Flight Safety Information December 4, 2019 - No. 249 In This Issue Incident: Delta A333 at Barcelona on Dec 3rd 2019, engine failure Incident: Skywest CRJ7 at Appleton on Dec 3rd 2019, smell of smoke in cabin Incident: Azul E195 at Recife on Dec 3rd 2019, smell of smoke in cabin Incident: British Airways A320 at Gibraltar on Dec 2nd 2019, lightning strike Small jet slides off runway while trying to land at Coleman A. Young International Airport North Star Air cargo plane involved in accident near Sachigo Lake Man arrested after breaching security, sneaking into JetBlue plane's cargo hold at Boston airport Michael Benton Honored with Aeromed Safety Award Australia ADS-B Mandates Loom Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Leverages Flight Data Monitoring Using FlyteAnalytics® FAA Publishes Draft AC for Onboard Sleeping Areas U.S. Helicopter Occupant Safety - FAA online toolkit Airbus A350-1000 to get increased seating capacity, rival 777X Chinese government approves new foreign airline routes United Airlines adds more Embraer E175s as Bombardier CRJ550 fleet expands Hong Kong Airlines says it has drawn up plans for cash infusion in fight to keep licence China to have 723 civil cargo aircraft in 2038: report Fourth MC-21-300 Flight Test Aircraft Complete CAE debuts new virtual reality system for cheaper pilot training United just ordered Airbus' newest jet to replace 50 aging Boeing 757s FAA approves commercial space office reorganization Safety and Investigation Training in Sydney USC Aviation Safety & Security Program Incident: Delta A333 at Barcelona on Dec 3rd 2019, engine failure A Delta Airlines Airbus A330-300, registration N807NW performing flight DL-476 from New York JFK,NY (USA) to Barcelona,SP (Spain), was descending towards Barcelona when the crew declared emergency reporting an engine (PW4168) failure. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on Barcelona's runway 25R. The return flight was cancelled. The aircraft is still on the ground in Barcelona about 11 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4d01bd2d&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Skywest CRJ7 at Appleton on Dec 3rd 2019, smell of smoke in cabin A Skywest Canadair CRJ-700 on behalf of Delta Airlines, registration N641CA performing flight DL-3966 from Appleton,WI to Minneapolis,MN (USA) with 65 people on board, was climbing out of Appleton's runway 21 when the crew stopped the climb at about 9000 feet and returned to Appleton due to smell of smoke in the cabin. The aircraft landed safely back on Appleton's runway 21 about 13 minutes after departure. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Appleton about 10 hours after landing. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/SKW3966/history/20191203/1226Z/KATW/KMSP http://avherald.com/h?article=4d01c06d&opt=0 ************** Delta flight returns to Appleton International Airport after report of smoke GREENVILLE, Wis. (WBAY) - A flight returned to Appleton International Airport shortly after take off Tuesday after a report of smoke on the plane. Appleton International Airport says the Delta SkyWest flight was headed to Minneapolis- St. Paul International Airport. FlightAware shows the plane left Gate 3 at ATW at 6:43 a.m. It returned to ATW at 7:09 a.m. The plane landed safely at the gate, according to ATW spokesperson Pat Tracey. He was not aware of any injuries to passengers. Tracey did not know the cause of the smoke. He referred us to Delta for more information. Passengers were being re-booked on other flights. https://www.wbay.com/content/news/Delta-flight-returns-to-Appleton-International- Airport-after-report-of-smoke-565730651.html Back to Top Incident: Azul E195 at Recife on Dec 3rd 2019, smell of smoke in cabin An Azul Linhas Aereas Embraer ERJ-195, registration PR-AYK performing flight AD-2709 from Recife,PE to Fortaleza,CE (Brazil), was climbing out of Recife when the crew stopped the climb due to a strong smell of smoke in the cabin and returned to Recife for a safe landing about 15 minutes after departure. The aircraft was towed off the runway. The runway was closed for about 25 minutes as result. A replacement ERJ-195 registration PR-AYV reached Fortaleza with a delay of about 4 hours. The airline reported the aircraft returned to Recife due to a technical problem. Passengers reported the captain announced a strong smell of smoke in the cabin as reason for the return. The airport reported the crew requested to return to Recife shortly after takeoff. After landing the aircraft was towed to be returned to the apron, where passengers disembarked normally. The runway was closed for about 25 minutes. http://avherald.com/h?article=4d01abe5&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top Incident: British Airways A320 at Gibraltar on Dec 2nd 2019, lightning strike A British Airways Airbus A320-200, registration G-EUUH performing flight BA-490 from London Heathrow,EN (UK) to Gibraltar (Gibraltar), was descending towards Gibraltar, when the aircraft entered a hold due to weather conditions at the destination. After about 10 minutes the aircraft continued the approach and was on base for runway 09 descending through about 1000 feet when the aircraft entered turbulence and received a lightning strike. The crew initiated a go around, climbed the aircraft to FL160 and diverted to Malaga,SP (Spain) where the aircraft landed safely about 35 minutes after the go around. The passengers were bussed to Gibraltar. The aircraft remained on the ground in Malaga for about 18 hours, then departed for the return flight BA- 491D operating from Malaga directly to London Heathrow. http://avherald.com/h?article=4d01bb39&opt=0 Back to Top Small jet slides off runway while trying to land at Coleman A. Young International Airport Pilot, co-pilot not seriously injured A small jet crashed Dec. 3, 2019, at Coleman A. Young International Airport in Detroit. (WDIV) DETROIT - A small jet slid off a runway Tuesday while trying to land at Coleman A Young International Airport, officials said. A small, personal twin engine jet was trying to land around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, according to officials. The plane had taken off from Willow Run Airport and was occupied by a pilot and co- pilot, officials said. There were no passengers on board, according to authorities. Officials said neither crew member was seriously injured. They both declined to be taken to the hospital, authorities said. It doesn't appear runway conditions played a role in the incident, officials said. Detroit firefighters and emergency medical officials responded to the scene. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating. https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/2019/12/03/small-jet-slides-off-runway-while- trying-to-land-at-coleman-a-young-international-airport/ *************** Date: 03-DEC-2019 Time: 08:34 Type: British Aerospace BAe-125-800A Owner/operator: Business Jet Managers Inc Registration: N469RJ C/n / msn: 258067 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Unknown Location: Coleman A Young Municipal Airport (KDET), Detroit, MI - United States of America Phase: Landing Nature: Ferry/positioning Departure airport: Detroit-Willow Run Airport, MI (YIP/KYIP) Destination airport: Detroit City Airport, MI (DET/KDET) Narrative: The aircraft experienced a loss of directional control and subsequent runway excursion upon landing at Coleman A Young Municipal Airport (KDET), Detroit, Michigan. The airplane sustained apparent minor damage during the resulting nosegear collapse and the two pilots onboard were not injured during the incident. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/231076 Back to Top North Star Air cargo plane involved in accident near Sachigo Lake The company says both crew members escaped injury A North Star Air Basler BT-67 cargo aircraft (Baslerturbo.com photo) SACHIGO LAKE FIRST NATION, Ont. - North Star Air says no one was injured in a Tuesday morning accident involving one of its aircraft near Sachigo Lake, 600 kilometres north of Thunder Bay.. The Thunder Bay-based company has not released details about the nature of the incident. It issued a statement on social media saying it involved a BT-67 cargo plane, and occurred at 9:10 a.m. local time. There were two crew members but no passengers on board. North Star Air said it had contacted the Transportation Safety Board and Transport Canada. A company official could not immediately be reached for comment, but a TSB spokesperson told tbnewswatch/.com the federal agency was still assessing the incident on Tuesday afternoon. The Basler BT-67 is a modified Douglas DC-3 produced by Basler Turbo Conversions of Oshkosh, Wisc.. It is outfitted with Pratt and Whitney Canada turboprop engines. https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/north-star-air-cargo-plane-involved-in- accident-near-sachigo-lake-1898544 *************** Status: Preliminary Date: Tuesday 3 December 2019 Time: 09:10 Type: Basler BT-67 Turbo 67 (DC-3T) Operator: North Star Air Registration: registration unknown C/n / msn: First flight: Engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67R Crew: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 Total: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 Aircraft damage: Unknown Location: near Sachigo Lake, ON ( Canada) Phase: Unknown (UNK) Nature: Unknown Departure airport: ? Destination airport: ? Narrative: The Basler BT-67 aircraft operated by North Star Air, was involved in an accident near Sachigo Lake, Ontario, Canada. https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20191203-0 Back to Top Man arrested after breaching security, sneaking into JetBlue plane's cargo hold at Boston airport A man got through a security door and into a JetBlue plane's cargo hold on Monday at Boston Logan International Airport and was later arrested. Sergiu Parfeni, 31, of Malden, Massachusetts, "exited the terminal through an emergency exit door, accessed the tarmac and briefly entered a plane's cargo hold but was immediately removed by JetBlue ground operations employees," Dave Procopio, director of media communications for the Massachusetts State Police, told USA TODAY in an email. USA TODAY has reached out to JetBlue for more information. A bomb-sniffing dog found nothing hazardous nor suspicious during a sweep of the aircraft, and police haven't found any evidence Parfeni "acted with terrorist intent," Procopio said. Parfeni was booked on charges of trespassing, disorderly conduct and interfering with aircraft operation, according to police. "Barring any unforeseen developments, Parfeni is expected to be bailed from the barracks to custody of a family member," Procopio added, noting he is expected to appear Tuesday in East Boston District Court for arraignment. https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2019/12/03/jetblue-man-entered- planes-cargo-hold-boston-logan-airport/2598132001/ Back to Top Michael Benton Honored with Aeromed Safety Award Michael Benton, founder and managing director of VyClimb Consulting, was honored with the Jim Charlson Aviation Safety Award at the recent Association of Air Medical Services Air Medical Transport Conference in Atlanta. Presented annually to an individual who has made significant contributions to promoting aviation safety within the air medical transport community, Benton has more than 22 years of aviation industry management and operations experience. A former armed reconnaissance helicopter instructor pilot and member of the Directorate of Evaluation & Standardization with the U.S. Army, he has served as a helicopter emergency medical services pilot, check airman, accident investigator, regional aviation director, and a director of aviation compliance before launching his own consultancy in 2015. During that time, he has steered organizations through a range of safety initiatives, including the FAA's Safety Management System Voluntary Program and Aviation Safety Action Program, as well as advised on the development of operational control management, tracking, and hazard alerting systems for the aviation industry. A frequent lecturer at global HEMS conferences, Benton has served as a Helicopter Association International committee chair and an instructor at the NTSB Training Academy. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2019-12-03/michael- benton-honored-aeromed-safety-award Back to Top Australia ADS-B Mandates Loom Two temporary exemptions allowing more time for some aircraft operators in Australia to equip with ADS-B avionics expire next year. This means anyone relying on currently approved exemptions to continue to fly without ADS-B capability will need to reapply. The Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) emphasized that these exemptions "will not be extended, so any aircraft not fitted with ADS-B [or a new exemption] will have to fly by visual flight rules only." The ADS-B transmitting equipment mandates have been progressively implemented in Australia since 2007. The final mandate, requiring all aircraft operating under IFR to be equipped with 1090-MHz extended squitter ADS-B, took effect on Feb. 2, 2017. The first exemption, for Australian-registered aircraft, expires on Jan. 1, 2020, and the second exemption, for foreign-registered aircraft, expires on June 6, 2020. The latter expiration date coincides with Europe's ADS-B deadline. CASA said any aircraft in breach of the mandates "that are not operating under an exemption may incur a fine for noncompliance." An application for an ADS-B exemption will incur a regulatory fee and will "only be granted in extenuating circumstances and where an acceptable safety case is provided." Operators who receive new exemptions are subject to several limitations, including non- ADS-B-equipped aircraft must have been manufactured before Feb. 6, 2014 and covered aircraft must be operated below 10,000 feet msl. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2019-12-03/australia-ads- b-mandates-loom Back to Top Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Leverages Flight Data Monitoring Using FlyteAnalytics® by CAPACG LLC to Improve Safety and Efficiency FlyteAnalytics® technology, developed by CAPACG LLC, lets Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University monitor every moment of a flight to enhance aviation safety. DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Dec. 3, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has been using in-house flight data monitoring analysis since 2007, and in 2018, it began uploading data from its fleet of Cessna 172 and Diamond DA42 aircraft to FlyteAnalytics®, an in-the-cloud tool for improving the safety and efficiency of flight operations. The FlyteAnalytics® technology, developed by CAPACG LLC, allows the university's flight-training team to monitor every moment of a flight in order to analyze any variances from standard operational procedures. For example, the technology can spot one of the most common scenarios in flight training - unstable approaches - and it helps the university address such issues swiftly and appropriately. This continual search for quality-improvement opportunities has become an integral part of Embry-Riddle's renowned Safety Management System. The school's laser focus on safety was further validated this summer when the school achieved an important international designation known as IS-BAO Stage III (International Standards - Business Aircraft Operations) registration - something no other university flight operation has done. The general aviation community's interest in flight data monitoring kicked into high gear at a 2007 General Aviation-Flight Data Monitoring conference that explored how emerging technologies could enhance flight safety. "Today, that technology is a reality, and FlyteAnalytics® also supports improved maintenance, operational quality, safety and training," said Dr. Alan Stolzer, dean of Embry-Riddle's College of Aviation on the Daytona Beach Campus. "The safety of our students is our No. 1 priority. We are honored to partner with CAPACG LLC to continuously advance that goal." Larry McCarroll, CEO of CAPACG LLC said, "We are proud of the capabilities and affordability FlyteAnalytics® offers to improve general aviation safety and everyday operations, and we look forward to future collaborations with our colleagues at Embry- Riddle Aeronautical University." About Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Reporters worldwide contact Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for content experts in all aspects of aviation, aerospace, engineering and STEM-related fields. Our faculty experts specialize in unmanned and autonomous systems, security and intelligence, air traffic and airport management, astronomy, human factors psychology, meteorology, spaceflight operations, urban air mobility and much more. Visit the Embry-Riddle Newsroom for story ideas. Embry-Riddle educates 34,000+ students at its residential campuses in Daytona Beach, Florida and Prescott, Arizona, at more than 135 Worldwide Campus locations and through the nation's No.1 ranked online undergraduate degree programs (U.S. News & World Report). About CAPACG LLC dba FlyteAnalytics® FlyteAnalytics® provides third party Flight Data Monitoring Services (FDM) and comprehensive FDM system integration for small, medium and large flight departments. Utilizing FlyteAnalytics® as an extension of your flight safety department to provide FDM implementation and operation will provide increased visibility into your flight ops to improve safety and efficiencies. Our goal at CAPACG is to assist clients with Continual Aviation Proficiency thru Continuing Auditing Programs. For more information about FlyteAnalytics® and http://www.capacg.com, contact Larry McCarroll at lmccarroll@capacg.com or (386) 795-0507. SOURCE Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University https://finance.yahoo.com/news/embry-riddle-aeronautical-university-leverages- 141500941.html Back to Top FAA Publishes Draft