Flight Safety Information May 3, 2019 - No. 090 In This Issue The Economics That Made Boeing Build the 737 Max Incident: Fedex B752 at Budapest on May 2nd 2019, hydraulic failure Accident: Alitalia B772 near Tokyo on May 2nd 2019, turbulence injures 3 cabin crew Incident: Mandarin AT72 near Hualien on May 2nd 2019, loss of cabin pressure Airbus A321-211 - Ground Damage (Russia) Plane lands without incident at Hancock after pilots reported smoke in cockpit EVAS - Cockpit Smoke Protection Delta flight bound for San Antonio diverted because of cracked plane windshield Transport minister demands more focus on safety to chiefs of Korean Air, Asiana FAA's John Duncan Opens BASS 2019 on Thursday HAI Partners with Unmanned Safety Institute for Training Unmanned Safety Institute to Collaborate with Textron Systems to Create Employment Pipeline Etihad's Airline Investments: A Sea Of Red Ink Aircraft maker Bombardier to quit Northern Ireland These airlines are the safest, most comfortable and friendliest to pets, according to Wallethub Millennials spark a pilot comeback Rolls-Royce Could Power Boeing '797' If Max Crisis Delays Launch The International Space Station has found its scientific calling ISASI - DFW Regional Chapter Meeting GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Last Chance to Take HOT-STOP Survey - Win $100 Gift Card Position Available: Regulatory Compliance Manager - Maintenance Program Call for Nominations For 2019 Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award The Economics That Made Boeing Build the 737 Max The now ill-fated plane has a very interesting story behind its production. The infamous 737 Max is now grounded and considered a liability, but this was not always the case. What made Boeing design this particular airplane? Wendover Production explains the economics behind this ill-fated airplane in this video. Part of the reason is that airlines would rather have a cheap small plane than an expensive super efficient small plane. The 737 is just that: a cheap small plane. Priced at just $89 million, the now doomed plane was considered a great deal. This is because Boeing had perfected the 737 manufacturing process and could, therefore, offer a cost-efficient deal on the planes. It was estimated that at their peak Boeing was making one 737 every fourteen hours. Talk about a lot of planes! However, at some point, airlines started to change how they used their fleet and had begun using planes like the 737 for longer and longer flights. In addition, in 2011, jet fuels had reached an all-time high so fuel efficiency was key for the airlines. Then in December 2011, Boeing's competition Airbus announced the re-engined A 320 Neo. Unfortunately for Boeing that model sold very well. Airlines wanted a small efficient plane. On July 2011, American airlines then announced a massive order of Boeing's redesigned 737. But at this point, the new 737 had not been announced. So Boeing was essentially pushed in producing this re-engined 737. If you want to know the reasons why and what happened after, you need to watch the video. We will give you a hint: it has to do with the cost of training pilots. https://interestingengineering.com/video/the-economics-that-made-boeing-build-the- 737-max Back to Top Incident: Fedex B752 at Budapest on May 2nd 2019, hydraulic failure A Fedex Boeing 757-200, registration N915FD performing flight FX-5212 from Vienna (Austria) to Budapest (Hungary) with 2 crew, was on final approach to runway 31L about to contact tower, when the crew received indication of the left hand hydraulic system having failed. The crew contacted tower, declared emergency advising they had lost their left hand hydraulic system pressure and also lost nose wheel steering, but they would continue the approach. The aircraft landed safely on runway 31L about 2 minutes later and was unable to vacate the runway. The next arrival needed to go around. The aircraft is still on the ground in Budapest about 16 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c7725e8&opt=0 Back to Top Accident: Alitalia B772 near Tokyo on May 2nd 2019, turbulence injures 3 cabin crew An Alitalia Boeing 777-200, registration EI-DBM performing flight AZ-784 (dep May 1st) from Rome Fiumicino (Italy) to Tokyo Narita (Japan) with 242 passengers and 14 crew, was descending towards Tokyo when the aircraft encountered turbulence. The fasten seat belts signs were illuminated at that time. Three of the flight attendants who were still working to prepare the cabin for the arrival received minor head injuries as result of the turbulence encounter. The aircraft continued for a safe landing about 20 minutes later at 10:24L (01:24Z). The aircraft was able to depart for the return flight AZ-785 on schedule. Metars: RJAA 020230Z 18005KT 150V220 9999 SHRA FEW013 SCT020 BKN070 18/13 Q1005 TEMPO 3000 TSRA BR FEW008 BKN012 FEW020CB= RJAA 020200Z 17005KT 140V220 9999 -SHRA FEW013 SCT020 BKN050 18/14 Q1005 TEMPO 3000 TSRA BR FEW008 BKN012 FEW020CB RMK 1CU013 3CU020 7SC050 A2969= RJAA 020130Z 17006KT 140V200 9999 -SHRA FEW013 SCT020 BKN050 18/14 Q1005 NOSIG= RJAA 020100Z 23003KT 180V260 9999 FEW013 BKN050 18/14 Q1005 NOSIG= RJAA 020030Z 21003KT 160V270 9999 FEW015 BKN040 17/14 Q1005 NOSIG= RJAA 020000Z 19004KT 150V230 9999 FEW010 BKN040 17/15 Q1005 NOSIG= RJAA 012330Z 20005KT 170V240 9999 FEW010 SCT040 BKN070 17/14 Q1004 NOSIG= RJAA 012300Z 20005KT 170V230 9999 FEW007 BKN070 16/14 Q1004 NOSIG= RJAA 012230Z 20006KT 9999 FEW007 BKN070 16/14 Q1003 NOSIG= RJAA 012200Z 22005KT 190V250 9999 FEW030 SCT040 BKN070 15/14 Q1003 NOSIG= RJAA 012130Z 23004KT 200V270 9999 FEW030 BKN040 BKN070 14/14 Q1003 NOSIG= RJAA 012100Z 20003KT 150V230 9999 FEW030 BKN070 BKN/// 14/14 Q1002 NOSIG= http://avherald.com/h?article=4c772192&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Mandarin AT72 near Hualien on May 2nd 2019, loss of cabin pressure A Mandarin Airlines Avions de Transport Regional ATR-72-212A, registration B-16851 performing flight AE-7931 from Kaohsiung to Hualien (Taiwan) with 48 passengers and 7 crew, was descending towards Hualien when the cabin altitude increased prompting the crew to don their oxygen masks and initiate an emergency descent to 5000 feet and continued to Hualien for a safe landing about 25 minutes later. The return flight AE-7932 was cancelled. Taiwan's ASC opened an investigation into the occurrence. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Hualien about 10 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c770500&opt=0 Back to Top Airbus A321-211 - Ground Damage (Russia) Date: 02-MAY-2019 Time: 13:00 UTC Type: Airbus A321-211 Owner/operator: Nordwind Airlines Registration: VQ-BOD C/n / msn: 1233 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Minor Location: Moscow, Sheremetyevo - Russia Phase: Standing Nature: Domestic Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Moskva-Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO/UUEE) Destination airport: Moskva-Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO/UUEE) Narrative: Truck crashed into the plane of the airline "Nordwind airlines". At the time of the accident there were no passengers on board. The truck driver suffered. According to preliminary data, he fell asleep or lost consciousness. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=224654 Back to Top Plane lands without incident at Hancock after pilots reported smoke in cockpit SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) -- An American Airlines plane had to make an emergency landing at Hancock International Airport around noon on Thursday when the pilot reported smoke in the cockpit. The plane, which had taken off from LaGuardia and was on its way to Toronto, had 39 passengers and crew on board. Once the pilot noticed smoke in the cockpit, the plane was diverted back to the airport and landed without incident. The smoke had cleared up by the time the plane landed. There are no injuries and all passengers will be put on other flights. https://www.localsyr.com/news/local-news/plane-lands-without-incident-at-hancock- after-pilots-reported-smoke-in-cockpit/1973618977 Back to Top Back to Top Delta flight bound for San Antonio diverted because of cracked plane windshield Delta flight 4003 was diverted because of a cracked windshield. (Photo: Paula Harvot) Delta flight 4003, operated by regional carrier SkyWest, was headed from Minneapolis to San Antonio Thursday when it was diverted to Tulsa, Oklahoma, because of a cracked windshield. The crack was "in the outermost layer of the windshield," according to a statement from Marissa Snow of SkyWest Airlines. "The flight landed safely without incident, and all passengers deplaned normally at the gate. We are working to help passengers resume their travels to San Antonio as quickly as possible on alternate aircraft," Snow continued. The plane first took off out of Minneapolis at 9:27 a.m. CDT and landed in Tulsa at 11:30 a.m. CDT, according to flight-tracker site FlightAware. Passengers expect to board a new plane at 5 p.m. to finish their journey to San Antonio, so they will likely be in the Tulsa International Airport for about 5 and a half hours. Paula Harvot, a passenger on the flight, told USA TODAY that the change in course was announced about an hour into the flight. "It was a smooth takeoff, it was a smooth flight, and about an hour or so in all of a sudden the pilot came over (the loudspeaker) and said, 'We're going to do an emergency descent,' " she said. "Within about five minutes ... he instructed the flight attendants to go to their seats and everyone to buckle up." It wasn't until the flight was near to landing that passengers were informed the diversion was due to a cracked windshield, Harvot said. Harvot said the experience was "a little nerve-wracking," but that everyone on the flight remained "fairly calm." "The pilot stayed calm, and the attendants were in their professional modes," she said. Harvot added that she's glad everyone is safe and that passengers are being treated well at the airport. "We'll take a little delay for a little safety," she said. https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/2019/05/02/delta-flight-san-antonio- diverted-because-cracked-windshield/3654758002/ Back to Top Transport minister demands more focus on safety to chiefs of Korean Air, Asiana Transport Minister Kim Hyun-mee Transport Minister Kim Hyun-mee met the heads of the nation's flagship carriers, Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, and called for safe operations and stable management, the ministry said, Friday. The meeting follows turbulence the two airlines have faced with the recent sudden death of Korean Air's former Chairman Cho Yang-ho and Kumho Asiana Group's decision to sell the airline unit to resolve a liquidity crisis. Kim met Korean Air's new head Cho Won-tae on Tuesday and Asiana CEO Han Chang- soo Thursday. The meetings were at Kim's request out of concern the companies' troubles could lead to accidents. Kim asked Cho to maintain safety-related investment and pay attention to all flight operation processes so there will be no safety issues at the early stage of leadership change. For Han, Kim pointed out Asiana's frequent flight delays due to aircraft breakdowns, calling for "special countermeasures." She also requested an all-out effort to prevent accidents, asking for thorough maintenance before the summer peak season and early suspension of operations on unprofitable routes. Cho and Han expressed a willingness to cooperate and follow the minister's recommendations, the ministry said. In early April, Korean Air's former chairman died of lung disease. In mid-April, Kumho Group announced its plan to sell its stake in Asiana to avert a liquidity crisis. https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/biz/2019/05/367_268234.html Back to Top FAA's John Duncan Opens BASS 2019 on Thursday Flight Safety Foundation's Business Aviation Safety Summit kicks off Thursday morning with