Flight Safety Information July 22, 2019 - No. 146 In This Issue Boeing Is Compensating Airlines $5 Billion for 737 MAX Delays Incident: Lufthansa A321 near Zagreb on Jul 20th 2019, ELAC failure Incident: Laudamotion A320 near Vienna on Jul 21st 2019, suspected fuel leak Incident: Yakutia SU95 near Vladivostok on Jul 20th 2019, cracked windshield Incident: Rossiya B738 at Moscow on Jul 21st 2019, aft cargo smoke indication Accident: Spirit A320 near Las Vegas on Jul 16th 2019, fumes on board Incident: Jetblue A321 near Norfolk on Jul 17th 2019, smoke in cockpit Accident: Nordwind B738 at Moscow on Jul 19th 2019, rejected takeoff due to smoke on board Accident: PIA AT42 at Gilgit on Jul 20th 2019, runway excursion on landing Incident: United B772 at Beijing on Jul 18th 2019, cracked windshield 2 Southwest Planes Collide On Tarmac At Nashville Airport Australia grounds Mahindra's GA8 planes after Swedish crash Air New Zealand's new Airbus A321 planes caught up in European safety alert Lufthansa resumes Cairo flights, British Airways stays away Pilots subjected to random alcohol tests in UAE A flight was delayed when a man tried climbing onto the airplane's wing to hitch a free ride Malaysia will bid to keep international civil aviation seat Schumer demands FAA require EpiPens aboard airliners to aid passengers suffering severe allergic reaction Upgrades of Phase 3 displays on 737s, 777s nearly complete: Honeywell United Airlines To Acquire 54 Bombardier CRJ550s United Airlines working to give passengers free Wi-Fi Airbus' new bird-plane hybrid is both fascinating and unsettling Chandrayaan-2: Success in India's second attempt at launching Moon mission 2019 - CHC Safety & Quality Summit Aircraft Crash Survivability Course September 2019 ISASI - 2019 Upcoming USC Aviation Safety & Security Program Courses Boeing Is Compensating Airlines $5 Billion for 737 MAX Delays. Here's What It Means for the Stock. Boeing announced a $5 billion after-tax charge to compensate its airline customers for delays associated with the 737 MAX grounding. That's a small positive for airlines who fly the MAX, and it may signal Boeing's growing confidence its troubled jet will return to service sooner than later. "For purposes of the second-quarter financial results, the company has assumed that regulatory approval of 737 MAX return to service in the U.S. and other jurisdictions begins early in the fourth quarter 2019," reads the company's news release. There are 387 MAX planes grounded and more that haven't been delivered. Boeing's charge-very, very roughly-equates to a benefit for airlines of $12 million per delivered plane. Taking into account delays for planes that could be in service but haven't been delivered, the benefit works out to about $7 million per plane. These are only estimates, and they don't mean Boeing (ticker: BA) will write a check to be deposited in airlines' bank accounts. The amount will be spread over years and could be in the form of discounts or other benefits. The back story. The 737 MAX, Boeing's newest single-aisle plane, has been grounded world-wide since mid-March, following two tragic crashes of the jet that killed all on board. Boeing has been working with regulators to fix flight-control software implicated in both crashes. It's still unclear what other changes regulators may require, such as additional pilot training or added sensors, to clear the MAX to fly again. What's new. Southwest Airlines (LUV), for instance, flies an all-737 fleet. It has 34 MAX jets grounded and about 41 MAX jets on order that haven't been delivered. That works out to a benefit of roughly $525 million to Southwest, or about 2% of the stock's current market capitalization, or about 3% of 2018 operating costs. It's possible Southwest stock could get a bump from Boeing's news-albeit a small one. Southwest declined to comment on Boeing's $5 billion charge, referring us instead to previous statements about the MAX. GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes (GOL), a Latin American airline that operates an all-737 fleet told Barron's that its contract with Boeing is confidential. "We are tracking our incremental costs relating to the loss of the MAX in our fleet, and once the planes are un-grounded will work through the economic arrangements with Boeing," the airline said. GOL operates six MAX jets with 129 more to be delivered in the future. Delta Air Lines (DAL) shares, on the other hand, shouldn't see any benefit from the news. It doesn't operate the MAX jet. What's more, its stock has outperformed other airlines since the MAX grounding, in part, because it received the benefit of lower industry capacity without the pain of having less capacity of its own to offer the flying public. Looking ahead. Of course, valuing one-time cash payments for any stock is difficult. Still, it's helpful to quantify the value of the compensation for different airlines, or relative to the value of the MAX jet itself. New MAX jets are worth about $47 million each, according to aircraft appraiser Cirium. Meanwhile, Boeing market capitalization is about $200 billion, and $5 billion is 2.5% of that amount. Still, Boeing's value has declined by about $35 billion since the second fatal crash. But Boeing shares actually rose 2% in after-hours trading in response to this news, and were up more than 4% Friday afternoon. That reaction might signal that any news is good news at this point for the MAX. Details are thin about Boeing's continuing conversations with customers, regulators, and pilots. Perhaps putting a dollar value on the delays signals to investors that the timing for a return to service is known-or know with a greater degree of certainty. If that wasn't the case, predicting the compensation costs would be impossible. Still, Boeing shares will likely remain rangebound for the foreseeable future, until the ultimate fate of the 737 MAX jet is known. Spirit AeroSystems (SPR) is another stock that could benefit from the Boeing news. Its stock has been hit harder than even Boeing shares , falling 24% since the fatal crash of an Ethiopian Airlines flight on March 10. Boeing stock, by comparison, has fallen 14.5% over the same span, far worse than the 7% gain of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Spirit derives about 80% of its sales from Boeing-the reason Spirit Aero Systems' shares are so sensitive to Boeing news. https://www.barrons.com/articles/boeing-is-compensating-airlines-for-the-737-max- what-it-means-for-its-stock-and-the-industry-51563532952 Back to Top Incident: Lufthansa A321 near Zagreb on Jul 20th 2019, ELAC failure A Lufthansa Airbus A321-100, registration D-AIRB performing flight LH-1768 from Munich (Germany) to Antalya (Turkey), was enroute at FL330 about 50nm east of Zagreb when the crew decided to return to Munich due a fault regarding ELAC 2 (Elevator Aileron Computer #2). The aircraft landed safely back in Munich about 90 minutes later. The flight was postponed to the next day. A replacement Airbus A321-100, registration D-AIRW, reached Antalya with a delay of 16 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4caa1249&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Laudamotion A320 near Vienna on Jul 21st 2019, suspected fuel leak A Laudamotion Airbus A320-200, registration OE-LOO performing flight OE-2364 from Vienna (Austria) to Faro (Portugal), was enroute at FL300 about 110nm southwest of Vienna when the crew