Flight Safety Information February 25, 2019 - No. 041 In This Issue Crash: Atlas B763 at Houston on Feb 23rd 2019, lost height on approach Incident: Biman B738 near Dhaka on Feb 24th 2019, attempted hijack Incident: Mesa E175 near San Luis Potosi on Feb 10th 2019, problems with cabin pressure Incident: CSA A333 near Kazan on Feb 23rd 2019, fuel imbalance Incident: Envoy E145 near Bentonville on Feb 21st 2019, smoke in cockpit EVAS - Cockpit Smoke Protection Incident: Safair B734 at Cape Town on Feb 21st 2019, flaps problem on departure Incident: Pobeda B738 at Moscow on Feb 21st 2019, tail scrape on landing Position Available-IBAC is Searching for Candidates to Direct Its Office in Montreal - Director, ICAO Liaison...International Business Aviation Council IS-BAO Operator Continuous Improvement Roundtable at 2019 NBAA IOC Remains found after cargo jet with three aboard crashes in water near Houston Amazon Cargo Jet Dove Steeply Into Bay Near Houston, Video Shows Air safety 'showing long-term improvement' despite 2018 crash death spike China Airlines pilot punished after being filmed sleeping in cockpit Southwest Airlines says flight disruptions being caused deliberately by mechanics Lucky Air to sue man who tossed coins at jet engine Ethiopian airlines plans all female flight to Oslo Airbus Will Deliver 90 More Aircraft In 2019 Compared With 2018 Jet Airways grounds two more aircraft for lease defaults Vietnam's Bamboo Airways to buy 10 Boeing planes during Trump-Kim summit Virgin Galactic makes record breaking second space flight with 3 crew aboard ISASI-Mid-Atlantic Regional Chapter (MARC) Dinner/Meeting--2 May 2019 ISASI 2019 Position: Chief Investigator of Accidents / GM Investigation Services SCSI - Fire and Explosion Investigation Course GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY REQUEST TODAY'S PHOTO GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE - BECOME A LIVING KIDNEY DONOR ADVERTISE WITH...FLIGHT SAFETY INFORMATION Back to Top Crash: Atlas B763 at Houston on Feb 23rd 2019, lost height on approach An Atlas Air Boeing 767-300 freighter on behalf of Amazon Prime, registration N1217A performing flight 5Y-3591 from Miami,FL to Houston Intercontinental,TX (USA) with 3 crew, was on approach to Houston in contact with Houston Approach, routine communication, when radio and radar contact with the aircraft was lost about 30nm southeast of Houston Intercontinental Airport at about 12:40L (18:40Z). Approach called the aircraft once without response at about 18:40z and again at 18:47Z, at 18:47Z ATC queried "how do you read?" In the following approach queried several other aircraft on approach whether they were able to see the aircraft somewhere (on the ground), all negative responses. The aircraft was found near position N29.7636 W94.7145 having impacted the waters of Trinity Bay about 1.5nm northwest of Anahuac's Bayside Community Hospital. Two bodies were recovered from the crash site. Local Police reported the aircraft was located in Trinity Bay near Anahuac,TX (USA). Rescue and Recovery services are on their way to the wreckage. The Sheriff characterized the site as total devastation, he does not believe anyone could possibly have survived. Eye witnesses reported the aircraft went in nose first. In the late evening (local time) of Feb 23rd 2019 the Sheriff's office reported one body was recovered. Joint efforts by the Sheriff's office, the FBI and NTSB continue to recover the victims and the black boxes. The crash scene extends over a distance of 3 miles in shallow waters up to 5 feet deep. Multiple dive teams from the Baytown police, Houston police and Texas Department of Public Safety are working at the crash site. The FAA reported an Alert was raised for an Atlas Air Boeing 767 with 3 crew on board after radio and radar contact was lost about 30nm southeast of Houston Airport. The NTSB dispatched a Go-Team to investigate the crash of a cargo jet near Baytown,TX. In a very first brief preliminary statement the NTSB reported the aircraft was in a descent characterzized normal, when at 6300 feet it began what the NTSB characterizes a very rapid descent. A simultaneous loss of radar and radio contact occurred. On Feb 24th 2019 the NTSB reported in a press conference, that the aircraft was on a standard arrival route from the southeast, the crew checked in with Houston Approach at about 18,000 feet about 76nm southeast of Houston Intercontinental Airport at about 12:30L, ATC advised there was light to heavy rain ahead and offered vectors around the weather. At about 12:36L the aircraft was cleared to descend to 3000 feet. At 12:41L radio and radar contact was lost when the aircraft was at 240 KIAS at about 6000 feet. A surveillance video was located by the NTSB from the Chambers County Jail about 1.4nm from the impact area showing the aircraft in a steep descent in a steep nose down attitude, the video shows the aircraft for about 5 seconds. There was no distress call. The main wreckage location is oriented in a northwesterly direction and is about 200 yards long and 100 yards wide. Wings and landing gear are further to the northwest. The NTSB is still searching for the back boxes. No hazmat was on board. The fuel load is not yet known, it is anticipated however that the fuel tanks were breached at impact and all fuel was released. There is no information available yet how long it took from entering the steep descent until impact. There were no attempts, according to the surveillance video, to turn or pull up during the last moments of flight. The pingers attached to the black boxes can not be heard, possibly because of being buried in the mud and effectiveness being reduced. The surveillance video will be placed into the NTSB docket and will be released to public when the docket is going to become public. Two bodies were recovered from the crash site so far. Within the NTSB conference the Sheriff stated that they did not find the crash site due to fuel but due to debris. There was very little if any fuel around. Boeing are deeply saddened to learn of the accident involving an Atlas Air Boeing 767 into Trinity Bay and are concerned about the safety of the three people on board. Boeing are prepared to provide technical assistance to the NTSB in charge of the investigation. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/GTI3591/history/20190223/1608Z/KMIA/KIAH Metars: KIAH 232053Z 31010KT 10SM FEW045 BKN210 OVC250 22/08 A2989 RMK AO2 SLP121 T02220083 57010= KIAH 231953Z 31011KT 10SM SCT039 BKN090 BKN250 23/13 A2990 RMK AO2 SLP123 T02330128= KIAH 231853Z 32011G19KT 10SM SCT035 BKN080 BKN250 21/12 A2991 RMK AO2 SLP129 T02110117= KIAH 231802Z 32015G24KT 10SM FEW035 SCT060 BKN080 BKN250 22/12 A2992 RMK AO2 T02220117= KIAH 231753Z 32014G19KT 9SM FEW020 SCT033 BKN060 21/12 A2992 RMK AO2 PK WND 33029/1701 WSHFT 1653 RAB01E13 SLP131 P0000 60000 T02110122 10261 20189 53015= KIAH 231745Z 32009KT 9SM FEW020 SCT033 BKN060 20/12 A2992 RMK AO2 PK WND 33029/1701 WSHFT 1653 RAB01E13 P0000 T02000117= KIAH 231713Z 32018G24KT 8SM BR SCT016 BKN020 BKN029 19/12 A2991 RMK AO2 PK WND 33029/1701 WSHFT 1653 RAB01E13 VCSH SE-S P0000 T01940122= KIAH 231653Z 27010G15KT 5SM BR SCT015 BKN018 BKN029 24/22 A2988 RMK AO2 SLP119 VCSH S-SW T02440217= KIAH 231615Z 24007KT 5SM BR SCT015 BKN019 OVC028 24/22 A2989 RMK AO2 T02440217= KIAH 231553Z 19008KT 6SM BR BKN013 BKN019 BKN035 25/22 A2988 RMK AO2 SLP118 T02500222= KIAH 231509Z 20008KT 5SM BR BKN012 BKN018 BKN055 24/22 A2988 RMK AO2 T02390222= KIAH 231453Z VRB05KT 5SM BR SCT011 BKN017 BKN055 23/22 A2988 RMK AO2 SLP117 60000 T02330222 53018= KIAH 231433Z 17009KT 5SM BR SCT010 BKN016 BKN055 23/22 A2987 RMK AO2 T02330222= KIAH 231353Z 19007KT 5SM BR BKN009 BKN014 BKN055 23/22 A2985 RMK AO2 SLP107 T02330222= http://avherald.com/h?article=4c497c3c&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Biman B738 near Dhaka on Feb 24th 2019, attempted hijack A Biman Bangladesh Boeing 737-800, registration S2-AHV performing flight BG-147 from Dhaka to Chittagong (Bangladesh) with 134 passengers and 14 crew, was climbing out of Dhaka when a passenger armed with a gun attempted to intrude the cockpit and force the crew to fly to Chittagong, where he wanted to talk to Bangladesh's Prime Minister. The crew continued the hop to Chittagong, declared emergency and landed safely. The passengers and crew except the gunman were able to disembark, while security forces engaged the man in negotiations trying to convince the man to give up. When a shot was fired inside the aircraft security forces opened a raid and fire severly wounding the gunman. The gunman was taken to a hospital where he died. Bangladeshi Authorities opened an investigation in how it was possible to carry a gun on board in Dhaka. The aircraft was bound to fly to Dubai (United Arab Emirates) following the scheduled intermediate stop in Chittagong. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c4a2fa5&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Mesa E175 near San Luis Potosi on Feb 10th 2019, problems with cabin pressure A Mesa Airlines Embraer ERJ-175 on behalf of United, registration N87306 performing flight UA-6227 from Silao (Mexico) to Houston Intercontinental,TX (USA), was climbing through FL240 ou of Silao when the crew descended the aircraft to about 13,000 feet again due to problems with the cabin pressure. After working the checklists the crew attempted to climb again but aborted the climb a second time at about FL200 and diverted to San Luis Potosi (Mexico) for a safe landing. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground for about 44 hours, then positioned back to Houston. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/UAL6227/history/20190210/1855Z/MMLO/KIAH http://avherald.com/h?article=4c4a2c97&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: CSA A333 near Kazan on Feb 23rd 2019, fuel imbalance A CSA Czech Airlines Airbus A330-300, registration OK-YBA performing flight OK-190 from Prague (Czech Republic) to Seoul (South Korea) with 268 people on board, was enroute at FL370 about 50nm northwest of Kazan (Russia) when the crew decided to turn around and return to Prague after observing a fuel imbalance. The crew worked the related checklists, descended the aircraft to FL360 for the return, later FL260 and FL160 and landed safely on Prague's runway 24 about 3 hours after the decision to return. A runway inspection found fuel on the runway, the runway needed to be temporarily closed for cleanup. A leak at the left hand engine (PW4168) was discovered. The airline reported a technical defect prompted the crew to return to Prague. As the aircraft has no fuel dump system the crew decided to burn off fuel and return. Czechia's UZPLN is looking into the occurrence to determine whether an investigation will be opened. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c4a2973&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Envoy E145 near Bentonville on Feb 21st 2019, smoke in cockpit An Envoy Embraer ERJ-145, registration N613AE performing flight MQ-3768/AA-3768 from Springfield,MO to Dallas Ft. Worth,TX (USA) with 35 people on board, was climbing through FL250 out of Springfield when the crew stopped the climb reporting smoke in the cockpit and diverted to Bentonville's Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport,AR (USA). The smoke dissipated while descending towards Bentonville. The aircraft landed safely in Bentonville about 30 minutes after stopping the climb. A replacement ERJ-145 registration N697AB reached Dallas with a delay of about 6:20 hours. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground in Bentonville for about 5 hours, then positioned to Dallas Ft. Worth as flight DL-9804 and remained on the ground in DFW for about 16 hours before returning to service. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/ENY3768/history/20190221/1826Z/KSGF/KDFW http://avherald.com/h?article=4c48d7ee&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top Incident: Safair B734 at Cape Town on Feb 21st 2019, flaps problem on departure A Safair Boeing 737-400, registration ZS-DMI performing flight FA-102 from Cape Town to Johannesburg (South Africa), was climbing out of Cape Town's runway 19 when the crew stopped the climb at 7000 feet due to the flaps becoming stuck near 1 degree. The aircraft burned off fuel while the crew managed to extend the flaps to 10 degrees with the alternate (electrical) flap extension and landed safely back on Cape Town's runway 19 at a higher speed than normal (about 163 knots over ground) about 105 minutes after departure. The airline reported a minor technical problem prompted the return to Cape Town, the aircraft had departed above maximum landing weight prompting the crew to burn off fuel prior to landing back. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c48d503&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Pobeda B738 at Moscow on Feb 21st 2019, tail scrape on landing A Pobeda Boeing 737-800, registration VQ-BTH performing flight DP-422 from Samara to Moscow Vnukovo (Russia), was on final approach to Vnukovo's runway 24 when the crew initiated a go around at about 500 feet AGL due to winds. The aircraft positioned for another approach to runway 24 and landed about 17 minutes after the first approach, however, the tail contacted the runway surface. The aircraft rolled out without further incident. The airline reported the aircraft was basically undamaged except for the tail skid assembly, which needs replacement. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Vnukovo about 21.5 hours after landing. Metars: UUWW 212000Z 34008G13MPS 8000 3200W -SHSN DRSN BKN021CB M08/M12 Q1004 R01/410242 TEMPO 0700 +SHSN= UUWW 211930Z 33009G15MPS 6000 -SHSN DRSN BKN024CB M08/M12 Q1004 WS R24 R24/410245 TEMPO 0700 +SHSN= UUWW 211900Z 33009MPS 5000 -SHSN DRSN BKN022CB M08/M11 Q1004 WS R24 R24/410245 TEMPO 0700 +SHSN= UUWW 211830Z 33010G15MPS 6000 -SHSN DRSN BKN022CB M07/M11 Q1004 WS R24 R24/410245 TEMPO 0700 +SHSN= UUWW 211800Z 33009G14MPS 5000 -SHSN BLSN BKN022CB M07/M11 Q1004 R01/450440 TEMPO 0700 +SHSN= UUWW 211730Z 33009MPS 4600 -SHSN BLSN BKN016CB M07/M10 Q1003 WS R01 R01/450440 TEMPO 0700 +SHSN= UUWW 211700Z 33008MPS 4000 -SHSN BLSN BKN016CB M07/M10 Q1003 WS R01 R01/450440 TEMPO 0700 +SHSN= UUWW 211630Z 33008MPS 4500 -SHSN BLSN BKN017CB M06/M09 Q1002 WS R01 R01/450440 TEMPO 0700 +SHSN= UUWW 211600Z 32007MPS 1600 1300SW R01/P2000U SHSN BLSN SCT009 BKN///CB M06/M08 Q1002 WS R01 R01/450437 TEMPO 0700 +SHSN= UUWW 211530Z 32010MPS 1500 1000W R01/1900U SHSN BLSN BKN013CB M06/M08 Q1001 WS R01 R01/450437 TEMPO 0700 +SHSN= UUWW 211500Z 32008G13MPS 4200 -SHSN BLSN BKN014CB M05/M08 Q1001 R01/450437 TEMPO 0700 +SHSN= http://avherald.com/h?article=4c48aa89&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top Director, ICAO Liaison International Business Aviation Council Work Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) is searching for a Director to lead its principal office at the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. IBAC is an international, non-profit trade association representing the interests of business aircraft operators at the global level. IBAC is an official observer organization at ICAO, supports member organizations around the world, and promotes safety through international best-practices standards for the business aviation community. The office in Montreal coordinates and leads IBAC's contributions to the work of ICAO on standards for international aviation safety, security, environment, facilitation and air navigation as they affect business aviation. Ideally, the selected candidate will be an energetic professional with knowledge of and direct experience at ICAO, with technical knowledge of and experience in business aviation, and with demonstrated experience in helping to lead and manage change. Duties and Responsibilities * Provides day-to-day management of the IBAC office and staff in Montreal, guides the work of IBAC technical representatives at ICAO meetings, and provides routine business aviation information to and coordination with the ICAO Secretariat; * Represents IBAC on the ICAO Air Navigation Commission and serves on various ICAO panels and working groups at the request of the Director General; * Advises the Director General and IBAC governing bodies; * Assists the Director General to develop IBAC's strategies, business plans, and policy approaches; * Drafts and coordinates correspondence and communications with and technical working papers for ICAO; * Serves as a resource to IBAC member associations around the world; and * Supports and provides guidance to IBAC programmes, including the Air Crew Card, International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations and International Standard for Business Aircraft Handling. The Director, ICAO Liaison, is expected to undertake a moderate (up to 25 percent) amount of international travel on an annual basis. Supervisory Responsibilities * Supervises office staff of two persons Required Education and Experience * Accredited university bachelor's degree * Minimum of fifteen years of work experience in technical aviation fields, such as safety and air navigation * Holder of pilot qualification * Five years of management experience in a technical aviation field with demonstrated evidence of achieving results with a team of people * Demonstrated ability to work, thrive, and achieve results in international contexts * Demonstrated knowledge of ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices and their relevance to business aviation * Demonstrated direct experience with and knowledge of ICAO bodies and procedures * Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally * English fluency required, as English is the working language of IBAC Desired Education and Experience * Graduate degree * Work experience in a business aviation context * Commercial pilot's license * Fluency in or good working knowledge of a second language, preferably French, Compensation and Term * Competitive salary * Three-year renewable contract * Four weeks paid vacation Employment in Canada of non-Canadian residents will be subject to the issue of a work permit and this could affect the start date. Contact Please send by 22 March 2019 a cover letter, including desired salary range, and resume, each not to exceed two pages, to DILpost@ibac.org or to IBAC, 999 Robert Bourassa Boulevard, Suite 16.33, Montreal, QC H3C 5J9. Back to Top Back to Top Remains found after cargo jet with three aboard crashes in water near Houston Some human remains were found Saturday after a Boeing 767 cargo jet with a reported three people on board crashed into Trinity Bay east of Houston earlier in the day, officials said. Chambers County Sheriff Brian Hawthorne did not confirm three fatalities but said the remains were not found inside the aircraft and have not yet been recovered. "What I will tell you is I don't believe that there's any way that anybody could have survived," he told reporters late Saturday afternoon. He said multiple dive teams were on the scene. The twin-engine plane operated by Atlas Air Inc. crashed shortly before 12:45 p.m., the Federal Aviation Administration said. The FAA said contact was lost with the jet approximately 30 miles southeast of Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport, and that the aircraft was flying from Miami to Houston. Atlas Air Worldwide said in a statement that three people were on board Atlas Air flight 3591, and it was flying on behalf of the online retailer Amazon. "Everyone within the company is deeply saddened by this event," Atlas Air said. "Our main priority at this time is caring for those affected and we will ensure we do all we can to support them now and in the days and weeks to come." Hawthorne told reporters earlier Saturday that the debris field is around three-quarters of a mile. "At this point, it's total devastation," he said at that time. Witnesses who called