Flight Safety Information June 5, 2019 - No. 113 In This Issue Boeing Reports Up to 148 Parts for Its Aircraft Were 'Improperly Manufactured' Incident: Europa B738 at Umea on Jun 1st 2019, flaps problem Incident: American E190 at New York on Jun 3rd 2019, bird strike Incident: UTAir B735 near Moscow on Jun 4th 2019, loss of cabin pressure Incident: Nordica CRJ9 at Kiev and Tallinn on Jun 4th 2019, burst tyre Missing AN-32 aircraft: Outdated locator beacon hampers massive search operations (India) Five years after MH17 downing, airline conflict alert system remains patchy FAA Gives Nod to Bell 505 for High-altitude Ops Aireon Becomes First-Of-Its-Kind Surveillance System Certified By The European Union SAS scraps on-board duty-free to cut aircraft weight Cirrus names new CEO; Co-founder Klapmeier steps down Icelandair Fires Its Boeing 737 MAX Pilots This United flight from Chicago to L.A. pilots the future of green air travel PCC gets money to double its aviation tech program Stratolaunch, Builder of World's Largest Airplane for Rocket Launches, May Be Closing GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Beyond Risk Management, Ltd. ERAU to offer July HFACS Workshop in Vegas Position Available: A & P Mechanic Position Available: Investigator/Senior Investigator, Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) ISASI - DFW Regional Chapter Meeting Boeing Reports Up to 148 Parts for Its Aircraft Were 'Improperly Manufactured' A Boeing 737 MAX 8 jetliner being built for Turkish Airlines takes off on a test flight, Wednesday, May 8, 2019, in Renton, Wash. Passenger flights using the plane remain grounded worldwide as investigations into two fatal crashes involving the airplane continue. Adding to an ever-growing list of Boeing public relations issues, the aircraft manufacturer has informed the Federal Aviation Administration that some of its 737 jets may have "improperly manufactured" wing parts that don't meet strength and durability standards. The FAA said Sunday that the issue affects some of the slat tracks in Boeing's Next Generation (NG) and Max aircraft, including 32 NG and 33 Max jets in the U.S. The FAA said that the issue may affect as many as 148 parts manufactured by a Boeing supplier, adding that the faulty parts "may be susceptible to premature failure or cracks." "Although a complete failure of a leading edge slat track would not result in the loss of the aircraft, a risk remains that a failed part could lead to aircraft damage in flight," the FAA said. The investigation was jointly conducted by Boeing and the FAA Certificate Management Office (CMO), and Boeing alerted the FAA to the issue. The FAA said it will notify carriers who operate the planes with a mandatory directive to remove any faulty parts in question within 10 days. It has also informed international aviation officials as to the finding. The FAA reported that 133 NG and 179 Max aircraft worldwide were potentially affected by the issue. Boeing said in a news release it identified only 21 NGs and 20 Maxes likely to contain the parts, but said that it recommended another 112 NGs and 159 Maxes be examined to "ensure a thorough assessment." Boeing added that it is working to minimize downtime while the replacement parts are installed. "We are committed to supporting our customers in every way possible as they identify and replace these potentially non-conforming tracks," Kevin McAllister, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said in a statement. A spokesperson for American Airlines told Gizmodo by email that the issue did not impact any of the 737 NG aircraft that it operates. United Airlines also said that none of its NGs are affected. Alaska Airlines told Gizmodo that it had one NG that was impacted by the notice. "Our engineering and maintenance team is waiting for additional information on what actions to take," an Alaska Airlines spokesperson said. Southwest Airlines told CNBC that it plans to "fully comply with any service and regulatory requirements" and will review the NG and Max jets in its own fleet. "With only a handful of Southwest aircraft identified, out of a fleet of more than 700 available aircraft, we are experiencing a normal operating day and do not anticipate Customer disruptions," a spokesperson for the airline added in a statement to Gizmodo. "Southwest remains committed to ensuring the Safety of our Customers and Employees." After two deadly crashes involving Boeing 737 Max planes killed a combined 346 people, the FAA in March ordered all Max-8 and Max-9 aircraft to be grounded. Both crashes are still being investigated, though it's suspected that an anti-stall system known as MCAS may have played a significant part in the incidents. During a press conference last month, acting head of the FAA Daniel Elwell indicated there is currently no set schedule for clearing the jets for commercial flight. Per BBC, Elwell said at the time that if the process "takes a year to find everything we need to give us the confidence to lift the [grounding] order so be it." https://gizmodo.com/boeing-reports-up-to-148-parts-for-its-aircraft-were-im-1835203890 Back to Top Incident: Europa B738 at Umea on Jun 1st 2019, flaps problem An Air Europa Boeing 737-800, registration EC-LYR performing flight UX-813 from Pallma Mallorca,SP (Spain) to Umea (Sweden), was on final approach to Umea's runway 14 when the crew initiated a go around due to a problem with the flaps. The aircraft entered a hold at 5000 feet MSL for about 25 minutes while the crew worked the related checklists, then positioned for another approach to runway 14. The aircraft landed safely on runway 14 at about 171 knots over ground. The aircraft departed for the return flight UX-814 after about 4 hours on the ground. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c8cd092&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: American E190 at New York on Jun 3rd 2019, bird strike An American Airlines Embraer ERJ-190, registration N947UW performing flight AA-2107 from New York La Guardia,NY to Pittsburgh,PA (USA), was in the initial climb out of La Guardia's runway 04 when the crew reported a bird strike, stopped the climb at 5000 feet and requested a precautionary return to La Guardia. The aircraft landed safely on runway 31 about 15 minutes after departure. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground for about 15 hours, then positioned to Philadelphia,PA (USA) as flight AA-9624 and returned to service after another 15 hours on the ground in Philadelphia. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/AAL2107/history/20190603/1205Z/KLGA/KPIT http://avherald.com/h?article=4c8cce80&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: UTAir B735 near Moscow on Jun 4th 2019, loss of cabin pressure A UTAir Boeing 737-500, registration VP-BXR performing flight UT-705 from Moscow Vnukovo (Russia) to Berlin Tegel (Germany) with 101 people on board, was enroute at FL340 about 230nm west of Moscow when the crew initiated an emergency descent to FL100 due to the loss of cabin pressure, the passenger oxygen masks deployed. The aircraft turned around and returned to Vnukovo for a safe landing about 100 minutes after departure. A replacement Boeing 737-500 registration VP-BYM reached Berlin with a delay of 5:20 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground about 12 hours after landing back. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c8ccc49&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Nordica CRJ9 at Kiev and Tallinn on Jun 4th 2019, burst tyre A Nordica Canadair CRJ-900 on behalf of LOT Polish Airlines, registration ES-ACC performing flight LO-8312 from Kiev (Ukraine) to Tallinn (Estonia) with 31 passengers and 5 crew, departed Kiev's runway 18R when a loud bang occurred. The aircraft continued to Tallinn where the aircraft landed safely about 105 minutes after departure. The aircraft stopped on the runway, the passengers disembarked onto the runway and were taken to the terminal. The aircraft was towed to the apron. A passenger reported there was a loud bang during the takeoff run from Kiev as result of a burst tyre. The crew decided to continue to Tallinn, emergency services were on stand by for the arrival. The aircraft landed safely and stopped on the runway, the landing gear was foamed. The aircraft was towed off the runway after about 45 minutes. A passenger in another flight to arrive in Tallinn, whose aircraft was caught up in the aftermath and needed to enter a hold, reported there were fire engines and the aircraft on the runway, but they didn't know what the problem was. The aircraft remained on the runway for about 45 minutes before being towed off. Their flight then continued for a landing at Tallinn. Tallinn airport reported the aircraft landed with a blown tyre, none of the 31 passengers and 5 crew were harmed. The runway was closed for about 30 minutes. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c8cca65&opt=0 Back to Top Missing AN-32 aircraft: Outdated locator beacon hampers massive search operations (India) • Satellites, spy aircraft, fighters and foot soldiers conducting a search operation for the missing AN-32 aircraft are yet to find any trace of the wreckage • A major problem in locating the aircraft is the outdated emergency locator transmitters or beacon installed in the cargo compartment of the AN-32 • No distress signals from the AN-32 have been detected yet, said an officer File photo of an AN-32 aircraft (Courtesy: Reuters) NEW DELHI: Satellites, spy aircraft, fighters, helicopters and foot soldiers are conducting a massive search operation for the missing AN-32 medium transport aircraft - which did not have modern avionics, radars or emergency locator transmitters (ELTs) - but are yet to find any trace of the wreckage in the densely-forested hilly terrain of Arunachal Pradesh. The search operation is currently centered on the "probable crash zone" in the Along-Payum-Tato area, which has been calculated based on the last radar and radio contact by the ill-fated AN-32 with ground control units at 1pm on Monday, close to the China border in the West Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh. The AN-32, which was on its way to the Mechuka advance landing ground (ALC) from the Jorhat airbase in Assam, had six officers and seven other IAF personnel on board. "There were two sets of crew, with a pilot, co-pilot and navigator each, because one of them was on a familiarisation trip of the area," said an officer. Even as C-130J Super Hercules aircraft undertook night sorties to scan the probable crash zone, the Navy also deployed a P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance plane for the operation on Tuesday afternoon. Both the C-130Js and P-8Is have synthetic aperture radars as well as electro-optical and infra-red sensors that can help the hunt for a plane wreckage. A major problem in locating the aircraft is the outdated "Sabre-8" ELT or beacon installed in the cargo compartment of the AN-32, which was yet to be upgraded with airframe strengthening, advanced avionics and radars to fly in difficult conditions, as was first reported by TOI. Only 54 of the about 100 AN-32s in the IAF fleet, which