Flight Safety Information January 6, 2020 - No. 004 In This Issue Boeing 737 Max investigation after several plane crashes revealed additional concerns with wiring Incident: Wizz A320 at Wrocslaw on Jan 4th 2020, navigation system problems Incident: China Airlines B744 at San Francisco on Jan 4th 2020, bird strike causes AoA problems Incident: Westjet B738 at Halifax on Jan 5th 2020, overran runway on landing Accident: British Airways A320 at London on Jan 2nd 2020, fumes take out first officer Nigeria: Air Peace Scales Through IATA Safety Audit Safest airlines in the world are in Asia-Pacific, along with some of the most punctual Carlos Ghosn's Private Jet Escape Could Impact The Airplanes' Owners Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Becomes The Largest Airport In The U.S. To Ban Smoking AIRCRAFT RECYCLING COMPANY WILL INVEST NEARLY $100 MILLION AT THE N.C. GLOBAL TRANSPARK CREATING 475 jobs Japan eyes tie-up with ASEAN member nations to develop aircraft industry Why the quantum internet should be built in space Najeeb E. Halaby Graduate Student Fellowship RESEARCH SURVEY Flight Safety Officer Course from SCSI Laura Taber Barbour Aviation Scholarship Fund Boeing 737 Max investigation after several plane crashes revealed additional concerns with wiring and engines 4 Boeing 737 MAX from TUI fly Belgium are docked in Brussels on December 18, 2019. Photo by Thierry Monasse/Getty Images Investigations into the Boeing 737 Max planes that were grounded after two deadly crashes have uncovered additional concerns with the wiring and engines. The New York Times reports that Boeing's internal audit completed at the request of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) found that two bundles of critical wiring might be too close together. Previous flaws in the software of the planes could trigger nose dives, and the software fix has yet to be approved in the process of getting the planes back into service that has taken longer than expected. The 737 Max engines have also fallen under scrutiny, thanks to a possible weakness in a rotor and a manufacturing problem that left the engines vulnerable to lightning strikes. Boeing is still working to ready its 737 Max planes for service again, after two deadly crashes in five months killed 346 people. But the process is taking longer than expected, and investigations have revealed new concerns. The New York Times reports that Boeing's internal audit completed at the request of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) found that two critical bundles of wire that help control the tail of the 737 Max may be too close together, opening the potential for a short circuit. Boeing is still working to determine whether a scenario involving a short circuit that could lead to a crash could actually occur. A senior Boeing engineer told the Times anonymously that finding these types of problems and fixing them isn't unusual, and the fix for the wiring would be relatively simple. The internal audit is intended to determine whether Boeing accurately assessed the dangers of key systems on the planes, given new assumptions on how long it takes pilots and crews to respond to emergencies. New software on the planes was partly to blame for the two deadly crashes, which triggered errors that sent the planes into nose dives. Boeing's software fix has yet to be approved, but regulators think the planes could fly by spring. American Airlines and Southwest Airlines have planned commercial Max flights in April. FILE - In this March 27, 2019, file photo people work on the Boeing 737 MAX 8 assembly line during a brief media tour in Boeing's 737 assembly facility in Renton, Wash. On Friday, Jan 3, 2020, the Institute for Supply Management, an association of purchasing managers, reports on activity by U.S. manufacturers in December. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File) Investigations into the two crashes found that pilots did not respond as quickly or as effectively as Boeing and the FAA presumed they would when designing and evaluating the software under industry standards. Under new assumptions, if the wiring caused a short circuit that affected the stabilizer, the plane could nose dive. If the wiring needs to be fixed, Boeing says it would take one to two hours per plane to separate the bundles using a clamp. But changing the wiring could also do additional damage during the repair process, so Boeing is hoping to avoid the possibility. In addition, the engine manufacturers discovered a possible weakness that could cause a rotor to shatter, and Boeing found a manufacturing problem that caused workers to inadvertently remove panel coating that protects the fuel tank and fuel lines from a lightning strike. After Boeing's CEO was fired last month, the interim chief executive and his replacement are contending with a share price that fell 21 percent and tens of billions in charges related to the 737 Max grounding. However, government officials believe the plane may be cleared for a certification test flight as soon as by the end of January, where Boeing would have to demonstrate the May meets all safety requirements. It would be the regulator's final exam and one of the last steps before the grounding could be lifted. https://www.yahoo.com/news/boeing-737-max-investigation-several-215131670.html Back to Top Incident: Wizz A320 at Wrocslaw on Jan 4th 2020, navigation system problems A Wizzair Airbus A320-200, registration HA-LWK performing flight W6-1843 from Wrocslaw (Poland) to Lviv (Ukraine), was climbing through FL180 out of Wrocslaw when the crew declared PAN PAN PAN reporting they were down to one navigation equipment only. The crew returned to Wrocslaw for a safe landing on runway 29 about 35 minutes after departure. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 6 hours, then departed again and reached Lviv with a delay of 6.5 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4d194cb8&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: China Airlines B744 at San Francisco on Jan 4th 2020, bird strike causes AoA problems A China Airlines Boeing 747-400 freighter, registration B-18718 performing flight CI-5107 from San Francisco,CA (USA) to Taipei (Taiwan) with 7 crew, was in the initial climb out of San Francisco's runway 28R, when just upon contacting departure and receiving instructions for further climb the crew declared PAN PAN PAN reporting a bird strike, that had taken out some of their flight instruments. The aircraft stopped the climb at 6000 feet, the crew indicated they were still considering how to proceed, there were no procedures for the faults. The crew decided to dump fuel and return to San Francisco. The aircraft landed safely back on San Francisco's runway 28R about 75 minutes after departure. Some of the AoA probes were found damaged. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground in San Francisco for about 23.5 hours, then departed as flight CI-9107 to Taipei. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/CAL5107/history/20200104/2130Z/KSFO/KSFO http://avherald.com/h?article=4d194ae8&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Westjet B738 at Halifax on Jan 5th 2020, overran runway on landing A Westjet Boeing 737-800, registration C-FUJR performing flight WS-248 from Toronto,ON to Halifax,NS (Canada) with 172 passengers and 6 crew, landed on Halifax's runway 14 (length 7,700 feet/2350 meters) at 12:07L (16:07Z), tower advised RVR was 4000 feet, braking action was not known for runway 14, 100% wet snow. After roll out the crew advised they weren't sure whether they had stopped still on the runway or were beyond the end, airport operation dispatched a vehicle to check the position of the aircraft. The aircraft was found past the end of the runway. The crew shut the engines down (with APU running), reported no injuries on board and requested to be towed to the apron. The passengers disembarked via mobile stairs at the end of the runway and were bussed to the apron. Tower advised departures on runway 05, that all emergency services were occupied and no cover was available for the departures. Tower told operations and emergency vehicles that the aircraft was at the threshold of runway 32 (at the end of runway 14). Pictorial evidence suggests the aircraft came to a stop with all gear off the paved surface of the runway end safety area. The Canadian TSB have dispatched a team of investigators "following a runway overrun" at Halifax. http://avherald.com/h?article=4d192a80&opt=0 Back to Top Accident: British Airways A320 at London on Jan 2nd 2020, fumes take out first officer A British Airways Airbus A320-200, registration G-EUYM performing flight BA-633 from Athens (Greece) to London Heathrow,EN (UK), was on final approach to Heathrow's runway 27R about 4nm before touchdown when the captain donned his oxygen mask and declared Mayday, Mayday advising he was going to continue the approach. The aircraft touched down safely on runway 27R about 2 minutes later. On Jan 4th 2020 The Aviation Herald received information that on final approach the first officer passed out, the captain smelled the odour of old socks, immediately donned his oxygen mask, declared emergency and continued for a safe landing. Passengers and cabin crew remained unaware until after landing. On Jan 5th 2020 The Aviation Herald received more details: On approach to Heathrow the captain noticed the odour of dirty old socks, the first officer, pilot flying, did not smell anything. The captain believes the odour is dissipating. Then the first officer started breathing heavily, slumps forward and no longer responds to questions by the captain. The captain therefore takes control, dons his oxygen mask, declares Mayday, configures the aircraft for landing and lands safely. After landing, in care by medical staff, the first officer recovers. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Heathrow about 60 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4d189839&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top Nigeria: Air Peace Scales Through IATA Safety Audit Nigeria's major carrier, Air Peace has set the tone for the aviation sector in 2020 as it recently received its third International Air Transport Association Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification. The airline said the development is coming on the heels of its announcement of flight operations into Ibadan from Lagos, Kano and Owerri. Air Peace noted that it set a record when it obtained its first IOSA, barely two years into its operations and was subsequently inducted as a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) In a reaction, the Chief Operating Officer (COO), Air Peace, Mrs. Toyin Olajide, expressed delight that the certification was another feather added to the Air Peace's cap and confirms the airline's uncompromising adherence to