Flight Safety Information November 1, 2019 - No. 224 In This Issue Australian union says Qantas should ground 737 fleet over cracking issue What Boeing's CEO says may be used against it in the court of law, public opinion American Airlines flight attendants stand up to Boeing CEO on 737 MAX Incident: Omni B763 at Shannon on Oct 31st 2019, rejected takeoff due to engine issue Incident: Virgin Atlantic B744 near London on Oct 31st 2019, engine oil problem Incident: Frontier A321 at Philadelphia on Oct 30th 2019, sealed return Incident: Ibex CRJ7 near Fukuoka on Oct 30th 2019, cracked windshield Beechcraft 58 Baron - Fatal Accident (Florida) Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster - Ground Collision (Hawaii) Eurocopter EC 225LP Super Puma Mk2+ - Accident/Missing (South Korea) Southwest Airlines Needs Almost Half A Year To Return 737 MAX To Service FAA to allow pilots with diabetes to fly commercial jets NTSB chairman questioned on aviation safety 37 countries and areas to take part in aviation summit Bruce Dickinson's aviation company changes its name and opens new facilities Embraer delivers 44 jets in third quarter MRO AMECO OBTAINS EASA APPROVAL FOR 747-8 D-CHECKS American Airlines to hire 165 at Tulsa maintenance facility Inside a multimillion dollar airplane spare part factory Vietnam's VietJet orders 20 Airbus A321XLR aircraft Mitsubishi Aircraft faces more turbulence as it loses 100-jet order Airbus Working to Secure 100-Jet Air Arabia Deal for Dubai Show CABIN CREW FATIGUE RESEARCH PROJECT POSITION AVAILABLE:...Senior Aviation Safety Officer Position Available: Audit Production Manager; Air Carrier MITRE - SMS Course - December 2019 Position: IFR Pilot Australian union says Qantas should ground 737 fleet over cracking issue (CNN Business)The union that represents aircraft maintenance engineers in Australia has urged Qantas to ground its fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft to ensure any structural cracks in the planes are repaired. The US Federal Aviation Administration ordered inspections of Boeing 737 NG, or Next Generation, aircraft in September after the company told the agency that structural cracks had been found on heavily used planes. On Friday, Qantas confirmed that it had pulled three 737 NG planes from service after they "were found to have a hairline crack." "These aircraft have been removed from service for repair," the company said in a statement. The move came just days after the carrier was forced to respond to the matter. On Wednesday, Qantas confirmed it pulled at least one aircraft with 27,000 flight cycles from service after an inspection revealed cracking, and on Thursday the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association said in a statement that a crack had been found in a second Qantas airliner. "These aircraft should be kept safe on the ground until urgent inspections are completed and advice in relation to the ongoing nature of the wing cracks is confirmed by Boeing" and US regulators, union federal secretary Steve Purvinas said in a statement. The cracks in 737 NG planes have been found on what is known as a "pickle fork," a part of the fuselage that helps to attach the wings to the aircraft. The problem was discovered when some used passenger planes were being stripped down for conversion to freighter jets. A Boeing Co. 737-800 aircraft operated by Qantas at Sydney Airport. Boeing (BA) said in a filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission last week that all 737 NG aircraft with over 30,000 flight cycles and a third of those with more than 22,600 cycles had been inspected, and that cracks had been found on a "small percentage" of them. It said that additional assessments are underway to determine the potential implications for younger planes. There are about 6,800 of the 737 NG jets in service around the world. Their model names are the 737-700, 737-800 and 737-900. The Boeing 737 NG is an older version of the company's 737 MAX aircraft. All 737 MAX planes have been grounded since March after two fatal crashes killed 346 crew and passengers, putting the company's safety record under the spotlight. Boeing has new safety problems with an older version of the 737 airplane Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority downplayed the risk to the flying public from issues with the 737 NG. "There is no evidence to suggest that we should be grounding the whole fleet at this point," spokesman Peter Gibson told Australian broadcaster ABC on Thursday. "The problems are being seen during a range of a certain number of cycles - take off and landings - and that is when the inspections are being done," he said. "The inspections don't take long, they take about an hour. So, it's not a huge process to check the aircraft." Chris Snook, head of Qantas Engineering, said the union's comments were "irresponsible" and the airline would "never operate an aircraft unless it was completely safe to do so." Snook added that required inspections on all 737 NG aircraft would be completed by Friday. "Even when a crack is present, it does not immediately compromise the safety of the aircraft," he said. Boeing said in a statement earlier this month that safety and quality are its top priorities. "Boeing regrets the impact this issue is having on our customers worldwide," said the aircraft maker. "We are working around the clock to provide the support needed to return all airplanes to service as soon as possible." https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/31/business/qantas-australia-union-737-scli- intl/index.html Back to Top What Boeing's CEO says may be used against it in the court of law, public opinion Largely characterized as political theater, Congressional hearings currently underway still pose risks for Boeing (BA) - and its embattled CEO Dennis Mulienburg as the company tries to fend off civil litigation from passengers, customers and pilots. The aerospace giant has been under pressure from all sides since two fatal crashes of the company's flagship 737 Max jet. Amid ongoing probes of the two disasters, an investigation by the Department of Justice and growing questions about Boeing's relationship with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), experts say Muilenberg's words to Congress could easily come back to haunt the company. "The potential liability to Boeing is crushing, and what he says are potential admissions that can be used in litigation," Arthur Rosenberg, an aviation attorney who is representing families whose relatives died in the Ethiopian Airlines and Lion Air crashes, told Yahoo Finance. In two-day hearings, lawmakers seized their first opportunity to directly question Mulienburg about the two disasters. Senators on Tuesday learned that the CEO knew of a 2016 text sent from Boeing's then chief technical pilot to another Boeing pilot - before the second crash occurred - about MCAS, the computer system at the heart of global investigations into both accidents. Clash over a troubled system Boeing Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg sits in front of family members holding photographs of Boeing 737 MAX crash victims from two deadly 737 MAX crashes that killed 346 people as Muilenburg