Flight Safety Information October 10, 2019 - No. 206 In This Issue American Airlines says it expects to resume flying Boeing's 737 Max jet in January Boeing's 787 under pressure as Russia's Aeroflot cancels order Accident: Mars AN74 at Mogadishu on Oct 9th 2019, gear up landing Incident: Austral E190 at Buenos Aires on Sep 29th 2019, engine shut down in flight Incident: Porter DH8D at Toronto on Aug 7th 2019, hydraulic issue Antonov An-12 -...gear up landing (Russia) Two Flights Forced To Emergency Land At San Francisco Int'l Airport DGCA offers improved version of surveillance plan for air safety (India) AIRLINE PILOT PUNCHES FEMALE COLLEAGUE AFTER SHE SLAPS HIM Flight makes unplanned stop in Tucson after impaired passenger assaults other travelers ERS Signs Agreement With Irish Aviation Authority to Deliver New Aviation Safety Regulation System FAA seeks nominees for Women in Aviation Advisory Board CAAi to support Kazakhstan's adoption of UK aviation regulatory model President Of Largest Flight Attendant Union Wants FAA To Ban E-Cigs Over Battery Fire Concerns UK Bizav Group BBGA Urges More Industry Apprenticeships Embraer conducts first autonomous aircraft test in Brazil AAR Testing Drones For Aircraft Inspection In Miami Three Space and Aviation Industry Veterans Agree to Join Board of Directors of Virgin Galactic Boeing reveals target dates for initial Starliner test flights RESEARCH SURVEY SAFE SKIES FOR ALL: INTRODUCING SPACEFLIGHT INTO OUR SKIES Air Traffic Control Investigation from SCSI American Airlines says it expects to resume flying Boeing's 737 Max jet in January The Federal Aviation Administration said it has not set a timetable for lifting its grounding of the aircraft. A Boeing 737 MAX 8 jetliner being built for American Airlines prior to a test flight in Renton, Wash., on May 8. (Ted S. Warren/AP) American Airlines said Wednesday it expects federal officials to sign off on software updates and other changes to Boeing's 737 Max jets later this year and plans to resume passenger service on the aircraft on Jan. 16. "American Airlines anticipates that the impending software updates to the Boeing 737 Max will lead to recertification of the aircraft later this year and resumption of commercial service in January 2020," the airline said in a statement. "We are in continuous contact with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Transportation (DOT)." Despite American's announcement, FAA officials maintained that there is no set timeline for returning the planes to service, and said it has not given airlines a date for when the grounding will be lifted. "The FAA is following a thorough process, not a prescribed timeline, for returning the Boeing 737 Max to passenger service," the agency said in an email. "The FAA is continuing to evaluate Boeing's software modification and is still developing necessary training requirements." [NTSB cites competing pilot warnings and flawed safety assumptions on Boeing 737 Max] However, executives at Boeing said they expect to submit their final certification package to the FAA later this year. Based on that, airlines have begun to lay the groundwork for returning the planes to service. For example, American is working closely with the Allied Pilots Association, which represents its pilots, on training and other issues. American's expected date for resuming service with the Max would make it the last of the major carriers to resume flying the plane under dates that have been announced. Southwest Airlines, which has the most Max jets of any U.S. carrier, has removed the plane from its schedule until Jan. 5, while United Airlines has removed the Max from its schedule until Dec. 19. American's announcement comes near nearly seven months after regulators around the world grounded the Max in the wake of two fatal crashes that killed 346 people. This month marks the anniversary of the Oct. 29 crash of a Lion Air flight that plunged into the Java Sea shortly after takeoff, killing all 189 passengers and crew aboard. A final report on that crash is expected later this year. Less than five months later, a 737 Max flying under the Ethiopian Airlines banner went down shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, killing all 157 passengers and crew members aboard. In both instances, preliminary investigations pointed to issues with an anti-stall system known as the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS), which was designed to compensate for changes to the plane's design. The crashes have led to increased scrutiny of the process the FAA followed in certifying that the newest version of the popular 737 aircraft was safe to fly, as well as Boeing's role in that process. Both the FAA and Boeing are now subjects of numerous inquiries by congressional committees, the Transportation Department's Inspector General and the Justice Department's criminal division. Boeing has been working for months on software updates to the MCAS - an effort the company says has included hundreds of hours of software analysis, laboratory testing and simulator verification. In addition, it has conducted two test flights, including an in- flight certification test with the FAA, which must certify the changes before the planes can be cleared to fly. American said it expects flights on the 737 Max to resume starting Jan. 16, and gradually increase throughout January and into February. The airline noted that because the number of flights on 737 Max jets will slowly increase over the course of a month, there may be additional schedule changes. Passengers affected by those changes will be contacted directly by the airline. American said it is working on accommodations for travelers who do not wish to travel on the 737 Max once it resumes flying and will release details in coming weeks. Flights scheduled on Max planes through Jan. 6 will not be canceled. Instead, in most instances American will substitute other aircraft in their place. Schedules for travelers with reservations Jan. 7-15 will be updated on Sunday. https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2019/10/09/american-airlines-says-it- will-resume-flying-boeings-max-jet-january/ Back to Top Boeing's 787 under pressure as Russia's Aeroflot cancels order The new Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner taxis past the Final Assembly Building at Boeing South Carolina in North Charleston SEATTLE/PARIS (Reuters) - Boeing Co faced additional uncertainty on Wednesday over future production rates for its 787 Dreamliner after