Flight Safety Information May 30, 2019 - No. 109 In This Issue Boeing 737 MAX may not return to service until August - IATA head Boeing CEO praises FAA oversight faulted by lawmakers in 737 MAX crashes Incident: Aeromexico B788 near Halifax on May 28th 2019, crew oxygen leak Incident: Skywest CRJ2 near Eau Claire on May 28th 2019, engine fire indication Incident: Wasaya DH8A enroute on May 18th 2019, electrical odour, electrical problems Accident: Baltic B733 near Riga on May 29th 2019, smell of ammonia on board Incident: Eurowings A319 enroute on May 17th 2019, dropped engine oil access panel Accident: Lufthansa B744 at Philadelphia on May 28th 2019, hard landing, chunk of engine separated Boeing Faces Pressure From Airlines On 737 MAX Grounding At IATA AGM AIR SAFETY INSTITUTE WARNS ABOUT JET FUEL CONTAMINATION Hong Kong Airlines passengers stuck at Tokyo airport for six hours after screws fall out of plane's wing Thailand's Latest Safety Rating Meets ICAO Target 550 commercial pilots suspended amid 'serious problems' in Russian aviation - Prosecutor General Hirono Demands Action Following Deadly Helicopter Crash Kentucky Launches Fast-Track Program in Aviation Mechanics for Military Veterans Gogo plans in-flight 5G for U.S. and Canadian aircraft in 2021 India needs 10k pilots by 2030, AirAsia nurtures cadets Mitsubishi Regional Jet to be renamed Space Jet as firm looks to shed poor image of long-delayed plane Amsterdam Slots Taken From Jet Airways Intrepid Museum Honors Apollo Software Engineer Margaret Hamilton Position Available: Investigator/Senior Investigator, Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) Position Available: Safety Specialist Latest 2019 RTCA Global Aviation Symposium Line-Up...June 5 Bombardier Safety Standdown Award 2019 - Nominations are open! Senior Manager, Advanced Qualification Program ICAEA Industry Survey ISASI - DFW Regional Chapter Meeting Boeing 737 MAX may not return to service until August - IATA head * Regulators will have final say on return date * IATA told hold meeting with stakeholders in 5 to 7 weeks * U.S. carriers have removed 737 MAX from schedules until August * Airlines taking financial hit from grounding, rising fuel costs (Adds details of what is required to return planes to service) SEOUL, May 29 (Reuters) - Boeing Co's 737 MAX is unlikely to return to service before August, the head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said on Wednesday, adding that the final say on the timing rested with regulators. The 737 MAX was grounded globally in March after a crash in Ethiopia killed all 157 people on board, the model's second deadly crash in five months. "We do not expect something before 10 to 12 weeks in re-entry into service," IATA Director General Alexandre de Juniac told reporters in Seoul. "But it is not our hands. That is in the hands of regulators." IATA plans to organise a summit with airlines, regulators and Boeing in 5 to 7 weeks to discuss what is needed for the 737 MAX to return to service, he said. Sources have told Reuters that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) expects to approve the jet's return to service as soon as late June. But airlines will then need to perform maintenance checks on the grounded planes, update the software and train pilots before the jets can fly again. U.S. operators United Airlines, Southwest Airlines , and American Airlines have removed the planes from their flight schedules until early to mid August. The airline industry has had a tough six months with fuel, labour and infrastructure costs increasing and trade tensions rising in addition to the 737 MAX grounding, de Juniac said. IATA's December forecast for $35.5 billion in industry profits in 2019 is expected to be lowered in an update at its annual meeting in Seoul on June 2. At an IATA meeting for 737 MAX operators in Montreal last week, airline members said they wanted regulators to cooperate closely on the decision for the plane's re-entry to service, de Juniac said. "We hope that they will align their time frame," he said of regulators. Europe and Canada have said they would bring back the grounded jets on their own terms if their specific concerns are not addressed. Boeing Chief Executive Officer Dennis Muilenburg on Wednesday reiterated the planemaker was focused on safely returning the MAX aircraft to service. Speaking at a Bernstein conference in New York, Muilenburg said the company continues to expect to ramp up its long-term production rate to 57 a month after cutting monthly output to 42 planes in response to the groundings. "We're making clear and steady progress, and that includes the work that we're doing on the airplane update, the software update, working through the certification process with the FAA," he said. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/boeing-737-max-may-not-004739044.html Back to Top Boeing CEO praises FAA oversight faulted by lawmakers in 737 MAX crashes Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg remains confident in U.S. aircraft safety certification despite congressional criticism of the system's partial dependence on the planemaker's own employees after two deadly crashes of a new airliner. The Federal Aviation Administration's delegation of some authority to individuals and companies with specialized knowledge of airliner equipment and operations is a "high-integrity process," Muilenburg said at a Wednesday conference in New York. "It's a way for the FAA to exercise its independent role, its regulatory role, as it should but also tap into the deep technical expertise in our company." The practice, which is also used by regulators and planemakers worldwide, has come under scrutiny after the grounding of Boeing's 737 MAX model following the crashes, which occurred in less than five months and killed more than 300 people. Lawmakers grilled regulators in two separate hearings, and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao ordered a review of the jetliner's initial certification for commercial flights. Currently, 79 organizations are authorized to handle some certification duties for the FAA, though the agency retains the right to intervene directly at any time. Its personnel are always involved in level-of-safety determinations and establishment of rules for special situations, acting FAA Administrator Daniel Elwell has said. Despite concerns about the practice, it has coincided with a period of significant improvements in air safety. "You just need to look at the results over the last 20 years with implementation of this approach," Muilenburg said Wednesday. "We've seen a 95% reduction in fatal accidents in the aviation sector. That's across the 90 million flights in the U.S. over the last 20 years. It is the safest form of transportation in the world, and I give a lot of credit for that to the regulatory structure that the FAA has put in place." While certification of the 737 MAX, the latest iteration of a model in service for 50 years, was less intense than with a brand new airplane, it still took five years from Boeing's first permit application to final certification in March 2017. That included 297 flight tests, some of which involved the anti-stall software linked to the crashes. In the first crash, in Indonesia in October, a malfunctioning sensor on a 737 MAX 8 fed incorrect data on the airliner's ascent vector to the computer system, which attempted to lower the angle at which it was ascending to avoid a stall, officials said. That prompted a struggle between the new computer software, known as the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, and the pilot, who ultimately lost control of the aircraft. U.S. regulators ordered airlines to update operations manuals on the handling of such issues and Boeing is developing a software patch under FAA oversight. The fact that it hadn't been completed was part of what prompted the high level of concern after the second crash, which occurred outside the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa. It wasn't until data transmitted to satellites from the flight showed climbs and descents during takeoff, similar to those before the Indonesia crash, that the FAA ordered carriers to park the planes. Regulators in the European Union, China, and Canada had already done so. "We are taking all actions necessary to make sure that accidents like those two accidents that have occurred never happened again," Muilenburg said Wednesday. "We know more broadly that the public's confidence has been hurt by these accidents and that we have work to do to earn and re-earn the trust of the flying public and we will do that." Boeing shares have fallen 17% to $348.13 since the second crash, which forced the planemaker to slow production and delivery of the MAX, the best-selling model in its history. The S&P 500 gained roughly 2% in the same period. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/business/boeing-ceo-praises-faa-oversight-faulted-by-lawmakers-in-737-max-crashes Back to Top Incident: Aeromexico B788 near Halifax on May 28th 2019, crew oxygen leak An Aeromexico Boeing 787-8, registration N964AM performing flight AM-7 (dep May 27th) from Mexico City (Mexico) to London Heathrow,EN (UK), was enroute at FL370 about 150nm east of Halifax,NS (Canada) when the crew requested a descent to 10,000 feet advising of a crew oxygen leak, but did not request priority or declare emergency. The aircraft turned around, descended normally and diverted to New York JFK,NY at 10,000 feet, where the aircraft landed safely about 2 hours later. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 3 hours, then continued the flight and reached London with a delay of 6 hours. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/AMX7/history/20190528/0430Z/MMMX/EGLL http://avherald.com/h?article=4c88e823&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Skywest CRJ2 near Eau Claire on May 28th 2019, engine fire indication A Skywest Canadair CRJ-200 on behalf of Delta Airlines, registration N920EV performing flight OO-3587/DL-3587 from Saginaw,MI to Minneapolis,MN (USA) with just crew, was enroute at FL280 about 65nm east of Eau Claire,WI (USA) when the crew received an engine (CF34) fire indication and decided to divert to Eau Claire. The crew worked the related checklists and landed safely in Eau Claire about 23 minutes later. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 4 hours, then positioned to Minneapolis, remained on the ground in Minneapolis for 16 hours, then returned to service. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/SKW3587/history/20190528/1125Z/KMBS/KMSP http://avherald.com/h?article=4c88e64f&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Wasaya DH8A enroute on May 18th 2019, electrical odour, electrical problems, left and right instruments failed A Wasaya Airways de Havilland Dash 8-100, registration C-FABA performing flight WSG-815 from Big Trout Lake,ON to Pickle Lake,ON (Canada) with just 2 crew on board, was enroute when the crew received warning indications for the primary and secondary inverters, a strong electrical smell developed. At the same time the captain's and first officer's instruments flagged "off". The crew pulled the bus tie circuit breaker and continued to Pickle Lake on the stand by instruments. The smell subsided and the aircraft landed safely in Pickle Lake. The Canadian TSB reported maintenance replaced the secondary inverter and inverter paralleling control box. A service difficulty report was filed. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c88e159&opt=0 Back to Top Accident: Baltic B733 near Riga on May 29th 2019, smell of ammonia on board An Air Baltic Boeing 737-300, registration YL-BBJ performing flight BT-495 from Riga (Latvia) to Rijeka (Croatia), was enroute at FL360 about 150nm southwest of Riga when the crew decided to return to Riga due to a smell of ammonia on board. The aircraft landed safely back in Riga about 50 minutes after departure. A number of crew reported ill, a number of passengers vomitted and showed eye irritations, the injured were treated by paramedics. A replacement Bombardier CS-300 registration YL-AAL reached Rijeka with a delay of 3 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Riga about 18 hours after landing back. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c88ea47&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top Incident: Eurowings A319 enroute on May 17th 2019, dropped engine oil access panel By Simon Hradecky, created Thursday, May 23rd 2019 21:51Z, last updated Wednesday, May 29th 2019 20:05Z A Eurowings Airbus A319-100, registration D-AGWH performing flight EW-1973 from Hamburg to Munich (Germany) with 123 passengers, completed a seemingly uneventful flight with a safe landing in Munich about one hour after departure. A post flight inspection revealed however, an engine oil access panel was missing from the left hand engine (V2524). The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Munich about 6.5 days after landing. The engine minus its oil access panel: http://avherald.com/h?article=4c84fade&opt=0 Back to Top Accident: Lufthansa B744 at Philadelphia on May 28th 2019, hard landing, chunk of engine separated on touch down A Lufthansa Boeing 747-400, registration D-ABVU performing flight LH-426 from Frankfurt/Main (Germany) to Philadelphia,PA (USA), landed on Philadelphia's runway 27R at 15:57L (19:57Z) but touched down hard, rolled out and taxied to the apron. Tower advised waiting departures they'd need to wait "due to obvious reasons". Ground observers advised tower that a "chunk of the engine came off on touch down". Tower in turn advised the flight that they are getting reports of a piece having come off the aircraft on touch down. Another observer reported it looked like the chunk came off the left outboard engine (CF6). The FAA reported the aircraft made a hard landing, "plexiglass came off the left engine cowling" stating the occurrence happened on April 28th 2019 (however, that aircraft on Apr 28th 2019 departed for the return flight less than 3 hours after landing and on schedule). The damage is being assessed. The return flight LH-427 was cancelled. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Philadelphia about 21 hours after landing. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/DLH426/history/20190528/1120Z/EDDF/KPHL http://avherald.com/h?article=4c88bebd&opt=0 Back to Top Boeing Faces Pressure From Airlines On 737 MAX Grounding At IATA AGM As the global grounding of the 737 MAX continues, Boeing faces pressure from the world's airlines at the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Seoul. Boeing 737-8 MAX Landing at Seattle's Boeing Field after a successful Maiden Flight for this new airliner. The prolonged process of review and acceptance of Boeing's software patch for the MCAS system has prolonged the timeline for regulators lift the grounding and airlines are feeling the effects. "The prolonged grounding of the 737 MAX aircraft is taking its toll," Alexandre de Juniac, Director General and CEO of IATA told reporters in a briefing ahead of AGM. De Juniac predicted that the aircraft grounding will now extend to August. "We do not expect something before 10 to 12 weeks in re-entry into service," Reuters quotes de Juniac as saying. "But it is not our hands. That is in the hands of regulators." There is still no consensus among regulators which puts any predictions at risk. Last week, FAA Acting Administrator Dan Elwell said of the ongoing deliberations: "If not in one meeting in Ft. Worth, we are comparing notes in symposiums around the world, we're in web-based conferences, or we simply pick up the phone." But dialogue aside, there are still many steps remaining in the approvals process. "What happens next is that, here in the U.S., we await Boeing's completed for changes to the MAX. Once received we perform our final risk assessments and analyses, taking into account findings of the TAB and any information we receive from our international counterparts. We'll also take part in test flights of a modified 737 MAX and weigh all the information together before making the decision to return the aircraft to service," Elwell said. "Internationally, each country has to make its own decisions, but the FAA will make available to our counterparts all that we have learned, all that we have done, and all of our assistance under our International Civil Aviation Organization commitments." The regulatory rift created by the initial decision of global