a keynote by John S. Duncan, deputy associate administrator for Aviation Safety at the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. DENVER - Flight Safety Foundation's 64th Business Aviation Safety Summit (BASS) convenes Thursday morning at the Westin Denver Downtown with a keynote address by John S. Duncan, deputy associate administrator for Aviation Safety at the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Duncan is the co-leader of the FAA organization responsible for overseeing and enforcing safety standards in all aspects of the U.S. aviation industry. Following Duncan's remarks and a welcome message from Dr. Hassan Shahidi, the Foundation's president and CEO, Mark Larsen, senior manager, Safety and Flight Operations at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), will update attendees on the NBAA Safety Committee's recent work. BASS is organized by the Foundation in partnership with NBAA. BASS is a forum for the business aviation industry to meet and identify safety concerns, devise approaches to reduce risk and implement initiatives to improve safety. This year's event, which is expected to draw more than 200 attendees and numerous exhibitors, will cover a wide range of safety topics and will feature presentations, panel discussions, and innovative audience polling. In addition, the program has been set up to be as interactive as possible, allowing attendees ample opportunities to ask questions and get answers. In addition to Duncan's remarks, the first day of BASS will feature presentations on modernizing leadership, single pilot operations, fatigue mitigation strategies, and related safety performance indicators, the danger of complacency, resilience and crisis management, and an accident case study and lessons learned. The morning of Day Two will feature an update from the National Air Traffic Controllers Association Safety Committee, and a full session on runway and ramp safety issues, as well as the presentation of the Foundation's annual Business Aviation Meritorious Service Award. Friday afternoon's program will feature a session on training that will include a discussion on whether training is preparing flight crews for the future. The day will wrap up with an in-depth look at emerging safety issues, and will feature the results of research being done on safety tools and decision aids for use in single pilot cockpits. This year's event marks the third time that BASS has been held in Denver, and the first time since 1981. BASS, then known as the Corporate Aviation Safety Seminar, also was held in Denver in 1965. More information on BASS and the Foundation's other upcoming events can be found on the events landing page on our website. About Flight Safety Foundation Flight Safety Foundation is an independent, nonprofit, international organization engaged in research, education, advocacy and communications to improve aviation safety. The Foundation's mission is to connect, influence and lead global aviation safety. https://www.aviationpros.com/education-training/trade-associations-events/press- release/21078900/federal-aviation-administration-faa-faas-john-duncan-opens-bass- 2019-on-thursday Back to Top HAI Partners with Unmanned Safety Institute for Training The Unmanned Safety Institute (USI) today announced a partnership with Helicopter Association International (HAI) to provide unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) training to HAI members worldwide. HAI members will receive a 15 percent discount on USI courses and certifications when accessed through HAI's online academy portal. These materials include USI's full suite of training and industry certifications, including the sUAS safety ground school, UAS flight safety endorsement, visual line-of-sight (VLOS) system operations, FAA remote pilot practice exam, and Part 107 study and field guide. Members also will be able to purchase licensing agreements for corporate internal training programs including the VLOS flight training curriculum and sUAS safety certification curriculum. "The unmanned flight industry has huge potential, and businesses and individuals within the helicopter industry are serving as the vanguard by incorporating the UAS technology into their operations," said HAI president Matt Zuccaro. "There are companies that are using unmanned aircraft for surveying pipelines and powerlines, for aerial photography and mapping, and even for conducting cargo missions. These USI courses offer these and other HAI members the opportunity and flexibility to advance their careers and businesses." USI has more than 150 instructors and 7,000 customers worldwide. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/general-aviation/2019-05-01/hai-partners- unmanned-safety-institute-training Back to Top Unmanned Safety Institute to Collaborate with Textron Systems to Create Employment Pipeline for Collegiate Students USI will implement its safety education and skill-based curriculum and training frameworks to provide certifications in collaboration with select technical colleges and universities ORLANDO, Fla. - 5/2/2019 - The Unmanned Safety Institute (USI), the industry leader in remote pilot safety education, training, and certification, will collaborate with Textron Systems, a business of Textron, Inc. (NYSE:TXT), to implement Aerosonde® Small Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS) operator training into university curriculums, helping prospective unmanned systems operators with certification. USI will implement its safety education and skill-based curriculum and training frameworks to provide certifications in collaboration with select technical colleges and universities, offering qualified students the opportunity to participate in unmanned aircraft training in accordance with Textron Systems' training standards, backed by more than 1 million UAS flight hours. Textron Systems and USI will work together to ensure that the new program offers resources that support classroom and flight