning shortfalls and challenges," the service said in a release at the time. The Air Force has a set goal of a 65 percent acceptance or "take rate" among its rated pilot community. But some career fields have fallen short. According to a report from Air Force Times, mobility pilots saw a 10- point drop in 2018, with more pilots declining bonuses than the previous year -- down from 47.6 percent to 37.9 percent. In the manned communities overall, the take rates have been consistent. In fiscal 2017, the take rate was 43.8 percent, while in 2018 it climbed slightly to 44.8 percent, according to statistics provided to Military.com on Wednesday. "Our retention initiatives must also address a wide range of quality-of-life and quality-of-service concerns," Volpe said. "The aviation bonus is not designed to compete financially with commercial airline salaries," added Lt. Gen. Brian Kelly, Air Force deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services. "It is just one of a myriad of levers the Air Force is implementing to enhance both the quality of life and quality of service, that when combined, help to retain our aviators." Kelly said there has been "some stabilization" in the pilot communities based on a number of initiatives. "Based on those results and current retention numbers, we made several program adjustments to this year's bonus program that are intended to build on this momentum," he said in provided responses to Military.com. "In addition, the Air Force has implemented a variety of non-monetary retention initiatives, such as the Second Assignment in Place program, improvements to the assignment process, reducing the number and length of individual deployments, providing increased administrative support, and eliminating additional duties in flying squadrons to enhance our aviators' and rated aircrew's ability to focus on the mission and readiness," Kelly said. The Air Force has started new initiatives, such as a unique fly-only track within Air Mobility Command, bonus incentives and preferred basing, since the service announced it was roughly 2,000 pilots short in 2017. The service has not provided an update on how many vacancies it had in 2018. The Air Force is focusing on what it can offer airmen that they may not experience in the private sector, such as "pride, professionalism, dedication and commitment," Kelly said. It's about "our airmen who are defending the high ground and ensuring our nation's security," he added. https://www.military.com/dodbuzz/2019/01/30/shorter-contracts-hefty-bonuses-available-air-force- pilots.html Back to Top Boeing speeds 787 line to prepare for output of 14 jets a month FILE PHOTO - Employees and guest watch during the first flight ceremony of the new Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner at the Charleston International Airport in North Charleston, South Carolina, United States March 31, 2017. REUTERS/Randall Hill SEATTLE/PARIS (Reuters) - Boeing Co has started boosting 787 Dreamliner production to 14 jets a month from 12, Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg said on Wednesday, putting the U.S. planemaker within reach of a key target designed to boost cash and lower costs. It expects to complete the increase in production in the second quarter, Muilenburg told analysts on a conference call. "We have started transitioning to 14 a month in our factories and supply chains as we prepare to begin delivering at this higher rate," Muilenburg said. The comments follow an earlier Reuters report that Boeing had starting running 787 lines at a rate ready to support the higher output of 14 jets a month. While factories are already absorbing parts at the new speed, it can take several months for new jetliners to work their way through final testing and delivery. Some gaps in production are typically introduced to smooth such changeovers. Boeing has previously said it aims to reach the new production rate in 2019. Boeing shares jumped on Wednesday as the world's largest planemaker raised its profit and cash flow expectations for 2019 amid a boom in air travel. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/exclusive-boeing-speeds-787-line-prepare-output-14-153759102-- finance.html Back to Top Boeing embeds staff at CFM International in 'intense effort' to boost 737 Max engine production Chicago-based major Boeing customer Unitied Airlines orders for 24 additional 737 Max jets in January 2019. IT also ordered 777s in a total deal worth $4.5 billion at list prices, though Unitid would enjoy big discounts as a major buyer. Boeing is sending its own staff into the CFM International factory because the engine maker continues to miss production targets for the engines needed for 737 Max jet. Boeing Chairman, President and CEO Dennis Muilenburg said it is doing the same thing with some of CFM's own suppliers, saying CFM isn't