Flight Safety Information December 11, 2019 - No. 254 In This Issue Boeing knowingly put faulty wings on 133 jets, FAA alleges as it seeks $3.9M fine. Boeing is promising 3 fixes to the faulty system behind the 737 Max crashes Incident: Jazz DH8C at Hartford on Dec 9th 2019, smoking windshield cracked Incident: GoAir A20N at Singapore on Dec 9th 2019, fumes on board Incident: PIA B772 at Sialkot on Dec 10th 2019, burst tyre on landing Accident: Ethiopian DH8D at Juba on Dec 10th 2019, overran runway on takeoff Bombardier BD-700-1A11 Global 6000 - Runway Excursion (U.K.) Chile combs Antarctic for missing plane with 38 aboard JETSTAR PILOTS FORGOT TO LOWER THE LANDING GEAR Aviation Safety: Commission adopts new EU Air Safety List One month until ADS-B deadline and only 88% of aircraft are compliant Facial Recognition Is Everywhere at China's New Mega Airport World Aviation Safety Summit showcases new technologies, solutions for aviation sector safety Safety officer shortage roadblock to aviation growth (Vietnam) EASA To Mandate A380 Ram Air Turbine Checks NTSB Chief: Doors-off Helo Flight Was 'Death Trap' FAA Picks Drone Test Administration Advisors World's first fully electric commercial aircraft takes flight in Canada US grounds Saudi pilots, halts military training after base shooting 33 years after making history, American Airlines' first female captain honored for pioneering role Private jet maker Bombardier launches apprenticeship program in Red Oak (TX) NASA Tests Space Launch System Fuel Tank by Tearing It Apart Call for Papers - ISASI 2020 Upcoming Cranfield short courses Advanced aircraft accident investigation course Safety Management Systems Certificate Program from SCSI Safety and Investigation Training in Sydney IATA Safety and Flight Ops Conference - Baku, Azerbaijan 31 March - 2 April, 2020 Boeing knowingly put faulty wings on 133 jets, FAA alleges as it seeks $3.9M fine The Boeing logo is seen March 7, 2017, on the first Boeing 737 Max 9 airplane during its rollout for media at the Boeing factory in Renton, Washington. In 2019, safety regulators want to fine Boeing nearly $4 million, saying that the company installed critical wing parts on 133 planes even though it knew the parts were faulty. Safety regulators want to fine Boeing $3.9 million, saying that the company installed wing parts on 133 planes even though it knew the parts were faulty. Chicago-based Boeing said Friday that all the affected planes in use have been inspected and fixed. A spokesman said the company is not aware of any incidents involving the parts. The Federal Aviation Administration said Boeing failed to oversee its suppliers. At issue are parts for Boeing 737s known as slat tracks, which sit at the front edge of a plane's wings and guide the movement of panels called slats. The slats help give planes more lift during takeoffs and landings. The FAA said the tracks were made brittle during a process in which they received a coating of cadmium and titanium, and that suppliers notified Boeing of the problem. Boeing still submitted the planes for FAA flight approval even after deciding that the slat tracks "could not be used due to a failed strength test," according to an FAA statement. In June, Boeing and the FAA both instructed airlines to inspect the slat tracks on some 737s. Friday's proposed fine deals only with a version called the NG. The same flaw may affect some 737 Max jets, but those are grounded after two fatal crashes in which a separate flight-control system played a role. Boeing said slat tracks on those will be fixed before the Max is allowed to fly again. Boeing has 30 days to respond to the FAA. https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-boeing-737-ng-faa-penalty- 20191209-45vhzabvj5e23oprcykveil4cu-story.html Back to Top Boeing is promising 3 fixes to the faulty system behind the 737 Max crashes to let pilots stop it from forcing the plane into an unstoppable nosedive * Boeing is promising three key fixes to a system blamed for the fatal crashes of its 737 Max jet, according to a leaked presentation made public by CBS News. * The presentation deals with changes to the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, which was identified as a factor in the two crashes that led to the jet's worldwide ban from service. * MCAS was designed to automatically push the plane's nose down to keep it stable if it detects a stall. But investigators found that it could misfire because of faulty data from a sensor, forcing the plane into an unstoppable dive. * In the first of the two crashes, MCAS forced the plane's nose down more than 20 times, bringing about a fatal dive that the pilots tried - but failed - to override, investigators said. * Boeing will now require an agreement from two sensors in order to activate MCAS, as well as include a manual override and a mechanism to prevent it from reactivating repeatedly, the presentation said. Boeing is promising three fixes for the faulty system widely blamed for the two deadly 737 Max crashes, CBS News reported on Sunday. The manufacturer told stakeholders in Seattle last week that it would introduce changes to the jets' Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, CBS News reported, citing documents from a presentation by the company. Investigators found that the pilots in both crashes struggled with MCAS, which was designed to automatically push the plane's nose down to stabilize it if it detects a stall. Before a jet from Indonesia's Lion Air crashed last year, MCAS had activated at least 20 times, investigators said. The software had relied on data from one of the plane's two "angle-of-attack" sensors, which monitored the plane's position in the sky. Both pilots tried to push back against the system by angling the plane back up dozens of times, but MCAS kept reactivating. The two crashes killed a total of 346 people. CBS News reported that Boeing said it had addressed these problems with updated software and would make these changes: MCAS will now rely on readings from two sensors as opposed to just one in the original system. The new software will activate only if both sensors agree that the plane's nose is too high. Boeing had announced this update earlier this year. Pilots will be able to override the system. When they do so, MCAS will not automatically reactivate, which the original system would do multiple times. Boeing also told stakeholders that it had flown 1,850 hours with the software updates and spent more than 100,000 hours engineering and test-developing them, CBS News reported. Multiple Boeing employees have spoken about internal pressures to develop planes quickly and keep manufacturing costs down. Boeing did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment on the reported changes. The company's presentation last week was meant to reassure analysts, airlines, pilots, and flight attendants about the 737 Max, CBS News reported. Regulators around the world have grounded those jets, and pilots and flight staff members have publicly expressed fears about flying them again. The US Federal Aviation Administration has also come under pressure for vouching for the 737 Max's safety before the two crashes. The agency now wants to dramatically change its certification process. Internal messages exchanged by Boeing employees in 2016 and released in October also suggested they had known about the MCAS's problems but misled the FAA about its dangers. The 737 Max is expected to return to service in March, though Boeing is trying to get it back in the air sooner. https://www.yahoo.com/news/boeing-promising-3-fixes-faulty-131216712.html Back to Top Incident: Jazz DH8C at Hartford on Dec 9th 2019, smoking windshield cracked A Jazz de Havilland Dash 8-300, registration C-GNON performing flight QK-8842/AC-8842 from Montreal,QC (Canada) to Hartford,CT (USA), was enroute at FL220 nearing the top of descent when smoke developed in the cockpit, then the windshield cracked. The crew descended the aircraft to 10,000 feet and continued to Hartford for a safe landing about 35 minutes later. The airline reported smoke in the cockpit and a cracked windshield, the crew therefore requested emergency services on stand by for the arrival. The occrrence aircraft is still on the ground in Hartford about 27 hours after landing. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/JZA8842/history/20191209/1845Z/CYUL/KBDL http://avherald.com/h?article=4d06c3fe&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: GoAir A20N at Singapore on Dec 9th 2019, fumes on board A GoAir Airbus A320-200N, registration VT-WJJ performing flight G8-28 from Singapore (Singapore) to Bangalore (India) with 158 people on board, was climbing out of Singapore when the crew stopped the climb at FL240 due to a strong smell of oil in the cabin. The aircraft returned to Singapore for a safe landing about 40 minutes after departure. A passenger reported there was a strong smell of oil on board, another passenger reported heavy smoke in the cabin. The passengers complained they were stranded in Singapore for about two days. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground for 41 hours, then departed for flight G8-28D (delayed) and reached Bangalore with a delay of about 42 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4d06c27c&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top Incident: PIA B772 at Sialkot on Dec 10th 2019, burst tyre on landing A PIA Pakistan International Airlines Boeing 777-200, registration AP-BHX performing flight PK-746 from Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) to Sialkot (Pakistan), landed on Sialkot's runway 04 but burst a tyre during roll out. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 10 hours before returning to service. The airline reported the tyre burst due to an incomplete runway repair. Another tyre was brought in from Lahore (Pakistan). http://avherald.com/h?article=4d06c0ac&opt=0 Back to Top Accident: Ethiopian DH8D at Juba on Dec 10th 2019, overran runway on takeoff An Ethiopian Airlines de Havilland Dash 8-400, registration ET-AQC performing flight ET-357 from Juba (South Sudan) to Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) with 21 people on board, was accelerating for takeoff from Juba's runway 31 at about 17:30L (14:30Z) but overran the end of the runway before coming to a stop on soft ground. No injuries are being reported, the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The damage includes the collpase of the left main gear, left engine damage, left propeller blades broken and debris of the left propeller puncturing the fuselage and pressure vessel. Juba Airport reported the aircraft was departing Juba for Addis Ababa when it went off the runway, all 21 people on board are safe, there were no injuries. The passengers are going to be rebooked onto the following day (Wednesday). Captain Bernd Kai von Hoesslin TRI B737/Ret. (former B738 and B38M Captain for Ethiopian Airlines having left the company in April 2019, who asked specifically to be identified as source) reported the left hand propeller blades fractured, impacted and punctured the fuselage. Ethiopian Airlines announced flight ET-357 from Juba to Addis Ababa, a Dash 8-400 ET-AQC, had an incident at Juba Airport when the aircraft skidded to the side of the runway during takeoff roll. All passengers and crew disembarked safely and are going to be accomodated on the next available flight. The weather was windy and rainy. No METARs are available, heavy rain was reported at the time of the takeoff. The aircraft seen off the runway (Photo: Kenyan Aviator): http://avherald.com/h?article=4d068d9d&opt=0 Back to Top Bombardier BD-700-1A11 Global 6000 - Runway Excursion (U.K.) Date: 11-DEC-2019 Time: 05:46 UTC Type: Bombardier BD-700-1A11 Global 6000 Owner/operator: VistaJet Registration: 9H-VJM C/n / msn: 9630 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: None Location: Liverpool-John Lennon International Airport (LPL/EGGP) - United Kingdom Phase: Landing Nature: Unknown Departure airport: Bedford-Hanscom Field, MA (BED/KBED) Destination airport: Liverpool-John Lennon International Airport (LPL/EGGP) Narrative: The aircraft suffered a runway excursion. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/231312 Back to Top Chile combs Antarctic for missing plane with 38 aboard The C-130 Hercules carried 17 crew members and 21 passengers, including three civilians - a 24-year-old embarking on a research project and two employees of a private company. SANTIAGO, Chile - Searchers using planes, ships and satellites were combing Antarctic seas on Tuesday, hunting for a Chilean Air Force transport plane carrying 38 people that vanished en route to a base on the frozen continent. Seven hours after contact was cut off, the Air Force declared the plane a loss, though there was no sign of what happened to it. The Air Force said two ships, more than a dozen planes and three satellites were being used in the search. Officials said the plane had taken off in favorable conditions on Monday, though it was flying in an area notorious for rapidly changing conditions, with freezing temperatures and strong winds. The C-130 Hercules carried 17 crew members and 21 passengers, including three civilians. They were en route to check on a floating fuel supply line and other equipment at the Chilean base. President Sebastián Piñera said via Twitter that he was with his defense and interior ministers at the air force headquarters monitoring developments. Chilean Air Force plane presumed to have crashed en route to Antarctica with 38 people aboard "My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the 38 crew members and passengers," Piñera said, adding that he had cancelled a planned trip to attend Tuesday's inauguration in Argentina of President Alberto Fernández. The three civilian passengers included a 24-year-old who was embarking on a research project and two employees of a private company. One passenger was a woman. The two pilots had extensive experience, according to the Chilean Air Force, which said that while the plane was built in 1978, it was in good condition. The Air Force said it flies this route monthly. The plane took off at Monday afternoon from the southern city of Punta Arenas, more than 3,000 kilometers (1,860 miles) from the capital of Santiago. Contact was lost at 6:13 p.m., the initial announcement said. Drake's Passage, the sea between the southern tip of South America and Antarctica, is infamous for severe weather conditions, including ferocious storms. But the Air Force said late Monday that the weather was good when the plane began its flight, or the mission would not have been carried out. Gen. Eduardo Mosqueira of the Fourth Air Brigade told local media that a search was underway and a ship was in the general area where the plane should have been when contact was lost. "Antarctica is different. It's hard to fly because of changing conditions," said Mosqueira, who added that he had personally flown to the continent with one of the missing pilots. The aircraft would have been about halfway to the Antarctic base when it lost contact, Mosqueira said, adding that no emergency signals had been activated. On Tuesday crews encountered low visibility and waves up to 6 meters (20 feet) high. Holding out hope of survivors, officials said the plane has four rafts that could carry up to 20 passengers each if it went down at sea. The four-engine C-130 is a "military workhorse" first manufactured and flown in late 1950s, said former US Airways pilot John M. Cox, CEO of the consulting firm Safety Operating Systems. While the missing plane is more than 40 years old, "Well maintained, the age of the airplane should not necessarily be a problem," Cox said. "A well-maintained airplane can fly 50-plus years. They're designed that way." Answers to what may have gone wrong could be in the plane's flight data recorder, he said, but finding the wreckage in the sea could prove to be a large challenge for searchers. Chile maintains a scientific base on Antarctica, conducting research on climate change and medicine. Military planes provide the only travel possibilities, frequently transporting civilians. Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil said they were sending crews to assist in the search. Several airplanes scoured the area with infrared devices. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/chile-combs-antarctic-missing- plane-38-aboard-n1099176 Back to Top JETSTAR PILOTS FORGOT TO LOWER THE LANDING GEAR Jetstar landing gear A Jetstar A320. The pilots of a Jetstar A320 forgot to lower the landing gear as they approached Ballina airport in northern New South Wales and were forced to conduct a go-around after they were alerted to the oversight by a master warning. The aircraft operating a flight from Sydney in May, 2018, had already conducted one go-around after the captain decided its airspeed and altitude were higher than a normal approach profile. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau found the flight crew did not follow the Jetstar standard procedures during the first go-around and this created distractions that contributed to the landing gear oversight. In particular, the flaps remained at the Flaps 3 position during the visual circuit rather than the company standard of Flaps 1. The first go-around was performed correctly by the first officer until the Jetstar A320 reached the circuit altitude of 1500ft. As the first officer leveled the aircraft, it accelerated quickly towards the Flaps 3 limit speed and the FO called for approach mode to be activated to reduce the plane's target speed. Worried about a potential flaps overspeed, where the airspeed exceeds safe limits for the flap setting, the FO retarded the thrust levers to idle and by doing so de-activated the auto-thrust system and its protections. "With Flaps 3 still set and 10-degree nose-up pitch altitude, the aircraft performance deteriorated, requiring intervention by the captain,'' the ATSB said. Other distractions affecting the crew included the fact the first officer was expecting a left circuit instead of a non-standard right circuit and had not been briefed about the change. Adding to this was the handover of flight duties to the captain, the need to correct the flight path and the fact the captain continued to fly the aircraft manually, adding to his workload. The captain elected to remain at Flaps 3, which investigators described as permissible and safe but not Jetstar's standard configuration for a visual circuit. "The operator's sequence of configuring the aircraft for landing required the landing gear to be selected DOWN prior to the selection of Flaps 3,'' The ATSB report said. "As the captain turned on to the final approach during the second approach, he scanned the flight instruments, observed Flaps 3 already set and instinctively commanded Flaps FULL, which was the normal sequence from Flaps 3. "The FO selected Flaps FULL but then also turned his attention to monitoring the aircraft's flight path. "As such, neither of the flight crew were aware that the landing gear had not been selected DOWN." Investigators said that because the pilots flew the second circuit at 1500ft, the Electronic Centralised Aircraft Monitor (ECAM) had not reset on the second approach and it did not display a landing memo at 950ft. "The absence of the landing memo should have prompted the flight crew to perform the items of the landing checklist as a 'read-and-do' checklist,'' it said. "Had they read the required actions from the checklist, both the captain and FO would have been required to independently check and announce that the landing gear was down. "This method should have effectively 'trapped' their error." When the landing memo did appear at 800ft, the crew were focused on intercepting the final approach path and performing radio calls and neither recalled seeing it. "Both the captain and FO were subsequently alerted to the incorrect configuration for landing by a master warning message triggered at about 700 ft,'' the report said. The flight crew conducted a second go-around and landed without incident. ATSB transport safety director Dr Start Godley said the incident highlighted the importance of adhering to standard operating procedures and correctly monitoring the aircraft's approach. "In this case a number of factors, such as distraction and limited use of aircraft automation, combined to result in the landing gear not being selected to down," Dr Godley said. "While highly undesirable, it should be noted that the aircraft's warning system effectively alerted the flight crew to the problem and the crew responded promptly to the warning and initiated a second go-around." Jetstar said that as a result of the incident, the pilots attended debriefings with operations management and underwent specific simulator and line flying training related to the event. https://www.airlineratings.com/news/jetstar-pilots-forgot-lower-landing-gear/ Back to Top Aviation Safety: Commission adopts new EU Air Safety List The European Commission today updated the EU Air Safety List, the list of airlines that do not meet international safety standards, and are therefore subject to an operating ban or operational restrictions within the European Union. The EU Air Safety List seeks to ensure the highest level of air safety for Europeans and all other passengers travelling in the European Union. There is positive news for Gabon as all airlines certified in Gabon have been released from the list following improvements to the aviation safety situation in that country. However, the Armenian Civil Aviation Committee has been put under heightened scrutiny because of signs of a decrease in safety oversight. Commissioner for Transport Adina V?lean said: "Today's decision illustrates our continuous efforts to offer the highest level of safety. Not only to European travellers, but to travellers worldwide, because aviation safety knows no border or nationalities. I am pleased to announce that the European Commission was able today to clear all Gabonese air carriers from the EU Air Safety List. Gabon was on the List already since 2008, so it is very good that we can recognise the efforts the aviation safety authorities in Gabon have made." The EU Air Safety List not only helps to maintain high levels of safety in the EU, but also helps affected airlines and countries to improve their levels of safety, in order for them to eventually be taken off the list. In addition, the EU Air Safety List has become a major preventive tool, as it motivates countries with safety problems to act upon them before a ban under the EU Air Safety List would become necessary. Following today's update, a total of 115 airlines are banned from EU skies: * 109 airlines certified in 15 states[1], due to a lack of safety oversight by the aviation authorities from these states; * Six individual airlines, based on safety concerns with regard to these airlines themselves: Avior Airlines (Venezuela), Iran Aseman Airlines (Iran), Iraqi Airways (Iraq), Blue Wing Airlines (Suriname), Med-View Airlines (Nigeria) and Air Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe). An additional three airlines are subject to operational restrictions and can only fly to the EU with specific aircraft types: Air Koryo (Democratic People's Republic of Korea), Air Service Comores (the Comoros) and Iran Air (Iran). Background information Today's update of the Air Safety List is based on the unanimous opinion of the aviation safety experts from the Member States who met from 20 to 21 November 2019 under the auspices of the EU Air Safety Committee (ASC). This Committee is chaired by the European Commission with the support of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The update equally got the support from the European Parliament's Transport Committee. Assessment is made against international safety standards, and notably the standards promulgated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The Commission is constantly looking at ways to improve aviation safety, notably through collaborative efforts with aviation authorities worldwide to raise global safety standards. With this in mind, the Commission, through EASA, will implement two cooperation projects in the course of 2020 to assist Angola and Mozambique to further improve their safety oversight systems. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_19_6686 Back to Top One month until ADS-B deadline and only 88% of aircraft are compliant With the end of the year ADS-B deadline rapidly approaching, the latest data from flight tracking company FlightAware shows that only 88% of business aircraft currently flying are ADS-B compliant. ADS-B stands for Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast. It is a way of frequently sending automated messages about the location, speed and altitude of an aircraft. The US government mandated that all aircraft flying in its controlled airspace must have this capability installed on 1 January 2020. The US joins Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and Vietnam, which all require ADS-B capabilities in aircraft flying over parts of their airspace. FlightAware says that out of 17,619 business aircraft, 15,520 aircraft were ADS-B compliant at the end of November 2019. The FlightAware.com data includes turboprop aircraft. The percentage of the fleet that is compliant has been slowly creeping up since the original announcement of the mandate. At the beginning of 2017 only 27% of the fleet was compliant. By January 2018 the number had climbed to 48%, jumping up to 65% at the beginning of 2019. All new build aircraft come with ADS-B out capabilities built in at delivery. However, all other aircraft need to have ADS-B out equipment fitted by the end of 2019. The installation costs for the upgrade