Flight Safety Information SEPTEMBER 6, 2019 - No. 180 In This Issue The Boeing 737 Max grounding is still affecting air travel Incident: American A319 at Charlotte on Sep 1st 2019, engine compressor stall Incident: United B764 at Washington on Aug 31st 2019, spoiler problem Incident: Thai AirAsia A320 at Male on Sep 5th 2019, engine shut down in flight Incident: GoAir A320 at Kolkata on Sep 5th 2019, smoke on board Incident: Rusline CRJ1 at Voronezh on Sep 5th 2019, electrical fault ISASI Jerry Lederer Award - 2019 - Captain Akrivos Tsolakis (Greece) NTSB: Cell Charging a Possible Ignition Source in Dive Boat Fire American Airlines mechanic charged with sabotaging an aircraft Pilot: Jet that burned at California airport wouldn't fly Safeskies Conference set to bring together aviation safety expertise (Australia) HELICOPTER SAFETY NEWS 737 MAX population at Moses Lake airport surpasses 80 IATA living up to the legacy of the Chicago convention Report cites airport, pilots in Air India Maldives landing incident China Could Account For Half Of Asia-Pacific Pilot Demand By 2038 Mitsubishi Aircraft signs MOU for 100 SpaceJet planes Here's Where India's Chandrayaan-2 Will Land Near the Moon's South Pole (and Why) FAA Safety Briefing Unveils New Look and Feel with Sep/Oct 2019 Issue The Northeast Aviation Leadership Workshop Aircraft Cabin Air - International Conference Advanced Aircraft Accident Investigation from SCSI TSI - Aviation Safety Risk Management Using BowTie - Course TSI - Instructor Qualification & Excellence Course International Conference on Unruly Airline Passenger Behaviour The Boeing 737 Max grounding is still affecting air travel Airlines have changed flight schedules into December, and the aircraft's return is still uncertain. Multiple airlines have removed Boeing's 737 Max jets from their flight schedules into December, with some extending to January 2020. MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images Multiple airlines have publicly removed Boeing 737 Max jets from flight schedules stretching into December, with some carriers expecting its return in early 2020. The aircraft has been internationally grounded since March, following two fatal crashes within five months of one another. "Our best current estimate continues to be a return to service of the Max that begins early in the fourth quarter," a Boeing spokesperson told the International Business Times. There have been very few airplane groundings throughout history, said Richard Aboulafia, an aviation analyst at Teal Group. He added that the Boeing 737 grounding has proven to be the longest so far. Global commercial fleets currently comprise more than 25,000 aircrafts, so Aboulafia thinks the roughly 500 grounded planes should not majorly affect aircraft operations. "A lot of airlines were expecting to get more Maxes this year and aren't getting them, which is probably the bigger problem," he said. Airlines are proactively removing the planes from schedules until further notice to prevent more last-minute cancellations and delays into the holiday season. On Sunday, American Airlines announced it will extend its Max flight cancellations into early December. This would roughly impact about 140 daily flights, on top of the thousands of flights canceled this summer due to the grounding, CNBC reported. This might even affect some flight routes: Last month, American said it will drop its direct Oakland to Dallas route to use the plane for flights with greater demand. The airline is also feuding with its mechanics union, alleging that workers are organizing in an illegal work slowdown that caused operational delays and canceled flights. United Airlines, which canceled around 2,400 flights for June and July, is similarly pulling the 737 Max from its schedule until December 19. Air Canada and Southwest Airlines - which has the highest number of Max aircrafts in its fleet - have anticipated that the aircrafts will be out of commission until next year, removing flights scheduled to fly with the Max into January 2020. The Federal Aviation Administration has not announced an official timeline for when the aircraft would be cleared to fly. In June, the agency said it had found another issue with Boeing's software that the manufacturer has to address before it can return to service. As Stephie Grob Plante reported in June for The Goods, "FAA approval on so-called "software enhancements" of the MCAS system is what's needed before the agency will lift the grounding; though as The Verge reported, significant human error at both Boeing and the FAA - rushed production, administrative incompetence, insufficient pilot training - remains largely to blame." Even when the aircraft returns to major airlines' fleets, there's no clear consensus on whether or not passengers will actually want to fly on it. Bloomberg cited a report from airline analyst Henry Harteveldt, which found that at least 20 percent of US travelers want to avoid the Max jet in the first six months after flights resume. But Reuters reported in May that U.S. travelers on a budget still consider ticket prices the most important factor when choosing a flight. In the same poll, only half of American adults say they are familiar with the two fatal crashes that led to the grounding, and 40 percent could identify the aircraft involved. United Airlines said Wednesday that it would allow passengers fearful of boarding a Max to rebook flights for free once the aircraft rejoins its fleet, CNN reported. Southwest also told CNN that it would accommodate passengers accordingly. "If you get to the gate and it's not an airplane you want to fly on for whatever reason, if it's a Max, we'll put you on another flight," said Andrew Nocella, the airline's chief commercial officer. It still would take at least a couple more months and the clearance of federal regulators for the 737 Max to return, and no one - not even Boeing - is sure of the timeline. https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/9/5/20851003/boeing-737-maxs-return-is-still- uncertain Back to Top Incident: American A319 at Charlotte on Sep 1st 2019, engine compressor stall An American Airlines Airbus A319-100, registration N763US performing flight AA-2312 from Charlotte,NC to Sarasota,FL (USA), was in the initial climb out of Charlotte's runway 36R when the crew declared Mayday Mayday Mayday. Tower queried whether they had a compressor stall, they crew adivsed they had heard a number of bangs, tower now reported the right hand engine appeared to have suffered compressor stalls with bangs and streaks of flames. The aircraft stopped the climb at 4000 feet and returned to Charlotte for a safe landing on runway 36C about 16 minutes after departure, the aircraft stopped on the runway for an inspection by emergency services. While the aircraft was still maneouvering to return to Charlotte tower dispatched a runway inspection advising the operations vehicle that something had come out of the engine, the runway inspection however did not find anything on the runway, which returned to service immediately thereafter. A replacement A319-100 registration N837AW reached Sarasota with a delay of 4 hours. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/AAL2312/history/20190901/1725Z/KCLT/KSRQ http://avherald.com/h?article=4cc7320f&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: United B764 at Washington on Aug 31st 2019, spoiler problem A United Boeing 767-400, registration N77066 performing flight UA-946 from Washington Dulles,DC (USA) to Amsterdam (Netherlands) with 234 people on board, was in in the initial climb out of Washington's runway 01R when the crew declared Mayday requesting to stop climb at 3000 feet and advising ATC, they had a flight controls problems, a spoiler problem, nothing major. The crew advised they intended to return to runway 01R and stop on the runway, and returned to runway 01R for a safe landing about 22 minutes after departure. The aircraft vacated the runway via a high speed turn off and stopped clear of the hold short line. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/UAL946/history/20190831/2145Z/KIAD/EHAM http://avherald.com/h?article=4cc72cb2&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Thai AirAsia A320 at Male on Sep 5th 2019, engine shut down in flight A Thai AirAsia Airbus A320-200, registration HS-BBT performing flight FD-178 from Male (Maldives) to Bangkok Don Muang (Thailand), was in the initial climb out of Male's runway 18 when an engine (CFM56) emitted bangs and streaks of flames prompting the crew to stop climb at 5000 feet, shut the engine down and return to Male for a safe landing on runway 18 about 22 minutes after departure. http://avherald.com/h?article=4cc725e3&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: GoAir A320 at Kolkata on Sep 5th 2019, smoke on board A GoAir Airbus A320-200, registration VT-GOO performing flight G8-102 from Kolkata to Delhi (India) with 120 people on board, was climbing out of Kolkata's runway 19L when the crew reported smoke on board, stopped the climb at FL100 and returned to Kolkata for a safe landing on runway 19L about 25 minutes after departure. http://avherald.com/h?article=4cc72367&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top Incident: Rusline CRJ1 at Voronezh on Sep 5th 2019, electrical fault A Rusline Canadair CRJ-100, registration VQ-BND performing flight 7R-554 from Voronezh to Saint Petersburg (Russia) with 31 people on board, was climbing out of Voronezh when the crew decided to return to Voronezh due to an electrical failure. The aircraft landed safely. A replacement CRJ-100 registration VP-BNO reached Saint Petersburg with a delay of 4.5 hours. The previous day VQ-BND had to replace VP-BNO on the same flight, see Incident: Rusline CRJ1 at Voronezh on Sep 4th 2019, could not retract landing gear. http://avherald.com/h?article=4cc72773&opt=0 Back to Top ISASI Jerry Lederer Award - 2019 - Captain Akrivos Tsolakis (Greece) ISASI Annual Seminar banquet in The Hague, the Netherlands. In the middle, ISASI Jerry Lederer Award 2019 recipient Captain Akrivos Tsolakis (Greece), lifetime contribution to aviation safety. The Jerome F. Lederer Award is presented annually by the International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI) for outstanding lifetime contributions to technical excellence in furthering aviation accident investigation and achieving ISASI objectives, including enhancing aviation safety through the continuing development of investigation techniques. Recipients of the ISASI Jerome F. Lederer Award * 2018 - Capt. Mohammed Aziz * 2017 - Mr. Chan Wing Keong * 2016 - Eugene "Toby" Carroll * 2015 - Ladislav Mika (Ladi) * 2014 - David King * 2013 - Frank S. Del Gandio and Myron P. "Pappy" Papadakis * 2012 - Dr. Curt Lewis * 2011 - Paul-Louis Arslanian * 2010 - Michael Poole * 2009 - Capt. Richard B. Stone * 2009 - Australian Transport Safety Bureau * 2008 - Don Bateman * 2007 - Tom McCarthy * 2006 - Richard H. Wood * 2005 - John D. Rawson * 2004 - Ron Chippindale (deceased 2/12/08) * 2003 - Caj Frostell * 2002 - Ronald L. Schleede * 2001 - John Purvis and The Transportation Safety Board of Canada * 2000 - Nora Marshal * 1999 - Capt. James McIntyre (deceased 11/19/01) * 1998 - A. Frank Taylor * 1997 - Gus Economy * 1996 - Burt Chesterfield * 1995 - Dr. John K. Lauber * 1994 - U.K. Aircraft Accidents Investigation Branch * 1993 - Capt. Victor Hewes * 1992 - Paul R. Powers * 1991 - Eddie J. Trimble * 1990 - Olof Fritsch * 1989 - Aage A. Roed (deceased 1/25/03) * 1988 - H. Vincent LaChapelle * 1987 - Dr. Carol A. Roberts * 1986 - Geoffrey C. Wilkinson * 1985 - Dr. John Kenyon Mason * 1984 - George B. Parker * 1983 - C.O. Miller (deceased 10/20/03) * 1982 - C.H. Prater Houge * 1981 - Dr. S. Harry Robertson * 1980 - John Gilbert Boulding * 1979 - Gerard M. Bruggink * 1978 - Allen R. McMahan * 1977 - Samuel M. Phillips www.isasi.org Back to Top NTSB: Cell Charging a Possible Ignition Source in Dive Boat Fire The Conception's fiberglass hull on fire (Santa Barbara County Fire Department) After an extensive dive search, the remains of 33 out of 34 missing individuals from the dive boat Conception have been recovered, and officials are using DNA analysis to determine the identities of the victims. An investigation into the cause of the deadly fire continues, and officials with the NTSB have conducted initial questioning for the five crewmembers who survived. While the circumstances of the blaze are not yet known, attention has turned to the possibility that a charging station for personal electronics in the berthing area may have been the source of ignition. One survivor believes that battery charging may have been the cause, according to the LA Times, and the NTSB said Thursday that it would be examining this scenario. "We are not ruling out any possible ignition sources," NTSB board member Jennifer Homendy said Thursday at a press conference. "[There] may have been a lot of