were inducted from the erstwhile Soviet Union between 1984 and 1991, have been upgraded with "total technical life extension from the original 25 years to 40 years, overhaul and re-equipment" till now under an initial $400 million contract with Ukraine in 2009. "No distress signals from the AN-32 have been detected yet. The ELTs, which have a limited battery life, get activated if the aircraft experiences an impact of 20G (20 times the force of gravity). The AN-32 upgrade project, apart from airframe strengthening, enhanced ground-warning systems, new weather radars, advanced GPS, multi-functional displays etc, also involves fitting two new modern ELTs on the twin-engine turboprop aircraft," said another officer. But the supply of some spares, components and kits for the AN-32 upgrade project, under which the first 40 aircraft were "re-equipped" in Ukraine with the rest slated to undergo it at the Kanpur BRD (base repair depot), have been hit because of the bilateral problems between Russia and Ukraine over the Crimean Peninsula. "The upgrade project was to be completed in five years but has moved at a very slow pace," said the officer. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/missing-an-32-aircraft-outdated-locator-beacon-hampers-massive-search-operations/articleshow/69652723.cms Back to Top Five years after MH17 downing, airline conflict alert system remains patchy SEOUL/MONTREAL (Reuters) - When Pakistan closed its airspace during conflict with India in February, Malaysia Airlines was not one of the carriers left scrambling to re-route flights because it had already done so two weeks earlier, the carrier's chief executive said. FILE PHOTO: An armed pro-Russian separatist stands on part of the wreckage of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane after it crashed near the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region, July 17, 2014. REUTERS/Maxim Zmeyev/File Photo Nearly five years after Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down by a missile over Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board, carriers like Malaysia Airlines are increasingly taking steps to uncover any threats to their planes. But concerns persist over inadequate government intelligence sharing and a reluctance by countries involved in conflict to divulge information or sacrifice overflight fees by shutting their skies, safety experts said. "The wound is still here in the whole organization and we take safety very seriously," Malaysia Airlines chief executive Izham Ismail told Reuters on the sidelines of an International Air Transport Association (IATA) conference in Seoul. In the aftermath of the shooting down of MH17, the aviation industry backed the creation by a U.N. agency of a conflict zone website as a one-stop repository for route planning. But when the site was later closed after complaints from some countries over information-sharing, airlines turned elsewhere for advice. "For the big 50 airlines, they have the resources to dedicate a security department to the job," said Mark Zee, founder of OPSGROUP, which launched the free website Safe Airspace to provide guidance after MH17. "For everyone else - and that is thousands of operators, I can tell you that many of them have a really hard time making a decent risk assessment. I see it in the emails we get every day." Airlines are spending millions of dollars a year on extra fuel flying roundabout routes in the Middle East and Africa to avoid conflict zones. And carriers still see routes above war-torn countries differently, just like before MH17, when British Airways and Air France avoided eastern Ukraine, but Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines flew over it. "This is where we need better information," IATA Senior Vice President, Safety and Flight Operations Gilberto Lopez-Meyer said in Seoul. Qatar Airways, for one, recently returned to flying over Syria as part of its efforts to grapple with a two-year Gulf dispute that has blocked it from using the airspace of many of its neighbors. CEO Akbar al-Baker said the airline would not fly anywhere that is not safe. 'MORE AWARE' The United States and other countries ban their airlines from flying over Syrian airspace at any altitude due to safety risks, according to a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) conflict zone website set up after MH17. Yet the resources that are available to airlines often communicate changing threat levels too slowly and informally to be of use, according to the Dutch Safety Board, which led the MH17 investigation and released post-crash recommendations in February this year. While the Netherlands shares confidential information on threats to its own carriers on a formal basis, other countries remain reluctant to do so. The site set up after MH17 by the U.N.'s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) closed after "states objected to anybody but themselves publishing information about hazards in their airspace", said a source involved with the creation of the site who declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter. Instead, the use of commercial services like OPSGROUP grew among airlines polled after MH17, the Dutch Safety Board said. "I think after MH17 people became more aware of the problem. They seek information," said Mohammed Aziz, a former Lebanese air accident investigator who is now a consultant with Aviation Strategies International. "The problem is before they weren't seeking information. They were waiting for information to come their way." Montreal-based ICAO has also called for air traffic