making enough 737 Max LEAP 1B engines to allow Boeing to achieve its goal of making 52 737 jets a month. CFM International is a joint venture between GE Aviation and Safran Aircraft Engines, a French aerospace manufacturer. "We are deploying additional resources with them into their factories and supply chain," Muilenburg said. "The 737 production system health remains a key focus for us." Muilenburg revealed the moves during a conference call with analysts Wednesday after Boeing released record fourth-quarter and full 2018 earnings results. Boeing made a similar move a year ago when fuselage maker Spirit AeroSystems Holdings was late with its deliveries. Boeing was plagued by supplier delays and parts shortages last summer and fall, especially engines, after increasing 737 jet production in the summer to 47 monthly to 52 per month. At the time, more than $2 billion worth of aircraft piled up outside and near Boeing's 737 Renton factory, awaiting engines and other components. Muilenburg said 737 output began recovering in December, when Boeing delivered 69 737s, but cautioned Renton's factory hasn't "fully recovered." "We've seen some good solid progress. We still have work to do, including inside our own factory and the supply chain," Muilenburg said. "That is a daily and weekly focus for us. It's an intense effort." Muilenburg said assigning Boeing personnel "deeper" into CFM factories and those of its "sub-tier suppliers" will give Boeing "better insights on long lead items." "This is really about just ramping up production and doing it efficiently and getting a linear profile of engine deliveries that matches up with our factory production rate for the airplane," Muilenburg said. "We still have work to go to have CFM support our 52-a-month rate, and to sync it up, and we even have more work to go to get them to 57," Muilenburg added, referring to Boeing's announced plans to boost 737 jet production to 57 a month in 2019. Muilenburg said some suppliers are delivering components at the 57-a-month rate now, but Boeing won't fully increase production until all suppliers can hit that target. Boeing's 2018 revenues topped $100 billion for the first time and forecast a record 895 to 905 commercial airplane deliveries in 2019. Boeing delivered 806 jets in 2018, including a 737 Max Business jet. https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2019/01/30/boeing-cfm-international-737-max- engine.html?ana=yahoo&yptr=yahoo Back to Top Is Earth's Magnetic Field Flipping Soon? A NASA visualization of Earth's magnetic fields. Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab Earth's north magnetic pole is so out of whack that scientists need to update the global magnetic-field model they released only four years ago. Could that be a sign that the magnetic pole will flip soon? The World Magnetic Model (WMM) - the name of the updated representation of the magnetic field of Earth - is expected to be released no earlier than Jan. 30. That's about two weeks later than planned, with the delay due to the government shutdown, according to a report in Nature. The magnetic pole is moving erratically out of the Canadian Arctic and toward Siberia so unpredictably that it took scientists by surprise. That 2015 update was supposed to remain valid until 2020, Arnaud Chulliat, a geomagnetist at the University of Colorado Boulder and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Centers for Environmental Information, told Nature. [Earth's Colorful Atmospheric Layers Photographed from Space] It's no news that the pole is moving; long-term records from London and Paris (kept since 1580) show that the north magnetic pole moves erratically around the rotational north pole over periods of a few hundred years or longer, Ciaran Beggan, a geophysicist with the British Geological Survey who is involved in WMM updates, told Space.com in an email. He cited a 1981 study from the journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. But what's really catching attention is the acceleration in movement. Around the mid-1990s, the pole suddenly sped up its movements from just over 9 miles (15 kilometers) a year to 34 miles (55 kilometers) annually. As of last year, the pole careened over the international date line toward the Eastern Hemisphere. The chief cause of the movement comes from the Earth's liquid-iron outer core, which is also called the "core field." Smaller factors also affect the movement. Those influences include magnetic minerals in the crust and upper mantle (especially for local magnetic fields) and electric currents created by seawater moving through an "ambient magnetic field," according to the 2015 report of the WMM. "One of the reasons we can update the map is that the European Space Agency launched a set of highly accurate magnetic-field satellites in 2013," said Beggan, referring to Swarm. "We