cameras and cell phones that were charging on this vessel." Dive trip organizer Ken Kurtis, the owner of California charterer Reef Seekers Dive Company, told Fox News that the charging station could have potentially been an ignition source. "We know that divers were carrying cameras and stuff like that that have rechargeable batteries. [Was] there an issue with some of these chargers? It could be something as simple as a small camera battery being charged overnight while everybody's asleep, has a short, and that's what starts the fire," said Kurtis. He added that he had never heard of a serious fire incident aboard any California dive boat before, and that it was a risk that the community of California divers had not thought much about previously. Combustible materials The Conception was a fiberglass-built passenger vessel constructed in 1981. The U.S. Coast Guard classifies fiberglass laminate (fiber reinforced plastic) as a combustible material, and in previous deadly fires, fiberglass-hulled passenger vessels have demonstrated the potential to burn to the waterline. Recent Coast Guard inspections had determined that Conception was fully compliant with all applicable regulations, including applicable fire protection requirements. Those rules do not require vessels of her size to be built from noncombustible structural materials, as federal and international law requires for large passenger vessels. Subchapter T passenger vessels - under 100 GT and with fewer than 49 berths, like the Conception - may use fiberglass materials for hull, decks, bulkheads and superstructures. The federal requirements for the construction of Subchapter T fiberglass vessels are class rules, and were last revised in 1978. https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/ntsb-cell-charging-a-possible-ignition- source-in-dive-boat-fire Back to Top American Airlines mechanic charged with sabotaging an aircraft * The mechanic allegedly placed foam in a tube that leads to an flight-navigation system. * Takeoff was aborted and the aircraft in question was taken out of service. * The mechanic told law enforcement that he was upset about stalled contract talks with the airline, according to an affidavit filed in federal court. American Airlines Boeing 737-800 plane seen in Caracas Simón Bolívar International Airport, Venezuela. An American Airlines mechanic has been arrested and charged with sabotaging an aircraft's navigation system before a flight in July, forcing crew to abort takeoff from Miami, according to an affidavit filed in federal court on Thursday. The affidavit said the mechanic told law enforcement that he was upset about stalled contract negotiations with the company and that the "dispute had affected him financially." Flight 2834 was about to depart for Nassau, Bahamas on July 17 with 150 people on board, when an error message appeared after the engines were started up. The crew aborted takeoff and returned to the gate. The plane was taken out of service for maintenance, American Airlines said. Passengers deplaned and American provided a different aircraft for the flight. The mechanic told law enforcement officials he inserted a piece of foam into the inlet of the plane's air data module, which measures the plane's pitch, speed and other information, according to the affidavit, which was first reported by the Miami Herald. "At American we have an unwavering commitment to the safety and security of our customers and team members and we are taking this matter very seriously," American Airlines spokeswoman Leslie Scott said. American returned the plane that aborted takeoff back to service after an inspection and "immediately notified federal law enforcement who took over the investigation with our full cooperation," Scott said. The mechanic, Abdul-Majeed Marouf Ahmed Alani, is set to appear in court on Friday, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Miami. Alani said "his intention was not to cause harm to the aircraft or its passengers" but to "cause a delay or have the flight cancelled in anticipation of obtaining overtime work," according to the affidavit. A fellow mechanic found a loose pitot tube, which connects to the aircraft data module, following which it was discovered that the system was obstructed, according to the affidavit. American and its mechanics have been locked in a bitter labor dispute over contract talks this year. The airline has accused the unions that represent its some 12,000 mechanics of purposefully disrupting operations by forcing aircraft out of service in order to gain leverage in negotiations. American has said that the unions actions has forced it to cancel hundreds of flights and delay others, adding to operational challenges stemming from the worldwide grounding of the Boeing 737 Max. The unions have denied the allegations. "From a union standpoint we wouldn't condone even the thought of doing this," said Gary Peterson, a vice president at the Transport Workers Union, which represents American's mechanics. https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/05/american-airlines-mechanic-charged-with- sabotaging-an-aircraft.html Back to Top Pilot: Jet that burned at California airport wouldn't fly FILE - This Aug. 21, 2019, file photo, provided by the California Highway Patrol shows the scene where a jet burst into flames after aborting a takeoff in Oroville, Calif. Investigators say the pilot of a charter jet that skidded off a Northern California runway last month reported that he couldn't get the plane off the ground despite repeated attempts. The National Transportation Safety Board said in its preliminary accident report Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019, that the Delta Private Jets pilot felt "just a weird sensation" as he pulled the yoke back and the airplane didn't lift off.