Flight Safety Information March 26, 2019 - No. 063 In This Issue Boeing fix will prevent repeated activation of anti-stall system -sources In Test of Boeing Jet, Pilots Had 40 Seconds to Fix Error Incident: Scoot A320 near Taipei on Mar 24th 2019, abnormal cabin pressure Incident: Southern Air B734 at Cincinnati on Mar 25th 2019, lightning strike Incident: United B789 near Noumea on Mar 25th 2019, smoke in cockpit Incident: LATAM Chile A321 at Puerto Montt on Mar 25th 2019, engine shut down in flight British Airways flight ends up in wrong city Aviation authority investigates why Cathay Pacific allowed pilot with measles Azul becomes 1st in Americas for minute-by-minute aircraft flight tracking FAA Nominee Embraced NextGen, Opposed ATC Separation Delta's partner removes Atlanta teens from flight over peanut allergy CHC Safety and Quality summit offers grant opportunities for aviation students Cathay Pacific agrees deal to take over budget airline HK Express Airbus secures multi-billion dollar jet order from China Commissioning of PNG AIC Flight Recorder Memory Access Retrieval System (MARS) NASA Cancels First All-Female Spacewalk Over Spacesuit Sizes Certificate Courses in Slovenia from SCSI Workshops Across Canada! There's Still Room! Boeing fix will prevent repeated activation of anti-stall system -sources By Eric M. Johnson and Tim Hepher SEATTLE/LONDON, March 25 (Reuters) - A Boeing Co software fix for the grounded 737 MAX will prevent repeated operation of an anti-stall system at the centre of safety concerns and deactivate it altogether if two sensors disagree widely, two people familiar with pilot briefings said. The anti-stall system - known as MCAS, or Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System - has been pinpointed by investigators probing October's fatal Lion Air crash and faces new scrutiny in the wake of another fatal accident in Ethiopia. Those accidents, which killed nearly 350 people, triggered the worldwide grounding of Boeing's flagship 737 MAX aircraft and ignited a debate over the proper balance between man and machine in piloting the latest version of the 50-year-old 737. The MAX has bigger engines, mounted further forward, which can force the plane's nose higher, threatening a stall. MCAS was designed to counter this but some experts say it overcompensated and the latest changes give some authority back to the pilot. Airline briefings on the software upgrade, which is designed to address the situation faced by pilots of the doomed Lion Air jet last October, started on Saturday. Pilots have been told that the MCAS system - which forces the nose downwards to avoid a stall, or loss of lift - will only operate one time for each event rather than impose repeated corrections like those believed to have pushed the Lion Air jet into a dive, the two people familiar with the briefings said. Additionally, MCAS will be disabled whenever two sensors that measure the 'angle of attack' - a parameter that determines how close a plane is to an aerodynamic stall - differ too much. "Otherwise it would be garbage in, garbage out," a third person familiar with the briefings said. This is a change from the previous set-up which only linked MCAS to one sensor at a time, ignoring the other, and which may have resulted in a single point of failure on Lion Air 610. The pilot will be able to deduce that MCAS is no longer working in the background because the system will show a warning message labelled "AOA disagree", indicating the two sensors are producing values that differ by an excessive margin. Previously the "AOA disagree" warning would not have halted the MCAS software because the system was designed to focus on either the left or right sensor, alternating between flights. It was oblivious to whether readings from the sensors were aligned. Boeing said on Monday its software patch would incorporate more than one angle of attack input, limit trim commands and limit authority but gave few details. "We've been working diligently and in close cooperation with the FAA on the software update. We are taking a comprehensive and careful approach to design, develop and test the software that will ultimately lead to certification," a statement said. FAA APPROVAL NEEDED The change sheds light on Boeing's previously reported decision to make the warning light a standard feature, since the change in flight control laws now makes it indispensable. The third person said Boeing would need to give pilots in their training a full explanation of what the fix is and why it is being implemented. Both the software fix and the training have to be approved by the Federal Aviation Administration. Other methods for holding the nose of the aircraft in the right position, known as manual or electric trim, are unchanged as is the ability to cut out the automated trim system altogether using a standard step-by-step checklist. Boeing has previously said that existing crew procedures, which include using a pair of cut-out switches, would have addressed a condition known as a stabilizer trim runaway and by doing so, automatically deal with any problem with MCAS. But it has faced criticism for designing a system that potentially out-runs the ability of pilots to recover by repeatedly forcing the nose down using hefty forces, as the pilots in the doomed Lion Air flight experienced. ( (Reporting by Eric M. Johnson in Seattle, Tim Hepher in London, Allison Lampert in Montreal; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) Back to Top In Test of Boeing Jet, Pilots Had 40 Seconds to Fix Error A 737 Max 8 at Boeing's plant in Renton, Wash. In simulations of a suspected problem in the crash of a Max 8 in Indonesia last fall, pilots had just moments to disengage a faulty system.CreditCreditRuth Fremson/The New York Times During flight simulations recreating the