Flight Safety Information October 9, 2019 - No. 205 In This Issue Friction Between U.S., European Regulators Could Delay 737 MAX Return to Service Boeing 737 Max: European regulators insist on more testing of troubled plane Incident: Ethiopian B763 at Dakar on Oct 8th 2019, uncontained engine failure and fire Incident: Easyjet A319 at Alicante on Oct 4th 2019, bird strike Incident: United B739 near Tampa on Oct 8th 2019, smell of smoke Bede BD-5 - Fatal Accident (California) US F-16 crashes in Germany, pilot ejects safely Southwest Airlines grounds two Boeing 737 NG planes with cracked critical part ICAO awards S. Korea with appreciation plaque for enhancing aviation safety Baldwin Develops New Tools to its Industry-Leading Safety and Quality Management Systems U.S. FAA has 'no set time frame' for completing Boeing software review FAA Completes Rollout of Baseline ADS-B Services Boeing gifts massive 787 engine to SCC's aviation maintenance program Lufthansa To Welcome A New Plane Every 2 Weeks For The Next 10 Years Global 7500 breaks business aircraft range record Pilot shortage hitting UK business aviation sector Sport Utility Jet? This New Private Plane Can Carry a Ton of Cargo and Land on Grass and Gravel Boeing sells luxury-jet version of 737 Max to mystery buyer Boeing to invest $20M in Virgin Galactic, marking a milestone team-up in commercial space RESEARCH SURVEY Air Traffic Control Investigation from SCSI Friction Between U.S., European Regulators Could Delay 737 MAX Return to Service European air-safety regulator has indicated it wants more testing on proposed revisions to flight-control computers The European Union Aviation Safety Agency recently told U.S. regulators it wasn't satisfied that FAA and Boeing officials had adequately demonstrated the safety of reconfigured MAX flight-control computers, according to people briefed on the discussions. PHOTO: LINDSEY WASSON/REUTERS By Andy Pasztor and Andrew Tangel Boeing Co. BA -0.65% 's delay-prone effort to return 737 MAX jets to service has hit a new snag due to heightened European safety concerns about proposed fixes to the aircraft's flight-control system, according to people familiar with the details. Disagreements over various software details, centered on how the MAX's dual flight- control computers are now intended to operate simultaneously, haven't been reported before. The issue could prolong final vetting of the anticipated changes and may prompt European regulators to withhold their full support when the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration ultimately allows the planes back in the air, these people said. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency recently told senior U.S. regulators it wasn't satisfied that FAA and Boeing officials had adequately demonstrated the safety of reconfigured MAX flight-control computers, according to people briefed on the discussions. The aim of the change is to add redundancy by running both computers at the same time, in particular to eliminate hazards stemming from possible chip malfunctions identified months ago. Over decades, and on previous versions of the 737, only one computer at a time has fed an array of data to automated systems, alternating between flights. The European concerns were passed on by EU aviation-safety chief Patrick Ky to Ali Bahrami, the FAA's top safety official, one of the people said. EASA, as the European safety agency is known, said it hadn't reached a verdict on Boeing's fixes or whether it will act in tandem with the FAA. Without a swift resolution, according to those briefed on the details, EASA's objections could set an aviation-industry precedent for foreign authorities publicly second-guessing determinations by the FAA that an aircraft was safe to fly. Boeing and the FAA are finishing testing the dual-computer system, and the final results haven't been presented to EASA or other regulators. EASA has signaled, though, that it wants additional risk scenarios examined beyond those in the current testing plan, this person said. The situation remains fluid, and EASA's position could change. The agency previously indicated it planned to perform some of its own simulator testing and risk analysis in coordination with FAA activities. But now, according to people briefed on the latest friction, European regulators appear poised to diverge from the overall U.S. game plan unless a compromise is reached in coming weeks. Boeing engineers are frustrated that EASA hasn't specified what additional measures might allay its worries, according to people close to the discussions. Regulators are mandating safeguards for the MAX's flight-control features following a pair of fatal accidents that took 346 lives. The aircraft have been grounded world-wide since shortly after the second crash, in March. On Monday an EASA spokeswoman said the agency still is assessing the proposed software changes, but she disputed the notion that European regulators are balking at clearing the planes for service simultaneously with the U.S., Canada and Brazil. "At this stage," she said in an email, "we do not have any specific concerns that would lead to the conclusion" that EASA is avoiding a coordinated response with the FAA. She declined to comment on any conversations between Mr. Ky and senior FAA officials. Addressing a meeting of foreign regulators in Montreal last month, FAA chief Steve Dickson promised to provide U.S. assistance and to pass along lessons learned "as you make your own decisions about returning the MAX to service." Testifying before a House appropriations subcommittee afterward, Daniel Elwell, the FAA's No. 2 official, appeared to open the door to the possibility that the jets might return in stages, by region. Mr. Elwell said that "while simultaneous ungrounding, when or if that happens, is desired, it's not obligatory." A Boeing spokesman said: "We continue to work with regulators on addressing their concerns and working through the process for certifying the 737 MAX software and training updates and safely returning the airplane to service." Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg said last week that Boeing test pilots had completed more than 700 MAX flights. "We are very confident in that software solution, and we are now just marching through the final steps on certifying that, so that everybody's confident in the safety of the airplane," he said in a public appearance in New York. Over the past months, Boeing, EASA and the FAA have basically agreed on related software revisions designed to scale back the power, and reduce the likelihood of a misfire, of an automated flight-control system called MCAS that was central to the two MAX jet accidents, happening within less than five months. Lately, the Chicago-based plane maker has been signaling it expects the FAA to formally lift the grounding in November or December, which would put the bulk of the U.S. MAX fleet on track to begin carrying passengers early next year. It previously said it expected that FAA action early in the fourth quarter. But the company hasn't yet turned over to the FAA the final package of software fixes. That is expected to be followed by several weeks of FAA analysis, flight tests and determination of pilot training requirements. The FAA has said it is methodically verifying the safety of proposed fixes but doesn't have a predetermined timeline for a decision. EASA's leaders also want commitments from Boeing and the FAA for longer-term safety enhancements that would kick in presumably months after the MAX resumes commercial operations. According to U.S. industry and government officials, Mr. Ky is seeking a third source of flight data-beyond two full-time sensors already on the MAX-to tell computers about the angle of the jet's nose. EASA has said once planes are back in the air, installation of a third sensor or equivalent system "could be undertaken at a later stage." Once the aircraft is cleared, it is expected to take months for a carrier such as Southwest Airlines Co. to work its MAX fleet back into passenger-flight schedules. Southwest has some 70 MAX jets, including aircraft it had in service and new jets still awaiting delivery. The timing of the aircraft's return is critical for Boeing as it considers whether to further cut production at its Renton, Wash., factory, or even suspend operations, while MAX jets pile up in storage. Before the recent concerns expressed by EASA, senior FAA officials were thinking they could be ready to give the green light for MAX flights as soon as early November, according to people familiar with the matter. The friction with their European counterparts is likely to delay that timeline until at least later that month, these people added. https://www.wsj.com/articles/friction-between-u-s-european-regulators- could-delay-737-max-return-to-service-11570527001 Back to Top Boeing 737 Max: European regulators insist on more testing of troubled plane * FAA told EU counterpart not satisfied with safety demonstrations * Aircraft systems reconfigured after two fatal crashes The Southwest Airlines pilots association is suing Boeing, arguing the grounding of the 737 Max has cost its members more than $100m in pay. European air safety regulators have told their US counterpart they want more testing on fixes to the troubled 737 Max flight-control systems before the plane is cleared to re- enter service. According to the Wall Street Journal, the EU's Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) told the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) it was not satisfied with demonstrations of the reconfigured safety systems on the planes, which were involved in two crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia that killed 346 people. Boeing had initially scheduled the plane to re-enter service at the end of August but disagreements over software details, centered on how the plane's dual flight-control computers are now intended to start working together, have put that date back to at least the end of November. The aim, according to the Journal, is to add redundancy by having both computers work simultaneously to eliminate potential problems stemming from computer chip malfunctions. The issue is separate from changes to the aircraft's faulty Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) but related to an emergency procedure that can be used by pilots to address the plane's system malfunctions. Over the past months, Boeing and regulators have agreed on software revisions to MCAS designed to scale back the power, and reduce the likelihood of the system kicking in and forcing the plane's nose down. Last week Boeing's CEO, Dennis Muilenburg, said test pilots had completed more than 700 Max flights. "We are very confident in that software solution, and we are now just marching through the final steps on certifying that, so that everybody's confident in the safety of the airplane," he said at a public appearance in New York. The new issue was identified during tests in June when a test pilot found that the procedure took more time than was acceptable to execute. A spokesman for the aircraft maker said: "We continue to work with regulators on addressing their concerns and working through the process for certifying the 737 Max software and training updates and safely returning the airplane to service." The latest problems for Boeing come as pilots for Southwest Airlines, one of the largest operators of the troubled jet, sued the company, claiming the grounding of the 737 Max jets with the loss of 30,000 scheduled flights has cost them more than $100m in pay. In court papers, Southwest's pilots association accusing Boeing of lying when it said the planes were just as safe as their predecessors. "Our pilots should not be expected to take a significant and ever-expanding financial loss as a result of Boeing's negligence," Jon Weaks, the union's president, said in a statement. In total, 387 737 Max flown by 60 airlines are grounded. Boeing's stock has dropped 11% since the 737 Max was grounded in March, costing the company $27bn in market capitalization. Before the crashes, the plane accounted for nearly 70% of Boeing's overall commercial aircraft deliveries, and 30% of its total operating profit. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/oct/08/boeing-737-max- european-regulators-more-testing Back to Top Incident: Ethiopian B763 at Dakar on Oct 8th 2019, uncontained engine failure and fire An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 767-300, registration ET-AMG performing flight ET-908 from Dakar Blaise Diagne (Senegal) to Bamako (Mali) with 90 people on board, was in the initial climb out of Blaise Diagne International Airport's runway 19 when the right hand engine (PW4062) failed and caught fire prompting the crew to stop the climb at about 2500 feet and return to Dakar for a safe landing on runway 19 about 8 minutes after departure, the aircraft vacated the runway. Emergency services put the fire out, the passengers subsequently disembarked normally via stairs at the left hand doors. The airport reported the engine caught fire on climb out. The airline reported the aircraft suffered a mechanical problem. A passenger reported immediately after the aircraft became airborne there was a loud noise, the air conditioning outlets began to emit smoke. The engine outboard side seen after landing: http://avherald.com/h?article=4cdc777b&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Easyjet A319 at Alicante on Oct 4th 2019, bird strike An Easyjet Airbus A319-100, registration G-EZDI performing flight U2-6706 from Alicante,SP (Spain) to Belfast Aldergrove,NI (UK), was in the initial climb out of Alicante's runway 10 when an engine (CFM56) ingested a number of birds prompting the crew to stop the climb at 4000 feet initially, later the aircraft climbed to 6000 feet and returned to Alicante for a safe landing on runway 10 about 40 minutes after departure. Passengers reported there was a strange noise immediately after departure which continued until after landing. The captain announced one of the engines had been damaged by a bird strike. They complained that they were told to get accomodation on their own and to be back at the airport by 8am, a replacement flight was then arranged for 11am but did not depart until 12pm. A replacement A319-100 registration G-EZDN departed the following day at about 12:00L and reached Belfast with a delay of about 16 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4cdc7d88&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: United B739 near Tampa on Oct 8th 2019, smell of smoke A United Boeing 737-900, registration N37409 performing flight UA-2399 from Orlando,FL to Houston Intercontinental,TX (USA) with 134 people on board, was enroute at FL340 about 190nm west of Tampa,FL (USA) when the crew decided to turn around and divert to Tampa reporting the smell of smoke on board. The aircraft landed safely on Tampa's runway 01L about 40 minutes later. Attending emergency services found no trace of fire, heat or smoke. The airline reported no smoke or fire was visible. Maintenance checked the aircraft. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 4.5 hours, then continued the journey and is estimated to reach Houston with a delay of 5:20 hours. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/UAL2399/history/20191008/1320Z/KMCO/KIAH http://avherald.com/h?article=4cdc822f&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top Bede BD-5 - Fatal Accident (California) Date: 08-OCT-2019 Time: c. 12:30 Type: Bede BD-5 Owner/operator: Private Registration: N501BD C/n / msn: 1039 Fatalities: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: near Camarillo Airport (KCMA), Camarillo, CA - United States of America Phase: Approach Nature: Private Departure airport: Camarillo Airport, CA (KCMA) Destination airport: Narrative: An experimental Bede BD-5, amateur built by John F. Simmons, impacted farm field terrain in Ventura County southeast of the Camarillo Airport (KCMA), Camarillo, California when it tried to return after it lost power shortly after takeoff. The aircraft was partially consumed by the post-impact fire and the sole pilot onboard received fatal injuries. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/229818 Back to Top US F-16 crashes in Germany, pilot ejects safely A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon takes of from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, in August 2018. An F-16 crashed about 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019, near Zemmer, Germany, during a routine training sortie. The pilot ejected safely and was recovered with minor injuries. KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany - A U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashed Tuesday afternoon near the German town of Zemmer-Rodt, Air Force and German officials said. The pilot ejected safely and was recovered with minor injuries, officials at Spangdahlem Air Base said in a statement. The aircraft, which was on a routine training flight, was assigned to the 480th Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Wing, at Spangdahlem, the statement said. Several people called the German police in Trier at about 3:15 p.m. to report that a plane had crashed, the police said in a statement. The plane went down in an uninhabited area, a few miles south of Spangdahlem and north of the city of Trier, the statement said. Police cordoned off the area and shut down several roads. There were unconfirmed reports of large spills of aviation fuel near the scene of the crash. Spangdahlem is conducting a base readiness exercise this week, testing its ability to function in a wartime environment. Tuesday's crash was the fifth involving planes out of the base in Germany's Rheinland- Pfalz state since 2002. Capt. Luke Johnson of the 52d Fighter Wing died that year when his F-16 crashed near the base as he was returning from a night training mission. In 2006, an F-16 fighter jet from Spangdahlem went down in a field just outside a small village near the base when the pilot ran out of fuel after reporting problems with his landing gear. The pilot, 1st Lt. Trevor Merrell, was able to eject safely and sustained only minor injuries. An investigation concluded that the accident was caused by pilot error, but a "visual illusion" that made Merrell think he was approaching Spangdahlem's runway too high was a contributing factor. In 2011, Lt. Col. Scott Hurrelbrink ejected