decided to return to Vienna after receiving indications creating the suspicion of a fuel leak. The aircraft landed safely back on Vienna's runway 11 about 35 minutes later. A replacement A320-200 registration OE-LOT reached Faro with a delay of 4:10 hours. The occurrence aircraft underwent power runs but it still on the ground in Vienna about 12 hours after the end of the power runs and about 15 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4caa1059&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Yakutia SU95 near Vladivostok on Jul 20th 2019, cracked windshield A Yakutia Sukhoi Superjet 100-95, registration RA-89037 performing flight R3-9912 from Yangyang (South Korea) to Vladivostok (Russia) with 69 passengers and 7 crew, was descending towards Vladivostok when the crew reported a cracked windshield and continued for a safe landing in Vladivostok. The aircraft is still on the ground in Vladivostok about 31 hours after landing awaiting a new windshield to be flown in. http://avherald.com/h?article=4caa0eed&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Rossiya B738 at Moscow on Jul 21st 2019, aft cargo smoke indication A Rossiya Boeing 737-800, registration VQ-BUE performing flight FV-5739 from Moscow Vnukovo (Russia) to Prague (Czech Republic) with 187 people on board, was climbing out of Vnukovo's runway 24 when the crew stopped the climb at FL140 due to an aft cargo smoke indication. The aircraft returned to Vnukovo for a safe landing on runway 24 about 20 minutes after departure. Emergency services found no trace of fire, heat or smoke. A replacement Boeing 737-800 registration VP-BGQ reached Prague with a delay of about 4 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Moscow about 11 hours after landing back. http://avherald.com/h?article=4caa0c09&opt=0 Back to Top Accident: Spirit A320 near Las Vegas on Jul 16th 2019, fumes on board A Spirit Airlines Airbus A320-200, registration N604NK performing flight NK-726 from Seattle,WA to Las Vegas,NV (USA), landed on Las Vegas' runway 26L and taxied to the gate B20, the crew maintained routine communication with ATC. A number of ambulances carried 6 people including flight attendants off the aircraft on stretchers and took them to hospitals. The Airport reported there had been fumes on board, 6 people needed medical attention and were taken to a medical facility. The airline reported 4 flight attendants and one passenger were taken to a medical facility and were since released. Maintenance was determining the source of the odour. An observer at Las Vegas Terminal reported multiple members of a Spirit Airlines crew were stretchered away from gate B20. A replacement A320-200 registration N645NK performed the next sector of flight NK-726 to Orlando,FL (USA). The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground for about 10 hours, then returned to service. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/NKS726/history/20190717/0320Z/KSEA/KLAS http://avherald.com/h?article=4ca8f18e&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Jetblue A321 near Norfolk on Jul 17th 2019, smoke in cockpit A Jetblue Airbus A321-200, registration N958JB performing flight B6-1818 from Port of Spain (Trinidad and Tobago) to New York JFK,NY (USA), was enroute at FL340 about 260nm east of Norfolk,VA (USA) when the crew reported smoke in the cockpit, turned west and diverted to Norfolk for a safe landing about 45 minutes later. The airline reported the aircraft diverted to Norfolk due to possible smoke in the cockpit. A replacement crew is about to take the passengers to New York. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground in Norfolk for about 17 hours, then continued the flight to New York and arrived with a delay of 17:20 hours. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/JBU1818/history/20190717/2100Z/TTPP/KJFK http://avherald.com/h?article=4ca8e76c&opt=0 Back to Top Accident: Nordwind B738 at Moscow on Jul 19th 2019, rejected takeoff due to smoke on board A Nordwind Boeing 737-800, registration VP-BSZ performing flight N4-477 from Moscow Sheremetyevo (Russia) to Yerevan (Armenia) with 173 passengers and 6 crew, was accelerating for takeoff from Sheremetyevo's runway 24C when the crew rejected takeoff at high speed. The aircraft slowed safely, vacated the runway at the last exit and stopped. The aircraft was evacuated via slides. 8 people received injuries, 2 of them were taken to hospitals. Emergency services found no trace of fire. The crew reported there was so much smoke on board that they couldn't see the cabin from the cockpit. The airline reported takeoff was rejected when a strange odour appeared on board during the takeoff run. A replacement Boeing 737-800 registration VP-BSA reached Yerevan with a delay of 4.5 hours. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground in Moscow for about 26 hours after the rejected takeoff before returning to service. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ca8e95f&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top Accident: PIA AT42 at Gilgit on Jul 20th 2019, runway excursion on landing A PIA Pakistan International Airlines Avions de Transport Regional ATR-42-500, registration AP-BHP performing flight PK-605 from Islamabad to Gilgit (Pakistan) with 53 people on board, landed on Gilgit's runway 25 but overran the end of the runway and subsequencly skidded sidewards off the runway coming to a stop past the end of the runway with the right main gear collapsed. There were no injuries, the aircraft sustained substantial damage to right main gear, right wing and right engine. No weather data are available (weather looks clear and dry from passenger video however). The airline reported the crew skillfully regained control of the aircraft after the ATR skidded off the paved surface of the runway to some minor extent during landing. Pakistan's Accident Investigation have opened an investigation. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ca97966&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: United B772 at Beijing on Jul 18th 2019, cracked windshield A United Boeing 777-200, registration N787UA performing flight UA-889 from Beijing (China) to San Francisco,CA (USA), was climbing out of Beijing when the crew stopped the climb at 6000 meters (FL197) due to a cracked windshield. The aircraft returned to Beijing for a safe landing on runway 36R about 30 minutes after departure. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 20 hours, then departed as flight UA-889D (delayed). http://avherald.com/h?article=4ca8e593&opt=0 Back to Top 2 Southwest Planes Collide On Tarmac At Nashville Airport Two Southwest Airlines planes collided Saturday night while they were pushing back from their respective gates at Nashville International Airport. The airline told AP in a statement that no injuries were reported in the crash, but photos from after the incident appear to show some damage sustained by at least one of the two jets. Southwest spokeswoman Michelle Agnew told AP that the winglet of Southwest Flight 1555, which had been bound for St. Louis, "came into contact" with the winglet of Southwest Flight 4580, which had been scheduled to fly to Atlanta. (A winglet is the small, upturned part at the end of a plane's wings.) A photograph taken by a passenger aboard the Atlanta-bound flight appeared to show the other plane's damaged winglet following the collision. The tip of the winglet - and the letter "S" from the word "Southwest" - had been ripped off. This photo taken by a passenger onboard a Southwest Airlines flight to Atlanta on Saturday appears to show the damage sustained by another Southwest Airlines plane after the two jets collided. (Photo: Associated Press) The planes were able to return to the gates "under their own power" and were taken out of service to be evaluated, Agnew said. https://www.yahoo.com/huffpost/southwest-planes-collide-nashville-122253027.html Back to Top Australia grounds Mahindra's GA8 planes after Swedish crash MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australia's air safety regulator has grounded operations of a small aircraft manufactured by Mahindra Aerospace for up to 15 days following a crash in Sweden that killed nine people earlier this month. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) said it had suspended operations of all GippsAero GA8 planes in Australia and all Australian-registered GA8 planes flying overseas from July 20 through Aug. 3. The GA8 single-engine aircraft, built in Australia by GippsAero, is typically used for skydiving, tourism, air patrols, medical evacuations and humanitarian missions in remote locations, according to Mahindra Aerospace's website. There are 228 GA8 planes worldwide, 63 of which are registered in Australia, CASA said. Mahindra Aerospace, a unit of India's Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd (MAHM.NS), said CASA's move was precautionary during the preliminary investigation in Sweden, with which GippsAero was cooperating. "The preliminary investigation has not identified the root cause of the incident," GippsAero Chief Executive Keith Douglas said in an emailed statement. Nine Swedes were killed when a GA8, dubbed the Airvan 8, crashed during a skydiving trip near Umea in northern Sweden on July 14. CASA said it has been working closely with Swedish authorities and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which has also issued an emergency directive to European GA8 aircraft owners and operators to suspend operations except for ferry flights. https://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFKCN1UH0AW Back to Top Air New Zealand's new Airbus A321 planes caught up in European safety alert Operators of Airbus A321neo aircraft, including Air New Zealand, have been alerted by European aviation safety regulators to circumstances in which the nose of the plane could pitch up. A European Union Aviation Safety Agency has warned the behaviour of the elevator aileron computer installed on A321neos can cause "excessive pitch attitude" that could result in "reduced control of the aeroplane". The fault is most likely to occur on the final approach phase, UKAvitaiton.news reported, particularly if a "hard manoeuvre" is attempted, such as a large correction to the aircraft's angle of attack (AoA). The temporary revision instructs airlines not to load their A321neos with a centre of gravity as far rearward as currently permitted so the weight is not towards the rear of the aircraft and the directive says they must change the aircraft flight manuals accordingly. ''Analysis of the behaviour of (a computer) installed on A321neo revealed that excessive pitch attitude can occur in certain conditions and during specific manoeuvres. "This condition, if not corrected, could result in reduced control of the aeroplane,'' the directive from the agency says. Air New Zealand says it has been advised of the potential problem which could affect planes with excessive tail-heavy loading. ''We don't load our A321s in this way, so the issue has no impact on our operations,'' a spokeswoman said. This country's Civil Aviation Authority has also been contacted for comment. Air New Zealand began adding the first batch of seven A321neos to its fleet last November and the aircraft are used on short-haul international flights, including across the Tasman. The fault is not seen as serious as the flight control computer fault that has grounded the Boeing 737 Max aircraft that resulted in two fatal accidents claiming 346 lives. FlightGlobal also reports that the crew would be able to react to this pitch-up to bring the aircraft immediately under safe control. There would be no automatic take-over of manual crew input by an automatic aircraft system compared to the Boeing 737 MAX feature. EASA has ordered operators of the A321neo to amend the flight manuals accordingly, within 30 days. The order covers both those powered by CFM International Leap-1A and Pratt & Whitney PW1100G - which Air NZ has. Seven temporary revisions to the flight manual have been issued, FlightGlobal reports. EASA says the safety measure is an interim action and could be followed by further requirements. Air New Zealand is buying 13 Airbus neo aircraft (seven A321neos and six A320neos) to replace the A320 fleet that currently operates Tasman and Pacific Island services and a further seven Airbus A321neo for domestic network growth. The A321neos are longer than A321s with 214 seats - 46 more than the airline's current international A320 fleet. The A321neo is the biggest of Airbus' narrow-body fleet. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12251659 Back to Top Lufthansa resumes Cairo flights, British Airways stays away CAIRO (AP) - Lufthansa resumed flying to Cairo Sunday following a one-day suspension due to safety concerns. The German airline's website shows LH582 took off from Frankfurt after a two-hour delay and arrived in Egypt's capital Sunday afternoon. Meanwhile, British Airways continued with its seven-day suspension of flights to Cairo, and Egyptian Lt. General Younes Elmasry, Egypt's minister of civil aviation, said he's frustrated that the airline suspended flights without consulting Egyptian authorities. Elmasry met Sunday with Sir Geoffrey Adams, British ambassador to Egypt, and both said they would work together to resolve the situation as soon as possible. Adams apologized for not informing Egyptian authorities before British Airways announced it was suspending flights to and from Egypt for a week. The U.S. warned citizens Friday about traveling to Egypt, saying terrorist groups including ISIS committed multiple deadly attacks. British authorities also warned against traveling to parts of Egypt due to terrorist attacks. British Airways attributed its cancellations to what it called its constant review of security arrangements at all airports, calling them "a precaution to allow for further assessment." https://www.yahoo.com/news/lufthansa-resumes-flights-cairo-safety-112432689.html Back to Top Pilots subjected to random alcohol tests in UAE Pilots found to exceed alcohol limit of 0.02 grams not be permitted to fly Dubai: The General Civil Aviation Authority, GCAA, has been successfully carrying out alcohol tests at all civil airports in the UAE as part of the safety procedures, according to senior officials. "The alcohol test further compliments the GCAA's risk based approach to control any such occurrences of foreign aircraft flight crew operating under the influence of alcohol, in UAE airspace," said Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the General Civil Aviation Authority. He reiterated the GCAA's commitment to enhancing safety. Ismaeil Mohammed Al Blooshi, Assistant Director General, Aviation Safety Affairs Sector at the GCAA, said: "When a particular flight is selected for alcohol