Flight Safety Information May 9, 2019 - No. 094 In This Issue Incident: Trans States E145 at Peoria on May 7th 2019, engine shut down in flight Incident: American B738 at Kingston and Miami on May 7th 2019, tyre damage on departure Incident: Singapore A388 at Delhi on May 8th 2019, nose wheel steering failure Accident: Biman DH8D at Yangon on May 8th 2019, runway excursion SPIRIT AIRLINES FLIGHT EVACUATED IN LAS VEGAS AFTER FUMES LEFT PASSENGERS 'DIZZY AND NAUSEOUS Former Boeing Engineers Say Relentless Cost-Cutting Sacrificed Safety Miami Air International's 'goodwill gesture' to crash survivors: $2,500 and an apology Air-Med Orgs Join for Safety and Wellness Effort Inside a mock airplane fire in Lynchburg ICAO Ready To Launch Follow-up Audit of Thailand THE 15 WORST AIRLINES IN THE WORLD Boeing to introduce flat satellite antenna to bring high-speed broadband to military aircraft Air Italy expects profits 'very soon' despite pilots idled by Boeing crisis SpaceX to Launch 'Dozens' of Starlink Satellites Next Week, More to Follow Behavioural Analysis 2019, in Minneapolis 21-23 May AVIATION COMMUNICATION: STRATEGY AND MESSAGES FOR ENSURING SUCCESS AND PREVENTING FAILURES, 1ST EDITION ISASI - DFW Regional Chapter Meeting GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Call for Nominations For 2019 Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award Incident: Trans States E145 at Peoria on May 7th 2019, engine shut down in flight An Trans States Airlines Embraer ERJ-145 on behalf of United, registration N18114 performing flight UA-4725 from Chicago O'Hare,IL to Peoria,IL (USA) with 47 passengers and 3 crew, was on approach to Peoria's runway 04 when the crew declared emergency repoerting they had shut down their right hand engine (AE3007) due to a low oil pressure indication. The aircraft continued the approach for a safe landing on runway 04. The aircraft returned to service after about 15 hours on the ground. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/UAL4725/history/20190507/2049Z/KORD/KPIA http://avherald.com/h?article=4c7b1539&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: American B738 at Kingston and Miami on May 7th 2019, tyre damage on departure, hydraulic leak on landing An American Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration N837NN performing flight AA-2370 from Kingston (Jamaica) to Miami,FL (USA) with 172 passengers and 6 crew, was climbing out of Kingston when the crew was informed that debris had been found on the departure runway, a tyre damage was suspected. The crew decided to continue to Miami, performed a low approach to runway 09 to have the tyres inspected from the ground, which confirmed a tyre was damaged. The crew positioned for another approach to runway 09 and landed about 10 minutes after the low approach. The aircraft was disabled due to the tyre damage and a hydraulic leak at the left main gear and was subsequently towed to the apron. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Miami about 30 hours after landing. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/AAL2370/history/20190507/1341Z/MKJP/KMIA http://avherald.com/h?article=4c7b0d43&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Singapore A388 at Delhi on May 8th 2019, nose wheel steering failure A Singapore Airlines Airbus A380-800, registration 9V-SKI performing flight SQ-406 from Singapore (Singapore) to Delhi (India) with 228 people on board, was on final approach to Delhi's runway 29 when the crew initiated a go around at about 1200 feet AGL due to the loss of nose wheel steering. The crew entered a hold at FL070 to work the checklists, then positioned for another approach to runway 28 and landed safely. The aircraft was towed to the apron. The aircraft is still on the ground in Delhi about 5 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c7b0a3c&opt=0 Back to Top Accident: Biman DH8D at Yangon on May 8th 2019, runway excursion A Biman Bangladesh de Havilland Dash 8-400, registration S2-AGQ performing flight BG-60 from Dhaka (Bangladesh) to Yangon (Myanmar) with 29 passengers and 4 crew, landed on Yangon's runway 21 at about 18:50L (12:20Z) but veered left off the runway and came to a stop on soft ground with all gear collapsed and the fuselage broken into three sections. All 33 occupants received injuries, 19 of them were taken to hospitals with non-life threatening injuries. The airport was closed for about 2:30 hours as result of the accident, then resumed operations, the first operation after the accident, a landing on runway 21, took place at 14:52Z. The last landing prior to the accident happened on runway 21 at 12:17Z. The airline confirmed 29 passengers, two pilots and two cabin crew on board of the aircraft. The Bangladeshi Ambassador to Myanmar reported from the hospital that 19 people were hospitalized, none of those with life-threatening injuries. Metars: VYYY 081430Z 25004KT 6000 -TSRA BKN015 FEW018CB OVC100 27/26 Q1005= VYYY 081400Z 30004KT 5000 -TSRA BKN015 FEW018CB OVC100 27/26 Q1005= VYYY 081330Z 30004KT 5000 -TSRA BKN015 FEW018CB OVC100 27/26 Q1005= VYYY 081300Z 21007KT 5000 -TSRA BKN012 FEW016CB OVC100 30/27 Q1004= VYYY 081230Z 03008KT 4000 TSRA BKN012 FEW016CB OVC100 30/27 Q1004= VYYY 081200Z VRB10G20KT 3000 +TSRA BKN010 FEW015CB OVC080 30/27 Q1003= VYYY 081130Z 15005G15KT 6000 -TSRA BKN018 FEW020CB BKN100 35/24 Q1002= VYYY 081100Z 24007KT 7000 SCT018 FEW020TCU BKN100 35/24 Q1001= VYYY 081030Z 25004KT 7000 SCT018 FEW020TCU BKN100 35/24 Q1001= VYYY 081000Z 26005KT 7000 SCT018 FEW020TCU BKN100 37/25 Q1001= VYYY 080930Z 26005KT 7000 SCT018 FEW020TCU BKN100 37/25 Q1001= VYYY 080830Z 26005KT 7000 SCT018 FEW020TCU SCT100 38/24 Q1001= http://avherald.com/h?article=4c7ae66f&opt=0 Back to Top SPIRIT AIRLINES FLIGHT EVACUATED IN LAS VEGAS AFTER FUMES LEFT PASSENGERS 'DIZZY AND NAUSEOUS,' 8 HOSPITALIZED Eight people were hospitalized yesterday after a flight departing from Las Vegas was forced to halt operations as fumes filled the cabin, airline officials said. Spirit Airlines Flight 170 was scheduled to take off from McCarran International Airport and fly to Minneapolis St. Paul International but turned around before departure at approximately 8:30 a.m., the Las Vegas Sun reported, citing airport spokeswoman Christine Crews. Paramedics who were called to the scene checked 15 people. Crews said that one passenger, one medical first responder and six airline crew members had been sent to local hospitals. There were 174 passengers and seven crew members on the Spirit Airlines flight, officials said. The medic's problem was believed to be unrelated to the smell on the plane, the Associated Press (AP) reported, citing Spirit Airlines spokesperson