problems with the doomed Lion Air plane, pilots discovered that they had less than 40 seconds to override an automated system on Boeing's new jets and avert disaster. The pilots tested a crisis situation similar to what investigators suspect went wrong in the Lion Air crash in Indonesia last fall. In the tests, a single sensor failed, triggering software designed to help prevent a stall. Once that happened, the pilots had just moments to disengage the system and avoid an unrecoverable nose dive of the Boeing 737 Max, according to two people involved in the testing in recent days. Although the investigations are continuing, the automated system, known as MCAS, is a focus of authorities trying to determine what went wrong in the Lion Air disaster in October and the Ethiopian Airlines crash of the same Boeing model this month. The software, as originally designed and explained, left little room for error. Those involved in the testing hadn't fully understood just how powerful the system was until they flew the plane on a 737 Max simulator, according to the two people. Compounding the flaws, pilots received limited training about the system before the first crash. During the final minutes, the captain of the Lion Air flight flipped through a technical manual trying to figure out what was happening. In a tacit acknowledgment of the system's problems, Boeing is expected to propose a software update that would give pilots more control over the system and make it less likely to trigger erroneously, according to three people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the private meetings. There are common procedures in place to counteract MCAS, as currently designed. If the system starts pushing the plane's nose down, pilots can reverse the movement via a switch at their thumb, a typical reaction in that situation. In doing so, they can potentially extend the 40-second window, giving them more time to avoid a crash. To fully neutralize the system, pilots would need to flip two more switches. That would shut off the electricity to a motor that allows the system to push the plane toward the ground. Then the pilots would need to crank a wheel to correct whatever problems had emerged. The pilots, in the simulations, followed such procedures to successfully shut off the system and land safely. But they did so with a far better understanding of how it worked and prior knowledge that it would be triggered - benefits that the pilots of the fatal 737 Max crashes did not have. If pilots don't act hastily enough, attempts to disable the system can be too late. In the Lion Air crash, pilots used the thumb switch more than two dozen times to try to override the system. The system kept engaging nonetheless, most likely because of bad readings from a sensor, until the plane crashed into the Java Sea, killing all 189 people on board. John Cox, an aviation safety consultant and a former 737 pilot, said pilots are highly likely to use the thumb switch to extend the 40-second window to several minutes. But that may still not be enough time to diagnose and solve the problem, especially if the pilots, like the Lion Air crew, were not informed of the system. "There is a limited window to solve this problem, and this crew didn't even know that this system existed," he said. A Boeing spokesman said that existing procedures for flying the 737 Max include how to respond to similar conditions. The spokesman added that Boeing had reinforced those procedures in a bulletin to pilots after the Lion Air crash. "Our proposed software update incorporates additional limits and safeguards to the system and reduces crew workload," the spokesman said in a statement. The new software system was designed to be a safety feature, operating in the background to help avoid a stall. Taking data from a sensor, the system would engage if the nose of the jet was too high. It would then push down the nose of the plane to keep it from stalling. The planes flew in similar erratic patterns, suggesting to experts that an automated system might have malfunctioned on both flights. In the current design, the system engages for 10 seconds at a time, with five-second pauses in between. Under conditions similar to the Lion Air flight, three engagements over just 40 seconds, including pauses, would send the plane into an unrecoverable dive, the two people involved in the testing said. That conclusion agreed with a separate analysis by the American Airlines pilots' union, which examined available data about the system, said Michael Michaelis, the union's top safety official. One of the people involved in the training said MCAS was surprisingly powerful once tested in the simulator. Another person found the system controllable because it was expected. Before the Lion Air crash, Boeing and regulators agreed that pilots didn't need to be alerted to the new system, and training was minimal. At least some of the simulator flights happened on Saturday in Renton, Wash., where the 737 Max is built. Pilots from five airlines - American, United, Southwest, Copa and Fly Dubai - took turns testing how the Max would have responded with the software running as it was originally written, and with the updated version, known as 12.1. In the simulations running the updated software, MCAS engaged, though less aggressively and persistently, and the pilots were also able to control the planes. Boeing's software update would require the system to rely on two sensors, rather than just one, and would not be triggered if the sensors disagreed by a certain amount, according to the three people. Given that the 737 Max has had both sensors already, many pilots and safety officials have questioned why the system was designed to rely on a single sensor, creating, in effect, one point of failure. The update would also limit the system to engaging just once in most cases. And it would prevent the system from pushing the plane's nose down more than a pilot could counteract by pulling up on the controls, the three people said. In conversations with pilots and airline officials over the weekend, Boeing executives didn't directly address why MCAS was designed with such flaws, one person with direct knowledge of the meetings said. Instead, the company stayed focused on the software updated, the person said. The software changes still require approval by the Federal Aviation Administration. Pilots' unions have said they are comfortable with the proposed changes but want to review them before making a decision. Pilots will be required to complete a training on the updated system on their iPads. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/25/business/boeing-simulation-error.html Back to Top Incident: Scoot A320 near Taipei on Mar 24th 2019, abnormal cabin pressure A Scoot Airbus A320-200, registration 9V-TAU performing flight TR-996 from Singapore (Singapore) to Taipei (Taiwan) with 180 people on board, was descending towards Taipei when the passenger oxygen masks were released, the crew announced an abnormal cabin pressure. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on Taipei's runway 05L. An infant had vomited during the descent, the infant and mother were provided with medical assistance. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Taipei about 42 hours after landing. The airline reported the crew made procedural decisions during the descent that caused an abnormal cabin pressure. The aircraft could have safely continued however. The crew decided to manually release the passenger oxygen masks as a precaution. The crew is going to be retrained. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c5d753b&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Southern Air B734 at Cincinnati on Mar 25th 2019, lightning strike A Southern Air Boeing 737-400 on behalf of DHL, registration N305GT performing freight flight 9S-594 from Cincinnati,KY to Denver,CO (USA), was climbing out of Cincinnati's Northern Kentucky Airport when the aircraft received a lightning strike prompting the crew to stop the climb at FL270 and return to Cincinnati for a safe landing about 55 minutes after departure. The aircraft is still on the ground in Cincinnati about 16 hours after landing. A listener on frequency reported the crew reported as result of the lightning strike they lost their autopilot, a number of navigation instruments including the FMC and their weather radar, however, their primary flight instruments were working all okay. The crew annotated the ILS receiver for runway 27 seemed to be working okay and completed their landing on runway 27 without further incident. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/SOO594/history/20190325/0542Z/KCVG/KCVG http://avherald.com/h?article=4c5d6eb2&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: United B789 near Noumea on Mar 25th 2019, smoke in cockpit A United Boeing 787-9, registration N15969 performing flight UA-99 from Melbourne,VI (Australia) to Los Angeles,CA (USA) with 256 people on board, was enroute at FL350 about 190nm northwest of Noumea (New Caledonia) when the crew reported smoke in the cockpit and diverted the aircraft to Noumea dumping fuel on the way to Noumea. The aircraft landed safely on Noumea's runway 11 about 35 minutes later. The airline reported the aircraft and passengers will need to spend the night in Noumea. A replacement aircraft is to position to Noumea to pick up the passengers, the occurrence aircraft will position to Los Angeles without passengers. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c5d71d7&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top Incident: LATAM Chile A321 at Puerto Montt on Mar 25th 2019, engine shut down in flight A LATAM Chile Airbus A321-200, registration CC-BEC performing flight LA-273 from Puerto Montt to Balmaceda (Chila) with 156 passengers and 8 crew, had aborted the approach to Balmaceda twice, held at Balmaceda for about one hour in between the approaches and was now returning to Puerto Montt at FL220 when the crew needed to shut an engine (CFM56) down about 60nm south of Puerto Montt. The aircraft continued to Puerto Montt for a safe landing about 2:25 hours after departure from Puerto Montt. A replacement A321-200 registration CC-BEB reached Balmaceda with a delay of about 8.5 hours. The airline reported a maintenance issue prompted the crew to return to Puerto Montt. According to AIP Chile Balmaceda is surrounded by mountains and features a VOR approach to runway 09, there is also indication of a possible RNP approach (however, no chart was found). MDA for the VOR approach is 2560 feet MSL (838 feet AGL). http://avherald.com/h?article=4c5d6ca3&opt=0 Back to Top British Airways flight ends up in wrong city A British Airways fllight landed in the wrong city. A British Airways plane flew by mistake from London to Edinburgh instead of Dusseldorf in Germany on Monday. Passengers only found out about the mishap when the pilot said the plane was coming in to land in Edinburgh, which is around 500 miles (800 kilometres) from Dusseldorf. After the crew realised the mistake, the plane was refuelled and flown to Dusseldorf, landing in Germany with a delay of more than three and a half hours. "We are working with WDL Aviation, who operated this flight on behalf of British Airways, to establish why the incorrect flight plan was filed," a spokesman said. Twitter user Son Tran, who said he was on the plane, said: "While an interesting concept, I don't think anyone on board has signed up for this mystery travel lottery". Another passenger, Sophie Cooke, told the BBC that the wait in Edinburgh "became very frustrating". "The toilets were blocked and they ran