Flight Safety Information February 18, 2019 - No. 035 In This Issue Incident: LATAM Brasil A321 at Sao Paulo on Feb 17th 2019, engine problem Incident: British Airways A319 near London on Feb 8th 2019, burning odour in cockpit Incident: Qantas B738 near Cairns on Feb 10th 2019, burning odour in the flight deck EVAS - Cockpit Smoke Protection Incident: Lion B738 at Pontianak on Feb 16th 2019, overran runway on landing Accident: Southwest B738 near Providence on Feb 15th 2019, lightning strike Incident: Azul Cargo B734 enroute on Feb 15th 2019, foreign object damage to vertical stabilizer Beechcraft B90 King Air - Gear Up Landing (Florida) CitationJet CJ2 overflies airport vehicle at 1 metre after takeoff without clearance at Reykjavik Position:...Head of Group Human Factors IS-BAO Operator Continuous Improvement Roundtable at 2019 NBAA IOC Southwest Airlines Pulls 22 Aircraft Out of Service Over Maintenance Issue Southwest Airlines Just 'Threatened to Fire Some of Its Employees Up, up and away: How safe is hot-air ballooning? Hundreds of passengers stranded 'with no explanation' as British airline Flybmi collapses OVER A THOUSAND FOREIGN PLANES 'SECRETLY' REGISTERED IN SMALL TEXAS TOWN: REPORT Qatar Airways graduates first batch of aircraft mechanics Alaska Airlines Wants to Quadruple Its Number of Black Women Pilots NTSB - IA Renewal Safety Seminar High Altitude Flying Course Position: Director of Audit Programs / POSITIONS AVAILABLE: IOSA AUDITORS ONLINE SURVEY REQUEST Incident: LATAM Brasil A321 at Sao Paulo on Feb 17th 2019, engine problem A LATAM Brasil Airbus A321-200, registration PT-XPB performing flight LA-3466 from Sao Paulo Guarulhos,SP to Porto Alegre,RS (Brazil), was climbing out of Sao Paulo's runway 09L when the crew stopped the climb at FL070 after an engine (CFM56) suffered surges, observers on the ground reported streaks of flame from the engine exhaust. The crew returned to Sao Paulo for a safe landing on runway 27L about 40 minutes after departure. A runway inspection found no debris on the departure runway. A passenger reported the crew announced the engine possibly ingested a bird. A replacement A321-200 registration PT-XPQ reached Porto Alegre with a delay of 4 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Sao Paulo about 10 hours after landing back. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c456043&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: British Airways A319 near London on Feb 8th 2019, burning odour in cockpit A British Airways Airbus A319-100, registration G-EUPG performing flight BA-1489 from Glasgow,SC to London Heathrow,EN (UK), was descending towards London when the crew observed a burning odour in the cockpit and donned their oxygen masks. A fault message concerning the vent blower occurred, about 5 minutes later a fault message for the vent extract occurred. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on Heathrow's runway 27L about 10 minutes after the onset of the odour. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground for about 44 hours and returned to service on Feb 10th. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c45535d&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Qantas B738 near Cairns on Feb 10th 2019, burning odour in the flight deck A Qantas Boeing 737-800, registration VH-VZW performing flight QF-58 from Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea) to Brisbane,QL (Australia), was enroute at FL310 about 100nm eastsoutheast of Cairns,QL (Australia) when the crew decided to divert to Cairns due to an intermittent burning odour on the flight deck. The aircraft landed safely on Cairns' runway 33 about 22 minutes later. A passenger reported the crew indicated there was an "on-off smell of an electrical fire on the flight deck". After landing in Cairns checks were made, about 2 hours later they were informed the cause of the odour was identified as "an oily residue in the air intake". The aircraft was released to continue the flight and was pushed back, when the left hand engine (CFM56) failed prompting the crew to shut the engine down and have the aircraft returned to the gate. While the aircraft was being pulled back into the gate, the right hand engine failed, too, and was shut down followed by an immediate emergency evacuation via slides. The airline reported an air-conditioning issue as cause for the diversion to Cairns. While on the ground the captain evacuated the aircraft in the interest of safety, the airline added. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c4402d7&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top Incident: Lion B738 at Pontianak on Feb 16th 2019, overran runway on landing A LionAir Boeing 737-800, registration PK-LPS performing flight JT-714 from Jakarta to Pontianak (Indonesia) with 182 passengers and 7 crew, landed on Pontianak's runway 15 in rain at about 15:10L (08:10Z) when the aircraft overran the end of the runway and came to a stop about 220 feet/67 meters past the end of the runway with all gear on soft ground just past the paved surface of the runway end safety area. There were no injuries, the damage to the aircraft is being assessed. Related NOTAMs: B0891/19 NOTAMN Q) WIIF/QMRLC/IV/NBO/A/000/999/0009S10924E005 A) WIOO B) 1902160830 C) 1902160930 EST E) RWY 15/33 CLSD DUE TO BLOCK ACFT B0893/19 NOTAMR B0891/19 Q) WIIF/QMRLC/IV/NBO/A/000/999/0009S10924E005 