Derek Dombrowski. It remains unclear what caused the fumes, but the budget airline said in a statement yesterday that the smell had resembled oil. The aircraft was taken out of service to be checked. One passenger, Michael Hardin, told Fox 5 Vegas the smell was like really bad "wet socks." He stated: "One lady actually just sprinted to the back of the plane and were like 'oh, this is not good.' One of the crew members, we found out she was just throwing up everywhere." He said some passengers-including people close to him-had been left feeling "dizzy and nauseous." In a statement, a representative for Spirit Airlines stressed the importance of customer safety and said compensation had been-or would be-provided to those impacted in the delays. "Shortly after closing the boarding door on Spirit flight 170 with intended service from Las Vegas to Minneapolis, a smell resembling oil presented onboard," it said. "The door was immediately opened and our guests and crew exited the aircraft. EMS assessed guests at the gate, and one guest elected to be transported to the hospital as a precaution. It continued: "The aircraft in question has been taken out of service while our maintenance team inspects it. Safety is our top priority, and we apologize for the inconvenience. "We are currently working to accommodate our guests on other flights. Spirit is providing meal vouchers, full refunds, and future travel vouchers for the inconvenience." According to KTNV, the incident was the third time in roughly three weeks when bad odor had disrupted a Spirit Airlines flight. In one case last week, an impacted flight was forced to turn around shortly after taking off. In another, approximately two weeks ago, a journey from Baltimore heading to Fort Lauderdale was grounded because of a mysterious odor. In the second case, seven members of the airline crew were taken to hospital, the publication reported. https://www.newsweek.com/spirit-airlines-odor-fumes-smell-flight-170-mccarran-international-airport-1420652 Back to Top Back to Top Former Boeing Engineers Say Relentless Cost-Cutting Sacrificed Safety The failures of the 737 Max appear to be the result of an emphasis on speed, cost, and above all shareholder value. The simulators in which pilots train to fly airliners are engineering marvels in themselves. Picture a squat pod raised 10 feet in the air and mounted on spider legs that let the whole contraption move up, down, left, right, forward, and back. To meet Federal Aviation Administration requirements, the pilots sitting inside must be shown a realistic representation of what they'd see outside a real cockpit, so images are projected onto a curved mirror. Many simulators use cinema-quality sound to create a cacophony of alerts and warnings. Each machine costs as much as $15 million, and airlines pay hundreds of dollars an hour for pilots to use one. As Boeing Co. developed the 737 Max, the newest version of its most profitable and now most infamous plane, engineers repeatedly invited FAA officials to look over their designs in one of the company's Seattle simulators-an even more realistic mock-up incorporating pieces of actual aircraft. One purpose was to find out how to ensure that pilots switching to the new plane from previous 737 models never had to get inside one for what's known as Level D training. Boeing got what it wanted: Pilots moving from a 737-800 to the 737 Max would need at most Level B training, which they could complete in an hour or two on an iPad. That let airlines deploy the $120 million plane more quickly. For Boeing, it was an important selling point that gave customers one less reason to defect to its European rival Airbus SE. Since the crashes of two Maxes within five months-a Lion Air flight last October and an Ethiopian Airlines flight this March-the pressure and maneuvering around simulator training has struck Ludtke as essential to understanding how an emphasis on costs twisted a process that's supposed to produce the best, safest planes. "They could have done better and should have done better, but better wasn't an option," says Ludtke, who started at Boeing in 1996 and holds two U.S. patents for flight crew alerting systems. Federal investigators probing the Max recently interviewed Ludtke for hours about the connection between simulator requirements and the new software system linked to the crashes, known as the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, or MCAS. Managers didn't merely insist to employees that no designs should lead to Level D training. They also made their desires known to the FAA team in charge of 737 training requirements, which was led by Stacey Klein, who'd previously been a pilot at now-defunct Skyway Airlines for six years. "She had no engineering background, her airplane experience was very limited," Ludtke says. "It was just an impossible scenario." FAA spokesman Greg Martin says the position Klein occupies, "while substantial," is primarily that of "an organizer, facilitator, and executor of the FAA policy and guidelines," and that in her role she calls on experts from multiple organizations. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2019-05-09/former-boeing-engineers-say-relentless-cost-cutting-sacrificed-safety Back to Top Miami Air International's 'goodwill gesture' to crash survivors: $2,500 and an apology A Boeing 737-800 traveling from Guantanamo Bay crashed into a river in Florida. All passengers are safe. USA TODAY The operator of the airliner that skidded off the runway at Naval Air Station Jacksonville and into a Florida river last week has offered $2,500 to each passenger as a "goodwill gesture." In an open letter dated Monday, Miami Air International's CEO apologized to the survivors aboard the Boeing 737-800 that rolled off the end of a runway after landing at the military base. Kurt Kamrad said accepting the payment will not affect their rights, adding passenger safety and satisfaction are the airline's priorities. Rescuers in boats saved all 143 people aboard. One dog and two cats belonging to a military family died in the military-chartered jet that had arrived from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Naval Air Station Jacksonville confirmed in a post Sunday. 