Russian carrier Aeroflot formally canceled an order for 22 aircraft valued at about $5.5 billion at list prices. The cancellation, first reported by the Seattle Times and buried in Boeing's monthly order release, is the final step in unwinding an order that had been shrouded in uncertainty ever since the airline said in 2015 it no longer needed the planes. But the lost business theoretically knocks a hole in the production profile for the 787 Dreamliner after the world's largest planemaker increased its build-rate to 14 aircraft per month from 12 at twin U.S. factories. Barring new orders, Boeing faces the growing possibility that it may have to cut production back by 2022, industry sources say, piling on new pressure as the grounding of the smaller 737 MAX stretches into its eighth month. One of the sources, who closely monitors Boeing's production plans, said the planemaker has dozens of unsold or potentially vacant 787 positions on its production line in 2022. The actual number of unfilled production slots depends on assessments about the ability of airlines to take delivery as promised, a subjective guess that planemakers keep confidential. Boeing declined to comment. While demand for the narrowbody aircraft that dominate most fleets remains strong, demand for larger, long-haul aircraft like the 787 and Airbus A330 and A350 has weakened. Boeing won most of the widebody orders so far this year but neither planemaker is selling as many aircraft as it would like amid trade tensions, concerns over the global economy and the increased ability of smaller narrowbodies to fly long distances. Boeing Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg told a conference last month that Boeing is closely tracking "macro risk areas," and had reserved slots on its 777 and 787 production lines for Chinese orders that have been held back by the U.S.-China trade war. "There is dependency there on Chinese orders ultimately coming through," Muilenburg said. The comments surprised some suppliers because planemakers typically raise output only after selling aircraft rather than opening the taps in the hope of winning orders later - though a strategic buyer like China might expect special treatment. Boeing remains under pressure to reduce an overhang of deferred accounting costs on the 787 by producing more units. European rival Airbus also has gaps in its production profile for widebody jets, especially the upgraded A330neo and to a lesser extent the newer A350, other industry sources said. The lull in widebody orders has also raised questions about jetliner pricing. Multiple industry sources say aircraft are being offered at unusually steep discounts, something that officials at both planemakers deny. Meanwhile, company data showed that Boeing had officially booked a previously announced order from Air New Zealand for eight 787-10s, the largest Dreamliner model. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/boeings-787-under-pressure-russias- 204032457.html Back to Top Accident: Mars AN74 at Mogadishu on Oct 9th 2019, gear up landing A Mars Avia Antonov AN-74T-100, registration EK-74008 performing a flight from an unknown origin to Mogadishu (Somalia), was on approach to Mogadishu when the crew could not extend the landing gear. After working the checklists, which failed to lower the landing gear, the crew declared emergency, prepared for a gear up landing with emergency services on stand by and landed on the belly of the aircraft. There were no injuries, the damage to the aircraft is being assessed. The aircraft seen after landing: http://avherald.com/h?article=4cdd1943&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Austral E190 at Buenos Aires on Sep 29th 2019, engine shut down in flight An Austral Embraer ERJ-190, registration LV-CIG performing flight AR-2738 from Buenos Aires Aeroparque,BA to Salta,SA (Argentina) with 59 people on board, was climbing out of Aeroparque's runway 13 when the crew stopped the climb at about 3800 feet due to the left hand engine (CF34) experiencing compressor stalls. The crew shut the engine down and returned to Aeroparque for a safe landing on runway 13 about 10 minutes after departure. A replacement ERJ-190 registration LV-CEU reached Salta with a delay of 3:45 hours. Argentina's JIAAC opened an investigation. On Oct 9th 2019 the JIAAC added the occurrence was rated a serious incident. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground about 25.5 hours after landing back. http://avherald.com/h?article=4cd73d57&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Porter DH8D at Toronto on Aug 7th 2019, hydraulic issue A Porter Airlines de Havilland Dash 8-400, registration C-GLQN performing flight PD-616 from Timmins,ON to Toronto City,ON (Canada), was on approach to Toronto's City Airport when the crew reported a hydraulic issue and decided to divert to Toronto's Lester B. Pearson International Airport, where the aircraft landed safely. The Canadian TSB reported the crew declared PAN PAN reporting the hydraulic issue. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/POE616/history/20190807/2040Z/CYTS/CYTZ http://avherald.com/h?article=4cdd29f4&opt=0 Back to Top Antonov An-12 - gear up landing (Russia) Date: 10-OCT-2019 Time: 11:19 Type: Antonov An-12 Owner/operator: Russian Air Force Registration: RA-11260 C/n / msn: Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 17 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Substantial Location: Koltsovo Airport, Yekaterinburg - Russia Phase: Landing Nature: Military Departure airport: Destination airport: Narrative: An Antonov An-12 transport plane of the Russian Air Force made a gear up landing at Yekaterinburg-Koltsovo Airport, Russia. No one was injured. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/229848 Back to Top Two Flights Forced To Emergency Land At San Francisco Int'l Airport SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) - Two flights out of San Francisco International Airport needed to return to the runway Wednesday evening for emergency landings. The first flight involved a United Airlines aircraft that struck a bird. The plane was headed to Orange County. The flight was able to return to SFO safely, United Airlines said. All the passengers on the flight were moved to a different aircraft and took off shortly afterward Wednesday night. The second flight involved a Lufthansa plane en route to Munich, Germany. It was reported that an engine fire may have forced the pilot to make the emergency landing. The flight took off after 8:45 p.m. and landed safely shortly before 10 p.m. No other details were immediately available. https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2019/10/09/sfo-two-flights-forced-emergency-land- at-san-francisco-intl-airport/ Back to Top DGCA offers improved version of surveillance plan for air safety (India) Apart from the scheduled surveillance checks and regulatory audits, spot checks too will be conducted by the regulator to verify effectivity of internal audit system of organisations NEW DELHI: The DGCA has come out with an improved version of a surveillance plan for the safety of air passengers. Under the plan, officials will carry out night surveillance for operators every month as required. Apart from these scheduled surveillance checks and regulatory audits, the aviation regulator has also decided to carry out the spot checks. Spot checks are unplanned checks and will be carried out to verify the effectivity of the internal audit system of any organisation. The improved version of Annual Surveillance Programme (ASP) is based on experiences gained during 2009 to 2018 and comprises of all directorates. Further DGCA also analysed the field data and discrepancies reported during past surveillance activities. Moreover, DGCA also identified the weak areas of the operators and the areas of concern. The results of the analysis has been incorporated for the development of new ASP 2019. Under the monthly Programme of Surveillance, DGCA officers from Regional and Sub- regional offices will carry out night surveillance for operators every month as required. Surveillance Inspection of Foreign Airlines will be jointly carried out by inspectors from Flight Inspection Directorate and Airworthiness Directorate as per the monthly programme. A monthly progress report on ASP will be submitted by all the Regional Offices and a monthly review will be held wherein monthly progress, shortfalls against monthly targets will be analysed by DGCA along with analysis of identified deficiencies. So far as the regulatory audit is concerned, it will be carried out as per the structured program. The auditors will ensure that the ATR submitted by the operators on the findings are closed. The closure of the findings will be submitted to the Nodal Officer. Officials said that the purpose of night surveillance is to ensure that operators do not follow shortcut on any procedures, deployment of necessary manpower, the release of aircraft without proper defect rectification etc. Moreover, Director General when found necessary may direct to carry out any other surveillance or inspections or audits. http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2019/oct/10/dgca-offers-improved-version- of-surveillance-plan-for-air-safety-2045522.html Back to Top AIRLINE PILOT PUNCHES FEMALE COLLEAGUE AFTER SHE SLAPS HIM IN LEAKED VIDEO, PAIR SET TO APPEAR IN COURT An airline pilot was seen punching a female colleague on a jet bridge at Denver International Airport after she slapped him in a leaked video. The security footage, obtained by FlyerTalk, shows the male pilot walking towards the aircraft before abruptly turning to the female co-worker who was close behind him. He appeared to spit on her and she responded by slapping him in the face. The pilot proceeded to punch the woman in the stomach and face several times. The pair, identified as William Thomas and Marisha Sporer, had recently ended a romantic relationship when the fight occurred, according to a probable cause affidavit, ABC News reported. The Denver Police Department said the incident took place during a layover on September 14. It occurred shortly after the Republic Airways flight landed at Denver International Airport. There were no passengers on the plane at the time. Thomas, 36, and Sporer, 29, were arrested and charged with assault and disturbing the peace, according to ABC News. A spokesman for Republic Airways confirmed to Newsweek that Thomas and Sporer have since been fired. "We are aware of a situation that occurred last month involving two of our employees," the spokesman said. "We investigated this matter and took appropriate action consistent with our belief that such behavior is unacceptable. These individuals are no longer employed at Republic." According to a probable cause affidavit, Thomas and Sporer had been involved in an intimate relationship since November last year, ABC News reported. The incident last month was prompted after Sporer spotted something she did not like on Thomas' phone and went onto the plane to confront him, the affidavit said. According to ABC News, the affidavit said: "They both agreed to break up so Thomas went onto the plane and sat in the cockpit and Sporer went to the gate. "Sporer became angry and went onto the plane to confront Thomas. Sporer grabbed Thomas by the neck tie and slapped him in the face with an open hand three times. "Thomas retaliated by grabbing Sporer and striking her in the ribs with a closed fist." Thomas and Sporer are scheduled to appear in court next week. https://www.newsweek.com/airline-pilot-punches-female-colleague-leaked-video- 1464160 Back to Top Flight makes unplanned stop in Tucson after impaired passenger assaults other travelers, police say David Broseh (Photo: Pima County Sheriff's Office) A Southwest Airlines flight from Dallas to Los Angeles changed its course for Tucson International Airport on Tuesday evening after police were needed for an "onboard issue," an airline spokesperson said. David Broseh, 51, was supposed to travel to Los Angeles. But after assaulting passengers on the plane because of intoxication, police said, he ended up in Tucson where he was met by airport police and escorted to Pima County jail. "Whenever there could potentially be an issue with a passenger disturbance on an aircraft, our police are always notified and called and we have an on-staff 24/7 police department at the airport so they were called and they responded," said Jessie Butler, director of Communications and External Relations at the airport. According to Butler, police responded to a call reporting a passenger that appeared to be intoxicated and assaulting passengers aboard the plane. While the matter is still under investigation, Butler said that although Broseh appeared to be impaired, officials are unsure of what he was under the influence of. A Southwest Airlines representative said that as a general policy, flight attendants do not serve alcohol to any customer who appears to be intoxicated. "After some initial