A) WIOO B) 1902160932 C) 1902161400 EST E) RWY 15/33 CLSD DUE TO BLOCK ACFT B8441/18 NOTAMN Q) WIIF/QMRLC/IV/NBO/A/000/999/0009S10924E005 A) WIOO B) 1811190935 C) 1902280955 D) DLY 0935-0955 E) RWY 15/33 CLSD DUE TO RWY INSPECTION Metars: WIOO 161000Z 34004KT 7000 -RA FEW011CB SCT012 24/23 Q1010= WIOO 160930Z 11003KT 5000 -RA FEW011CB BKN012 24/23 Q1010= WIOO 160900Z 00000KT 3000 TSRA FEW002CB BKN004 24/23 Q1010= WIOO 160830Z 09005KT 0500 +TSRA FEW003CB BKN004 26/24 Q1010= WIOO 160800Z 21010KT 5000 -RA FEW011CB BKN012 28/24 Q1009 TEMPO FM0810 3000 TSRA= WIOO 160730Z 13003KT 9999 FEW012CB SCT013 31/24 Q1009= WIOO 160700Z 00000KT 9999 FEW012CB SCT013 31/24 Q1009= WIOO 160630Z 00000KT 9999 BKN013 31/24 Q1010= WIOO 160600Z 17003KT 9999 BKN012 31/24 Q1011= WIOO 160530Z 04004KT 9999 SCT012 30/25 Q1011= WIOO 160500Z 04003KT 9999 SCT012 29/25 Q1012= WIOO 160430Z 00000KT 9999 SCT012 29/25 Q1012= http://avherald.com/h?article=4c447454&opt=0 Back to Top Accident: Southwest B738 near Providence on Feb 15th 2019, lightning strike A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration N8543Z performing flight WN-1498 from Fort Lauderdale,FL to Providence,RI (USA), was descending towards Providence when the aircraft received a lightning strike. The aircraft continued for a safe landing. The aircraft was unable to continue the schedule. A replacement Boeing 737-800 registration N8537Z continued the schedule with a delay of about 4 hours. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground in Providence for about 10 hours, then ferried to Orlando,FL climbing to a maximum of FL200, and is still on the ground in Orlando about 15 hours after landing in Orlando. The airline reported the aircraft received a lightning strike in the descent towards Providence while flying from Fort Lauderdale to Rhode Island. The aircraft landed uneventfully and was removed from service. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c44ae31&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Azul Cargo B734 enroute on Feb 15th 2019, foreign object damage to vertical stabilizer An Azul Cargo Boeing 737-400 freighter, registration PR-AJZ performing flight AD-6001 from Manaus,AM to Sao Paulo Viracopos,SP (Brazil), performed a seemingly uneventful flight. A post flight inspection revealed foreign object damage to the left hand side of the vertical stabilizer however, including several holes (at least 3). Detail Photo (showing the two largest holes): http://avherald.com/h?article=4c44ab13&opt=0 Back to Top Beechcraft B90 King Air - Gear Up Landing (Florida) Date: 17-FEB-2019 Time: 12:00 Type: Beechcraft B90 King Air Owner/operator: Skydive Space Center Registration: N321DZ C/n / msn: LJ-367 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Minor Location: Arthur Dunn Airpark (X-21), Titusville, FL - United States of America Phase: Landing Nature: Parachuting Departure airport: Titusville-Arthur Dunn Airpark, FL (X-21) Destination airport: Titusville-Arthur Dunn Airpark, FL (X-21) Narrative: The Beech B90 King Air, engaged in skydiving flight, Made a belly landing following a problem with its landing gear at Arthur Dunn Airpark. No injuries reported. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=221942 Back to Top CitationJet CJ2 overflies airport vehicle at 1 metre after takeoff without clearance at Reykjavik Date: 11-JAN-2018 Time: 10:11 LT Type: Cessna 525A CitationJet CJ2 Owner/operator: Private Registration: N525FF C/n / msn: 525A-0161 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: None Category: Serious incident Location: Reykjavνk Domestic Airport (RKV/BIRK) - Iceland Phase: Take off Nature: Private Departure airport: Reykjavνk Domestic Airport (RKV/BIRK) Destination airport: Investigating agency: TSB Iceland Narrative: On the morning of January 11th 2018 rain showers were present, the temperature was around freezing point and the runway braking action was poor at Reykjavik Airport (BIRK). It was decided to sand both runways. At 10:04 the controller contacted the flight crew of a Cessna 525A CitationJet CJ2, N525FF, and informed them of the braking action on runway 19. The flight crew decided to proceed and were cleared to "Hold short RWY 19." This was read back correctly by the flight crew. At 10:07 the Tower controller gave the flight crew of N525FF the following instructions: "525FF Backtrack line up RWY 19," which was also read back correctly by the flight crew. Following communications in Icelandic about the sanding of the runways, the controller cleared the flight "... right turn line up RWY 19." The sanding truck had finished its run down the right side of runway 13. It then turned around at the end of runway 13 to start its run down the left side of runway 13, to sand that side of the runway. While the Tower controller was focused on communications he did not notice that the flight crew of airplane N525FF started their takeoff roll on RWY 19 after having turned at the runway end. When the sanding truck that was sanding runway 13 was about to cross runway 19, its driver noticed an airplane very close on runway 19, on his right side, just about to lift off. According to the sanding truck driver, he did not have sufficient time to react. The sanding truck was already at the runway center line of runway 19 when N525FF reached the runway section where RWY 19 crosses RWY 13. N525FF took off and flew over the sanding truck