AC for Onboard Sleeping Areas Having flight-crew sleeping quarters and rest areas in airplanes on flights scheduled for more than 10 hours during any consecutive 24 hours is a requirement for Part 135 operations. To provide guidance on FAA-acceptable means of compliance for sleeping areas, the agency has published draft Advisory Circular 120-FMRF. This AC recognizes that the nonstop endurance and range of certain large airliners and business jets have increased considerably since Sept. 30, 1994, the last date a similar AC was published. The draft AC explains that a rest area is designed for "obtaining sleep, stowing personal articles, and changing clothes in privacy for off-duty flightcrew." The sleeping quarters may be an integral part of a rest facility or a separate space. In either case, the sleeping quarters "should be in a location where intrusive noise, odors, and vibration have minimum effect on sleep." A noise level during cruise flight in the range of 70 to 75 dBA is considered a "reasonable design objective." Further, the draft AC recommends a minimum of 35 cu ft of space per individual for sleeping, 65 cu ft of free space for changing of clothes; and 78 by 30 inches for each sleeping surface. Comments on draft AC 120-FMRF are due December 23. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2019-12-03/faa-publishes- draft-ac-onboard-sleeping-areas Back to Top U.S. Helicopter Occupant Safety - FAA online toolkit In the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, Section 317 prohibits helicopters manufactured after April 5, 2020, from flying in U.S. airspace unless certified with a crash resistant fuel system. The online toolkit (link below) explains which helicopters will require a crash resistant fuel system according to their certification and manufacturing dates and also offers extensive background information on the topic. https://tinyurl.com/tmkkzlk Back to Top Airbus A350-1000 to get increased seating capacity, rival 777X The largest member of the Airbus A350XWB Family - the A350-1000 - has been given the green light from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for an increase in its maximum seating capacity by 40 additional seats. The higher seat count, enabled through the installation of modified emergency exits, would potentially boost the competitiveness of the A350-1000 against the Boeing 777X. The A350-1000 has previously been approved to seat up to 440 passengers. Configured in a typical three-class layout, the jet accommodates 350-410 seats, according to the manufacturer. British Airways' A350-1000s, for instance, which is the latest to receive the model in June 2019, are configured in a 331-seat layout. Cathay Pacific, one of the biggest buyers of the A350-1000, has its jets configured with 334 seats. For comparison, the A350-1000's smaller brother - the A350-900 - has also been approved to a maximum seating of 440, but typically accommodates up to 350 passengers. The latest to receive that variant, with a total of eight on firm order from the plane maker, is Scandinavian airline SAS, which took delivery of its first A350-900 on November 28, 2019. The carrier's A350-900s have a three-class cabin layout with 300 seats. Now, with the EASA's go-ahead, the new maximum seating for the larger A350-1000 variant would increase by 40 additional seats to 480 passengers, raising the question for what purpose (and by what operators) would such high-density aircraft be utilized. Airbus's pursuit of increased capacity According to official documents, back in June 2019, the EASA introduced an Equivalent Safety Finding to review Airbus' request for an increase in maximum seating capacity on the A350-1000. However, the additional seating required the development of new safety regulations. The EASA had found that the "Type A" emergency exits were not sufficient to seat more passengers on board the aircraft than the approved 440 maximum count. "Notwithstanding the improvements introduced in the meantime in the "state of the art" Type A emergency exit design (e.g. escape slides performance, door opening time, etc.), EASA does still consider the maximum number of passenger seats (i.e. 110) allowed by CS 25.807(g) per pair of Type A emergency exits as appropriate," is written in the Equivalent Safety Finding (ESF). Airbus' request for an increase in seating capacity on the A350-1000 has been granted by the EASA with development of a new term and subsequent modified design - the "Type A+" emergency exit, featuring additional safety measures. According to Airbus's proposal, outlined in the ESF and reviewed by the regulator, these modified emergency exits will feature two parallel evacuation slides, with extra, enhanced lighting and a dedicated exit sign. The new doors will also require additional cabin crew - three, instead of two that is standard for Type A exit pair, - to be stationed at each installed pair of Type A+ emergency exits. "The design features included in the proposed Type A+ emergency exit definition provide for an increased evacuation performance compared to a design meeting the requirements for a Type A emergency exit," the regulator explains in the ESF. Airbus was tasked with undertaking rigorous testing campaign to ensure the increased performance of the Type A+ emergency exits, which it completed successfully. According to EASA's Type Certificate outline, dated November 27, 2019, Airbus's request for additional seating has been granted. According to cabin specifications, as stated in the document, the new Type A+ exits will allow to sit 120 passengers per emergency exit - an increase of 10 passengers compared to the allowance with Type A emergency exit. However, the high-density will also mean a less spacious cabin, as the new version will require the seating to be 10- abreast (instead of current 9-abreast). The EASA also lists various zonal capacities for the new version, with up to 124 seats in the front cabin, a maximum of 180 in the central cabin, and a maximum of 190 seats in the aft cabin. If