safety standards in line with global best practices. She explained that the exercise this time around was tougher than what obtained in previous years but the airline scaled through every phase of the certification process due to, "our unwavering drive to keep raising the bar in our operations." She also reassured the flying public of the airline's resolve to continue to comply with best safety standards and promised more seamless connectivity and an expanded route network in 2020. The COO applauded the IATA for its efforts at ensuring that stakeholders in aviation globally comply with stipulated safety standards. She averred that the airline would continue to blaze the trail in Africa's aviation landscape. "Air Peace has attained an enviable position as West Africa's leading airline and will continue to raise the bar in-flight services, while ensuring a hundred percent compliance with all safety codes as required by the industry regulatory bodies," Olajide said. In a message to Air Peace, the Director of Audit Programmes, IATA, Catalin Cotrut, congratulated the airline on the successful completion of the audit. https://allafrica.com/stories/202001030347.html Back to Top Safest airlines in the world are in Asia-Pacific, along with some of the most punctual * Qantas tops AirlineRatings.com's safest list, followed by Air New Zealand and Eva Air from Taiwan. Cathay takes 9th place * Garuda Indonesia was the most punctual airline last year, according to OAG Aviation Worldwide, while Moscow's Sheremetyevo was the airport with fewest delays Asia-Pacific airlines are the safest in the world, with Qantas leading the way, according to AirlineRatings.com. Garuda Indonesia led the world in punctuality. Qantas Airways was named safest airline in the world on a top-20 list published by AirlineRatings.com, followed by Air New Zealand and Taiwan's Eva Air. Singapore Airlines was sixth, Cathay Pacific Airways ninth and Virgin Australia 10th. AirlineRatings.com said it takes into account factors including audits by governing and industry bodies, crash and serious incident records, profitability and fleet age. In a separate survey by OAG Aviation Worldwide, Garuda Indonesia was crowned 2019's most punctual carrier. Panama's Copa Airlines ranked second among airlines arriving or departing within 15 minutes of scheduled times. Japan's Skymark Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Latam Airlines rounded out the top five. Among major US carriers, Delta Air Lines was the only one to make it into the top 20. Travellers at Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok, which dropped out of the world's top 10 for on-time performance. Photo: AFP The number of global air passengers will double to 8.2 billion by 2037, thanks to economic growth and a swelling middle class, according to the International Air Transport Association. More than half of those fliers will come from the Asia-Pacific region, led by demand from countries like China and India. About 4.7 billion people are expected to travel this year, 4 per cent more than in 2019, IATA said in December. Taiwan's Eva Air has the third-best safety record. Safety ratings are based on audits by governing and industry bodies, crash and serious incident records, profitability and fleet age. Photo: Kyodo Among mega airports ranked by OAG - those catering to more than 30 million airline seats - Moscow Sheremetyevo topped the list for the best on-time performance last year. The ranking is based on the proportion of flights at each airport that arrive and leave within 15 minutes of scheduled times. In contrast to the poor showing of its airlines, the US' airports were top performers for punctuality. Six of the top 10 on-time airports were American, with Atlanta ranking fourth. Seattle came in fifth and Los Angeles seventh. John F. Kennedy airport entered the top 10, while Bangkok and Amsterdam dropped out https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3044502/safest-airlines-world- are-asia-pacific-along-some-most Back to Top Carlos Ghosn's Private Jet Escape Could Impact The Airplanes' Owners Carlos Ghosn's daring escape from Japan by private jet has so far raised more questions than it has answered. Was the former Nissan CEO hidden in a musical equipment case when he left the country as is being reported? Was he listed under a false passport, perhaps wearing a disguise of some sort? Was there anything abnormal about how his flight was handled exiting the country? Why not fly nonstop to Beirut instead of changing planes in Istanbul? The flight time I am told is just 24 minutes more. Or, if range was an issue, why not charter a jet that could fly nonstop? Why was this operator selected, and who made the booking? Who paid for the flights? Where did the money come from? The cost for the trip was likely over $250,000. The flight that took Carlos Goshn from Japan to Turkey first headed north through Russian airspace According to Corporate Jet Investor, Ghosn was aboard a Global Express registered in Turkey with the tail number TC-TSR. One industry source with knowledge said the airplane is owned by TOA Aviation, a company based in Madagascar and division of Groupe Sodiat. It had been delivered to Qatar Executive new in May 2004. Then in July 2018 it was sold to STE Havacilik, which leased it to MNG Jet, the company that was managing and operating it for Ghosn's flight, although in August 2019 the aircraft was sold