at 10:11. There was a serious risk of collision, as the minimum distance between N525FF and the sanding truck is believed to have been less than 1 meter. According to the Pilot Flying (PF) of N525FF, he recalled that they had been cleared to taxi and backtrack runway 19. When they turned around to line up on runway 19, the PF also recalled that the PNF transmitted that they were "ready for departure". At this time the PF had already increased the thrust significantly and the aircraft started to slide on the ice, so the commander (PF) said "we have to go" and commenced the take-off. The ITSB analysis of the ATC recordings concluded that said transmission by the PF "ready for departure", did not take place. The ITSB believes that if all the communications on the tower frequency would have been in English, then the flight crew of airplane N525FF might have been aware that RWY 13 was being sanded Sources: RNSA Accident investigation: Investigating agency: TSB Iceland Status: Investigation completed Duration: 1 year 1 month Download report: Final report https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=221862 Back to Top Back to Top Position: Head of Group Human Factors Reports to: General Manager GSORM Department: Group Safety & Operational Risk Management Human factors is an interdisciplinary area of psychology that focuses on a range of different topics including ergonomics, human error, product & system design, workplace safety, human capability, and human-hardware-software interaction. Human factors is devoted to understanding how people interact with their environments and the products and objects in those environments. The Head of Group Human Factors (HGHF) is responsible for establishing and maintaining a HF program as part of the Group Airlines (CX/KA) Safety Management System (SMS). The position requires that the incumbent is a technical specialist in HF and System Safety, and has the appropriate qualifications and experience to carry out the required duties. The role scope covers all aspects of CX/KA aviation operations, and includes the provision of HF expertise to operational issues and changes, as well as accident/incident investigations. The primary customer of the role is Flight Operations, and in particular the provision of HF expertise into the design and development of the annual Crew Resource Management (CRM) program. Key Responsibilities • Minimise risk exposure for CX and KA. • Establish and maintain a comprehensive HF program that will enhance the system safety performance of CX/KA, and thus improve both safety outcomes for operations and the wellbeing of employees. • Conduct studies into organisational and operational issues where workplace ergonomics and human error are concerned. • Apply modern systems thinking ('Safety-II') and system safety principles to all HF activities. • Drive the organisation to adopt human-centred design principles in the development and implementation of new policies, procedures, technologies and systems of work. • Develop programs and initiatives to understand the difference between work-as-imagined and work-as-done, and make recommendations to improve safety through better work design. • Provide HF analysis, expertise and support to safety risk assessments and/or changes to policies, procedures and work. • Provide HF analysis, expertise and support to safety investigations in which HF has been identified as an area of interest. • Provide HF analysis, expertise and support to the ongoing administration of FOP programs required by quality systems and regulatory authorities (e.g. LOSA, CRM) to ensure the integrity of CX/KA Air Operator's Certificates. • Deliver HF training to GSORM Safety and operational management teams to enhance HF knowledge, skills and awareness for use in their day-to-day work (e.g. procedural design). • Manage the tracking of regulatory changes and their impact on HF program implementation. • Maintain the development and efficient delivery of HF initial and recurrent training programmes in compliance with regulatory requirements for all frontline operational staff. • Establish documented HF policies and procedures in accordance with quality system requirements for the purpose of supporting efficient, effective and systematic program implementation. • Ensure all HF-related programmes implemented are aligned with industry good practice, keeping abreast of the latest research and development. • Ensure definition and content of all HF programs shall be developed in close liaison with operational management personnel. • Carry out HF-related projects and studies as assigned by GMGSORM. Requirements Skills • Broad operational knowledge and experience in the functions of the organisation (e.g. training design/management, flight operations, cabin operations, air traffic management, aerodrome operations, and maintenance organisation management.) • Sound knowledge of modern safety management principles and practices, including Systems Thinking and Safety-II. • Sound knowledge of aviation principles, aerodynamics and modern flight decks. • Display a high standard of written and verbal communication skills. • Ability to implement projects and programmes with minimal supervision, and to work independently and under pressure. • Computer literacy. • Excellent analytical skills. • Excellent presentation, facilitation and training delivery skills. • Ability to