counterparts to ground the plane before the FAA did so, and despite the FAA's initial advisory that a grounding was not warranted, can only be resolved through consensus. Any unilateral action by the FAA, with the approvals process for the aircraft under intense scrutiny, could be interpreted as compromise. Boeing doesn't just need the FAA to say that the aircraft is air-worthy. Boeing truly needs global regulators to agree. For its part, Europe's aviation safety regulator, EASA, has already told the European Council that it will not approve 737 MAX operations without full confidence in its safety. The FAA's approach has been to reassure peers that it is openly sharing information. "As all of us work through this rigorous process, we will continue to be transparent and exchange all that we know and all that we do-to strengthen the public's confidence that the aircraft will meet the highest safety standards," Elwell said. In a statement published last week, Boeing echoed this sentiment: "We appreciate the FAA's leadership in taking this important step in bringing global regulators together to share information and discuss the safe return to service of the 737 MAX. Our team, our airline customers, and regulators place the highest priority on the safety of the flying public. Once we have addressed the information requests from the FAA, we will be ready to schedule a certification test flight and submit final certification documentation." For its part, Southwest Airlines has made a subtle decision on the 737 MAX which not only reflects consumer concern over the plane, but also the airline's expectation that the grounding might be extended. As aviation industry watchers noted, the airline has replaced its safety cards listing both the 737-800 NG and 737-8 MAX (the two aircraft have common cabin features which means the safety instructions are comparable) with ones that eliminate any doubt in passengers mind on which aircraft they are flying. https://twitter.com/airlineflyer/status/1133431364706066433?s=21 This follows repeated questions from flyers to the airline on social media raised by the dual-use cards. If anything takes more time in aviation than establishing regulatory standards, it is reaching consensus on standards and tests. While all parties may be eager to move forward, and sign off on the 737 MAX, no regulator will want to answer for any future failure of the plane. De Juniac's 10-12 week prediction may be correct. It might also be optimistic. https://www.forbes.com/sites/marisagarcia/2019/05/29/boeing-faces-pressure-from-airlines-on-737-max-grounding-at-iata-agm/#50f3d6d75cad Back to Top AIR SAFETY INSTITUTE WARNS ABOUT JET FUEL CONTAMINATION The AOPA Air Safety Institute has issued an ASI Safety Notice calling pilots' attention to the problem of jet fuel being contaminated with diesel exhaust fluid, which is not approved for use in aircraft and has caused engine failure or significant damage to aircraft engines and fuel systems in several instances. A very light jet being refueled. Photo by Mike Fizer. The safety notice posted on the Air Safety Institute and AOPA websites was prompted by a May 9 fuel-contamination incident that caused two Cessna Citation jets that received tainted fuel in Punta Gorda, Florida, to experience in-flight failures-in one case of both engines, and in the other instance, of one of two engines. Both aircraft landed safely. Diesel exhaust fluid, or DEF, is not intended for use in aircraft but is used to reduce emissions in diesel engines such as those in ground vehicles. When added to jet fuel, DEF can trigger reactions including the formation of crystals that can plug fuel filters and damage engine components. In a letter to Acting FAA Administrator Daniel K. Elwell, AOPA President Mark Baker noted that the May 9 incident was the third in the last 18 months in which DEF was mistakenly added to aircraft fuel in separate locations, presumably in place of icing-inhibitor fluid. Both fluids are clear and colorless. "We believed the first contamination event in November 2017 to be a unique situation and unlikely to reoccur. Unfortunately, a second occurred in August 2018," Baker wrote, adding that the incidents led to the creation of an industry working group "to study factors surrounding these events, develop mitigation strategies, and recommend both short and long-term actions for industry and the FAA to implement." The ASI Safety Notice urges pilots to inquire if your fuel providers use DEF in ground equipment and about procedures to confirm that only the correct additives are used for jet fuel. Procedures should include separate storage, clear labeling, confirmation of correct additives at the time of insertion, and personnel training. Noting that there are no known pre-flight procedures pilots can use to identify the presence of DEF in jet fuel, the notice raises pilots' awareness that if engine failure occurs due to turbine flameout, DEF contamination is a possible cause. "Follow emergency checklist procedures for engine failure and realize if DEF contamination is the cause, successful restart is unlikely," it cautions, noting that the loss of remaining engines is likely. If DEF contamination is suspected, pilots should notify the fixed-base operator where fuel was obtained as soon as possible, and document and report the incident to the local FAA office immediately. Baker's letter said he expected the industry working group to issue its recommendations shortly. "Any assistance the FAA can provide to work with industry and quickly implement the mitigation strategies identified in the report will be appreciated," he wrote to Elwell. https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2019/may/29/air-safety-institute-warns-on-jet-fuel-contamination Back to Top Hong Kong Airlines passengers stuck at Tokyo airport for six hours after screws fall out of plane's wing - the seventh time in four days parts have fallen off • Japan aviation watchdog rebukes carrier over alarming wave of missing pieces • Hong Kong Airlines required to develop measures to ensure safety A Hong Kong Airlines Airbus A330-300 passenger plane on the tarmac at Hong Kong International Airport. A Hong Kong Airlines plane spent six hours on the tarmac in Tokyo on Wednesday evening after two screws reportedly fell out of a wing. The flight, which was expected to leave Japan at 4pm local time, eventually took off for Hong Kong just after 10pm. It was the seventh time in four days a Hong Kong Airlines flight between the two cities had arrived at its destination missing parts such as screws and light covers. Passengers were forced to remain on the aircraft throughout the delay and staff provided food and drinks while they waited. "Hong Kong Airlines flight HX609 from Narita to Hong Kong on 29 May, 2019 was delayed to replace two screws on a panel under the wing," a carrier spokeswoman said. "The aircraft departed at 10.03pm local time," she added, before apologising for the inconvenience. Earlier, Japan's aviation safety watchdog urged the carrier to take measures to ensure parts that fell off its planes posed no threat to people and property. Spot inspections by Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, which oversees civil aviation, uncovered six instances between May 26 and May 28 in which at least one part of an HKA aircraft was missing, according to a report by NHK, the Japanese public broadcaster. The NHK report identified some of the missing parts as aircraft light covers and screws. In a statement on Wednesday, HKA said it had allowed planes to fly with missing parts as long as the missing items did not risk the safety of the aircraft. Hong Kong Airlines could be set to cut its fleet by more than a quarter The Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB), in response to the Post, said the missing parts were not critical to the plane's safety - despite alarm in Hong Kong over the incidents. Even so, the Japanese aviation regulator said it was concerned about the issue. "Japan has a quite [an] interest in parts dropping from aircraft," said Kosuke Najima, head of safety for foreign air carriers at the JCAB's aviation safety and security department. He said the airline was required to introduce measures to ensure missing