Flight Safety Information April 4, 2019 - No. 070 In This Issue Ethiopian crew followed procedures - first official crash report Ethiopia to issue first Boeing investigation report Boeing software re-activated before Ethiopian crash -sources Ethiopian jet's data record deepens concern about 737 MAX safety procedures Passenger delays flight, gets detained after throwing coins at plane for good luck Incident: Transavia B738 near Amsterdam on Apr 3rd 2019, equipment cooling problems Incident: VivaColombia A320 at Bogota on Apr 2nd 2019, two lightning strikes Incident: Ryanair B738 at Treviso on Mar 30th 2019, engine smoking Incident: American A321 near Wilmington on Apr 2nd 2019, fumes on the flight deck Incident: Delta A333 at Amsterdam on Apr 3rd 2019, electrical odour in cabin and electrical problems Airbus A320-214 - Ground Damage (Belfast) Japan investigates Jetstar Boeing 787 abnormal engine behaviour during decent to Osaka-Kansai Airport Satellite-based Aircraft Tracking System Will Prevent Another Flight MH370 Avian Radar Technology Installed To Reduce Bird Strikes At Sacramento International Airport Flight Safety Foundation, IATA Renew Partnership to Enhance Global Aviation Safety CHC Helicopter Opens Safety Summit Early Registration High school 'Aviation Academy' is like shop class, but with airplanes Piper launches 'value-priced' training aircraft MITRE - SMS Course - June 2019 Positions: Director of Audit Programs & Manager of Quality Control HOT-STOP 'L' Helps You Check All the Boxes Call for Nominations For 2019 Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award Certificate Courses in Slovenia from SCSI Ethiopian crew followed procedures - first official crash report ADDIS ABABA, April 4 (Reuters) - Ethiopian Airlines pilots followed proper procedures when their Boeing MAX 8 airplane repeatedly nosedived before a March 10 crash that killed 157 people, Ethiopia's minister of transport said on Thursday as she delivered the first official report on the disaster. "The crew performed all the procedures repeatedly provided by the manufacturer but was not able to control the aircraft," Dagmawit Moges told a news conference in the capital, Addis Ababa. In line with international rules on air accidents, the preliminary report did not attribute blame. Nor did it give a detailed analysis of the flight, which is expected to take several months before a final report due within a year. But in a clear indication of where Ethiopian investigators are focusing most of their attention, the report cleared the pilots of using incorrect procedures and issued two recommendations directed at planemaker Boeing and regulators. It suggested that Boeing review the aircraft control system and aviation authorities confirm the problem had been solved before allowing that model of plane back into the air. It was grounded globally following the crash, which was the second deadly accident in six months involving the new model after a Lion Air crash in Indonesia in October that killed 189 people. "Since repetitive uncommanded aircraft nose down conditions are noticed ... it is recommend that the aircraft control system shall be reviewed by the manufacturer," Moges said. Ethiopian Airlines said its crew had followed all the correct guidance to handle a difficult emergency. However, the report could spark a debate with Boeing about how crew responded to problems triggered by faulty data from an airflow sensor, particularly over whether they steadied the plane before turning key software off. Boeing said it would study the report. Families of the victims, regulators and travellers around the world are waiting for clues to the accident after the new Boeing jet crashed six minutes after take-off. The preliminary report into the Lion Air disaster said the pilots lost control after grappling with the plane's Manoeuvring Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) software, a new automated anti-stall feature that repeatedly lowered the nose of the aircraft based on faulty data from a sensor. Boeing said on Wednesday it had successfully tested an update of the MCAS software designed to reduce its authority and make it easer for pilots to handle. (Reporting by Jason Neely, Editing by Tim Hepher and Mark Potter) Back to Top Ethiopia to issue first Boeing investigation report By Eric M. Johnson, Tim Hepher and Jason Neely ADDIS ABABA/SEATTLE/PARIS, April 3 (Reuters) - Investigators will release a keenly awaited report on the deadly crash of an Ethiopian Airlines jet on Thursday, Ethiopia's transport ministry said, giving the first official clues to the second crash of a new Boeing 737 MAX in five months. Some 35 nationalities were among the 157 passengers and crew who died when the nearly full plane crashed six minutes after take-off from the capital Addis Ababa in clear conditions. The March 10 disaster prompted the worldwide grounding of Boeing's best-selling plane and scrutiny of its certification process. "The 10:30 a.m. (0730 GMT) press conference is to present the preliminary report," Ethiopian transport ministry spokesman Musie Yehyies said. The report may shed light on how a piece of cockpit software came back to life after pilots initially switched it off as they tried to save the doomed