'There was the biggest bang': Black box found after crash landing of Boeing 737 in Jacksonville, Florida; plane had a/c problems earlier 'We are so sad': 3 pets died in Boeing 737 plane that crash landed in Jacksonville, Florida Passengers have yet to receive their checked baggage. Kamrad wrote luggage is still in the aircraft's cargo hold. Once the National Transportation Safety Board gives approval, he said the airline will retrieve, catalog and clean the baggage. Then an agent will arrange the return of passengers' bags. "We understand and appreciate the difficult experience you endured," Kamrad wrote. The National Safety Board retrieved the flight data recorder Saturday, investigator Dan Boggs said. The voice recorder was in a submerged portion of the plane and was not immediately retrieved, authorities said Sunday. Hours before the crash, the airline told passengers the aircraft might not be able to fly because of an air conditioning problem, passenger Darwing Silva told the Tampa Bay Times. More than 20 people were treated for minor injuries, but only one was hospitalized - a 3-month-old baby, and only as a precaution, authorities said. "I think it is a miracle," base commanding officer Capt. Michael Connor said. "We could be talking about a different story." A final report investigating the crash could take more than a year to complete. Boeing issued a statement saying it was providing technical assistance to the investigation. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/05/06/florida-plane-crash-miami-air-offers-2-500-goodwill-gesture/1123268001/ Back to Top Air-Med Orgs Join for Safety and Wellness Effort New research finds an unsettling suicide risk among EMS providers: More than 31% of respondents to a recent survey had results that indicated a risk of future suicidal behavior, and more than 27% reported suicidal ideation within the past year-a rate seven times higher than the general population.1 With such alarming data, any and all efforts to protect providers and chip away at the precursors to suicidality-things like fatigue, stress, and burnout-seem warranted. Now three top EMS organizations are teaming up to provide training and resources to help. The International Association of Flight and Critical Care Paramedics (IAFCCP) and Air and Surface Transport Nurses Association (ASTNA) have joined with the MedEvac Foundation International to help deliver the information under the banner "Taking Care of Our Own." It's a ground critical care transport- and prehospital care-focused safety program that will highlight ground operations, safety, fatigue, PTSD, stress management, and healthy lifestyle choices. It will be delivered through a series of one-day training events over the summer in cities across the U.S. "We're excited about this partnership and think it's an important step," says Howard Ragsdale, chair of the MedEvac Foundation's Board of Trustees and senior vice president of strategic alliances for Texas-based Apollo MedFlight. "All the leadership has really stepped up to make it happen. I think these kinds of partnerships can help us make sure the message we're getting out is pertinent and beneficial to the EMS population beyond just the air folks, to ground and other first responders as well." The Taking Care of Our Own events will provide CME credit for EMS providers and nurses, and the organizers hope to draw 100-200 attendees per location. Sites confirmed thus far include Columbus, Ohio, and Sacramento, Calif., in June; Portland, Ore., and Fort Worth, Tex., in August; St. Louis, Mo., in September; and Charlotte in October. Other cities are expected to be added, including events in Kentucky and Wisconsin. The Taking Care of Our Own content was largely developed by IAFCCP Vice President Phil Ward, FP-C, and ASTNA President Sharon Purdom, RN, CFRN, CEN. It draws from the award-winning "Life-Saving Thinking" initiative developed by PHI Air Medical in 2016 and embraced across the medical-transport community. Life-Saving Thinking, as described by the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS), "provides a memorable, innovative, and unique lens from which the employee can really understand how to utilize their brains, recognize mind traps that exist, and make decisions and complete tasks with their full and complete attention."2 PHI developed the program in collaboration with psychologists, neuroscientists, anthropologists, and other experts in brain function as a complement to its previous "Life-Saving Behaviors" program. Life-Saving Behaviors spelled out actions employees can take to improve safety and performance; Life-Saving Thinking digs more deeply into how the brain works and how to develop a more and vigilant and focused mind-set. It won a Vision Zero Aviation Safety Award in 2016. "It's a pretty broad program and has the lifesaving behaviors embedded within it," says Ward. "It covers 10 behaviors PHI studied and found linked to things that have caused accidents, injuries, and deaths in the HEMS world. Some of those are resiliency-type issues, fitness for duty, being rested for work, asking for help, taking care of ourselves, and then some behaviors we perform in air medical." It'll be modified for ground services as well. To that Taking Care of Our Own will add content on emotional resilience and critical stress/PTSD, with Ward looking at a debriefing that went wrong and how the damage was eventually fixed. Content will emphasize that it's OK to ask for help, and the EMS culture should support those who seek it. "A lot of the times people are afraid to come out-they don't want to say something for fear of being labeled," adds Ward. "We're going to share a successful model and tell people it's OK to come out and say, 'I need help.'" The training events will also serve as fundraisers to assist the families of providers killed or critically injured in transport accidents. That help could come in the form of scholarships or grants through ASTNA and IAFCCP. "We should have an opportunity for a pretty significant amount of dollars to go into supporting some other things," says Ragsdale. If the Taking Care of Our Own events are successful, they'll yield fodder for further research and education via projects beyond 2019. And while the organizations behind it are from the air-medical realm, their efforts are aimed at all who deliver EMS. "The reality of it is that our charter goes beyond air medical into critical care transport, and we have an interest in the safety of everyone involved: firefighters, law enforcement, and first responders of all types," says Ragsdale. "It's an opportunity for us to raise awareness and really demonstrate to the community what the foundation and these associations stand for." https://www.emsworld.com/article/1222630/air-med-orgs-join-safety-and-wellness-effort Back to Top Inside a mock airplane fire in Lynchburg LYNCHBURG, Va (WSET) - More than 100 firefighters from various departments in the Lynchburg area have been putting their skills to the test. They have been training over the last week with fire simulators at the Lynchburg Regional Airport. Fire departments from across the area are training