parts were no threat to people and property. Watch: When Hong Kong airlines passengers were stuck on plane for 15 hours without food "In this case, we didn't receive reports [about] damage to citizens or property, but it is important that Hong Kong Airlines develop measures to avoid any cases like this," Najima said. The Japanese aviation regulator said missing parts were surprisingly common, and in the case of HKA the missing items had not been found. To avoid missing aircraft parts, the regulator said, many airlines were ordered to conduct mandatory inspections of their aircraft. The carrier will not be punished for the missing parts, but has been ordered to address the problem. More woes for Hong Kong Airlines as auditor flies the coop Hong Kong Airlines said in a statement that all of its aircraft were "carefully inspected before each flight". The recent incidents in Japan did not affect the airline's high standards, the spokeswoman said, and the company would continue to uphold its inspection and maintenance standards. Jeremy Tam Man-ho, a Hong Kong lawmaker and professional pilot, called on the city's Civil Aviation Department (CAD) to investigate the Hong Kong Airlines case to determine whether what happened was serious or not. The CAD said it considered the missing parts a relatively minor incident, but it asked HKA to submit a detailed report as soon as possible. Maintenance inspections had been carried out on May 27 and 28, the CAD said, when the incidents in Japan were said to have occurred. The regulator concluded the airline had carried out maintenance work "in full accordance" with CAD guidelines. Hong Kong Airlines was already under intense scrutiny because of an ongoing boardroom battle over legal control of the company and financial problems. A string of directors and top managers have left the airline, and its number of planes, flights and routes has diminished. The airline last week offered voluntary redundancy to pilots in an effort to reduce the costs of its highest-paid employees. The pilots have until June 3 to decide on the company's offer. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3012324/japans-aviation-watchdog-urges-hong-kong-airlines-prevent Back to Top Thailand's Latest Safety Rating Meets ICAO Target Thai Airways could start direct service to the U.S. once the Federal Aviation Administration grants Thailand Category 1 safety status. (Photo: Flickr: Creative Commons (BY-SA) by N1_Photography) The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has awarded Thailand an effective implementation (EI) score of 65.07 percent in its latest safety audit, effectively ranking the country above ICAO's target of 60 percent, Thai regulators said this week. The 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. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), an ICAO contingent carried out a Coordinated Validation Mission of the country's civil aviation standards between May 13 and 22. Thailand's EI score was a result of an aggregate of individuals scores in eight key areas: legislation, organization, personnel licensing, aircraft operations, airworthiness, accident and incident investigations, air navigation services, and aerodrome and ground aids. The audit revealed that Thailand's EI score had nearly doubled in about four years. "It took two years and three months for Thailand to lift the red flag, together with the increase of EI from 34.20 to 41.46," the CAAT said in a statement. "With the additional one year and seven months, the EI score has gone up to 65.07 percent. The existing EI is above the ICAO targeted figure: 60 percent. The audit result also underlines that Thailand has reached the average score of the whole 193 ICAO member countries." The latest audit paves the way for Thailand to pursue reinstatement of its Category 1 status with the FAA. In 2015, the FAA downgraded the country's safety rating to Category 2 after failure to comply with international standards. While ICAO lifted the red flag against Thailand in 2017, allowing Thai carriers to expand their international networks, the FAA downgrade has remained in place. Although Thai officials expressed optimism that the country can regain Category 1 status, an FAA contingent identified 26 safety issues in February during an International Aviation Safety Assessment technical review. The Thai authorities did not elaborate on the findings but said they have already begun addressing many of the shortcomings. Even if Thailand successfully regains Category 1 status, the highly competitive U.S.-Southeast Asia market presents its own set of challenges for Thai carriers, given the distance, cost, and weak demand for direct air travel between the two countries. If Thai carriers do initiate service beyond codeshare agreements, they will need to compete against carriers such Philippine Airlines, which offers nonstop flights to five destinations, and Singapore Airlines, which flies nonstop to four U.S. destinations. Garuda Indonesia and Vietnam Airlines have also signaled interest in launching flights to the U.S. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2019-05-29/thailands-latest-safety-rating-meets-icao-target Back to Top 550 commercial pilots suspended amid 'serious problems' in Russian aviation - Prosecutor General The burnt fuselage of the Sukhoi Superjet-100 after a crash-landing at the Sheremetyevo airport crash. The recent deadly crash-landing of a Sukhoi Superjet-100 was a result of the poor state of Russia's aviation industry, with pilots lacking qualification and outdated safety regulations, the country's Prosecutor General said. Since 2017, 550 commercial pilots have suspended and 160 flight certificates annulled in the country after prosecutorial inspections, Yury Chaika told MPs, as he appeared before parliament on Wednesday. "The issue of dedicated training of pilots still remains a pressing one," he warned. Many aviation training centers lack qualified teachers and hardware to operate effectively. Two such centers could not properly train pilots and had to be shut own. There were also cases of aviators taking to the skies after incomplete training programs, the Prosecutor General said. The state aviation safety program hasn't been updated in Russia since 2008 and doesn't meet the international requirements anymore, he pointed out. There's also no one in government specifically tasked with overseeing this program and how it's being implemented. Chaika also blasted the Transport Ministry for its continued inability to draw up and ratify the necessary legal acts on the certification of aircraft, its manufacturers and the training of aviation personnel. The Prosecutor General's office has revealed that more than 400 commercial planes were modified by carriers without proper research work or certification. This became possible because federal air transport agency, Rosaviatsia, often acts too heavy-handedly as it regulates what the carriers are doing, he said. The tragic incident with the Sukhoi Superjet-100 that Chaika was referring to occurred in Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport on May 5. The Aeroflot plane was hit by a lightning shortly after takeoff, being forced to return to the airport for an emergency landing with its engine burning. The aircraft bounced off the runway and hit the ground. This led to its tail section catching fire; in resulting tragedy, 41 of the 78 people on board were killed. Earlier on Tuesday, Sergey Furgal, the governor of Khabarovsk Region - where the Superjets are made - said that human factor was the reason for the failed crash-landing. All systems on the plane, including the engines, remained operational as it was returning to the airfield, he said, citing the conclusions of the Rosaviatsia probe. It was the pilots who committed several mistakes during the landing, be it due to lack of experience or stress. One of them was approaching the runway at a wrong angle and with excessive speed, according to Furgal. Aeroflot denied the governor's claims, calling them "a blatant attempt to apply pressure on the investigation." https://www.rt.com/russia/460563-russian-aviation-problems-superjet-chaika/ Back to Top Hirono Demands Action Following Deadly Helicopter Crash Sen. Mazie Hirono recently