Flight Safety Information May 31, 2019 - No. 110 In This Issue First on CNN: Despite crashes, Boeing proposes no simulator training for 737 MAX pilots Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg Offers Hope - but Few Details - on the 737 MAX Incident: Venezolana B732 at Port of Spain on May 30th 2019, uncontained engine failure Incident: Aeroflot A320 near Moscow on May 30th 2019, failure of fire extinguishing system Incident: Edelweiss A343 near Zurich on May 29th 2019, engine shut down in flight Cessna 560XL Citation XLS+ - Runway Excursion (Spain) Lufthansa Boeing 747 Hard Landing Incident: Chunk Of Engine Falls Off Judge tosses airline's $10M libel suit against pilot, saying importance of safety debate outweighed Mexico-bound Business Aircraft See Rise in Ramp Checks This Common Practice Could Get Your Phone Hacked at an Airport ICAO: CAA International to strengthen aviation safety oversight in Sierra Leone NTSB Chief Cites 'Urgency' to Improve Charter Flights' Safety The Best and Worst Airlines, According to J.D. Power Rolls Royce In Conversations Over Super Sonic Aircraft Engine Applications Air Asia India Won't Take Jet Airways Boeing 737's US and Japan to Cooperate on Return to the Moon Position Available: Investigator/Senior Investigator, Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) Position Available: Safety Specialist Latest 2019 RTCA Global Aviation Symposium Line-Up...June 5 Senior Manager, Advanced Qualification Program ISASI - DFW Regional Chapter Meeting First on CNN: Despite crashes, Boeing proposes no simulator training for 737 MAX pilots Washington (CNN)Boeing's proposal to bring back the 737 Max has included a computer-based training program that, like requirements before two crashes involving the aircraft, does not involve hands-on simulator training before allowing pilots to resume flying the troubled aircraft once it is no longer grounded, CNN has learned. Following the crashes involving Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines in October and March in which 346 people died, some pilots and aviation consultants criticized Boeing for the aircraft's training requirements that previously involved a short, self-administered online course and no simulator time. While the Federal Aviation Administration has not yet announced any decisions on final training requirements, Boeing's training proposal for the aircraft's updated software included computer lessons without mandated simulator training, according to a pilots' union and a source familiar with the discussions. The training proposal has not been previously reported. The proposal to require only computer-based training could save airlines money and time when the FAA lifts flight restrictions on the Boeing-made aircraft. When the 737 Max initially went into service, as a selling point, Boeing told airlines it was similar enough to previous versions of the aircraft that they could avoid more extensive simulator training, CNN previously reported. A full-flight simulator can range in price from roughly $6 million to $15 million and can cost hundreds of dollars per hour to use, according to a spokesperson for CAE, a simulator manufacturer that has sold 737 Max simulators to airlines. Dennis Tajer, spokesperson for the Allied Pilots Association, which represents American Airlines pilots, said some pilots in his group found Boeing's draft training materials to be "inadequate." Tajer said his group believed Boeing's proposed training materials related to the plane's MCAS system, which is designed to push the nose of the airplane down if it senses an imminent stall and is believed to have played a role in both crashes, needed improvement in terms of presentation and content. "If you are going to hang your hat on computer-based training, it better be the best of the best if you don't have simulators going with it," Tajer said. One person familiar with the proposal says pilots on one major US airline could complete re-training its 737 Max pilots in 30 days. Tajer said the Allied Pilots Association does not oppose additional simulator training if consensus is reached that that should be required, but he said his group remains more concerned about ensuring pilots have the information they need in flight checklists that explain procedures. He said Boeing did provide supplemental training modules that contained informative diagrams his group found "to be quite good." "We want to tell Boeing that this is a global issue, and we are imploring Boeing not just to provide optionality about how deep the training goes. Tell the FAA what you think should be mandatory," Tajer said. Mike Trevino, a spokesperson for the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, told CNN his group does not believe simulator training should be a prerequisite for returning the 737 MAX to service. A spokesperson for Boeing said the company is in the process of finalizing 737 Max training requirements for submission to the FAA. The crashes involving Ethiopian Airlines and Lion Air sparked international debate about training requirements for pilots learning to fly updated aircraft models. In April, an FAA panel concluded in a draft report that simulator-based training is not necessary for pilots who flew the previous version of the 737. While international regulators met with the FAA in Fort Worth, Texas, last week and discussed training requirements for the 737 MAX, no conclusions about those requirements have been announced. An FAA spokesperson said in a statement, "Acting FAA Administrator Dan Elwell has said repeatedly that no final decisions have been made on pilot training or modifications to emergency procedures on the Boeing 737 Max. The FAA is focused on