police described the plane going down nose-first into the bay, Hawthorne said. The water goes from 5 feet deep to zero where it becomes a mud marsh, he said. "It's not going to be an easy recovery task for us to do," he said. FAA spokesperson Lynn Lunsford said that FAA investigators were on their way to the accident site and the National Transportation Safety Board has been notified. The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation and said it was sending a team to investigate. The sheriff's office said that the plane has been located in Jack's Pocket at the north end of Trinity Bay. NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt said Saturday evening that preliminary information indicates "the aircraft was in what I would characterize as a normal descent, and at around 6,300 feet it began what I would characterize as a very, very rapid descent at that point." There was a simultaneous loss of air traffic control radar contact and communications with the aircraft and pilots, Sumwalt said. A high priority in the investigation will be recovering the plane's black boxes, he said. The shallowness of the water could make that easier, he said. Image: Local and federal officials gather at a staging area during the investigation of a plane crash in Trinity Bay in Anahuac, Texas, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019.Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle via AP Boeing said in a statement that "we are deeply saddened to learn of the Atlas Air 767 freighter that crashed near Anahuac, TX, earlier today" and that the company is prepared to offer technical assistance to the NTSB as it investigates the accident. Hawthorne said that when he went to the crash site he saw floating debris that included bed sheets, women's clothing, cardboard boxes and fiberglass. Dave Clark, senior vice president of worldwide operations at Amazon, said in a statement, "Our thoughts and prayers are with the flight crew, their families and friends along with the entire team at Atlas Air during this terrible tragedy." Accounts from witnesses included those who described hearing "the surging of the engines" and others thought they were hearing lightning, but that appears to have been the plane, Hawthorne said. "But there's no doubt he was having some kind of problem with the airplane, according to the eyewitnesses, and then it turned and went into a nosedive," the sheriff said. https://www.aol.com/article/news/2019/02/24/remains-found-after-cargo-jet-with-three-aboard-crashes-in-water-near-houston/23676929/ Back to Top Amazon Cargo Jet Dove Steeply Into Bay Near Houston, Video Shows By Alan Levin • Boeing 767 made sudden descent from 5,800 feet, data shows • Pilots were heard discussing how to bypass thunderstorms A widebody cargo plane hauling packages for Amazon abruptly dove and slammed into a bay at high speed on Saturday as it was preparing to land in Houston. All three people on board were killed. The Boeing Co. 767-300, operated by Atlas Air on a flight that had departed from Miami, disappeared from radar and lost radio contact, landing about 40 miles (64 kilometers) southeast of Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport, said Robert Sumwalt, the National Transportation Safety Board chairman who's leading the investigation. Video recorded from a nearby jail captured the plane's final five seconds before it smashed into the water, Sumwalt said in a briefing Sunday afternoon. "It's descending in a steep descent, steep nose-down attitude," Sumwalt said. "By looking at the video, I saw no evidence of the aircraft trying to turn or pull up at the last moments." The plane fell thousands of feet in just seconds after what had been a routine descent, according to Sumwalt and the flight-tracking website FlightRadar24. Two bodies have been recovered, Chambers County Sheriff Brian Hawthorne said. One of NTSB's top priorities will be to recover the plane's two crash-proof recorders, known as black boxes, Sumwalt said. "There is a massive effort under way, led by multiple jurisdictions, to assist the NTSB in the recovery of those boxes," he said. The recorders are required to be equipped with so-called pingers, which emit a distinct sound once they come in contact with water to make them easier to locate. Investigators can use divers, people walking through the debris and dredges to locate them, Sumwalt said. Shallow Water Photographs and video of the scene show aircraft debris -- including one piece with the Amazon logo -- in a marshy bay. The tide had receded Sunday, making it difficult for boats to reach the debris because water levels were so low, the sheriff said. "This is not an easy task," he said. Air-traffic controllers and the pilots on Atlas Flight 3591 could be heard discussing how to fly around a line of thunderstorms shortly before the crash, according to a recording of radio calls posted on the website LiveATC.net. There was no indication that the pilots made any distress calls or declared an emergency. After it disappeared, controllers tried to reach the plane and asked other aircraft to look for wreckage. 'How Do You Hear?' "Thirty-five ninety-one heavy," said one controller, using the plane's call sign, "how do you hear?" There was no reply. Planes flying over the same route were in the clouds and couldn't see the ground. "See if you can make ground contact," a controller radioed to another flight. "We're looking for a lost aircraft." "No ground contact from here," a pilot responded. The pilots were members of Teamsters Local Union 1224, which represents Atlas flight crews. "Our focus is on our friends and colleagues who were on that plane, and we are doing everything we can to support their families," Captain Daniel C. Wells, president of the union, said in a statement. Atlas, which was operating the plane for Amazon.com Inc.'s Prime Air, confirmed the deaths and said it's working with authorities to examine what happened. Sudden Drop Atlas Air is a subsidiary of Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings Inc. and specializes in leasing aircraft complete with pilots and maintenance crew to other companies. The holding company also operates Polar Air Cargo, Titan Aviation and Southern Air, according to its website. The plane's final seconds were far outside the norm for commercial jets, according to FlightRadar24. After flying level at about 6,000 feet altitude, it began a sudden drop at 12:38 p.m. local time, according to instruments on the plane that were monitored by FlightRadar24. It went from 5,800 feet to about 1,300 feet in about nine seconds, according to the website. After that, no further position reports were received. In the final seconds, it was plummeting at 30,000 feet per minute, far outside a typical flight envelope. While U.S. passenger airlines are in the safest period in history, cargo carriers using similar aircraft haven't had as good a record. There's been just one fatality on a U.S.