just seconds before his A-10 Thunderbolt II crashed in a field near the town of Laufeld, around 20 miles northeast of Spangdahlem. Investigators determined that poor weather, the pilot's lack of recent experience flying in close formation in heavy clouds and procedural errors on the part of the pilot and the flight lead contributed to the crash. In 2015, an F-16 out of Spangdahlem crashed near the Bavarian city of Bayreuth. The aircraft had experienced engine failure and the pilot was unable to restart the engine prior to ejecting, an Air Force accident investigation found. https://www.stripes.com/news/us-f-16-crashes-in-germany-pilot-ejects- safely-1.602220 Back to Top Southwest Airlines grounds two Boeing 737 NG planes with cracked critical part SEATTLE -- Southwest Airlines confirmed Tuesday that two of their Boeing 737 NG planes have been grounded because of cracked critical equipment. Late last month, KOMO News was the first to report that inspectors found cracks in a critical part of an 737 NG known as the pickle fork. Following that report, last week, the FAA ordered emergency inspections, known as an "airworthiness directive," or "AD," to take place within seven days. A pickle fork is the part that helps attach a plane's fuselage to its wing structure. It helps manage the stress, torque and aerodynamic forces that bend the connection between the wings and the body of the jet. Engineers design pickle forks to last the lifetime of the plane, more than 90,000 landings and takeoffs, a term known as "flight cycles" in the aviation industry, without developing cracks. There could be dire results if the pickle fork system on the jet fails in flight. Overall, around 500 of the planes from airlines around the world have been inspected for the issue. Aviation analyst Scott Hamilton with the Leeham Company says 25 planes so far have been discovered with the cracking. "Simple mathematics says that's 5%," he said. But he cautions against people getting too nervous about flying. " You're still going to have more danger getting to the airport than flying on one of these airplanes," he said. These latest groundings for the Southwest 737 NGs come as the airline struggles with a grounded 737 MAX fleet. Those groundings have led to the cancellations of an estimated 30,000 Southwest flights since March. The pilots's union, the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, filed a $100-million lawsuit against Boeing over those groundings Monday, suing for back pay. KOMO reached out to Southwest about the latest issue involving the inspections, and the cracks found on 737 NG', which have been busy flying passengers. A company spokesperson says: "Southwest has completed all inspections of the high-cycle 737 Next Generation (NG) aircraft in compliance with the seven-day deadline specified in the FAA's Airworthiness Directive (AD). During our inspections of the high-cycle NGs, we did not find abnormalities on the vast majority of our inspected fleet but did identify signs of cracking on two aircraft. Southwest removed the aircraft from our operation and reported the findings to Boeing and the FAA. The aircraft will remain out of our schedule until the maintenance items have been fully resolved, and we do not have a return to service timeline for the aircraft. Safety is always our uncompromising priority, and our Technical Operations Team is now focused on completing inspections on the remaining portion of the NG fleet covered by the AD." The pickle fork problem was first discovered on a passenger plane being converted to a cargo jet for Amazon Prime. Though the first batch of inspections is complete -- many more will need to be done worldwide in the coming weeks and months. https://komonews.com/news/local/southwest-airlines-grounds-two-planes- with-cracked-critical-equipment Back to Top ICAO awards S. Korea with appreciation plaque for enhancing aviation safety SEOUL, Oct. 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has received special thanks from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for its contribution to enhancing global aviation safety, the country's transportation ministry said Wednesday. South Korea, along with France and Singapore, was presented with a plaque of appreciation for their contributions at the 40th ICAO General Assembly held Sept. 24- Oct. 4 in Montreal, the transportation ministry said. The ministry said the country has continuously provided the ICAO with highly skilled resources and expertise since 2005 to help enhance aviation safety while also providing support for the development and maintenance of systems needed to monitor the implementation of safety regulations by member states. The country also signed a memorandum of understanding with the ICAO at the recently concluded meeting on support for newly emerging countries, under which South Korea will train more than 300 aviation workers from such countries each year starting in 2020. The ministry earlier said the country has been re-elected for its seventh term as an ICAO Council member. https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20191009001700320 Back to Top Baldwin Develops New Tools to its Industry-Leading Safety and Quality Management Systems First in a series of courses will be presented in Atlanta this year on Nov. 6 and 7 and Fort Lauderdale on Feb. 21 and 22, 2020 The transportation industry's highly regarded safety and quality management leaders at Baldwin Safety & Compliance have announced that they will team with the Emil Buehler Aviation Institute of Broward College in Pembroke Pines, FL to present a series of aviation safety training courses commencing with a two-day Safety Officer workshop in Atlanta, GA on Nov. 6 and 7 followed by "SMS From The Top Down" and "Human Factors for Business Aviation Operations" in Fort Lauderdale, FL on Feb. 21 and 22, 2020. Completion of the Safety Officer Workshop will lead to two National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) CAM credits. The second program in the series will earn NBAA PDP credits. "We're very pleased to be collaborating with Broward College on this inaugural workshop," explained Jason Starke, director