relate to all levels, both inside and outside the organisation. • A self-motivated team player and confident leader with excellent people management skills. • Ability to represent the company in a positive manner at conferences, seminars and meetings where the focus is human factors. • Worthy of respect from peers and management. • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to interact with people at all levels. • Strong managerial, coaching and mentoring skills as well the ability to work dynamically against tight deadlines. Knowledge • Bachelor's degree in relevant aviation, engineering, psychology or technical discipline required. • Masters or PhD in Human Factors or related discipline, such as Psychology or System Safety, highly desirable. • SMS qualification is highly desirable. • Strong knowledge of modern safety management principles and practices, such as Systems Thinking and Safety-II. Experience • Minimum 10-15 years relevant work experience in an airline or related industry. • Minimum 7 years in management role. • A minimum of 5 years employment in an aviation human factors or related role. APPLY HERE Back to Top Back to Top Southwest Airlines Pulls 22 Aircraft Out of Service Over Maintenance Issue O-Ring could leak oil, forcing pilot to shut down an engine in flight Nearly two dozen Southwest Airlines 737s sidelined over a maintenance issue are back in service, NBC News learned Friday. NBC News confirmed through government sources the Dallas-based airline pulled 22 of their Boeing 737s out of service on the belief that the wrong O-Rings were installed on some engines. Southwest confirmed to NBC 5 that no leaks were found in any of the fuel pumps and that all aircraft have been returned to service. "Southwest Airlines made the FAA aware of a maintenance issue involving the suitability of engine O-rings on a limited number of the company's aircraft. Southwest removed those planes from service while the airline completed the necessary repairs. The FAA was in contact with Southwest as part of the agency's ongoing airline safety oversight program and closely monitored the situation," the FAA said. NBC aviation expert John Cox said the O-Ring in question most likely keeps oil from bleeding out of the engine and that if it were to escape it could force pilots to shut down an engine. In a letter to Phoenix Maintenance Teams, Southwest Airlines management wrote: "We have been experiencing an unusually high number of out of service aircraft over the last few days. Due to this number of out of service aircraft, out operation requires all of our scheduled aircraft maintenance technicians and inspectors. I am declaring Phoenix in a state of Operational Emergency effective 10 a.m. central time (Friday)." In an emergency, a 737, the only aircraft Southwest flies, can fly on one engine. https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/business/Southwest-Airlines-Pulls-22-Aircraft-Out-of-Service-Over-Maintenance-Issue-505907461.html Back to Top Southwest Airlines Just 'Threatened to Fire Some of Its Employees.' The Reason Why Is Troubling Few airlines have surely encountered something quite like this before. I tend to think of Southwest Airlines as a company that embraces decency. Its employees seem (relatively) happy. Its ads claim its employees are deliriously happy. Which is why last week's events at Southwest are a touch strange. In what some might see as a Trumpian step, the airline declared an "operational emergency." As part of that declaration, a company memo obtained by the Chicago Business Journal says Southwest insists all mechanics who have been scheduled to work have to turn up or, if they don't provide a doctor's certification, be in danger of dismissal. Worse, the memo even uses the phrase "alleging illness" to suggest some mechanics might not want to work, say, overtime as part of this emergency. That doesn't sound quite like the vocabulary of a harmonious relationship between management and mechanics. What, though, is officially causing this apparent panic? A Southwest spokeswoman told me: Southwest's maintenance organization issued a call to maximize the number of Mechanics available for work. On an average day, the airline plans for as many as 20 aircraft to be unexpectedly out of service for maintenance items. Each day this week, the percentage of out-of-service aircraft in our available fleet of approximately 750 aircraft, has more than doubled the daily average. So an unusual number of Southwest's aircraft are calling in sick. Indeed, 100 flights were canceled on Friday, another 39 on Saturday. Southwest told me there's "no common theme among the reported items." The airline's planes, all Boeing 737s, are put under constant pressure. Southwest depends on fast turnarounds and multiple stops. The fact, though, that twice as many planes are having maintenance problems will concern many, including passengers. Recently, a disturbing CBS News report suggested that mechanics at Southwest and American were being pressured by management to overlook certain issues in order to keep planes in service. One mechanic told CBS: I've seen people walked off the job, held on suspension for a month or more because they've reported problems that they supposedly were outside their scope for finding. That report aired just a couple of weeks ago. I asked Southwest whether there was any relationship between that