sent letters to Robert L. Sumwalt, Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, and Dan Elwell, the Acting Administrator at the Federal Aviation Administration, over safety concerns following a deadly helicopter crash in a residential area of Kailua, O?ahu. On the morning of April 29, an air tour helicopter operated by Novictor Helicopters crashed on Oneawa Street in Kailua, resulting in the death of the pilot and two passengers. The NTSB is leading the investigation into the crash, while the FAA is responsible for setting the regulations for the operation of the helicopters. In her letters to both Chairman Sumwalt and Administrator Elwell, Sen. Hirono asked both the FAA and NTSB for a report of helicopter accidents in Hawai?i over the last five years. She also requested a detailed history of problems associated with the particular model of aircraft involved in the crash, the Robinson R44, as well as an account of all air tour accidents and unintended landings in Hawai?i. The full text of Sen. Hirono's letter to Chairman Sumwalt is available online. "I understand that two NTSB investigators are in Hawai?i and that your agency expects to issue a preliminary accident report this week, but the final report will identify the causes of the accident," Hirono wrote in her letter to Chairman Sumwalt. "In this regard, can you detail the steps of the investigation to identify the causes of the accident and the estimated length of time the NTSB will take to complete the final report? Can you also provide an accounting of all air tour accidents and unintended landings in Hawaii for the last five years, the findings, recommendations and requirements from each of these incidents? I have separately written the Federal Aviation Administration to find out whether there has been appropriate follow up with the air tour companies/industry in each instance." "Although causation has yet to be determined in this instance, it is my understanding that the NTSB has previously issued a number of safety recommendations to the FAA regarding the Robinson R44 model of helicopter that was involved in the April 29 crash. The Los Angeles Times wrote a story on November 18, 2018, entitled 'Danger Spins from the Sky,' that specifically identifies safety issues with the R44 relating to mast bumping and non-fortification of fuel tanks. I ask that the FAA provide my office with information regarding the safety recommendations made to FAA by NTSB related to the R44 helicopter, and any actions taken by the FAA to respond to NTSB's safety recommendations," Hirono wrote in her letter to Administrator Elwell. Sen. Hirono called for the FAA to take action to protect the public from similar incidents in the future, adding that Hawai?i residents must also have a chance to provide input on potential future regulations for air tour operators. The full text of Sen. Hirono's letter to Administrator Elwell is available online. https://mauinow.com/2019/05/28/hirono-demands-action-following-deadly-helicopter-crash/ Back to Top Kentucky Launches Fast-Track Program in Aviation Mechanics for Military Veterans The aviation mechanics program at Somerset Community College. Kentucky has launched a program that gives military veterans a fast track to earn certification in aviation mechanics. Veterans who have experience working on military aircraft can now get credit for their skills that can be used toward certification from the Federal Aviation Administration. The new program called VALLO, which stands for Veterans Accelerated Learning for Licensed Occupations, is available at Somerset Community College and Jefferson Community and Technical College. Rick Johnson is vice president of the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation in Lexington, which does innovation-based economic development for the state and federal government, as well as industry. He said the fast-track certification now available in Kentucky is geared to help military veterans transition to high-paying jobs in the state's growing aerospace industry. "For example in the Army, if you kept C-130s or Blackhawks flying you can get FAA certification in one semester at Somerset Community College," said Johnson. The program has been initiated due to the availability of training through the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. "The team we have at KCTCS discovered that two of their campuses have FAA certified maintenance technician programs and their instructors there will give credit for education and experience in the military and now that's been formalized," said Johnson. The other partners in the program are the University of Louisville and the Kentucky Commission on Military Affairs. Kentucky ranks second in the U.S. in the export of aviation and aerospace products and the nation is facing a critical shortage of trained workers in that sector, according to Stewart Ditto, executive director of the Kentucky Aerospace Industry Commission. https://www.wkyufm.org/post/kentucky-launches-fast-track-program-aviation-mechanics-military-veterans-0#stream/0 Back to Top Gogo plans in-flight 5G for U.S. and Canadian aircraft in 2021 In-flight internet provider Gogo plans to deploy an air-to-ground 5G network for aviation, the company said today, initially focused on delivering high-speed data services to smaller aircraft. As a first-of-kind offering, Gogo's 5G network is planned for commercial accessibility in 2021, servicing routes in the contiguous United States and Canada. According to Gogo, the new 5G network will initially combine advanced beamforming technology with a proprietary modem and unlicensed 2.4GHz spectrum - a wavelength with a respectable combination of speed and distance characteristics. An existing 250-tower infrastructure will be upgraded to support 5G data speeds and latency; it will be capable of supporting additional spectrum types and bands in the future, and have the ability to fall back to 3G and 4G service as necessary. For travelers, the 5G data is likely to be accessible via Wi-Fi connections, which is to say that while the aircraft will be sending and receiving cellular signals, passengers will still log into Gogo's service using Wi-Fi. The key difference, Gogo suggests, will be that the 5G service will deliver "lower cost of operation and lower latency" compared with satellite technologies; this could keep Gogo 5G service pricing low, while improving currently sluggish in-flight response times. "We expect to launch Gogo 5G at the same time as the terrestrial telecommunications companies are deploying the same generation of technology on the ground - a first in the in-flight connectivity industry," said Gogo CEO Oakleigh Thorne. The air-to-ground 5G network will service business aircraft, commercial regional jets, and smaller mainline jets at first, presumably expanding to larger flights as network resources increase. Gogo developed a reputation for providing middling wireless data service to customers in the air, leveraging satellites to deliver shared, 3G-caliber connection speeds to planes filled with increasingly data-hungry customers. After a public drubbing by customer American Airlines, it upgraded its hardware and increased AI initiatives to monitor and improve its performance. Gogo says that it's committed to offering existing airline customers an easy upgrade path to the new service, which means that the 5G service might make its way into American, Delta, and United flights. https://venturebeat.com/2019/05/29/amazon-launches-alexa-delete-what-i-said-today-voice-command/ Back to Top India needs 10k pilots by 2030, AirAsia nurtures cadets To get the cadet-pilot project going, AirAsia India has partnered with New Zealand Academy and Harrison Omniview Consulting. Despite the current slump in the domestic aviation market, India will require up to 10,000 new pilots by 2030. Acknowledging this, AirAsia India on Tuesday launched the country's first cadet-pilot programme, ready to send its first batch of 15 cadets to New Zealand for flight training. By passenger volumes, India was ranked second globally among the fastest growing domestic markets for aviation. This would only mean the requirement for pilots will spike in the future, even as the Kingfisher and Jet Airways pilots are being