(California Highway Patrol via AP, File) Photo: AP / California Highway Patrol SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - The pilot of a charter jet that skidded off a Northern California runway and burst into flames last month reported that he couldn't get the plane off the ground despite repeated attempts, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a preliminary accident report Thursday. Both pilots and all eight passengers, executives of an Atlanta-based package company, escaped uninjured. The Delta Private Jets pilot felt "just a weird sensation" as he pulled the yoke back and the airplane didn't lift off. He told investigators that he tried again and the aircraft's nose still wouldn't lift. The two pilots then aborted the takeoff without leaving the ground, applying "full thrust reversers and maximum braking." The twin-engine Cessna Citation kept going nearly 2,000 feet (609 meters) past the end of the Oroville Municipal Airport runway, crossing a ditch and skidding across a grass- covered area. There it sparked a fire that eventually destroyed most of the aircraft. Tire marks continued the entire length of the runway, across an adjacent perpendicular runway, a taxiway, and then into the grassy area near the main wreckage. The preliminary report offers no conclusion or speculation on what caused the problem, and a final report isn't expected for months. The report makes it clear that the fire that mostly consumed the aircraft started after it came to rest on its wings and fuselage in the dry grass. Officials briefly closed nearby Highway 162 before firefighters controlled the grass fire at less than 2 acres. The pilots and passengers were safely off the plane by the time the first firefighters arrived. The flight was trying to take off before noon on Aug. 21 under clear skies and light winds, headed to Portland, Oregon, from the airport about 70 miles (110 kilometers) north of Sacramento. It was carrying eight executives from Graphics Packaging International, including CEO Michael Doss. The company makes packaging and containers for food, drinks and other consumer goods, and the executives were touring company plants on the West Coast including one in Oroville. No passengers are quoted in the preliminary report. Delta Airlines previously said the two pilots have 11,000 hours of flight time between them. Online records show no other accidents or incidents involving the aircraft. The airline did not immediately respond to a request for comment on investigators' preliminary report. https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/Pilot-Jet-that-burned-at-California-airport- 14417613.php Back to Top Safeskies Conference set to bring together aviation safety expertise (Australia) Aviation safety experts from across defence and civil aerospace are set to descend on Canberra for the 2019 Safeskies Conference with a focus on enhancing interoperability between military and civil aviation, pilot safety, helicopter operations and recreational aviation. Speakers and topics will range from the Aviation Policy Group heads (the CEOs of CASA, Airservices Australia, the Australian Defence Force and the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development), human factors and system safety experts, ATSB, airline operators, heads of Defence aviation safety, pilot training specialists, helicopter operations, sport and recreational aviation. The Safeskies 2019 Conference is shaping up to be the best yet, according to the chairman of Safeskies Australia, Captain Peter Raven, AM, "The conference program reflects the expertise of the best Australian and international aviation safety leaders." To honour previous Safeskies vice chairman, and Australia's pre-eminent aviation safety expert, Dr Rob Lee, AM, who sadly passed away last year, the conference includes a memorial session on human factors, including eminent specialists Brent Hayward, Dr Wayne Martin and Dr Adam Fletcher. The planned international speakers include Peter Kearney, the CEO of the Irish Aviation Authority, Gretchen Haskins, CEO of HeliOffshore based in the UK, and prominent QC, Gerard Forlin. In conjunction with the Safeskies Conference, the Sir Reginald Ansett Memorial Lecture and Dinner will be held at Parliament House, Canberra. "We are proud to announce that the secretary general of ICAO, Dr Fang Liu, will be this year's Ansett lecturer. Dr Liu has an impressive record of international air transport policy development and has held several senior management positions in ICAO. She is currently serving her second term as secretary general," said CAPT Raven. An initiative at this year's Safeskies conference is the inaugural Safety Managers Forum. This one-day forum is being developed for safety managers from small to medium-sized operators to explain the implementation of SMS, discuss issues faced by safety managers, provide advice on safety management systems, develop best practices and foster a network of safety managers. This will be a unique opportunity to bring together those safety managers to interact with their peers and develop best practices for their operation. A further initiative at this year's conference is the Emerging Leaders' lunch and workshop, an exciting opportunity for students and industry new entrants to the industry to mix in an informal atmosphere to discuss issues and ideas with industry experts. This year, Safeskies is providing a limited number of concession registration fees (50 per cent off) for students and new industry entrants (with less than five years' experience). The conference concludes with the PG Taylor address to be given by Captain Deborah Lawrie, AM. CAPT Raven added, "The Safeskies board has developed an outstanding conference program and the inclusion of the Safety Managers Forum and the Emerging Leaders workshop further brings together people from across the aviation industry to share experiences and focus on improving safety. It is a unique opportunity to network with such a diverse range of safety practitioners." The Safeskies 2019 Conference and the Sir Reginald Ansett Memorial Lecture and Dinner is being held at Australia's Parliament House and the Hyatt Hotel in Canberra from 15-17 October 2019. Full details and registration forms are available here. https://www.defenceconnect.com.au/key-enablers/4725-safeskies-conference-set-to- bring-together-aviation-safety-expertise Back to Top HELICOPTER SAFETY NEWS Sept. 3, 2019 Contact: Tony Molinaro Phone: (847) 294-7427 U.S. Helicopter Safety Team Looking for More Experts to Join the Effort Search Also has Begun for Next Industry Co-Chair WASHINGTON D.C. - The United States Helicopter Safety Team (www.USHST.org) is calling for more helicopter safety experts to join their efforts to reduce fatalities in the industry. Teams of safety experts have been working on 16 active safety enhancements aimed at reducing fatal helicopter accidents. The focus of the safety enhancements include issues such as loss of control inflight, unintended flight into instrument meteorological conditions, and low altitude operations. The USHST also is placing a special emphasis on