investigations and witness statements once they landed in Tucson, this individual was placed under arrest and booked into Pima County Jail," Butler said. Broseh was booked on suspicion of two counts each of assault and disorderly conduct, according to officials. According to Southwest Airlines, despite the interruption, the flight landed safely at Tucson International Airport and continued onward to LAX after the brief diversion. "The safety of our customers and crew is always our top priority, and we appreciate the patience of our customers during the event," a Southwest Airlines official said. https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-breaking/2019/10/09/southwest- airlines-flight-unplanned-stop-tucson-after-david-broseh-onboard-issue/3919210002/ Back to Top ERS Signs Agreement With Irish Aviation Authority to Deliver New Aviation Safety Regulation System REGINA, Saskatchewan, Oct. 09, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Information Services Corporation (TSX:ISV) ("ISC" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its wholly owned Irish subsidiary, Enterprise Registry Solutions Limited ("ERS"), has signed an agreement with the Irish Aviation Authority ("IAA") to implement and support its new Safety Regulation System. ERS will utilize its RegSys product ("RegSys") to provide the platform upon which this innovative system will be built. The total value of the implementation contract is approximately CAD$7 million, with a subsequent agreement expected for system support and maintenance. The new system is expected to go-live in 2021. Jeff Stusek, President & CEO of ISC commented, "We continue to pursue opportunities that will expand the application of our products and solutions to fit a range of new registry and regulatory markets. This agreement with the IAA not only demonstrates the strong capabilities of our technology as a modern and advanced solution for aviation regulatory systems but also the confidence in our team to deliver a world-class product." The IAA's responsibilities include the safety regulation of Irish civil aviation and the oversight of civil aviation security in Ireland. This new system will provide technology for the regulatory functions of the IAA including licensing, registration, aviation security, air navigation regulation and safety management. Once implementation of the new IAA Safety Regulation System is completed, benefits will include improvements in user experience, workflows and back office capabilities. For sales inquiries, please contact: John Murray Director, Business Development & Delivery ERS jmm@ersl.ie +353-1-7917830 About ISC Headquartered in Canada, ISC is the leading provider of registry and information management services for public data and records. Throughout our history, we have delivered value to our clients by providing solutions to manage, secure and administer information through our Registry Operations, Services and Technology Solutions segments. ISC is focused on sustaining its core business while pursuing new growth opportunities. The Class A Shares of ISC trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ISV. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/10/09/1927223/0/en/ERS-Signs- Agreement-With-Irish-Aviation-Authority-to-Deliver-New-Aviation-Safety-Regulation- System.html Back to Top FAA seeks nominees for Women in Aviation Advisory Board The US Federal Aviation Administration on 9 October announced the establishment of an advisory board to find ways to boost the recruitment of women into the aviation industry, nearly four months after a congressional deadline to appoint board members. Encouraging women to join aerospace could be vital to address a potential worldwide pilot shortage, so Congress last October passed the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 that mandated the creation of the Women in Aviation Advisory Board. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao announced the FAA will accept nominations through 29 October for qualified candidates to serve on the board through the Federal Register. The nomination portal is available online. "Our nation is facing a shortage of pilots and aviation professionals; there are great opportunities in this sector, and we want to encourage more women to enter these exciting professions," Chao says in a statement. The board will analyze industry trends and coordinate efforts among airlines, nonprofits and associations to support women pursuing aviation careers. These efforts will include scholarships, mentorship and outreach programs. Convincing students to pursue aerospace careers through STEM fields at a young age will be a challenge, FAA administrator Steve Dickson says in a statement. "We need pilots, mechanics, engineers and many other professionals to enter the aviation profession pipeline, and I look forward to working with the secretary to boost the number of aviation professionals and keep our nation's aviation industry strong and vital," Dickson says. The FAA is also accepting qualified nominations through 30 October to the Youth Access to American Jobs in Aviation Task Force to recommend initiatives encouraging high school students to enter aviation careers. The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 also mandated the creation of that task force. The nomination portal for that task force is availableonline. Women who join the aviation sector have difficulty advancing their careers, making retention a challenge within the industry. It could take decades for women to achieve parity with men in senior executive positions in the aviation industry, according to a FlightGlobal survey in June of carriers and groups that feature in FlightGlobal's top 100 World Airline Rankings by 2018 revenue-passenger-kilometres. Of the 600 senior executive roles surveyed in June - covering CEO, chief financial officer, chief operating officer, chief commercial officer, chief information officer and HR director - some 76, or 13%, were taken by women. This compares with 72, or 12%, at the same point in 2018; and 65, or 11%, at the same point in 2017. The survey showed that across the top 100 airlines, none have a majority of female incumbents in the surveyed positions. Only three airlines achieve a 50:50 split: Air Canada, South African Airways and VietJet Air. https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/faa-seeks-nominees-for-women-in-aviation- advisory-bo-461377/ Back to Top CAAi to support Kazakhstan's adoption of UK aviation regulatory model The Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan (AAK) has awarded a consultancy project to CAA International (CAAi) to support the country's adoption of a UK-based aviation oversight model. AAK was established this August as part of the 100 Concrete Steps national development initiative. The new regulatory system forms part of the initiative's plan to enhance the country's management of its air transport system. CAAi International Development head Mattijs Smith said: "We are delighted to be working with our counterparts in Kazakhstan and our team is fully committed to supporting AAK. It's impressive to see Kazakhstan thinking big and it's exciting for us to play an important part in the ongoing improvement of its air transport sector. "The upgrade of Kazakhstan's regulatory framework will build the solid foundation needed for overseeing this, allowing Kazakhstan to generate more of the socioeconomic benefits aviation brings." The project's first phase is scheduled to begin this month. Over the next twelve months, AAK will receive support from UK CAA regulatory experts on how to include EASA / EU provisions into Kazakhstan's regulatory system. AAK will also receive assistance on its organisational design and Training Needs Analysis of its staff inline with the UK CAA model. The project's second phase will see the development of a five-year strategic and economic sustainability plan. AAK director-general Peter Griffiths said: "AAK will provide control and supervision in such an important area as flight safety. Signing this contract with UK CAAi will support AAK to achieve its goal with high indicators over 80% safety level, as per ICAO standards". https://www.airport-technology.com/news/caai-kazakhstan-aviation-regulations/ Back to Top President Of Largest Flight Attendant Union Wants FAA To Ban E-Cigs Over Battery Fire Concerns MIAMI (CBSMiami) - The president of the largest flight attendant union wants the FAA to ban e-cigarettes from planes because their batteries could be a fire hazard. FAA data from 1991 through this August shows at least 48 e-cigarette related smoke or fire incidents at airports or on planes. That's more incidents than laptops and tablets, cellphones, battery chargers or spare batteries. A FAA test video shows why lithium ion batteries have been banned in check luggage. If a battery fails and enters what's called thermal runway, it can burn so hot the plane's fire suppression system can't put it out. A lithium ion battery fire on a plane can be catastrophic. Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants, said flight attendants have become firefighters on planes, and the FAA needs to do more. "How bout we just not have these e-cigarettes on a plane at all," she said. But Mark Millam with the Flight Safety Foundation said while batteries from e-cigarettes are a great concern on planes, more information is needed before an outright ban makes sense. "A ban could happen when there is the right information that's understood about it," he said. In a statement, the FAA told CBS News it has "clear regulations" on the safe transport of lithium ion batteries, e-cigarettes, vape pens and spare batteries must be transported in carry-on bags, adding "because of the wide variety of battery issues that can occur, it is important that airlines have the flexibility to assess and address the risks involved in each individual situation." The inventors of the lithium battery were just awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry. Flight attendants are trained to handle battery fires. Many planes have fire resistant bags that can hold a smoldering or flaming device. https://miami.cbslocal.com/2019/10/09/flight-attendant-union-president-wants-faa- ban-e-cigs-battery-fire-concerns/ Back to Top UK Bizav Group BBGA Urges More Industry Apprenticeships In an effort to ameliorate the current workforce shortage in the aviation industry, the British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA) is urging the government and private sector to establish more apprenticeship opportunities to attract talent. The organization noted that while the urgent requirement for more pilots is well known, other areas such as aircraft maintenance, air traffic control, and ground and flight operations have positions to fill as the UK faces a demographic cliff edge as baby boomers retire. BBGA plans to work closely with the UK's CAA to steer a path toward training for a global industry. Presenting recently at a "Tomorrow's Workforce" event, the association, which represents more than 180 UK business and general aviation companies, noted that its first priority is to align with Aviation Strategy 2050 and help quantify what the country's workforce will require over the next three decades. With support from the European Business Aviation Association and its Expanding Horizons initiative, BBGA advocates for dedicated aviation centers of excellence throughout the UK, offering aviation services pathways where trainees would receive high-quality, in-house training with assured work placements when they are ready. It pointed to a program established by Stansted Airport College, which in just its second year has enrolled 429 full-time trainees and 52 apprentices. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2019-10-09/uk-bizav- group-bbga-urges-more-industry-apprenticeships Back to Top Embraer conducts first autonomous aircraft test in Brazil Business jet taxis without human interference in tests conducted with Federal University of Espírito Santo (Ufes). Scientific and technological cooperation between Embraer and the Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (Ufes) in the areas of autonomous robotics and artificial intelligence resulted in the first test of an autonomous aircraft in Brazil. The trial, in Gavião Peixoto, in São Paulo state, allowed a prototype aircraft to taxi on its own, moving along a previously established path without human interference. A pilot in the cockpit followed the operation. For the past six months, researchers from Embraer and Ufes have worked together on mathematical and computational models of automation, software development, hardware, laser sensor kit, GPS, and cameras, as well as systems integration into the aircraft. The autonomous land navigation system was tested in a simulator during preliminary assessments prior to actual operation. The integrated artificial intelligence system monitored the aircraft's external and internal conditions, acting independently on the acceleration, steering, and