this week for airplanes rescues at the Lynchburg Regional Airport. "We never know when it could be put to use," Concord Volunteer Fire Department Chief, Jeremy Edwards said. "Nothing says it couldn't happen to us, so we have to be ready." The training comes just days after a plane in Russia burst into flames and killed 41 people. A few days prior a plane in Jacksonville skidded off the runway and ended up in a river nearby. Luckily, no one died in that crash. It's these types of emergencies that fire crews in the Lynchburg area are preparing for. Firefighters say this training is particularly important because you never know if a plane fire will happen in your area. They need to prepare for the worst. "We're getting ready for the worst and hoping for the best," Aircraft Rescue Firefighter with the Lynchburg Regional Airport, Cpt Edwin Hall said. Hall has been leading the classes. "It builds the muscle memory," Hall said. "How we go into the aircraft over the wing; how to take out the hatch; Firefighting techniques, those things are muscle memory. You can't get that reading out of a book or looking at a magazine." Hall says the training prepares them for plane fires at the airport, in a field or anywhere else where a plane could come crashing down. "It helps us to hopefully be able to save a life if we have to," Chief Edwards said. The simulator is brought to airports across the state so firefighters can train on it. It will be brought to Roanoke in the fall so firefighters in that area can also receive training. https://wset.com/news/local/inside-a-mock-airplane-fire-in-lynchburg Back to Top ICAO Ready To Launch Follow-up Audit of Thailand Airbus A350-900 MSN044 prepares for its first flight in 2016. (Photo: Airbus) The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) plans to launch a follow-up safety audit of Thailand next week on a number of previously identified safety concerns, according to a source familiar with the project who spoke with AIN on condition of anonymity. The latest audit comes as Thailand seeks to accelerate efforts to address a variety of oversight and other shortcomings in a bid to restore its Category 1 safety rating with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Regaining Category 1 status would allow Thai-registered airlines to launch new routes to the U.S. and participate in codeshare agreements with U.S.-based carriers. Thailand plans to request a second technical review from the FAA once ICAO submits its findings and Thailand addresses outstanding issues. In June 2015, ICAO flagged the country with a Significant Safety Concern (SSC) label for failing to maintain international standards. Two months later, the FAA downgraded Thailand to Category 2 over similar concerns. ICAO lifted the red flag against Thailand in 2017, allowing Thai carriers to expand their international networks; however, the FAA downgrade has remained in place. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), the FAA's International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) technical review in February identified 26 safety issues. Since then, the CAAT has accelerated efforts to address regulatory shortcomings. National carrier Thai Airways had previously indicated a desire to resume U.S. service after suspending its flights from Bangkok to Los Angeles in 2015 following years of losses. Thai Airways is now seeking cabinet approval to acquire 38 new airplanes as part of a major restructuring plan to drive down maintenance costs and return the flag carrier to profitability. Valued at $4.9 million, the procurement plan will occur in two stages, the first of which would involve the purchase or lease of 25 aircraft and the second another 13. The airline plans to use 31 new airplanes to incrementally replace its existing fleet, while it deploys the remaining seven on new routes. Current plans call for a mix of widebody and narrowbody models. Airline president Sumeth Damrongchaitham said on Tuesday that the Thai Cabinet will rule on the matter before the end of May. In a separate development, Thai Airways expects to finalize details of a joint venture (JV) agreement with Airbus this month to provide maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services at U-Tapao Airport, near the country's eastern seaboard. The two parties signed agreements in 2017; however, plans stalled after Airbus raised concerns as to whether the ownership structure of the project satisfies criteria under a public-private partnership (PPP) scheme. Thailand expects to put forth a proposal whereby the country's Eastern Economic Corridor Office could act as project owner of the MRO with Airbus and Thai Airways as joint investors. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2019-05-08/icao-ready-launch-follow-audit-thailand Back to Top THE 15 WORST AIRLINES IN THE WORLD "IT IS CLEAR THE GLOBAL AIRLINE INDUSTRY IS IN NEED OF SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT," SAY THE PRODUCERS OF A NEW REPORT RANKING THE BEST AND WORST AIRLINES. Getting there is half the fun, they say. But nothing ruins a vacation like a bad flight. AirHelp, a for-profit agency that helps passengers get compensated for delayed or canceled flights, has just released its rankings of 72 major global airlines. Using a comprehensive database of flight statistics and tens of thousands of customer opinions, carriers were rated in three areas-on-time performance, quality of service on the flight and claims processing of canceled or delayed flights. (Flights were considered on-time if they departed within 15 minutes of the published departure time, and arrived within 15 minutes of the slated arrival time.) Qatar Airways maintained the number one spot it held in 2018, with a high rate of on-time flights, exceptional service and speedy and effective processing of claims. On the other end of the spectrum, budget carriers like Ryanair, easyjet and Norwegian Air landed on the bottom of AirHelp's list, scoring poorly on punctuality, service and claims processing. A number of the lowest rated airlines made headlines this year for mistreatment of passengers: Ryanair, for example. was criticized for not paying out compensation after a pilot's strike caused massive cancelations. "Airlines are dealing with a new type of traveler-educated, increasingly aware of her needs and rights, and able to choose between a broad range of air carriers," said AirHelp CEO Henrik Zillmer in a statement. Nobody likes finding out their flight is canceled, says Zillmer, but if airlines process compensation claims quickly and without hassle, they can still earn customers' trust. "It is clear the global airline industry is in need of significant improvement," he added, "with overbooked flights and cancellations making national headlines month after month, and the consistent mistreatment of passengers." Below, the 15 worst-scoring airlines on AirHelp's global airline survey. Have you booked a flight on one of these carriers? 