service authorities to report conflict zone hazards in notices to pilots. But these new requirements do not take effect until November 2020 and still put the onus on countries to share information. "Rules alone do not change the behavior of states," said Jeff Poole, director general of the Civil Air Services Navigation Organization (CANSO). "However, we see that more and more states take the correct responsibility." https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-airlines-iata-flight-paths-idUKKCN1T50Y9 Back to Top FAA Gives Nod to Bell 505 for High-altitude Ops Bell recently demonstrated the high-altitude capabilities of the 505 Jet Ranger X during flight testing in Nepal, performing various takeoffs and landings at density altitudes between 18,000 and 18,500 feet. (Photo: Bell) Bell has received FAA type certification authorization to increase the performance information service ceiling of its Model 505 light single to a density altitude of 22,500 feet. Bell recently demonstrated the high-altitude capabilities of the 505 Jet Ranger X during flight testing in Nepal, performing various takeoffs and landings at density altitudes between 18,000 and 18,500 feet, as well as conducting evaluations of landings with the loss of hydraulic boost. "High-altitude demonstrations are another testament to the aircraft's ability to perform in the most demanding environments, across a variety of segments," said Bell 505 program director LaShan Bonaparte. The in-service fleet of Bell 505s has been delivered to customers across six continents and recently surpassed the 13,000-hour mark. Bell delivered the first 505 in March 2017 and, according to data from GAMA, delivered 161 of the helicopters through first-quarter 2019. The five-seat 505 is equipped with the Garmin G1000H integrated avionics suite and powered by the Safran Arrius 2R turboshaft Fadec engine. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/general-aviation/2019-06-04/faa-gives-nod-bell-505-high-altitude-ops Back to Top Aireon Becomes First-Of-Its-Kind Surveillance System Certified By The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) MCLEAN, Va. , June 4, 2019 /CNW/ -- Aireon was officially approved by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) as an Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) Organization to provide Air Traffic Management (ATM)/Air Navigation Service (ANS) surveillance services, to support the separation of aircraft. This authorizes Aireon as the first-ever certified provider of aircraft surveillance-as-a-service. This designation represents the culmination of a three-year long collaboration between Aireon and EASA, the agency that determines and promotes civil aviation safety standards for the member States of the European Union (EU) and other associated States. EASA's rigorous and holistic certification process ensured the performance of the Aireon data for use in critical safety-of-life Air Traffic Services (ATS) surveillance. Aireon is committed to the safe delivery of space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) services to its customers Air Traffic Control (ATC) systems. By recognizing the performance of Aireon's ADS-B service, this EASA certification is a major milestone to legitimize the world's first set of global real-time air traffic data. According to Manfred Dieroff , EASA's ATM/ANS Standards, Implementation and Oversight Section Manager, "EASA performed a series of audits that addressed the compliance with the EU Regulation applicable to ATM/ANS Surveillance services, including among others management processes, system development and verification, software assurance, operational processes, service monitoring and technical support. With this certification, Aireon is able to provide its customers with an EASA accepted Service Definition Document and Safety Case accepted by EASA in the frame of the initial certification." "This is not only a validation of our processes, procedures and safety-case in the EU, but it also establishes a robust safety case that can be used outside of the EU and throughout the world," said Vincent Capezzuto , Aireon's CTO and Vice President of Engineering. As the EU's preeminent civil aviation regulatory authority, today's certification ensures that Aireon will not undergo additional certifications for business purposes in Europe , providing a significant opportunity to expand safety, environmental and business benefits of Aireon's space-based ADS-B data. "EASA's certification, the first of its kind for a provider like Aireon, is just the beginning," continued Capezzuto. "This is an absolute differentiator for Aireon as a global provider of surveillance-as-a-service." "The incredible team at Aireon is dedicated to improving safety across the entire aviation community, continued Dieroff. "We look forward to our future interactions and continuous oversight." For additional information about Aireon, please visit www.aireon.com. About Aireon LLC Aireon has deployed a space-based air traffic surveillance system for Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) equipped aircraft throughout the entire globe. Aireon is harnessing next-generation aviation surveillance technologies that were formally ground-based and, for the first time ever, is extending their reach globally to significantly improve efficiency, enhance safety, reduce emissions and provide cost savings benefits to all stakeholders. space-based ADS-B surveillance covers oceanic, polar and remote regions, and augments existing ground-based systems that are limited to terrestrial airspace. In partnership with leading ANSPs from around the world, like NAV CANADA , the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), Enav, NATS and Naviair, as well as Iridium Communications, Aireon is providing a global, real-time, space-based air traffic surveillance system, available to all aviation stakeholders. For more information, please visit www.aireon.com. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/aireon-becomes-first-kind-surveillance-110000906.html Back to Top SAS scraps on-board duty-free to cut aircraft weight Scandinavian operator SAS is to scrap duty-free sales on board its aircraft in a bid to trim weight and save fuel. The airline says the measure will be implemented in autumn, as part of its overall strategy to cut emissions by 25% by 2030 compared with the 2005 baseline. SAS says duty-free sales has been a "popular" service among those customers who have used it. "But our passengers' buying behaviour has changed and sustainability has become more important than ever before," the carrier says. "Withdrawing tax-free sales will reduce the overall weight of the aircraft, which in turn will reduce fuel consumption and emissions." SAS says it will instead introduce alternative solutions to provide "more modern" means for passengers to purchase goods during their trip. "Every step on the way to sustainable travel is important," says executive vice-president, commercial, Karl Sandlund. "Every initiative to reduce weight and thereby cut fuel consumption helps." SAS's targets for 2030 also include 17% use of biofuel, the equivalent of its total domestic consumption. https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/sas-scraps-on-board-duty-free-to-cut-aircraft-weight-458684/ Back to Top Cirrus names new CEO; Co-founder Klapmeier steps down Cirrus Aircraft announced today that Zean Nielsen has been selected to succeed Co-founder Dale Klapmeier as its next Chief Executive Officer. Cirrus Aircraft announced Tuesday a new CEO to succeed its co-founder, Dale Klapmeier, who is stepping down but will continue to serve as a senior advisor. This marks the first time that Cirrus - now Duluth's largest manufacturing employer - has operated without a Klapmeier in a leadership position. Dale Klapmeier and his brother, Alan, started Cirrus in 1984 from a barn on their parent's property near Baraboo, Wis. They moved the company to Duluth in 1994 Cirrus has named Zean Nielsen its next CEO. The job won't be Nielsen's first leadership gig, as his credentials include senior roles at other high-profile companies, including Tesla Motors, James Hardie and Bang & Olufsen. In a written statement, Klapmeier said: "We are fortunate to have someone of Zean's caliber and experience to lead us into the next era of growth. I am looking forward to moving into a senior advisory role and continuing to work with our exceptional team on reinventing the future of personal transportation." Cirrus employs about 1,020 people in Duluth, another 250 at a composite plant in Grand Forks, N.D., and approximately 120 more at an aircraft delivery center in Knoxville, Tenn. Nielsen's resumι includes his most recent stint as executive vice president of North American sales at James Hardie, an industrial building materials company; a previous job at Tesla Motors, where he served as vice president of global sales operations; and 17 years at Bang & Olufsen, a manufacturer of high-end electronics, where he ascended to the role of the company's president for North and South American markets. In a statement, Nielsen said: "I am honored and humbled to join this team of experienced general aviation leaders and a world-class workforce as we continue to bring game-changing products and services to market. Our mission is to deliver an aviation experience that is the pinnacle of innovation, quality and safety to our customers - and that is exactly what we will continue to do for many years to come." Alan Klapmeier left Cirrus in 2009, five years after he and his brother sold a controlling interest in the company to Arcapita Bank, an investment offshoot of the First Islamic Investment Bank of Bahrain. Before departing, Alan Klapmeier made an unsuccessful bid to buy Cirrus' then-nascent jet development program. When that failed, he left to found Kestrel Aircraft, which has since merged with Eclipse Aerospace to form One Aviation Corp. Dale Klapmeier stayed on at Cirrus and was named CEO in 2011, after Arcapita sold its interest in the company to the current owner CAIGA - short for Chinese Aviation Industry General Aircraft. Cirrus earned a reputation for its innovative design and sleek composite construction, as well as its novel decision to include a whole-plane parachute as standard equipment on each aircraft the company sells. In 2014, the Klapmeier brothers were honored with an induction to the National Aviation Hall of Fame. In 2018, about 1 1/2 years after the release of the Vision SF50 Jet, Cirrus received the prestigious Robert J. Collier Trophy described as an award for "the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America, with respect to improving the performance, efficiency, and safety in air or space vehicles, the value of which has been thoroughly demonstrated by actual use during the preceding year," in the words of a news announcement. "For more than a century, the Collier Trophy has recognized the greatest achievements in aviation in America," NAA President and CEO Greg Principato said in a statement. "By revolutionizing general and personal aviation, Cirrus Aircraft, with their Vision Jet, has added to a great and historic Collier legacy." Dale