jet, people familiar with the matter said, placing both technology and crew in the spotlight. The Ethiopian-led investigation has begun piecing together details of flight 302, starting with faulty sensor data on take-off from Addis Ababa, questions over the Boeing 737 MAX's high speed and a nosedive coinciding with the software re-activation. The aircraft's high speed and initial climb suggests the engines were running at a higher than usual thrust, experts say. The so-called MCAS anti-stall software is at the centre of accident probes in both the Ethiopian crash and October's Lion Air accident in Indonesia that have together killed 346 people. MCAS was designed to help prevent an aerodynamic stall by issuing commands to push the plane's nose lower. However, in both cases it is suspected of firing up in response to faulty airflow data from a single sensor designed to measure the 'angle of attack,' a parameter needed to avoid stalling or losing lift. SENSOR PROBLEMS Echoing the fate of the Lion Air jet, initial evidence suggests the Ethiopian Airlines jet experienced sensor problems shortly after take-off, causing the MCAS software to begin lowering the nose to grab air under the wings. Unlike the Lion Air crew, who were flying at a time when pilots had been told little about the MCAS software, the Ethiopian crew used switches to turn the automatic system off but it later re-engaged, people familiar with the matter said. Although aircraft experts say MCAS cannot turn back on by itself, the report is expected to shed light on whether and why the crew chose to restore electrical power to the system at the risk of setting off more automated nose-down movements. Aerospace analyst Bjorn Fehrm said in a blog post for Leeham News that pilots may have deliberately re-activated the system in order to make it easier to trim or control the aircraft only to be overwhelmed by rapid counter-moves from MCAS. Investigators will also look at whether the crew carried out all necessary procedures, including a recommendation to stabilise the plane using the trim system before turning the crucial software off. The pilots manoeuvred the plane upwards at least two times before hitting the stabilizer cut-out switches to disable the system, one person familiar with the matter said. However, initial flight data indicates the aircraft was flying nose-heavy and not in a "neutral" attitude when pilots hit the cut-out switches, the person added, making the situation harder to manage. Cockpit procedures call for pilots to leave the MCAS system off for the rest of the flight once it has been disengaged. GLOBAL GROUNDING Safety experts stress the investigation is far from complete and most aviation disasters are caused by a unique combination of human and technical factors. In a statement, Boeing said: "We urge caution against speculating and drawing conclusions on the findings prior to the release of the flight data and the preliminary report." The 737 MAX is Boeing's top-selling jet with almost 5,000 on order. Ethiopian Airlines is also in the midst of an expansion drive, while other 737 MAX customers and victims' families want answers, and potentially compensation. Boeing shares were down 1.5 percent at 1800 GMT. They have lost more than 8.5 percent since the Ethiopian crash. Getting the planes flying again depends partly on the role that Boeing design features are found to have played in the crash, though investigators are also paying attention to airline operations, crew actions and regulatory measures. Boeing is upgrading the MCAS software and training while stressing that existing cockpit procedures enable safe flight. It however faces mounting lawsuits alleging poor system design. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier that the pilots had initially followed Boeing's emergency procedures but later deviated from them as they tried to regain control of the plane. (Full Story) (Reporting by Eric M. Johnson, Tim Hepher, Jamie Freed, Jason Neely, David Shepardson; Editing by Georgina Prodhan, Mark Potter and Kirsten Donovan) Back to Top Boeing software re-activated before Ethiopian crash -sources • Anti-stall system re-engaged after pilots halted it -sources • Unclear if pilots or system reactivated the software • Software designed to push nose down in different emergency By Eric M. Johnson and Tim Hepher SEATTLE/PARIS, April 3 (Reuters) - Boeing anti-stall software on a doomed Ethiopian Airlines jet re-engaged and pushed the jet downwards after the pilots initially turned it off due to suspect data from an airflow sensor, two people familiar with the matter said. It was not immediately clear whether the crew chose to re-deploy the MCAS system, which was designed to push the nose of the 737 MAX down to prevent one kind of emergency but which is suspected of exacerbating a scenario linked to two crashes. But investigators are studying the possibility that the software kicked in again without human intervention, one person with knowledge of the matter said, while a second said the software had engaged as many as four times. A third person familiar with the initial findings of an investigation into the cause of the crash, confirmed the software had fired up again, but said there was only one significant