of standards at Baldwin. "Together we've built on our NBAA-CAM accredited Aviation Safety Officer course and Broward's highly- regarded aviation degree and certification programs to provide instruction on safe and efficient flight department work practices, FAA pilot certification procedures, aircraft systems and components, flight safety, instrumentation, and employability skills. Specifically, this unique Safety Officer Workshop will cover performance-based requirements for ICAO, IS-BAH and IS-BAO. We look forward to developing additional workshops with Broward to satisfy the demands of the industry," he said. "This is the first collaboration of this type that we have entered into with the express intention of providing leadership skills development to the aviation community," added Mary Monusky, director, corporate partnerships for Broward College. "We are laser- focused on responding to the industry's needs to close critical skills gaps-and so is Baldwin-so they were a natural choice as a partner. Since we're located in the nation's second largest aviation industry hub in South Florida (trailing only the Los Angeles/Long Beach basin), this type of open-access training will allow multiple companies to 'up-skill' their employees efficiently and economically," she concluded. https://www.aviationpros.com/tools-equipment/safety-equipment/press- release/21109415/baldwin-aviation-bladwin-develops-new-tools-to-its- industryleading-safety-and-quality-management-systems Back to Top U.S. FAA has 'no set time frame' for completing Boeing software review WASHINGTON, Oct 8 (Reuters) - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on Tuesday it is continuing to review software changes to the now grounded Boeing 737 MAX and has no firm date for completing the effort. The U.S. aviation regulator said in a statement it is continuing "our review of changes to software on the Boeing 737 MAX. Our first priority is safety, and we have set no time frame for when the work will be completed." FAA Administrator Steve Dickson told Reuters in September the agency would need about a month following a yet-to-be scheduled certification test flight before the planes could return to service. Boeing's best selling 737 MAX was grounded in March after two deadly crashes in five months killed 346 people. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/u-faa-no-set-time-182238594.html Back to Top FAA Completes Rollout of Baseline ADS-B Services The FAA completed the operational rollout of ADS-B baseline services with the recent implementation at the last two of 155 airports slated for the technology, the agency announced yesterday. ADS-B services became operational last month at Akron-Canton Airport and Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport, both in Ohio. "This brings the operational rollout of ADS-B baseline services to a successful conclusion, on schedule and within budget," the agency said, adding it was completed before the Jan. 1, 2020 ADS-B aircraft equipage deadline. ADS-B is now operational at airports, terminal radar approach control facilities, and en route facilities. The agency stressed ADS-B is the preferred source for surveillance at those facilities, citing improved situational awareness to both pilots and controllers, as well as more accurate tracking of airplanes and airport vehicles on runways and taxiways. In addition, the FAA further highlighted the ability to improve surveillance in geographically challenging areas, such as mountainous regions or over water. According to the FAA, the number of aircraft equipped with "good installs" stood at 93,833 as of October 1, with general aviation accounting for 67,137 of those. This was up from at 90,157 total aircraft, including 64,672 general aviation aircraft, at the beginning of September. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2019-10- 08/faa-completes-rollout-baseline-ads-b-services Back to Top Boeing gifts massive 787 engine to SCC's aviation maintenance program Jennifer Paige, a Boeing employee and graduate of Spokane Community College's aviation maintenance program, speaks during an unveiling ceremony for a 787 Dreamliner engine that her company donated to SCC on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019. (Kathy Plonka / The Spokesman-Review) Students in the aviation maintenance program at Spokane Community College are accustomed to working on bush planes. Now they will learn how to maintain and repair something much bigger: a jet engine designed for a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. School officials unveiled the 14-foot-tall, 17,000-pound GEnx turbine during a ceremony Tuesday at SCC's Felts Field hangar. Manufactured by General Electric and gifted by Boeing, the engine will give students hands-on experience with some of the latest commercial airplane technology. Bill McSherry, Boeing's vice president for government operations, said students also will develop skills they can use on the company's factory floor after graduation. "It will make them much more valuable potential employees to companies like us and other aerospace companies around the state, around the country," McSherry said. More than 100 people attended the unveiling ceremony, including students and instructors from the aviation program, a handful of elected officials and a group of students from Shadle Park High School. The high school students are taking part in Boeing's Core Plus program, which aims to prepare them for careers in the aerospace industry. About 75 students are enrolled in SCC's aviation program, which offers two associate degrees and six certificates. McSherry said Boeing needs talented graduates to address a looming shortage of workers on its manufacturing and assembly lines. "There is a terrible skill shortage in our country," he said. "Over the next 10 years, we think 2.4 million jobs will go unfilled because the students coming out of schools don't have the skills that employers like Boeing, our suppliers and our counterparts in other industries need to have in order to fill these jobs here in Washington." Robin Toth, who leads aerospace programs at the state Department of Commerce, echoed