testing, the pilots reporting for duty will be subject to breathalyser tests. Pilots found to exceed an alcohol limit of 0.02 grams (20mg) will not be permitted to fly." "This limit has been determined based on international best practices. It is equivalent to a 'zero tolerance' standard, with a small allowance for the potential presence of alcohol in the breath, due to other factors such as medication or mouthwash," he added. The officials said that since the initiation of Alcohol Testing in 2018, the testing is being carried out on a planned and random basis. The industry is well aware of this procedure. The flight crew from different operators are being tested. A total of 22 tests have been carried out, and where necessary enforcement actions are being taken against the violators, they said. https://gulfnews.com/uae/pilots-subjected-to-random-alcohol-tests-in-uae-1.65359227 Back to Top A flight was delayed when a man tried climbing onto the airplane's wing to hitch a free ride * Video shows a man climbing the wing of an Azman Air 737 in Lagos, Nigeria. The man was said to have been trying to hitch a ride. * The man also reportedly tried to store his hand luggage in one of the plane's engines. * The flight was delayed and the man was arrested. A flight taking off from Lagos, Nigeria, was delayed on Friday after passengers on the flight noticed a man climbing onto the wing as it was taxiing toward the runway. According to the blog One Mile at a Time, the Azman Air flight to Port Harcourt, Nigeria, was holding just short of the runway when a man, who had illegally snuck onto the tarmac, jumped onto the Boeing 737's wing. He also had carry-on luggage, which he stored in one of the plane's engines. Passengers alerted flight attendants, who in turn warned the pilots. The plane was forced to shut down its engines to avoid injuring the stowaway. Video posted on YouTube shows the man climbing onto the wing: A suspected lunatic enters AZMAN Air engine According to One Mile at a Time, the man was arrested and the flight resumed. Lagos Airport has had a number of security issues in the past, including thefts from aircraft cargo holds while the airplanes were in use. https://www.businessinsider.com/man-climbs-airplane-wing-lagos-nigeria-azman-air- 2019-7 Back to Top Malaysia will bid to keep international civil aviation seat Transport Minister Anthony Loke speaks at the high-tea reception with ambassadors and high commissioners at Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Kuala Lumpur July 22, 2019. - Picture by Yusof Mat Isa KUALA LUMPUR, July 22 - Anthony Loke said today the government will submit its bid to retain its seat on the United Nations' (UN) main decision making body for civil aviation arm - the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) council. Addressing a group of ambassadors and high commissioners, the transport minister had asked for their support and votes to ensure that Malaysia remains the representative for the Asia Pacific region. "On this note, it gives me great pleasure to announce that the Government of Malaysia has decided to submit its candidacy for the upcoming election of the Council of ICAO in PArt III for the term 2019 - 2022 at the 40th Session of the ICAO Assembly which will be held in September this year. "It is my hope that our esteemed peers from various countries represented today will endorse for Malaysia's continued membership on the Council of ICAO. "In the running for the election, I would humbly request ICAO Member States' to support and vote for Malaysia to retain its seat on the Council of ICAO under Part III for the term 2019 - 2022," said Loke. The ICAO General Assembly will be held from September 28 to October 14 in Montreal Canada. The country have been an ICAO member since May 7, 1958. The Malaysian delegation will be led by Loke and accompanied by government officials as well as aviation industry players. Should Malaysia succeed, it will be the nation's fifth consecutive term on the council after first being elected to represent the region in 2007. In the last round of elections in 2016, the country received 129 out of 172 votes cast by eligible voting member states at the 39th ICAO General Assembly. https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2019/07/22/malaysia-will-bid-to-keep- international-civil-aviation-seat/1773773 Back to Top Schumer demands FAA require EpiPens aboard airliners to aid passengers suffering severe allergic reactions * Schumer demands FAA require EpiPens aboard airliners to aid passengers suffering severe allergic reactions * Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said on Sunday that all airlines should carry life- saving EpiPens on planes and he urged regulators to require that the device for serious allergic reactions is included in on-board emergency kits. The Federal Aviation Administration has allowed airlines to leave EpiPens out of their medical kits since 2016 because there was a shortage of the product. Schumer and Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) sent a letter to the FAA on Sunday demanding that it reverse that policy. The EpiPen contains a measured dose of epinepherine, which helps minimize severe reactions to things like insect bites, drugs and food. Two weeks ago, New York physician Dr. Mikhail Varshavski, known online as "Dr. Mike," saved a passenger having a serious allergic reaction on a Delta Air Lines flight to Israel. Varshavski, who joined Schumer at a press conference Sunday, said the plane's emergency medical kit contained epinepherine, but the dosage was intended for someone undergoing cardiac arrest. He dumped roughly half of the medication onto the floor before administering the drug and saving the person's life. "If he had not had that, we would have had to make an incision into the throat," said Varshavski, noting that would be difficult because sharp objects are not permitted on flights. FAA spokeswoman Arlene Salac said airlines have been required to carry injectable epinephrine since at least 2003, but Schumer and Varshavski said the average person would not know how to give patients the proper dosage without an EpiPen. Severe allergic reactions can cause trouble breathing, hives, and swelling of the face and throat, among other things. The FAA's exemption for EpiPens on flights is in effect until the start of 2020, but Schumer said the agency could reverse it now. "We are in the midst of a food allergy uptick that, for one reason for another, is making more and more people susceptible to attacks and reactions that can lead to death," Schumer said. A Southwest Airlines spokesperson said the company's planes are equipped with EpiPen and Diphenhydramine, another allergy drug that can be used if medical professionals are on board. United said it carries vials of epinephrine. American Airlines spokesman Justin Franco said, "All American Airlines aircraft are stocked with inflight medical kits that meet FAA standards. Those kits include Benadryl and injectable Epinephrine, and by the end of this year, American's kits will also include Epinephrine auto injectors. Nearly 80 percent of American's inflight medical kits currently contain EpiPens." Delta Air Lines did not respond to a request for comment. https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-faa-regulation-schumer-epipen-airlines- 20190721-ekyslgxtnndoldwrkef7orotde-story.html Back to Top Upgrades of Phase 3 displays