episode after the crew turned it off. A Boeing spokeswoman declined to comment, while Ethiopian investigators were not available for comment. Boeing's anti-stall software is at the center of investigations into last month's Ethiopian Airlines crash and a Lion Air accident in Indonesia in October that together killed a total of 346 people. People familiar with the investigation have said the anti-stall software - which automatically pushes the aircraft's nose down to guard against a loss of lift - was activated by erroneous 'angle of attack' data from a single sensor. The investigation has now turned towards how MCAS was initially disabled by pilots, in line with part of a cockpit checklist procedure, but then appeared to start working again before the jet plunged to the ground, the people said. A directive issued after the Indonesian crash instructed pilots to use cut-out switches to disengage the system in the event of problems and then leave it switched off. Doing so does not shut down the MCAS system completely but severs an electrical link between the software and other aircraft systems, a person familiar with the technology said. Investigators are studying whether there are any conditions under which MCAS could re-activate itself automatically, without the pilots reversing the cut-out manoeuvre. Boeing is in the midst of upgrading the software and adding extra training. Investigators will also look at whether the crew carried out all aspects of the procedure, including a recommendation to stabilize the plane before turning the crucial software off. The pilots maneuvered the plane back upwards at least two times before hitting the stabilizer cut-out switches to disable the system, the second person familiar with the matter said. However, initial flight data indicates the aircraft was flying nose-heavy and not in a "neutral" attitude when pilots hit the stabilizer cutout switches to disable the MCAS system, the person added, making the situation harder to manage. After the pilots turned off MCAS, the airplane over the next few minutes gained roughly 2,000 feet, but dived into the ground after the MCAS system intervened again for reasons that remain unclear pending a preliminary report expected within days. Safety experts stress accidents are usually caused by a combination of factors and the probe is at an early stage. (Reporting by Eric M. Johnson in Seattle, Tim Hepher in Paris, Jamie Freed in Singapore, Editing by Laurence Frost, Richard Lough and Alexander Smith) Back to Top Ethiopian jet's data record deepens concern about 737 MAX safety procedures Ethiopian Airlines accident scene Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, Tewolde GebreMariam, visits the accident scene in Ethiopia hours after the March 10 crash. (Ethiopian Airlines Photo via Twitter) Readings from the recorders recovered from last month's crash of an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX jet reportedly suggest that the pilots tried using the recommended procedure for overriding a balky automated flight control system - but that the system was re-engaged and forced the plane into its fatal dive. The reports by The Wall Street Journal and Reuters, based on interviews with unnamed sources who have been briefed on the post-crash investigation's preliminary findings, raise deeper questions about the safety of the flight control system, known as the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, or MCAS. Boeing added the MCAS system to the 737 MAX as a safeguard against stalling, but investigations into the Ethiopian crash on March 10 - and last October's crash of a Lion Air 737 MAX in Indonesia - have focused on the possibility that spurious data from a single angle-of-attack sensor caused the system to force the planes into catastrophic nose dives. The Indonesia crash killed all 189 people on board, and the Ethiopian crash killed 157 people. In the wake of the crash in Ethiopia, all 737 MAX planes have been grounded worldwide. Boeing is working on a software update that it says should resolve the MCAS issue, but that fix is still thought to be weeks away. In the past, Boeing has stressed that pilots could remedy the scenario that led to the crashes by disconnecting the MCAS system and taking manual control of the jet's stabilizer trim mechanism. But the latest reports quote sources as saying the Ethiopian Airlines pilots tried that procedure but didn't fully execute it. Instead, the MCAS system was re-engaged, leading to the final, fatal plunge. The Journal's sources speculated that pilots re-engaged the automated system because they couldn't raise the nose using manual controls, while Reuters' sources held out the possibility that the MCAS system could have re-engaged itself. The Seattle Times quoted a former Boeing flight control engineers, Peter Lemme, as saying that the pilots might have been stymied by excessive aerodynamic loads on the stabilizer trim control system. I *assume* the mistrim situation created excessive load opposing the manual jackscrew authority from the trim wheel. From what is reported, they must have tried to restore electric trim to get the stab to come up, but then MCAS swept in again. Leeham News and Analysis also laid out a scenario by which excessive