again, this time to TOA. According to MNG, there is VIP seating for 13 people. Additionally, four club seats can lay flat for sleeping and there is a three-seat divan that can also be converted to a bed. FlightAware shows the aircraft in question had arrived to Kansai International Airport just after 10 AM on Saturday, Dec. 28 from Ivato International Airport, which serves Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar. It stopped for just over an hour in Dubai, where according to a report in The Wall Street Journal it picked up two American security contractors. Since October the jet had visited Doha, Caracas, Geneva, Madrid, Mogadishu, Moscow, and Sochi. Bloomberg is reporting Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro used MNG airplanes to ship gold to Istanbul. In the same article, the paper asserts MNG managed a jet for Reza Zarrab, the gold trader in jail in the U.S. since 2016 charged with skirting Iran sanctions. Rudolph Giuliani is one of Zarrab's lawyers, and both The New York Times and The Washington Post report the former mayor of New York City has been at the forefront of "state-to-state" negotiations with Turkey that would result in his release. Back to Ghosn's flights with MNG. At Kansai Airport, there is a 24-hour business aviation terminal that according to its website provides a private security gate, customs, immigration and a quarantine (CIQ) area, plus parking area, lounge, meeting room, restroom and smoking room. The brochure offers, "You can treasure the wonderful time you spend here." The Walls Street Journal reports an airport spokesperson as saying luggage for private flights goes through the same inspections as passenger aircraft although VIPs are sometimes exempted. An aviation executive said in Japan scrutiny of luggage on international flights by private jets varies widely and is often based on the discretion of the inspectors on duty. The fact the jet's exterior still carries the colors of Qatar Executive, a reputable operator, might have made it less of a target. The Global Express Carlos Gohsn used to escape Japan to Turkey had a white and gray exterior FlightAware indicates the aircraft with Ghosn departed at 11:10 PM local time and flew north crossing into Russia before eventually heading west and then southeast staying in Russian airspace between Ukraine and Kazakhstan. It then made its final trek to Istanbul across the Black Sea to the west of Sochi. It landed in Istanbul at 5:26 AM local time after flight time just over 12 hours. Its path mirrors that of TK 53, a daily flight from Tokyo to Istanbul operated by Turkish Airlines. Ghosn's flight was about 40 minutes behind the jetliner, so it's possible during the long night pilots between the two planes may have even spoken to each other as they overflew Siberia. In Istanbul, reports say Ghosn was transferred to another aircraft managed by MNG, in this case a 2010 Bombardier Challenger 300, whose owner is listed as Halk Leasing. The most recent flights on the Challenger, according to FlightAware date back to October. Halk Leasing's parent Halkbank already has problems. In October, U.S. Federal prosecutors charged the bank with helping Iran evade sanctions, related to Zarrab's arrest. The Associated Press reported yesterday Turkish authorities had detained seven people in conjunction with Ghosn's escape. Interpol has issued a "red alert" for the former auto executive. Aviation International News reported in addition to two handling agents and a cargo worker, the four pilots who flew Ghosn have also been arrested. MNG has said they had no idea that Ghosn was aboard the charter flights they operated. It issued a statement stating it had filed a criminal complaint concerning "the illegal use of its jet charter services in relation to Ghosn's escape from Japan." It said it had made "two leases (that) were seemingly not connected to each other." It added, "The name of Mr. Ghosn did not appear in the official documentation of any of the flights," and then also noted, "The jets did not belong to but were operated by MNG Jet." It said, "One employee of the company, who is under investigation by the authorities, has admitted having falsified the records. He confirmed that he acted in his individual capacity, without the knowledge or the authorization of the management of MNG Jet." One aspect of the story that has yet to be covered is the owners of the jets, and what they might be facing. There are no apparent connections between Ghosn and either of the companies listed as owners. For example, Sodiat owns car dealerships in Madagascar, but they don't sell either Renault or Nissan vehicles, the two manufacturers Ghosn was running. Neither jet owners have any noticeable business activities in Japan, which could be a good thing for them. Attempts to confirm ownership via the companies as well as MNG were unsuccessful. However, if they do own the planes that flew Ghosn, or for whoever does, they may want to get a lawyer...fast. At least that's what two aviation attorneys say. At a minimum, it is likely the two jets will be impounded by Turkish authorities if they haven't already, at least during the initial stages of the investigation. The immediate impact would be loss of charter revenue. David M. Hernandez of Vedder Price is a former FAA prosecutor. He says, for the jet owners, "They should be hiring lawyers in Japan and Turkey right away to figure out what risks they