on 737s, 777s nearly complete: Honeywell Airlines don't always move quickly to address airworthiness directives. And on occasion, some carriers miss AD deadlines altogether. That's why air travelers will be heartened to learn that most Honeywell Phase 3 display units on Boeing 737NG and 777 aircraft have been upgraded since the US Federal Aviation Administration in 2014 issued an AD to address their susceptibility to RF transmissions. "We have already upgraded 8,000 DUs, leaving less than 400 to be converted under the AD at no cost to our customers," says Honeywell spokesman Scott Sayres. The remaining 400 units "might represent 70 or fewer aircraft" and "many of them could be on retired aircraft or simulators", Honeywell notes in a statement. Industry is working against a 5 November 2019 deadline to convert any remaining affected DUs still flying. Honeywell Phase 3 DUs first showed themselves susceptible to "blanking" several years ago on the ground, during electro magnetic interference certification testing of wireless broadband systems on 737NG aircraft. The news - which was first exclusively reported in 2011 by your author for her then employer Flightglobal - stymied certain inflight connectivity installs for a spell. As a condition for receiving supplemental type certification for inflight connectivity systems, some 737NG operators placed placards on the flight decks, instructing crew that Wi-Fi devices had to be powered off. That inhibited them from bringing Wi-Fi capabilities to pilots' electronic flight bags, which is considered a key way to drive operational benefits from inflight connectivity. The FAA "approved certain STCs with such limitations as a means of compliance until a permanent solution was available", the agency admitted in its 2014 AD. "However, we intended those limitations as interim action until permanent corrective actions for the unsafe condition became available for the baseline airplanes. We do not consider it adequate to leave those operating limitations in place permanently as the sole corrective action for the unsafe condition." As such, 737NG and 777 operators with Phase 3 DUs were incentivized to get moving on the avionics upgrade. To wit, even though all-737 operator Southwest Airlines saw a negligible level of risk, it was among the first carriers to begin retrofitting its flight decks with new avionics, starting as early as 2013 when the FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking in advance of the AD. Southwest spokeswoman Michelle Agnew says the airline removed the last affected display unit in September 2019. Asked by RGN if Southwest has ever observed blanking on the ground or in-flight due to Wi-Fi or cell interference, Agnew says, "We're not aware of any reports of interference." Importantly, as Honeywell said in 2011 - and as the aerospace giant reiterates now - there "has never been a report of our DUs blanking in-flight because of HIRF/Wi-Fi interference". That message may have been lost when Bloomberg on 19 July published an article that, among other assertions, appeared to conflate the Phase 3 DU issue with reports found in the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) database about avionics blanking in- flight. These pilot reports "are completely unrelated to the Wi-Fi and cell phone issue", insists Honeywell in a strongly worded response to Bloomberg's article. "Pilots have reported blanking incidents that could arise from a variety of causes, including aircraft power interruptions or display reconfigurations. Upon learning of these incidents earlier this year - which were reported at a small number of remote airports and only on a particular flight path - Honeywell swiftly and extensively investigated the issue, which has been remedied through operating manual updates and pilot training for those affected airports. We have already developed a software update that is currently in flight testing and we expect it to be FAA certified this year," says the firm. Moreover, the ASRS reports are difficult to verify since most of the data that Honeywell needs is scrubbed. "There is no way for us to tell the specific instances Bloomberg mentions are actually issues related to our units," notes Honeywell's Sayres to RGN. Rotation So do cell phones pose a safety risk on aircraft due to interference with avionics? It seems careless to answer with a definitive 'no, that's impossible' given that an admittedly limited number of aircraft still carry the Honeywell Phase 3 DUs, which were shown to be susceptible to RF transmissions during on-ground testing. Equally, however, Bloomberg seems to have taken some speculative liberties in its article, and has since corrected the piece, though a fair amount of information in its report has been known for years. It should be noted that the FAA received pushback when it first proposed rulemaking on the issue, including from airline trade group A4A. This prompted the agency to respond that: "We do not agree that no problems have occurred on in-service airplanes, since the Wi-Fi STC testing that disclosed this susceptibility was conducted on an in-service airplane equipped with phase 3 DUs." https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2019/07/21/upgrades-of-phase-3-displays-on-737s- 777s-nearly-complete-honeywell/ Back to Top United Airlines To Acquire 54 Bombardier CRJ550s Chicago based United Airlines is looking to acquire 54 Bombardier CRJ550 regional jets fitted out with first-class seats. Bombardier CRJ550 The Bombardier CRJ550 is United Airlines new regional jet. Photo: Bombardier According to The Points Guy, United are looking to secure all 54 aircraft by the end of next year. The CRJ550s are a new Bombardier built aircraft based on CRJ700 airframes. Bombardier is promoting the regional jet as being the first triple-class 50-seat aircraft in the world. The CRJ550 will replace older regional jets In a press release from the Canadian plane maker, they claim that the CRJ550 is the only solution for North America's aging fleet of 50 seat aircraft. Fred Cromer, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft said in the media release, "The new CRJ550 model is the only solution in North America that can replace the existing fleet of aging 50-seaters, a market of over 700 aircraft. It offers an improved passenger experience with ample onboard storage for carry-on bags and more passenger living space. This is one more example of how we are focusing on creating value for our customers and a very important endorsement from United in regards to the CRJ platform." The rest of the aircraft will be comprised of 20 economy plus seats and 20 standard economy seats. United Airlines CRJ550s will also feature large storage closets, eliminating the need for passengers to gate check their bags. In addition to this, the plane comes with a self- serve beverage and snack station and more overall legroom per seat than any other 50 passenger aircraft flown by any American airline. The first CRJ550 will be based in Chicago When the first of United's new CRJ550s arrives later this year, it will be based at their Chicago O'Hare hub and be put on the ORD-XNA route. For those not familiar with the XNA airport code, it refers to Bentonville, Arkansas which just happens to be the world headquarters of Walmart. Following this other aircraft will be put on routes to smaller regional airports, and will be based at both Chicago O'Hare