that. "We need to continue to fill the pipeline," Toth said. "There are going to be huge numbers of retirements in the near future, and new opportunities will come online with new programs." A new GEnx engine can sell for between $20 million and $30 million. McSherry and school officials declined to state the value of the donated engine, which was never flown and which arrived at the Felts Field hangar with some exterior damage. "The value is not really in dollars," McSherry said. "It's in what you can do with it." SCC President Kevin Brockbank and Christine Johnson, chancellor of the Community Colleges of Spokane, also spoke Tuesday alongside Jennifer Paige, who was hired at Boeing after graduating from SCC nearly two years ago. Paige was quickly promoted to a management position, overseeing a team that puts finishing touches on KC-767 tankers before they are delivered to the U.S. Air Force. Paige credited SCC for teaching her the necessary skills, including basics such as drilling holes and using a torque wrench. "I didn't know how to do any of these things. I learned a lot being in this program," she said. "Spokane Community College is really good about providing real-life experiences that you can take with you to your career." https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2019/oct/09/boeing-gifts-massive- 787-engine-to-sccs-aviation-m/ Back to Top Lufthansa To Welcome A New Plane Every 2 Weeks For The Next 10 Years Lufthansa is set to welcome a new aircraft to its fleet on average once a fortnight for the next 10 years. The news comes as the German flag carrier eagerly awaits its first Boeing 777X set to be delivered next year. Lufthansa, New Aircraft, Aircraft Orders Lufthansa is expecting to receive one aircraft per fortnight for the next ten years. Photo: Lufthansa New deliveries are an exciting time for any airline. Lufthansa currently has 130 Airbus aircraft on order. The airline also has Boeing 777X and Boeing 787-9 aircraft on order from Airbus' competitor. With 40 aircraft currently on order from Boeing, Lufthansa has a total of 170 aircraft on order from the two manufacturing giants. As such, the airline expects to take an average of one new aircraft every two weeks across the next decade. €3 billion per year on aircraft Lufthansa has a fairly sizable fleet. Indeed, according to Planespotters.net, the German flag carrier has 300 aircraft in its fleet. This figure excludes aircraft in other Lufthansa group airlines such as Eurowings. The airline is currently pushing to introduce aircraft which produce far less CO2. Examples include the new neo variants of the A320 family. As such, Carsten Spohr, Lufthansa's CEO said: "The Lufthansa Group invests almost three billion euros per year into new, fuel-efficient aircraft. That is the most powerful tool we currently have to make flying as climate-friendly as possible". Lufthansa currently operates around 300 aircraft. Photo: Lufthansa An aircraft a fortnight for 10 years Lufthansa currently has 170 aircraft on order between Airbus and Boeing. This is split in a ratio of 13 Airbus to every four Boeing orders. Of the outstanding Airbus orders, Lufthansa is expecting: * 64 Airbus A320neo aircraft; * 36 Airbus A321neo aircraft; * 30 Airbus A350-900 aircraft. Meanwhile, the airline's Boeing orders consist of two different aircraft types as follows: * 20 Boeing 787-9 aircraft; * 20 Boeing 777X aircraft, of which Lufthansa is the launch customer. Lufthansa is set to be the launch customer of the Boeing 777X. Currently, the airline is expecting to receive the first such model next year. However, while Boeing had expected to showcase the aircraft at the Paris Air Show this summer, it is still yet to take its first flight. Lufthansa is set to be the launch customer of the Boeing 777X. Photo: Lufthansa Eyeing further orders? Lufthansa said that "the company will be welcoming a new airplane every two weeks on average for the next ten years." With 170 aircraft on order, average deliveries of one aircraft every two weeks would only take the airline through six and a half years. The airline would need to order another 90 odd aircraft in order to receive one aircraft every two weeks for a period of ten years. https://simpleflying.com/lufthansa-new-plane-every-fortnight/ Back to Top Global 7500 breaks business aircraft range record Bombardier's Global 7500 has completed an 8,225nm (15,230km) nonstop flight, which the manufacturer bills as "the longest city-pair flown by a purpose-built business aircraft". The journey from Sydney, Australia to Detroit, in Michigan on 6 October was undertaken by the company demonstrator, N750GX. It eclipsed a previous record set on 4 March, when the ultra-long-range twinjet made an 8,152nm nonstop flight between Singapore and Tucson, Arizona. The GE Aviation passport-powered Global 7500 has an advertised range of 7,700nm. Peter Likoray, Bombardier Business Aircraft's senior vice-president, worldwide sales and marketing, says since entry into service in December 2018, the flagship aircraft "continues to go above and beyond expectations, flying farther and farther, setting new benchmarks for exceptional performance and comfort". Cirium fleets data records an in-service fleet of 11 of the aircraft from a backlog of around 80. The Canadian airframer plans to deliver between 15 and 20 examples in 2019 and up to 40 aircraft next year. https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/global-7500-breaks-business- aircraft-range-record-461346/ Back to Top Pilot shortage hitting UK business aviation sector A growing shortage of business jet pilots in the UK is hitting aircraft sales and creating challenges for local owners and operators who are struggling to source crews. UK business jet sales and marketing company Colibri Aircraft expects the squeeze to continue for the foreseeable future, as commercial airlines increasingly tap private aviation to make up recruitment shortfalls. From its analysis of data taken from Boeing's 2019-2038 Pilot and Technician Outlook and German consultancy WingX, Colibri forecasts global demand for 98,000 new business aircraft pilots over the next two decades, including 