have a superb data set from which we can make very good magnetic-field maps and update them every six to 12 months," Beggan added. "We noticed that the specification of the WMM was not being met in the high-latitude region around the pole, as the error exceeded 1 degree of grid angle on average. This triggered us to examine whether it was worth issuing a new update." Flipping out What's more, the core field appears to be weakening - which may be a sign that the planet's magnetic field will flip. To better understand how that would happen, here's how the core field works, according to Ronald Merrill, an emeritus professor of Earth and space sciences at the University of Washington, who spoke to Space.com's sister site Live Science. One easy way to imagine the field is to think of a bar magnet that runs through Earth's center and has a north pole and a south pole, said Merrill, who was not involved in the new WMM research. That magnet is strong, representing roughly 75 percent of the intensity of Earth's magnetic field at the surface. Of course, a bar magnet is not a perfect representation - it's actually electric currents that generate the Earth's magnetic field - but the model makes it easier to imagine what's happening to Earth, Merrill added. Specifically, the "bar magnet" is not only moving, but also getting weaker, by roughly 7 percent every 100 years. As for the other 25 percent of the magnetic field, Merrill said that's generated from another field, which you can picture as another moving bar magnet. Here's an interesting bit: As the central bar magnet loses intensity, this second, weaker magnetic field generates more influence on Earth's global magnetism. "And that's what's causing this field to move in the direction [of Siberia]," Merrill told Live Science. Earth's north and south poles periodically swap locations, with the last flip happening about 780,000 years ago. (The poles also weakened temporarily and rapidly about 41,000 years ago, Beggan added, but never underwent a full flip.)) A 2018 study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggested that Earth's magnetic field got weaker before the big changeover. While any magnetic-field flip would still be thousands of years away, the effects could be profound on technology, if similar to today's technology. This is because the weaker magnetic field would be somewhat poorer at shielding Earth against the solar wind (the constant stream of charged particles emanating from the sun) and cosmic rays (blasts of radiation from deep space). Magnetic compasses would not be as accurate, and satellites that monitor the weather or carry telecommunications signals could be disrupted, said Monika Korte, head of GFZ Potsdam's working group on geomagnetic field evolution in Germany. "Regarding increased radiation, that would go along with decreased shielding, [but] it seems that the atmosphere would still provide sufficient shielding at Earth's surface that humans and animals would not be significantly affected," she told Space.com in an email. "However, all the effects we currently only see during strong solar/geomagnetic storms would likely increase and occur ... during moderate solar activity," she added. "This includes satellite outages or damage to satellites, increased radiation doses on long-distance aircraft and the ISS [International Space Station], [and] distortions of telecommunication and GPS signals." Ongoing monitoring of the Earth's geomagnetic field (which includes the pole) will continue after the WMM release, principally through the European Space Agency Swarm mission, Korte said. But she noted that measuring the north magnetic pole's position is a challenge. That's because the pole is located in a remote area and the measurement of Earth's magnetic field is influenced by all magnetic-field sources - including the magnetic fields found in Earth's atmosphere (the ionosphere and magnetosphere). "It will depend on the future magnetic field change, which we cannot predict, if another update to the model out of the usual schedule might be required," she added. The next update to the WMM after this year's is expected early in 2020, Beggan said. https://www.space.com/43173-earth-magnetic-field-flips-when.html Back to Top ONLINE SURVEY REQUEST Dear Participant, You are being asked to participate in a research study to evaluate pilot decision-making. This study is expected to take approximately 5 minutes of your time. In order to participate, you must be at least 18 years old and currently employed as a professional 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 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/9ITjTgICot9o9Jjp1 For more information, please contact: Dr. Stephen Rice scrice@outlook.com We appreciate your interest and participation! Back to Top Back to Top 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