and Newark Liberty airports. When talking about the CRJ550s back in February, executives at United Airlines said the new planes would help their current competitive disadvantage in some of the country's smaller markets. Currently, United's contracts with its pilots limit the airline to 255 large regional jets that feature first-class cabins. Meanwhile, Delta and American Airlines can both fly more of the larger models. By flying the CRJ550 United Airlines will now be able to introduce a first-class service on smaller routes while still complying with contractual requirements of their pilots. Andrew Nocella, the chief commercial officer of United, commented on this during a second- quarter earnings call on July 17th, saying, "Getting our structural disadvantage in smaller communities fixed is a priority ... We're excited to see the 550 into service and what it's going do to us." Besides helping United Airlines level the playing field in smaller markets, the CRJ550 will create new upgrade opportunities for frequent flyers. The way United will do this is by introducing the CRJ550s on routes that currently fly 50 seat aircraft will an all-economy configuration. The United CCO did not put an exact date on when the new CRJ550s would enter service other than to say it would be "later this year". https://simpleflying.com/united-airlines-bombardier-crj550/ Back to Top United Airlines working to give passengers free Wi-Fi One of the important on-board features for many passengers on flights these days is Wi-Fi service. While some flights charge customers to use their service, others are attempting to give complimentary Wi-FI for passengers. United Airlines is looking into improving their service to do just that for their future flights. As reported by SFGate, United Airlines president Scott Kirby announced during last week's earnings call that the airline spent last year working on this aspect. In particular, they were upgrading their software and hardware for inflight internet service. The goal is to make WiFi service free on their flights as soon as possible. Back in March, Kirby said during a TravelSkills interview that the "number one complaint from our frequent travelers" related to poor Wi-Fi service. Therefore, upgrading that aspect of the onboard travel experience is a priority. However, Kirby didn't announce any sort of timeline for when United will no longer charge passengers for their Wi-Fi access. United Airlines currently has WiFi internet available to passengers, although it carries a price. These prices vary based on the internet service provider. United Airlines uses four different internet providers with Gogo, Thales, Panasonic, and ViaSat. SFGate's report indicates costs could be as low as $11 or as high as $49 depending on the flight. In addition, they state that frequent flier miles can be used as a payment option for the services. That said, giving customers a free Wi-Fi experience can give United a major selling point for future business. There's still the ongoing process of updating to newer equipment to give better service. Many jets were operating with older internet service equipment that generally provides slower, spottier connections that are only available over 10,000 feet. Now jets are being updated with newer capacities for browsing faster and more reliably as well as "from gate to gate." Still, it will take time for these upgrades to be performed. Of the major airlines operating in the United States, JetBlue states they are the "only airline with free high-speed wi-fi at every seat." The airline's official website indicates they use Fly-Fi provided by Amazon to make this incredible online experience possible. The service is said to be possible over the contiguous U.S. with expansion coming for other JetBlue flight routes. https://www.wingsjournal.com/united-airlines-working-give-passengers-free-wi-fi Back to Top Airbus' new bird-plane hybrid is both fascinating and unsettling The Bird of Prey concept plane relies on the theory of biomimicry Airbus unveiled a new concept airplane called "Bird of Prey," which seems fitting because this thing seems designed to prey on your deepest fears. The bird-like conceptual airline design features multiple propellers, a rudder branded with the Union Jack, and something called "feathered wings" which I can't seem to unsee. The body of the plane is bronze-colored and looks more fish-like than anything else. The addition to the tendril-tipped wings, though, make it clear that Airbus' designers had birds on the brain when they came up with this one. Airbus unveiled the concept at the Royal International Air Tattoo air show in the UK. The French aerospace giant thankfully has no plans to build or manufacture this chimeric monstrosity, which is probably for the best. More intriguing is the propulsion system undergirding this fantastical experiment. Using technology now under development, the Bird of Prey could provide a 30-50 percent reduction in fuel burn compared to equivalent aircraft today - a major leap in efficiency. "One of the priorities for the entire industry is how to make aviation more sustainable - making flying cleaner, greener and quieter than ever before," Martin Aston, a senior manager at Airbus, said in a statement. "We know from our work on the A350 XWB passenger jet that through biomimicry, nature has some of the best lessons we can learn about design. Who can't help but be inspired by such a creation?" MAKING FLYING CLEANER, GREENER AND QUIETER THAN EVER BEFORE Hey, if designing some weird bird-plane is what it takes to "inspire" the airline industry to ditch fossil fuels in favor of more clean-burning energy, I'm all for it. I'll strap on a pair of Hawkman wings myself like I'm in a Terry Gilliam movie. But the adoption of hybrid and battery-powered propulsion systems in aviation is taking its sweet time because putting planes in the air is heavy stuff. Flying requires an incredible amount of energy, and presently, batteries are too heavy and too expensive to achieve liftoff. Energy density - the amount of energy stored in a given system - is the key metric, and today's batteries don't contain enough energy to get most planes off the ground. To weigh it out: jet fuel gives us about 43 times more energy than a battery that's just as heavy. Airbus' idea of biomimicry, which it defines as "the design and production of materials, structures and systems inspired by nature," is certainly intriguing. And Airbus isn't alone in thinking that airplane wings, traditionally thick and sturdy, could use an upgrade. A team of NASA researchers are working on a new type of flexible wing that morphs as it flies. Measuring 14 feet or four meters wide, the new wing is constructed from thousands of 3D-printed reinforced polyetherimide units that fit together and function in a similar way to a bird's wing. https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/19/20700614/airbus-bird-of-prey-plane-hybrid- concept Back to Top Chandrayaan-2: Success in India's second attempt at launching Moon mission If successful, the mission will make India only the fourth country to make a soft-landing on the lunar surface. New Delhi (CNN)India has successfully launched a mission to soft land a rover on the moon, in a landmark moment for a nation trying to become a space superpower. The country's latest lunar mission, Chandrayaan-2, which means "moon vehicle" in Sanskrit, took off from the