have." Chad S. Roberts is one of only 38 lawyers certified as an expert in Aviation Law by the Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization. He says much like shipping, Japan could use international treaties to seize the jets. He adds if either of the airplanes used by Ghosn were financed, the lenders could have exposure as well. "The Sargent Shultz defense, 'I know nothing,' doesn't work anymore," he says, pointing to Know Your Customer laws in banking. In the world of private jet charter, in many cases, owners of the airplanes want to approve flights. (Jan. 5., 2019 - A representative of MNG Jet says no owner approval was required for the flights in question.). The expectation is both Japanese and Turkish authorities will want to question the jet owners to see what they knew about the charters and if there are any ties to Ghosn. So what can an aircraft owner that puts his or her private jet on the charter market do to protect themself? Roberts says he regularly advises clients to contractually limit the geography of where they allow their management companies to operate charter flights. At the same time, he notes lucrative charters of large jets regularly include places in Africa and CIS where big money is at stake and there is a lack of commercial flights. Most importantly, aircraft owners should pay particular attention to the reputation and track record when hiring a company to manage their aircraft. "You need to do your due diligence." Another risk reducer is to limit the management company's charter sales to a short-list of regular and well-known customers. "A construction company that's building a new hospital in Ohio and has to fly their team in twice a month for meetings and back the same day...That's the ideal customer," Roberts says. Insurance brokers can also be a good resource. "Their experience with risk is exponentially bigger than the owner. In an actuarial sense they can advise you on risk profiles (of where you should allow your jet to be flown on charters)." He adds owners should also carefully understand permissions and restrictions of their insurance policies to make sure any charters their management company sells comply. For the owners of both jets, their financial worries could be significant. In the case of the aircraft that ferried Ghosn out of Japan, Controller lists a 2001 Global Express on the market for $9.5 million. A 2013 Challenger 300 is for sale at $12 million. https://www.forbes.com/sites/douggollan/2020/01/03/carlos-ghosns-private-jet- escape-could-impact-the-airplanes-owners/#5d76bcaa753f Back to Top Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Becomes The Largest Airport In The U.S. To Ban Smoking Smoking lounge sign at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. New Years Day was the last day that smokers and vapers were able to enjoy a cigarette in the nation's busiest airport. A city ordinance passed by the city of Atlanta in July of 2019 outlawed smoking and vaping in a variety of public places including the city's airport, officially setting an expiration date for Hartsfield-Jackson's current smoking lounges. The ban officially went into effect on January 2nd of this year. In enacting the ban, Hartsfield-Jackson becomes the biggest airport in the nation to officially pull the plug on smoking and facilities for smokers. Already, many other airports in the United States ban smoking but until now, Atlanta's airport had been a holdout. Hartsfield-Jackson is the largest airport in the country by passenger volume. In 2018, the airport saw over 55M passengers transit through its terminals, almost 10M more than through Los Angeles International, its closest competitor. Delta Air Lines, the legacy air carrier based out of Atlanta, Georgia, operates the lion's share of flights out of Hartsfield-Jackson. With the blanket ban now in effect in Atlanta, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that only Las Vegas McCarran, Washington D.C. Dulles and Nashville airports still have indoor smoking zones available. McCarran is roughly half of the size of Hartsfield- Jackson and sees about 24M passengers per year. Broadly speaking, smoking inside of U.S. airports has actually been banned for several years, but to get around that restriction, many private lounges have been built for smokers in which to take refuge. Hartsfield-Jackson alone had seven lounges across each of its concourses (amenities that were still listed on its website as of publication) while other major airports such as Frankfurt have similar facilities. To get their fixes in, smokers at Hartsfield-Jackson now need to migrate towards five outdoor smoking zones outside of security. In addition to that, Hartsfield-Jackson is launching a unique accommodation program for passengers caught off guard by the changes: through the end of the month, any passenger who can't get to an outdoor smoking zone can pick up a free lozenge from two dozen concession stores around the airport. The full list of outdoor smoking zones and concessions carrying the lozenges is posted on a new landing page hosted by the airport. With Hartsfield-Jackson's ban now in place, McCarran airport in Las Vegas will take the throne as the largest airport in the country to selectively allow smoking. As the hotel and gaming industries are well-entrenched in that city, however, a global smoking ban at McCarran may be harder to