fewer Type A+ exits are installed, the regulator also allows options for a maximum of 470 seats and below. The minimum number of required cabin crew would rise to nine if the maximum seating exceeds 400. Having proudly taken delivery of its very first A350-1000 earlier this year, British Airways (BA) is currently in the process of rolling out the larger variant of the A350XWB family aircraft into its fleet. However, the delivery schedule of the total 18 A350-1000s that the British flagship carrier has on order from Airbus could now be impacted. Airbus is reportedly undertaking repairs to BA's latest A350-1000, which was damaged in an "incident" at the manufacturer's facility. The new contender The A350-1000 is already a rival to the Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner and the 777-300ER. With the development of a higher capacity variant, it will now put the jet in direct competition with Boeing's brand-new and highly anticipated 777X model. According to the manufacturer's current technical specifications, the larger 777-9 variant will be able to seat up to 426 passengers in a two-class layout, while the 777-8 will accommodate a maximum of 384 passengers. Although not reaching the seat count of the A350-1000, the smaller 777-8 will be in close race with the Airbus wide-body in terms of range: the A350-1000 can fly up to 8,700 nm (16,100 km), while the maximum range of the 777-8 is 8,730 nm (16,170 km). And here is where the competition comes in: Australian flag carrier Qantas has challenged Boeing and Airbus to present their "best offer" for a more capable long-haul jetliner with greater payload capacity to pursue its Project Sunrise mission. The airline aims to launch ultra-long-haul routes from the east coast of Australia to London and New York and is currently using the Boeing 787-9 to conduct three research flights from London to Perth. Boeing has pitched the 777-8 for the project, but delays in the 777X program have already worsened the odds for the U.S. plane maker, which is reportedly now offering the 777-9 for the project. The best-seller While the Airbus-Boeing rivalry is not deemed to end anytime soon, it can be said that the A350s are doing well on their own. At the end of October 2019, the A350 XWB Family had received 913 firm orders from 50 customers worldwide, making it one of the most successful wide-body aircraft ever, as the manufacturer says itself. The biggest cash cow for Airbus, however, has been the smaller A350-900 variant: the absolute majority of orders have been placed for the latter jet, totaling 737; the remaining 176 firm orders stand for the A350-1000. By far the largest customer of the A350-1000 is Qatar Airways, the launch operator of the type (the jet entered service with the airline in February 2018). The Gulf carrier has placed 42 orders for the A350-1000. Other big buyers include Etihad and Cathay Pacific with 20 firm orders each and British Airways with 18. https://www.aerotime.aero/ruta.burbaite/24287-airbus-a350-1000-to-get-increased- seating-capacity-rival-777x?page=1 Back to Top Chinese government approves new foreign airline routes China's civil aviation regulator has approved new routes operated by several major foreign airlines to Mainland China, according to the latest announcement on its website. Singapore Airlines has been granted approval for a seven-times-weekly service between Singapore and Hangzhou, according to an announcement from the Civil Aviation Authrority of China (CAAC). Singapore Airlines now only flies to three major cities in Mainland China: Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Its low-cost subsidiary airline Scoot also operates a six- times-weekly (no flights on Thursdays) service between Singapore and Hangzhou using a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Lufthansa has gained approval to launch a new three-times-weekly service between Munich and Shenzhen. This will be the German flag carrier's sixth destination in Mainland China after Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Qingdao and Shenyang. Egypt Air is will launch a new twice weekly route linking Cairo and Shenzhen. The airline's current destinations in Mainland China include Beijing, Guangzhou and Hangzhou. The CAAC also approved South Korean low-cost airline Eastar Jet's seven-times-weekly service between Seoul and Yantai in Shandong Province; Aeroflot's new five-times- weekly Krasnoyarsk-Beijing service; and Russian charter carrier I-fly's new service between Vladivostok and Nanjing, as well as its new routes linking Sochi and Kunming, Shijiazhuang, Jinan, Wuhan. However, it should be noted that while the CAAC has approved these new routes, the launch date, aircraft to be used on the new routes, and more detailed flight schedules remain unknown. Other airlines' new routes to China Many airlines around the world are adding flights to China in a bid to tap into the rising demand for air travel among the country's growing middle class. Business Traveller Asia-Pacific reported in November that Vietnam Airlines had recently added two new routes from Vietnam to Shenzhen, and earlier this year, Hainan Airlines launched a non-stop service connecting Rome and Shenzhen. Turkish Airlines will also introduce a new service between Istanbul and Xian, the capital city of Shanxi Province. The airline announced the launch of this route in mid-November and it plans to launch the first flight at the end of this year. Japan Airlines and Korean Air, the flag carriers of Japan and South Korea respectively, have also both recently announced new routes to China. https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2019/12/04/chinese-government- approves-new-foreign-airline-routes/ Back to Top United Airlines adds more Embraer E175s as Bombardier CRJ550 fleet expands United Airlines will add 20 Embraer E175s to its feeder fleet in 2020, as the addition of Bombardier CRJ550s allows it to add more of the larger regional jet. United Express partner Mesa Airlines will operate the 20 