braking commands, and accurately performed the movement along the indicated path. The test aircraft integrated features of the Intelligent Autonomous Robotic Automobile (IARA) system, result of autonomous car research that began in 2009 at the Ufes High Performance Computing Laboratory (LCAD). "Our strategy for technology development in autonomous systems seeks to position the country at the forefront of artificial intelligence processes in a variety of applications", said Daniel Moczydlower, Embraer's executive vice president of engineering and technology. "This success demonstrates the excellence of what we have been developing at Ufes in the last 10 years in the areas of autonomous vehicles and artificial intelligence. It puts us once again at the scientific forefront in these areas worldwide. Doing all this in partnership with Embraer fills us with pride and satisfaction", said Professor Alberto Ferreira de Souza, project coordinator. The partnership with Ufes, in the context of pre-competitive research and development, seeks to accelerate the knowledge of autonomous systems technologies through the implementation of more agile experimentation processes. Embraer's open innovation model and collaboration with dozens of universities and research centers in Brazil aims to increase in the country's competitiveness and the construction of a sustainable future. https://www.aerospacemanufacturinganddesign.com/article/embraer-first-autonomous- aircraft-test-brazil/ Back to Top AAR Testing Drones For Aircraft Inspection In Miami AAR recently started a one-year trial with a Donecle drone, which is part of a bigger digital strategy. AAR is starting a one-year trial using a Donecle drone for aircraft inspections at its Miami facility. This follows demonstrations of various drones this spring and is part of AAR's broader investment in MRO digitization. Because aircraft inspections by drone are not an approved FAA procedure, AAR will spend the next year performing the task by drone and in parallel, by its current manual process, to gather data. Today's process involves putting scaffolding around an aircraft and having 1-2 technicians manually inspect the aircraft and document visible discrepancies, says Rahul Ghai, AAR's chief digital officer. The inspection process typically takes 10-12 hours. He conservatively estimates at least a 50% time savings by using a drone for the same inspection process-plus the safety benefit of technicians not having to climb around an aircraft. Four safety inspectors in Miami have been taught how to use the Donecle drone and inspect the images it generates. AAR selected its Miami facility because of the mixed narrowbody and widebody fleets is services. The MRO is initially going to focus on narrowbody inspections but could expand it to widebodies as the trial progresses, says Ghai. He expects today's manual process that involves a technician filling out a report, which leads to a work card and then a maintenance activity to evolve into one seamless digital workflow in the future-where a "technician with a mobile device could start receiving dynamic work assignments based on the data we are collecting." AAR will be the first customer to operationally use Donecle's drone on the Boeing 737- the drone's previous use cases had been for Airbus aircraft. Because of this, after receiving its first Donecle drone on Oct. 1, it spent the first few days recalibrating it for a mixed fleet of narrowbodies. Donecle says the drone includes its "latest update of our image analysis algorithms, which will assist the inspectors in the detection of defects and damages (including lightning strikes) on the surface of the airframe." Each defect is categorized and pinpointed to a specific place on the aircraft structure. AAR's contract includes 150 scans over the one-year contract. It will start by doing 10- 15 in the first 30 days and then ramp up the number each of the next few months. It has the ability to go beyond 150 scans, if required. "Over the year, if we see good progress, we could add another drone," says Ghai, who thinks that AAR will learn quickly how to proceed over the next 30-90 days. AAR did not disclose the drone's price. The chief digital officer emphasizes that the drone inspections are one part of its investments to make its processes more digital. The bigger picture includes transforming current analog and manual processes and building on what it already has to transform the business. One example is expanding its PAARts store, which generates $25 million in sales in mostly OEM parts-to include used parts as well--which would include adding digital photos and documentation to each part. https://www.mro-network.com/maintenance-repair-overhaul/aar-testing-drones- aircraft-inspection-miami Back to Top Three Space and Aviation Industry Veterans Agree to Join Board of Directors of Virgin Galactic Holdings NEW YORK , Oct. 10, 2019 /CNW/ -- Social Capital Hedosophia Holdings Corp. ("SCH") and Virgin Galactic today announced that Wanda Austin , Craig Kreeger and George Mattson have agreed to join the board of directors of Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. ("VGH"), the company resulting from the pending business combination transaction involving SCH and Virgin Galactic. The board appointments are contingent on approval by SCH's shareholders and the completion of the business combination between SCH and Virgin Galactic. Upon the closing of the business combination transaction and election by the SCH shareholders, VGH's board of directors (the "Board") will consist of eight members, who are expected to bring a wealth of expertise and experience across technology, aviation, space, international markets, operational and financial management. The latest proposed nominees to the Board are: - Wanda Austin , who previously served as the President and CEO of The Aerospace Corporation, the nation's preeminent space mission assurance organization. She currently serves as a board member for Amgen, Chevron Corporation and the Space Foundation. From 2015 to January 2017 , Dr. Austin served on the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. She has also served on the U.S. Human Spaceflight Review Committee from 2009 to 2010 and the NASA Advisory Council from 2005 to 2007 and 2014 to 2017. - Craig Kreeger , who served as CEO of Virgin Atlantic from February 2013 through December 2018 . Prior to his tenure at Virgin Atlantic, Craig spent 27 years at American Airlines where he held a variety of