waits to testify before a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing on "aviation safety" and the grounded 737 MAX on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., October 29, 2019. REUTERS/Sarah Silbiger Shortly after takeoff from Jakarta, Indonesia on October 29, Lion Air Flight 610 crashed into the Java Sea. Meanwhile, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa on March 10 - which prompted the FAA to ground the MAX on March 13. Since then, Muilenburg has been under pressure, while Boeing has taken a staggering financial hit of $9.2 billion connected to the worldwide grounding. Another legally sensitive issue raised at Boeing's Senate committee hearing included a recently revealed 2016 email exchange that suggested the former chief technical pilot, Mark Forkner, had inadvertently lied to regulators about MCAS' impact. Other pertinent questions included why Boeing ultimately left out the existence of MCAS from the aircraft's manual, and why the Max was equipped with fewer fail safe features than Boeing had installed on a military aircraft with an MCAS system. Also, lawmakers are pressing Boeing on its evaluation of the hazard level posed by its single angle of attack (AOA), a sensor designed to work in concert with MCAS. In an exhibit displayed during the hearing, Texas Republican Ted Cruz read through one of the written communications from Forkner. The message said that the MCAS was "running rampant in the [simulated environment]." Forkner was the FAA's main point of contact at Boeing involved in evaluating the Max aircraft for certification, which Boeing was still testing in 2016 and which was certified as airworthy in 2017. Muilenburg, however, insisted that he "didn't see the details of Forkner's exchanges until recently," he told senators. "And we're not quite sure what Mr. Porter meant by that exchange - his lawyer has suggested he was talking about a simulator." Muilenburg said that he only became aware of Forkner's text when it was produced in February in response to the federal government's request for documents. Cruz suggested that the Ethiopian Airlines disaster in March may have been averted had Boeing's executives acted upon the information contained in the text or emails. "How did you not, in February, set out a nine alarm fire to say we need to figure out exactly what happened?" Sen. Cruz asked Muilenberg - who subsequently stated that he "counted on our team to make sure all the right authorities were notified." John Hamilton, Boeing's chief engineer of commercial airplanes, has acknowledged that Boeing assigned an insubstantial hazard level to the MCAS system with respect to the AOA alert that he said had not been specifically tested for reliability. And in a lawsuit, the Southwest Airlines Pilots' union argued that MCAS should have been categorized as a catastrophic failure risk, rather than a major failure risk. Alan Diehl, a former cockpit designer, NTSB investigator, and FAA Human Performance Program Scientist, agreed, telling Yahoo Finance that "obviously we've got 346 dead people. That says, no, it should have been classified as catastrophic, and the FAA should have caught this. He added: "The System Safety Analysis that Boeing did was inadequate and misleading, in my opinion." https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/what-boeing-ceo-says-to-congress-may-come- back-to-haunt-the-company-183454539.html Back to Top American Airlines flight attendants stand up to Boeing CEO on 737 MAX An American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 flight approaches for landing at Reagan National Airport in Washington CHICAGO (Reuters) - American Airlines' flight attendants union still has safety concerns about the Boeing 737 MAX and is demanding an active role in the relaunch of the grounded aircraft, its president told Boeing Co's chief executive in a letter seen by Reuters. "The 28,000 flight attendants working for American Airlines refuse to walk onto a plane that may not be safe and are calling for the highest possible safety standards to avoid another tragedy," Association of Professional Flight Attendants President Lori Bassani said in the letter. The letter, dated Oct. 30, followed two days of congressional hearings in Washington during which lawmakers grilled Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg about the development of the 737 MAX following two crashes that killed 346 people and led to the aircraft's worldwide grounding in March. American Airlines Group is the second largest U.S. operator of the 737 MAX, with 24 jets in its fleet at the time of the grounding and dozens more on order. Bassani told Muilenburg that the hearings show breakdowns in supervision of the 737 MAX and raise questions about the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) resources for oversight. Bassani was in Washington on Wednesday meeting with dozens of elected officials. According to the letter, she wants to make sure her group has all the information needed to assess the safety of sending her crews back to work once the aircraft receives FAA approval. Boeing spokesman Gordon Johndroe in an emailed statement said Muilenburg had received the letter and will be responding soon. "We are committed to providing flight attendants, pilots and our airline customers the information they need so we can re-earn their trust and that of the traveling public that counts on them," Johndroe said. Pilot and flight attendant unions are expected to play a role in airlines' efforts to win over public sentiment on the aircraft. Boeing has said it expects a 737 MAX return to service in the current quarter. American Airlines has removed the 737 MAX from its flying schedule until Jan. 16. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/american-airlines-flight-attendants-voice- 194706761.html Back to Top Incident: Omni B763 at Shannon on Oct 31st 2019, rejected takeoff due to engine issue An Omni Air International Boeing 767-300, registration N351AX performing flight OY-5396 from Shannon (Ireland) to an unknown destination, was accelerating for takeoff from runway 06 when the crew rejected takeoff and advised they needed to return to the apron due to a maintenance problem. Tower queried "an engine issue" which the crew affirmed. The aircraft is still on the ground about 8 hours later. The aircraft had been in Shannon for maintenance since Oct 24th 2019 and had undergone engine test runs earlier the day. The aircraft turning off the runway (Photo: AVH/PF): http://avherald.com/h?article=4ceac2ea&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Virgin Atlantic B744 near London on Oct 31st 2019, engine oil problem A Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747-400, registration G-VROS performing flight VS-16 (dep Oct 30th) from Orlando,FL (USA) to London Gatwick,EN (UK), was descending towards London when the crew observed dropping oil quantity for the left inboard hand engine (CF6), reduced the engine to idle and continued for a safe landing on Gatwick's runway 08R with emergency services on stand by. A ground observer reported the aircraft vacated the runway, stopped on taxiway P and was inspected by emergency services, who advised they could not see any leaks from the aircraft. The aircraft subsequently taxied to the apron with emergency services in trail. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Gatwick about 14 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ceabf8d&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Frontier A321 at Philadelphia on Oct 30th 2019, sealed return A Frontier Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration N709FR performing flight F9-108 from Philadelphia,PA (USA) to San Juan (Puerto Rico), was climbing out of Philadelphia when the cabin didn't pressurize normally prompting the crew to stop the climb at FL240 and decide to return to Phiadelphia. The aircraft entered a hold to burn off fuel and landed safely back on Philadelphia's runway 27R about 70 minutes after departure. The seal of door 1L was found damaged by a faulty auto leveller at the jetway. The occurrence aircraft returned to service about 13 hours after landing back. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/FFT108/history/20191031/0144Z/KPHL/TJSJ http://avherald.com/h?article=4ceaba48&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Ibex CRJ7 near Fukuoka on Oct 30th 2019, cracked windshield An Ibex Airlines Canadair CRJ-700, registration JA11RJ performing flight FW-16 from Sendai to Fukuoka (Japan) with 70 passengers and 4 crew, was enroute at FL340 about 150nm northeast of Fukuoka when one of the windshields cracked. The crew initiated an early descent to 10,000 feet levelling off at 10,000 feet about 14 minutes after leaving FL340, and continued to Fukuoka for a safe landing. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground about 36 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ceab25b&opt=0 Back to Top Beechcraft 58 Baron - Fatal Accident (Florida) Date: 31-OCT-2019 Time: 11:31 EDT Type: Beechcraft 58 Baron Owner/operator: Caribbian World Resorts Ltd Registration: N959CM C/n / msn: TH-1792 Fatalities: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: East of Ocala-Taylor Field (OCF/KOCF), Ocala, FL - United States of America Phase: Landing Nature: Test Departure airport: Ocala-Taylor Field, FL (OCF/KOCF) Destination airport: Ocala-Taylor Field, FL (OCF/KOCF) Narrative: A Beechcraft 58 Baron struck an occupied motor vehicle and impacted roadway terrian during a force landing near Ocala-Taylor Field (OCF/KOCF), Ocala, Florida, as it tried to return due to a mechanical isssue during a maintenance flight. The aircraft was consumed by the post crash fire and the two occupants onboard sustained fatal injures. An occupant onboard the vehicle was injured. Emergency crews responding to plane crash in Ocala https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/230310 Back to Top Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster - Ground Collision (Hawaii) Date: 31-OCT-2019 Time: 13:00 Type: Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster Owner/operator: FedEx Registration: N926FE C/n / msn: 208B0026 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Minor Location: Honolulu-Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL/PHNL) (PHNL), Hon - United States of America Phase: Taxi Nature: Cargo Departure airport: Honolulu-Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, HI (HNL/PHNL) Destination airport: Lihue Airport (LIH/PLHI) Narrative: FedEx flight FDX8974, a Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster, operating a cargo flight from Honolulu-Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL/PHNL) to Lihue Airport (LIH/PLHI), Hawaii, sustained minor damage when it struck a George's Aviation Services Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP, N274MM, with two POB, at Honolulu-Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, HI (HNL/PHNL), Honolulu, Hawaii. There were no injures. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/230323 Back to Top Eurocopter EC 225LP Super Puma Mk2+ - Accident/Missing (South Korea) Date: 31-OCT-2019 Time: c. 23:30 LT Type: Eurocopter EC 225LP Super Puma Mk2+ Owner/operator: Gyeongbuk Fire Service Registration: C/n / msn: Fatalities: Fatalities: / Occupants: 7 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Aircraft missing Location: Sea of Japan - South Korea Phase: En route Nature: Ambulance Departure airport: Dokdo Destination airport: Narrative: A helicopter with seven people aboard crashed into the sea near a pair of island disputed with Japan (called Takeshima in Japan and Dokdo in South Korea). The helicopter had picked up an injured crab fisherman. The aircraft departed at c 23:30 local time. On board were two pilots, three fire department responders, the patient and a friend. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/230316 Back to Top Southwest Airlines Needs Almost Half A Year To Return 737 MAX To Service Southwest Airlines has said that it will need nearly half a year to get all its Boeing 737 MAX aircraft back in operation. The airline is currently awaiting the recertification of the aircraft from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Southwest expects five months to reintegrate its grounded MAX aircraft. Photo: Southwest Airlines The timeline for the relaunch This timeline was noted in the Q3 2019 earnings call held by Southwest executives. The plan for relaunch covers not only the reintroduction of the aircraft to a normal schedule but also new processes for staff. The airline said that it would need time to train its pilots on the aircraft as well as update its manuals after airworthiness is granted. This is a process that could take between 30 and 40 days. In terms of reintroducing the aircraft, the airline has a lot to consider. It's taking into account the undelivered MAX aircraft it has on order from Boeing as well as its current grounded fleet. Southwest Airlines said it will need between two and four months to reintroduce all these aircraft. It has 34 aircraft currently grounded and is expecting 41 more from Boeing. American, United Airlines Push Boeing Max Return to at Least December In a transcript from the Earnings call, Chief Operating Officer Michael G. Van de Ven said; "...that gives us 75 aircraft of backlog to ingest into the fleet when the grounding is lifted. We believe that we can manage that at a rate of about 5 to 10 airplanes per week, which if you do the math implied to two to four months before all of our 2019 and prior MAX aircraft are back into operational service." Why will it take so long? Despite airlines being eager to return the MAX to service, the process takes a long time. There will be extensive work needed on individual aircraft as well as intricate jostling of flight schedules. When aircraft have experienced extended downtime, there is maintenance that needs to happen to ensure that they are safe to operate. And then there's the scheduling. Often schedules are planned months in advance, so it's not as simple as slotting an aircraft back in where it left off. If that plane flies internationally, other individual countries and aviation authorities will also need to approve the aircraft to allow them to fly in their airspace. The process for reintegration is lengthy but Southwest hopes to launch in February. Photo: Southwest Airlines When will Southwest's aircraft