loads could have foiled efforts to stabilize the jet. The Times noted chatter on an online aviation forum about an alternate procedure, outlined in a 1982 pilot training manual, that might have averted the manual lockup by repeatedly letting go of the control column and turning the cockpit's stabilizer trim wheel manually. Boeing said it was premature to comment on the specifics of such reports. "We urge caution against speculating and drawing conclusions on the findings prior to the release of the flight data and the preliminary report," the company said. The 737 MAX crashes are the subject of investigations in Ethiopia and Indonesia, with participation by Boeing, the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board and other entities. The FAA's inspector general is conducting its own investigation into the process by which the 737 MAX was certified for flight, and the Justice Department has reportedly launched a grand jury investigation with participation by the FBI. Subpoenas have gone out to Lemme and other potential witnesses, The Seattle Times reported. https://www.geekwire.com/2019/ethiopian-jets-data-record-raises-deeper-concerns-737-max-safety-procedures/ Back to Top Passenger delays flight, gets detained after throwing coins at plane for good luck A passenger of a flight in northwest China was detained after throwing three coins at a plane for good luck as he was boarding a flight. A passenger was detained by police after he threw three coins at a plane for good luck as he was boarding a flight with his family to Urumqi, Xinjiang, in northwest China on Tuesday. In CCTV footage of the incident, the 31-year-old man is seen dropping the coins through a gap between the plane and jet bride just before walking onto the flight at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport, Chinese news outlets reported. Three 1 yuan coins were found on the ground near the engine. Airport security alerted staff of the flight and the man was taken off the plane and questioned. According to a report, the man told police that his mother-in-law insisted he practiced the superstitious act for a good flight as it was his four-month-old daughter's first time flying. The man was reportedly detained for 10 days for endangering the safety of the 101 passengers on board. His wife and child continued on the flight - though it was delayed 40 minutes due to the man's actions. This is not the first time a passenger has gotten in trouble for throwing coins at a plane's engine for good luck. In February, a man caused $21,000 in damage and caused a delay to his flight after throwing two one yuan coins at the engine of a Lucky Air plane. Officials found the coins on the ground near the engine and canceled the flight over security concerns and forced 162 passengers to wait for a flight the next day. The airline reportedly pressed charges against the man for his actions. As noted by The Points Guy, small coins could cause great damage or total engine failure if they are sucked into an aircraft's engine. https://www.foxnews.com/travel/passenger-delays-flight-gets-detained-after-throwing-coins-at-plane-for-good-luck Back to Top Incident: Transavia B738 near Amsterdam on Apr 3rd 2019, equipment cooling problems A Transavia Boeing 737-800, registration PH-HZL performing flight HV-6109 from Amsterdam (Netherlands) to Malaga,SP (Spain), had just levelled off at FL350 about 100nm south of Amsterdam in the vicinity of Brussels (Belgium) when the crew decided to return to Amsterdam after consulting with dispatch and maintenance over a problem with the equipment cooling. The aircraft landed safely back on Amsterdam's runway 18R about 55 minutes after departure. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 1.5 hours, then departed again and reached Malaga with a delay of 2.5 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c6393f9&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: VivaColombia A320 at Bogota on Apr 2nd 2019, two lightning strikes A VivaColombia Airbus A320-200, registration HK-5223 performing flight VH-6782 from Bogota to Cartagena (Colombia), was climbing out of Bogota when the aircraft received two lightning strikes prompting the crew to stop the climb at FL240 and return to Bogota for a safe landing about 35 minutes after departure. A replacement A320-200 registration HK-5275 reached Cartagena with a delay of 3.5 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Bogota about 27 hours after landing back. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c638ec2&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Ryanair B738 at Treviso on Mar 30th 2019, engine smoking A Ryanair Boeing 737-800, registration EI-EFK performing flight FR-6828 from Naples to Treviso (Italy) with 170 people on board, was on approach to Treviso when smoke was observed coming from one of the engines. Emergency services were called into their stand by position for the arrival of the aircraft. The aircraft landed safely on runway 07 a few minutes later. Emergency services identified an oil leak as cause of the smoke. The aircraft was unable to perform the return flight FR-6829. The aircraft remained on the ground for 14 hours, then positioned to Bergamo (Italy). http://avherald.com/h?article=4c638ca5&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: American A321 near Wilmington on Apr 2nd 2019, fumes on the flight deck An American Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration N549UW performing flight AA-809 from Philadelphia,PA to Orlando,FL (USA) with 178 passengers and 6 crew, was enroute at FL340 about 35nm northwest of Wilmington,NC (USA) when the crew donned their oxygen masks and decided to divert to Wilmington reporting fumes on the flight deck. The aircraft landed safely on Wilmington's runway 35 about 25 minutes later. A replacement A321-200 registration N542UW reached Orlando with a delay of about 5 hours. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground in Wilmington for about 10 hours, then positioned to Charlotte,NC (USA), remained on the ground in Charlotte for another 8 hours, then returned to service. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/AAL809/history/20190402/1445Z/KPHL/KMCO http://avherald.com/h?article=4c638912&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Delta A333 at Amsterdam on Apr 3rd 2019, electrical odour in cabin and electrical problems A Delta Airlines Airbus A330-300, registration N818NW performing flight DL-161 from Amsterdam (Netherlands) to Minneapolis,MN (USA), was climbing out of Amsterdam's runway 24 when the crew stopped the climb at FL150 when the crew requested to return to Amsterdam, subsequently declaring emergency reporting they had an electrical odour in the cabin and they had electrical problems. The aircraft landed safely back on Amsterdam's runway 18R about 24 minutes after departure. A cabin air extract fan was found failed, the cabin intercommunication data system also showed a fault. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 3.5 hours, then departed again and reached Minneapolis with a delay of 3.5 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c6385e8&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top Airbus A320-214 - Ground Damage (Belfast) Date: 03-APR-2019 Time: c. 14:00 UTC Type: Airbus A320-214 Owner/operator: easyJet Registration: G-EZWC C/n / msn: 5236 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Minor Location: Belfast International Airport (BFS/EGAA) - United Kingdom Phase: Pushback / towing Nature: International Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Belfast International Airport (BFS/EGAA) Destination airport: Mαlaga Airport (AGP/LEMG) Narrative: EasyJet flight U26755, an Airbus A320-214, sustained damage to the right-hand engine inlet cowling during pushback at Belfast International Airport, Northern Ireland. The aircraft was about to depart to Malaga, Spain. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=223683 Back to Top Japan investigates Jetstar Boeing 787 abnormal engine behaviour during decent to Osaka-Kansai Airport Date: 29-MAR-2019 Time: 09:05 UTC Type: Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner Owner/operator: Jetstar Airways Registration: VH-VKJ C/n / msn: 36236/278 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: None Category: Serious incident Location: near Osaka-Kansai International Airport - Japan Phase: Approach Nature: International Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Cairns Airport, QLD (CNS/YBCS) Destination airport: Osaka-Kansai International Airport (KIX/RJBB) Investigating agency: JTSB Narrative: At approximately 15,000 feet during descent into Kansai International Airport, Osaka, Japan, the flight crew of Jetstar Airways flight JQ15 received an engine thrust warning on the number 2 engine, which subsequently started to surge. The crew then received an engine fail indication on the number 1 engine, without any shift in parameters indicating any engine power loss. That warning was followed by an engine fail warning on the number 2 engine. The number 2 engine auto relight activated and the engine continued to surge during the descent. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=223675 Back to Top Satellite-based Aircraft Tracking System Will Prevent Another Flight MH370 The UK and Canada are the first countries to trial the technology. Satellite-based Aircraft Tracking System Will Prevent Another Flight MH370 An airplane tracking system has been launched that uses satellites to monitor airplanes while they fly anywhere around the globe. The flaws in the current radar system became apparent after the disappearance of flight MH370. The United Kingdom and Canada will be the first two nations to test the system. "For the first time in history, we can surveil all ADS-B-equipped aircraft anywhere on earth," said Don Thoma, Aireon CEO. "Our air transportation system has operated with a safe but less than efficient system in the 70 percent of the world that does not have real-time surveillance. With the launch of our space-based ADS-B service, Aireon now provides a real-time solution to that challenge-one that will radically optimize flight safety and efficiency. The aviation industry has now joined the rest of the 21st century where real-time connectivity is relied upon for doing business." Increased safety Until the advent of this system, planes fitted with transponders broadcasted their position every 15 minutes via satellite via short single data