Klapmeier's departure from his role as CEO was far from unexpected. In December of 2018, Cirrus announced it had launched a search for a new CEO, in anticipation of Klapmeier's plans to step down in 2019. https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/business/manufacturing/4621729-cirrus-names-new-ceo-co-founder-klapmeier-steps-down Back to Top Icelandair Fires Its Boeing 737 MAX Pilots After coming to the conclusion that the 737 MAX will be grounded longer than was first anticipated, Icelandair has fired some of its Boeing 737 MAX pilots. Icelandair are terminating 45 737 MAX pilots. Photo: Icelandair Icelandair made the announcement that it would be terminating 45 of its 737 MAX pilots during a training session, according to Aviation24.be. Of the number of pilots let go, 21 included newcomers to the airline who had just begun working on the 737 MAX before it became grounded. The other 24 pilots to lose their jobs had been with the airline since last autumn, flying the ill-fated Boeing aircraft. Having now made changes to its summer schedule to not include the 737 MAX, the Nordic carrier has announced that it has agreed to wet-lease one B757-200 from an unspecified carrier. The leased aircraft will be used during the summer season, between now and September. This latest aircraft comes on the heels of two B767-300ERs Icelandair already leased from Portugal's euroAtlantic Airways. When ch-aviation asked Icelandair where they were leasing the 757-200 from, all Icelandair would say is that the aircraft will be equipped with 185 seats. Icelandair's fleet With its almost unique position halfway between North America and Europe, Iceland's national flag carrier has built a business around stopover transatlantic flights. This is in addition to the demand for service in Iceland. Icelandair wanted to retire their 757s, replacing them with the 737 MAX. Photo:Icelandair Their current fleet of all-Boeing aircraft is based at Keflavνk International Airport in Reykjavνk. It consists of 25 Boeing 757-200's, two 757-300's, four 767-300ER's and five Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. With an average age of 20 years, Icelandair was in the process of retiring the 757's and replacing them with the Boeing 737 MAX. On paper, and given Icelandair's history of working with Boeing, the 737 MAX looked like the ideal aircraft for the carrier, given its location in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Icelandair even said so much themselves when talking about the 737 MAX on their website saying, "With the addition of 16 737 MAX 8 and 9 - the first aircraft arriving in early 2018 - our fleet is perfectly suited to serve both Europe and North America from our unique location in Iceland." What now for Icelandair and the 737 MAX? No airline wants to have aircraft sitting on the ground that they cannot fly! Icelandair and dozens of other airlines around the world are in this position now following the grounding of the 737 MAX after the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airline disasters. To make matters worse for Boeing the FAA is telling airlines to check 179, 737 MAX's for improperly manufactured parts. Called a leading-edge slat track a (part of the wing) that helps provide lift during take-off and landing was found to be susceptible to "premature failure or cracks resulting from the improper manufacturing process", the FAA said on Sunday as reported by the Guardian. While not threatening, it is just another bit of bad news for the American plane manufacturer. Icelandair still needs to eventually replace their ageing 757 aircraft and with Emirates President Tim Clark telling reporters at the IATA's AGM in Seoul that "If it (737 MAX) is in the air by Christmas, I'll be surprised," Then maybe it's time Icelandair started looking at the A321neo? What do you think? https://simpleflying.com/icelandair-fires-its-boeing-737-max-pilots/ Back to Top This United flight from Chicago to L.A. pilots the future of green air travel A biofuel blend cut emissions 18% from the June 5 flight-and that was just the tip of the iceberg for the sustainability measures taken on board. If you often fly long distances, those trips are probably the largest part of your carbon footprint. In Sweden, the problem spawned the new word "flygskam," or "flight shame," and a growing number of people are pledging not to fly. For airlines, cutting emissions is challenging, and large electric jets may still be a couple of decades away. But a United flight from Chicago to Los Angeles today, June 5, demonstrates how much is already possible. Instead of regular jet fuel, the flight is using a biofuel blend. "Biofuel is extraordinarily important to us as we seek to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions," says Aaron Robinson, senior manager for environmental strategy and sustainability at United. The company started first using biofuel in flights from LAX in 2016, working with a nearby supplier. Another supplier near Chicago, which makes biofuel from household waste, will start delivering fuel in a few years. (United owns a stake in the company.) Jet fuel accounts for roughly 99% of the carbon footprint of a flight; pure biofuel shrinks emissions 60%, and using a biofuel blend can cut fuel emissions by 18%. On the flight from Chicago to L.A., United will buy carbon offsets to cover the rest of the emissions, supporting a Conservation International project in Peru that helps local farmers find economic alternatives to cutting down trees in a protected forest. During the flight, passengers will be served a free meal with