fly? At the moment, Southwest is working with the expectation that the grounding will be lifted in mid-December. It said that Boeing had reassured the airline that it was aiming to return the MAX to service in the fourth quarter of 2019. Southwest hopes to operate the aircraft from 8th February 2020. In addition, Southwest's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer was able to share some good news about the fleet. She said that Boeing has now promised the airline a delivery of seven MAX aircraft by the end of this year. Southwest expected to see all 41 deliveries taken by that time, but these have now been pushed to 2020. Therefore, Southwest will see the remaining 34 new aircraft from this year's order delivered next year. After that, Southwest will be able to retire some of its other Boeing types. Fleet renovation 2020 will be a big year for Southwest in terms of aircraft acquisition. Tammy Romo, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, said that 72 new Boeing aircraft will be delivered. With so many deliveries, Southwest will be able to retire some of its fleet. In 2020, 72 MAX aircraft will be delivered. Photo: Southwest Airlines It's currently working to prevent an aircraft deficit in light of the grounding and lack of deliveries. It's already postponed the retirement of seven 737-700 aircraft. But Southwest is hopeful for the next deliveries. It says that at the end of the year it will expect to retire those -700s. That will bring the number of total retired aircraft to 18. With seven new deliveries expected before the year is out, Southwest predicts its fleet to be 749 strong by the end of 2019. If all goes well. https://simpleflying.com/southwest-737-max-return-timeline/ Back to Top FAA to allow pilots with diabetes to fly commercial jets The first copy for test of the 200 medium-haul Airbus A320neo passenger plane leaves its hangar on July 1, at the Airbus plant in Saint-Martin-du-Touch, near Toulouse, southern France. AFP PHOTO ERIC CABANIS (CNN)The Federal Aviation Administration is set to allow pilots with insulin-treated diabetes to apply to fly commercial airliners, according to a Department of Transportation official who spoke with CNN. The new protocol, which could be announced as early as next week, will allow pilots with insulin-treated diabetes to apply for a first- or second-class medical certificate, which is required to fly commercially. Since 1996, pilots with insulin-treated diabetes have been allowed to act as pilot-in- command of an airplane in the United States, but only on private flights. They could not act as pilots on airliners or other commercial flights. The FAA maintained this position even as countries like the United Kingdom and Canada gradually allowed pilots with diabetes to fly commercially, provided there was a second pilot in the cockpit. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, which supported the change, applauded the forthcoming decision. "Many private pilots who are insulin dependent have been flying safely since 1996. With medical advancements, such as continuous glucose monitoring along with proper protocols, the FAA's impending proposal should help many highly qualified pilots fly commercially," said Jim Coon, the group's senior vice president of government affairs. The concern was that a pilot with diabetes may suffer an episode of high or low blood sugar in flight, which could potentially lead to an emergency situation if the pilot passes out or loses control of the aircraft. Episodes of low blood sugar, known as hypoglycemia, are particularly dangerous. For that reason, the FAA deemed it too risky to allow pilots with insulin-treated diabetes to control a commercial aircraft. "A hypoglycemic event, which can result in impaired cognitive function, seizures, unconsciousness, and even death, that occurs in the cockpit of a commercial flight has the potential to place the safety of hundreds of individuals in jeopardy," the FAA wrote in a court filing in early-October, in a lawsuit brought by a pilot looking to ease the rules on medical certification. Pilots with diabetes that does not require insulin treatment are at a substantially lower risk of severe episodes of low blood sugar. But advances in the treatment of diabetes and the management of blood sugars have mitigated that risk, the FAA stated in the court filing on October 7. "Recent advances in technology and diabetes medical science have allowed the FAA to develop an evidence- based protocol that can both identify a subset of low-risk applicants whose glycemic stability is sufficiently controlled and also ensure these pilots can safely maintain diabetic control for the duration of a commercial flight," wrote the Federal Air Surgeon, Michael Berry. Continuous glucose monitors that constantly monitor blood sugar are now readily available, while improvements in insulin pumps have made the delivery of insulin easier and more reliable, among other options. The FAA declined to comment. Pilots with insulin-treated diabetes interested in applying for first- and second-class medical certificates will have to provide a comprehensive medical background and show a history of managing blood sugars effectively. If approved, the pilots will be given a special-issuance medical certificate. "Blanket bans based on diagnosis alone are never appropriate, even in safety sensitive positions," said the American Diabetes Association in a statement provided to CNN. "Not all persons with diabetes are fit to pilot a commercial aircraft, but certainly some are, and they should be afforded individual assessment of their medical condition and qualifications." The Air Line Pilots Association, the largest airline pilot union in the world, said the decision was long overdue. "ALPA is pleased that the FAA will be implementing this long-overdue policy change that will allow pilots who are insulin dependent to continue their airline careers," the union said in a statement to CNN. "ALPA has been advocating for years for the FAA to join the global community in revising their career ending position that pilots who are diagnosed with [insulin-treated] diabetes cannot continue to hold their first class medical certificate." https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/31/politics/faa-pilots-diabetes/index.html Back to Top NTSB chairman questioned on aviation safety The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation recently questioned Robert Sumwalt, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) chairman, on aviation safety and automated systems in commercial airplanes. The NTSB released seven safety recommendations in September related to two Boeing 737 MAX crashes; the U.S. Department of Transportation's Office of Inspector General released recommendations in 2016 designed to help airlines and aerospace manufacturers address the growing reliance of automation in commercial aircraft; and the International Civil Aviation Organization recommended in 2013 that civil aviation authorities require aerospace manufacturers to adopt safety management systems to identify and control risks. Legislation introduced by Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the committee's ranking member, Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) would implement the agency's recommendations. "We issued these seven recommendations a month ago because we did identify holes in the design certification process," Sumwalt said. "We found that, when pilots are faced with multiple alerts, they're not performing or reacting in the way that Boeing thought that they would react when they developed their design assumptions." There are many benefits to safety management systems in transportation, Sumwalt said, and it would be a good idea for manufacturers to have a safety management system in place. https://transportationtodaynews.com/news/15885-ntsb-chairman-questioned-on- aviation-safety/ Back to Top 37 countries and areas to take part in aviation summit More than 350 representatives from 37 countries and areas are to attend the 72nd International Aviation Safety Summit (IASS), which opens on Monday in Taipei. This is the first time that the nation is hosting the summit, which is jointly organized by the nation's China Aviation Development Foundation and the US' Flight Safety Foundation (FSF). The summit is a vital global event for civil aviation industry representatives to exchange views on some of the urgent air safety issues facing the industry since 1947. Taiwan last year received the right to host the event. Deputy Minister of Transportation and Communications and foundation chairman Wang Kwo-tsai (???) said that the 350 participants represent 138 government and non- governmental agencies - from the US Federal Aviation Administration and NASA, to aircraft manufacturers, parts suppliers, airline executives and airport companies. Among the participating countries and areas, 14 are sending representatives of government agencies. Aside from Taiwan, they are: France, Japan, the US, Australia, the EU, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Turkey, Belize, Paraguay, Borneo, and St Kitts and Nevis. Beijing is not sending an official representative, nor would Hong Kong's Cathay Dragon and Cathay Pacific Airways, Wang said. However, GE China and Hong Kong-based Bellawings Jet are sending company executives who are Chinese nationals to the summit, he said. "Aviation safety and politics should be treated as separate matters. All countries around the world should not miss any opportunities to share their experiences in handling aviation safety issues," Wang said. "We hope the summit will be an opportunity for the world to see Taiwan, particularly our efforts in enhancing flight safety. It will also allow more people to know about Taiwan and realize that the nation should not be excluded from participating in the International Civil Aviation Organization" (ICAO), he added. Taiwan was not invited to this year's ICAO Assembly due to objections from Beijing. EVA Airways chief executive vice president Danny Ho (???), a member of FSF's board of governors since 2016, said that China Airlines and EVA would present the results of their research into aviation safety issues during the summit. EVA would show how it takes into account the generation gap in its training of pilots, while China Airlines would showcase its efforts to apply artificial intelligence to flight data analyses. EVA has also developed a flight operations risk assessment system mobile app, with an iOS version available for download, Ho said. The summit would hold discussions about uncrewed aerial vehicle safety and how they affect aviation safety, the foundation said, adding that it is expected to be a popular topic at the summit as the nation is set to implement regulations governing drone management on March 31. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2019/11/01/2003725050 Back to Top Bruce Dickinson's aviation company changes its name and opens new facilities The aviation firm chaired by Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson has confirmed major expansion plans Bruce Dickinson onstage Cardiff Aviation, the company chaired by Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson, has changed its name to Caerdav and announced major expansion plans. The business, which provides maintenance, repair and and training services for airlines including Atlanta Icelandic, the Royal Malaysian Air Force and British International Helicopters, is to build a training centre in the Vale of Glamorgan in Wales. Caerdav are also constructing a new aircraft paint hangar, enabling the company to provide paint airline livery on craft up to the size of a Boeing 767. "There are people who'll tell you it's just like spraying a BMW," says Dickinson. "It's not just like spraying a BMW. You need people who really know what they're doing. You need the right facilities." Caerdav's Bruce Dickinson Talks New Paint Capabilities "With MOBH Group's backing, we aim to create Europe's most advanced flight training centre, while expanding our outstanding independent aircraft maintenance operations," said Caerdav chief executive Joachim Jones. "This is a hugely exciting opportunity for growth and underlines how our team's commitment and hard work has led to this being the best year in the company's history - with 2020 now looking even brighter." Caerdav's facilities include a 6,000ft runway three miles from Cardiff International airport, and pilot training facilities that include two Sikorsky S61 helicopter simulators and two Boeing 747-400 simulators. https://www.loudersound.com/news/bruce-dickinsons-aviation-company-changes-its- name-and-opens-new-facilities Back to Top Embraer delivers 44 jets in third quarter Brazilian planemaker Embraer says it delivered 44 aircraft in the third quarter of 2019, including its first new flagship E195-E2, to launch customer Azul, bringing total deliveries in 2019 to 117 aircraft. Of the 44 aircraft, 17 were commercial jets and 27 were executive jets, Embraer says in a statement on 31 October. The company's backlog at the end of the quarter was $16.2 billion. The airframer delivered its first E195-E2, the second E2 variant to hit the market, to launch customer Azul during the quarter. Azul has placed an order for 51 aircraft of this type and will receive five more by the end of the year. Also during the third quarter, SkyWest Airlines ordered seven E175 regional jets for operation with Delta Air Lines, in a 70-seat configuration, Embraer adds. Deliveries are expected to commence before the end of 2019. In the executive jets segment, Flexjet affirmed its commitment to its long-term supplier at this year's NBAA business jet show in mid-October, by placing a $1.4 billion order for 64 Phenom 300Es, Praetor 500 and 600 business jets. The deal clears the way for Flexjet to become the fleet launch customer for the midsize- category Praetor pair, which were launched at NBAA a year ago. Deliveries are set to start in early November with the handover of the first Praetor 500. The Praetor 500 received regulatory certification from Brazil's ANAC, the Federal Aviation Administration and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency EASA. Embraer adds that it delivered a Praetor 600 to its first Brazilian customer during the quarter. https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/embraer-delivers-44-jets-in-third-quarter- 461937/ Back to Top MRO