vary drastically and depend on several different factors, including the type of aircraft and the avionics already installed. According to a 2018 AIN article the average cost of an ADS-B upgrade is between $50,000 and $170,000, with the downtime for the aircraft taking anything from one week to three weeks. According to the FlightAware data, 100% of all Cessna Citation Latitudes, Embraer Legacy 450s and Gulfstream G150s are now ADS-B compliant. The first Cessna Citation Latitude was delivered in 2015. To date, Cessna has delivered around 220 Latitudes, with almost half delivered to NetJets and its European subsidiary NetJets Europe. A total of 179 Latitudes are registered in the US, with all now being ADS-B compliant. The Embraer Legacy 450 also saw its first delivery take place in 2015. Only 39 aircraft are registered in the US. Unlike the Citation Latitude and Legacy 450, the Gulfstream G150 ended its production run in 2017, with the final aircraft delivery taking place mid-way through that year. Gulfstream received approvals from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to carry out ADS-B installation work on the fleet of G150s in December 2014. According to FlightAware, there are a total of 50 Gulfstream G150s registered in the US. At the opposite end of the scale, only 55% of the 42 Gulfstream IIIs have been retrofitted with the upgrade. The Gulfstream III is typical of the older generation aircraft that it may not be economically viable to upgrade. Overall, Gulfstream built 202 Gulfstream IIIs, with the last aircraft delivery taking place in 1986. A quick search through aircraft sales listing websites shows a 1984-build Gulfstream III currently available for $1.15 million. The listing does not make it clear if the ADS-B upgrade has been completed. Likewise, the Cessna Citation III has only 67% of the 154 aircraft registered in the US compliant. Cessna also built 202 straight Citation IIIs, with the last aircraft handed over to its new owners in 2000. A quick look again on aircraft listings websites shows the average value of a 1984-build aircraft being around $600,000. You can download a spreadsheet showing the equipage rates per aircraft types direcly from FlightAware by clicking here. Alternatively, the company has also prepared a short series of graphs which can be viewed here. https://corporatejetinvestor.com/articles/one-month-until-ads-b-deadline-and-only-88- of-aircraft-are-compliant-257/ Back to Top Facial Recognition Is Everywhere at China's New Mega Airport A traveler checks in using facial recognition technology in Beijing Daxing International Airport. Flying in and out of Beijing may soon be a Minority Report-like experience. From the ticket turnstiles at the train station, to getting through customs and even buying a duty-free bottle of wine, facial recognition scanners are everywhere at the city's newest airfield: the sprawling, starfish-shaped Beijing Daxing International Airport. The technology, which links a passenger's face to their passport at check in, will speed up the whole process of moving through the airport, according to Wang Qiang, the deputy general manager of planning and design. Daxing -- which opened in September -- is expected to process more than 100 million passengers a year by 2040. It's a centerpiece of President Xi Jinping's strategic push into aviation, with China set to become the world's biggest air travel market early next decade. The pervasiveness of the technology underscores how far ahead China is compared with the rest of the world in embracing facial surveillance. While it's being utilized by fast food chains to the capital city's subway system, it hasn't come without some backlash. In October, state broadcaster China Central Television called for laws to regulate the use of facial recognition technology and a law professor sued a local safari park over a mandatory rule requiring visitors to enter through a facial recognition lane. The tedious experience of getting through airport security will improve thanks to the technology, with four passengers processed every minute at Daxing, according to Wang. Purchases at duty free stores can be made "with your face," he said. On a recent visit, check-in kiosks for a Chinese airline gave passengers a choice of registering using their documents -- or their face. The technology isn't fully operational, however, currently only used by staff at stations for the Daxing Express high-speed train, according to an official. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-12-11/face-recognition- tech-is-everywhere-at-china-s-new-mega-airport Back to Top World Aviation Safety Summit showcases new technologies, solutions for aviation sector safety DUBAI, 11th December, 2019 (WAM) -- The World Aviation Safety Summit, which took place in Dubai, displayed new Artificial Intelligence, AI, technologies, that will help improve safety in the aviation sector. In a session on how new technology can reduce incidents, experts from dnata displayed on stage the 'Oscar bot', an Alexa-style solution that can help safety specialists report incidents more efficiently and effectively. The Oscar bot enables managers and operators to report in real-time exact details of incidents and receive feedback and planning options through AI-enabled technology. Susan Morton, IMS Sustainability and Responsibility Manager, dnata, said, "The aviation sector has always been at the forefront of innovation and the development of new technologies. At this year's World Aviation Safety Summit, we showed the potential impact of AI solutions and how they can be used to enhance safety. We look forward to seeing how this area progresses, as more solutions are developed and upgraded." Ruben Martinez Sevillano, Director at ALG, led a session on how Big Data is being applied to aviation safety and safety intelligence. He showed how AI is already being widely used in the industry to enhance traffic forecasting, optimise flight routes, increase the predictability of operations and identify potential threats and safety hazards. The session advised the industry to move to a more proactive approach through the use of data for analysis of events and precursors and advice on improvements in regulations and procedures. Sevillano said, "Safety predictive models will be based on the analysis of information and data from different aviation stakeholders, such as civil aviation authorities, ANSPs, airports, airlines and MROs. We need to break data silos and share data on operations to be able to improve our safety levels." According to a survey by NewVantage, in 2018, 97.2 percent of companies said they were investing in Big Data and AI. A forecast from Research & Market put the global AI market in aviation at US$2.2 billion by 2025, posting a 46.65 percent growth (CAGR) compared to 2018. The World Aviation Safety Summit, in its seventh edition, welcomed attendees and participants from across the globe. These included officials from regulatory authorities, airline operators, airport operators, aircraft manufacturers, pilot associations, safety organisations and air traffic control service providers. https://wam.ae/en/details/1395302809638 Back to Top Safety officer shortage roadblock to aviation growth (Vietnam) An aircraft seen at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi. Photo by Shutterstock/Maksim Semin. The country's shortage of flight safety officers could constrain aviation development amidst rapid airline expansion. The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) might have to limit fleet expansion among domestic airlines due to the lack of flight safety officers, Vo Huy Cuong, CAAV deputy head, said at the Vietnam Travel and Tourism Summit 2019 on Monday. For every 10 new aircraft, CAAV needs two more flight safety officers. However, current regulations allow it to recruit only one for every two retired officers, he said. As flight safety officers are required to be former pilots, CAAV has to hire them from local airlines, but due to limited budget, cannot pay them the VND120-300 million ($5,200-12,900) equivalent of their former monthly salary, it was added. This means pilots tend to remain at local airlines for higher pay rather than work for the government. In the past two years, CAAV has failed to pay Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet and Jetstar Pacific when hiring their pilots, Cuong explained. With CAAV also short on flight managers and security officers, he proposed the government provides more incentives to attract staff. In October, Bamboo Airways, Vinpearl Air, Vietravel Airlines and KiteAir (the latter