15. Gol Intelligent Airlines Brazil's largest domestic airline, Gol received a 6.31 overall, with a 7.8 for on-time flights, 8.1 for service and 3.1 for claim processing. The airline reported a net loss of more than $350 million for the first nine months of 2018. 14. Czech Airlines The fifth oldest airline in the world, Czech Airlines is a member of the SkyTeam alliance, flying to 50 cities in Asia and Europe during the summer season. It received a 7.7 for on-time flights, 5.2 for service and 6.31 for claims, with an overall score of 6.0. 13. Air Mauritius The fourth largest carrier in Sub-Saharan Africa, Air Mauritius's main hub is Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport in Plaine Magnien, about 30 miles from Mauritius' capital, Port Louis. It was named "Indian Ocean Leading Airline" by the World Travel Awards from 2005-2014, but in AirHelp's report, Air Mauritius received a 7.1 for on-time flights, 8.3 for service and 3.0 for claims processing, earning an 6.11 overall. 12. TAP Air Portugal A member of the Star Alliance since 2005, TAP (Transportes Aéreos Portugueses) averages 2,500 flights weekly to 87 destinations in 34 countries. With only one fatal crash in its 72-year year history, it's rated one of Western Europe's safest airlines. In AirHelp's survey, TAP received a 5.2 overall, with a 7.7 for on-time flights, 5.3 for service and 6.04 for claims processing. 11. Vueling Airlines In 2015, this Barcelona-based airline carried more than 24 million passengers to more than 100 cities in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Vueling received a 6.02 overall from AirHelp, with a 6.1. for on-time flights, 7.5 for service and 4.4 for claims processing. 10. Adria Airways Founded in 1961 and privatized in 2016, Adria is the largest airline in Slovenia. But the past year has seen major cuts to service, with flights to London, Vienna, Zürich, Geneva, Hamburg, Kiev, Moscow and Warsaw either drastically reduced or terminated. Adria earned a 6.7 for on-time flights, 7.5 for quality of service and 3.8 for claims processing, leading to an overall score of 5.98. 9. Aerolineas Argentinas Argentina's largest airline has been a member of SkyTeam since 2012. Some 350 flights were canceled last week due to a labor strike in Buenos Aires, affecting 22,000 passengers. The carrier received a 5.97 overall, with an 8.0 for on-time flights, 8.1 for quality of service and 1.8 for claims. 8. Transavia This Dutch budget airline is a subsidiary of KLM and part of the Air France-KLMgroup. With a score of 6.2 for on-time flights, 7.4 for service and 3.9 for claims processing, it received an overall rating of 5.84. 7. Lauda Bought by Formula 1 world champion Niki Lauda in 2018, this Austrian budget airline is now a subsidiary of Ryanair. Earning a 5.1 for its on-time program, a 7.4 for quality of service and 4.6 for claims, Lauda received an overall score of 5.69 from AirHelp. 6. Norwegian Air Scandinavia's largest airline, Norwegian is also the third largest budget carrier in Europe. It offers regular service within Scandinavia and Finland, other parts of Europe and holiday destinations in the Mediterranean and Canary Islands. Earlier this spring, the airline was criticized for a regulation requiring female flight attendants to wear makeup and high heels, unless they had a doctor's note. (It has since dropped both requirements.) Norwegian received an overall score of 5.67 from AirHelp, with a 7.0 for on-time flights, 7.8 for quality of service and 2.3 for claims. 5. Ryanair Founded in 1984, Ryanair is the largest European budget airline, flying 120 million passengers in 2018 alone. In June 2018, a strike by Ryanair pilots led the airline to cancel dozens of flights, stranding nearly 50,000 customers. Ryanair received a 6.5 for on-time flights from AirHelp, 6.8 for quality of service and 3.5 for claims, for a total score of 5.60. 4. Korean Air Founded in 1946 and fully privatized in 1969. Korean Air serves 123 international destinations and 13 domestic destinations within South Korea. In March, the airline was criticized for removing two teenage brothers from a flight after they asked the crew not to serve peanuts on the plane as the elder brother had a severe peanut allergy. (Korean Air utlimately removed food that contains peanuts from in-flight meals.) In 2014, the daughter of airline CEO Cho Yang-ho made headlines in 2014 when she lost her temper over the way she was served nuts in First Class and forced her Korean Air flight to return to its gate in New York. The airline recently announced this week it was eliminating First Class seating in 27 international routes (mostly short-haul destations) effective June 1, 2019. Korean Air recevied a score of 6.9 for on-time program, 8.0 for quality of service, 1.6 for claims, and 5.49 overall. 3. Kuwait Airways Wholly owned by the government of Kuwait, KU operates international service throughout the Middle East, as well as to India, Southeast Asia, Europe and North America. No alcohol is served on KU flights and passengers with Israeli passport are routinely prohibited from boarding. Kuwait Airways received a 4.2 for on-time flights, 7.9 for service and 4.2 for claims, earning a total score of 5.40. 2. easyJet This British low-cost airline operates domestic and international service on more than 1,000 routes in more than 30 countries. Cabins are configured in a single-class, high-density layout and passengers do not receive complementary food or beverage. EasyJet received a 6.7 for on-time flights, 7.0 for service and 2.2 for claims, for an overall score of 5.29. 