pass. https://www.forbes.com/sites/grantmartin/2020/01/04/atlanta-hartsfield-jackson- becomes-the-largest-airport-in-the-us-to-ban-smoking/#32e119da79ec Back to Top AIRCRAFT RECYCLING COMPANY WILL INVEST NEARLY $100 MILLION AT THE N.C. GLOBAL TRANSPARK CREATING 475 JOBS Aircraft Solutions USA Inc., a leader in managing aircraft at the end of their service life, will establish a new subsidiary at North Carolina's Global TransPark to recycle aircraft parts and materials. The company will create 475 jobs and invest nearly $100 million to establish the new aircraft recycling center in Lenoir County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. "Our state's aerospace industry is taking off with the Global Transpark as a hub in rural eastern North Carolina," said Governor Cooper. "From first in flight to first in skilled workers, global companies like Aircraft Solutions will find North Carolina to be a great place to grow and thrive." Aircraft Solutions serves commercial and military clients with aircraft that have reached their end of life stage and are ready for decommissioning. Despite an aircraft's age, older airframes often contain many valuable parts and materials that can be recycled. Useful parts may include engines, undercarriage equipment, avionics, and in-flight entertainment systems. In phase one of the project, Aircraft Solutions' new recycling center will systematically remove, catalog, and inspect parts, certifying them as either usable, repairable, or unfit for service. The company plans to establish a paint shop in phase two of the project. "After an intensive research and great support from various sites, such as the ElectriCities Business Relocation Program and excellent communications with each of the involved public departments, we are confident that Global TransPark of Lenoir North Carolina is the right location for our tremendous project," said Dr. Sven Daniel Koechler, General Manager of Aircraft Solutions USA Inc. "With our environmentally friendly and sustainable processes, we offer a real alternative to conventional boneyards and are proud to be able to build an architectural highlight in North Carolina with one of the largest hangars in the world. With our unique hanger system and our self-developed most effective new recycling technology, we are able to recycle up to 70 more Boeing 737 a year and will invest not only in the construction and modern equipment, but also in qualified workers and their families." "The aviation industry famously got its start at Kitty Hawk, and this industry continues to find the right ingredients for success in North Carolina," said North Carolina Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland. "This new investment will add to the growing relevance of the Global TransPark and Lenoir County to aviation companies." The North Carolina Department of Commerce led the state's support for the company during its site evaluation and decision-making process. Although wages will vary depending on position, the average salary for the new positions will reach as high as $47,069. The Lenoir County average wage is $36,766. Aircraft Solutions' project in North Carolina will be facilitated, in part, by a Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) approved by the state's Economic Investment Committee earlier today. Over the course of the 12-year term of the grant, the project will add nearly $958 million to North Carolina's economy. Using a formula that takes into account the new tax revenues generated by the new jobs, the JDIG agreement authorizes the potential reimbursement to the company of up to $4,782,000, spread over 12 years. State payments only occur following performance verification by the departments of Commerce and Revenue that the company has met its incremental job creation and investment targets. JDIG projects result in positive net tax revenue to the state treasury, even after taking into consideration the grant's reimbursement payments to a given company. "The North Carolina Global TransPark is an important center of aviation excellence in our state," said N.C. Senator Jim Perry. "We welcome these new jobs and this significant investment to Eastern NC, and specifically Lenoir County. We are thankful for the teamwork that made this possible. Our regional delegation looks forward to working together to enable continued growth in the aviation sector." "Economic development projects require many organizations to collaborate closely in order to see a successful outcome," said N.C. Representative Chris Humphrey. "I'm so pleased with the many partners in our region that came together and demonstrated why Lenoir County and the Global TransPark were the perfect location for this project." Partnering with the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina on this project were the North Carolina General Assembly, the North Carolina Community College System, the North Carolina Department of Transportation and its Division of Aviation, ElectriCities, Lenoir Community College, North Carolina's Southeast, Lenoir County, the City of Kinston, and the North Carolina Global TransPark Authority. https://www.nccommerce.com/news/press-releases/aircraft-recycling-company-will- invest-nearly-100-million-nc-global-transpark Back to Top Japan eyes tie-up with ASEAN member nations to develop aircraft industry The government is planning to work with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to promote the development of the aviation