activity directly related to Textron Systems' unmanned aircraft systems. USI's professional aviator-oriented safety education and skill-based certifications will be considered prerequisites for learners to participate in on-site training with Textron Systems at their Unmanned Systems Service & Support center in Blackstone, Virginia, with the intent to prepare students for a future career as an unmanned aircraft systems operator. "Through this collaboration, students participating in this unique experience will be prepared for graduation and employment within the unmanned systems industry," says Textron Systems Vice President of Tactical Mission Systems Chris Mallon. "Over the past couple years, we have seen an increased demand for Aerosonde SUAS operations, making this certification program an extremely valuable asset for those wishing to join the Textron Systems team." The strategic agreement creates an employment pipeline not only for college students but also for secondary students, exiting military personnel and adult learners interested in pursuing an unmanned career pathway. Students interested in the new program will be able to use traditional student financing, financial aid, and GI Bill financing to cover the cost of all training and increase accessibility. "We are proud to offer incredible opportunities for individuals looking to work with a long-time industry leader in unmanned flight," stated USI President Josh Olds. "Unmanned Safety Institute is dedicated to setting the standard for safety education and skill-based evaluation by merging the world of technology and aviation into a turn- key solution for developing professional, risk averse, safety cultured remote pilots." About Unmanned Safety Institute The Unmanned Safety Institute (USI) is the industry's most widely recognized leader in flight safety solutions for individuals, enterprises, and organizations focused on integrating and operating Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for civil or commercial purposes. The Unmanned Safety Institute, recognized as "best-in-class", provides UAS flight safety training and certification to operational standards based on the adoption and modification of time-honored aviation safety practices. With 150+ instructors and over 7,000 customers around the world, USI is considered the global leader in UAS safety education, training and certification delivering the most highly-regarded training program and career pathway initiatives of its kind. USI is accepted for professional development credits by industry associations, endorsed by major aviation insurance providers, and whose training programs have been evaluated and recommended for college credit by the American Council on Education. Discover more at www.UnmannedSafetyInstitute.org. About Textron Systems Textron Systems is a world leader in unmanned air, surface and land products, services and support for aerospace and defense customers. Harnessing agility and a broad base of expertise, Textron Systems' innovative businesses design, manufacture, field and support comprehensive solutions that expand customer capabilities and deliver value. For more information, visit www.textronsystems.com. About Textron Inc. Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Arctic Cat, Textron Systems, and TRU Simulation + Training. For more information, visit: www.textron.com. https://www.aviationpros.com/education-training/trade-associations-events/press- release/21078941/unmanned-safety-institute-unmanned-safety-institute-to-collaborate- with-textron-systems-to-create-employment-pipeline-for-collegiate-students Back to Top Etihad's Airline Investments: A Sea Of Red Ink An Airbus A380-800 aircraft, operated by Etihad Airways, at the 14th Dubai Air Show in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 9, 2015. Photographer: Jasper Juinen Photocredit: © 2015 Bloomberg Finance LP. The airline business is a financially risky one, despite recent years of packed planes and low oil prices. Noted investor Warren Buffett once wrote,"If a capitalist had been present at Kitty Hawk back in the early 1900s he should've shot Orville Wright; he would have saved his progeny money." Few airlines can lose as much money and keep flying as Gulf luxury airline Etihad has. An alarming list of airline investments made by Etihad have contributed to the red ink, helping account for Etihad's staggering $4.67 billion in losses since 2016. Etihad, owned by the government of Abu Dhabi, is the second-largest airline in the United Arab Emirates, behind Emirates. Founded in 2003, it flies out of Abu Dhabi's International Airport to 75 destinations around the world. US airlines long accused Etihad (as well as Qatar Airlines and Emirates) of receiving unfair government subsidies, allowing them to charge artificially low prices and take market share from the US carriers. An agreement was reached where the governments of Qatar and the UAE agreed to more financial transparency, although Qatar's ownership stake in Air Italy is threatening that agreement. So far, this hasn't stopped American Airlines from partnering with Etihad, although rumors are that Etihad will bolt the deal for an alliance with United. Like Emirates, Etihad employs a number of massive long-range aircraft such as the Airbus A380. Etihad's take on First Class travel in the A380, The Residence, is renowned for its opulence. It includes a three-room in-flight suite with a living room and bedroom with a shower, plus your own chef. Roundtrip from London to Abu Dhabi? Just $12,000. Despite such offerings, Etihad has posted massive losses over the past few years, and some airline observers believe it has never been profitable. Etihad reported a loss of $1.28 billion on revenues of $5.86 billion in 2018. Some might call this an improvement over 2017, when Etihad lost $1.52 billion, and 2016, when it reported a $1.87 billion loss. Etihad's losses over just three years come to $4.67 billion dollars. A possible bail- out merger