2,500 new crew to support the UK market. Colibri warns that airlines will "intensify" their recruitment of business aircraft pilots over the coming years, as the global passenger and freight aircraft fleet is set to "more than double" between 2019 and 2038. "During this period, it has been estimated [by Boeing] that the world needs to find 645,000 new commercial pilots," says Colibri. Business aircraft pilots are already leaving the sector, it adds, attracted by the "more predictable schedules" that commercial airlines can offer. "The business aviation sector is struggling to compete with airlines in recruiting pilots," says Colibri managing director Oliver Stone. "This means commercial airlines are not only recruiting existing business aviation pilots, but they are also getting the pick of newly qualified pilots. "The business aviation sector is struggling to compete with airlines in recruiting pilots," says Stone. "This means commercial airlines are not only recruiting existing business aviation pilots, but they are also getting the pick of newly qualified pilots." The shrinking pilot population is increasingly affecting the sale of private jets, he adds. The problem is particularly acute for models at "the lower end of the price spectrum", for which hiring a full-time pilot and freelance crew is "becoming incrementally more expensive for the owner, in relation to the value of the aircraft". "People are questioning in greater numbers, whether owning a business jet, particularly in the $2 million bracket and under, is worth the expense," says Stone. "It's a psychological block." https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/pilot-shortage-hitting-uk- business-aviation-sector-461337/ Back to Top Sport Utility Jet? This New Private Plane Can Carry a Ton of Cargo and Land on Grass and Gravel The world's first "Super Versatile Jet" can carry over a ton of cargo and is the only non- military plane that can land on grass or gravel. The Pilatus PC-24 Pilatus thinks that private flying could stand to be a little more adventurous. That's why the Swiss aircraft maker's latest offering, the PC-24, is a jet for travelers who wish they had more space to bring friends-and toys-on their far flung exploits. While there are larger private planes out there, few can compete with the room found on board Pilatus's light jet. The PC-24 has plenty of space for up to 12 passengers, including pilots, according to Financial Times blog, "How to Spend It." But beyond travelers, the plane can also carry over a ton of cargo, an amount basically unheard of outside of dedicated cargo planes. This means the jet could easily hold four passengers and a couple full-size motorcycles. Of course, the PC-24 wasn't just built to transport your jet skis. Pilatus refers to the plane as the world's first "Super Versatile Jet," and that refers as much to its performance as it does to space. While the plane's predecessor, the PC-12, also had plenty of cargo room, its flight specs were pedestrian. Not so for the PC-24. Not only is the new plane certified for single-pilot operation and easier to fly than its older sibling, it can also reach a cruise speed of up to 440 knots (506 mph). Maybe most unique of all, the jet has the ability to land almost anywhere there's a landing strip. The PC-24 needs just 2,930 feet to take off, and even less to land. It's also the only non-military grade light jet that can land on grass or gravel. That doubles the number of air fields it can navigate. As you might expect, a private plane that can do all of this comes at a steep price. The Pilatus PC-24 starts at £10.5 million ($12.8 million). Check out more photos of the plane below: https://robbreport.com/motors/aviation/pilatus-pc-24-can-do-it-all- 2873366/ Back to Top Boeing sells luxury-jet version of 737 Max to mystery buyer This is the first Max deal since June, after the planes were grounded in March in response to 2 deadly crashes. Boeing sold a business-jet version of its 737 Max in September, breaking a sales drought for a model that has been grounded since March. The order by an anonymous customer was the first Max deal since June, when British Airways owner International Consolidated Airlines Group SA announced its intent to buy 200 of the narrow-body jetliners. That blockbuster agreement hasn't yet been converted to a firm order, leaving net sales for the Max at negative 184 for the year. The U.S. planemaker also finalized a deal with Air New Zealand for eight of its 787 Dreamliners last month, bringing net orders for the carbon-composite aircraft to 52 this year, according to Boeing data released Tuesday. The wide-body plane has been a rare bright spot for the company amid trade wars stoked by President Trump and the crisis around the Max, which was grounded following two deadly crashes. Boeing's European rival, Airbus SE, has also been grappling with a weak market this year, with a total of only 127 net orders. But that was good enough to top Boeing, which has recorded 84 more cancellations than sales. The U.S. company's shares fell less than 1 percent to $374.94 at 1:02 p.m. in New York as the broader market slumped on renewed trade tensions with China. Airbus climbed less than 1 percent to 117.70 euros at the close in Paris. Both manufacturers face a "key risk" in maintaining production of their wide-body jets beyond 2021 amid indications of a glutted market for long-range aircraft, Bernstein analyst Douglas Harned said in a report Tuesday. Next year, Chicago-based Boeing will need to match its 2019 sales tally for the Dreamliner to avoid a steep cut in output from the record pace the company recently adopted as crisis engulfed the Max. The Dreamliner has about 50 unfilled production slots starting in 2022, Bernstein analyst Harned said in a report. In boosting Dreamliner output to a monthly pace of 14 jets, Boeing executives predicted a wave of orders to replace aging twin-aisle aircraft starting in the early 2020s. But the replacement opportunities aren't sufficient to maintain production at that pace, Harned said. Other factors could still support Dreamliner production, from the end of Airbus's A380 superjumbo jet to a