recyclable and compostable tableware instead of standard snacks in multiple hard-to-recycle packages. The company will test a new paper coffee cup that can be easily recycled. "We're really testing out different options to get customer feedback on them, and truly understand how we can operationalize this more in the future," says Aaron Stash, senior manager for environmental sustainability and stakeholder engagement at United. Each change requires careful analysis: Initially, the company wanted to switch to reusable silverware, but because the amount of fuel a plane uses is so sensitive to weight, using slightly heavier forks is actually worse for the environment. If the test goes well, United may begin using the new tableware on its international flights, where it already serves full meals. The pilots on the flight will use every possible technique to optimize efficiency. The methods aren't new, but aren't always implemented. "We want to be flying the right altitude at the right speed, the most direct routing," says Robinson. "Given airspace constraints, that's not always possible. So sometimes we'll have to take circuitous routings or maybe around weather. Ideally, we would be slowly having the aircraft climb over the course of the flight." On the ground, the flight will use electric-powered ground equipment instead of standard diesel models. All of this is difficult to scale up on all of United's flights. Some airports don't yet have the infrastructure for electric ground equipment, for example. The supply of biofuel is growing, but still very limited, and technical constraints mean that the biofuel still has to be blended with regular jet fuel. But there will soon be more options. New startups capturing CO2 emissions from power plants or directly from the air can also make new fuel with a dramatically smaller footprint. And the airline will likely eventually use electric planes-though that will take time. "We're interested in electric aircraft," says Robinson. "But the reality is that that technology is not going to be available to us for quite some time. The current projections are that you have a regional aircraft available in 2030 or so, and then a mainline-sized domestic airplane probably 10 or 15 years after that." The expense of current planes also means that airlines want to use them as long as possible, so the company is focused on biofuel. "The industry has made a very conscious decision of taking the approach of having sustainable fuels that are compatible with our existing aircraft because that's what we believe is the cheaper, more affordable solution to get to those goals [of reducing emissions] in a faster timeframe," Robinson says. https://www.fastcompany.com/90359399/this-united-flight-from-chicago-to-l-a-pilots-the-future-of-green-air-travel?partner=rss Back to Top PCC gets money to double its aviation tech program The Arizona Legislature approved $15 million to expand the program, the first state money since cutting community college funding four years ago. Students and an instructor at Pima Community College's aviation technology program watch a plane pass above as they perform maintenance on a small aircraft at the college's facility near Tucson International Airport on Feb. 4, 2019. Zoe Barrie/AZPM Students eager to learn commercial aircraft repair at Pima Community College have to put their names on a one-year waiting list. That might end by 2021. This year, the Arizona Legislature approved $15 million to double the size of PCC's aviation technology program. It's the first state money allocated for a community college since the Legislature cut all funding four years ago. Program director Jason Bowersock says the funding reflects the high demand for technicians to work on large commercial aircraft. "More and more these days employers are actually coming into our facility, conducting interviews on-site with the students and offering a job before they even have a chance to graduate the program and get certified," Bowersock said. The $15 million will go toward building new facilities for the aviation program, with room to double its enrollment from 125 to 250 students by the fall of 2021. The Aviation Technology Center is located just off the end of one of the runways at Tucson International Airport, and a short distance from Bombardier Commercial Aircraft Services, one of the employers eager to hire graduates of the program. https://news.azpm.org/p/news-articles/2019/6/4/152730-pcc-gets-money-to-double-its-aviation-tech-program/ Back to Top Stratolaunch, Builder of World's Largest Airplane for Rocket Launches, May Be Closing: Report • Billionaire Paul Allen founded the company in 2011. Stratolaunch's rocket carrier plane, the largest aircraft ever built, takes off from the Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, California during its first test flight on April 13, 2019.Stratolaunch's rocket carrier plane, the largest aircraft ever built, takes off from the Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, California during its first test flight on April 13, 2019.