with nearby rival Emirates has long been rumored, but has yet to occur. Many of Etihad's problems relate back to its operations. One Mile At A Time notes that in 2018 Etihad carried 17.8 million passengers with a 76.4% load factor. This is below the world airline average of 81.9% in 2018, and far below the load factor of industry leader Ryan Air, which crammed its planes 96% full in 2018. More worrisome for Etihad stakeholders is that both the number of passengers and load factor actually dropped from 2017 to 2018, even as world air traffic was rising. In 2017 Etihad carried nearly a million more passengers than 2018 (18.6 million vs. 17.8 million) with a higher load factor, 78.5% in 2017 vs. 76.4% in 2018. But even this doesn't account for Etihad's massive losses. In addition to its own operations, Etihad has invested in a number of other airlines over the years. Almost uniformly, those investments have been financially disastrous. Those came from its investments in airlines like Alitalia, Jet Airways and Air Berlin, all of which later filed for insolvency. In 2016 alone, Air Berlin and Alitalia were responsible for an $808 million write-down. The Air Berlin deal seemed like a good chance to acquire a stake in the lucrative German market. Etihad reportedly followed up a $255 million investment in Air Berline with another $255 million on Air Berlin's loyalty program. Despite the $510 million lifeline, Air Berlin permanengly ceased operations on October 27, 2017. However, that wasn't the end of Etihad's liability. The German bankruptcy administrator is suing Etihad for another two billion Euros, claiming that Etihad had promised financial support for 18 months, then abruptly withdrew it, triggering Air Berlin's collapse. A settlement, meaning more money out of Etihad's corporate purse, seems likely. Another notorious Etihad investment failure appears to be Alitalia, another venture into the European market. "Alitalia is famous for its losses, corruption and staying power," noted Luxury Travel Diary. "The airline hasn't made money in decades but refuses to die. Etihad was intrigued." Etihad spent $500 million on a 49% stake in Alitalia, followed by $150 million to buy its loyalty program. Nonetheless, Alitalia declared bankruptcy in 2018, wiping out Etihad's share-but continued to fly! Etihad has also invested in little-known Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Aer Lingus and Virgin Australia. Virgin Australia (VBHLF:OTCPK), for example, is now trading at about 13 US cents per share. Etihad owns 515 million shares, about 19.9%. Finally, Etihad invested another $379 million in shares of India's Jet Airways. Once again, it then invested in the loyalty program, to the tune of $150 million. Despite Jet Airway's domestic network and good reputation, the airline always had trouble making money and recently declared bankruptcy. However, that may not be the end of the story for Etihad. The Jet Airways pilot's union has called for an investigation, writing Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking, "We urge you to intervene in the matter and order a probe to establish whether a larger conspiracy was at play, or of any collusion between State Bank of India and Etihad." Despite all the red ink, Etihad continues to operate. Recently, the airline has begun cost-cutting measures. Although you can still fly in Residence luxury, Etihad is now removing seat-back TVs to save weight. And if you're flying economy class, you'll pay for your food. https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelgoldstein/2019/05/02/etihads-airline- investments-a-sea-of-red-ink/#1b6416d72f78 Back to Top Aircraft maker Bombardier to quit Northern Ireland The decision spells uncertainty for thousands of workers at Northern Ireland's biggest manufacturing employer. Flags fly above the Bombardier Aerospace plant in Belfast Bombardier employs thousands of people in Belfast Canadian aircraft and train maker Bombardier has announced plans to sell its Belfast- based aerospace business. The company employs 3,600 people at a number of sites in the area and is the largest manufacturer in Northern Ireland, with a history dating back to the 1930s when Shorts established its first factory in Belfast. Bombardier said it was creating a streamlined aviation unit focused on operations in Montreal, Mexico and Texas. As a result, it said it would pursue the sale of its aerostructures businesses in Northern Ireland and Morocco, describing them as "great businesses with tremendous capabilities". All of its sites in Northern Ireland - in Belfast, Newtownabbey, Newtownards and Dunmurry - are affected. The company said: "Bombardier is committed to finding the right buyer - one that will operate responsibly and help us achieve our full growth potential. "We understand that this announcement may cause concern among our employees, but we will be working closely with them and our unions as matters progress, and through any future transition period to a new owner. https://news.sky.com/story/bombardier-to-sell-belfast-aerostructures-business- 11709271 Back to Top These airlines are the safest, most comfortable and friendliest to pets, according to Wallethub There are many different factors that make an airline great ? and a new ranking has broken it down by factors like safety, comfort and pet-friendliness. WalletHub analyzed the nine largest U.S. airlines and three regional carriers across 15 metrics, including number of canceled flights and delays, mishandled baggage, animal- related incidents, leg room, Wi-Fi availability, number of fatal injuries and price. It used 2018 flight data provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation to build out its ranking. WalletHub rated Delta Air Lines most reliable, JetBlue most comfortable and ExpressJet and Envoy tied for the most pet-friendly. Alaska Airlines was deemed safest. Overall, Alaska Airlines came out on top (a favorite among recent airline rankings), followed by Delta