Flight Safety Information June 10, 2019 - No. 116 In This Issue Boeing wanted to wait three years to fix safety alert on 737 Max American Airlines extends flight cancellations involving beleaguered Boeing 737 Max Incident: Envoy E175 at Dallas on Jun 9th 2019, bad door indicator Incident: Allegiant A319 at Las Vegas on Jun 8th 2019, smoke in cockpit Accident: British Airways A321 near Copenhagen on Jun 8th 2019, fumes on board Incident: Argentinas A332 near Bogota on Jun 7th 2019, cargo smoke indication Incident: Ural A320 at St. Petersburg on Jun 8th 2019, siren song Incident: JAL B788 at San Diego on Jun 5th 2019, slat trouble Airbus A320-214 - Engine Problem (India) Hundreds Of U.S. Flights Canceled As GPS-Based Aircraft Navigation System Fails Japan says human error likely cause of F-35A jet crash Soon, Air India may conduct random drug test on pilots, other crew members Spirit Airlines bans passenger for life after vaping on airplane Pakistan Airlines flight delayed after passenger mistakenly opens plane's emergency exit door Boeing to Showcase Innovation, Partnerships and Safety at 2019 Paris Air Show The Revolutionary Boeing 777X Jet Is Running Behind Schedule Citing ADs' Effects, Tamarack Aero Files for Bankruptcy NASA Wants to Let Space Tourists Onto the Space Station - for $59 Million Join us in Washington, D.C., on July 15-18 for ALPA's annual...Air Safety Forum NTSB Most Wanted List Roundtable : Alaska Part 135 Flight Operations - Charting a Safer Course CHC and SCSI Partner to Offer Operators a Chance to Earn Spot in Certificate Program Position: Manager Air Investigations Boeing wanted to wait three years to fix safety alert on 737 Max Boeing 737 Max airplanes parked near an airport in Washington state. (David Ryder / Getty Images) Boeing Co. planned to wait three years to fix a non-working safety alert on its 737 Max aircraft and sped up the process only after the first of two deadly crashes involving the planes. The company acknowledged that it originally planned to fix a cockpit warning light in 2020 after two key U.S. lawmakers disclosed the company's timetable Friday. Reps. Peter A. DeFazio (D-Ore.) and Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) wrote to Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration and asked why the company took more than a year to tell the safety agency and airlines that the alert did not work on Max jets. The feature, called an angle of attack or AoA alert, warns pilots when sensors measuring the up-or-down pitch of the plane's nose relative to oncoming air might be wrong. The sensors malfunctioned during a Lion Air flight in Indonesia in October and an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa in March, causing anti-stall software to push the planes' noses down. Pilots were unable to regain control, and both planes crashed, killing everyone aboard - 346 people in all. It is not clear whether either crash could have been prevented if the cockpit alert had been working. DeFazio and Larsen are leaders of a House committee that is investigating the crashes and the FAA's regulation of Boeing. They said Friday that Boeing decided in November 2017 to defer a software update to fix the sensor alert feature until 2020 but accelerated that timeline after the Lion Air crash. Larsen asked why Boeing didn't consider the problem critical to safety. The FAA on Friday repeated a statement it made last month that Boeing briefed the agency's Seattle office about the non-working alert in November, and the matter was forwarded to an FAA review board, which considered the matter to be "low risk." Last month, acting FAA Administrator Daniel Elwell told DeFazio's and Larsen's committee that he wasn't happy Boeing waited 13 months to tell the agency about the problem. "We will make sure that software anomalies are reported more quickly," he said. A Boeing spokesman said that based on a safety review, the company had originally planned to fix the cockpit warning when it began delivering a new, larger model of the Max to airlines in 2020. "We fell short in the implementation of the AoA Disagree alert and are taking steps to address these issues so they do not occur again," said the spokesman, Gordon Johndroe. All Max jets will have the alert as standard equipment before returning to service, and newly built planes will have it too, Johndroe said. Boeing delivered about 370 of the planes before they were grounded around the world in March. Boeing and the head of the FAA both say the alert is not critical for safety. Boeing says all its planes, including the Max, give pilots all the flight information - including speed, altitude and engine performance - that they need to fly safely. The pilots' union at American Airlines expressed unhappiness about the matter, however, and said Boeing's assurance about the cockpit alert was a factor in the union standing behind Boeing after the first Max crash, in October. Jason Goldberg, an American Airlines pilot and union spokesman, said Boeing told pilots that the alert could pinpoint a faulty sensor even on the ground, before takeoff. "That is one of the things that made us confident initially to make the statement that we were happy to continue to fly the aircraft," he said. "It turned out later that that wasn't true." Boeing admitted in May that within months of the plane's 2017 debut, engineers realized that the sensor warning light worked only when paired with a separate, optional feature. Boeing is revising its software, called MCAS, so that it will rely on readings from two sensors instead of one, and will be easier for pilots to overcome if it malfunctions. It is unclear when the FAA will approve the changes and allow the Max to fly again. Regulators in other countries could take