the 737 Max and ensuring its safe return to service." Following the FAA meeting, Canada's director general of civil aviation, Nicholas Robinson, said his agency Transport Canada wants to see Boeing's final training proposal before deciding on whether simulator training should be required. Paul Hudson, president of FlyersRights, a nonprofit travel-consumer group, told CNN flight restrictions on the 737 Max should not be lifted unless pilots receive additional simulator or in-flight training that involves handling the plane with the updated MCAS system turned off and on. "Boeing and the FAA said in 2017 this plane was safe. Then after the Lion Air crash in October they said it was safe. Now we should trust them a third time without any real re-training?" Hudson said. https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/30/politics/737-max-computer-simulator/index.html Back to Top Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg Offers Hope - but Few Details - on the 737 MAX The latest good news from Boeing is that there isn't any new bad news. CEO Dennis Muilenburg met with investors at a conference on Wednesday and gave no indication that new trouble has cropped up in the effort to fix the grounded 737 MAX jet. The CEO is focusing on updating the software that underpins the jet's flight-control system. "Once we complete the software update on the MAX, I'm very confident that airplane will be one of the safest airplanes ever to fly," he said to the crowd. "And we know getting the MAX back to a healthy state is key to a broader, healthy business." The back story. The Federal Aviation Administration met with its international counterparts on May 23 in Texas to review the software changes-Boeing's proposed fix for the jet, which has been grounded world-wide since mid-March. Investors had hoped for news about when the MAX can carry passengers again, but acting FAA administrator Dan Elwell didn't provide a concrete timeline. What's new. Boeing has been making "clear and steady" progress since the FAA meeting, Muilenberg told the conference. He also said Boeing has made progress on pilot training, another key issue. The 737 MAX was designed to fly like the prior iteration of the 737 platform, called the 737 NG, which means people qualified to fly the NG could pilot the MAX as well, without additional flight-simulator training. That could change. If it does, reintroduction of the MAX into commercial service might be delayed. "[We've had] a good discussion [with pilots and regulators] around training requirements and capabilities like computer-based training and simulator training," Muilenburg said in response to a question. "So I saw that as another way point of progress." It wasn't a lot of detail from the CEO, but at least it indicates no new issues have surfaced recently. Looking ahead. Cowen analyst Cai von Rumohr revisited his timeline for a reintroduction of the MAX in a Wednesday research report. He believes the FAA could still approve Boeing's fix by the end of June, but said the potential for additional pilot training could add some time before the MAX is flying again world-wide. That would have a transitory impact on cash flow and earnings, but implicit in Muilenburg's comment and von Rumohr's report is a belief that the 737 MAX will fly again, with only minor modifications. That is a controversial idea to some stakeholders, but it is still the prevailing sentiment on Wall Street. Boeing stock was down 1.9% in Wednesday afternoon trading, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average was off by 1.2%. Boeing shares have fallen 18% since a MAX jet flown by Ethiopian Airlines crashed on March 10, raising concern about the safety of the jet following a crash last fall. The Dow is down 1.7% over that period. https://www.barrons.com/articles/boeing-ceo-progress-fixing-737-max-jet- 51559153208 Back to Top Incident: Venezolana B732 at Port of Spain on May 30th 2019, uncontained engine failure A Venezolana Boeing 737-200, registration YV502T performing flight VNE-1303 from Port of Spain (Trinidad and Tobago) to Caracas (Venezuela) with 79 people on board, was climbing out of Port of Spain when the left hand engine (JT8D) failed emitting a loud bang. The crew stopped the climb and returned to Port of Spain for a safe landing about 23 minutes after departure. A post flight inspection revealed the engine had suffered an uncontained failure ejecting debris radially downwards. The fuselage received minor damage as result of the engine failure, too. The engine damage: http://avherald.com/h?article=4c89c0cd&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Aeroflot A320 near Moscow on May 30th 2019, failure of fire extinguishing system An Aeroflot Airbus A320-200, registration VQ-BSE performing flight SU-1498 from Moscow Sheremetyevo to Grozny (Russia) with 155 people on board, was enroute at FL350 about 370nm south of Moscow when the crew decided to return to Moscow due to the failure of one of the fire extinguishing systems on board. The aircraft descended to FL340 for the return and landed safely back in Moscow about 2:10 hours after departure. A replacement A320-200 registration VP-BLP reached Grozny with a delay of 4 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c897b9a&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Edelweiss A343 near Zurich on May 29th 2019, engine shut down in flight An Edelweiss Airbus A340-300, registration HB-JMG performing flight 8R-90 from Zurich (Switzerland) to Buenos Aires,BA (Argentina), was enroute at FL310 about 275nm southwest of Zurich near Lyon (France) when the crew needed to shut the #4 engine (CFM56, outboard right hand) down and decided to return to Zurich. The aircraft drifted down to FL210, dumped fuel and landed safely on Zurich's runway 16 about 100 minutes after leaving FL310. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground about 19 hours after landing back. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c896aba&opt=0 Back to Top Cessna 560XL Citation XLS+ - Runway Excursion (Spain) Date: 30-MAY-2019 Time: c. 12:00 UTC Type: Cessna 560XL Citation XLS+ Owner/operator: Air Hamburg Registration: D-CGAA C/n / msn: 560-6173 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Unknown Location: Alicante Airport (LEAL) - Spain Phase: Landing Nature: Private Departure airport: Amsterdam-Schiphol International Airport (AMS/EHAM) Destination airport: Alicante Airport (ALC/LEAL) Narrative: A Cessna 560XL suffered a runway excursion after landing at Alicante Airport, Spain. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/225628 Back to Top Lufthansa Boeing 747 Hard Landing Incident: Chunk Of Engine Falls Off On May 28th at approximately 3:57pm local time, a Lufthansa Boeing 747 had a hard landing incident at Philadelphia International Airport. According to aviation website AeroInside, ground observers report that a "chunk of the engine came off on touch down". The 747 involved was D-ABVU, shown here. Photo: Wikimedia Commons The specific aircraft in this incident was a Boeing 747-400 with registration D-ABVU performing flight LH-426 from Frankfurt (FRA) to Philadelphia (PHIL). It landed on Philadelphia's runway 27R. Immediately after the landing, the control tower advised the flight that they received reports of a piece having come off the aircraft upon landing. One observer reports that the piece came off of the left outboard engine (CF6). The FAA are reporting that when the 747 had made a hard landing "plexiglass came off the left engine cowling". Several sources are reporting that the occurrence happened on April 28th 2019. However, this is deemed inaccurate - the correct date is May 28th. As a result of the incident, the return flight, LH-427 was cancelled. The aircraft involved is still on the ground in Philadelphia while damage is being assessed. At the time of writing, no further information has come in regarding the status of the aircraft. Specific circumstances leading up to the hard landing are still unknown. However, local news sites are reporting that the Philadelphia region was experiencing severe weather that day. This weather included "quarter-sized hail" and thunderstorms as well as "unusual cloud formations". In fact, slightly further north of Philadelphia's surrounding suburbs, a tornado was confirmed by the National Weather Service. Below is a comparison of flight paths of LH- 426. The first is from the day of the incident while the second is from a flight two days prior, on May 26th. Notable hard landings On 14 March 2015 a Malaysia Airlines Airbus A330, (registration 9M-MTA), began its approach to Melbourne (Tullamarine) from Kuala Lumpur. According to Aviation Week, the aircraft's landing was so hard that the result was a replacement of the aircraft's main landing gear. However, there were no reported injuries resulting from the incident. In 2012, an ANA flight made a hard landing in strong gusty cross winds. The airplane touched down on its right hand main landing gear. According to an Aviation Safety Network report, the plane then bounced back up. The nose landing gear then contacted the runway at considerable force. According to Wikipedia, the result was "a large crease formed in the aircraft's skin." More about the aircraft D-ABVU is a 20.5 year old 747-400, according to Airfleets.net. The plane has been with Lufthansa since December 1998 as is powered by 4x GE CF-6 engines. Based in Frankfurt, the aircraft had previously made trips to Detroit (DTW), Vancouver (YVR), and Seoul (ICN). https://simpleflying.com/lufthansa-747-engine-falls-off/ Back to Top Judge tosses airline's $10M libel suit against pilot, saying importance of safety debate outweighed harm Alan Eugeni's book about his time with Air Georgian was at times sensationalist, but 'on a matter of significant public importance,' the judge wrote Pilot Alan Eugeni, author of the self-published book The Next Plane Crash, and former pilot for Air Georgian, at a hanger in Saint-Hubert, Quebec, in October 2017.Dario Ayala for National Post An Ontario judge has thrown out a major regional airline's $10-million libel action against one of its former pilots, ruling the lawsuit had an unduly chilling effect on discussion of air safety. Alan Eugeni's book about his experiences at Air Georgian - where his starting salary as a pilot was $32,000 - was at times provocative and sensationalist and lacked input from the airline, said Justice Shaun O'Brien. But she found the public importance of debate about the company's safety record outweighed any damage done to the firm, an Air Canada sub-contractor. "Mr. Eugeni spoke out on a matter of significant public importance," concluded the judge in a 16-page written decision released this week. "He caused limited harm to Air Georgian with his self-published book, but was silenced by a much more intimidating litigant ... I consider the balance to weigh in favour of protecting the expression." The pilot had asked that the case be dismissed before trial under the province's relatively new anti-SLAPP legislation, designed to combat defamation suits that suppress important public discourse. (SLAPP stands for "strategic lawsuit against public participation.") Eugeni criticized Air Georgian's approach to safety and maintenance in a book and in interviews with the National Post, criticisms that were echoed by other current and former crew members with whom the Post spoke