Air Lines and SkyWest Airlines. American Airlines, Envoy Air and Frontier Airlines took the last three spots, in that order. Scroll through the gallery above for the full ranking. https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/2019/05/02/best-us-airlines-according- wallethub/3650124002/ Back to Top Millennials spark a pilot comeback A surge in pilot certificates for millennials is chipping away at a critical, decades-long labor shortage in aviation. Data: Federal Aviation Administration; Chart: Lazaro Gamio/Axios What's happening: The U.S. pilot shortage has threatened to eventually shut down smaller regional and cargo airlines and make rural areas of the U.S. more isolated and out of reach. But since 2006 - when millennials began reaching adulthood - the number of 20- to 35-year-old pilots has been slowly ticking back up after decades of decline, and compensating for a fall in other age categories, according to FAA data. In 2008, 150,907 people in the 20- to 34-year-old age group had active pilot certificates. By last year, the number was up to 197,493, according to the FAA. But there's still a long way to go: There are 177,000 fewer pilots today than in 1980. Fewer than a third are 20-34 years old, whereas this age group made up almost half of pilots in 1980. A fifth of certified U.S. commercial pilots are over 50. Mandatory retirement age is 65. And the usual main font of pilots - the military - is turning out far fewer than it used to. Moreover, millennials are significantly less likely to be veterans than past generations, according to Pew Research Center. Major airlines - such as American Airlines, Delta, Southwest and United, which account for 67.5% of industry revenue - have been better able to attract young pilots with wage, benefits and recruitment strategies, such as Delta's Propel program. But smaller regional and cargo airlines are struggling to fill their cockpits, experts tell Axios - even though they are paying a starting salary of $60,000, up from around $20,000 in 2012. The big picture: The industry expects the number of air travelers to double over the next two decades, and cargo companies could be forced to find new ways to fulfill growing demand without access to more pilots. How we got here: Following 9/11, several airlines went out of business or filed for bankruptcy. The industry then suffered through the financial crash. That made piloting a hard sell for young people starting careers. But there are other hard obstacles: Price: If you aren't a veteran, you need training courses that cost tens of thousands of dollars, which, on top of already-rising costs for college, make it unattainable for many young people. The FAA has also increased requirements. Diversity: The millennial and post-millennial generations are the most diverse the U.S. has ever seen - about half of post-millennials are nonwhite. Yet airlines are largely not tapping nonwhite and women millennials. Look at the data - 92% of pilots and flight engineers are men, according to Census data collected by Data USA. And 93% are white. "We're only set up to recruit from half the population - males," says James Higgins, director of the aviation program at the University of North Dakota. Civic virtue: Aviation may be missing millennials who seek an altruistic occupation. "They may go into medicine, they may go into Peace Corps, they may go into other things that in their mind would be more impactful. I think we've lost a little bit of people coming into aviation because of that," Higgins said. The power of image: Sandy Napier, a former Navy aviator who spent several decades as a pilot for a major airline, said that when he was young, planes were the new technology and films often glorified flying and wartime in ways they don't anymore. "If you walked down a terminal, through the concourse, and you had your uniform on," Napier, a Baby Boomer, said remembering when he became a pilot, "if they see four stripes, generally people knew that was significant of being a captain." But the prestige has diminished some, he said. https://www.axios.com/millennial-pilot-job-aviation-634c075d-fb9f-4321-9a3f- 3430f85f070a.html Back to Top Rolls-Royce Could Power Boeing '797' If Max Crisis Delays Launch A Rolls Royce jet engine Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc could re-enter the competition to power a medium-sized jetliner under development at Boeing Co. if the U.S. planemaker pushes the project back to help cope with the 737 Max crisis. Rolls, which exited the New Midsize Aircraft program earlier this year saying a new engine won't be ready for the plane to enter service in 2025, may return to the contest if the timetable slips, Chief Executive Officer Warren East said Thursday at the company's annual shareholder meeting in Bristol, England. "We said to Boeing, we can't produce something that we are confident will be sufficiently mature," East said. "If Boeing change their timescales then obviously we can reassess. We think technically we have a good solution." Rolls had initially regarded the NMA, also dubbed the 797, as a potential launch platform for the new Ultrafan engine that will form the basis of its turbine offerings for the foreseeable future. That was before East said in February that it would be wiser to withdraw than "screw up the launch" of the plane and create service issues for customers. Boeing put back a decision to select an engine for the NMA even before the fatal crash of an Ethiopian Airways Max on March 10. The subsequent worldwide grounding of the 737 has led some analysts to suggest that the company may need to suspend work on the new plane to focus its full attention to getting the narrow-body workhorse flying again. Milestone Whatever the decision on the NMA, East said Rolls intends to bid to power the next generation of single-aisle planes expected to succeed both the Max and Airbus SE's A320neo jets from 2030. That would represent a milestone for the company after it quit the narrow-body