report and its sudden state of emergency. The airline wouldn't be drawn. Southwest is, though, currently in negotiation with its mechanics and has been since 2012. The mechanics' union, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, recently sent out an update to its members in which it said: The Company continues to insist on massive offsets of foreign outsourcing and elimination of your paid rest. The Company asks for these 'offsets' while not increasing the money in any significant fashion from the Tentative Agreement (TA) that you, the membership, rejected by a wide margin. The union added a somber thought: Make no mistake -- the Company is not currently engaged in good faith negotiation. The fact that Southwest is apparently threatening to fire some mechanics may be added to the file entitled: Things That Make You Go Hmmmm. The airline, however, insists it's all about the customers: To take care of our Customers, we are requiring all hands on deck to address maintenance items so that we may promptly return aircraft to service. https://www.inc.com/chris-matyszczyk/southwest-airlines-just-threatened-to-fire-some-of-its-employees-reason-why-is-troubling.html Back to Top Up, up and away: How safe is hot-air ballooning? Two hot-air balloons crashed within five minutes in Melbourne's east on Monday morning. The 17 passengers involved were uninjured. So why did it happen? And is hot-air ballooning safe? The hot air balloon went into a back yard in Vermont South. What happened on Monday morning? Five balloons from two companies left Bundoora just after dawn, bound for fields near Moorabbin Airport in the city's south-east. About 90 minutes into the flight, a sudden wind change forced pilots to make "layover landings" in nearby fields. What's a layover landing? Layover landings occur after touchdown on about 10 per cent of hot-air balloon flights. It happens when the wind is strong enough to continue dragging the balloon and basket along the ground before the balloon deflates. Kiff Saunders from Global Ballooning Australia said layover landings were a common practice in ballooning and all passengers were briefed on layover procedure before takeoff. Baskets are also padded to avoid injury. Mr Saunders said it was a "five- to 10-second exercise". "Most people would say it's the best part of a flight," he said. In Monday's incident, two of the balloons dragged the basket along the ground and neither had enough parkland for a smooth landing. One group ran into an orchard in Wantirna South; the other ran into someone's backyard in Vermont South. How safe is hot-air ballooning? Ballooning industry spokesman Damian Crock said the safety record of the hot-air ballooning industry remains outstanding in Australia. "It safely carries 250,000-plus people per annum, it's an integral part of the national tourism landscape ... and it operates in harmony with nature," he said. Mr Saunders had been ballooning over Melbourne for about 30 years and was unaware of a serious incident. He said the city made for highly technical air space, and pilots involved were highly skilled. This balloon came down in the bay in 2016 Pilots are put through rigorous training before being allowed to obtain their licence. Commercial balloon pilots and companies are also registered with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, and companies must hold air operator certificates, which are renewed every three years following audits. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau records mishaps and is currently investigating four in Victoria, although the bureau does not investigate every aviation incident, only those where it deems that doing so will result in a clear safety message. A one-hour scenic flight turned into an aquatic expedition when a balloon was forced to land on Port Phillip Bay, off Black Rock, in May 2016. According to an unverified report on the bureau's National Aviation Occurrence Database, a balloon had taken off from Bundoora with nine passengers on board at 7am but the pilot aborted a landing an hour later in Dendy Park, Brighton when first one and then another light pole got in the way. Landings in a golf course and park land didn't work either. About half-an-hour later, the pilot alerted air-traffic control that the group was now 4000 feet (1200 metres) over the bay with about 30 minutes worth of fuel left, and may need emergency help. Within minutes, the balloon was back over land but the pilot estimated it would be back over water in the five minutes it would take to land. The pilot opted to conserve fuel and guided the balloon down a kilometre offshore and contacted a passing boat, which picked up the passengers. The bureau has recorded 36 sub-optimal events on balloons in Victoria in the 10 years up to February 15, five of them classed as serious incidents, 10 as accidents and the rest as "incidents". Another event being looked at happened in February last year, when 11 passengers were injured, four seriously, in a "hard and fast" landing in the Yarra Valley. A sudden wind change and turbulence led the pilot to opt to descend rather than continue over "rising and heavily vegetated terrain", according to the bureau's National Aviation Occcurrence Database. A fire on board a balloon near Coldstream in December 2018 and a layover landing at Essendon Areodrome in April, in which a passenger received minor