1. Thomas Cook Airlines Based out of Manchester Airport and London's Gatwick Airport, Thomas Cook flies to 82 destinations in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. Thomas Cook received a 5.26 overall, with a 5.6 for on-time flights, 7.6 for service and 2.5 for claim processing. https://www.newsweek.com/worst-airlines-1420515 Back to Top Boeing to introduce flat satellite antenna to bring high-speed broadband to military aircraft The initial target market for the phased array antenna and terminal will be operators of militarized Boeing jets like the Navy's P-8 surveillance aircraft and the KC-46 aerial refueling tanker. WASHINGTON - Boeing Phantom Works, the company's advanced technology arm, is introducing a new flat satellite antenna that would bring high-speed broadband to military aircraft. The low-profile electronically steered antenna and a multi-channel terminal will be in production next year and the launch customer will be the Navy's future unmanned mid-air refueling tanker, the MQ-25, which Boeing is developing under an $805 million contract. IMG_2496The initial market for the phased array antenna and terminal will be operators of militarized Boeing jets like the Navy's P-8 surveillance aircraft and the Air Force's KC-46 aerial refueling tanker, Thomas Gathmann, director of mission integration mission solutions at Boeing Phantom Works, told SpaceNews May 7 at the Satellite 2019 conference. Compared to airborne command centers such as the president's Air Force One, most military aircraft have limited connectivity. The majority of military aircraft have narrowband terminals that get kilobits of data. A phased array antenna would give them access to government and commercial Ka-band satellites that provide from 10s to 100s of megabits of data throughput, Gathmann said. The terminal that Boeing designed can be configured with up to five modems and three services simultaneously so users can tap into the military's Wideband Global Satcom constellation or commercial Ka-band satcom providers. Boeing's earlier generations of phased array antennas only supported Ku-band. "We've seen the market move to Ka band," said Gathmann. There was a learning curve in the transition to Ka, he said. "We're really targeting increased performance at a cost point that is comparable to mechanically steered parabolic antennas with radomes." Cost has been a hurdle in the adoption of electronically steered antennas. Although the military market has a higher price point than commercial, Boeing needed to make its latest product more competitive. In 2014, the company teamed with Panasonic to design an electronically steered phased array antenna that cost $1 million each, which was too expensive to compete with mechanically steered antennas. Gathmann said he could not give specific prices but suggested the new antenna would be in a price range closer to $500,000. By comparison, the holy grail for commercial airlines is $100,000 per antenna. "The technology is not quite there but we're getting close," he said. Jeff Bennett, head of Boeing Phantom Works global sales and marketing, said the new hardware was designed to solve multiple problems raised by customers. One is the ease of installation. The antenna is less than 8 centimeters tall and would not impact aircraft performance, Bennett said. Another demand from customers is to have access to multiple services - government and commercial Ka-band as well as future broadband constellations in low Earth orbit that are starting to get built. IMG_2495Aircraft operators flying over long distances want to be able to seamlessly switch from one satellite link to another, said Bennett. With new LEO services coming, "the only way you could possibly track these satellites is with electronically steered arrays." Gathmann said the military fleet has been slow to adopt modern satcom systems. Cost is one reason but also concerns about having to take aircraft needed in the field to maintenance depots to get new hardware installed. Boeing will have to persuade buyers that the installation of the equipment will not disrupt operations. "Typically with customers we're in an education mode," he said. The MQ-25 aircraft carrier-based unmanned refueling tanker was chosen as the launch customer because of its demanding requirements for data storage and streaming. The Navy also plans to use it as an intelligence collector. "They need a big pipe on board," Gathmann said. Another potential customer is the Marine Corps' V-22 Osprey, a hybrid helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft that has become a workhorse in military operations around the world. "It's been described by customers as the most comms deficient aircraft in the DoD fleet today," Gathmann said. "They have a thin pipe of comms." The pilots have adequate communications but the Marines going into an operation often don't have access to live streaming so they can get up-to-the-minute intelligence. "The guys in the back don't have updated situational awareness," Gathmann said. Both the Marine Corps and Special Operations Forces, who also fly the V-22, are target customers, he said. The new antenna is expected to be in production by the second quarter of 2020. https://spacenews.com/boeing-to-introduce-flat-satellite-antenna-to-bring-high-speed-broadband-to-military-aircraft/ Back to Top Air Italy expects profits 'very soon' despite pilots idled by Boeing crisis CHICAGO (Reuters) - An Air Italy executive has joined a chorus of global airlines hurt by grounded Boeing 737 MAX jets but expects the airline to be profitable "very soon" and carrying five times as many passengers by 2022. "We have MAX pilots on the ground, sitting there doing nothing," Chief Operating Officer Rossen Dimitrov told Reuters. Sardinia-based Air Italy, which launched last year, was using three MAX aircraft to service routes to Sharm El Sheikh, Cairo and Dakar before regulators around the world grounded the fast-selling Boeing Co jets following two fatal crashes. With a fleet of just 13 aircraft, Air Italy has had to lease two Embraer jets and their crew from Bulgaria Air to cover routes heading into the peak summer travel season. Because Air Italy's pilots and crew are not trained on the Embraer, their work hours have fallen, Dimitrov said. Air Italy, which also flies non-stop from Milan to five North American destinations including new seasonal routes to Los Angeles, San Francisco and as of this week Toronto, has 1,146 employees. Larger airlines have warned that the 737 MAX groundings are hitting revenues and costs by hundreds of millions of dollars. [nL5N2270SV Still, loss-making Air Italy, owned by Italian holding company Alisarda and Qatar Airways, expects to be profitable "very soon," Dimitrov said. He declined to provide details but said shareholders "are happy" with a five-year business plan it recently shared that puts it on track to carrying 10 million passengers a year by 2022, versus 2.4 million carried so far. But Air Italy's U.S. expansion is facing scrutiny by Washington lawmakers who say it may violate a commitment made by its shareholder, state-owned Qatar Airways with a 49 percent stake, not to add new flights to the U.S. market. The lawmakers argue the U.S. routes may breach a 2018 aviation agreement between the United States and Qatar meant to address U.S. concerns that Gulf airlines are unfairly subsidized by their governments, distorting competition. Dimitrov dismissed the allegations as "completely false." Qatar is a minority investor that does not manage Air Italy's operations, which are fully compliant with European regulation, he said. It does not have a codeshare agreement with Qatar. The second largest Italian carrier after Alitalia said it is in talks with other international carriers over codeshare deals but declined to comment on possibilities with JetBlue Airways Corp, which plans to break into the low-fare, transatlantic travel market beginning in 2021. JetBlue last month asked the U.S. government not to restrict Air Italy from flying to the United States on concerns of retaliation on airline agreements by the European Union. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-italy-airitaly-qatar-usa/air-italy-expects-profits-very-soon-despite-pilots-idled-by-boeing-crisis-idUSKCN1SE2P9 Back to Top SpaceX to Launch 'Dozens' of Starlink Satellites Next Week, More to Follow Two experimental SpaceX satellites known as Tintin A and Tintin B deploy from one of the company's Falcon 9 rockets on Feb. 22, 2018. The two spacecraft are designed to help lay the foundation for Starlink, a huge SpaceX constellation that will provide internet service from low-Earth orbit.(Image: © SpaceX/Elon Musk via Twitter) WASHINGTON - SpaceX's first launch to carry a large number of Starlink broadband satellites is scheduled for May 15, according to a company executive. Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX's president and chief operating officer, said the launch will carry "dozens of satellites," adding more prototypes to the two currently in low Earth orbit. "This next batch of satellites will really be a demonstration set for us to see the deployment scheme and start putting our network together," she said at the Satellite 2019 conference here. "We start launching satellites for actual service later this year." Shotwell said SpaceX anticipates launching two to six more times for its Starlink broadband constellation in addition to the May 15 launch. How many Starlink launches occur this year depend on the results of this first batch, she said. SpaceX is planning a constellation that could number close to 12,000 satellites, according to filings with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission. The company said in 2017 that it would need 800 satellites in orbit for commercial service - a target estimated for the 2020 to 2021 timeframe. Shotwell said the demonstration satellites launching May 15 will be scaled down "test satellites" that lack intersatellite links. The test satellites will have very capable onboard antennas and electric propulsion, she said. Shotwell said the launch, anticipated in early May, was pushed back to May 15 as a consequence of delays with an earlier cargo mission to the International Space Station for NASA. SpaceX launched a Dragon supply capsule on a Falcon 9 rocket to the ISS on May 4 after a power problem on the station and a subsequent electrical issue with SpaceX's rocket retrieval droneship delayed the mission from May 1. SpaceX is targeting 18 to 21 launches for this year, not including the Starlink missions, Shotwell said. That rate is consistent with previous years - SpaceX launched 18 times in 2017 and 21 times last year - but lower than the 30 to 40 annual launches the company forecasted in 2017. Shotwell said SpaceX expanded its manufacturing ability to 40 rockets a year in anticipation of a commercial boom that didn't happen. "We thought the commercial market might expand to that, I think we probably wished it had, but [now] we've got plenty of capacity to launch our Starlink system," she said. SpaceX has launched five times this year - four Falcon 9s and one Falcon Heavy. https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-satellites-launching-may-2019.html Back to Top Behavioural Analysis 2019, in Minneapolis 21-23 May, will be of great value to all those involved in aviation security. Not only will Michael Silata of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) be presenting the agency's approach to the inclusion of behavioural analysis within the US transportation system, London Gatwick Airport's Border Security Manager, Andy Palmer, will be discussing challenges in, and the successes of, implementing behavioural analysis in the UK. And, of course, no discussion about profiling is complete without input from the Israel Airports Authority, who we are also delighted to welcome to the programme. In addition to these operational presentations, perspectives will be given by Amir Neeman on transportation screening personnel and their ability to cope with increased cognitive load, and Nancy Rivard from Airline Ambassadors International who will explain the training they deliver to the aviation community and how behavioural analysis can be used to identify victims of human trafficking. Academic and technological research centring on how artificial intelligence might be used in border security will be presented by Prof. Aaron Elkins, Director of the Artificial Intelligence Lab, San Diego State University, USA, and, Karina Mesarosova, Aviation Psychologist and Managing Partner of KM Flight Research & Training, will be sharing her research into how we can better evaluate the mental health of pilots. The organisers of Behavioural Analysis 2019 are delighted to count Airports Council International (ACI) as one of its lead supporting organisations and are excited to welcome Nina Brooks, Airport Council International World's director of security, facilitation and IT, as one of our moderators and panel members. We are offering all Curt Lewis subscribers a 15% discount on delegate registration fees. Simply enter the code: CURT15 in the promotional code box when registering on the conference website to receive this. To view the current programme and register your place please visit: www.behaviouralanalysis.com Back to Top POSITION AVAILABLE: AVIATION ADVISOR Job Description A unique opportunity to bring your aviation expertise and management skills to help Shell drive its operational excellence. Join a team of subject matter experts, applying your aviation expertise, to jointly develop, implement and audit the best safety standards in close collaboration with our worldwide Shell business units. Where you fit in The Shell Aircraft Air Safety and Advisory Group gives advice to 35 Shell Business Units in 30 countries and audits up to 100 aircraft operators on their behalf. This results in substantial financial savings and major improvements in safety and quality. Shell exposure to flying, at 85,000 flying hours per year, equates to the activity of a moderate size airline. The Air Safety & Advisory Group is staffed by a team of Aviation Advisers and is part of Shell Aircraft International which also includes