transmission. The Aireon system will allow the position of the plane to be continuously known which will reduce overall flight safety risks by approximately 76 percent in the North Atlantic. As well as improve safety, Aireon says the system will allow air traffic controllers to fit more planes into the bustling Atlantic air corridors. Currently, planes fly at set speeds, routes, and heights to avoid collisions. But greater accuracy of location will allow for more efficiency in the busy airspace. Transatlantic flights are expected to grow by more than 50% in the next decade from about 500,000 transatlantic flights per year. Martin Rolfe, NATS CEO, said, "The trial in the North Atlantic, the busiest oceanic airspace in the world, with over 500,000 flights every year and a forecasted 800,000 flights per year by 2030, will demonstrate to the entire aviation industry, that global, space-based ADS-B can revolutionize the service that we provide to our customers and the traveling public by transforming the way we perform air traffic management over remote regions." The ADS-B technology used by Aireon will become mandatory in all planes in the US and Europe next year. "To know the position, speed and altitude of every ADS-B equipped aircraft in oceanic airspace - in real-time - is a transformational change to how our controllers manage air traffic," said Neil Wilson, president and CEO of NAV CANADA. Iridium satellite constellation complete "The Aireon system provides an immediate boost to aviation safety and airlines will benefit from more fuel-efficient routings and flight levels. Over 95 percent of the North Atlantic traffic is already ADS-B equipped so the fuel savings, along with the reduced carbon dioxide emissions will be attained very quickly." The Aireon system uses the Iridium satellite constellation. The final satellite in the collection was deployed in January this year. Aireon then conducted rigorous testing of the full satellite tracking system before unveiling it to the UK and Canadian airspace regulators. On 8 March 2014 Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 left Kuala Lumpur headed for Beijing with 239 people onboard, it lost contact with air traffic control less than an hour into the flight and has not been located since. https://interestingengineering.com/satellite-based-aircraft-tracking-system-will-prevent-another-flight-mh370 Back to Top Avian Radar Technology Installed To Reduce Bird Strikes At Sacramento International Airport SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - Sacramento has one of the highest rates of bird strikes in the nation. Airport officials will soon be testing a new radar which could help identify flocks of birds that are flying dangerously close to aircraft. Every pilot that takes off and lands at Sacramento International Airport hears this radio warning from the control tower: "use caution for bird activity in the vicinity of the airport." Sacramento sits along the Pacific Flyway, a migratory route millions of birds use each year between Canada and South America. It's a dangerous situation when the birds get too close to aircraft. Airport spokesperson Samantha Mott said there are about 150 bird strikes in Sacramento every year. Just a few birds can cause a catastrophe. The "miracle on the Hudson" in 2009 is the most famous example when the US Airways flight hit a flock of geese shortly after takeoff and lost power to both engines. Now Sacramento's airport is installing new technology to minimize the risk of birds damaging planes. The avian radar system is designed to track flocks and even individual birds flying up to five miles away from the airfield. The warning is relayed to the airport's wildlife managers. "The technology will allow our biologists to have real-time data when there may be birds in the area and then they can use any number of tools at their disposal to discourage the birds from coming closer to the airport," Mott said. It's a new tool to help wildlife managers mitigate potential dangers in the sky before planes are impacted. Mott said this technology will be able to alert managers of dangers that they couldn't typically see with their own eyes or with binoculars. The avian radar will be evaluated over the next 12 months and the program costs $133,000. https://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2019/04/03/avian-radar-technology-sacramento-international-airport/ Back to Top Flight Safety Foundation, IATA Renew Partnership to Enhance Global Aviation Safety Flight Safety Foundation announced a renewed and focused agreement with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to enhance global safety, emphasizing a data-driven approach to safety, the future aviation workforce and human factors. Additionally, IATA, which represents more than 290 airlines worldwide, has become a Foundation Benefactor member. IATA joins the elite group of Foundation Benefactors who help shape the Foundation's strategy as partners in our mission to connect, influence and lead global aviation safety. "The Foundation has a 70-year legacy, with a singular mission to promote and influence aviation safety around the world," said Gilberto Lopez Meyer, senior vice president, Safety and Flight Operations at IATA. "We are