injuries, were also being investigated. In the Essendon incident, "due to the effective communication and briefings, the passengers were able to assume the correct landing position, which resulted in only one passenger suffering minor injuries," the bureau's database records. Other events included balloons contacting power lines, hitting trees and fences and, in one 2011 incident, ending up in the bay (water police brought passengers to shore). What is the worst accident? Australia lays claim to one of the world's deadliest hot-air balloon accidents, at Alice Springs in 1989. The accident, which killed 13 people when two balloons collided mid-air, was the world's most deadly until 2013, when a balloon caught fire and plunged into a sugarcane field near Luxor in Egypt, killing 19 people. The Alice Springs crash is now Australia's worst hot-air balloon accident but the world's third worst, after the deaths of 16 people after a balloon ran into powerlines and caught fire in Texas in 2016. The first recorded balloon crash - and possibly the first recorded aviation accident - was in 1785 when Jean-Francois Pilatre de Rozier died trying to cross the English Channel. https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/up-up-and-away-how-safe-is-hot-air-ballooning-20190218-p50yjm.html Back to Top Hundreds of passengers stranded 'with no explanation' as British airline Flybmi collapses Flybmi has left hundreds of passengers stranded throughout Europe after the British regional airline abruptly ceased operations without warning after going bankrupt. British Midland Regional Limited, the airline that operates as Flybmi, made the announcement Saturday after filing for administration (the British version of bankruptcy) because of inflated fuel costs and uncertainty over Britain's departure from the European Union. "It is with a heavy heart that we have made this unavoidable announcement," the airline said on its website late Saturday. "We sincerely regret that this course of action has become the only option open to us, but the challenges, particularly those created by Brexit, have proven to be insurmountable." British regional airline Flybmi announced on Feb. 17, 2019, it had ceased operations and was filing for administration. The announcement of the sudden shutdown left travelers who'd already paid for flights to fend for themselves with little notice and no refund. In fact, Flybmi told passengers, "DO NOT TRAVEL TO THE AIRPORT." "All Customers due to travel with the Company will need to rebook flights with an alternative airline," Flybmi noted on their website, adding that they are "unable to arrange or reschedule any flights for you." Richard Edwards learned that his family's flight from Bristol to Munich on Flybmi was "cancelled with no explanation after we had gone through security." As for flights that passengers already paid for? "The Company is unable to repay Customers for cancelled flights," Flybmi said on its website. The airline, which operated 17 jets on routes to 25 European cities before its collapse, instructed travelers to claim a refund from their credit card company, travel insurance company or booking agent. Interestingly enough, Flybmi was advertising flights to Germany for a wintry vacation on Twitter as recently as Friday, just a day before its collapse. There is no mention of canceled flights on their Twitter account, which is still active. The shutdown also left more than 375 employees stationed in Britain, Germany, Sweden and Belgium hanging. Pilots union chief Brian Strutton said the airline's collapse came with no warning and "is devastating news for all employees." "Our immediate steps will be to support Flybmi pilots and explore with the directors and administrators whether their jobs can be saved," he said. The airlines carried 522,000 passengers on 29,000 flights last year. https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2019/02/17/hundreds-stranded-british-airline-flybmi-collapses/2899087002/ Back to Top OVER A THOUSAND FOREIGN PLANES 'SECRETLY' REGISTERED IN SMALL TEXAS TOWN: REPORT The Texas town of Onalaska can be reached by automobile and boat. The town barely registers as a small dot on a road map of the massive Lone Star State. However, according to WFAA TV, there are more than 1,000 small airplanes registered to the town even though there is no airport in Onalaska. One source said it makes it easier for smuggling across borders - whether it be humans, drugs or weapons. WFAA's investigation found that aircraft registrations funneled through just two post office boxes in Onalaska. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the town has a population of 1,764, meaning that there are enough registered aircraft for more than half of its citizens. Onalaska has more registered planes than New York, San Antonio, Seattle and San Diego. The report goes on to say that not only are the aircraft owners not in Texas - they're not even close. The town has become a hub for foreigners to anonymously register their planes at $5 apiece, leading to speculation that criminal activity could be behind the phantom planes that are registered here, but never touch down nor take off. "When you can conceal the true ownership of a plane, you're putting a lot of people in jeopardy," former Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) special agent Joe Gutheinz told WFAA. "If you're a terrorist