out of snacks. It was also really stuffy," Cooke said. https://www.yahoo.com/news/british-airways-flight-ends-wrong-city-151915013.html Back to Top Aviation authority investigates why Cathay Pacific allowed pilot with measles to fly seven times in four days as Hong Kong tackles growing outbreak of the disease * City has recorded a five-year high of 20 measles cases so far this year, five of which involve airport and airline staff * Civil Aviation Department says it is seeking answers from Cathay after it emerged Hong Kong-based pilot with symptoms flew from March 13 to 16 Cathay Pacific says any workers who feel unwell should stay home. Photo: Winson WongCathay Pacific says any workers who feel unwell should stay home. Photo: Winson Wong Hong Kong's aviation authority is investigating why Cathay Pacific Airways allowed a pilot with measles to fly seven times in four days, while the city grapples with a growing outbreak of the disease that has prompted health officials to step up vaccinations at the airport. The city has recorded a five-year high of 20 measles cases so far this year, five of which involve airport and airline staff, and a medical expert has warned of a possible second wave of infections. The Civil Aviation Department said on Monday it was seeking answers from Cathay after it emerged that one of the carrier's Hong Kong-based pilots had flown seven times from March 13 to 16, despite having symptoms of the highly contagious disease. The airline has so far resisted mounting pressure to provide a full explanation, after the 41-year-old pilot was taken to Princess Margaret Hospital in Kwai Chung to be treated for measles. It is against aviation law for anyone to be part of a flight crew "if they know or reasonably suspect their physical or mental condition renders them temporarily or permanently unfit to perform such functions". Microbiologist Dr Ho Pak-leung, an international expert on infectious diseases at the University of Hong Kong, questioned if the pilot had broken International Air Transport Association rules by flying while sick. By registering for these newsletters you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy According to the association's medical manual, pilots are required to obtain a doctor's opinion on flying during the contagious stage of measles. Hong Kong measles outbreak hits five-year high as airport workers fall ill "There is a need for the Hong Kong Airport Authority to look into in this," Ho said. He also said the scale of the current outbreak had been small. "But I expect more cases to surface, and there could be a second round of infections," Ho said. The Airport Authority, meanwhile, has set up an additional vaccination station for staff in consultation with the Centre for Health Protection and the Department of Health, and about 850 people have been vaccinated since last Friday. Hongkonger infected with measles after flight, passengers sought Officials said they would leave it to Cathay to explain what measures it was taking. "We will wait for the company to make a response or follow up," said Undersecretary for Food and Health Dr Chui Tak-yi. If necessary, he added, the government would contact the measles vaccine manufacturer to ramp up supply. As for existing precautions being taken at the airport, Centre for Health Protection head Dr Wong Ka-hing confirmed that departing airline employees or passengers did not have to go through temperature screening. Such an arrangement was only necessary during the 2003 Sars outbreak, he noted, and in any case, temperature sensors would not necessarily have picked out the pilot if he had no fever. "For instance, he could have taken some medicine and was not having a fever," Wong said. Lawmaker Ben Chan Han-pan, of the pro-government Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, said the pilot's case had exposed "major loopholes" in the system. Chan, who chairs the Legislative Council's transport panel, questioned whether the pilot had informed Cathay management of his illness. "If he told his company and they still sent him out, that's wrong," Chan said. Cathay would only say workers who felt unwell "should stay at home". "We encourage our employees to be immunised or seek medical help if they are not feeling well," a spokesman said, adding that anyone with measles should not return to work without being cleared by a doctor. A source from Cathay's pilots union said there were no internal guidelines specifying when a pilot should report sick. The pilot in question was one of five airport and airline employees infected with the disease this month. According to the Centre for Health Protection, the 41-year-old first developed a fever and rash on March 12. Before that, he was on two flights between Hong Kong and Manila, on March 8 and 9. Despite falling ill, officials said, the pilot took seven other flights between Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok between March 13 and 16. More measles cases likely to hit Hong Kong, disease expert warns He only sought medical treatment at North Lantau Hospital last Thursday, and was later transferred to Princess Margaret Hospital, where he tested positive for measles. A 23-year-old Cathay flight attendant who flew on Tokyo and Cebu routes was also infected with the virus. The pilot told the centre he did not come into close contact with the flight attendant. Health authorities said he had limited exposure to the public, and his family did not show signs of infection. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3003225/aviation-authority- investigates-why-cathay-pacific-allowed Back to Top Azul becomes 1st in Americas for minute-by-minute aircraft flight tracking by adopting Aireon space-based ADS-B Already adopted by airlines operating more than 400,000 flights every month, SITAONAIR's AIRCOM FlightTracker is a ground-based software system delivering vital global real-time aircraft position alerting to airline operations teams. Azul Linhas Aereas has become the first airline in the Americas to exceed modern flight tracking safety standards by embracing truly global, real-time flight tracking capabilities onboard aircraft, with SITAONAIR's best-in-class AIRCOM FlightTracker. The Brazilian low-cost carrier has upgraded to SITAONAIR's advanced cutting-edge FlightTracker option, which integrates AireonSM space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data from FlightAware. This gives the airline enhanced awareness of the precise position, speed and altitude of its full airborne fleet, anywhere in the world. SITAONAIR has now activated its enhanced FlightTracker capabilities aboard Azul's fleet of A320s and A330s, Embraer 190 and 195s and ATR 72-600s. This was completed in November 2018, ahead of the official launch of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)'s Global Aeronautical Distress & Safety System (GADSS) 15-minute aircraft tracking standard. With the Aireon system, Azul will even exceed the ICAO's 15- minute standard by receiving aircraft position reports at a standard frequency of at least once per minute. Already adopted by airlines operating more than 400,000 flights every month, SITAONAIR's AIRCOM FlightTracker is a ground-based software system delivering vital global real-time aircraft position alerting to airline operations teams. The application aggregates the best available inflight position data from a wealth of sources - including Aireon's cutting-edge space-based ADS-B data provided by FlightAware - on a single aircraft position display. It can deliver real-time flight tracking coverage, even in the farthest reaches of the globe, including oceanic and other remote areas, without aircraft modifications. And coverage density has only improved with Aireon's space-based ADS- B system. Carlos Pellegrino, Azul's OCC Director, says: "Since founding Azul in 2008, SITAONAIR's AIRCOM applications have been our first choice for reinforcing our airline's safety operations. By upgrading to SITAONAIR's pioneering edition of FlightTracker, complete with Aireon's space-based ADS-B data from FlightAware®, we can track our entire fleet with enhanced awareness, delivering operational precision, and following ICAO's recommended best-practice." Dominique El Bez, SITAONAIR Vice President, Product and Strategy, says: "We truly believe SITAONAIR's FlightTracker is the best solution on the market, and are incredibly proud to work with our cherished customer Azul to be the first in the Americas to activate global, real-time flight tracking technologies with our unrivalled solution. "By incorporating Aireon's space-based ADS-B data, via FlightAware, into our pioneering tool, any airline using SITAONAIR's enhanced AIRCOM FlightTracker can not only exceed the ICAO's 15-minute flight-tracking recommendation, but be empowered to boost their operational efficiency and safety in an increasingly congested airspace - delivering precision, enhancing awareness and reinforcing safety, thereby minimizing costs and supporting the passenger's inflight experience." The Aireon space-based ADS-B data system is hosted on the Iridium NEXT satellite constellation, which consists of 66 low-earth orbit crosslinked satellites with an additional nine satellites in orbit serving as spares. The constellation was completed in January of this year and is expected to be fully operational in the coming weeks. Aireon has partnered with FlightAware to provide global flight tracking through FlightAware's products and partners like SITAONAIR. https://www.traveldailynews.com/post/azul-becomes-1st-in-americas-for-minute-by- minute-aircraft-flight-tracking-by-adopting-aireon-space-based-ads-b Back to Top FAA Nominee Embraced NextGen, Opposed ATC Separation Steve Dickson, former Delta Air Lines executive, has been nominated as the next FAA administrator. Photo: Delta The nomination of Steve Dickson as the next FAA administrator is the selection of a former Delta Air Lines executive who heavily embraced tenets of the agency's NextGen program while opposing a proposal to separate its role as regulator and air navigation service provider. In his former role, Dickson was responsible for the safety and operational performance of Delta's global flight operations, as well as pilot training, crew resources, crew scheduling and regulatory compliance. Dickson is also a former U.S. Air Force officer and F-15 fighter pilot. His nomination comes amid criticism that the FAA is facing in the wake of the March 10 crash of a Boeing 737 MAX 8 flown by Ethiopian Airlines that resulted in 157 deaths. The tragic crash - the second involving that model jetliner in less than five months - resulted in nations around the world quickly grounding their 737 MAX fleets, but the FAA was slow to respond. Members of Congress have asked the Department of Transportation's inspector general to examine the FAA's approach to certifying the plane. During his tenure with Delta, Dickson was a staunch advocate for some of the elements of the FAA's NextGen airspace system modernization program. He previously expressed his view of NextGen during a keynote speech at the 2016 Avionics Maintenance Committee (AMC) / Airline Electronic Engineering Committee (AEEC) annual meeting. "Our CNS philosophy is communication through [Controller Pilot Datalink Communications] CPDLC and [Future Air Navigation System] FANS, navigation throughout performance-based navigation, which has several flavors to it, [including] [Required Navigation Performance] RNP, [Required Navigation Performance Authorization Required] RNP AR and even basic [Area Navigation] RNAV," Dickson said. Dickson would also bring a unique perspective