longer. https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-boeing-737-max-safety-alert-20190607- story.html Back to Top American Airlines extends flight cancellations involving beleaguered Boeing 737 Max PHOTO: Grounded American Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 are seen parked at Miami International Airport in this March 14, 2019 file photo in Miami. American Airlines extended cancellations of flights involving the grounded Boeing 737 Max jet on Sunday in a move that's expected to inconvenience hundreds of passengers daily through Labor Day. The airline said it removed the grounded 737 Max from its schedule through Sept. 3, 2019, about three weeks later than previously announced, in the wake of two fatal Boeing crashes that left 346 people dead. Passengers whose flights were not scheduled on the 737 Max could also face cancellations, the airline said, signaling that it plans to prioritize high-passenger flights. PHOTO: An image of a Boeing 737 MAX 8 is pictured on the exterior of the Boeing Renton Factory in Renton, Washington, March 12, 2019. Jason Redmomd/AFP/Getty Images "A flight that was not scheduled as a MAX flight might be canceled to enable our team to cover a MAX route with a different aircraft," the airline said in a statement on Sunday. "Our goal is to minimize the impact to the smallest number of customers." Passengers whose flights have been canceled can ask for a full refund if they don't want to be rebooked, according to the airline's statement. American also revealed that it will need about 45 days for training once Boeing rolls out expected software updates to fix a number of malfunctions with the 737 Max passenger planes. The airline, which has 24 of the 737 Max 8 jets in its fleet of about 900 aircraft, previously said it expected pilot training to take just two weeks. United and Southwest Airlines have also removed the Boeing 737 Max from their schedules through most of the busy summer travel season. "American Airlines remains confident that impending software updates to the Boeing 737 MAX, along with the new training elements Boeing is developing in coordination with our union partners, will lead to recertification of the aircraft soon," the statement said. "By extending the cancellations, our customers and team members can more reliably plan their upcoming travel on American." The 737 Max was grounded worldwide following two deadly crashes involving the model. An Ethiopia Airlines crash in March killed all 157 people on board, marking the second deadly crash of a Boeing 737 MAX 8 plane in just five months. https://abcnews.go.com/Travel/american-airlines-extends-flight-cancellations-involving- beleaguered-boeing/story?id=63591306 Back to Top Incident: Envoy E175 at Dallas on Jun 9th 2019, bad door indicator An Envoy Embraer ERJ-175, registration N220NN performing flight MQ-3691/AA-3691 from Dallas Ft. Worth,TX (USA) to Aguascalientes (Mexico), was climbing out of Dallas Ft. Worth's runway 18L when the crew stopped the climb at 11,000 feet advising they had a bad door indicator and wanted to return to Dallas. The crew further advised they had positive cabin pressure, just the door indication which they didn't feel comfortable to continue with. The aircraft returned to Dallas Ft. Worth for a safe landing on runway 18R about 20 minutes after departure. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 80 minutes, then departed again and reached Aguascalientes with a delay of 100 minutes. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/ENY3691/history/20190609/1555Z/KDFW/MMAS http://avherald.com/h?article=4c9018f7&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Allegiant A319 at Las Vegas on Jun 8th 2019, smoke in cockpit An Allegiant Airbus A319-100, registration N314NV performing flight G4-63 from Las Vegas,NV to Stockton,CA (USA) with 154 people on board, was climbing out of Las Vegas' runway 01R when the crew stopped the climb at 7000 feet due to smoke in the cockpit and returned to Las Vegas for a safe landing on runway 01L about 10 minutes after departure. A replacement A319-100 registration N321NV reached Stockton with a delay of 3 hours. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/AAY63/history/20190608/1858Z/KLAS/KSCK http://avherald.com/h?article=4c901085&opt=0 Back to Top Accident: British Airways A321 near Copenhagen on Jun 8th 2019, fumes on board A British Airways Airbus A321-200, registration G-EUXG performing flight BA-814 from London Heathrow,EN (UK) to Copenhagen (Denmark), was descending towards Copenhagen when the flight crew donned their oxygen masks due to fumes on board. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on runway 22L. Both pilots were taken to a hospital. The return flight BA-815 was cancelled. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground in Copenhagen for about 29 hours, then positioned to London Heathrow but has not yet resumed service. A passenger booked onto the return flight reported ground staff told them there had been a problem on the inbound aircraft, both pilots needed to don their oxygen masks, felt extremey unwell and were taken to a hospital. Their flight was cancelled. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c90084d&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Argentinas A332 near Bogota on Jun 7th 2019, cargo smoke indication An Aerolineas Argentinas Airbus A330-200, registration LV-FNL performing flight AR-1305 from Miami,FL (USA) to Buenos Aires Ezeiza,BA (Argentina) with 290 people on board, was enroute at FL390 about 120nm southeast of Bogota (Colombia) when the crew received a cargo smoke indication, worked the related checklist and diverted the aircraft to Bogota for a safe landng on runway 13R about 30 minutes after leaving FL390. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 3.5 hours, then departed Bogota and reached Buenos Aires with a delay of about 4 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c8f60f9&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top Incident: Ural A320 at St. Petersburg on Jun 8th 2019, siren song An Ural Airlines Airbus A320-200, registration VQ-BFW performing flight U6-226 from St. Petersburg to Yekaterinburg (Russia), was climbing out of St. Petersburg's runway 10L when a loud nerve-wracking whistle occurred. The crew stopped the climb at FL070 and returned to St. Petersburg for a safe landing on runway 10R about 25 minutes after departure. Passengers reported immediately after takeoff a loud whistling noise occurred. The crew later announced that the gear had not completely retracted. The aircraft returned and landed smoothly. The airline reported the aircraft returned due to "hibernating sensor". The occurrence aircraft returned to service about 11 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4c900c86&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: JAL B788 at San Diego on Jun 5th 2019, slat trouble A JAL Japan Airlines Boeing 787-8, registration JA839J performing flight JL-66 from Tokyo Narita (Japan) to San Diego,CA (USA), was on approach to San Diego maintaining 5000 feet just being cleared to descend to 4000 feet, when the crew rejected the descent advising they had flight control problems, subsequently explaining they had slat trouble. The crew requested to maintain 5000 feet and head out over the sea, subsequently decided to divert to Los Angeles,CA (USA) requesting runway 25R. The aircraft landed safely on runway 25R at a higher than normal speed (176 knots over ground) about 30 minutes after aborting the approach to San Diego. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground in LAX for almost 6 hours, then hopped over to San Diego and arrived at the destination with a delay of 6:20 hours. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/JAL66/history/20190605/0830Z/RJAA/KSAN http://avherald.com/h?article=4c8eb9d6&opt=0 Back to Top Airbus A320-214 - Engine Problem (India) Date: 09-JUN-2019 Time: Type: Airbus A320-214 Owner/operator: Air Asia India Registration: VT-SXR C/n / msn: 4562 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 103 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Unknown Location: near Chandigarh Airport - India Phase: En route Nature: Domestic Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Delhi-Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL/VIDP) Destination airport: Srinagar Airport (SXR/VISR) Narrative: Air Asia India flight I5715, an Airbus A320, diverted to Chandigarh Airport, India after developing an engine issue en route between Delhi and Srinagar. Thirty minutes into the flight a turn back was initiated by the crew. Ten minutes later, about 01:28 UTC, the flight briefly Squawked 7700 (emergency). The aircraft diverted to Chandigarh where a safe landing was made at 02:04 UTC. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/225966 Back to Top Hundreds Of U.S. Flights Canceled As GPS-Based Aircraft Navigation System Fails "Does anyone know what happened to GPS/ADS-B last night?" one aviation commentator asked Twitter on June 9, a Sunday. "The issue seemed to be quite wide- spread, with a lot of aircraft grounded... Had this happened on a weekday, it would have been leading headlines on national news - some sort of GPS fault grounded a chunk of the U.S. commercial fleet and hardly anybody noticed." But at the time of publishing that issue remains unresolved and the weekend is all but over. According to the FAA, "certain aircraft equipped with the Rockwell Collins GPS 4000-100 and select ADS-B out GPS receivers are indicating 'ADS-B fail, unavailable, TCAS fail or transponder fail' messages." Aircraft without working transponders were directed to coordinate with the FAA before departure, a prior directive had instructed those planes not to fly above 28,000 feet. Rockwell Collins, acquired by United Technologies last year, provides avionics and information technology systems and services. The issue appears to center on some of the company's ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) systems that send flight data to be picked up by ground stations. "The ADS-B system depends on GPS data to function properly," explained Hackaday, "but a problem with the quality of the GPS data has disrupted normal ADS-B features on some planes." Whether the issue was caused by poor GPS data or a software upgrade to affected systems remains speculation, nothing has yet been confirmed. But, whatever the cause, the issue has led to a significant number of flight cancellations. According to CNBC, regional carriers in the U.S. "canceled about 400 flights scheduled for Sunday." A Delta spokeswoman said "about 80 of its regional flights were canceled," and American and United regional carriers were hit by the same issue. Various online reports suggested impacted planes were mostly CRJ jets made by Canada's Bombardier, but also some Boeing 737s, 717s and possibly a 767 as well. "We are working to determine the cause of the problem," the FAA said in a statement, "which may have resulted from a software update to the aircraft navigation systems." There was no immediate response or comment available from Collins Aerospace. "GPS isn't down," Hackaday reported, as anyone with a smartphone can see easily enough. "However, it is degraded. How a plane's GPS system reacts to that depends on the software built into the GPS receiver. If the system fails, the pilots will have to rely on older systems like VOR to navigate. But ADS-B will have even more problems. An aircraft ADS-B system needs position data to operate. If you can't