as part of a 2017 investigation into the airline's safety record. A Transportation Safety Board report last year also raised systemic concerns about the airline's maintenance practices. Georgian, which carries 1.5 million passengers a year on 63,000 short-haul flights under the Air Canada Express banner, has strenuously rejected the complaints, noting it is one of just a handful of Canadian carriers that have passed a rigorous international safety audit. Air Canada ended its contract with Georgian after the Post's investigation. Their deal is slated to end next February as another company - Jazz Aviation - takes over its flights. Both Air Georgian and Air Canada have denied the end of the contract is connected to the Post's investigation or to Georgian's safety record. In the wake of the Post's reporting Georgian threatened to sue both the newspaper and another pilot, but proceeded only with a suit against Eugeni. Mr. Eugeni appears to have made minimal efforts to verify his serious allegations The airline said that while the ruling validates some of its concerns, it disagrees with the bottom line and plans to appeal. The judge's assessment of Eugeni's book "confirms the position (Georgian) has taken from the outset - that Mr. Eugeni has been pursuing his own agenda with little regard to the objective facts," said Air Georgian lawyer Matthew Law. The ruling should also give "considerable pause" to the Post in repeating such allegations, Law said. Eugeni said Wednesday it felt "wonderful" for the case to be dismissed, and that he stands by everything he has said about his former employer. Under the SLAPP process, the judge first had to decide if the airline had a reasonable case, and if there was a reasonable possibility that Eugeni's defences could fail at a trial. One of those defences was that the statements were true, but the judge noted that Air Georgian had submitted evidence contradicting some of Eugeni's allegations, including claims he experienced four emergency landings and that all his simulator training was in the middle of the night. "His wording at times is provocative and sensationalized," said O'Brien. "While Mr. Eugeni's focus was on telling his own story, he appears to have made minimal efforts to verify his serious allegations." Air Georgian carries 1.5 million passengers a year on 63,000 short-haul flights under the Air Canada Express banner. But their deal is slated to end next February. Peter J. Thompson/National Post Regardless, the pilot's lawyer, Howard Winkler, conceded for the purpose of the pre-trial motion that a reasonable trier could rule Eugeni had no valid defence. That meant the case came down to whether the public's interest in hearing Eugeni's views about air safety outweighed any harm done to Georgian's reputation. O'Brien said that possible harm - mostly an increased turnover in the company's staff - seemed minimal and was more likely to stem from other reasons, like an industry-wide shortage of pilots and articles in the Post. Eugeni's book sold only 247 copies before Georgian convinced Amazon to remove its listing, and the libel suit prompted the pilot to take down his own website selling it. Meanwhile, the book's disappearance suggests the suit impeded the pilot's ability to express himself, said the judge. "He has said he does not feel free to pursue an important conversation about the safety of regional airlines and, in particular, Air Georgian," wrote O'Brien. "In other words, actual libel chill is in issue here." Winkler said the ruling is among about a dozen so far under Ontario's 2015 SLAPP law, which will be further tested in two Supreme Court of Canada appeals this November. "It's a victory for freedom of expression," he said of the decision. "Its application was exactly as the legislation intended, and that is to end costly, protracted litigation by those in a superior power position against those who are speaking out in the public interest." https://nationalpost.com/news/judge-tosses-airlines-10m-libel-suit-against-pilot- saying-importance-of-safety-debate-outweighed-harm Back to Top Mexico-bound Business Aircraft See Rise in Ramp Checks Foreign business aircraft arriving at Mexican airports have noted an increase in ramp checks by authorities. According to flight-planning firm OpsGroup, operators, particularly of N-registered aircraft, have reported being subjected to inspections at Monterrey, Loreto, Tampico, and Veracruz, while southern entry ports such as Tapachula and Cozumel are likely to be affected as well. The company advised, "If you are flying anywhere in Mexico over the next month or so, you should prepare for a ramp check!" Mexican ground handler Manny Aviation Services has issued a memo to its customers warning them to ensure they are carrying their original aircraft and pilot documents, including airworthiness certificate, proof of insurance (when flying under Part 135 both worldwide and Mexican insurance is required), pilot licenses (with aircraft type ratings), pilot medical certificates, and if they are holding multiple-entry authorization, it must be onboard. Part 91 operators must also show a document stating the purpose of the flight, the name of the lead passenger, and declare their connection with the aircraft. During charter operations, the list also includes an air operator certificate, the aircraft maintenance logbook, flight manual, minimum equipment list, preflight checklist, weight and balance manifest, FAA OST 4507 form, aircraft radio-station license, first aid kit, a liferaft and/or life jackets if a portion of the flight took place over the ocean, Jeppesen manuals (at least in electronic format), and a Mexican Indefinite Blanket Permit, if the operator has one. While Manny Aviation believes the Mexican Civil Aviation Authority has instituted the inspections to ward off cabotage, Ops Group noted that the scrutiny comes in the wake of the fatal crash earlier this month of a U.S.