to a proposal by U.S. lawmakers that was ultimately eliminated from the FAA's most recent re-authorization, to create a new private entity responsible for the FAA's current role as the nation's air navigation service provider. Between 2015 and 2018, lawmakers attempted several times to make such a change happen, although every FAA funding bill during that time never featured the proposal. When it first was proposed in 2015, Delta was the only airline that opposed the change. All others, represented by Airlines for America (A4A), were in favor of it. Dickson published an op-ed article at the time outlining his opposition to the change. "Separating the ATO from the rest of the FAA does not address the efficiency or performance of the air traffic control system. Nor can it change certain structural barriers in the system, such as the geographic proximity of airports in the congested northeast corridor of the United States, or the fact that no new airports are being built in that area," Dickson wrote in 2015. If confirmed, Dickson will replace acting FAA administrator Daniel K. Elwell, who took charge in January 2018 following the departure of Michael Huerta, whose five-year term had expired. https://www.aviationtoday.com/2019/03/25/faa-nominee-embraced-nextgen-opposed- atc-separation-us/ Back to Top Delta's partner removes Atlanta teens from flight over peanut allergy, family says A metro Atlanta family said an airline crew told their two sons they'd have to get off a plane after a dispute over one of the boys' severe peanut allergies, Channel 2 Action News reported. The boys were traveling from Atlanta to Manila, where their father is based on a temporary job, according to the news station. Rakesh Patel said his 15-year-old and 16- year-old sons were traveling by themselves after visiting their sick grandfather.The family told Channel 2 they let Delta Air Lines know ahead of time that the teen had a peanut allergy. Delta made sure that on the first leg of the flight, from Atlanta to Seoul, no peanuts were served, Channel 2 reported. However, things were different on the second leg of their flight. When the boys went to board their flight from Seoul to Manila on Delta's skyteam partner Korean Air, the boys were told there would be peanuts served on board, Channel 2 reported. The Patel family said their two teen sons were removed from a Korean Air flight. According to the family, the crew said they were not going to deprive other guests of peanuts and presented the teens with two options: deal with the peanuts or get off the flight. When the son with allergies asked for another option, the boys were forcibly removed from the plane and stranded in Seoul, their father confirmed. They took a return flight to Atlanta, the family told Channel 2.Patel said he filed a complaint with the airline and asked for a refund. In a statement, Delta apologized to the Patel family for the ordeal, "particularly during what is already a difficult time for them." "Delta and our partner Korean Air are communicating with the family and examining the processes surrounding this incident; we will use our findings in our work to create a consistent experience for customers flying Delta and our partner airlines," the statement said.AJC.com received a statement from Korean Air that read, in part: "Korean Air is aware that peanut and food allergies are an industry issue and no airline can guarantee a food allergy-free environment. But we are reviewing ways to deal with this issue in a safe and feasible way. We totally understand the risks faced by passengers with nut and food allergies and will certainly try to accommodate them better in the future." https://www.ajc.com/news/breaking-news/delta-sky-partner-removes-teens-from- flight-over-peanut-allergy-family-says/B9fILgrFoFYsyMUKTz4CzN/ Back to Top CHC Safety and Quality summit offers grant opportunities for aviation students CHC Helicopter and Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, announced the opportunity for aviation students to apply for two grants to attend the 2019 CHC Safety and Quality summit in Dallas this October. This partnership will support full-time students with fully funded travel and entrance to both the renowned industry safety event and one of the leading Human Factors training courses in aviation. The Peter Gardiner grant, named after the late Dr. Peter Gardiner - a major figure in establishing and shaping the Summit in its early days - is provided by CHC in collaboration with Dr. Scott Shappell and Dr. Doug Wiegmann, co-developers of the human factors analysis and classification system (HFACS). Sikorsky, a key sponsor and long-time supporter of the Safety and Quality summit, will award the Sikorsky Safety Scholarship to a deserving aviation student. This will be the third year Sikorsky has awarded the student grant on behalf of the summit. Students interested in being considered for either of these grant opportunities must currently be engaged in an aviation-related educational program and will need to submit an application, along with a 500 word essay related to this year's theme for the summit: "Shining a Light on Safety: Are We Looking in the Right Places?" https://www.verticalmag.com/press-releases/chc-safety-and-quality-summit-offers- grant-opportunities-for-aviation-students/ Back to Top Cathay Pacific agrees deal to take over budget airline HK Express, sources say * The city's biggest carrier is set to make a formal announcement as early as Tuesday * The acquisition would leave Cathay Pacific in control of three of Hong Kong's four airlines If the acquisition of HK Express goes through, Cathay Pacific would control three of Hong Kong's four passenger airlines. Photo: BloombergIf the acquisition of HK Express Cathay Pacific Airways has agreed a deal to acquire budget airline HK