(Image: © Stratolaunch) The world's largest airplane may be grounded after just one flight. Stratolaunch Systems Corp., which built a huge rocket-toting aircraft named Roc to launch satellites (and eventually people) into space, will soon shut down, Reuters reported on Friday (May 31), citing four anonymous sources. However, Stratolaunch officials have told Space.com the company "remains operational" as of now. Microsoft co-founder and longtime space enthusiast Paul Allen established Stratolaunch in 2011. But the billionaire died last October at the age of 65, and his sister Jody - chair of Stratolaunch parent venture Vulcan Inc. and trustee of the Paul G. Allen Trust - decided to "set an exit strategy" late last year, according to Reuters. "Jody Allen decided to let the carrier aircraft fly to honor her brother's wishes and also to prove the vehicle and concept worked, one of the four people said," Reuters wrote. That flight took place April 13 from California's Mojave Air and Space Port. During the 2.5-hour test jaunt, Roc reached a peak altitude of 17,000 feet (5,180 meters) and a top speed of 189 mph (304 km/h), Stratolaunch Systems representatives said at the time. Roc's wingspan is a record-breaking 385 feet (117 m) - longer than an entire football field, including the two end zones. The aircraft is designed to haul a launch vehicle up to about 35,000 feet (10,700 m), at which point the booster will separate and make its own way to space. Another company, Richard Branson's Virgin Orbit, plans to air-launch satellites in a similar manner, though with a much smaller carrier plane. And Virgin Orbit's sister outfit, Virgin Galactic, employs a carrier plane to get its six-passenger SpaceShipTwo suborbital spaceliner aloft. Stratolaunch Systems' impending demise is not official, however; a spokesperson told Reuters that the Seattle-based company is still kicking. And Space.com got the same message when we reached out to the company. "Stratolaunch remains operational," a company spokesperson told Space.com via email on Friday. "We will provide an update when there is news to share." https://www.space.com/stratolaunch-largest-airplane-shut-down-report.html Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Dear Participants, You are being asked to participate in a research study to develop a trust in air traffic controllers scale. This study is expected to take approximately 5 minutes of your time. In order to participate, you must be a resident of the United States, at least 18 years old, and a certified pilot. Participation in this study is voluntary, and you may choose to opt out of the study at any time. If you choose to opt out, your data will be immediately destroyed. We appreciate your consideration and time to complete our study. Please click on or copy and paste the URL below: https://forms.gle/DmMB9fXSupVa5oTGA For more information, please contact: Brad Baugh, Ph.D. in Aviation Student baughfd0@my.erau.edu Back to Top Back to Top Back to Top POSITION: A & P Mechanic Maintenance APMEC01149 • Denver, CO, USA Job Details Description Frontier Airlines is committed to offering 'Low Fares Done Right' to more than 60 destinations in the United States, Dominican Republic, and Mexico on more than 270 daily flights. Headquartered in Denver, Frontier's hard-working aviation professionals pride themselves in delivering the company's signature Rocky Mountain hospitality to customers. Frontier Airlines is the proud recipient of the Federal Aviation Administration's 2015 Diamond Award for maintenance excellence and was recently named the industry's most fuel-efficient airline by The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) as a result of superior technology and operational efficiencies. The Aircraft Maintenance Mechanic ("A&P Mechanic") is a working member of the maintenance organization and is tasked with completing required maintenance on aircraft in a timely manner and in accordance with policy and procedure. Duties of this position include, but are not limited to: • Perform and assist approved work by their leads within the scheduled shift • Ensure completeness of all assigned work documents and records • Coordinate all activities with lead mechanic in charge or station supervisor • Research all pertinent information and material for work scheduled on aircraft and carefully follow processes as outlined • Assist in the clean up of the maintenance work area • Maintain cleanliness of maintenance areas at all times • Ensure that all tools (both personal and company owned) are removed from the aircraft, aircraft engines, appliances, and components • Always maintain positive tool control accountability • Immediately report lost and/or found tools to management • Enter completed work into maintenance tracking software systems • Comply with and implement the necessary procedures in the MEL/CDL/NEF Program • Make FMIS entries as required • Maintain currency in training requirements This is a bargaining unit position with schedule, shift and pay determined by seniority. All A&P Mechanics may be required to participate in AOG field trips as outlined in the labor contract. Job Requirements: Qualifications • FAA-certified mechanic with Airframe and Powerplant ratings • 2 years of experience performing heavy aircraft maintenance to include: maintenance checks, engine changes, landing gear replacement, structural repairs, flight control rigging, etc. or Airbus 319/320/321 aircraft or similar heavy aircraft Knowledge, Skills and Abilities • Must complete differences training as necessary • Must obtain Taxi and Run-up qualification within 6 months of start • Must be able to perform strenuous work requiring lifting, pushing, and/or pulling of objects in excess of 100lbs. occasionally and objects in excess of 50lbs. regularly • Demonstrated safety-consciousness • Ability to work well as part of a team • Strong interpersonal communication skills - both verbally and in writing • Ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and priorities • Demonstrated timeliness and dependability APPLY HERE 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 Curt Lewis