-registered Challenger 601. The organization also advised that Mexico-bound operators check with their local handler before departure, as, in some cases, authorities have indicated in advance which incoming aircraft they are planning to ramp check. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2019-05-30/mexico- bound-business-aircraft-see-rise-ramp-checks Back to Top This Common Practice Could Get Your Phone Hacked at an Airport Turns out, those "charges" aren't exactly free. Imagine you're de-boarding a flight and after pulling out your phone to switch it off of "airplane mode," you realize you're at 15 % battery. "Yikes," you think, as you remember that you left your charger at home, and with your one-hour layover, you're going to need some juice, so to speak. Luckily there's a seat next to a column at a gate that has a USB outlet where you can grab a charge. But maybe you should reconsider this innocuous practice. The transportation industry was the second-most attacked sector-a huge jump from its 10th place in 2017-according to in a recently-released study from the 2019 IBM X-Force Threat Intelligence Index that shows how cybercriminals are changing their techniques to hack devices. What's their secret? The low battery life on your phone. "Plugging into a public USB port is kind of like finding a toothbrush on the side of the road and deciding to stick it in your mouth," said X-Force Vice President Caleb Barlow in an interview with Forbes. "You have no idea where that thing has been." Since USB connections can be modified by cybercriminals, malware can be downloaded or installed on your phone without your knowledge once you plug in. Additionally, Barlow pointed out that a rogue cord itself could be hazardous: "If you see an Apple charging cord, you're likely to grab it or just plug into it. But inside this cord is an extra chip that deploys the malware, so it charges your phone, but now I own your computer." How Do I Avoid Being Hacked-Because I Need to Charge My Phone! "Plugging into a public USB port is kind of like finding a toothbrush on the side of the road and deciding to stick it in your mouth." Barlow recommends passengers [remember] to bring a portable power bank and plug it into a standard electrical outlet in the wall. A portable charger is also worth your money, and its convenience (you can take it anywhere, not just the airport) cannot be understated. Also, if your phone has a "Low Power Mode" make sure to turn it on and leave it on during your travels. "Airplane Mode" will also save you precious battery power. If you must, use your regular charger (bring it from home) and plug it into an electrical socket instead of a USB port, which can pass data. https://www.fodors.com/news/news/this-common-practice-could-get-your-phone- hacked-at-an-airport Back to Top ICAO: CAA International to strengthen aviation safety oversight in Sierra Leone CAA International (CAAi), the technical cooperation arm of the UK Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA), is to assist the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority (SLCAA) to strengthen its regulatory oversight capability. Financed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation's (ICAO) SAFE Fund, CAAi will help the SLCAA resolve its safety-related deficiencies in several target areas including, air navigation services, aerodromes and ground aids. The project will also optimise the organisational design of SLCAA to improve its oversight effectiveness. Sierra Leone is currently ranked 43rd out of 46 countries in the Regional Aviation Safety Group for Africa and India Ocean for its effective implementation of ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices. This project will work to increase effective implementation in the target areas identified, reaching closer to the Abuja safety target of 60%. During an event held last month in Freetown to launch the project, Director General of the SLCAA, Moses Tiffa Baio thanked ICAO and CAAi for its support. Baio went on to say, "...the ICAO's Safe Fund is essential to the development of the air transport sector in Sierra Leone. At the event, Mattijs Smith, Head of International Development for CAAi said, "it is extremely positive that SLCAA, with the support of ICAO, are investing in safety oversight for Sierra Leone. Aviation is an important factor in economic development. Working together, we can build a stronger regulatory framework that will facilitate the projected growth of air traffic in the years to come for Sierra Leone." The first phase of this project will establish an ICAO compliant safety oversight system. Active regulators from the UK CAA will work with their Sierra Leone counterparts to update the ICAO audit corrective action plan. Experts will then review the legal and regulatory frameworks, establish a training framework for inspectorate staff, create an autonomous organizational structure and design new safety oversight procedures and technical, guidance materials for certification, licensing and regulator surveillance activities. The second phase of the program will focus on implementation and updating the ICAO CMA Online Framework. Maria Rueda, Managing Director at CAAi said, "We are delighted to have been appointed by ICAO to raise safety oversight in Sierra Leone. With an extra 274 million passengers a year predicted for the aviation market in Africa by 2036i, Sierra Leone needs a solid, ICAO compliant regulatory framework to oversee