AMECO OBTAINS EASA APPROVAL FOR 747-8 D-CHECKS Ameco obtains EASA approval for 747-8 D-checks Chinese MRO firm Ameco will conduct the world's first D-check on a passenger Boeing 747-8, after clinching approval from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The company states it received the EASA approval in August this year, and will perform the first heavy maintenance checks on a Lufthansa 747-8. Ameco adds that the approval also gives it the green light to expand heavy maintenance works on the 747-8s to foreign customers. Prior to that, it had conducted a series of C-checks on Air China's fleet of 747-8 passenger aircraft, after acquiring the capability to provide airframe overhaul services for the type in 2015. The MRO firm completed the first D-check on a 747-8 freighter in 2018, after gaining approval from Chinese aviation authorities. Ameco's parent companies - Air China and Lufthansa - both operate 747-8s in their fleet. Cirium fleets data indicates Air China operates seven aircraft, while Lufthansa has 19 in its fleet. https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/ameco-obtains-easa-approval-for-747-8-d- checks-461944/ Back to Top American Airlines to hire 165 at Tulsa maintenance facility More than 5,000 people work at the facility considered the world's largest. American Airlines' Tulsa base employs more than 5,000 workers. American Airlines says it plans to hire 165 new aviation maintenance technicians and support staff at its aircraft maintenance facility in Tulsa. The new workers will be primarily Federal Aviation Administration-licensed mechanics who will focus on interior modifications to Boeing 737-800 and Airbus A321 aircraft. The workers are in addition to 400 new jobs announced in August that American says are needed to keep up with the maintenance base's growing workload. Erik Olund, managing director of base maintenance for American, says the company expects to hire half of the new positions by the end of 2019 and the remainder by Feb. 1. More than 5,000 people are employed at American's maintenance facility in Tulsa, which the airline says is the world's largest commercial aircraft maintenance facility. https://www.dallasnews.com/business/airlines/2019/10/31/american-airlines-to-hire- 165-at-tulsa-maintenance-facility/ Back to Top Inside a multimillion dollar airplane spare part factory Inside an airplane spare parts factory: AJW Group is an aviation company that supplies spare parts to some 6,000 aircraft across the world. Courtesy AJW Group Slinfold, England (CNN) - We've all been there: you board your flight and get settled in, only to find out there's an issue with the airplane and you've got to wait until the new part arrives before you can jet off. Eventually, the airplane's ready to go, albeit about an hour later than planned. But what went on behind the scenes while you were clock-watching and waiting for take off? AJW Group is an aviation company responsible for supplying spare parts to some 6,000 aircraft across the world, servicing operators from budget airline EasyJet to business jet manufacturer Bombardier. CNN Travel was given a recent tour of AJW's UK headquarters to see what it's like inside an airplane spare part factory. Once a small operation run out of a modest warehouse near Gatwick Airport, south of London, AJW is now a multimillion dollar business, with thousands of spare parts ready to spring into action. It receives 155,000 import and export orders a year -- and the CEO has a helicopter on the roof. AJW Group's UK headquarters is situated near Gatwick Airport. Courtesy AJW Group Inside AJW's sprawling UK headquarters, situated just outside the unassuming English village of Slinfold, is a giant warehouse housing everything you'll ever need on an airplane. Literally, everything -- from toilet cleaner to airplane seats and seatbelts, tires -- and, soberingly, airplane flight recorders, the "black boxes" that are used by investigators to determine the cause of air crashes. In an adjacent glass office building, president and CEO Christopher Whiteside, an aviation expert who took over AJW 15 years ago, explains how the company operates. "We own and manage the assets primarily, really any spares -- from a seal or a filament to an engine -- and we move that stuff around," he tells CNN Travel. "We hold it in dedicated warehouses, or we move it around the global network and we also repair that material." Whiteside uses an example -- imagine there's an A320 at Gatwick with a reported technical problem. Airplanes can fly in various states of disrepair, but if the technical fault has deemed the aircraft not airworthy, something has to be done ASAP. The first step is the pilot identifying the problem and communicating the issue with the on-ground team. It might be the airline has a spare on hand and the engineer can fit it, in which case the issue is resolved on site. "If they don't have one, they'll call one up from somebody like us," says Whiteside. "We have literally millions of spare parts and, and hundreds of millions of dollars worth of value in this material -- located everywhere from Buenos Aires to Birmingham to Hong Kong." Airlines will be keen to get the problem solved quick. It's not just an inconvenience for customers, an AOG sitting unmoving could cost the airline thousands of dollars an hour. "The numbers are enormous," says Whiteside. Over in the warehouse, Andy Smith, group operations director, demonstrates how this works in real time. "We receive about 1,000 shipments a day," says Smith, who, back when he joined AJW in 1986, was the company's eighth employee. "So it could be anything from something we purchased, something that we sent out for repair that's coming back, it could be something that is coming in for repair." Arrivals are unloaded by courier in a secure area, then logged by AJW workers and put into stock. If it's a used item that needs repairing, it'll be fixed -- quickly if stock levels are low, later if there's no urgent demand. The exception to that rule is the extensive work that AJW does for EasyJet. The European budget airline owns all its own stock, so it's not up to AJW to decide whether or not it goes out for repair. The vast, sprawling warehouse is full of airplane spare parts. Courtesy AJW Group Each part, no matter how big or small, arrives with an airworthiness certificate and other paperwork. It gets taken apart and reassembled in the workshop, with every move taken carefully documented. An internal system keeps track of everything from purchasing, repair, management, accounting, and stock control. This database also lets Smith and his team know the status of the aircraft awaiting the spare part. "It could be to Gatwick, it could be to Russia," says Smith. "[The system] will give us a time remaining clock on the right hand side -- but an AOG from the point of order from the customer to ready for shipment, the KPI is 45 minutes -- it has to be out here as quickly as possible. It's busy all year round, says Smith. In the summer, it's all about keeping EasyJet airplanes in the air. In the winter, they're doing all the off-season maintenance. "I would say there is always about 200 fix slips on there constantly," he says, gesturing at the