the Corporate Fleet department. At Shell our commitment is to satisfy the world's need for energy with economically, socially and environmentally responsible solutions. We seek a high standard of performance and understand that great ideas can change the world. If you want to work with a group of safety conscious, ambitious and committed professionals then you should consider Shell. We will provide you with the resources to put your ideas into action, possible worldwide opportunities to advance your career, and outstanding benefits and rewards. Join us and let's make a difference together. What's the role? As Aviation Advisor, you're going to be playing a vital role in maintaining and improving our operational excellence. Providing expert advice on the safe and efficient use of aircraft and air transport services in support of the Shell Business Unit aviation strategy. In practice that means you'll be running operational and technical audits of contractors and logistics teams; producing reports in accordance with Shell Aircraft processes and procedures; and making sure any audit recommendations are actioned by aviation management. You can also expect to be involved with air safety accident and incident investigations. Naturally, you'll need to have a strong safety drive for achieving excellence, as well as being skilled at juggling a challenging workload, often with competing business targets. Along with advising on general aviation safety, you'll also lead on specific areas of expertise, which means keeping your technical knowledge up-to-date and relevant. Company Description Shell Nederland BV is a platform for international collaboration, with Shell offering direct employment to around ten thousand people in the Netherlands alone, including roughly 2,800 non-Dutch employees from around 80 countries. Diversity is key at Shell Nederland, and our employees reflect the innovation that stems from a diverse workforce. By joining Shell Nederland, you will benefit from an unrivalled industry-leading development programme that will see you tap into a pool of expert knowledge that will help propel your career. Shell Nederland is the holding company of most Shell companies operating in the Netherlands. Shell Nederland also has an advisory and coordinating role in numerous areas. Requirements You are holder of a valid professional Pilot fixed or rotary wing license (ATPL or equivalent). You have a strong track record in all aspects (incl. management) of aircraft operations and support, as well as an understanding of the commercial and legislative aspects of aviation. The relevant experience in the aviation industry may be gained within an aircraft operating company or equivalent military organization. Extensive knowledge of aviation quality & safety management systems, aviation legislation and their application is required. The ability to write and brief all levels of management succinctly on complex aviation issues is also essential. Shell's aviation professionals are required to travel extensively in support of our work and as such, must be able to travel anywhere in the world. This position is based in The Netherlands on local terms, therefore the applicant must be able to work and live in The Netherlands. Our values Shell is a company with shared values. Honesty, integrity, and respect aren't simply a strapline: they are a part of everything we do. What's more, Shell is an equal opportunities company, and we place the highest possible value on the diversity of our people and our inclusive approach. Join us and you'll belong to a world where you can feel pride in your achievements and propel your career with global opportunities Women's perspective We care deeply about fostering a truly diverse workplace. We believe in doing everything we can to make Shell as flexible, appealing and supportive a place for women to work as possible. We help with things like our formal (and informal) flexible working. Like our global and transparent pay policies, backed by a leadership team fully supportive of our diversity ambitions. And we'll foster your career through our Women's Career Development programme. People with an impairment At Shell, we're all about top talent. End of story. We encourage anyone who may face an impairment to see Shell as a place where you'll be fully supported to grow and develop your career. It's as simple as that. If you'd like to apply, just let us know about your circumstances. We can support you throughout the process: from application, to interview, to your first day of a rewarding career with us. Interested? Please apply via the 'Apply' button. APPLY Back to Top AVIATION COMMUNICATION: STRATEGY AND MESSAGES FOR ENSURING SUCCESS AND PREVENTING FAILURES, 1ST EDITION 'THIS BOOK IS A MUST-HAVE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL AVIATION BUSINESS COMMUNITY AS A TRI-FUNCTIONAL INDUCTION, TRAINING, AND REFERENCE TOOL.' Now available to order from www.routledge.com/9781138624825 Aviation Communication: Strategy and Messages for Ensuring Success and Preventing Failures by Linda J. Tavlin With a foreword by Professor Graham Braithwaite "This is a great book that helps prepare communicators and business leaders in facing the worst. As Linda rightly points out, communication is a thought process and needs to be practised." - Tony Fernandes, Group CEO, AirAsia Group Do you ever wonder why an airline's communication strategy can crash and burn in a crisis? A lack of understanding an acceptable aviation communication strategy can, in this fast world of social media, ruin a company's credibility in the aviation industry. Aviation Communication: Strategy and Messages for Ensuring Success and Preventing Failures is the first go-to book to reveal to everyone in the aviation industry how to stop an organization's communication strategy from becoming the tragedy-after-the-tragedy that we've seen so often. In such instances, after the media go home, the economic, political, regulatory, and legal effects can linger for years. The strategies and messages in this book show how to prevent this along with the ultimate safety net used by those who have been successful. Readers will learn to prevent catastrophic communication mistakes with strategic templates for a wide array of scenarios, as well as 25 specific techniques that give the actual words to use to deliver the book's messages and reveal the safety net of the 4-point formula that organizations with successful strategies have used. USE CODE A015 FOR 20% DISCOUNT AT CHECKOUT Purchase your copy here: https://www.routledge.com/9781138624825 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 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