a growing air transport sector safety. We are fully committed to supporting the Sierra Leone CAA, and we look forward to working SLCAA and ICAO on this important project." The project commenced in May 2019 and is expected to last 18 weeks. https://www.eturbonews.com/253654/icao-caa-international-to-strengthen-aviation- safety-oversight-in-sierra-leone/ Back to Top NTSB Chief Cites 'Urgency' to Improve Charter Flights' Safety "While these tragic accidents are still under investigation, and no findings or causes have been determined, each crash underscores the urgency of improving the safety of charter flights by implementing existing NTSB safety recommendations," said Robert L. Sumwalt, NTSB's chairman. When the National Transportation Safety Board released the preliminary report on its investigation of the May 13, 2019, fatal mid-air collision near Ketchikan, Alaska, the board's chairman pointed out that existing NTSB recommendations could have helped to prevent it, as well as other recent crashes involving for-hire aircraft. The collision between a float-equipped de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver and a float-equipped de Havilland DHC-3 Turbine Otter occurred about 7 miles northeast of Ketchikan; the DHC-2 commercial pilot and four passengers sustained fatal injuries and the DHC-3 certificated airline transport pilot sustained minor injuries, nine passengers sustained serious injuries, and one passenger sustained fatal injuries. The two planes were operating under Part 135 of FAA regulations, which govern the operation of business and charter flights. So was a plane that crashed on May 26 in Alaska and a helicopter that crashed in Hawaii on April 29. "While these tragic accidents are still under investigation, and no findings or causes have been determined, each crash underscores the urgency of improving the safety of charter flights by implementing existing NTSB safety recommendations," said Robert L. Sumwalt, NTSB's chairman. "The need for those improvements is why the NTSB put Part 135 aircraft flight operations on the 2019-2020 Most Wanted List of transportation safety improvements." NTSB's safety recommendations call on Part 135 operators to implement safety management systems, record and analyze flight data, and ensure pilots receive controlled-flight-into-terrain avoidance training. Major passenger airlines, which operate under Part 121, have adopted these measures and have seen a great improvement in safety, according to the board. "A customer who pays for a ticket should trust that the operator is using the industry's best practices when it comes to safety. And it shouldn't matter if the operator has one airplane or 100. Travelers should have an equivalent level of safety, regardless of the nature of the flight for which they paid," Sumwalt said. https://ohsonline.com/articles/2019/05/31/ntsb-chief-cites-urgency-to-improve- charter-flights-safety.aspx?m=1 Back to Top The Best and Worst Airlines, According to J.D. Power Between the TSA and the ongoing grounding of Boeing's 737 Max Jets, traveling this summer is going to be bad enough. You don't want to heighten that pain by flying on a carrier with a low satisfaction rating. J.D. Power is out with its rankings of the best-and worst-airlines in North America, measuring customer satisfaction on a variety of factors. And the good news is: Travelers have never been happier when it comes to flying. Overall satisfaction with carriers was up 11 points in the analytics firm's 1,000-point scale measurement, the eighth consecutive year of improvements. But while customers might appreciate the savings of low-cost carriers, they're starting to get fed up with some of the differences in services between those and traditional airlines. The Power survey measures seven factors among passengers: cost and fees; in-flight services; aircraft; boarding/deplaning/baggage; flight crew; check-in; and reservation. Wondering who topped the lists (and who fell short)? Here's a look at this year's top and bottom scoring airlines. Highest-Ranked Airlines JetBlue: The budget carrier is ranked "among the best," tying for best overall score with Southwest. Southwest Airlines: Despite the heightened number of delayed and cancelled flights due to the carrier's large 737 Max fleet, Southwest again tied for the best low-cost carrier and overall airline, with a score of 817. Alaska Airlines: For the 12th consecutive year, this carrier topped the list among traditional carriers, with a score of 801. Delta Air Lines: The second most popular traditional carrier is ranked "better than most" with a score of 788. Lowest-Ranked Airlines Air Canada: The Canadian carrier failed to impress flyers, earning a score of 729. United Airlines: While it's one of the largest airlines around, United ranked lowest among traditional carriers, with a score of 723. Spirit Airlines: Spirit might offer low fares, but its practice of charging for seat assignments and fees for printed boarding passes earned it a score of just 711. Frontier Airlines: The Denver based carrier received the lowest score among the ranked airlines, coming in at 702. http://fortune.com/2019/05/30/best-worst-airlines-jd-power/ Back to Top Rolls Royce In Conversations Over Super Sonic Aircraft Engine Applications Rolls Royce today held a press briefing regarding the Rolls Royce Trent engine series at its Aerospace HQ in Derby, which Simple Flying attended. As is always the case at these events, the Question and Answer at the end was the most interesting part, especially when Rolls Royce was questioned on supersonic aircraft power systems. Rolls Royce Supersonic Aerion is currently working towards a supersonic business jet that would