four industry sectors: personal/private flying, air ambulance operations, commercial flights, and agricultural aerial application. A brief explanation of each active safety enhancement can be found here: http://www.ushst.org/Portals/0/H- SE%20Simple%20List.pdf The industry-wide efforts are producing some positive results. Looking at three-year time periods between 1985 and today, total accidents and fatal accidents are moving on a downward trend. Support to strengthen the safety culture is coming from every corner of the helicopter industry. Safety experts from the following organizations are participating in USHST efforts: Air Methods, Bell Helicopter, Boeing Company, Dallas Police Dept., Embry- Riddle Aeronautical Univ., the Federal Aviation Administration, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, Helicopter Association Intl., the Helicopter Safety Alliance, L3 Technologies, Life Flight of Maine, Lockheed Martin/Sikorsky, the MITRE Corp., the National Transportation Safety Board, Prism Helicopters, and the Robinson Helicopter Co. The USHST works with its parent organization, the International Helicopter Safety Foundation (www.IHSF.aero), to promote safety and reduce helicopter accidents. Industry Co-Chair Search The USHST also has begun a search for an industry co-chair to succeed Raj Helweg, chief pilot of Air Methods, who is nearing completion of his second two-year term as co- chair. Helweg will remain with the USHST Steering Committee. The USHST government co-chair is Wayne Fry, FAA Flight Standards Division Manager for General Aviation Safety Assurance. For information and criteria on how a helicopter safety expert can join the USHST effort, contact Chris Hill via email at chris.hill@rotor.org. Back to Top 737 MAX population at Moses Lake airport surpasses 80 MOSES LAKE - The steady flow of grounded 737 MAX airplanes to Grant County International Airport continues. Now, over 80 airplanes litter the tarmac at the east end of the airport. iFIBER ONE News spoke to Interim Port of Moses Lake Executive Kim DeTrolio who says the descent of 737 MAX aircraft into the airport has been constant and the flow of the planes won't cease for the foreseeable future or at least until the problem with the planes is fixed. The airship has been grounded since mid-March after two crashes that killed 346 people. Preliminary accident reports pointed to software that erroneously pointed the planes' noses down and overpowered pilots' efforts to regain control. The Associated Press reports that the company expects to submit the software update to the Federal Aviation Administration for approval "in the September timeframe." In the meantime, Boeing is hiring hundreds of temporary employees to maintain and test the planes at Boeing's test facility in Moses Lake. http://www.ifiberone.com/columbia_basin/max-population-at-moses-lake-airport- surpasses/article_ce55d53e-d007-11e9-9d79-c7aaaf552795.html Back to Top IATA living up to the legacy of the Chicago convention Responding to the challenges facing aviation today and in the future 3 September (Chicago) The International Air Transport Association (IATA) urged aviation stakeholders to continue to be guided by the spirit of the 1944 Convention on International Civil Aviation, known as the Chicago Convention, in responding to the challenges facing aviation today and in the future. "Seventy-five years ago, as World War II still raged, a group of far-sighted individuals met in Chicago and laid the foundations enabling the development of our globally interconnected and interdependent world through aviation. Today, aviation has become the business of freedom, liberating us to pursue our dreams and fulfill our hopes, while powering economic growth and development," said IATA's Director General and CEO, Alexandre de Juniac. In the United States, aviation supports 6.5 million jobs and contributes $779 billion to GDP including aviation-supported tourism, according to IATA's just released report on the Value of Air Transport in the US (pdf). Speaking at IATA's Wings of Change Americas conference here, de Juniac outlined principles to ensure aviation continues to live up to the legacy of the Chicago Convention. In addition to maintaining safety as the industry's highest priority, de Juniac urged aviation stakeholders to focus on: Environmental sustainability Ensuring a policy framework that encourages competition and innovation; and Infrastructure that is efficient and affordable. Environment "Environmental sustainability is the greatest challenge to our industry's license to spread the benefits of air connectivity. We are already helping people to fly sustainably. The environmental impact of an individual traveler has been cut in half compared to 1990, and we have decoupled emissions growth from underlying traffic growth. "Now we are moving forward on our interim goal of capping net CO2 emissions through carbon-neutral growth. Since 1 January, airlines have been tracking their emissions and they will begin reporting them to governments in 2020 under CORSIA, the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation, agreed by member states of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Carbon offsetting through CORSIA is expected to mitigate around 2.5 billion tonnes of CO2 and generate over $40 billion in climate finance between 2021 and 2035. "De Juniac said that aviation is also working towards its 2050 target of achieving a 50% reduction in net CO2 emissions compared to 2005. Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) potentially will play a huge role, but for that to occur, governments need to enact policies supporting commercialization of SAF. Advances in airframes and propulsion systems such as the development of all-electric and hybrid-electric aircraft, will also play a big part in cutting aviation's emissions in half by 2050. It will also require operational improvements and greater efficiency from air navigation services providers. However, de Juniac cautioned that the rise of anti-aviation sentiment poses an immediate challenge to efforts to grow aviation's benefits, while addressing its climate responsibilities. "Governments, particularly in Europe, are piling on so-called environmental taxes that penalize airlines and air travelers but do little to support industry efforts to reduce emissions. I have yet to see any aviation environmental tax actually being used to help reduce aviation's environmental impacts." Competitive Policy