E175s, which will be delivered in a 70-seat layout, the Phoenix-based regional carrier said Tuesday. Deliveries will occur from May through the end of next year. The E175s will one-for-one replace 20 older Bombardier CRJ700 regional jets operated by Mesa. Those jets will be sub-leased to "another United Express carrier," which Raymond James analysts said Tuesday is understood to be GoJet Airlines. The analysts expect the CRJ700s to be converted to CRJ550s that in a 50-seat layout with 10 first- class seats that TPG's Zach Griff has described as "the most comfortable regional jet in America." United introduced the CRJ550 in October. Debuted on flights from the airline's Chicago O'Hare (ORD) hub, the jets are part of an effort to retain high-revenue premium travelers while keeping its regional fleet in compliance with restrictions in its contract with pilots. United's pilots contract limits it to 255 larger regional jets, or those outfitted with 70-76 seats and first-class cabins. Executives often say that the airline is at a competitive disadvantage due to this restriction as the contracts at its competitors American Airlines and Delta Air Lines allow them to fly up to roughly 325 of the jets. Those larger jets, including E175s, are more popular with passengers than 50-seat models due to their typically larger cabins, amenities like inflight Wi-Fi, and the fact that most bags can be carried onboard. The CRJ550 is a workaround to these contractual limits on large regional jets at United. The planes will begin flying from its Newark Liberty (EWR) hub in February, and Washington Dulles (IAD) in March, according to Cirium schedules. United also plans to use the jets on the shuttle-like service between Newark and Washington National (DCA) that it plans to launch next spring. United anticipates 54 CRJ550s in its regional fleet by the end of next year. With the latest deal, Mesa will exclusively operate E175s for United with a fleet of 62 aircraft expected by end-2020. https://thepointsguy.com/news/united-airlines-adds-embraer-e175s-bombardier- crj550-fleet/ Back to Top Hong Kong Airlines says it has drawn up plans for cash infusion in fight to keep licence Dec 4 (Reuters) - Hong Kong Airlines said on Wednesday it had drafted an "initial cash injection plan" that would allow it to make overdue salary payments on Thursday as the carrier battles to keep flying. Hong Kong's Air Transport Licensing Authority (ATLA) said on Monday that it had attached new conditions to the airline's licence, requiring it to raise money and maintain cash levels whose details were not disclosed. ATLA said if the conditions were not met, a decision on whether to suspend or revoke the licence of airline, partly owned by cash-strapped Chinese conglomerate HNA Group , would be announced by Dec. 7. "Following urgent consultations, an initial cash injection plan has been drawn up," Hong Kong Airlines said in a statement on Wednesday. "Outstanding salary to staff will be paid on 5 December 2019 and our services will gradually resume to normal as soon as the funds arrive." An airline spokesman did not respond immediately to a request for comment on the source of the funds. Hong Kong Airlines and larger rival Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd are battling a steep decline in demand as a result of months of anti-government protests in the Asian financial capital. Hong Kong Airlines was in a precarious financial position even before the unrest. The unlisted company in April told shareholders it had lost HK$3 billion ($383.39 million) in 2018, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Bank of China Group Insurance said on Tuesday some of its insurance plans would no longer cover bookings on Hong Kong Airlines, according to a statement on its website. The airline has announced several capacity cuts, including the suspension of flights to Vancouver, Ho Chi Minh City and Tianjin. Several airlines have collapsed in 2019 because of financial problems, including India's Jet Airways Ltd, Britain's Thomas Cook and Iceland's WOW. https://www.reuters.com/article/hna-group-hk-airlines/hong-kong-airlines-says-it-has- drawn-up-plans-for-cash-infusion-in-fight-to-keep-licence-idUSL4N28E1MG Back to Top China to have 723 civil cargo aircraft in 2038: report XI'AN, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- China is expected to have 723 civil cargo aircraft by 2038, a nearly 3.5-fold upsurge from 2018, according to a report by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China. The 723 aircraft will include 174 large cargo freighters, 219 medium widebody freighters and 330 narrow-body freighters, according to the report China Market Outlook for Civil Aircraft, adding that China's civil cargo aircraft industry will embrace fast growth in the next 20 years. China is expected to have one to two large cargo airlines and the proportion of shipments undertaken by all-cargo aircraft will rise to 55 percent in 2038 from 44.8 percent in 2018, underpinned by strong market demand, it said. China had a fleet of 161 civil cargo aircraft in 2018, 13 more than the previous year. http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-12/04/c_138605228.htm Back to Top Fourth MC-21-300 Flight Test Aircraft Complete The MC-21 completed its maiden flight on Sunday, May 28, 2017 (Photo: Irkut Corporation) Russian aircraft manufacturer, Irkut Corporation, headquartered in Moscow, announced that it has completed systems diagnostics of the fourth MC-21-300 aircraft designed for flight tests. Three of the jets are already undergoing flight tests and two are currently on static tests. On November 28, the new aircraft was transferred from the final assembly shop to the plant's flight-test division. The Irkut MC-21 is a Russian single-aisle twinjet airliner, developed by the Yakovlev Design Bureau. Irkut rolled out the first MC-21-300 in 2016 and it first flew the aircraft in 2017. It has a carbon fiber reinforced polymer wing and is powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1000G, the