computer screens in the warehouse. "24 hours, 365 days a year. It just doesn't stop." Due diligence AJW's workers handle dangerous goods regularly, and have the appropriate training. They also have to consider a part's provenance, and where it might be going next. "If someone buys a part from you, you have to do your due diligence about where and what they're doing with that part. You can't just give it to them and go, 'Well, it's not my problem,'" explains Smith. The company always asks for aircraft registration, he says. Smith shows CNN an airplane "black box." It's not black, but bright orange. When an aircraft crashes, this equipment is what investigators are looking for. It'll give them an insight into what went wrong. Once a part is ready to be shipped back to the aircraft, it's sent off by courier with a tracking device so everyone can see where it is. Overall, it's a very manual process. Smith says that while there could be advantages of the warehouse operating in a manner more akin to online shopping juggernaut Amazon, the nature of the goods AJW is processing would make that tricky. "It's the quality, it's the paperwork, the process of inspecting the parcel," says Smith. "And also, it's about the money you're dealing with. You can't just get a part in here and put it on a shelf without looking at it." Still, in the three decades he's been with the company, Smith's still seen technology transform AJW's process. Plus, he notes, the world of aviation is constantly changing and growing. It's a pretty manual process. Courtesy AJW Group Whiteside echos this sentiment. Back in the day, he says, air crew would have to manually check that all items were on board, in the right place and functioning correctly. Nowawadays, an RFID scanner allows staff to walk through the aircraft and detect when items such as oxygen masks are due to expire. "That technology is an enabler to make sure the whole aircraft can be scanned wirelessly to tell you what the shelf life is on your items," he explains. As for the aviation industry more generally, Whiteside says it's on the up. His view -- not surprising for someone who pilots his own helicopter -- is that even if people might be more environmentally conscious, they're always going to want to fly. "The aircraft have become lighter, more fuel efficient. They go further, and so on. And the fact is that people are going to want to get to Peru via air," he says. https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/airplane-spare-parts-ajw-group-england/index.html Back to Top Vietnam's VietJet orders 20 Airbus A321XLR aircraft Industry sources said VietJet would be among the first to put the XLR into service [Kham/Reuters] VietJet Aviation has ordered 20 Airbus long-range A321XLR aircraft that the budget carrier hopes will support its international expansion as Vietnam's aviation market heats up. VietJet expects the first aircraft to be delivered in 2023, it said in a statement on Thursday, adding that it will be the "first carrier in the world" to operate the new long- range version of the single-aisle A320neo family jets. Industry sources said VietJet would be among the first to put the XLR into service. Vietnam's largest conglomerate in August applied to launch an airline next year, intensifying competition in one of the fastest-growing aviation markets. The sector includes Vietnam Airlines, Jetstar Pacific Airlines, and Vietnam Air Services Co. The airline also signed a separate agreement in Toulouse, France, for two A320/A321 aircraft simulators. VietJet's order book for Airbus aircraft now totals 186, the airline said. In September, Reuters reported that Airbus sold 15 A321XLR jets to VietJet. Airbus on Thursday confirmed that VietJet had placed a new order for 15 XLR and said another five would be converted to the new jet from the A321neo model. VietJet CEO Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao said Thursday's order will "modernise VietJet's fleet as we look to strongly grow our international flight network." The airline currently flies to destinations including Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, China, and India. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/vietnam-vietjet-orders-20-airbus-a321xlr- aircraft-191031214948179.html Back to Top Mitsubishi Aircraft faces more turbulence as it loses 100-jet order Size restrictions continue to hamper SpaceJet in US market U.S. size restrictions have led to the cancellation of an of order of up to 100 SpaceJets by Trans States Holdings. TOKYO -- Mitsubishi Aircraft has lost a contract with an American company for up to 100 of its SpaceJet regional passenger planes, the Japanese company said Thursday, as seat limits in the U.S., its largest market, continue to hinder its plans for the long-delayed project. Trans States Holdings, a holding company for three regional carriers, had ordered 50 of the 90-seat SpaceJet M90s, with an option for 50 more. This was Mitsubishi Aircraft's second-largest order, and its termination cuts the company's M90 orders, including options, by a quarter to 307. This marks yet another setback for the trouble-plagued project, now running six years behind schedule, and makes it that much harder for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to quickly recoup the more than 600 billion yen ($5.5 billion) it has already invested in its ambition to build Japan's first homegrown passenger jet. The M90 "does not meet the requirements of the United States market," Mitsubishi Aircraft said Thursday. In the U.S., contracts between carriers and pilots limit the number of seats on planes flying regional routes to 76 at most. Mitsubishi Heavy began developing the 90-seat jet in 2008 under the assumption that these so-called scope clauses would be relaxed, but this has yet to happen. This issue also factored into U.S.-based Eastern Air Lines canceling an order for up to 40 jets in January 2018. Mitsubishi Aircraft began pivoting to a smaller 70-seat-class model this year. Future discussions with Trans States will focus on this variant, the company said. Repeated delivery delays have also hurt the project. Mitsubishi Aircraft initially planned to start getting the jets to customers in 2013, but the target has been pushed back five times. The company is now working on obtaining the type certification it needs to put the SpaceJet into commercial service, but development setbacks have slowed the process. The current delivery time frame is mid-2020, but Mitsubishi Aircraft is now looking at a sixth postponement. Outside experts are reviewing its plans to set a new date. "We are reviewing the schedule because of delays in prototype development," Mitsubishi Heavy President Seiji Izumisawa said in an earnings briefing. Mitsubishi Aircraft had planned to finish the final prototype in June, but issues including wiring problems have bogged down development. Izumisawa said it will be completed early next year. Mitsubishi Heavy's group net profit rose 8% on the year to 29.2 billion yen for the six months through September, with lower development expenses for the SpaceJet easing pressure on margins. Revenue edged up 0.3% to 1.88 trillion yen. Lackluster sales of auto turbo chargers and a dearth of projects