market in 2011 to focus solely on bigger planes, leaving the sector to General Electric Co. and Pratt & Whitney. The cautious approach on the mid-size Boeing has been motivated by a desire to avoid any glitches with the Ultrafan that could color the view of airlines and planemakers on the engine. That's especially so given the issues Rolls has had with its Trent 1000 turbines that power the American firm's 787 Dreamliner. The NMA aside, the first available application for the Ultrafan could be a re-engined version of the Airbus A350 that the European company is studying for introduction toward the end of the 2020s. A330, 787 Engines East said that the company had caught up delays on Airbus's newest widebody, the A330neo, after falling behind last year, adding that the low number of deliveries of that aircraft in the first quarter was unrelated to engines. The company has also managed to "draw a box" around the the Trent 1000 issues that have affected some 787 operators, which has helped it secure new orders this year after a sales "drought" in 2018. Rolls has finalized claims with "effectively all" operators of the engine, with more than half of the 1.5 billion pounds ($1.95 billion) in costs associated with fixing the program earmarked for compensation payments. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-02/rolls-royce-could-power-boeing- 797-if-max-crisis-delays-launch Back to Top The International Space Station has found its scientific calling Earth-observing instruments roost on a platform attached to a Japanese module. NASA The International Space Station (ISS) has never been known as a hotbed of science, even though the United States and partner nations spent more than $100 billion to build it. Inside its cramped bays, astronauts study the biological effects of microgravity, and a few astrophysical experiments are mounted to its exterior. But 2 decades after it started to take shape, the ISS has finally found a scientific calling: looking down at its home planet. The ISS is now home to five instruments that observe Earth, with two more set to join this year. One, NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory 3 (OCO-3), was scheduled for launch this week from Cape Canaveral, Florida, aboard a routine resupply mission. Its launch marks a political victory: President Donald Trump has proposed canceling OCO-3 several times, only to be rebuffed each time by Congress. It also marks a victory of expedience over perfection. The ISS is not the ideal platform for OCO-3, which was built to fly on a stand-alone satellite. In fact, "It's probably not the perfect platform for almost anything," says Michael Freilich, who led NASA's earth science division in Washington, D.C. for 12 years until his retirement in February. "It's big. It flexes. It travels around in a cloud of contaminants." And, most important, its orbit misses the poles and revisits sites at a different time each day. But compared with launching a satellite, mounting the instrument on the ISS is vastly cheaper: At $110 million, OCO-3 costs a quarter as much as OCO-2, which launched as a stand-alone mission in 2014. The savings have helped NASA preserve the breadth of its earth science missions, after two spectacular launch failures: the loss of the original OCO satellite, which crashed into the Indian Ocean in 2009, and the 2011 demise of Glory, meant to track atmospheric particles. Although Freilich marshaled support to build OCO-2, costs doubled for several other planned satellites, putting smaller missions in jeopardy. Around this time, Japan added a module to the ISS. Its flat terrace, jutting off its human-habitable module, was a good perch for 10 plug-and-play instruments. If putting Earth-observing instruments there would let NASA get much of the science for a fraction of the cost, that seemed like a good deal, Freilich says. "Everybody benefits. [NASA's human program] gets to show the utility of the station," while the earth science division flies more experiments. OCO-3 will be the third prominent NASA mission to be mounted on the Japanese module within the past year. Ecostress, attached in July 2018, measures the heat given off by plants to gauge the impact of heat waves and drought. The Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI), launched in December 2018, uses a laser to probe the height of tree canopies and understories. Later this year, a Japanese hyperspectral imager that can detect land use and forest type will take a fourth spot. Other instruments mounted elsewhere on the ISS in the past 2 years measure lightning, incoming sunlight, and ozone. Like OCO-2, OCO-3 carries a spectrometer that spies on wavelengths of light absorbed by carbon dioxide (CO2), providing a count of all CO2 molecules on a path from the ISS to the surface. Based on how CO2 concentrations vary from place to place, the missions can map some emission sources along with absorption by plants. But the measurements are difficult given the vast background of CO2 already in the atmosphere. At first the OCO-3 team wasn't thrilled to end up on the ISS, says Annmarie Eldering, the mission's project scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California. But they came to see advantages. The erratic timing of its observations will make it challenging for OCO-3 to infer trends over weeks or months but will allow the instrument to explore how plant carbon emissions vary over the course of the day. "That's going to be very useful," Eldering says, especially when combined with measurements taken simultaneously by GEDI and Ecostress. OCO-3's angled perch on the ISS also required a pivoting mount to allow it to see straight down. By pivoting, it can map CO2 over large regions, roughly the size of the Los Angeles, California, basin, during a single pass. Such regional maps could capture emissions from local sources such as cities and industry, says Christopher O'Dell, an atmospheric scientist at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, and