same engines used on the A220 and the Embraer E2 jets. The fuselage of the MC-21 is mostly made of lightweight aluminum-lithium alloy, which accounts for 40 percent of the airframe's structural weight. The MC-21-300 has a capacity of 132-163 passengers in a two-class configuration and 165-211 in a single-class, and a range up to 6,000-6,400 km (3,200-3,500 NM). By July 2018; it had received 175 firm orders, mostly from Russian airlines. In 2010, Aeroflot gave an important incentive to the program ordering 50 aircraft. The aircraft is expected to enter service in 2020 and could compete with similar models from Airbus and Boeing, but sales outside Russia have been limited by concerns over maintenance and geopolitics. A report by the consulting firm Air Insight suggests that despite the challenges, Irkut could achieve its goals to produce and sell more than 1,000 aircraft over the next 20 years, with the majority sales in Russia and other former members of the USSR. https://airlinegeeks.com/2019/12/03/fourth-mc-21-300-flight-test-aircraft-completed/ Back to Top CAE debuts new virtual reality system for cheaper pilot training Pilot training company CAE has unveiled a new virtual reality training system it says can help militaries accelerate pilot training and reduce pilot training costs. CAE's Sprint Virtual Reality system is meant to give military student pilots more hours in realistic flying scenarios at less expense than in full-motion simulators or in actual aircraft, CAE says. The company unveiled the system on 2 December at the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference in Orlando, Florida. The system includes a virtual reality headset, physical flight controls, a "virtual coach" programme and a grading and assessment software called Rise. The virtual reality trainer is part of a larger digital system CAE is selling under the brand CAE TRAX Academy. The company says it can progress students more efficiently through pilot training using digital tools. "First, student pilots use digital tools such as a mobile app and virtual reality-enabled courseware to learn and understand required training tasks and procedures," the company says. "Next, students practice what was learned in the CAE Sprint [Virtual Reality] training device." The company's "virtual coach" provides students with immediate instruction, and the Rise programme measures students' progress and the degree to which they master tasks and procedures, CAE says. CAE says it can provide lower-cost flight training with its virtual reality-based Sprint system. The system prepares students to transition to training in more-expensive, higher-fidelity simulators and, eventually, in aircraft. The training programme is designed to be optimised to each student, says Joe Armstrong, CAE's vice-president of global business operations, product and solutions. "Today's digital technologies such as virtual reality, artificial intelligence and data analytics are enabling a new approach to pilot training that is more self-paced and tailored to student learning," he says. CAE's new training systems come in response to demand from militaries for less- expensive, quicker pilot training methods. Many Western air forces are seeking to quickly train new pilots, and at lower cost - a response to stagnant military budgets and vacancies created by the loss of veteran airmen to higher-paying jobs at commercial airlines. https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/cae-debuts-new-virtual-reality-system-for- cheaper-pi-462663/ Back to Top United just ordered Airbus' newest jet to replace 50 aging Boeing 757s, while Boeing struggles to develop an alternative Airbus A321XLR * United Airlines signed an order for 50 Airbus A321XLR jets on Tuesday, to replace its aging Boeing 757 fleet. * Boeing has been developing a new mid-sized airplane, or "NMA," to replace the 757, the project has been delayed as Boeing scrambles to fix its grounded 737 Max. * United considered waiting for Boeing's option, but ultimately decided to place the firm order with Airbus. * The airline expects to begin receiving the jets in 2024. The order was confirmed by United Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella Tuesday evening. United's order was a major hit from a US airline for Boeing, which has an new mid-sized airplane, or "NMA," currently in development. The NMA, which is intended to offer a replacement to the 757, with a similar range and capacity, has faced development delays as Boeing scrambles to fix its troubled 737 Max family of jets. The 737 Max has been grounded worldwide since March 2019, following the second of two fatal crashes within five months. Although Nocella said that the Boeing NMA had been a contender to replace the 757s, the American plane maker's jet has yet to be announced. On a conference call with media, Nocella said that the airline had not "shut the door on potentially ordering the NMA" in the future, "once Boeing further refines the mission capabilities and details of the NMA." "But that hasn't happened yet," he added. United will take delivery of the new Airbus jets starting in 2024. The planes will primarily be based at Newark Liberty Airport in New Jersey and Dulles Airport in Washington, DC, flying trans-Atlantic routes. Airbus announced the A321XLR at the Paris Air Show in June. The plane, which is expected to enter service in 2023, will have a range of 4,700 nautical miles - about 200 miles more than the 757. As part of the agreement signed Tuesday, United also deferred the first delivery of its order for 45 larger Airbus A350 wide-body jets from 2022 to 2027. The deliveries will coincide with the expected retirement of United's first Boeing 777 jets, Nocella said. United has about 165 jets from the current, shorter-range Airbus A320 family in service, according to Airfleets.net, in addition to nearly 350 Boeing 737 jets - including 14 grounded 737 Max 9 planes. Its international fleet is currently all Boeing, including 757, 767, 777, and 787 