pleased to elevate our membership in the Foundation to industry leader status as a Benefactor to contribute more fully to global aviation safety through a deeper, stronger involvement in driving aviation efforts within the industry and providing leadership for the future direction of global aviation safety." "We are very fortunate to refocus our joint efforts with IATA to address the emerging safety issues globally," said Dr. Hassan Shahidi, president and CEO of Flight Safety Foundation. "The global aviation industry will benefit from increased cooperation and greater engagement between the Foundation and IATA, and from a pooling of expertise and data analysis that will enable more effective risk identification and mitigation." IATA's Benefactor status also will enable the two organizations to more closely align their safety goals and strategies, identify gaps in ongoing research and mitigation efforts, and identify synergies of activities. In the near term, the Foundation and IATA will be developing a set of joint activities and strategies to advance several emerging safety areas around the world. https://www.aviationpros.com/airlines/press-release/21074660/flight-safety-foundation-flight-safety-foundation-iata-renew-partnership-to-enhance-global-aviation-safety Back to Top CHC Helicopter Opens Safety Summit Early Registration Texas-based CHC Helicopter has opened early registration for its annual CHC Safety and Quality Summit, which will be held this October in Dallas. The summit, now in its 15th year, typically attracts more than 500 people in the industry from nearly 30 countries, and focuses on the latest in safety best practices and human factors in safety. This year's theme will be, "Shining a Light on Safety: Are We Looking in the Right Places?" Approximately 100 concurrent sessions are planned for the summit that will be held October 1 to 3 at the Omni Dallas Hotel, led by experts in the fields of aviation, oil and gas, safety, insurance, and technical industries. It will open with an address from CHC president and CEO Karl Fessenden followed by a plenary session featuring presentations from several leading safety experts. Early registration runs through May 31. More information about the summit is available at www.chcsafetyqualitysummit.com. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2019-04-03/chc-helicopter-opens-safety-summit-early-registration Back to Top High school 'Aviation Academy' is like shop class, but with airplanes WHEELING, Ill. - It's tough not going full-throttle when your classroom is an airfield, and your textbook is a Cessna. Nearly 200 students from District 214 in the northwest suburbs are getting hands-on training at Wheeling's Executive Airport for the "Aviation Academy." The first of its kind, the elective offering lets students gain both college credit and an FAA-level certification. "The program has been hugely popular since we launched it this year," said Dan Weidner, Director of Academic Programs for District 214. High School students learn aviation maintenance, safety drills, theory and regulations that are required to have a career in the field of aviation. They not only learn the nuts and bolts of how to work on planes and helicopters, but also get college credit with Lewis University's aviation program for every hour spent in the hanger. "I was shocked to see this is an elective, because there's just not a lot of aviation programs in the U.S.," Prospect High School senior Kendall Jordan Morrow said. "I was pretty excited 'cause this is exactly what I want to do in the future." Lewis University's Chris Stevens says it's a win-win as the need for plane and helicopter mechanics soars. He estimates Boeing will need 754,000 mechanics by 2037. "This is really exciting because our students at the high school level can explore an area that they never really could before," Stevens said. The Aviation Academy courses are offered at all six high schools in district District 214; although every course is already at capacity. For more information on the partnership with Lewis University, check out http//lewisu.edu/aviation. https://wgntv.com/2019/04/03/high-school-aviation-academy-is-like-shop-class-but-with-airplanes/ Back to Top Piper launches 'value-priced' training aircraft Piper has launched a pair of "value-priced" entry-level trainers, which are designed to plug a gap in the market from the growing training school sector for aircraft with "optimal acquisition and operating costs and economics". The Pilot 100 and 100i are trimmed-down derivatives of the PA-28 Archer TX and feature a 180hp Continental Prime IO-370-D3A piston engine and Garmin G3X Touch Certified avionics. Both models will be available in "limited quantities" beginning in 2020, the airframer says. Priced at $259,000 - $110,000 less than the TX - the Pilot 100 is designed for visual flight rules and has a standard two-seat configuration. The $285,000 100i, designed for instrument training, comes with the third seat as standard and includes a Garmin GFC500 autopilot, a GNX 375 GPS navigator and automatic dependent surveillance - broadcast transponder. Piper chief executive Simon Caldecott says the company worked with key suppliers to come up with an "aggressively priced, proven