three acquiring licensing) proposed to provide CAAV eight flight safety officers, under current reviewing. CAAV presently employs 49 aviation safety officers, only four working full time, supervising a total 256 aircraft. At least seven more are needed next year, and 37 more by 2025 to handle a fleet of 450. Local airlines are also reporting staff shortages, especially pilots and technicians. Vietnam Airlines has been limiting operations of the wide-body Boeing 787 due to the lack of pilots, the carrier's Deputy General Director Le Hong Ha told the forum. As wide-body aircraft need pilots with 7 to 8 years' experience, with the figure at 4 to 5 years for narrow-body jets, the national flag carrier has struggled to recruit amid a global shortfall, he added. Last year, Vietnam's 21 state-run airports served 103.5 million passengers, up 11 percent year-on-year, with the figure set to rise to 112 million this year, according to the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV). https://e.vnexpress.net/news/business/industries/safety-officer-shortage- roadblock-to-aviation-growth-4025026.html Back to Top EASA To Mandate A380 Ram Air Turbine Checks The proposed airworthiness directive is based on an Airbus service bulletin issued last month. Airbus A380 operators face repetitive inspections of ram air turbines to ensure water is not accumulating in gearbox fluids, which could freeze and prevent the back-up power- generation source from working when needed. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued a proposed airworthiness directive (PAD) Dec. 6 that would mandate the checks. The PAD is based on a Nov. 15 Airbus service bulletin. The issue was discovered when Airbus received an in-service report of a ram air turbine (RAT) failing a ground-torque check "with the RAT gearbox drain hole plugged," EASA explained. "After investigation by the RAT manufacturer (previously Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation, currently Collins Aerospace), a significant amount of water, oil and metallic particles were found in the gearbox." Collins issued a follow-up service bulletin calling for checks of a limited number of aircraft, which EASA mandated. Results from those checks "revealed several cases" of excess water, the agency said. "This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to water ingress into the gearbox, surrounding the turbine shaft gear and freezing at altitude, possibly preventing RAT operation," it added. Airbus followed up with the new bulletin, leading to EASA's directive. The new instructions order repetitive checks of gearbox oil for evidence of water in the system. Findings of a "calculated water ingress rate" of 4ml or more per month will require "approved instructions" from Airbus that may include more stringent checks or modifications, EASA said. Initial inspection intervals vary based on aircraft age. A380s delivered before 2019 must be inspected within three months or 2,000 flight hours, whichever comes first. If the service bulletin was accomplished, the intervals are six months or 6,000 hours. Aircraft delivered in 2019 before the directive face intervals of three months or 2,000 flight hours, and the intervals for unbuilt aircraft will be six months or 4,000 hours. The repetitive-check intervals for all aircraft are six months or 4,000 hours. The EASA mandate would only apply to European-registered aircraft, but would likely be adopted globally. Airbus reports 238 A380s in service-all but six of them delivered before 2019. The remaining backlog is 11 aircraft. Airbus announced earlier this year that A380 production would end in 2021. https://www.mro-network.com/maintenance-repair-overhaul/easa-mandate- a380-ram-air-turbine-checks Back to Top NTSB Chief: Doors-off Helo Flight Was 'Death Trap' NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt presides over a hearing about the March 11, 2018 crash of an Airbus AS350B2 helicopter into New York City's East River that killed all five passengers aboard. (Photo: NTSB) In language that was uncharacteristically blunt and direct, this morning National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairman Robert Sumwalt accused the doors-off photo tour company NYONair, parent of FlyNYON, of turning "a perfectly good helicopter into a death trap" and characterizing it as "madness." Sumwalt's remarks came as the NTSB held a public hearing in Washington to determine the probable cause of the fatal March 11, 2018 crash of an Airbus AS350B2 helicopter into New York City's East River that killed all five passengers aboard. The passengers drowned after the helicopter rolled inverted in the water when the emergency floats failed to fully inflate. They were unable to extricate themselves from supplemental harnesses they were wearing as a "safety measure" during a doors off, "shoe selfie" photo flight. The harnesses were cross-attached to the rear cabin bulkhead or floor attach points via a tether and locking carabiner with a D-ring. The pilot, who was wearing only a standard seatbelt, extricated himself and survived. The flight was operated by Liberty Helicopters for NYONair. The NTSB determined the probable cause of the accident was "Liberty Helicopter's use of an NYONair provided passenger harness tether system which caught and activated the floor-mounted engine fuel shutoff lever and resulted in the loss of engine power and subsequent ditching." Contributing factors listed by the NTSB included deficient safety management at Liberty and NYON; Liberty allowing NYON to influence operational control of the flights; and inadequate FAA oversight. According to the Board, the severity of the accident was affected by "the rapid capsizing of the helicopter due to partial inflation of the emergency flotation system" and Liberty and NYON's use of a supplemental "harness tether system that hindered passenger egress." The helicopter's engine failed during a "doors off" photo tour flight conducted under 14 CFR 119.1(e)(4)(iii), which allows aerial photography flights to be operated under Part 91 as opposed to the more stringent Part 135 that typically covers air tourism flights. The exemption was designed to allow professional photography flights and other types of aerial work. During the hearing, NTSB members repeatedly blasted Liberty and NYON's exploitation of what they saw as a glaring loophole in FAA regulations. Co-Chairman Bruce Landsberg called it "a loophole one could fly a helicopter or a truck through." He added, "What happened here was beyond the pale." Landsberg struggled to contain his incredulity. "I went to FlyNYON's website. They said since inception in 2012 they have flown over 250,000 passengers and now offer flights in Miami, Los Angeles. That doesn't sound like aerial work...and the FAA had difficulty understanding this?" As it turns out, NTSB staff investigators did discover that FAA inspectors had raised concerns about FlyNYON's operations to their supervisors but were rebuffed. However, none of these inspectors or supervisors availed themselves to obtain a legal opinion from the FAA as to the legality of the operations. "What they did not do, and we did during the investigation, is contact their legal department-which is a tool available to them-to ask what was this (operation) supposed to be under (Part 91 or Part 135)," said NTSB investigator David Lawrence. "Had they done that, they would have gotten the same legal interpretation we received that said that this (FlyNYON) is not aerial photography, it is an air tour." Lawrence also added that the agreement Liberty had in place with NYONair was a charter agreement that specified Part 135. However, NYON instructed its employees never to use the words "tour or charter" and to be on the watch for overly inquisitive visitors and "anyone with a badge," according to the NTSB. Sumwalt said both Liberty and NYON were more than "not vigilant, they went beyond the lack of vigilance. They exploited a regulatory loophole to the detriment of their customers' safety." Sumwalt continued, "Once you hang out a shingle and charge money in exchange for goods and services, there needs to be a higher standard of care. I think we need to take a hard line and say that, 'By George, if you are going to charge people to go up for an air tour, it will be conducted under Part 135.' "There is nothing like the experience of an air tour to see a location from a different perspective, but it is madness to allow the thrill of such an experience to be spiked with unnecessary risk to passengers, to crew, and to innocent bystanders," he said. The FAA received additional Board