Framework Turning to the need for a pro-competition policy framework, de Juniac said, "Competition unleashes innovation and helps drive prices lower. This is what occurred following airline deregulation. Subsequently, we've seen how removing barriers to international competition through Open Skies agreements has also spurred the market and benefitted consumers." He cautioned against efforts to turn back the clock on deregulation through consumer rights rules whose costs exceed their benefits, citing Canada's Air Passenger Protection Regulations as an example. Infrastructure De Juniac also highlighted the need for adequate affordable infrastructure. "Critically congested airports are spread the world over. New York, Sao Paolo, London, Amsterdam, Mumbai, Bangkok and Sydney are all examples of airport bottlenecks due to capacity constraints-both real and artificial. Bottlenecks, whether on the ground or in the air, lead to delays and inefficiencies, and these result in excess fuel burn and CO2 emissions. "The US is better positioned than most in terms of its infrastructure capacity but costs are a concern. The US already ranks 100 out of 136 countries in terms of its travel and tourism cost competitiveness, according to the World Economic Forum. A proposal in Congress to almost double the cap on airport passenger facility charges (PFCs) will raise ticket prices and reduce the country's cost competitiveness even further. "This proposal to permit airports to increase the PFC comes despite the fact that there is no airport funding crisis in the US," de Juniac said. "Furthermore, taxes and fees on airline tickets, including PFCs, already account for around $64 of a typical $300 ticket, or 21%. Congress should reject this proposal that will unnecessarily and unfairly increase the financial burden on air travelers," de Juniac said. https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/transport/airlines/36692-iata-living-up-to-the-legacy-of- the-chicago-convention.html Back to Top Report cites airport, pilots in Air India Maldives landing incident Inadequate airfield markings, combined with insufficient preparation and coordination by pilots, led to an Air India Airbus A320neo landing on an under-construction runway at Velana International Airport (MLE), a report from the Maldives Accident Investigation Coordinating Committee (AICC) said. In the Sept. 7, 2018 incident, Air India flight 263 was en route from Trivandrum, India, to Malé, Maldives, on a mid-day flight in clear weather. Following a routine departure and cruise, the flight crew requested and was granted a VOR approach to MLE's Runway 18-the airport's only runway. But the crew instead touched down on a nearly parallel surface about 190 m (623 ft.) to the east that was being constructed to replace the existing runway. As the aircraft's approach speed slowed after touchdown, it "crossed a white-color cloth and [the captain] could feel a slight bump," the AICC report, released Sept. 4, said. "Right after [the pilots] crossed the white cloth, ATC informed them that they landed on a wrong runway." The "cloth" formed part of a large, temporary X, one of several laid out to signal that the runway was closed. The aircraft, VT-EXL, suffered a punctured left main landing gear tire. None of the 107 passengers or seven crewmembers onboard were injured. AICC investigators determined the flight crew misidentified the under-construction runway-which was just weeks from opening-as the active runway because of a number of factors. Among them: freshly painted markings on the soon-to-be-opened runway were not obstructed, making them more visible than those on the active runway. The new runway was not numbered when the incident took place, but other markings- including those denoting a displaced threshold-were "clear," the report stated. The now-open new runway is 10,500 ft. long, or 500 ft. longer than the old runway. It also sits farther north. At the time of the incident, "for an aircraft approaching Runway 18, the threshold markings of the runway under construction was closer than those of the runway in use," the report noted. The captain also said none of the Xs denoting the closed surface were near the threshold. "Due attention was not given by [civil aviation authorities] to ensure compliance with the safety standards and markings of the runway under construction," AICC said. Both Air India pilots had flown into MLE before, but the captain had only flown the Runway 36 approach. At that end, the active runway's threshold was closer to the arriving aircraft than the under-construction runway. The first officer had flown one previous approach on Runway 18. The 30-year-old captain had 4,906 total flying hours on the day of the incident, including 4,706 hours on Airbus A320s and 846 hours as a pilot-in-command, AICC said. The 24-year-old first officer had 1,766 total hours, including 1,566 on the A320 and none as a pilot-in-command, the report said. The airfield construction was documented in a July 2017 notice to airmen (NOTAM) that was still active. Both pilots received the NOTAM as part of their pre-flight briefing packets, AICC found. The captain told investigators he was not aware of the NOTAM, while the first officer said she knew about the NOTAM and the closed runway. The crew did not discuss the issue either before or during the flight. The air traffic controller on duty in MLE's tower said he could not determine whether the aircraft was lined up on the incorrect runway before it touched down. "He stated that there was no difficulty in controlling the traffic on the day of the incident" and "no communication difficulty with the aircraft," AICC said. AICC made several recommendations based on its probe. It urged Air India to ensure its flight-dispatch procedures, including proper review of NOTAMS, are followed. Airport operator Maldives Airports Company Ltd. was told to review its procedures for communicating airfield maintenance is in progress and make sure runway markings are adequately maintained. AICC suggested the Maldives Civil Aviation Authority ensure that airport-status communication procedures are in place and followed. Investigators also recommended that Maldives Air Navigation Services establish "precautionary measures" during periods of airfield construction as well as to ensure "staff on duty are not distracted." https://atwonline.com/safety/report-cites-airport-pilots-air-india-maldives-landing- incident Back to Top China Could Account