-registered passenger airline since Feb. 12, 2009. During the same period, according to NTSB, four cargo jets have crashed, killing 13, not including Saturday's accident. Before Saturday the most recent cargo jet crash occurred Aug. 14, 2013, when a United Parcel Service Inc. plane hit a hill as it prepared to land in Birmingham, Alabama. Two pilots died in that incident. Boeing said in a tweet on Saturday that it would "provide technical assistance to the NTSB as it investigates the accident." https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-02-23/atlas-air-cargo-plane-crashes-near-houston-with-three-aboard Back to Top Air safety 'showing long-term improvement' despite 2018 crash death spike Commercial air safety continues to show "long-term improvement", says Iata, despite a significant spike in air crash deaths last year. According to new Iata figures, there were 11 fatal accidents last year at a cost of 523 passenger and crew lives. This is up significantly on the six crashes in 2017 which were responsible for just 19 deaths, a record low. The all accident rate in 2018, accidents per one million flights, was 1.35, equivalent to one accident for every 740,000 flights - up 0.24 on 2017. However, it still represents a substantial improvement against the most recent five-year (2013-2017) all accident rate of 1.79. "Flying continues to be the safest form of long distance travel the world has ever known," Iata director general and chief executive Alexandre de Juniac said. "Based on the data, on average, a passenger could take a flight every day for 241 years before experiencing an accident with one fatality on board. We remain committed to the goal of having every flight takeoff and land safely. "2018 was not the extraordinary year 2017 was. However, flying is safe, and the data tells us it is getting safer." https://www.ttgmedia.com/news/news/air-safety-showing-long-term-improvement-despite-2018-crash-death-spike-17075 Back to Top China Airlines pilot punished after being filmed sleeping in cockpit The video shows the pilot in the cockpit with his head down and eyes closed. HONG KONG - China Airlines, Taiwan's biggest carrier, says it has punished a pilot after a video of him taking a nap in the cockpit mid-flight was posted online. His co-pilot, who filmed the incident, has also been reprimanded, local television station SETN reported. In the video, a middle-aged man in a pilot uniform and headphones appears to be asleep with his head down and eyes closed while in the cockpit of a Boeing 747. Sleep-deprived teens who take afternoon naps more alert, but potentially have higher risk of diabetes The footage drew attention after it was shown in a report on Taiwanese TV network EBC on Wednesday (Feb 20). The man was identified as Mr Weng Jiaqi, a senior pilot with almost 20 years of experience who was promoted to chief pilot last year. It was unclear when or on which flight the video was filmed, but the airline confirmed that Weng had reported his behaviour and been punished while his co-pilot had been reprimanded for "improper behaviour", SETN reported. Mr Weng, who also supervises training, is a short-haul pilot to cities including Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Tokyo, Okinawa and Seoul, according to the EBC report. The incident comes after the airline last week reached a deal with the pilots' union to end a seven-day strike over working conditions and benefits that forced the cancellation of more than 200 flights. But China Airlines told EBC that the video was filmed before the pilots walked off the job. The Taoyuan Union of Pilots began the industrial action on February 8, stranding close to 50,000 passengers and inflicting over NT$500 million (S$21.93 million) in losses on the carrier. Under a deal signed on Feb 14, the union agreed not to strike again in the next three and a half years. In return, China Airlines agreed to the union's main demand to increase the number of pilots on various flights to combat fatigue and improve safety. The carrier will roster three pilots on flights of more than eight hours - up from the present two - and will have four pilots on flights over 12 hours, up from three. China Airlines president Hsieh Shih-chien said the staffing increases were expected to sharply add to the cost of the company's operations, but the carrier agreed to the terms in the interest of safety. https://www.todayonline.com/world/china-airlines-pilot-punished-after-being-filmed-sleeping-cockpit Back to Top Southwest Airlines says flight disruptions being caused deliberately by mechanics Southwest Airlines Co., battered by more than a week of flight delays and cancellations from a rash of aircraft maintenance issues, said its investigation has identified a small group of union mechanics that are orchestrating an effort to slow operations. The airline called on the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association to comply with its legal obligation and "take immediate action to stop this activity," according to a statement from the Dallas-based carrier. If AMFA wants to challenge its findings, Southwest said it asked the group to provide information and data so it can work with the company to resolve the "dramatic and highly unusual spike" in aircraft downtime. The disruption that's caused hundreds of flight delays is the latest eruption of tension between the airline and the union that represents its 2,700 mechanics. Negotiations for a new contract have stretched over more than six years. The airline has taken AMFA to court at least once, and the union twice has called for the firing of airline executives. Southwest has been frustrated in efforts to secure a new contract as it tries to keep costs in check. AMFA "firmly rejects" Southwest's allegations, Bret Oestreich, the union's national director, said in a message to its members. Creating Hardship "We fully respect each mechanic's right and obligation to identify legitimate safety issues," Southwest's statement said, echoing a letter sent to the union. "However, the unprecedented increase in out-of-service aircraft over the last few weeks has created a hardship for our employees and customers that must be addressed." Southwest said the increased work reports were focused in a handful of maintenance bases. "AMFA has not called for, does not support, and will oppose any job action in any form," Oestreich's statement said. "Members are unequivocally instructed to refrain from any collective actions to withhold their services from the company, or to diminish their services, or to disrupt operations for illegal reasons." Under the Railway Labor Act that governs airline and union relations, companies and labor groups are required to maintain current operations, work rules and standards during negotiations. Southwest declared an "operational emergency" on Feb. 15, three days after it began having nearly double the normal number of airplanes pulled from service because of mechanical issues. The carrier told mechanics to show up to work as scheduled or risk losing their jobs. AMFA has said Southwest is attempting to divert attention from safety issues by accusing the union of an illegal work action. 