Satish Dhawan Space Center at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh state at 2:43 p.m., Monday local time (5:13 am ET). The launch was originally scheduled for July 15, but was abruptly called off just 56 minutes before lift-off due to a "technical snag." India is now on the way to becoming the fourth country -- in addition to United States, China and the former Soviet Union -- to make a soft-landing on the lunar surface. The Chandrayaan-2, which weighs 3.8 tons and carries 13 payloads, has three elements -- lunar orbiter, lander and rover, all developed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). It will travel for two months, before positioning itself in a circular orbit 62 miles (100km) above the moon's surface. From there, the lander -- named Vikram after the pioneer of the Indian space program Vikram Sarabhai -- will separate from the main vessel and gently land on the moon's surface near its South Pole. A robotic rover named Pragyan (meaning "wisdom") will then deploy and spend one lunar day, or 14 Earth days, collecting mineral and chemical samples from the moon's surface for remote scientific analysis. Over the next year, the orbiter will map the lunar surface and study the outer atmosphere of the moon. Kailasavadivoo Sivan, ISRO chairman, said in June that the last 15 minutes of the landing "are going to be the most terrifying moments for us." As well as coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing, the launch comes as other space agencies revisit the idea of sending humans to the moon and beyond -- NASA has touted a bold plan to return American astronauts to the moon by 2024. India's space ambitions This mission is significant for India -- the country wants to become a major space player and put Indian astronauts in space by 2022. "India wants to show, especially since Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi came into office, that India is a major power, and that India has to be treated as a major Indo-Pacific power," said Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan, head of the nuclear and space policy initiative at the Observer Research Foundation. Chandrayaan-1, India's maiden lunar mission, discovered water molecules on the surface of the moon. As part of that mission, an impact probe crashed into the moon's south polar region in a controlled landing. India's attempted soft-landing is a far greater technical challenge than the controlled crash of Chandrayaan-1. The two Chandrayaan missions are a precursor to Chandrayaan-3, which is scheduled to make a return mission to the moon in 2023-2024. In 2014, India became the first Asian nation to reach the Red Planet, when it put the Mangalyaan probe into orbit around Mars. The Mars Orbiter Mission famously cost $74 million -- less than the $100 million than Hollywood spent making space thriller "Gravity." In 2017, India launched a record 104 satellites in one mission while operating a low- cost budget. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Modi announced that India had shot down one of its own satellites, in what it claimed was an anti-satellite test, making it one of four countries to have achieved that feat. Modi said that operation, called Mission Shakti -- which stands for "power" in Hindi -- would defend the country's interests in space. The Foreign Ministry said that India had "no intention of entering into an arms race in outer space." The nation is also positioning itself as the launch pad for the world's commercial satellites -- it has launched 297 foreign satellites for 33 countries, according to the government's space agency. ISRO chairman Sivan also announced in June that India was planning to set up an independent space station by 2030. Currently, the only space station available for expedition crews is the International Space Station (ISS) a joint project, which several countries participate in. India's space agency has also proposed sending an orbiter to Venus by 2023. Some say India's ambitious goals are unrealistic. "ISRO also has a capacity deficit, limited human and financial resources, so how will those be allocated between the space station and the astronauts program?" asked Rajagopalan. "Some of these things are driven towards nationalistic sentiments, pride and prestige but some are not going to be achievable." Asia space race There is competing competition for space-related power and prestige in Asia -- with China, India and Japan all outlining bold space exploration plans. China, India's great regional rival for superpower status, is the most rapidly accelerating space power and, under President Xi Jinping's leadership, has invested billions in building up its space program. In January, China made history by becoming the first nation to land a rover on the far side of the moon and a planned mission next year is due to land on the moon, collect samples and return to Earth. Preliminary plans are also underway for a manned lunar mission in the 2030s. If successful, China would become only the second country, after the US, to put a citizen on the moon. Beijing is also spending big on the Tiangong program, a precursor to a permanent space station it plans to finish construction on by around 2022. https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/22/asia/india-space-ambitions-moon-launch-intl- hnk/index.html Back to Top CHC Helicopter has announced that participants in the 15th annual CHC Safety & Quality Summit, which will be held October 1-3, 2019 at the Omni Dallas Hotel, will have the opportunity to win complimentary tuition to five courses that fulfill the requirements for the University of Southern California (USC) Aviation Safety and Security Program. The USC program is offered to all sectors of rotary wing aviation and includes offshore oil and gas, corporate, commercial, EMS, government and military operations. The CHC participants will be prime candidates for the USC Aviation Safety and Security Program, especially if their job includes safety and investigative responsibilities. "The USC Aviation Safety and Security program is a great opportunity for one lucky delegate at this year's summit to expand their knowledge and build safety across our industry," said Duncan Trapp, CHC's VP of Safety & Quality. "We greatly appreciate their support and are eager to award this opportunity during this year's Summit and at future events." The USC Aviation Safety and Security certificate contains one aircraft accident investigation course, one safety management course, one human factors course and two electives. Specifics of the program can be seen at https://aviationsafety.usc.edu. The USC Aircraft Accident Investigation lab is moving to a new facility and practical lab sessions utilizing the 12 aircraft wreckages will be employed throughout the curriculum. Of special note is the Helicopter Accident Investigation course, which utilizes a recent A350 accident and exemplars from R22 and UH-1 aircraft. To participate and be considered for the drawing, interested parties must attend the CHC Safety and Quality Summit. Once onsite, participants can submit a name or business card for the drawing. For additional information on the Summit and to register, please visit the website at www.chcsafetyqualitysummit.com. ABOUT THE CHC SAFETY & QUALITY SUMMIT Each Summit event features a series of presentations led by experts in the fields of aviation, oil & gas and energy, and safety. Invited