Dreamliner planes. United does not have any current plans to replace its 767s, Nocella said. The airline is currently replacing the cabins of its 767 planes, a task it expects to complete within the next 18 months. The 757 entered service in 1983 as a relatively large and long-range narrow-body jet. It's proven adept at serving US airlines on high-traffic trans-continental routes and certain routes from the east coast to Europe. https://www.yahoo.com/news/united-just-ordered-airbus-newest-002800079.html Back to Top FAA approves commercial space office reorganization FAA Administrator Stephen Dickson said Dec. 3 that the FAA's current approach to licensing commercial launches is "quickly becoming impractical" as the number of launches grows. Credit: SpaceNews/Caleb Henry WASHINGTON - The Federal Aviation Administration has approved a reorganization of the office that oversees commercial launches in a bid to improve its efficiency as the number of launches grows. During a panel discussion at a U.S. Chamber of Commerce commercial space conference here Dec. 3, Wayne Monteith, FAA associate administrator for commercial space transportation, said FAA Administrator Stephen Dickson formally approved the reorganization of Monteith's office the night before. "That will allow us to be more responsive to industry as we move forward," Monteith said at the conference. Neither Monteith nor Dickson, who spoke at the conference later in the day, offered details about what that reorganization entailed. The FAA, in a statement to SpaceNews, said that the reorganization creates two new directorates with the office, known in FAA terminology as AST. One is an "operational" directorate responsible for licensing, permitting, safety and compliance. The other will handle other issues, such as policy, research and development, stakeholder outreach, support services and the new Office of Spaceports. "This reorganization will posture the Office of Commercial Space Transportation for the future by enhancing accountability, productivity, efficiency, effectiveness; and it is good governance," the FAA stated. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao announced the proposed reorganization during a speech in April at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. "The office has performed well to date, but in order to prepare for the future it will be reconstituted under the leadership of General Monteith to maximize the efficiencies of the new streamlined rule," she said then, a reference to the ongoing revision of commercial launch and reentry regulations. Monteith, in the conference panel, emphasized the need for his office to be more efficient to deal with a sharp increase in launch activity. "In the last seven years, our licensing activity has increased by about 1,000%," he said. "We see the potential for that to happen again over the next five years." He said he does want to hire more people to handle licensing work, but that approach has limits. "I can't increase the size of my office by 1,000%, so we've got to get more efficient and effective." Reorganizing the office is just one step to address that growing launch activity. Monteith also highlighted ongoing work within the FAA, between his office and the Air Traffic Organization, to better integrate commercial spaceflight into the national airspace system. That has become an increasing concern in the commercial aviation industry in particular, who worry about disruptions to flights caused by airspace closures for launches and reentries. The biggest step, though, remains a revision of commercial launch and reentry regulations. "The pace has picked up to the point where it's quickly becoming impractical," Dickson said of the current licensing approach at the conference. The FAA is continuing to review comments on a draft rule published earlier this year that would streamline the licensing process. "Our commercial space team is carefully reviewing all the input," Dickson said, "and is working towards publishing a final rule in the fall of 2020." https://spacenews.com/faa-approves-commercial-space-office-reorganization/ USC Aviation Safety & Security Program On-Site and Custom Courses To meet the diverse needs of all elements of the aviation community, the USC Aviation Safety & Security Program offers our courses to be conducted at your facility. Whether you are a small, medium or large organization; a private company, government agency, or the military...we can work with you to bring the right training to your facility. Choose from any of our courses. All of our courses can be customized to fit the specific needs of your organization. Don't see the exact course or subject you want? We have created courses, seminars, and presentations for companies - such as Safety Performance Indicators for Korean Air and Safety Auditing for Quanta Services. To bring USC Aviation Safety & Security Education to your organization, please contact us at hinaba@usc.edu or +1 (310) 342-1352. Earn Credit for FlightSafety Master Technician- Management Program Students taking the following USC courses will earn elective credits towards FlightSafety International's Master Technician-Management Program * Human Factors in Aviation Maintenance * Human Factors in Aviation Safety * Gas Turbine Accident Investigation * Helicopter Accident Investigation * Safety Management for Aviation Maintenance * Safety Management for Ground Operations Safety * Accident/Incident Response Preparedness Earn Points Toward NBAA Certified Aviation Manager Program Students taking the following USC courses will earn two points toward completing the application for the National Business Aviation Certified Aviation Manager Exam. * Aviation Safety Management Systems * Accident/Incident Response Preparedness * Human Factors in Aviation Safety * Aircraft Accident Investigation * SeMS Aviation Security Management Systems For further details, please visit our website or use the contact information below. Email: aviation@usc.edu Telephone: +1 (310) 342-1345 Curt Lewis