quickly absorbed by other airlines. To get the cadet-pilot project going, AirAsia India has partnered with New Zealand Academy and Harrison Omniview Consulting. As part of the 18-24 month course, selected candidates will be trained at the currently under-utilised Oamaru airport in New Zealand's Waitaki district. The first batch of the cadets will come out in 2021, informs AirAsia India's Head of Operations, Capt Manish Uppal. Cadets earn their second oicer rank and commercial pilot license aer 500 hours of flying before graduating to first oicer, senior first oicer and captain, in charge of the entire aircra and crew. Headquartered in Bengaluru, AirAsia India currently has a fleet of 21 Airbus-A320 aircra covering 19 destinations across the country. The airline had commenced operations in India on June 12, 2014. Uppal informs 11% of the airline's crew are women. Most of the batch passing out from the cadet-pilot programme are expected to be absorbed by the airline. https://www.deccanherald.com/city/india-needs-10k-pilots-by-2030-airasia-nurtures-cadets-736712.html Back to Top Mitsubishi Regional Jet to be renamed Space Jet as firm looks to shed poor image of long-delayed plane Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. will change the name of its Mitsubishi Regional Jet to Space Jet, it was learned Wednesday. By renaming the first Japanese-developed small passenger jet, the unit of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. hopes to shed the poor image of the MRJ created by its prolonged development period and repeated delays to the first delivery of the aircraft, according to sources with knowledge of the matter. The sources also said Mitsubishi Aircraft will launch development of a 70-seat version of the 90-seat MRJ to meet strong demand for 70-seat models in North America, the world's biggest market for small passenger jets. Mitsubishi Aircraft initially planned to deliver the first MRJ in 2013 but has so far delayed its delivery five times. The company says development of the MRJ is in a final phase and that deliveries could start in the middle of 2020. But due to the uncertainty over when the development will actually be finished, it has been struggling to attract new orders. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/05/30/business/corporate-business/mitsubishi-regional-jet-renamed-space-jet-firm-looks-shed-poor-image-long-delayed-plane/#.XO-b5hZKiUk Back to Top Amsterdam Slots Taken From Jet Airways Grounded Indian carrier Jet Airways is facing yet another loss this week, as Amsterdam's Schiphol airport gives its slots away to Dutch carrier KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. KLM will now increase service to Mumbai and add connections to Bengaluru three times a week, from October 2019. Delta, KLM, and Jet Airways Tails Jet Airways has lost valuable Schiphol slots to KLM Photo: Delta As Jet Airways waves goodbye to yet another tranche of valuable airport slots, one has to wonder, what's left for the ailing Indian airline? With aircraft sent back to lessors, routes being taken over by competitors and airports farming their slots out, isn't it about time Jet Airways threw in the towel? What's happening? Dutch airline KLM have reportedly taken over airport slots previously operated by Jet Airways. The slots, based at the busy Schiphol Airport, have been going unused since the Indian carrier stopped flying in March this year. Previously Jet Airways operated four daily flights from Amsterdam Schiphol. Three went to India, arriving at Mumbai, Bengaluru and Delhi, and one to Toronto in Canada. The KLM flights are planned to start from October onwards, with the Dutch carrier adding three flights per week to Bengaluru and a daily flight to Mumbai. This will complement its current offerings of three times a week to Mumbai and a daily flight to Delhi. Business Standard report KLM as saying: "The thrice-weekly connection from Bengaluru will open up more opportunities for travel from India with easy connections to Europe and North America via the convenient hub of Amsterdam Schiphol," According to Flight Global, these routes will be operated by a Boeing 787-9, configured with 30 business class seats, 45 economy plus seats and 219 economy class seats. Jet Airways previously codeshared with KLM as well as Delta to offer one-stop codeshare flights between India and 30 European destinations as well as 11 destinations in the US. The final nail in the coffin of Jet Airways? The hope of reviving the grounded airline is becoming slimmer by the day. The SBI, a consortium of lenders who now have control of the airline, have so far failed to find any investor for Jet. With slots taken back, aircraft repossessed and no interest from Etihad in increasing their shareholding, it's only a matter of time before lenders file for bankruptcy... in fact, some already have. Jet Airways A Dutch court has ruled against Jet's creditors taking back the aircraft. Photo: Jet Airways According to LiveMint, a Dutch court has ordered bankruptcy proceedings against Jet Airways, scuppering plans in from the domestic lenders to take control of six aircraft they owned. According to reports, the State Bank of India was in the process of taking over a $30m loan owned by US Exim Bank, which the six Boeing planes were put up as collateral for. The report said that an unnamed source had stated: "The lenders expected to recover at least $200 million of Jet's unpaid loans by acquiring the aircraft, each roughly valued between $40 million and $60 million and selling them to a third party if Jet fails to revive," But, unfortunately for them, Worldwide Flight Services have put a stop to the proceedings. The cargo handler approached a court in the Netherlands to retrieve a Boeing 777 belonging to Jet which had been parked in a hangar at Schiphol for some time. The Dutch court ruled in favor of the cargo handler and has asked local authorities to retrieve the aircraft for them. It seems only a matter of time before the wider creditors of Jet Airways demand bankruptcy be declared, finally ending things for the troubled carrier. https://simpleflying.com/jet-airways-amsterdam-slots/ Back to Top Intrepid Museum Honors Apollo Software Engineer Margaret Hamilton Margaret Hamilton accepted an award at the Intrepid Museum in New York City on May 23, 2019.Margaret Hamilton accepted an award at the Intrepid Museum in New York City on May 23, 2019.(Image: © Erika Kapin Photography) NEW YORK -- The Intrepid Museum in New York City kicked off a summer of Apollo events on May 23 by honoring software engineer Margaret Hamilton with the institution's Lifetime Achievement Award. Hamilton led the team of programmers who ran the computers on both the command module and the landing module of the Apollo 11 mission. When she began her career, the field was so young that the term software engineering did not yet exist; Hamilton coined it herself. "The software experience itself was at least as exciting as the events surrounding the mission," Hamilton said during her acceptance speech at the awards ceremony. "As developers, we had the opportunity of a lifetime, to make every kind of error humanly possible." All of those errors were made before Apollo 11 launched, to be clear. As Hamilton and her colleagues were working on the project, they were always conscious of how well-tuned the software needed to be. "Astronauts' lives were at stake. It had to work. The first time," Hamilton said. "Not only did it have to be ultrareliable, it would need to be able to detect an error and recover from it in real time. Problems had to be solved [that programmers had] never solved before." But Hamilton also recounted a key turning point of the mission, just as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were preparing to touch down. "Everything was going perfectly; Walter Cronkite was reporting the mission in great detail," she said. "All of a sudden, something totally unexpected happened. Just as the astronauts were about to land on the moon, the software's priority displays interrupted the astronauts' normal mission displays and replaced them with priority alarm displays to warn them there was an emergency." The alert was triggered by a switch that was misaligned; the astronauts fixed it