For Half Of Asia-Pacific Pilot Demand By 2038 By 2038, an estimated 645,000 new pilots will be needed to meet global demand, according to Boeing. The Asia-Pacific region will account for 38% of global requirements, with China, in particular, accounting for more than half of the region's appetite. Here we explore global pilot forecasts, growth drivers, and potential headwinds facing the industry. Pilot forecasts in numbers According to Boeing's Pilot & Technician Outlook for 2019 to 2038, over 800,000 civil aviation pilots will be required over the 20-year period. Of the estimated 804,000 pilots, the vast majority, 645,000, could be needed in the commercial sector. Globally, the Asia-Pacific region will drive most commercial demand (38% or 244,000), followed by North America (20.5% or 131,000) and then Europe (18.4% or 118,000). Within the APAC region, China is set to account for more than half of local appetite, demanding up to 124,000 new commercial pilots by 2038. Impressively, the PRC could need more pilots than all of Europe or North America or the Middle East, Latin America, Africa and Russia/ Central Asia combined. Boeing's analysis compares well to other sources. Airbus, for one, estimates that the APAC region will need 219,000 pilots by 2037. Growth factors From a macroeconomic perspective, the Asia-Pacific region is home to some of the world's fastest emerging economies. According to the International Monetary Fund, India, for one, is set to see a staggering 7.3% real GDP growth-rate in 2019, while China should achieve a close 6.9% increase. With sustained economic growth over the decades, China's GDP per capita has risen ten-fold since the dawn of the millennium, according to World Bank data. In turn, Chinese consumers have sought, and are set to continue seeking, ways to spend their increasing amounts of disposable income. This leads to a plausible quadrupling of the country's domestic aviation market. With a growing appetite for air travel, demand for aircraft has followed, which in turn will necessitate an increase in pilots and other technical staff. In addition to fueling growth, China, like all other regions, will have to fill vacancies attributed to regular attrition and retirement. Potentially disruptive headwinds Taking a broader stance, some analysts worry that recent trade tensions between China and the United States could hinder the availability of U.S. built aircraft in the PRC. Likewise, trade tensions could dent the PRC's positive economic trajectory, with the PRC's industrial output slowing considerably this past year. This past June, the creation of three new South Korean airlines was attributed to a localized pilot shortage. Similarly, rumors out of India suggested that Indigo canceled as many as 75 flights due to a lack of aviators this past February. As a response to international scarcity, select airlines in China and the Middle East are offering pilots tax-free salaries in excess of US$300,000 per year, alongside additional incentives. Should the pilot shortage be exacerbated, increased demand for pilots could lead to an international "pay-war". This would effectively price out more precarious airlines and, in turn, pass additional costs on to consumers. Thus, plausibly, dampening air travel demand. Taken together, China is likely set to become the world's leading pilot market. That said, however, political, economic, and industry-specific factors could influence the extent of China's future pilot needs. https://simpleflying.com/china-pilot-demand/ Back to Top Mitsubishi Aircraft signs MOU for 100 SpaceJet planes (Reuters) - Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp and Mesa Airlines Inc, a regional airline operator, entered into a memorandum of understanding to begin talks on purchase of 100 SpaceJet M100 aircraft. The aircraft is a revamped version of Mitsubishi's smaller jet MRJ70, designed to carry 65 to 88 people. Under the MOU, the companies target 50 firm orders and purchase rights for an additional 50 planes. The deliveries to the unit of Mesa Air Group would begin in 2024, Mitsubishi said in a statement. https://kfgo.com/news/articles/2019/sep/05/mitsubishi-aircraft-signs-mou-for-100- spacejet-planes/934418/?refer-section=business Back to Top Here's Where India's Chandrayaan-2 Will Land Near the Moon's South Pole (and Why) An artist's depiction of India's Chandrayaan-2 lander and rover on the surface of the moon, near its south pole.An artist's depiction of India's Chandrayaan-2 lander and rover on the surface of the moon, near its south pole.(Image: © ISRO) It doesn't have a name, at least not yet. But in just a few days, if all goes well, it could become one of the most important places on the moon's surface. That spot is a highland that rises between two craters dubbed Manzinus C and Simpelius N. On a grid of the moon's surface, it would fall at 70.9 degrees south latitude and 22.7 degrees east longitude. It's about 375 miles (600 kilometers) from the south pole. And it's the preferred landing site for India's moon mission, Chandrayaan-2, which is scheduled to touch down on Friday, Sept. 6, between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. EDT (Sept. 7, between 1:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. local time at mission control in India). The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which oversees the mission, also has a backup site selected, at 67.7 degrees south latitude and 18.4 degrees west longitude. Either way, if the landing goes smoothly, the site will become the southernmost spot on the moon to be visited by a spacecraft. All of NASA's Apollo landing sites, where astronauts explored the surface, are clustered near the equator on the near side, where it's easiest and safest to land. That has skewed scientists' understanding of the samples those astronauts brought back - it's sometimes difficult to tell whether a characteristic appears in all the samples because it is universal in the moon's surface or simply because it happens to prevail in this region. Even China's Chang'e-4 mission, which became the first spacecraft to touch down on the farside of the moon, did so at a latitude of about 45 degrees south. Choosing different lunar landing sites is important for science not solely in order to build a more complete picture of the moon's geology: The south pole is particularly intriguing. That's where instruments on board this mission's predecessor, the Chandrayaan-1 orbiter, detected slabs