commercial, operational, financial and strategic roles. - George Mattson , who has extensive professional and financial experience as a public company director in the airline industry. He has served as a director for Delta Air Lines, Inc. since October 2012 and on the board of directors of the Air France KLM Group since November 2017 . Prior to this, George spent 18 years in investment banking at Goldman, Sachs & Co. from 1994 to 2012 and served as a Partner and Co-Head of the Global Industrials Group from 2002 to 2012. The other individuals nominated for election to the Board include: Chamath Palihapitiya, current SCH CEO and director, who will serve as the Chairman of the Board; Adam Bain , former COO of Twitter and current SCH director; Evan Lovell , Partner of Virgin Group Holdings Limited; James Ryans , current SCH director and chairman of the audit committee; and George Whitesides , CEO of Virgin Galactic, who will serve as CEO of VGH following the consummation of the business combination. Mr. Whitesides said: "We're delighted to announce that Wanda, George and Craig have agreed to be nominated for election to the Board. I believe they will provide strong leadership, invaluable insight and effective governance at an exciting stage in our development and I look forward to working closely with the Board to continue building our business towards commercial service." Mr. Palihapitiya said: "The addition of Wanda, Craig and George as highly experienced directors should bring significant aerospace, airline and listed company experience to VGH. The board has extensive experience with identifying, investing in and taking advantage of market opportunities. Together we will help ensure that VGH continues to be a market leader and make the right investments to facilitate our growth." About Virgin Galactic Virgin Galactic is a vertically-integrated aerospace company pioneering human spaceflight for private individuals and researchers. It believes the commercial exploration of space represents one of the most exciting and significant technology initiatives of our time. It is embarking on this commercial exploration journey with a mission to put humans into space and return them safely to Earth on a routine, consistent and affordable basis. Using its proprietary and reusable technologies, and supported by a distinctive, Virgin-branded customer experience, it is developing a spaceflight system designed to offer customers a unique, multi-day experience culminating in a spaceflight that includes several minutes of weightlessness and views of Earth from space. It is in the final stages of development, having already completed two crewed flights of its vehicle into space, and anticipates initial commercial launch in 2020. About Social Capital Hedosophia Social Capital Hedosophia Holdings Corp. is a partnership between the investment firms of Social Capital and Hedosophia. SCH unites technologists, entrepreneurs and technology-oriented investors around a shared vision of identifying and investing in innovative and agile technology companies. To learn more about SCH, visit: www.socialcapitalhedosophiaholdings.com. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/three-space-aviation-industry-veterans- 113000346.html Back to Top Boeing reveals target dates for initial Starliner test flights CST-100 Starliner Pad Abort Test Animation If you would like to see more articles like this please support our coverage of the space program by becoming a Spaceflight Now Member. If everyone who enjoys our website helps fund it, we can expand and improve our coverage further. Boeing officials said Wednesday that the company is targeting Dec. 17 for the launch of the first unpiloted orbital test flight of the new Starliner crew capsule from Cape Canaveral on a week-long demonstration mission to the International Space Station, a precursor to a mission with astronauts next year. Meanwhile, engineers in the New Mexico desert are readying a Starliner test vehicle for a pad abort test scheduled for the morning of Nov. 4, local time, during which the crew capsule will demonstrate its ability to escape an emergency on the launch pad, according to industry sources. But officials did not say when the Starliner could be ready to launch with astronauts. The Starliner's first crewed test flight will use a different spacecraft than the one set for launch in December. NASA is counting on its commercial crew contractors - Boeing and SpaceX - to begin ferrying crews to and from the space station. The space agency's final contracted seat to fly a U.S. astronaut to the station on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft launches in March 2020, and returns to Earth next October. NASA has stretched the duration of astronaut stays on the space station this year to buy time for Boeing and SpaceX to finish building and testing their spacecraft. Space agency officials have also approved plans for Boeing's first crewed test flight, originally slated to last a week or two, to extend as long as six months. A similar agreement could be cinched with SpaceX soon. And NASA may have to buy additional Soyuz seats from Russia, despite earlier statements from NASA officials that the unpopular purchases - which cost more than $80 million per seat at last report - were over. John Mulholland, vice president and general manager of Boeing's commercial crew program, said Wednesday that the company has set Dec. 17 as the target launch date for the Starliner's Orbital Flight Test. The mission will take off from Cape Canaveral on top of a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket, dock with the space station two days later, then return to a parachute-assisted, airbag-cushioned landing at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico Dec. 24, assuming it launches on Dec. 17. While the schedules could change - as they often do in the launch business - the new target dates mark the first time Boeing or NASA have provided an updated launch schedule for the Starliner program since April. The schedule for SpaceX's commercial crew program has also not been officially updated in six months. Josh Barrett, a Boeing spokesperson, said Wednesday that preparations for the pad abort at White Sands are going well. "The crew and service modules are mated (for the pad abort)," Barrett said. "They're fueling this week (and) should be going up on the test stand next week, and then preparing for final checkouts for launch." Technicians working inside Boeing's Starliner factory