and landed safely. "The Apollo 11 astronauts became the first humans to walk on the moon," Hamilton said. "Our software became the first software to run on the moon." That moment was pivotal for more than just the field of computer science, former NASA astronaut Mike Massimino, who presented Hamilton with the award, noted during his introduction. "It is because of developments like this and pioneers like Margaret that the United States was able to continue its work that led ultimately to a reusable spacecraft, the space shuttles, which I had the privilege to fly on twice," he said. "I and all of my astronaut colleagues owe you a personal debt of gratitude." During her remarks, Hamilton also shared memories from her career prior to joining the Apollo effort, including how she began her computer science work by developing programs to better predict the weather. She also touched on her software engineering work on MIT's Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) project, which helped military personnel detect enemy planes. That program ran on a notably cantankerous computer, she said. "The machine was huge; if your program crashed, the computer would tell on you with sirenlike and foghornlike sounds throughout the building that everybody could hear and flashing lights that everyone could see," Hamilton said. "Everyone would come running to find out who the guilty one was. We used a polaroid camera to take a picture of the bug together with the person who caused it." Hamilton is still an active software engineer, pursuing a new system that prevents errors before they occur, rather than addressing them after they arise. That work builds directly on her experience with the Apollo program, she mentioned during her remarks. "Whatever success I may have experienced, much of it was because I was in the right place at the right time with the right opportunities and the right people," Hamilton said. "I had the benefit of beginning with no preconceived notions. Much of the credit goes not only to those I have learned from, but also to the errors I have had the opportunity of having had some responsibility in their making, without which we would not have been able to learn the things we did." Those glitches and mistaken pathways were crucial, she continued. "The errors showed us what to do and where to go, each holding answers to questions we had not thought of asking," Hamilton said. "They told us how to exist without them." https://www.space.com/margaret-hamilton-apollo-programmer-intrepid-award.html Back to Top Investigator/Senior Investigator, Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) Date: May 16, 2019 Location: Ft Worth, TX, US Req ID: 29714 Location: Flight Training Academy (DFW-FTRN) Additional Locations: None Requisition ID: 29714 Overview Join us for a career with endless possibilities. Looking for a job where a passion for innovation, a culture of teamwork, and opportunities for growth are valued and rewarded? You've come to the right place. You don't have to be an airline aficionado to join American Airlines. It takes more than cool planes to keep us ahead of the curve, and thanks to our team of behind the scenes professionals, we do just that. As the largest airline in the world, American Airlines is in the business of serving the global travel needs of our customers. At the core of the Company is our commitment to each customer and each employee. We are dedicated to developing and delivering what our customers value and are willing to pay for. Customer-centric planning, innovative marketing, and an exceptional customer experience are supported by a cadre of talented people. What does it take to join us? We're glad you asked! We expect exceptional skills in your discipline and a dedication to being the best as we relentlessly pursue our goal of being not just the largest airline in the world, but also the best airline in the world. Fortunately, we're building on almost a century of innovation and firsts in our industry - and we plan to continue that tradition of excellence. About this job This job is a member of the Investigating team within the Integrated Operations Division. This position will be responsible for providing analysis of operational flight data as well as producing reports and presentations for the Flight Operation Quality Assurance (FOQA) Program. Specifically, you'll do the following: • Conducts daily work flow processes for the FOQA program • Assesses events and trends, identifies operational hazards, and validates corrective actions • Develops new data analysis products and methodologies for data mining • Coordinates with the Flight Department for data analysis needs • Coordinates regularly with Allied Pilot Association (APA) FOQA gatekeepers • Coordinates with Tech Ops Department regarding support of the FOQA program About the Job (Continued) • Creates flight animations of actual events for use in operational departments • Assists with accident and incident investigations • Participates in FOQA Monitoring Team meetings • Participates and contributes to the American Airlines SMS process • Develops, prepares and presents analysis of flight data • Represents American Airlines at industry FOQA related meetings Qualifications Required Qualifications • Bachelor's Degree in related field or equivalent experience/training • 3 years related job experience • Experience working with data mining tools such as Tableau, Business Objects, Access, etc. • Experience performing data analysis and building various related reports in MS Office products • Knowledge of aeronautical theory and aviation operations as applied to commercial aircraft • Proficient using MS Office software • Must fulfill background checks to qualify for unescorted access privileges to airport security identification display areas (SIDA), if applicable • Must be able to secure appropriate airport authority and/or US Customs security badges, if applicable • Must be able to handle multiple projects with changing deadlines Qualifications (Continued) Preferred Qualifications • Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology, Mathematics, Engineering, or Statistics • Basic Programming knowledge/experience • Master's degree in related field • Previous experience within a FOQA program • Familiarity with GE Aviation flight data software (previously Austin Digital) • Experience using CEFA animation software • Private pilot license or higher • Experience at an air carrier APPLY NOW Back to Top JOB TITLE: SAFETY SPECIALIST REPORTS TO: DIRECTOR OF SAFETY Summary: The Safety Specialist will assist the Director of Safety in managing all aspects of occupational health and safety. This will require working with all levels of Field Crew personnel as well as Management and Customers. Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following: • Plans, develops, implements, and monitors effectiveness of safety promotional and educational campaigns. • Conduct site audits, vehicle inspections, equipment inspections, and work with company leadership to help address any deficiencies. • Determines organizational safety problems through performance of incident/accident root cause analysis. • Design and implement workplace processes and procedures that help protect workers from hazardous work conditions. • Investigate incident and accidents to identify root causes and assist with resolving action items. • Finds creative modification to cultures or mind sets to improve safety performance. • Foster discussion and feedback from site operational teams on possible new safety programs or initiatives. • Keep appraised of new rules, regulations, special bulleting and emergency orders that affect company operations. Assist in interpreting and applying the changes efficiently. • Assist in designing programs to control, eliminate and prevent accident/incidents. • Assist to facilitate the coordination and delivery of safety meetings, safety tours, and safety trainings. • Any other duties as assigned. Qualification Requirements • Safety degree, certification or related technical undergraduate degree preferred. • 5+ Years of experience in construction industry safety and occupational safety and health arena preferred. • Construction safety background within the bulk power/electric power