transmit your position information, air traffic controllers need to rely on old fashioned radar to determine position. All of this adds up to a flight safety problem, which means grounding the aircraft." There has been online speculation that military testing of GPS jamming might be responsible, although that seems to have been discounted - such tests are heavily publicized beforehand. There was also apparent confusion for some airline passengers, with disruption being blamed on the weather rather than on system issues. "Hey Delta," one passenger tweeted, "some updates would be nice. Y'all keep saying weather but our pilot just said the military is jamming Delta's GPS which is why we were diverted." What is clear, is that the issue is more widespread than its lack of publicity might suggest. This comes just as extensions have been announced to the grounding of Boeing 737 Max aircraft following accidents that killed 346 people, as well as speculation around aircraft drone safety measures. And so the quality and reliability of aircraft flight support and navigation tools have been very much headline news. At the time of writing, the situation is evolving, and we will soon find out if this weekend issue is set to cause Monday morning travel chaos. https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2019/06/09/hundreds-of-u-s-flights- canceled-as-gps-based-aircraft-navigation-system-fails/#7b5579083878 Back to Top Japan says human error likely cause of F-35A jet crash A Japan Air Self-Defense Force's F-35A stealth fighter jet, which Kyodo says is the same plane that crashed during an exercise on April 9, 2019, is seen at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Komaki Minami factory in Toyoyama, Aichi Prefecture, Japan (Reuters/Kyodo) Human error was the likely cause of an F-35A fighter jet crash in April, Japan's defence ministry said Monday, and flights of the stealth jet will resume after new training measures. The jet crashed into the sea in April after the 41-year-old pilot suffered "spatial disorientation", in which a person loses their sense of balance, the ministry concluded. "The crash was likely caused by spatial disorientation of the pilot, not technical problems with the aircraft," a ministry official told AFP. The ministry plans to resume flights of the aircraft after pilots are briefed on spatial disorientation, and receive training in a simulation of the experience, the official said. The state-of-the-art fighter jet went missing on April 9 while flying 135 kilometres (85 miles) east of Misawa, northeastern Japan, on a training mission. It lost contact about 30 minutes after taking off from Misawa Air Base with three other aircraft. It was the first reported crash by an F-35A, according to Japan's Air Self-Defence Force. Last week, the ministry called off its search for the jet about two months after the accident sparked a scramble to recover the pilot and secrets onboard. Some parts of the pilot's body and debris have been recovered, including the jet's tail, but the flight data recorder has not been found. The ministry has kept monitoring a wider area to protect "classified military information" as Japan and the US are keen to prevent sensitive debris from the plane being recovered by Russia or China. Japan is deploying F-35As, each of which costs more than 10 billion yen ($92 million), to replace its ageing F-4 fighters. They are a key part of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's efforts to upgrade the nation's military capacity to meet changing power dynamics in East Asia, with China rapidly modernizing its military. https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2019/06/10/japan-says-human-error-likely- cause-of-f-35a-jet-crash-.html Back to Top Soon, Air India may conduct random drug test on pilots, other crew members Pre and post-flight breath analyser (BA) tests are conducted by all airlines In a first for Indian carriers, Air India is likely to start random drug tests on its pilots and cabin crew. Crew members who are found to have a drug abuse problem could be barred from operating flights till they completely give the same up for good. "There is no specific regulation monitoring drug testing... It is recommended that (AI's) medical department is asked to devise a process for doing random testing for drugs as a safety initiative..." says a note titled "safety recommendations for psychoactive substances" sent by the airline's ED and chief of flight safety, Harpreet A De Singh, to AI chairman and other top officials. A senior airline official told TOI, Air India is planning to take this up as a "pioneering" effort to enhance flight safety in India. According to DGCA's 'General Safety Conditions' circular, the clause titled, "prohibition on consumption of intoxicating and psychoactive substances", states, "no pilot, commander, navigator, engineer, cabin crew or other operating members of the crew shall have taken or used any alcoholic drink, sedative, narcotic or stimulant drug or preparation within twelve hours of the commencement of the flight or take or use any such preparation in the course of the flight, and no such person shall be in a state of intoxication or have detectable blood alcohol whatsoever in his breath, urine or blood alcohol analysis." Pre and post-flight breath analyser (BA) tests are conducted by all airlines. A pilot is grounded for three months, three years and forever after failing pre-flight BA test for the first, second and third time, respectively. Those failing the breath analyser tests in post-flight checks get a year added to these groundings. https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/soon-air-india-may-conduct- random-drug-test-on-pilots-other-crew-members-119061000407_1.html Back to Top