Express, according to sources familiar with the matter. Hong Kong's biggest airline is poised to make a formal announcement as early as Tuesday, though the sources did not elaborate on the agreement between the two sides, including the financial terms. Facing competitive pressures from a trio of rivals including no-frills carriers, jumping into the low-cost travel market could allow Cathay Pacific to attract budget-conscious travellers it does not already serve. Three weeks ago, Cathay Pacific confirmed it was in active discussions to acquire HK Express from debt-ridden Chinese conglomerate HNA Group. The financial concerns of the parent group have spread to Hong Kong Airlines, the full-service sister airline of the low-cost carrier, which was not being considered in the deal, the company said at the time. Both companies have sought to play down progress on the talks since they were officially confirmed on March 5, insisting that discussions were continuing, giving rise to concerns a deal could not be reached. The confirmation of the deal would mean Cathay Pacific is officially jumping into low- cost travel, using an airline vehicle designed for budget travel, without having to cannibalise the luxury, premium offering from its flagship brand, in its first major acquisition since buying Dragonair in 2006, now renamed Cathay Dragon. A source familiar with the deal said one of the first major tasks for Cathay Pacific would be to decide on shaking up the top team at the budget carrier, with most executives who came from Hainan Airlines or the corporate parent HNA set to leave. Embattled HNA sells Hong Kong-listed construction unit for US$890 million The largely Western-led executive team who ran HK Express since its formation as a low-cost airline in 2013 were cleared out or quit in late 2017 following a leadership reshuffle. Last week, Cathay CEO Rupert Hogg signalled the HK Express budget brand and concept would continue, assuaging the worries of travellers that low-fare air travel might disappear with Cathay taking over the city's only budget carrier. Having faced a wave of competitive threats on multiple fronts, Cathay Pacific would, with its new acquisition, be in a unique position to weather the challenges. The company has two major shareholders from China and the Middle East. Air China is a long-standing investor, with a 29.99 per cent stake in the airline. Qatar Airways also has a 9.99 per cent stake. Two weeks ago, Cathay Pacific announced it had returned to an annual profit for the first time in three years, earning HK$2.3 billion. Over several years, the airline has softened its stance on low-cost airlines, with CEO Hogg stating last summer it would consider starting a budget carrier if and when the time was right. At a press conference announcing the airline's 2018 financial results, chairman John Slosar explained the reason behind the U-turn. "In aviation you can never say never [to low-cost carriers]," he said. "It is such a dynamic business and things change and you have to be willing to change when opportunities present themselves." Cathay Pacific, focused on long-haul flights, and sister airline Cathay Dragon which operates only in Asia, fly 183 passenger aircraft to 103 destinations non-stop. The pair carried 35.4 million passengers last year. HK Express flies 24 aircraft to 27 cities - carrying 4.1 million customers - with a heavy focus on flights to Japan and South Korea. If the acquisition goes through, Cathay Pacific would control three of Hong Kong's four passenger airlines. Cathay Pacific declined to comment while HK Express did not respond to queries. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3003219/cathay-pacific- agrees-deal-take-over-budget-airline-hk Back to Top Airbus secures multi-billion dollar jet order from China Airbus has secured an order from China for 300 jets, in a deal estimated to be worth tens of billions of dollars. An agreement to purchase A320 and A350 XWB aircraft was signed during a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Paris. The order is part of a package of deals signed during Mr Xi's visit to Europe. It comes as rival Boeing has grounded all of its 737 Max jets after two fatal crashes. Airbus said in a statement it signed an agreement with China Aviation Supplies Holding Company covering the purchase by Chinese airlines of Airbus aircraft including 290 A320 planes, and ten A350 XWB jets. The deal is worth an estimated 30bn euros ($34bn; £26bn), according to reports. "We are honoured to support the growth of China's civil aviation with our leading aircraft families - single-aisle and wide-bodies," Airbus Commercial Aircraft President Guillaume Faury said in a statement. Mr Faury is due to become Airbus's new chief executive in April. "Our expanding footprint in China demonstrate our lasting confidence in the Chinese market and our long-term commitment to China and our partners." The deal will likely be a blow for Boeing, under pressure after two fatal crashes involving its 737 Max 8 jets in five months. Many countries banned the aircraft from their airspace after an Ethiopian Airlines crash earlier this month. Boeing later grounded its 737 Max fleet as investigations into the cause of the disaster continue. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-47702044 Back to Top Commissioning of PNG AIC Flight Recorder Memory Access Retrieval System (MARS) and the new Engineering Workshop The AIC Chief Commissioner Mr. Hubert Namani, and CEO Mr. Dean Kuri announce the Commissioning of the PNG Accident Investigation Commission's (AIC) Flight Recorder Memory Access Retrieval System (MARS) and the new Engineering Workshop. These projects are exciting and significant milestones for aviation safety in PNG and the Pacific Region. The Prime Minister, Hon. Peter O'Neill has been invited to commission MARS and the Minister for Civil Aviation to commission the engineering workshop. Government and aviation industry leaders will be attending. Date: Thursday 4th April 2019 Time: 09:00 Location: AIC Office, Level 1, NAQIA Haus, 6 Mile. You will receive a briefing on the MARS system and view flight recorded animation from a recent major aircraft accident investigation conducted by the PNG AIC using this state-of-the-art technology. We look forward to widest media coverage to announce to the Nation and the world that PNG is at the forefront of aircraft accident and serious incident investigation capability. PNG AIC is now a leader in accident investigation in the Pacific Region. PNG Accident Investigation Commission P.O. BOX 1709 | BOROKO 121 | NCD l Papua New Guinea P: +675 3232911 | Fax: +675 3232139 | Back to Top NASA Cancels First All-Female Spacewalk Over Spacesuit Sizes Christina Koch is scheduled to do her first spacewalk on Friday, but not with another female astronaut as had previously been planned. It hadn't been planned as a historic mission, yet it would have represented a moment of sorts: the first all-female spacewalk. But that moment will have to wait, NASA said Monday, because of a somewhat basic issue - spacesuit sizes. The two astronauts who were scheduled to walk together in space on Friday, Anne C. McClain and Christina H. Koch, would both need to wear a medium-size torso component. But only one is readily available at the International Space Station. The mission itself is unchanged. On Friday, two astronauts will venture outside of the space station on a six-hour mission to install massive lithium-ion batteries that will help to power the research laboratory. Ms. Koch is still scheduled to participate, along with her fellow astronaut Nick Hague; Ms. McClain did her first spacewalk last week. Anne McClain working last Friday on the International Space Station's Port-4 truss structure during a 6-hour 39-minute spacewalk to upgrade the station's power storage capacity.CreditNASA, via Agence France-Presse - Getty Images But the first women-only venture outside of the confines of the space station will have to happen on another day. "After consulting with McClain and Hague following the first spacewalk, mission managers decided to adjust the assignments, due in part to spacesuit availability on the station," NASA said in a statement. Stephanie Schierholz, a spokeswoman for NASA, said in an interview on Monday that there were already two medium-size hard upper torsos - "essentially the shirt of the spacesuit," according to NASA - at the space station. But there were a couple of issues. One was that Ms. McClain had thought she would be able to work in a large-size torso, but after her spacewalk last Friday, she wore a medium-size torso and learned that it fit her better. Ms. Koch also uses the same size. And of the two medium-size torsos available, one has yet to be properly configured for a spacewalk. It would take hours of crew labor - not to mention some additional risk - to fix that in time for Friday. Instead of doing that, NASA decided to simply switch out the astronauts. In the end, both women will have done a spacewalk - just not together. "When you have the option of just switching the people, the mission becomes more important than a cool milestone," Ms. Schierholz said. On Friday, Ms. Koch and Mr. Hague will be supported by a team on the ground that includes a number of women in key positions, including the spacewalk's flight director, Mary Lawrence, and its lead officer, Jackie Kagey. In a briefing at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston this month, Ms. Lawrence, Ms. Kagey and Kenneth Todd, the station's operations integration manager, said officials had not immediately recognized the significance of the original lineup for Friday's "extravehicular activity," or EVA. It was only as they discussed the schedule during a meeting that they realized it was the first time they had scheduled an all-female spacewalk. Never miss an eclipse, a meteor shower, a rocket launch or any other astronomical and space event that's out of this world. After the rescheduling on Monday, Ms. Schierholz said that while there were no concrete plans for an all-female spacewalk, one is increasingly likely because NASA astronauts have been diversifying in terms of gender. "We're sort of getting to the point of inevitability," Ms. Schierholz said of an all-female EVA. Ms. McClain and Ms. Koch were part of the 2013 astronaut class, and of the eight people in that class - chosen from more than 6,000 applicants - half were women, a first for NASA. The agency lists 38 active astronauts on its website, and 12 are women. The current roster of six astronauts at the space station - three Americans, one Canadian and two Russians - allows the team to carry out a number of important projects, with an eye toward making sure each crew member accumulates significant experience, Mr. Todd said. NASA officials hope the relatively young American astronauts will continue to travel to space in the coming years and assist new recruits in the future. The batteries being installed on this mission store solar power that the station needs when it is not in direct sunlight. Work on the battery systems will continue for the next few years as international teams bring more lithium-ion batteries to the station, which is more than 200 miles from Earth. The missions require meticulous planning, and robots do as much of the work as possible before astronauts take the risk of venturing into space. In the busy days ahead of a spacewalk, the crew help to prepare and fit their colleagues' spacesuits, which function as mini-spacecraft once they step outside. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/25/science/female-spacewalk-canceled.html Curt Lewis