trainer that offers the advanced systems and performance" suitable for flight schools and airline programmes of all sizes. The Pilot series joins Piper's Archer TX, DX, Arrow and Seminole aircraft in its trainer range. Meanwhile, the Vero Beach, Florida-based company has secured its largest trainer order to date, with a firm commitment for up to 240 aircraft from L3 Commercial Aviation. Deliveries will begin in April, Piper says, and 26 units - 19 Archers and seven Seminoles - are scheduled to be handed over to L3's academies in Portugal, the UK and USA before the end of the year. The order eclipses Piper's previous largest deal, the 2018 sale of 152 aircraft to China's Fan-Mei Aviation Technologies. https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/piper-launches-value-priced-training-aircraft-457215/ Back to Top Back to Top Apply Now! - mba is seeking the following candidates: Director of Audit Programs mba is seeking an experienced individual to manage its audit programs with respect to IATA's (International Air Transport Association) IOSA* (IATA Operational Safety Audit) program. The candidate must meet the following requirements, be a self-starter and a leader within the organization. • Must have airline operational and safety experience and be familiar with the IOSA Program. • Be willing to travel globally without restriction to perform audits and attend meetings. • Manage and lead a team of experienced individuals in the performance of aviation safety focused audits. • Manage and develop new opportunities for mba in areas of auditing globally. Manager of Quality Control mba is seeking an experienced mid-career individual to manage its Quality Control function with respect to IOSA* (IATA Operational Safety Audit). The candidate must meet the following requirements, be a self-starter and a leader within the organization. • Must have airline quality control, operational and/or safety experience and be familiar with the IOSA Program. • Be familiar with Quality Control processes and methodology. • Manage and lead a team of experienced individuals in the performance of aviation safety focused audits. APPLY HERE *IOSA is a registered trademark of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Back to Top Back to Top Call for Nominations For 2019 Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Foundation is now accepting nominations for the 2019 Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award, honoring a leader in global aviation safety. The Award will be presented during the 72nd Annual International Air Safety Summit, taking place Nov 4-6 in Taipei, Taiwan. Presented since 1956, the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award recognizes notable achievement in the field of civil or military aviation safety in method, design, invention, study or other improvement. The Award's recipient is selected for a "significant individual or group effort contributing to improving aviation safety, with emphasis on original contributions," and a "significant individual or group effort performed above and beyond normal responsibilities." Mechanics, engineers and others outside of top administrative or research positions should be especially considered. The contribution need not be recent, especially if the nominee has not received adequate recognition. Nominations that were not selected as past winners of the Award can be submitted one additional time for consideration. Please note that self-nominations will not be considered. The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award's story dates back 74 years. On April 14, 1945, after visiting family in Pittsburgh, Laura Taber Barbour was aboard a Pennsylvania Central Airlines DC-3 when it crashed into the rugged terrain of Cheat Mountain near Morgantown, West Virginia. All passengers and crew were killed. In the years following, her husband, Dr. Clifford E. Barbour and son, Clifford E. Barbour, Jr., established the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award in her honor. The Award Board, composed of leaders in the field of aviation, meets each year to conduct a final review of nominees and selection of the current year's recipient. Please help us honor this year's most deserving recipient. Nominations, including a 1-2-page narrative, can be submitted via the Laura Taber Barbour Foundation website at http://ltbaward.org/the-award/nomination-form/. Nominations will be accepted until May 10, 2019. For more information, including a complete history of Award recipients, see www.ltbaward.org. ABOUT THE LAURA TABER BARBOUR AIR SAFETY AWARD: The Award was established in 1956 through early association with the Flight Safety Foundation and from its founding has enjoyed a rich history of Award Board members, nominees and Award recipients. In 2013, the non-profit Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Foundation was formed from members of the Award Board, the aviation community and the Barbour family. As the foundation plans to broaden the scope of its intent, with great purpose, the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award will continue to spotlight those champions who pioneer breakthroughs in flight safety. CONTACT: Philip Barbour, 205-939-1700, 205-617-9007 Curt Lewis