'Unscheduled Downtime' The company's review showed "unscheduled aircraft downtime" increased to 60 hours a day in Orlando from a two-year average of 10.2 hours. The downtime jumped to as much as 127 hours in Houston versus the prior average of 18.6, according to a letter sent to the union. As many as 60 aircraft were out of service in a day, compared with the normal 20. In a message to employees, Southwest Chief Executive Officer Gary Kelly called the airline's mechanics "extraordinary" and said they deserve a new contract. Union members in September rejected a tentative agreement that would have provided pay raises and a bonus. Southwest said it would have made them the best compensated mechanics in the U.S. industry. "For our mechanics' sake, I would not want these operational issues to delay or obstruct the upcoming March negotiations," Kelly said. "What we all should desire with a laser focus is a new contract." Kelly apologized to employees and customers affected by the flight delays linked to unusual amount of maintenance work. https://www.dallasnews.com/business/southwest-airlines/2019/02/24/southwest-airlines-says-flight-disruptions-caused-deliberately-mechanics Back to Top Lucky Air to sue man who tossed coins at jet engine Lucky Air will sue a passenger who tossed coins at a jetliner's engine to wish for a safe flight, causing the plane to be grounded overnight at great expense, the company said on its social media account on Friday. A Lucky Air flight from Anqing, in East China's Anhui province, to Kunming, Yunnan province, was canceled on Feb 17 after airport staff found evidence suggesting that one of the 162 passengers had attempted to throw coins into one of the plane's engines. Two 1-yuan coins were found on the ground near the left engine during the preflight check. Airline staff members boarded the plane and asked if anyone had tried to toss coins into the plane's engine. A man surnamed Lu later admitted that he threw the two coins at the engine as he was boarding because he believed it would bring good luck. The flight was grounded overnight as a safety precaution and a full examination of the engine was conducted. The passengers were flown to Kunming the next day. Lu, 28, was taken into a custody by transport police and detained for seven days. The airline said the coin-throwing led to the cancellation of the flight, greatly inconveniencing passengers, and causing economic losses of nearly 140,000 yuan ($20,900). The company said it will sue the passenger, as provided by law. Ouyang Jie, a professor at Civil Aviation University of China, said the engine would quite likely be destroyed if a coin entered the engine during flight. "The engine could tremble, lose speed and even stop in midair if a coin were sucked into its core," he said. "That would put all the passengers on board at great risk." Twice before, elderly Chinese travelers have been caught throwing coins into a plane's engine for good luck. Both were spared prosecution because of their age. In the first incident, an 80-year-old woman chucked coins worth 1.7 yuan into the engine of a China Southern Airline plane at Shanghai's Pudong airport in June 2017, causing a five-hour delay and a million yuan in damage. The woman was not charged with a crime because of her age. "We have seen air travelers create other safety problems in recent years, including opening emergency doors and assaulting cabin crew," Ouyang said. "It's necessary to put the wrongdoers on a black list and ban them from air travel." http://www.china.org.cn/china/2019-02/25/content_74500449.htm Back to Top Ethiopian airlines plans all female flight to Oslo Ethiopian Airlines says it has finalised preparations to operate an all-women functioned flight to Oslo, Norway, in celebration of this year's International Women's Day. The airline said the flight would take Addis Ababa - Stockholm - Oslo route on March 8, and would have as a theme, "All women functioned flight to operate from the continent of Africa to meet with their counterparts in Europe to show the power of women to the world." Ethiopian Airlines had operated four flights to Bankok, Kigali, Lagos, and Buenos Aires, which were operated by women aviation professionals. In December 2017, Ethiopian Airlines had also operated an all-female crew flight to Lagos, using a Boeing 777 aircraft. According to the airline, the Oslo flight, described as historical, will be operated by Ethiopian Airlines women professionals from flight deck to the ground, including airport operations, flight dispatch, load control, ramp operation, onboard logistics, safety and security, catering as well as air traffic control, which will be carried out entirely by women. The Group Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines, Mr Tewolde GebreMariam, said, "We are immensely honoured that we have women trailblazers in every aspect of our aviation field. Women are an integral part of our success story from the start and with this dedicated flight, we honour and celebrate their indispensable contribution to our aviation group and the broader aviation industry, our country and the continent at large. "Although, women are Africa's greatest resource, gender inequality still persists in our continent. Therefore, we all need to ensure that women take their rightful position in all human endeavours by creating the right conditions and through all-inclusive engagement models." https://punchng.com/ethiopian-airlines-plans-all-female-flight-to-oslo/ Back to Top Airbus Will Deliver 90 More Aircraft In 2019 Compared With 2018 Airbus revealed that it's projecting to deliver an increase of 90 aircraft in 2019 compared to 2018. The increase sets the total to 890 planes, up from 800 the year before. The announcement was made during Airbus' annual press conference in February 