speakers will lead approximately 100 concurrent sessions over a three-day period, addressing the theme and helping to contribute to the safety conversation in our industries, promoting excellence in safety and human factors and maintaining a robust safety environment. Approximately 500 delegates from nearly 30 countries and a range of industries join the Summit each year, making it one of the largest aviation safety events in the world. ABOUT CHC For more than 70 years, CHC Helicopter has provided safe, reliable, cost-effective helicopter service in some of the most remote and challenging environments around the world. With extensive experience transporting customers in the oil and gas industry, supporting search-and-rescue and EMS contracts, and providing maintenance, repair and overhaul services, our dedication to safety and reputation for quality and innovation help our customers reach beyond what they thought possible. Visit www.chcheli.com for information. ABOUT THE USC AVIATION SAFETY & SECURITY PROGRAM The USC Aviation and Security program was established in 1952 as the first Aviation Safety program at a major research university. It offers 20 courses to nearly 1000 students each year in a personal, hands-on, format. Since its launch, more than 21,000 aviation professionals from 20 nations have completed the training. Instructors are skilled educators with extensive industry experience, and courses are taught in small classes to facilitate classroom interaction. Students gain the knowledge to establish safety programs, investigate aircraft accidents, become expert witnesses, and deal with human factor issues. Upon completion, the University of Southern California's Aviation Safety and Security Certificate is awarded to those who successfully complete the program. It certifies completion of training in the multidisciplinary areas of Aviation Safety Management. Contact Information MEDIA Lindsey Wallace Communications Specialist CHC Helicopter +1 214.262.7426 Lindsey.Wallace@chcheli.com Summit Contact Irina Sakgaev Safety & Quality Applications Specialist CHC Helicopter +1 604.232.7302 summit@chcheli.com ISASI 2019 Future Safety: has the past become irrelevant? The Hague Marriott Hotel & World Forum The Hague September 3 - 5, 2019 *** Early Bird registration ending soon *** ISASI 2019 is pleased to announce that the Preliminary Program is now available. The Seminar's agenda includes a wide range of topics including accident case studies, airport and airline operations, human factors and commercial space accident investigations. Presentations will be given by industry experts, accident investigators, manufacturers and academics. To find out more about the program and how to register, please visit the seminar website at - www.ISASI2019.org Questions about registration can be sent to Barb Dunn at avsafe@shaw.ca As a reminder - Early Bird registration ends at midnight on July 28, 2019 MST (GMT-7). In order to receive the seminar rate at the hotel, reservations must be made by July 28. On Monday 2nd September, the day before the start of the ISASI Seminar, there is also a choice of three Tutorials: Monday (Tutorial) program: Tutorial 1 - Hosted by the Dutch Safety Board A. Aviation Safety versus Medical Confidentiality (morning) B. Communications with Victims and Relatives (afternoon) Tutorial 2 - Military accident investigation. Hosted by the Military Air Safety Investigators (MASI) - a subset of ISASI - this tutorial is the forum for International Military Accident Investigators to share knowledge on their respective capabilities, experiences, processes and procedures with a view to the development of future relationships and common practices. ****************** Fellow ISASI members: The dnata Haarlemmermeer Run will be held on Sunday September 1 in the community of Hooffddorp near Amsterdam and Schiphol. Three distances are offered; five and 10 kilometers and half marathon. Entry fee is between 11 and 17 Euros. Race shirts are available as well. This is a timed run. The race starts and ends at the Hoofddorp Pioneers Baseball Stadium. Attendees of ISASI and their companions who want to arrive early in order to participate in the race can contact me at christine.negroni@gmail.com and I will coordinate a group entry. Registration closes on August 19th. Christine Negroni author of The Crash Detectives Investigating the World's Most Mysterious Air Disasters Published by Penguin Books ================================================ 203 637-8441 landline 203 952-8441 mobile christine.negroni - skype @cnegroni - Twitter christinenegroni - Instagram Photo Credit: Glen Grossman, Los Angeles Police Department Air Support Division Upcoming USC Aviation Safety & Security Program Courses Safety Management for Aviation Maintenance Safety principles and practices needed to manage the problems associated with aircraft maintenance operations. August 5-9, 2019 4.5 Days Tuition: $2575 Data for Safety Management Collection and analysis of flight data to contribute to safety management and improve safety performance. August 5-9, 2019 4.5 Days Tuition: $2575 SeMS Aviation Security Management Systems Applying SMS fundamentals to aviation security and cyber security. August 12-16, 2019 4.5 Days Tuition: $2575 Software Safety Identifying, understanding, and preventing software hazards and their root causes, with lessons on methods to create and document a software safety case. August 12-15, 2019 4 Days Tuition: $2125 Aviation Law & Dispute Resolution Legal processes, trends, and practices affecting aviation safety, accident investigation, and aviation regulation. This is the successor to the previous Legal Aspects of Aviation Safety & Role of the Technical Witness in Litigation courses. August 19-22, 2019 4 Days Tuition: $2125 Safety Management Systems for Ground Operation Safety Practices and methodologies for the identification and mitigation of hazards in all phases of airport ground operations. August 19-21, 2019 2.5 Days Tuition: $1300 Accident/Incident Response Preparedness Planning for the complex, challenging, and stressful investigation, legal, family response, and communcations situations after an accident. August 26-29, 2019 4 Days Tuition: $2125 Human Factors in Aviation Safety Theoretical and practical knowledge of Human Factors in aviation operations. August 26-30, 2019 4.5 Days Tuition: $2575 Earn Credit for FlightSafety Master Technician- Management Program Students taking the following USC courses will earn elective credits towards FlightSafety International's Master Technician-Management Program * Human Factors in Aviation Maintenance * Human Factors in Aviation Safety * Gas Turbine Accident Investigation * Helicopter Accident Investigation * Safety Management for Aviation Maintenance * Safety Management for Ground Operations Safety * Accident/Incident Response Preparedness Earn Points Toward NBAA Certified Aviation Manager Program Students taking the following USC courses will earn two points toward completing the application for the National Business Aviation Certified Aviation Manager Exam. * Aviation Safety Management Systems * Accident/Incident Response Preparedness * Human Factors in Aviation Safety * Aircraft Accident Investigation * SeMS Aviation Security Management Systems For further details, please visit our website or use the contact information below. Email: aviation@usc.edu Telephone: +1 (310) 342-1345 Curt Lewis