at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida are installing ordnance on the crew module for the Orbital Flight Test this week, according to Barrett. He said teams will then install the heat shield and connect the crew module to the service module, fuel the spacecraft with hypergolic propellants, then transfer the vehicle to pad 41 for lifting atop its Atlas 5 launcher. Stacking of the Atlas 5 rocket inside the Vertical Integration Facility at pad 41 should begin in the next few weeks. The Starliner spacecraft is expected to arrive at the launch pad some time in November. Artist's illustration of a Starliner spacecraft on top of a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket. Credit; United Launch Alliance An update on SpaceX's commercial crew program could come Thursday, when NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine will tour SpaceX's headquarters facility in Hawthorne, California. Bridenstine and Elon Musk, SpaceX's founder and CEO, will speak with reporters following the tour. NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, who are assigned to fly SpaceX's Crew Dragon into orbit on the craft's first piloted test flight, will join Bridenstine and Musk during the media availability Thursday. SpaceX accomplished a pad abort test in 2015, and the company completed its unpiloted Crew Dragon test flight to the space station in March, but the company has run into difficulties since then with the ship's abort system and parachutes. Musk tweeted on Tuesday that the next major Crew Dragon test flight - an in-flight abort demonstration - could launch in late November or early December. During that test, a Crew Dragon capsule will ride a Falcon 9 booster into the sky over NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, then fire its SuperDraco escape engines to propel itself away from the rocket, mimicking a failure scenario on a real launch with astronauts on-board. Before the in-flight abort, the Crew Dragon capsule will test-fire its SuperDraco thrusters on a test stand at Cape Canaveral in the coming weeks, repeating a test series that ended with the explosion of a Crew Dragon test vehicle in April. SpaceX determined that a faulty valve in the spacecraft's propellant pressurization system caused the explosion, which occurred an instant before the capsule was supposed to fire its SuperDraco abort engines for a hold-down test. Musk said SpaceX's integration and test schedule suggests hardware for the Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft that will carry Behnken and Hurley into orbit could be at the Florida launch site, and ground testing could be completed, in about 10 weeks, or as soon as mid-December. It's not known how long NASA safety reviews might take to clear the Crew Dragon's first flight with astronauts for launch, and Musk wrote on Twitter that parachute testing remains a major focus area for SpaceX's crew program. He said SpaceX "had to reallocate some resources" to speed up the parachute development effort. SpaceX has suffered multiple parachute failures, including an accident during a drop test in April over Nevada and a chute failure during the return of a Dragon cargo capsule from the space station in 2018. The Dragon cargo craft that experienced a chute failure was still able to successfully splash down in the Pacific Ocean slowed by its other parachutes. Musk wrote he visited SpaceX's parachute supplier, Airborne Systems, last weekend. Airborne and SpaceX are focusing on an "advanced" parachute design that "provides (the) highest safety factor for astronauts," Musk tweeted. SpaceX's Crew Dragon uses two drogue parachutes and four main ring-sail chutes to slow its speed before splashdown at sea. The parachute system worked as designed during a splashdown in March to conclude an unpiloted Crew Dragon test flight to the station. In an update last month, NASA said that SpaceX has completed 30 drop tests and 18 system-level tests on the Crew Dragon parachutes over the last four years. "One of the most relevant benefits originating from the rigorous, multi-year parachute testing campaign is a better understanding of how to safely design and operate parachute clusters," NASA said. Other human-rated space capsules, such as the Starliner capsule and NASA's Orion spacecraft, rely on three main parachutes. The cargo variant of SpaceX's Dragon capsule also uses three main chutes. But the Crew Dragon spacecraft is significantly heavier than the Dragon capsule currently in service, so SpaceX engineers designed the next-generation craft with four main parachutes similar to the ones flown on cargo missions. "Specifically, NASA and SpaceX now have greater insight into what is termed 'Asymmetry Factor,' an integral part of how safety in design is measured and weighed. This asymmetry factor is an indicator of uneven load distribution between individual suspension lines attached to the parachute canopy," NASA said. "As a cluster of parachutes is deployed, the first parachute to open may crowd or bump others as they open up, causing an uneven load distribution on the main parachutes. If the lines or the joints are not designed to account for the unevenness or asymmetry, they might get damaged or even fail. The April drop test was designed to simulate the Crew Dragon's response to the loss of one of its four main parachutes. But an unexpected parachute failure occurred during the test, which provided engineers with a "unique insight into parachute loading and behavior," NASA said. "The test results have ultimately provided a better understanding of parachute reliability and caused a closer examination of the current industry standard used to calculate the asymmetry factor." NASA said SpaceX is using the new data to calculate structural margins and influence parachute design. SpaceX has completed successful parachute tests since April, including a recent test to simulate the parachutes' performance during a pad abort scenario. https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/10/09/boeing-reveals-target-dates-for-initial- starliner-test-flights/ 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 Back to Top JOIN US! SAFE SKIES FOR ALL: INTRODUCING SPACEFLIGHT INTO OUR SKIES www.alpa.org/safeskies October 31, 2019 | Hyatt Regency Hotel | Washington, D.C The Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l and the Commercial Spaceflight Federation invite you to a dynamic one-day conference as we highlight numerous, ongoing efforts to transform our airspace for the future. Curt Lewis