need engines. Photo: Aerion While the manufacturer wouldn't name any specific projects, they wouldn't rule out working on supersonic engine technology. In fact, the manufacturer already knows a thing or two about supersonic engines having powered the Concorde. Engine heritage Rolls Royce has a large foundation when it comes to engines overall. In fact, it was a Rolls Royce engine that powered Alcock and Brown's first non-stop transatlantic flight almost 100 years ago. While that was a propellor engine on a Vickers Vimy, the company went on to create a wide range of different engines suited to different applications. Indeed, Rolls Royce's Chief Customer Officer of Civil Aerospace, Dominic Horwood, told how "we are the company that has powered the only civil supersonic airliner so naturally, we will always be interested in the direction the industry takes". Rolls Royce Supersonic Travel Rolls Royce powered the Concorde with the Olympus 593 engine. Photo: Nimbus227 via Wikimedia Not a main focus Supersonic travel is not the main focus for Rolls Royce. Horwood commented, "it is not the centre of our strategy". He then went on to indicate that any work on supersonic airliner engines would be dictated by customer demand. Indeed, there was the impression that Rolls Royce will not pursue supersonic airliner engines just to prove that they could. "It's got to be a solution that customers want. It can't just be a technology journey. It's got to deliver a product that people need and will want to pay for, whether that's in the airline industry, or it's in the business aviation industry." This was backed up by Richard Goodhead, SVP of Marketing at Rolls Royce who said: "while Dominic said it is not central to our strategy, it is a potential application for a gas turbine." Goodhead then added "So are we in conversation with our framers about this as a potential application? Yes, just like any other potential application." Won't name specifics Horwood declined to mention specific projects that were being undertaken in the supersonic sector, saying: "I won't comment on individual aeroplanes, but the generic is we will continue to make responsible decisions about our ability to deliver to a date a reliable maturity" There are currently a number of companies working to try and realise supersonic travel once more. A company called Boom is expected to begin testing a prototype aircraft named Overture in 2020. The company is being backed by Virgin Atlantic. Meanwhile, Boeing is supporting a company called Aerion, looking to build a supersonic business jet. https://simpleflying.com/rolls-royce-super-sonic-engines/ Back to Top Air Asia India Won't Take Jet Airways Boeing 737's Low cost airline Air Asia India has declared they no longer want Jet Airways' redundant Boeing 737s for their fleet. Announced this week, the carrier sites issues around retraining pilots, arranging maintenance and coping with different seat configurations as catalysts for their decision. Air Asia India Air Asia India don't want the ex-Jet 737s after all. Photo: Venkat Mangudi via Flickr With Jet Airways no longer flying and looking to be moments away from declaring bankruptcy, rival carriers are clamoring to fill the gaps. From European airlines adding capacity to India to domestic competitors seeking to snap up their slots at busy Indian airports, it's been a tsunami of activity since they stopped flying last month. Just this week, valuable slots at Schiphol which used to belong to Jet were given to KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. This follows a last minute detention of Jet Airways' ex-CEO, who has been forbidden from leaving the country pending further investigation. As such, Air Asia India were keen to acquire some of the grounded carrier's fleet of Boeing 737s, in a bid to boost their own capacity on domestic routes. However, it now appears that the low cost airline has rethought its decision and is pulling out of the deal. Air Asia pull out of the running Air Asia India had indicated an interest in taking on a number of the grounded carrier's 737 aircraft, in a bid to secure valuable landing slots at Mumbai and Delhi. However, it now appears that this plan has been dropped, with News 18 reporting an industry source as saying: "Air Asia India had informed the aviation regulator about their plan to lease some of the B737 airplanes that were operated by Jet Airways. But later it did not follow up. Now, the idea has finally been dropped," Air Asia Jet Airways AirAsia India currently only operates the A320. Photo: AirAsia As a budget carrier, Air Asia India need to be on top of their outgoings at all times. As such, their decision to pull out of the acquisition of the Jet Airways Boeing 737s is probably a wise move. Being a one-aircraft operator is one of the best ways to keep costs down and taking on a new type of aircraft was going to come at a huge cost to Air Asia India. According to reporting, the carrier decided not to pursue the plan due to complications with the different seating configuration, maintenance and skill requirements. The source went on to say: "In low-cost airline business, one-type of the fleet is advisable," As such, Air Asia India remain focused on building their fleet of A320 aircraft instead. They plan to double their fleet size over the next 18 months from the current level of 21 A320s. Why did Air Asia want the Boeing 737s? Previously, Air Asia India had applied to add the 737 to its air operators certificate. As an Airbus only airline, it needed permission to fly the new type. This was in a bid to snag the spare airport slots at Delhi and Mumbai, freed up by the no longer flying Jet Airways. The caveat was that the airlines