2019. Airbus Success in 2018 Many people weren't expecting to hear such favorable news from Airbus during their press conference based on the recent headline of ending production of the A380. Airbus surprised the media, however, when announcing that the company surpassed all of its expectations for 2018, including profit and other key performance indicators. Based on the success of the previous year, Airbus is forecasting its projects to continue with the same trend over 2019. One of the most notable aspects of the forecast is their commercial aircraft deliveries. The company's commercial aircraft sales were mainly driven in 2018 by sales of approximately 750 aircraft. Orders were increased significantly; bring its current backlog to an industry record-setting 7,577 orders. To deliver on their promises orders, Airbus is expecting to increase their production. The expectation of delivering 890 will be substantial progress on the current back orders but still signals that there is significant growth that Airbus can still achieve year-over-year. Airbus production factory Airbus aircraft being made in a production factory via Pixabay. Several aircraft models have attributed to the growth in Airbus's bottom line. The company mentions putting a focus on its A220, A320, A330, and A350 models to grow their respective revenues. Growth Trend of Airbus Airbus has consistently seen year-over-year growth thanks to its dominance in the manufacturing industry. The company continues to outperform the S&P 500 index over the past decade. The recent announcements made by Airbus has also led to stock price increases as the public begins to get a more positive perspective on its performance. Airbus's plans to deliver 90 more aircraft in 2019 will all be accounted for in their commercial aircraft sector. The sector alone has performed well above everyone's expectations. Commercial aircraft earnings for Airbus have doubled to $4.3 Billion as of 2018. The increases lead to a rise in revenue to nearly $48 Billion. The press conference also detailed that Airbus is growing their other sectors. New management has created strong operations as of the past year in its helicopter, defense, and space businesses. Each of these sectors is projected to also grow over the next year. Tom Enders, CEO of Airbus, stated during the press conference, "Though 2018 had plenty of challenges for us, we delivered on our commitments with record profitability thanks to a strong operational performance, particularly in Q4," Continuing, "With an order backlog of around 7,600 aircraft, we intend to ramp-up aircraft production even further. The challenges mentioned by Enders allude to the cancellation of the A380 model. Major airlines including Emirates have decreased their order amount, and the overall industry demand hasn't responded well to the aircraft based on current trends. Airbus has still managed to grow its commercial aircraft production. The expectation of delivery of 890 aircraft reflects an 11% growth, maintaining Airbus's position as one of the top manufacturers and growing. https://simpleflying.com/airbus-will-deliver-90-more-aircraft-in-2019-compared-with-2018/ Back to Top Jet Airways grounds two more aircraft for lease defaults Jet Airways has grounded two more aircraft after it failed to pay their lease rentals. The carrier disclosed the additional groundings on 23 February in a letter to its two stock exchanges. It had previously disclosed that four jets were grounded for non-payment of rentals on 7 February, but none of the six aircraft have been identified, nor the lessors involved. "The company is actively engaged with all its aircraft lessors and regularly provides them with updates on efforts undertaken by the company to improve its liquidity," it adds. It is unclear if the grounded jets will be voluntarily returned to lessors, or if they are subject to repossession orders. Cirium's Fleet Analyzer shows that the majority of Jet's fleet is leased, with GECAS, Aircastle and BOC Aviation among the most exposed lessors. https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/jet-airways-grounds-two-more-aircraft-for-lease-defa-456059/ Back to Top Vietnam's Bamboo Airways to buy 10 Boeing planes during Trump-Kim summit Bamboo Airways Chairman Trinh Van Quyet is seen at his office in Hanoi, Vietnam HANOI (Reuters) - Vietnamese carrier Bamboo Airways will sign a deal with Boeing Co to purchase 10 planes on the sidelines of this week's Trump-Kim summit, an airline executive said on Sunday. The carrier, which is owned by property and leisure company FLC Group and made its first flights in January, placed a provisional order last year for 20 Boeing 787 widebody jets worth $5.6 billion at list prices. "We will sign with Boeing a deal to buy 10 more Boeing 787s. This is different from the deal signed earlier for 20 Boeing planes," said the executive who declined to be named due to the confidentiality of the matter. "That means we will have ordered 30 Boeing 787s. The deal will be signed during the summit," the executive said. "This is a firm order valued at nearly $3 billion," added the executive. Boeing had no immediate comment. Bamboo is currently operating 10 Airbus planes. Bamboo is aiming to open routes to the United States after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration declared Vietnam complied with international aviation standards, in a move that would allow Vietnamese carriers to fly there for the first time and codeshare with U.S. airlines. U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will hold their second summit in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi on Feb. 27-28. Bamboo's first 787 is set to arrive in the third quarter of 2020 and the airline is preparing to launch flights to the United States from late 2019 or early 2020 with leased jets unless Boeing can deliver them earlier, Bamboo's chairman Trinh Van Quyet had earlier told Reuters. "Direct flights between Vietnam and the U.S. will not only push tourism activities, but also further facilitate bilateral trade and investment," he said. "We are receiving huge support from Boeing to deploy our flights to the U.S." Rivals Vietnam Airlines JSC and VietJet Aviation JSC also have ambitions to fly to the United States, although the latter carrier has yet to place an order for widebody jets. VietJet is also expected to sign a major jet deal with Boeing on the sidelines of the Trump-Kim summit, according to sources familiar with the matter. VietJet, while not government-owned, increasingly uses state visits to showcase major plane orders balanced between Boeing and Airbus SE. It signed a deal to buy 100 Boeing 737 MAX narrowbody jets when former U.S. President Barack Obama visited Hanoi in 2016. The airline is likely to finalize next week a separate provisional deal agreed last year at the Farnborough Airshow to buy another 100 Boeing 737 MAX jets worth almost $13 billion at list prices, sources said on condition of anonymity. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/vietnams-bamboo-airways-buy-10-boeing-planes-during-113026453--sector.html Back to Top Virgin Galactic makes record breaking second space flight with 3 crew aboard The crew of VSS Unity in free fall Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo, VSS Unity, has broken several records during its second flight into space, as well carrying three crew for the first time. The supersonic, rocket-powered space flight over Mojave, California, carried two test pilots and a mission specialist in reaching an altitude of 295,007 ft (89,918 m) and a top speed of Mach 3.04 (2,255 mph, 3,629 km/h) - the highest speed and altitude the craft has reached in any of its five powered test flights. Today's test flight came on the heels of VSS Unity's first flight into space in December last year. The spaceplane was lifted into the air while linked to the twin-hulled mothership before being dropped and firing its hybrid rocket motor, sending Chief Pilot Dave Mackay, co-pilot Michael "Sooch" Masucci, and Virgin Galactic Chief Astronaut Instructor Beth Moses on a suborbital trajectory. While neither of these flights reached the official limit of space of 62 mi (100 km), they are still high enough to earn the crew astronaut wings, which are awarded for reaching an altitude of 50 miles (80 km) in either an orbital spacecraft or a suborbital spaceplane. Virgin Galactic In Space For The Second Time Chief Pilot Dave Mackay, co-pilot Michael "Sooch" Masucci, and Virgin Galactic Chief Astronaut Instructor Beth Moses The flight involved a number of records according to Virgin Galactic. Moses became not only the 571st person to fly in space, but the first non-pilot and the first woman on a commercial spacecraft, as well as the first person to float free without restraints aboard a commercial spacecraft. In addition, Mackay became the first Scottish-born astronaut in history. VSS Unity executing its feather maneuver "Beth, Sooch and I just enjoyed a pretty amazing flight which was beyond anything any of us has ever experienced," said Mackay. "It was thrilling yet smooth and nicely controlled throughout with a view at the top, of the Earth from space, which exceeded all our expectations. I am incredibly proud of my crew and of the amazing teams at Virgin Galactic and The Spaceship Company for providing a vehicle and an operation which means we can fly confidently and safely. For the three of us today this was the fulfillment of lifelong ambitions, but paradoxically is also just the beginning of an adventure which we can't wait to share with thousands of others." https://newatlas.com/virgin-galactic-second-space-flight-record-vss-unity/58605/ Back to Top Back to Top Back to Top Chief Investigator of Accidents / GM Investigation Services • Strategic leadership contribution at Executive level • Represent New Zealand • Leadership role with investigation focus The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) investigates significant aviation, rail and marine accidents and incidents with a view to avoiding similar occurrences in the future. The commission has set a visionary goal of "No Repeat Accidents - Ever!" Thorough investigation skills are pivotal to the Commission's successful performance. To lead capability and capacity to respond to accidents, TAIC is currently recruiting the Chief Investigator of Accidents/ GM Investigation Services. The successful applicant will have relevant leadership experience at a senior level, technical investigation experience ideally in a multi-modal setting and relevant professional and technical qualifications. As Chief Investigator of Accidents/GM Investigation Services you will effectively lead teams who provide high quality and timely accident investigation services. Key competencies and experience include: • Senior leadership and business skills and experience. • Investigative and QA experience and skills. • Ability to work conceptually, anticipating and identifying risks/issues and identifying possible solutions. • Communication skills; written, verbal and interpersonal, including the ability to present on behalf of NZ at a National and International level. • Understanding of quasi-judicial processes, particularly the rules and requirements applicable to a Commission of Inquiry. • Emotional and psychological maturity to handle stressful and emotionally difficult situations and to support your team in this area. • Political nous and sound judgement. • Medically and physically fit with a valid passport, current driver's licence and the ability to travel at short notice. I look forward to hearing from those interested in progressing their career in this key role within this pivotal organisation based in central Wellington, New Zealand. Applications close at 5pm on Sunday 10 March. If you are interested in the position please visit our website www.peopleandco.nz and search on the keyword 18892 under the Jobs tab. All applications will be acknowledged electronically. For further information contact Michele Walls on 00 64 4 931 9448 quoting job number 18892. Only people with the right to work in New Zealand may apply for this position. For advice on obtaining a New Zealand work or residence visa visit www.immigration.govt.nz Back to Top Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY REQUEST Dear Participants, My name is Sabrina Woods, and I am a researcher working towards my Doctorate in Aviation from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University under the guidance of my adviser, Dr. Scott Winter. My research focuses on how different general aviation pilots approach cross-country flying. To support my research project, I have created an online questionnaire to gather information directly from the GA population. In order to participate you must: • be at least 18 years old • hold a private, sport, commercial, ATP or recreational certificate, and • be willing to volunteer your time. Participation is voluntary and anonymous, and you may opt out of the study at any time. If you choose to opt out, your data will be destroyed. The survey will take about 10 minutes or less of your time to complete. Thank you in advance for your help. Please click on the link below to access the questionnaire. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WoodsStudy Curt Lewis