Spirit Airlines bans passenger for life after vaping on airplane A 30-year-old passenger on a Spirit Airlines flight was banned for life after vaping in the plane's bathroom, according to a Saturday report from CNN. (Photo: MGN) (KUTV) - A 30-year-old passenger on a Spirit Airlines flight was banned for life after vaping in the plane's bathroom, according to a Saturday report from CNN. CNN reported Saturday that a Spirit Airlines passenger was banned for life on a flight from Detroit to New Orleans after deciding to take a smoke break in the plane's bathroom. A flight attendant told a deputy on Tuesday that she saw the man "take a drag" from an e-cigarette and exhale it into a bag, Jefferson Parish Sheriff's spokesman Capt. Jason Rivarde told CNN. She warned him not to smoke, so the man then got up and headed to the restroom, according to a report filed with the sheriff's office. According to CNN, the plane's smoke alarm then went off while the man was inside. When a deputy met the plane at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, the passenger denied smoking in the restroom and then told the deputy he didn't know that smoking was prohibited on airplanes, according to CNN. The passenger was not arrested; however, Spirit Airlines decided to ban him for life and that he could never fly with them again. "It's a private business that can ban customers at their own leisure," Rivarde told CNN. He added: It's like telling you not to come back to the restaurant. Once he was on the ground, he was cooperative with our deputies so he didn't face any criminal charges. According to CNN, vaping was not the passenger's only problem - another passenger complained to the flight attendant that he was drinking from bottles of alcohol that he brought onto the flight, which is also prohibited. Spirit Airlines has not responded to CNN's request for comment. https://foxsanantonio.com/news/offbeat/spirit-airlines-bans-passenger-for-life-after- vaping-on-airplane Back to Top Pakistan Airlines flight delayed after passenger mistakenly opens plane's emergency exit door An international flight was delayed nearly seven hours after a passenger opened a plane's emergency exit door after mistaking it for the bathroom, according to reports. A traveler Friday on a Pakistan International Airlines flight from Manchester, London, to Islamabad, Pakistan, opened the exit before takeoff, which automatically deployed the emergency slide, CNN and The Independent report. "We regret the delay of PK771, which is an unfortunate consequence of the delay of PK702, caused due to a passenger opening the emergency door," the airline later tweeted. "We strongly urge passengers to follow security instructions as such mishaps result in inconvenience of hundreds of other passengers." Passengers were off-loaded and eventually brought back onto the flight. One traveler voiced frustrations on social media, claiming the airline lost their luggage and criticized PIA for "pathetic service." "Nobody at airport telling us what happened to our luggage," user @WaterLileee wrote. "After 3.5 hours of frantic searching we get to know it wasn't even brought in the first place." https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2019/06/10/pakistan-airlines-flight- delayed-after-passenger-opened-emergency-exit/1406632001/ Back to Top Boeing to Showcase Innovation, Partnerships and Safety at 2019 Paris Air Show - New interactive exhibit will demonstrate how Boeing is building the future together with aerospace partners - 787-9 scheduled for flight display - International air show debut of KC-46 tanker, several defense platforms on static display - 737 Boeing Converted Freighter and passenger air vehicle on static display CHICAGO, June 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) will showcase its broad range of commercial and defense products, services and technologies at the 2019 Paris Air Show, which runs June 17-23 at Paris-Le Bourget Airport. The company's presence and activities at the show will demonstrate its commitment to innovation, industry partnerships and safety. At Boeing's exhibit, visitors can immerse themselves in a large 360-degree theater and learn more about the company's capabilities throughout the product lifecycle. The interactive exhibit will also highlight Boeing's latest family of aircraft and services and give visitors a first look at the company's vision for the future of mobility. The exhibit will be located in Static Display C2. On the airfield, an Air Tahiti Nui 787-9 will demonstrate the breakthrough capabilities and innovations that have made the 787 a favorite of both operators and customers. A 737 Boeing Converted Freighter and passenger air vehicle (PAV) will be on static display. The U.S. Department of Defense also will display several Boeing platforms, including the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, the CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopter, the F-15 fighter, the P-8 maritime patrol aircraft and the international air show debut of the KC- 46 tanker. Boeing will hold a series of news briefings for media during the show. Media attending the show should check the daily briefing schedule for updates at the Boeing Media Chalet (A332). Media can also sign up to receive Boeing updates via e-mail: E-mail natalee.j.runyan@boeing.com with "Paris Media Updates" in the subject line, followed by your name and media affiliation.1 For the latest event details and more information about Boeing's presence at the show, visit boeing.com/paris and follow @Boeing on Twitter. Boeing is the world's largest aerospace company and leading provider of commercial airplanes, defense, space and security systems, and global services. As the top U.S. exporter, the company supports commercial and government customers in more than 150 countries. Boeing employs more than 150,000 people worldwide and leverages the talents of a global supplier base. Building on a legacy of aerospace leadership, Boeing continues to lead in technology and innovation, deliver for its customers and invest in its people and future growth. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/boeing-to-showcase-innovation- partnerships-and-safety-at-2019-paris-air-show-300864320.html Back to Top The Revolutionary Boeing 777X Jet Is Running Behind Schedule The late-2013 sales launch of Boeing's (NYSE: BA) 777X widebody jet was a game changer for the upper end of the commercial aircraft market. Thanks to folding wingtips and a pair of GE9X jet engines from General Electric (NYSE: GE) -- the largest ever created -- the massive 777X made four-engine jets obsolete virtually overnight. (This culminated in Airbus' decision earlier this year to start winding down production of its A380 jumbo jet.) However, like many new aircraft models, the 777X is now running behind schedule. As a result, it's unlikely that Boeing will be able to hand over the first 777-9 next June as planned. That's unfortunate for Boeing and GE, because both companies are facing significant challenges right now. Boeing's 777X test program has been delayed For the most part, the 777X was designed as a straightforward evolution of Boeing's current-generation 777 aircraft family. The biggest changes -- and thus the biggest risks to the 777X's development schedule -- were the new folding wingtips and the state-of-the-art GE9X engines. Ultimately, the engines became the main cause of delays. During ground testing, GE discovered a relatively minor problem with the new engine's high-pressure compressor, which was designed to generate a record-setting 27:1 pressure ratio, boosting fuel efficiency. After that issue was resolved, GE ran into problems with the Boeing 747 jet that it uses to test new engines. A rendering of a 777-9 flying above clouds. The new 777X family will feature the world's largest jet engines and folding wingtips. Image source: Boeing. Boeing and General Electric have worked hard to mitigate the impact of engine certification delays on the 777X flight test program. Nevertheless, the 777-9 -- the first of two 777X variants to be produced -- still hasn't made its first flight, which had been set for "early 2019." The first test flight was recently scheduled for June 26, according to launch customer Emirates. However, last week, Boeing revealed a new mechanical issue with the engine's high-pressure compressor. While Boeing and GE expect to have a fix ready soon, the first flight is likely to slip into July, if not later. The 737 MAX grounding hasn't helped matters, either Delays are common in the process of developing and certifying new jet models. Not only are they incredibly complex machines, but Boeing, Airbus, and their suppliers routinely push the boundaries of technology to maximize performance and fuel efficiency. However, the 777X development and certification process also faces a more unique stumbling block: the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX following two fatal crashes. First, Boeing has shifted engineering resources away from the 777X program in order to accelerate development of a fix for the 737 MAX's faulty MCAS software, according to Reuters. Second, the 737 MAX catastrophe has led to sharp criticism of the FAA's certification process. Critics allege that the FAA delegated critical aspects of the safety assessment to Boeing rather than conducting an independent review. The FAA may feel pressure to subject the 777X to a far more comprehensive review, delaying the new model's certification. An unfortunate setback Boeing is supposed to deliver the first 777-9 to Emirates in June 2020, but that delivery date now seems highly unlikely. Flight tests were initially scheduled to occur over a 14- month period leading up to the first delivery. If anything, safety fears following the 737 MAX debacle will make the flight-testing process take even longer. Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg recently stated that he still expects the 777X to enter service in 2020. However, even if that does happen, it will probably be much closer to year-end than initially planned -- and there's a real risk that the 777X won't be ready until 2021. Customers including Emirates and Lufthansa are already making contingency plans for delivery delays. A GE9X engine in an outdoor test facility. GE has encountered some snags in developing the 777X's engine. Image source: GE Aviation. Delays to the program will be a nuisance for both Boeing and GE. After years of rapid cash flow growth, Boeing is facing major cash flow headwinds due to the pause in 737 MAX deliveries, airline demands for compensation, lawsuits by victims' families, and expected penalties from regulators. A later-than-expected 777X certification would further depress cash flow next year, as customers pay the bulk of the purchase price for new aircraft upon delivery. As for GE, the industrial conglomerate has been relying heavily on its aviation business to offset losses and fund restructuring costs in its struggling power and finance units. Extra costs or lost revenue at GE Aviation would be the last thing General Electric needs right now. The good news is that Boeing has the financial heft to absorb the hit from a delayed first delivery of the 777X. And if GE can quickly address the latest engine design issue, Boeing is likely to continue buying engines and building 777-9s according to its initial schedule so that it can catch up on deliveries in 2021. Thus, delays to the 777X program shouldn't cause permanent damage for either of the industrial giants. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/revolutionary-boeing-777x-jet-running- 145400763.html Back to Top Citing ADs' Effects, Tamarack Aero Files for Bankruptcy Tamarack Aerospace has filed for Chapter 11 reorganization as a result of FAA and EASA Airworthiness Directives that have "effectively grounded" Cessna CitationJets/CJs equipped with its active load-alleviation system (Atlas) winglets. (Photo: Tamarack Aerospace) Sandpoint, Idaho-based Tamarack Aerospace announced early Friday that it voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this month, a decision the company termed "a direct result" of recent Airworthiness Directives from the FAA and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) that have "effectively grounded" Cessna 525- series aircraft equipped with its active load-alleviation system (Atlas) winglets. "The decision to enter Chapter 11 [reorganization] allows Tamarack to continue to operate and focus all activities on supporting the Atlas winglet customers and to support EASA and FAA as they consider the proposal for lifting the restrictions imposed by the ADs," the company stated, adding it expects bankruptcy to be "a temporary state." EASA issued an emergency AD in late April, stating "occurrences have been reported in which Atlas appears to have malfunctioned, causing upset events where, in some cases, the pilots had difficulty to recover the aeroplane to safe flight." The FAA followed suit May 24 and, unlike the EASA directive that included a mitigation path for continued flying of Atlas-equipped CitationJets, CJ1s, CJ2s, and CJ3s, prohibited further operation of those jets outside of ferry flights. Tamarack emphasized it continues to provide two key upgrades to customer aircraft to resolve control issues, free of charge, in the form of company Service Bulletins: one to replace a screw inside the Tamarack Active Camber Surfaces (TACS) actuator and the second for installation of aerodynamic centering strips on those surfaces. According to the company, 73 percent of the installed fleet has been fitted with these upgrades. The company further noted the CJ1+ involved in the April 2019 incident that drove issuance of the EASA directive had not received those improvements, "and there have been no reported incidents in those aircraft with the latest upgrades." "Tamarack is committed to the safety of our fleet and our customers," Tamarack v-p and chief engineer Jacob Klinginsmith told AIN. "We feel we've been proactive in reaching out to make sure our customers have the latest, best, and safest product, and we'll continue to work closely with authorities to lift the restrictions on the fleet." Klinginsmith confirmed that company president Brian Cox and v-p of marketing Paul Hathaway have been laid off as a cost-saving measure related to the Chapter 11 filing. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2019-06-07/citing-ads- effects-tamarack-aero-files-bankruptcy Back to Top NASA Wants to Let Space Tourists Onto the Space Station - for $59 Million Room and board alone could cost upwards of $35,000 per night Attention, people with $59 million just lying around: NASA is opening the International Space Station (ISS) to adventurous tourists, and those interested don't need to hold their breath - space tourism could happen as soon as 2020. The space tourists, who must be from the United States, will embark on a fleet of commercial vehicles owned by the U.S. government, Jeff DeWit, NASA's chief financial officer, said at a news briefing today (June 7). DeWit estimated that one seat on the space flight, operated by SpaceX and Boeing, will cost $58 million - but that's not including the cost of actually staying at the space station. Tourists then have the option to stay up to 30 days on the ISS. But every one of those 30 nights costs upward of $35,000, DeWit said, and he joked that "it won't come with any Hilton or Marriott points." [10 Interesting Places in the Solar System We'd Like to Visit] The ISS will be open to not only tourists, but also commercial ventures. That means that product testing, private research and even filming for outer-space movies could take place aboard the station. Yes, the next Apollo movie could actually be filmed in space. NASA anticipates that opening up the station to private travel will lessen financial strain on the agency, which has faced recent cuts. The agency also hope the move will free up funding for new ventures, like landing the "first woman ... on the moon by 2024," DeWit said. However, NASA has limited space tourism to two private trips per year and plans to allocate no more than 5% of the space station's resources to commercial use. The U.S. won't be the first country to bring tourists to the station. Between 2001 and 2009, private Russian company Space Adventures facilitated seven space tourists' trips to the ISS. https://www.livescience.com/65670-nasa-iss-space-tourism.html Back to Top Join us in Washington, D.C., on July 15-18 for ALPA's annual Air Safety Forum Back to Top NTSB Most Wanted List Roundtable : Alaska Part 135 Flight Operations - Charting a Safer Course Wendy Williamson Auditorium, University of Alaska, Anchorage 9/6/2019 8:30 AM Please note that all times are in AKDT. Date: September 6, 2019 Time: 0830-1600 AKDT Location: Wendy Williamson Auditorium, University of Alaska, Anchorage, AK REGISTER HERE This event will be webcast live. You can access the broadcast on the day of the event from this page. Download the flyer The NTSB continues to investigate multiple accidents involving Part 135 flight operations in Alaska each year. Since 2008, we have investigated 182 accidents involving fixed- wing scheduled/non-scheduled Part 135 operations in Alaska, resulting in 74 fatalities. Unique terrain conditions, challenging weather, and congested airspace are factors, but the NTSB believes many of these accidents could have been avoided if operators had implemented safety management systems (SMS), installed flight data monitoring (FDM) devices, and ensured pilots received comprehensive controlled-flight into terrain (CFIT) avoidance training-all the subject of recommendations we have issued in the last few decades. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does not require Part 135 flight operators to meet the same safety requirements as airlines. If the FAA and industry do not address these safety gaps, we will undoubtedly see more accidents involving the traveling public in Alaska. "Improve the Safety of Part 135 Flight Operations" is an issue on the NTSB 2019-2020 Most Wanted List of transportation safety improvements. That's why we are convening a panel of Part 135 operators, safety experts, and government officials to discuss what we can do to address Part 135 safety issues. https://www.ntsb.gov/news/events/Pages/2019-MWL-RT-AK-part135.aspx Back to Top CHC and SCSI Partner to Offer Operators a Chance to Earn Spot in Certificate Program CHC Helicopter has continued its long-standing partnership with the Southern California Safety Institute (SCSI) as part of CHC's 15th annual Safety & Quality Summit, which will be held October 1-3, 2019 at the Omni Dallas Hotel. Operators in attendance will have the opportunity to register to win a random drawing that will allow them to send one representative through SCSI's renowned safety program and earn their certificate upon completion of six courses covering a range of crucial safety topics and training. The program provides an excellent mix of classroom and networking experience, exposing participants to the latest expertise in safety and safety-related topics. The coursework is led by experienced instructors with unique qualifications with both strong expertise and demonstrated safety leadership positions. They have real world experience conducting safety assessments as well as developing operational risk management strategies, training plans, communications procedures and training for tens of thousands of professionals. Previous winners have included representatives of Ornge and Universal Helicopters. The value of the complete course program, which consists of 6 weeks of courses, is valued at up to $15,000 USD. "We're thankful for our partnership with SCSI, and we greatly appreciate their support of the Safety & Quality Summit," said Duncan Trapp, CHC's VP of Safety & Quality. "We welcome the opportunity to again help send an operator to earn a safety certificate from SCSI. SCSI's world-class safety programs offer participants the opportunity to further enhance and build upon their safety knowledge, providing new insight and perspective. Thank you to SCSI for their ongoing commitment to furthering safety in our industry." To participate and be considered for the drawing, interested parties must be registered delegates at this year's CHC Safety & Quality Summit. Once onsite, participants can submit a name or business card at the registration desk to enter the drawing. For additional information on the Summit and to register, please visit www.chcsafetyqualitysummit.com Back to Top Manager Air Investigations * Utilise your leadership, investigation, communication and interpersonal skills * Demonstrate credibility with your air transport experience * Medically and physically fit, current passport and drivers' licence essential The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) investigates significant aviation, rail and marine accidents and incidents with a view to avoiding future similar occurrences. The Commission has set a visionary goal of "No Repeat Accidents - Ever!" The Manager Air Investigations provides strong leadership and thorough management of the air investigation team, supporting the Chief Investigator of Accidents. Following a recent internal promotion, we seek a Manager to continue providing high quality and timely transport accident investigation services. The successful applicant will have: * relevant air transport experience * strong leadership and investigative skills * professional or technical aviation qualifications eg pilot,engineering (mechanical, aeronautical or avionics). As the Manager, you will effectively lead those who provide high quality and timely air transport accident investigation services. Key competencies and experience include: * Leadership and business skills and experience * Investigative and QA experience and skills * Strong analysis and reasoning skills * Ability to anticipate and identify risks/issues and identify possible solutions * Communication skills - written, verbal and interpersonal * Understanding of quasi-judicial processes, particularly the rules and requirements applicable to a Commission of Inquiry * Emotional and psychological maturity to handle stressful and emotionally difficult situations * Medically and physically fit with a valid passport and current driver's licence. I look forward to hearing from those interested in progressing their career within this pivotal organisation based in central Wellington, New Zealand. Applications close at 5pm on Wednesday, 19 June 2019 or sooner if a suitable applicant is identified. If you are interested in the position please visit our website www.peopleandco.nz and search on the keyword 19042 under the Jobs tab. All applications will be acknowledged electronically. For further information contact Jacaleen Williams on 0064 4 931 9450 quoting job number 19042. Only people with the right to work in New Zealand may apply for this position. For advice on obtaining a New Zealand work or residence visa visit www.immigration.govt.nz Curt Lewis