transmission industry is required. • Prior exposure to rotary-wing aviation or aviation background is preferred. Skills: Employee should posses the following skills in order to perform the duties of this job efficiently. • Oral and Written Communication Skills • Reading Skills • Technical Communication • Customer Service • Diplomacy • Professionalism • Strong Organization • Time Management • Computer Proficiency • Math Aptitude • Ability to adapt to changing priorities • Team Player Apply to: jboog@haverfield.com Back to Top Latest 2019 RTCA Global Aviation Symposium Line-Up June 5 - Crystal City, VA RTCA Symposium features a full day of programming focusing on some of the challenges for the new entrants to aviation. The latest Line-Up includes: Supersonic Transportation Innovations - Cybersecurity Applications & Challenges - Commercial Spaceflight - UAS Integration - On-Demand Air Mobility (Electric/Hybrid and eVTOL Vehicles & Regulations) More than two dozen speakers have confirmed their participation in the event from FAA, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, EmbraerX, Boeing, Boom Supersonic, Commercial Spaceflight Federation, Raytheon, Thales and several industry associations including NATCA, NBAA, AOPA, ALPA, IATA, A4A and others. Full Agenda here: https://www.rtca.org/content/agenda Back to Top Bombardier Safety Standdown Award 2019 - Nominations are open! The Safety Standdown award is given annually to an aviation professional who has demonstrated exemplary dedication to improving aviation safety through the application of the Safety Standdown principle: LEARN - APPLY - SHARE. By learning new skills and applying them, they demonstrate their dedication to personal improvement. By sharing their knowledge, they become distinguished role models. We all know or have worked with exceptional aviation professionals. These are the people who go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure the safety of their operation. They are the mentors we look up to and who teach us so much. They are the dedicated people who demonstrate professionalism and courage in the toughest of circumstances. They are the people who had an impact on us and fostered the love we have for this industry. As you read these few lines, someone probably popped into your mind. Here's a way to recognize them: go to our website and nominate them for the Safety Standdown Award. The criteria for the award can also be found on the site and nomination form only takes a few minutes to complete. Submissions are evaluated by the Advisory council and a recipient is selected from the criteria. The award is presented during Safety Standdown USA 2019 seminar. Nominate now: https://safetystanddown.com/en/safety-award Safety Standdown Team Bombardier Business Aircraft Direct: +1 316 946 7876 Email: info@safetystanddown.com Website: www.safetystanddown.com Back to Top Senior Manager, Advanced Qualification Program Location:Ft Worth, TX, US Location: Flight Training Academy (DFW-FTRN) Additional Locations: None Requisition ID: 29419 Overview Join us for a career with endless possibilities. Looking for a job where a passion for innovation, a culture of teamwork, and opportunities for growth are valued and rewarded? You've come to the right place. You don't have to be an airline aficionado to join American Airlines. It takes more than cool planes to keep us ahead of the curve, and thanks to our team of behind the scenes professionals, we do just that. As the largest airline in the world, American Airlines is in the business of serving the global travel needs of our customers. At the core of the Company is our commitment to each customer and each employee. We are dedicated to developing and delivering what our customers value and are willing to pay for. Customer-centric planning, innovative marketing, and an exceptional customer experience are supported by a cadre of talented people. What does it take to join us? We're glad you asked! We expect exceptional skills in your discipline and a dedication to being the best as we relentlessly pursue our goal of being not just the largest airline in the world, but also the best airline in the world. Fortunately, we're building on almost a century of innovation and firsts in our industry - and we plan to continue that tradition of excellence. About The Job Responsible to the Director, Standards, to assist in achieving the objective of providing a corps of proficient pilots, flight attendants, dispatchers, instructors/evaluators, and assist with department support programs which ensure a safe and efficient flying operation. The Senior Manager, AQP will coordinate application, update and continual improvement of the Advanced Qualification Program, and ensure regular updates to all American Airlines pilot training curricula, as required. Specifically, you'll do the following: • Coordinate the development and standardization of all flight training curriculum including Distance Learning • Subject Matter Expert for all training curriculum • Oversee content, currency and standardization of training curriculum and documents • Coordinate revisions of training curriculum and documents • Oversee flight training data collection, analysis and reporting; monitor for trends and/or anomalies • Provide leadership for AQP development • Develop and manage the ISD process mechanisms • Communicate program objectives, goals, and accomplishments to management and check airmen • Supervise development of software requirements/specifications for database/program changes related to flight training • Primary contact with FAA for AQP document approval About The Job (Continued) • Primary contact with FAA and other external organizations for training development issues • Ensure compliance with FAA, Department of Defense, One World Alliance, and IATA Operational Safety Audits (IOSA) and other training requirements • Participate in safety risk management processes within Flight Operations and Flight Training and Standards that support the principles of Safety Management System (SMS) described in FAA Advisory Circular 120-92 (as amended) and the company Operations Policy Manual • Oversee Instructor/Evaluator Standards Program • Interface with Training Planning and Scheduling to coordinate and approve TMS master-plan changes • Verify policy and procedure compliance and communicate to Instructors/Evaluators • Co-chair Operations Data Analysis Working Group (ODAWG) Qualifications Required Qualifications • Bachelor's Degree in related field or equivalent experience/training • 5 years related job experience • Experience in data analysis & statistical methods such as regression modeling, forecasting, and process control • Experience with document publishing, including document creation, distribution, and management • Experience with Instructional System Design (ISD) processes • Experience with project management • Demonstrated ability to effectively prioritize, organize, and multi-task in a dynamic work environment • Expert level expertise with Microsoft Office (emphasis on Word, Excel & PowerPoint) • Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Access • Flexibility with work schedule and excellent attendance record • Ability to multi-task Qualifications (Continued) Preferred Qualifications • 5 years of aviation training or safety experience in FAR Part 121 or 135 operations, military operations, or equivalent experience • Development experience with software such as Cognos, Tableau, or Microsoft Power BI • Demonstrated database management skills • Ability to demonstrate proficiency with Adobe Framemaker • Experience with document publishing, including document creation and distribution • Experience with regulatory compliance and audit processes APPLY NOW Back to Top ICAEA Industry Survey Hello all, The ATC-PILOT Radio Communication Survey is now live: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ATC-PILOT_radio_communication It'd be great to get ATCOs and pilots to participate, so please help use your connections to get this to them. I plan to leave this open for as long as it takes to collect some meaningful data - hopefully enough even by the workshops in October and November to present a little. Best wishes, Michael Kay President (+66) 851098230 www.icaea.aero