criticism with regard to its STC approval of the Dart emergency floats on the helicopter, specifically with regard to the position of the float activation lever on the cyclic, the inordinate amount of pull force required to activate that lever (greater than 59 pounds), and the failure of the year 2000 crossfeed tube modification to prevent asymmetrical float inflation in the event one of the gas cylinders failed. But the board's most scathing criticism was reserved for Liberty and NYON, which were broadly faulted for their respective safety cultures characterized as "deficient." Safety shortcomings mentioned by the Board included a lack of a safety management system (SMS) at both organizations, a "misleading" NYON passenger safety video that characterized the supplemental harnesses as quick-release and equipped with an easily used cutting tool, purging pilots from safety meetings, and disregarding pilot safety concerns. Along with its probable cause finding, the NTSB issued 20 findings and 15 recommendations. The Board found that "Liberty Helicopter's and NYONair's decision to use locking carabiners and ineffective cutting tools for passengers to rapidly release from the harness tether system was inappropriate and unsafe." It further said the FAA's approval process for supplemental passenger restraint systems implemented after the crash is "inadequate" because "it doesn't provide guidance to inspectors to evaluate any aircraft specific installations or the potential for entanglement that passengers may encounter during emergency egress." Dart was faulted for not "specifying pull force limitations for the emergency flotation system's activation handle." NTSB recommendations included suspension of doors-off passenger flights until the FAA's supplemental restraint approval process is improved; mandating SMSs for all air tour operators; closing the photo flight loophole; modifying the fuel shutoff lever on the AS350 to protect it from "inadvertent" activation; and training employees to recognize signs of passenger impairment and to deny boarding as appropriate. The front-seat passenger, whose entangled tether triggered the fuel shutoff lever, was found to have a blood alcohol content level of 0.18-more than twice the legal limit. However, his intoxication was found not to be a factor in the accident by the NTSB. Sumwalt praised the airmanship of accident pilot Richard Vance. "I do want to talk about the pilot performance. Within two seconds he initiated descent. He went to shut off the fuel shut off lever. He slammed it back down to try to open the valve and then went back to try to relight the engine. He did activate the floats. He had a lot going on in that less than a minute. And I was frankly impressed that he got that much done under a high-stress situation." "The ditching was survivable," Sumwalt said. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/general-aviation/2019-12- 10/ntsb-chief-doors-helo-flight-was-death-trap Back to Top FAA Picks Drone Test Administration Advisors The FAA has selected twelve organizations to advise the agency as it develops test administration requirements for an aeronautical knowledge and safety test for recreational Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS/drone) operators. Among the organizations that will be advising the FAA are Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, DJI, King Schools, the Unmanned Safety Institute, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and Academy of Model Aeronautics. This part of the process will focus on establishing requirements and selection criteria for test administrators, not the test itself which is also still in the works. As previously reported by AVweb, development of a UAS aeronautical knowledge and safety test and associated testing requirements are part of the FAA's incremental implementation of the recreational drone use requirements set out in Section 44809 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018. In addition to seven other conditions, Section 44809 requires that a recreational drone operator "has passed an aeronautical knowledge and safety test and maintains proof of test passage ..." According to the FAA, there are currently more than one million recreational drone flyers registered with the agency. https://www.avweb.com/flight-safety/faa-regs/faa-picks-drone-test- administration-advisors/ Back to Top World's first fully electric commercial aircraft takes flight in Canada Company hails start of the 'electric aviation age' after 15-minute test flight in Vancouver The world's first electric commercial during its maiden flight in Richmond, British Columbia The world's first fully electric commercial aircraft has taken its inaugural test flight, taking off from the Canadian city of Vancouver and flying for 15 minutes. "This proves that commercial aviation in all-electric form can work," said Roei Ganzarski, chief executive of Australian engineering firm magniX. The company designed the plane's motor and worked in partnership with Harbour Air, which ferries half a million passengers a year between Vancouver, Whistler ski resort and nearby islands and coastal communities. Ganzarski said the technology would mean significant cost savings for airlines and zero emissions. "This signifies the start of the electric aviation age," he said. Civil aviation is one of the fastest-growing sources of carbon emissions as people increasingly take to the skies, and new technologies have been slow to get off the ground. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has encouraged greater use of efficient biofuel engines and lighter aircraft materials, as well as route optimisation. The e-plane - a 62-year-old, six-passenger DHC-2 de Havilland Beaver seaplane retrofitted with a 750hp electric motor - was piloted by Greg McDougall, founder and chief executive of Harbour Air. "For me that flight was just like flying a Beaver, but it was a Beaver on electric steroids. I actually had to back off on the power," he said. McDougall took the plane on a short trip along the Fraser River near Vancouver international airport in front of around 100 onlookers soon after sunrise. The flight lasted less than 15 minutes, according to an AFP journalist on the scene. "Our goal is to actually electrify the entire fleet," said McDougall. On top of fuel efficiency, the company would save millions in maintenance costs because electric motors require "drastically" less upkeep, Mr McDougall said. However, Harbour Air will have to wait at least two years before it can begin electrifying its fleet of more than 40 seaplanes. The e-plane has to be tested further to confirm it is reliable and safe. In addition, the electric motor must be approved and certified by regulators. In Ottawa, transport minister Marc Garneau said ahead of the maiden flight that he had his "fingers crossed that the electric plane will work well". If it does, he said: "It could set a trend for more environmentally friendly flying." Battery power is also a challenge. An aircraft like the one flown on Tuesday could fly only about 160km on lithium battery power, said Ganzarski. While that's not far, it's sufficient for the majority of short-haul flights run by Harbour Air. "The range now is not where we'd love it to be, but it's enough to start the revolution," said Ganzarski, who predicts batteries and electric motors will eventually be developed to power longer flights. While the world waits, he said cheaper short-haul flights powered by electricity could transform the way people connect and where they work. "If people are willing to drive an hour to work, why not fly 15 minutes to work?" he said. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/dec/11/worlds-first-fully-electric- commercial-aircraft-takes-flight-in-canada Back to Top US grounds Saudi pilots, halts military training after base shooting * Roughly 300 Saudi Arabian military aviation students have been grounded as part of a "safety stand-down." * The move comes after a Saudi Air Force lieutenant shot and killed three people last week at a U.S. Navy base in Florida, U.S. officials told Reuters on Tuesday. * The decision will have far-reaching impacts on visiting Saudi personnel. The Pentagon announced on Tuesday it was halting operational training of all Saudi Arabian military personnel in the United States until further notice after a Saudi Air Force lieutenant shot and killed three people last week at a base in Florida. The decision will have far-reaching impacts on visiting Saudi personnel, including grounding more than 300 Saudi Arabian military aviation students as part of a "safety stand-down," first reported by Reuters earlier on Monday. The Pentagon later confirmed the Reuters report about aviation students and added the move would also affect infantry personnel and all other Saudi training, other than classroom training. Such coursework, which includes English-language classes, will continue. A senior U.S. defense official, briefing Pentagon reporters on the decision, said the move was intended to allow for a broader review of security procedures that would eventually apply to all of some 5,000 international military students in the United States. Still, the safety standdown only applied to the some 850 visiting students from Saudi Arabia. The defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the shooting "suggested that there could be a particular improvement with that (nation's) population." "I don't have any evidence to suggest that there is a larger ring or larger conspiracy," the official said, when asked what was driving the safety-standdown. The FBI has said U.S. investigators believe Saudi Air Force Second Lieutenant Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani, 21, acted alone when he attacked a U.S. Navy base in Pensacola, Florida, on Friday, before he was fatally shot by a deputy sheriff. The shootings have again raised questions about the U.S. military relationship with Saudi Arabia, which has come under heightened scrutiny in Congress over the war in Yemen and Saudi Arabia's killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi last year. Still, U.S. military leaders have sought to portray this as a localized issue which would not affect the overall U.S.-Saudi relationship. Navy spokeswoman Lieutenant Andriana Genualdi said the safety standdown and operational pause began on Monday for Saudi Arabian aviation students. She said the grounding included three different military facilities: Naval Air Station Pensacola, Naval Air Station Whiting Field and Naval Air Station Mayport, all in Florida. The Air Force said its groundings of Saudi aviation students also applied to additional U.S. bases. "Given the traumatic events, we feel it is best to keep the Royal Saudi Air Force students off the flying schedule for a short time," the Air Force spokeswoman said. Alshamrani was on the base as part of a U.S. Navy training program designed to foster links with foreign allies. He had started training in the United States in 2017 and had been in the Pensacola area for the past 18 months, authorities said. A group that tracks online extremism has said Alshamrani appeared to have posted criticism of U.S. wars in predominantly Muslim countries and quoted slain al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden on Twitter hours before the shooting spree. U.S.-Saudi relations The attack comes as President Donald Trump's administration has maintained warm ties with Riyadh amid high tensions with Middle East rival Iran. U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper has dismissed suggestions that the shootings might make him more reluctant about new U.S. deployments to Saudi Arabia, which were announced in October and first reported by Reuters. "Saudi Arabia is a longstanding partner of ours in the region. We share mutual security interests," Esper said over the weekend. Esper said he had instructed the armed forces to review both security at military bases and screening for foreign soldiers who come to the United States for training after the shooting. In the wake of the shootings, the U.S. Northern Command immediately ordered all military installations to review force protection measures and to increase "random security measures." A Northern Command spokesman said local commanders in the United States also had the authority to "add further countermeasures as needed," without elaborating as to which, if any, bases did so. https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/10/300-saudi-military-aviation-students-grounded-in- us-after-base-shooting.html Back to Top 33 years after making history, American Airlines' first female captain honored for pioneering role Beverley Bass at the 2019 TPG Awards. The Points Guy announced he would donate $50,000 to Bass' organization, the International Society of Women Airline Pilots, in her honor. More than 33 years ago, Beverley Bass soared into history as the first woman captain of a commercial plane for American Airlines, which was the biggest airline in the world. But when she took off from New York's LaGuardia Airport that day in 1986, she didn't know she would become international news. "I had no idea, but it made headlines around the world," Bass told CBS News at The Points Guy Awards on Monday night. "I just thought I was going to be like every captain, just flying the airplane." That high-profile flight was followed by countless others. Bass' career as a pilot spanned four decades, and her success in aviation inspired others in the field, as well as women in other industries. Her life and leadership have even figured into a Broadway musical. The show "Come from Away" focuses on what Bass did as a pilot on 9/11, when she had to divert her flight to the tiny town of Gander, Newfoundland, and local residents pitched in to take care of the stranded passengers. The show debuted in 2013, and in 2017 it made its way to Broadway, earning a Tony nomination for Best Musical. Now, decades after she first took to the skies, Bass was honored by travel guru Brian Kelly - aka "The Points Guy" - at his annual awards ceremony. Choosing Bass as this year's TPG Awards honoree was a given, Kelly told CBS News. He and his team had seen "Come from Away" and knew the real-life protagonist was someone special. At the TPG Awards, it was also announced Kelly's company donated $50,000 to the International Society of Women Airline Pilots in Bass' honor. International Society of Women Airline Pilots was created by Bass and fellow pilot Stephanie Wallach, whom she met while working in the 1970s. What started as a small society of female aviators has transformed into a program that provides mentorship and career support to aspiring pilots. "Coming up through 40-some-odd years of flying, I never thought of myself as a pioneer, but now that I'm so much older - and, by the way I'm still flying jets - I'm now finally beginning to realize that those of us who started in the 70s, we are the pioneers. But I never thought of it like that all those years," Bass told CBS News at the TPG Awards. Bass, now in her 60s, is able to reflect on just how pivotal she was in paving the way for other women, and she has advice for those working in male-dominated industries. "What I always say to them, especially those who are going to be working in a man's world, is you have to be very good at your job, you have to maintain respect, and you have to be true to yourself," Bass said. "I never tried to be one of the guys. I always said, 'I'm a girl first, i just happen to be a girl pilot.'" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/female-pilot-honored-beverley-bass-american-airlines- captain-tpg-awards/ Back to Top Private jet maker Bombardier launches apprenticeship program in Red Oak (TX) The Montreal-based company bought a wing production facility in January from Triumph. Bombardier is a global maker of business and private jets, with $16 billion in revenue last year. Jet maker Bombardier is establishing an aviation apprenticeship training program at Texas State Technical College in Red Oak to develop a talent pipeline for its wing manufacturing facility. The two-year program is intended to prepare students for an entry-level aptitude test. Bombardier acquired the Global 7500 business jet wing manufacturing operation in Red Oak from Triumph in January. "The growth of Bombardier's Global 7500 program is paramount to the future success and development of Bombardier Aviation," said Paul Sislian, the company's chief operating officer. Marcus Balch, provost of Texas State Technical College's North Texas campus in Red Oak, said the program's graduates will "ultimately live here and work here in Red Oak and the surrounding communities. ... The plan is continue this partnership for many years to come." Bombardier touts the innovative advanced wing design of Global 7500 aircraft as a key difference from other business jets. It said the metallic wing increases aerodynamics, improves safety and results in a smoother ride. Montreal-based Bombardier has more than 68,000 employees in at production and engineering sites in 28 countries. It had 2018 revenue of $16.2 billion. https://www.dallasnews.com/business/jobs/2019/12/09/private-jet-maker-bombardier- launches-apprenticeship-program-in-red-oak/ Back to Top NASA Tests Space Launch System Fuel Tank by Tearing It Apart Generally, you don't want rocket fuel tanks to rupture because that probably means something is about to explode. The fuel is supposed to stay inside where it can explode in a controlled manner upon leaving the rocket. The exception to the no-rupture rule is when you're testing a new design, and that's where NASA is in the development of the long-delayed Space Launch System (SLS). NASA conducted its latest round of testing on the SLS at Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama. When it's complete, the SLS will be the most powerful rocket in the world, and that means it has to carry a lot of fuel. The large orange tank will hold liquid hydrogen fuel during missions, but it was empty for the test. Instead, NASA used large hydraulic pistons on the 215-foot test stand to compress, twist, and bend the tank until it fails. The goal is to show that it can survive forces even greater than it will experience during flight. This tank was specially outfitted with an array of sensors to record exactly how it failed, but it was otherwise identical to the tanks that will fly on the SLS. NASA also pointed high-speed cameras and ultra-sensitive microphones at the tank to record its final moments. NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine just posted the video to Twitter, showing the tank blow apart in spectacular fashion. NASA reports that the tank withstood 260 percent of the expected flight load during the test. That's within 3 percent of the tank's expected failure point. NASA didn't detect any premature buckling or cracking in the walls as the pressure ramped up, indicating the tank design will perform as expected in the SLS. In addition to the liquid fuel engines, the SLS will also have a pair of giant solid rocket boosters helping it get off the ground. Together, they will have enough power to hoist large payloads into space and make manned missions to the moon and Mars a reality. Currently, NASA expects to conduct an uncrewed flight of the SLS and Orion capsule (Artemis 1) in late 2020. The Orion spacecraft will orbit the moon and return to Earth. The SLS will carry its first human passengers into space in 2022 or 2023. https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/303227-nasa-tests-space-launch-system-fuel- tank-by-tearing-it-apart Back to Top Call for Papers - ISASI 2020 Montreal Sheraton, Montreal PQ September 1 - 3, 2020 With "20/20 Vision for the Future" as our theme, the ISASI 2020 Committee is inviting interested individuals to submit abstracts for papers that address the future of aircraft accident investigation. Presentation topics that support the theme may include, but are not limited to: * Recent accident/incident investigations of interest. * Novel investigation techniques for aircraft, helicopter, and drone accidents. * Data investigation methods, techniques and future developments. * Airport investigation methods and techniques * Future investigator selection criteria and training needs. * Future of aircraft data capture and retrieval and protection of safety information. * Future developments in underwater wreckage recovery. * Future evolution of Family Assistance. We are also interested in papers that address the challenges surrounding the recent 737 Max accidents. While it is not our intent to discuss the accidents themselves, we are hoping to generate thought and discussion on the impact the accidents have had on to the industry as a whole and how it has affected the travelling public. Presentations must be in English and should be 25 minutes long. There will be an additional 5 minutes for questions at the end of each presentation. Abstracts should include the author's current CV [1 page only please] and be sent to isasi2020papers@shaw.ca Important dates: March 20th, 2020 - Last date for receipt of abstracts. May 8th, 2020 - Presenters informed of acceptance and provided with additional instructions. May 22nd, 2020 - Draft program for the 2019 Seminar Technical Program will be published. July 10th, 2020 - Last date for receipt of completed paper and PowerPoint presentation. Any papers not received by this date will be removed from the program and replaced by another speaker. If you have questions related to the paper topics or any other inquiries about the program, please contact the ISASI 2020 Program Chair at avsafe@shaw.ca Back to Top Upcoming Cranfield short courses The Cranfield Safety and Accident Investigation Centre (CSAIC) is helping to improve safety and shape the future of the transport industry. We offer an extensive range of continuing professional development (CPD) short courses in accident investigation, safety management, human factors and airworthiness. Our upcoming short courses for 2020 include: * Fundamentals of Accident Investigation: 13 - 31 Jan and 11 - 29 May * Applied Safety Assessment Workshop: 27 - 31 Jan * Air Transport Engineering - Maintenance Operations: 10 - 14 Feb * Aviation Safety Management: 30 Mar - 03 Apr * Human Factors in Aviation Maintenance: 30 Mar - 03 Apr * Hazards and Evidence Awareness for Air Accident Responders: 22 - 23 Apr * Safety Assessment of Aircraft Systems: 22 - 26 Jun Have you subscribed to our Safety and Accident Investigation Blog? Our Safety and Accident Investigation blog gives information, insights and thoughts from our Cranfield Safety and Accident Investigation Centre team. Sign up here Please take a look and subscribe, to ensure you're the first to receive our latest content. We'd love to hear your feedback too. Contact us on: E: shortcourse@cranfield.ac.uk T: +44 (0)1234 754189 Curt Lewisdent Responders: 22 - 23 Apr * Safety Assessment of Aircraft Systems: 22 - 26 Jun Have you subscribed to our Safety and Accident Investigation Blog? Our Safety and Accident Investigation blog gives information, insights and thoughts from our Cranfield Safety and Accident Investigation Centre team. Sign up here Please take a look and subscribe, to ensure you're the first to receive our latest content. We'd love to hear your feedback too. Contact us on: E: shortcourse@cranfield.ac.uk T: +44 (0)1234 754189 Back to Top Back to Top Back to Top Back to Top Back to Top TODAY'S PHOTO Braniff International Lockheed L-188 Electra Jet Back to Top ADVERTISE WITH FLIGHT SAFETY INFORMATION & AVIATION MAINTENANCE AND TECHNOLOGY EXCHANGE Flight Safety Information (FSI) Newsletter has been publishing timely aviation safety news for over 25 years. FSI has over 100,000 aviation readers on a globally basis. Banner Ads and Push-Ads are Available. For advertising information and reasonable rates, please contact: Advertising@curt-lewis.com or Call: (817)845-3983 Back to Top Contact Information "Flight Safety Information" is a free service of: Curt Lewis, PhD, CSP, FRAeS, FISASI Publisher CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC (Targeting Aviation Safety & Risk Management) curt@curt-lewis.com www.curt-lewis.com www.fsinfo.org PH: 817-845-3983 Fax: 682-292-0835 Twitter: curtllewis01 Skype: curt.lewis2 (Follow FSI on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn.com, http://curt-lewis.com/category/newsletter/ or http://www.acsf.aero/news/flight-safety-news/) Free Subscription: sign up for Flight Safety Information at www.fsinfo.org ADVERTISE WITH FLIGHT SAFETY INFORMATION and AVIATION MAINTENANCE AND TECHNOLOGY EXCHANGE Flight Safety Information (FSI) Newsletter has been publishing timely aviation safety news for over 25 years. FSI has over 100,000 readers and 65,000 aviation subscribers on a globally basis. For advertising information, please contact: Advertising@curt-lewis.com Curt Lewis & Associates, LLC is an international, multi-discipline technical, scientific and research consulting firm specializing in aviation and industrial safety. Our specialties are aviation litigation support (Expert Witness), aviation/airport safety programs, accident investigation and reconstruction, safety & quality assessments/audits (ISO- 9001/AS-9100), system safety, human factors, Safety Management Systems (SMS) assessment/implementation & training, safety/quality training & risk management, aviation manual development, IS-BAO Auditing, technical writing & editing, airfield/heliport lighting products, patent infringement/invalidity expert testimony and Technical Support. Curt Lewis & Associates, LLC, PO Box 976, Burnet, TX 78611 SafeUnsubscribe™ fgae@club-internet.fr Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by curt@curt-lewis.com in collaboration with Try email marke ting for free today!