and you have a way of concealing your secret ownership of a plane in the United States, you're going to do it." The process of registering a plane in the U.S. can be as simple or tricky as the registrant wants it to be. Any plane owner who's an American citizen or permanent resident can register an aircraft. But the FAA allows foreign residents to register planes through a trustee. Planes registered in the United States carry an "N" on their fantails, which makes traversing borders easier, the report says. If that insignia weren't there, crossing those borders would be difficult. WFAA said it investigated such "trust companies" that handled requests from so many airplanes, and that company officials said they did their "due diligence" vetting plane owners. "We shouldn't require less information to ... to register a car than to register an aircraft," U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) said. "If you are a foreign national ... you can register an aircraft here and the government doesn't know anything about it. Come one. It's laughable." Trustees vetting these planes are required to alert the FAA within 48 hours of any sudden requests, the report says. That time frame is still too long for a potential disaster, Lynch said. "That is not a good policy," Lynch said. "We shouldn't be into accident re-construction. At that point, we're too late in the game." According to WFAA, the following aircraft have been reported to the U.S. Department of Transportation after raising red flags: • In 2006, A U.S. bank became a trustee on an aircraft for a Lebanese politician who turned out to be "backed by a well-known U.S. Government-designated terrorist organization." "It wasn't until the bank found out that they were affiliated with Hezbollah that the relationship ended," Lynch told WFAA. • In 2010, an airplane registered to a trust approached the Tripoli International Airport with no landing permit just hours before the U.N. Security Council met to approve a "no-fly zone" over Libya. The owner of a foreign oil corporation had registered the plane through a trust but sold a "large percentage" of his company to a Chinese company. • In 2012, an FAA inspector was unable to find out who was flying a Boeing 737 registered on behalf of a foreign owner. When the FAA contacted the foreign owner, officials were told the airplane had been leased to a United Arab Emirates-based rental company. The foreign owner couldn't "provide the inspector" with information about who was flying the plane. A memo from the U.S. Department of Transportation, states that trustees do not have to identify the trustors or any foreign owners of aircraft. https://www.newsweek.com/foreign-planes-secretly-registered-tiny-texas-town-report-1334382 Back to Top Qatar Airways graduates first batch of aircraft mechanics The graduates with officials. Qatar Airways has announced that 11 successful candidates have officially completed the Aircraft Mechanics Apprenticeship Programme, a three-year academic and practical programme designed to ensure the quality and workmanship of Qatar Airways' mechanics, while also assisting the airline in implementing its future growth plans. Upon completion of the programme, candidates are awarded an Aircraft Mechanic Category A certificate, and are automatically enrolled into a two-year bond with the Light Base Maintenance Department. Qatar Airways Group chief executive HE Akbar al-Baker said, "This is a proud moment for all of us at Qatar Airways. The graduation of the first batch of mechanics from our Aircraft Mechanics Apprenticeship Programme lays the pathway for the future development of the airline. "We believe this programme will also benefit the wider community, particularly young people who are interested in becoming aircraft mechanics. I would like to congratulate the first batch of Aircraft Mechanics graduates and welcome them to our rapidly expanding group." Qatar Airways Technical Training department offers a comprehensive range of training programmes suited to all technical personnel. Qatar Airways Maintenance Training (QAMT) is internationally recognised for its "exceptional training standards and service quality", a press statement notes. QAMT was awarded the Maintenance Training Organisation approval from the European Aviation Safety Agency and Qatar Civil Aviation Authority. QAMT's facilities include 10 classrooms equipped with newly installed Airbus Competence Training and Boeing Desk Top Simulation training media, which provide engineering students with a training experience utilising access to virtual aircraft. Candidates also experience first-hand training with a real aircraft. Qatar Airways is one of the world's fastest-growing airlines, with a fleet of more than 200 aircraft flying to business and leisure destinations across six continents. As part of its continued expansion plans,the airline plans a host of new destinations throughout 2019, including Valletta, Malta, and more. Qatar Airways was named 'World's Best Business Class' by the 2018 World Airline Awards, managed by international air transport rating organisation Skytrax. It was also named 'Best Business Class Seat', 'Best Airline in the Middle East' and 'World's Best First Class Airline Lounge'. https://www.gulf-times.com/story/622458/Qatar-Airways-graduates-first-batch-of-aircraft-me Back to Top Alaska Airlines Wants to Quadruple Its Number of