enable OCO-3 to test the promise of verifying CO2 cuts from space. "That's the goal," O'Dell says. "We don't know if that's possible." The ISS has one key constraint: space. After 3 years, OCO-3 is likely to be displaced on the Japanese module. NASA and Japan are already talking about what will go next to take its slot, Eldering says. Afterward, she says, "They will take us off and burn us up in the atmosphere." Yet the promise of a space-based platform for making multiple simultaneous measurements of Earth at lower cost will live on. Rudranarayan Mukherjee, a JPL engineer, is developing a concept called the Science Station: a robotic mini-space station with trusses and a robotic arm that could host a dozen Earth-observing instruments in low orbit. The space station, he says, "has shown the benefit of having a platform in lower Earth orbit that's a shared resource." NASA hasn't yet committed to the concept, he says. But he adds, "People can instantly see, yeah, I could see how that could work." https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/05/international-space-station-has-found-its- scientific-calling Back to Top Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Dear Aviation Professionals, My name is Marta Delbecchi. I am an MSc student in Organisational Psychiatry and Psychology from King's College London, andas part of my degree requirements I am conducting a research study entitled: The wellbeing of air, marine and rail accident investigators. I am carrying out this research study with the support of Cranfield University's Safety and Accident Investigation Centre. I am looking for current or retired civil air accident investigator to complete an online survey. The purpose of the survey is to learn more about the health and wellbeing of personnel who investigate the causes of accidents and serious incidents in the air, marine, and rail transportation modes. Your participation would be a very important contribution to the current paucity of scientific literature and understanding concerning the psychological and emotional wellbeing of accident investigators. Completing the survey should take no more than 35 minutes of your time and participation in this research study is entirely voluntary and anonymous. All your responses will be treated in the strictest confidence, and you will be able to withdraw from the survey at any time. If you are able to assist by completing the online survey then please email me directly at marta.delbecchi@kcl.ac.uk and I will forward you an information sheet and a link to the survey. Thank you for your kind consideration, Marta Delbecchi Department of Psychosis Studies, PO63 Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience King's College London De Crespigny Park London SE5 8AF Back to Top Back to Top Regulatory Compliance Manager - Maintenance Program POSITION PURPOSE: Continuously reviews Republic Airways policies and procedures for regulatory compliance and system safety, working with local FAA to satisfy compliance questions and issues. ESSENTIAL DUTIES : To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 1. Collaborates with appropriate management to ensure compliance or implement global improvement correction action when instances of non-compliance or identification of needed improvement areas. 2. Develops and maintains database for tracking compliance with regulations. 3. Analyzes airline industry regulations in anticipation of changes that may affect policies and procedures. 4. Uses independent judgment to evaluate revisions to policies and procedures for regulatory compliance and system safety prior to submittal to the FAA for acceptance/approval. 5. Researches Code of Federal Regulations for the Company to ensure that any new operations are FAA compliant. 6. Works closely with the FAA and participate in teamed inspections. 7. Assists and conducts internal audits as needed. 8. Travels to all maintenance bases and contract vendor facilities to conduct audits as needed. 9. Provides administrative assistance maintaining legal filings by assisting regulatory agencies. 10. Provides assistance during inspections conducted by outside agencies (IOSA, DoD, etc.) 11. Acts as liaison with the FAA to investigate, correct and finalize regulatory issues. 12. Participates in Maintenance ASAP ERC meetings as needed. 13. Fosters the Company's core values and culture throughout the work environment. 14. Performs various other duties as required. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability necessary to perform this job. EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE. * Bachelor's degree or equivalent with at least 3 years of previous Internal Evaluation or Quality Assurance experience. * A&P Certificate * Knowledge of the Code of Federal Regulations and FAA Advisory circulars. * Strong experience in Microsoft Office applications is a must. PREFERRED EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE * Bachelor's degree in Aviation or related field with at least 5 years of previous experience. Previous supervisory experience. * Dispatcher License and/or Pilot Certificate. * Auditor Certification and Training; CQA, ISO, CASE and IOSA Auditor. LANGUAGE SKILLS Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors. REASONING/PROBLEM SOLVING ABILITY Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables. DECISION MAKING Makes decisions daily use of resources, performance and budgets. Decisions could require additional expenditure of resources if not sound decisions. PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Able to move about the work environment. Frequently required to stand, walk, sit, talk and hear. WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Outdoor weather conditions up to 35% of the time. TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS Ability to travel up to 25% of the time, including overnight and weekend travel APPLY HERE 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