for nuclear plant restarts were balanced out by brisk demand for aircraft parts for such manufacturers as Boeing and thermal power generation equipment. Mitsubishi Heavy revised its three-year management plan Thursday, cutting its fiscal 2020 operating profit target by 40 billion yen to 300 billion yen, which would represent a 36% jump from its projection for this year. https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Aerospace-Defense/Mitsubishi-Aircraft-faces-more- turbulence-as-it-loses-100-jet-order Back to Top Airbus Working to Secure 100-Jet Air Arabia Deal for Dubai Show Airbus SE is working to pin down an order for 100 narrow-body aircraft from Air Arabia PJSC that would be worth more than $10 billion at list prices, according to people with knowledge of the matter. A deal for the A320neo-series may come as early as November's Dubai Air Show, they said, asking not to be named as the plans are private. Nothing has been finalized and Boeing Co. isn't yet out of the running, the people said, though Air Arabia is currently an Airbus operator and the U.S. planemaker's 737 Max narrow-body remains grounded after two fatal crashes. Air Arabia Chief Executive Officer Adel Ali told Bloomberg in February that he was considering a triple-digit jet deal with Airbus or Boeing to add destinations in Southeast Asia, Australia, Africa and Europe. He said earlier this month that the purchase should be decided by January. The company already ranks as the biggest discount carrier in the Persian Gulf and North Africa. A jet purchase would also help the Sharjah-based airline establish a planned new carrier, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi, with Etihad Airways PJSC after the pair announced an alliance earlier this month. Etihad is paring orders and shrinking its own network after racking up almost $5 billion in losses over three years. Air Arabia operates a multi-hub business with bases in Morocco and Egypt, as well as Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates. It has a fleet of about 50 A320 aircraft together a handful of leased A321neos. Air Arabia, Airbus and Boeing all declined to comment. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-10-31/airbus-working-to-secure-100- jet-air-arabia-deal-for-dubai-show Back to Top CABIN CREW FATIGUE RESEARCH PROJECT Fatigue is a pervasive issue that affects all airline cabin crew. Fatigue may impede cabin crews' ability to consistently and effectively manage passengers from safety, security and service perspectives. As part of our undergraduate research project at Swinburne University of Technology (Melbourne, Australia), we are conducting a survey of international cabin crew primarily engaged in long-haul (LH) and ultra long-haul (ULH) flight operations. This survey asks cabin crew for their views on various issues associated with work- related fatigue and stress. We also seek your views on the availability and effectiveness of various fatigue countermeasures. If you are working as LH or ULH cabin crew, you are invited to participate in this study. You will be asked to complete an online questionnaire, which also includes a consent form. The study takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. To access the study, please go to the following website: https://swinuw.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8qBLCKgmpWlraxT Participants who complete the study will be eligible to enter a draw to win the latest iPad (6th Generation). This research project is being supervised by Peter Renshaw at the Department of Aviation, Swinburne University of Technology. If you have any questions, please contact Peter at prenshaw@swin.edu.au Back to Top POSITION AVAILABLE: Senior Aviation Safety Officer Posted:2019-10-31 Position:Maintenance Job Description:Maintenance Company:DynCorp Location:Fort Hood, Texas USA Company Info:- Requirements:Knowledge & Skills- Must be knowledgeable of OSHA, EPA, FAA, NTSB and other appropriate federal, state and local regulations.- Must be familiar with aircraft accident investigation and reporting.- Branch 15 Aviation MOS series or other military/ commercial equivalent.- Expert knowledge in the technical field of aviation safety and accident prevention and experience in use of DOD, FAA, NTSB, or ICAO documentation is required.- Knowledge of DOD Air Mobile and Air Assault operations is desirable.- Must possess computer skills in MS Word, MS Excel and MS PowerPoint.- Knowledge of OSHA and environmental regulations is required.- Knowledge of how to acquire Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and understand regulatory requirements is required.Experience & Education- Bachelor's degree in an associated discipline is required.- Two (2) years of experience in an Aviation Safety related field can be substituted for each year of four (4) years of college.- Minimum two (2) years of experience in aviation safety with degree, or minimum six (6) years aviation safety experience without degree.- Must have 1,500 hours of flight time.- FAA Commercial and Instrument Airman's Certificates any category/class.Physical Requirements/Working Environment- Must be able to walk, stand, and sit for extended periods.- Must be able to type using a standard keyboard to communicate through e-mail and various software applications.- Must be able to grasp or handle objects, use finger dexterity, bend elbow/knee and reach above/below shoulders.- Must be able to communicate by voice and ear over telephone.- Must be able to distinguish color and judge three-dimensional depths.May be required to lift objects whose weight may not exceed 50 pounds.- Works in a normal office environment with controlled temperature and lighting conditions.- May be required to travel to and between CONUS location(s) as requested.- May be required to travel to and between remote location(s) in austere or inhospitable high stress environments.- May be required to respond to a wide variety of operational circumstances, including extreme weather conditions and rudimentary infrastructure.- May be exposed to extreme noise from turbine and jet engine aircraft.May be exposed to fumes or airborne particles; may be exposed to electrical shock hazards or work near moving mechanical parts, vehicles, or aircraft. APPLY HERE IFR Pilot: The Pilot is responsible for the safety and efficient conduct of the flight assignment. Education * High school diploma or equivalent (GED) * Hold the airman certifications and ratings necessary to serve as a pilot in command under FAR 135. * FAA airline transport pilot or commercial pilot. Experience * 1500 hours helicopter or 2000 hours total with 1200 hours helicopter required. * 500 hours cross country flight experience. * 100 hours instrument experience (50 hours in actual flight). * 250 hours turbine time. Licensure * FAA airline transport pilot or commercial pilot licensed with helicopter and instrument rating (helicopter) * Must pass an FAA Class II medical exam on an annual basis * Must pass drug and alcohol testing at initial hiring and then on a random testing basis * Valid Class D Driver's license in the state of residency with an acceptable driving record Apply Here: https://northmemorial.com/north-memorial-health-careers/ Curt Lewis