of water ice buried in the always-shadowed craters near the moon's south pole. Chandrayaan-2 is designed to build on that detection, with a mission that cost $150 million, according to Science, the new outlet affiliated with the research journal of the same name. The current project added lander and rover vehicles to the second- generation orbiter. Meet Vikram - Chandrayaan 2's Lander! These two vehicles will touch down just after dawn at the landing site, allowing them to work for about 14 days before the harsh lunar night freezes them. ISRO will attempt to revive the duo when the sun rises again, but the robots weren't designed to survive the night. The orbiter component of the mission will continue working for about a year, orbiting from pole to pole in order to augment the hoped-for discoveries of the lander and rover. https://www.space.com/india-chandrayaan-2-moon-south-pole-landing-site.html Back to Top https://www.faa.gov/news/safety_briefing Back to Top The Northeast Aviation Leadership Workshop Leading an aviation team or department presents challenges that many other leaders do not face. Your clients and customers rely on you not only for good service, but also for their safety. There is often little or no room for error which demands effective leadership at all levels. The Daedalus Group is pleased to partner with the Westchester Aircraft Maintenance Association to bring the 3-day Northeast Aviation Leadership Workshop to New York. This is an intensive exploration of proven techniques for better leadership in aviation. Designed specifically for aviation professionals, it is an opportunity for supervisors and managers in the aviation business to learn the skills and techniques that will make them more effective in this demanding environment. The workshop will present Planning to Excel™ and Leadership for Aviation Professionals™. These programs are certified by the National Business Aviation Association to satisfy all Professional Development Program (PDP) Leadership Objectives (L1 - L5). Whether you hold the Certified Aviation Manager credential and require PDP credits, are working toward certification, or just want to learn how to be an effective leader in the aviation business, this workshop will provide the skills to make you a more effective leader. The first day of the workshop, October 8, 2019 will explore Planning to Excel™ (PDP Objectives L1 and L2). This program takes a deep dive into planning and goal setting using a unique model to make the planning process logical, understandable, and easy to implement. Participants will: * Learn a proven method of planning and goal setting for their department or team. * Complete draft vision and mission statements for their department or team. * Define challenging goals and objectives. * Develop an implementation and follow-up plan. * Learn techniques to keep their plan relevant and front-of-mind. "Outstanding course. Perfect course to take to help develop effective goals. Facilitator's enthusiasm and professional knowledge made the course. Corporate Captain "Materials were good and discussion was pertinent to my situation. Opened up ideas of what to think about." Part 141 Pilot School General Manager Leadership for Aviation Professionals™ (PDP objectives L3 - L5) will be presented on October 9 - 10, 2019. This program examines leadership techniques and how to apply them to participant's unique situations in the aviation business. Participants will: * Use the MyHardWired™ Leadership Styles Assessment to learn their strengths and blindsides. * Develop a Personal Leadership Philosophy. * Understand and apply appropriate leadership theories. * Learn effective communication strategies. * Analyze team building techniques and challenges. * Understand leadership accountability. * Apply methods to achieve a motivational environment. * Explore methods of enhancing personal knowledge. * Analyze methods to lead and manage change. "Gives you the tools to become a better leader." Corporate flight department staff "Gives various perspectives of effective management tools and techniques" Corporate Pilot "Excellent assessment tools, good discussions and great experiences shared" Corporate Pilot You can register for only Planning to Excel™, or only Leadership for Aviation Professionals™. Register for both workshops and save $100 off the individual tuition. Register before September 15, 2019 and save 10%. Use code EARLY when registering. Your registration includes continental breakfast and lunch each day, a complete workbook, and the MyHardWired™ Leadership Styles Assessment (Leadership for Aviation Professionals™ only). Go to https://dleadershipgroup.com/nealw DISPAX World 2019 18 - 19 September 2019, The Riverside Venue, London, UK The 3rd International Conference on Unruly Airline Passenger Behaviour With only a few weeks to go, DISPAX World 2019 is fast approaching! We are delighted to be able to offer all subscribers to Curt Lewis a 20% discount on the delegate rate. To redeem this offer use the promotional code: CURT20 when registering on the conference website: www.unrulypax.com/registration/ Disruptive passenger incidents are a daily occurrence on board commercial flights around the world. Seemingly trivial issues can quickly escalate into explosive situations that endanger the safety of passengers and crew. The much anticipated 3rd edition of DISPAX World returns to London to explore the broad range of causes of such behaviour, the responses available and the legal implications for carriers and states. Looked at from diverse perspectives, including those of aircrew, passengers, regulatory authorities, industry associations, and law enforcement, DISPAX World 2019 will provide a comprehensive and authoritative programme over two days in one of the busiest airline hubs in the world: London. Speakers will include industry leaders, aircrew, airport operators, academics and law enforcement agencies. DISPAX World 2019 is a must-attend conference for: Flight attendant instructors Unions & staff associations Pilots Law enforcement agencies Airline Security Personnel Airport operators Government transportation regulators Security companies Aviation health professionals & psychologists Consumer bodies Academics & researchers International law firms For more information and to view the programme, please visit: www.unrulypax.com or contact the Event Manager, Lucy Rawlings, at lrawlings@avsec.com and don't forget to follow us on Twitter: @DispaxWorld Curt Lewis