potential trade deal that restarts Boeing's sales in China. Boeing could also offer discounts on the popular 787 to compensate Max customers for the disruption from the global flying ban. "We have heard this is a concern for Airbus as it seeks to sell A330neos versus the 787," Harned wrote. https://www.pressherald.com/2019/10/08/boeing-sells-luxury-jet-version- of-737-max-to-mystery-buyer/ Back to Top Boeing to invest $20M in Virgin Galactic, marking a milestone team-up in commercial space Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity fires its rocket motor to head to the edge of space in 2018. (Virgin Galactic Photo) Boeing says it's planning to invest $20 million in Virgin Galactic once it goes public, potentially unlocking a new level of synergy for commercial space travel. For Virgin Galactic, the deal will provide an extra dose of cash - but also access to Boeing's decades of expertise in providing aerospace products and services. In return, Boeing will have an inside track to the market for commercial space travel - which is part of CEO Dennis Muilenburg's vision for a continuum of aerospace transportation. "Space tourism, space factories ... that whole ecosystem is evolving, and we'll be deeply involved in the transportation system that will enable access," Muilenburg said last October at the GeekWire Summit. Brian Schettler, senior managing editor of Boeing HorizonX Ventures, emphasized that perspective in today's announcement of the investment. "Boeing's strategic investment facilitates our effort to drive the commercialization of space and broaden consumer access to safe, efficient and environmentally responsible new forms of transportation," Schettler said. "Our work with Virgin Galactic, and others, will help unlock the future of space travel and high-speed mobility." The investment from Boeing's venture capital arm is designed to kick in once Virgin Galactic closes a transaction to become a publicly listed entity, via a business combination with Social Capital Hedosophia Holdings Corp. That's expected to happen by the end of the year. Boeing would receive shares in the company that emerges from the transaction. Virgin Galactic Opens the Doors to the 'Gateway to Space' Virgin Galactic has been working on its SpaceShipTwo suborbital rocket plane and WhiteKnightTwo carrier airplane since 2004 - when SpaceShipTwo's predecessor, SpaceShipOne, won the $10 million Ansari X Prize. Since then, Virgin Galactic has devoted $1 billion in investments to developing SpaceShipTwo. The company and its partners at Scaled Composites weathered two fatal accidents along the way, but last year Virgin Galactic finally sent its second SpaceShipTwo plane, VSS Unity, past the 50-mile space milestone. More than 600 would-be passengers have put down as much as $250,000 each to take a ride once SpaceShipTwo goes commercial. The current schedule calls for that to happen next year, once Virgin Galactic finishes setting up operations at Spaceport America in New Mexico. Over the longer term, Virgin Galactic aims to beef up its launch system and offer point- to-point suborbital space trips. Boeing's investment and expertise are likely to further that goal. "This is the beginning of an important collaboration for the future of air and space travel, which are the natural next steps for our human spaceflight program," said Richard Branson, the billionaire founder of Virgin Galactic. "Virgin Galactic and Boeing share a vision of opening access to the world and space, to more people, in safe and environmentally responsible ways." The two companies promised to provide additional information about the projects they plan to pursue together at a future time. Both companies have lots of other connections in the spaceflight market: Boeing is developing its own orbital-class spaceship known as the CST-100 Starliner, which is designed to be launched by rockets built by United Launch Alliance (a Boeing-Lockheed Martin joint venture). Starliner is expected to start flying astronauts to the International Space Station for NASA next year. It could also fly paying passengers to the space station or future orbital destinations under the terms of a deal that Boeing has with Virginia-based Space Adventures. Last year, Boeing acquired a small-satellite manufacturer called Millennium Space Systems as a subsidiary. Boeing HorizonX Ventures has also invested in several space startups, including Accion Systems (focusing on electric space propulsion) to Reaction Engines (focusing on hypersonic flight). Virgin Galactic, meanwhile, has two sister companies: Virgin Orbit, which is working on an orbital-class, air-launch system called Launcher One; and The Spaceship Company, which builds the SpaceShipTwo and WhiteKnightTwo planes. In the suborbital spaceflight market, Virgin Galactic's most prominent rival is Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin space venture. In the orbital spaceflight market, Boeing's most prominent rival is Elon Musk's SpaceX. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/boeing-invest-20m-virgin-galactic- 165950930.html Back to Top RESEARCH SURVEY Dear Part 141 Flight School Senior Staff, The Ohio State University's Center of Aviation is conducting a comparative analysis of Part 141 program models through its student capstone course. The goal of the study is to better improve factors such as instructor retention, aircraft utilization, and general program attraction. All Part 141 flight schools are encouraged to participate! This survey is meant for Part 141 aviation program staff who have knowledge of current pay rates, CFI benefits, and fleet utilization data. The data received from this survey will be shared with collaborators, upon request. Although any feedback received will aid us in our analysis, all questions are considered optional. We understand that not all data requested may be available to you. We estimate this survey will take 20 minutes or less to complete. For more information or assistance with this survey, please contact Noel Benford at Benford.15@osu.edu. Survey https://qtrial2019q3az1.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aVR6Y5B50Lu23qd Curt Lewis