needed to start using them immediately, and as such, they needed spare aircraft. With no additional capacity in their existing fleet, it made sense for Air Asia India to look to take on Jet Airways' redundant 737s, if only to secure those slots. Jet Airways Boeing 737 Jet Airways' 737s would have been costly to integrate. Photo: Wikipedia. However, it seems that common sense prevailed. As with most low cost airlines, Air Asia India stick to one type of aircraft. This significantly reduces some of the cost associated with running an airline, from tooling to mechanic expertise to pilot training and even spare parts. It seems that now Air Asia have realized the amount of investment required of them to actually incorporate the Boeing 737s into their fleet is just too great. Instead, other operators will benefit from the 'spare' aircraft, with SpiceJet taking on 22 already and a further eight planned to be added soon. As a result, they secured 130 slot pairs at Delhi and Mumbai. Vistara have also added 10 ex-Jet Airways airframes and received 110 slots from the pool. While IndiGo aren't taking any new aircraft from Jet, they have acquired 285 pilots from the failed carrier. However, they are now faced with the expense of retraining these pilots to fly their fleet of A320neos. https://simpleflying.com/air-asia-drops-jets-737s/ Back to Top US and Japan to Cooperate on Return to the Moon WASHINGTON - The governments of the United States and Japan have agreed to further cooperation in space which could include flying Japanese astronauts to the moon. At a joint press conference in Tokyo May 27 with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, President Donald Trump mentioned cooperation in space exploration as one outcome of their meetings during the president's visit to the country. "I am pleased to confirm that Prime Minister Abe and I have agreed to dramatically expand our nations' cooperation in human space exploration," Trump said. "Japan will join our mission to send U.S. astronauts to space. We'll be going to the moon. We'll be going to Mars very soon. It's very exciting." A NASA chart released in March, prior to the announcement NASA would speed up its human lunar landing to 2024, identifies potential contributions by international partners, including the Japanese space agency JAXA. Neither Trump nor Abe elaborated on the nature of that agreement, which was not released. A fact sheet released by the State Department May 27 noted that the two "agreed on the importance of a sustained human presence on and around the moon." "Building on its International Space Station (ISS) experience, Japanese astronauts will strive to join American astronauts on the moon and destinations beyond," the State Department fact sheet noted. A cooperative agreement of some kind between the United States and Japan was expected to be signed during Trump's visit. Japan, a major partner on the ISS, had shown an interest in participating in aspects of NASA's renewed push to return to the moon, including contributing modules to the Gateway facility NASA plans to develop in lunar orbit to support human lunar landings. "It's a great pleasure to collaborate with NASA in that endeavor," Hiroshi Yamakawa, president of the Japanese space agency JAXA, said in a video released by NASA May 28 about international cooperation on the development of the Gateway and its overall lunar plans. In a May 28 tweet, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said he was "very excited" about the agreement announced by Trump and Abe. "Japan and [JAXA] are critical partners in our efforts to go forward to the Moon and on to Mars!" With NASA accelerating its plans to return humans to the lunar surface by 2024, versus the 2028 date in its previous plans, major roles for international partners will mostly be deferred to the second phase, which will focus on establishing a sustainable human presence on and around the moon after the 2024 landing. That would include contributions such as Gateway modules, which could give contributing countries slots on later lander missions in much the same way ISS partners get crew slots on space station missions. "Accelerating the landing date to 2024 makes it harder for us to incorporate our international partners early," acknowledged Ken Bowersox, deputy associate administrator for human exploration and operations at NASA, during a May 28 meeting of a NASA Advisory Council committee. "We're still looking at working with our international partners. A lot of their elements were going to come after 2024 anyway." However, he added that if international partners can accelerate their contributions, "they're welcome to participate in the early phases." It's unclear if this agreement with have any effect on other aspects of U.S.-Japan space activities, government or commercial, but companies welcome the agreement in any event. An example is Japanese company ispace, which is developing commercial lunar landers and is part of a team led by American company Draper that won one of nine Commercial Lunar Payload Services agreements from NASA last November to transport research payloads to the lunar surface. "We are thrilled to learn that the U.S. and Japan will deepen its strong relationship in space exploration through a focused effort on lunar exploration," Takeshi Hakamada, founder and chief executive of ispace, said in a statement to SpaceNews. "Alongside our American partner, Draper, ispace is well prepared and eager to support this new endeavor between the U.S. and Japan." https://www.space.com/us-japan-cooperation-moon-return.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 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 Curt Lewis,