Black Women Pilots African-American women make up less than one percent of the total number of commercial airline pilots. By some estimates, there are fewer than 150 Black women in the U.S. who hold airline pilot, commercial, military, or certified flight instructor licenses. During Black History Month, Alaska Airlines has signed a pledge to "increase our female African American pilots over the next six years across Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, and support the path to expose and inspire more young women to get there." The pledge was signed in partnership with Sisters of the Skies, an aviation nonprofit dedicated to "cultivating and promoting minority women in the industry through scholarship, mentorship, and most of all emotional support." Currently, between Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, there are only four black female pilots. By 2025, the airline hopes to quadruple that number. Hiring more female pilots of color is a challenge perpetuated by lack of visibility, according to Tara Wright, one of the airline's Black pilots. "We need more support mechanisms in place, so young girls of color see aviation as a viable career path," Wright said in a statement. To follow through on its pledge, the airline has laid out a three-prong plan. First, it will establish support mechanisms to "assist in the retention and promotion of existing African American female pilots." The airline will also enhance programs around education, mentorship and training to help black female pilots earn their certification. The airline will also go into schools and connect with children to try to "generate excitement in aviation." "It is also important to study the barriers to women of color getting to the flight deck and pathways to success in their careers," Alaska Airlines First Officer Kim Ford said in a statement. The aviation industry is currently operating with a commercial pilot shortage. As Alaska Airlines culls new talent to fill the workforce, it is specifically focusing on increasing diversity among its new hires. "When we foster an inclusive environment that recognizes, respects, and visibly reflects all people, it makes us stronger," Andy Schneider, the airline's vice president of people, said in a statement. "Quite simply, creating an airline people love is not possible unless we walk the talk around diversity and inclusion." Last year, Alaska Airlines made history with the first flight operated by two black women pilots. https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-news/alaska-airlines-black-pilots Back to Top Back to Top Click here to sign up for the next session with Captain Shem Malmquist beginning in April. Or call us at 231 720-0930 (EST). High Altitude Flying Overview Second session sold out. The new April course is filling up fast. Book now to reserve your place. ***************** "I think the course is great." Erika Armstrong Director of Instructional Design Air Crew Academy Back to Top Apply Now! - Director of Audit Programs mba is seeking an experienced individual to manage its audit programs with respect to IATA's (International Air Transport Association) IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) program. The candidate must meet the following requirements, be a self-starter and a leader within the organization. • Must obtain and maintain qualification as an IOSA Auditor; including qualification as an Auditor in at least one specific discipline • Must be proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint • Be willing to travel globally without restriction to perform audits and attend meetings Duties and Responsibilities: • Manage and develop new opportunities for mba in areas of auditing and training, globally • Manage and lead a team of experienced individuals in the performance of aviation safety focused audits • IOSA(IATA Operation Safety Audit) o Maintain and improve IOSA Administrative management system o Responsible for obtaining and maintaining mba's accreditation as an Audit Organization (AO) in accordance with (IPM Section 1); and mba ITO program manual o Ensure that mba is in conformity with all IOSA Program requirements so long as it is an accredited AO. o Responsible for IOSA Records System o Develop and revise, as necessary, IOSA policies and procedures and ensure that these policies and procedures are available to all IOSA Program personnel o Manage all IOSA Auditing Activity o Responsible for auditor and support staffing for IOSA operations o Maintain listing of approved auditors, verify auditor qualifications, and coordinate auditor accreditation with IATA o Responsible for control and surveillance of Audit Activities and Auditor Performance o For each IOSA, designate team members and schedule audit in accordance with Auditee and Auditor requirements and availability o Develop and instruct Auditor Recurrent Training o Perform the functions of Lead Auditor APPLY HERE ************** POSITIONS AVAILABLE: IOSA AUDITORS mba is currently seeking IOSA Auditors! Do you have over 5 years of aviation experience, 2 years' experience in at least 1 IOSA Discipline, and have completed Auditor Training? Then submit your resume to mba@mba.aero for an opportunity to join our IOSA Audit Team! *IOSA is a registered trademark of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). 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! Curt Lewis