industry, according to informed sources. As its first step, Japan will create a cooperation framework with the Malaysian government, which positions aircraft as a strategic industry, the sources said Saturday. While Tokyo has signed a memorandum of cooperation and other agreements with U.S. and European governments and companies, it will be the first time for Japan to enter into such an agreement with an Asian nation. Through such moves, the government hopes to speed up private-sector collaborative projects in the growing ASEAN market. Japan's industry ministry and Malaysia's Ministry of International Trade and Industry will hold a meeting in mid-February on the sidelines of Singapore Airshow 2020, and are expected to agree on setting up a bilateral cooperation framework, the sources said. Under the framework, the two sides will boost cooperation over the manufacturing process of Japanese and Malaysian aircraft parts makers. Japan will also provide the Southeast Asian nation with support over human resource development, including sending experts and accepting trainees. Malaysia has declared that it aims to become the biggest aerospace nation in Southeast Asia by 2030. Major U.S. aerostructures manufacturer Spirit AeroSystems Inc. and other firms have set up manufacturing bases in Malaysia. Japanese aircraft parts makers such as Wada Aircraft Technology Co. and Imai Aero- Equipment Mfg Co. have also expanded their businesses into the country. As the aviation industry is expected to see a surge in demand in Asia, major U.S. and European manufacturers are rushing to build a parts supply network in ASEAN nations. Total sales of Japan's aircraft industry came to some ¥1.8 trillion in 2018. With the government aiming to boost such sales to around ¥3 trillion in 2030, an industry ministry official voiced expectations that the strengthened partnership with Malaysia will lead to an increase in earnings for Japanese companies. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/01/05/business/japan-asean-aircraft- industry/#.XhKbLVVKiUk Back to Top Why the quantum internet should be built in space The best way to distribute quantum entanglement around the globe is via a massive constellation of orbiting satellites, physicists say. The quantum internet is a dream that many technologists have expounded in recent years. The idea is to exploit the strange quantum properties of photons and electrons to send messages with perfect secrecy. That has obvious application for governments and the military, but it is increasingly of interest to banks and other commercial operations that need to secure everything from contracts to financial transactions. What's more, this kind of security is increasingly needed because quantum computers will be able to break the codes currently used to keep many messages private. And that raises an interesting question: How should scientists and engineers go about the task of building a quantum internet that spans the globe? Today we get an answer thanks to the work of Sumeet Khatri and colleagues at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. This team has studied the various ways a quantum internet could be built and say the most cost-effective approach is to create a constellation of quantum-enabled satellites capable of continuously broadcasting entangled photons to the ground. In other words, the quantum internet should be space-based. First some background. At the heart of any quantum network is the strange property of entanglement. This is the phenomenon in which two quantum particles share the same existence, even if they are separated by vast distances. It ensures that a measurement on one of these particles immediately influences the other, a marvel that Einstein called "spooky action at a distance." Physicists usually distribute entanglement using pairs of photons created at the same point and instant in time. When the photons are sent to different locations, the entanglement linking them can be exploited to send secure messages. The problem is that entanglement is fragile and hard to preserve. Any small interaction between one of the photons and its environment breaks the link. Indeed, this is exactly what happens when physicists transmit entangled photons directly through the atmosphere or through optical fibers. The photons interact with other atoms in the atmosphere or the glass, and the entanglement is destroyed. It turns out the maximum distance over which entanglement can be shared in this way is just a few hundred kilometers. How then to build a quantum internet that shares entanglement across the globe? One option is to use "quantum repeaters"-devices that measure the quantum properties of photons as they arrive and then transfer these properties to new photons that are sent on their way. This preserves entanglement, allowing it to hop from one repeater to the next. However, this technology is highly experimental and several years from commercial exploitation. So another option is to create the entangled pairs of photons in space and broadcast them to two different base stations on the ground. These base stations then become entangled, allowing them to swap messages with perfect secrecy. In 2017, a Chinese satellite called Micius showed for the first time that entanglement can indeed be shared in this way. It turns out that photons can travel much further in this scenario because only the last 20 kilometers or so of the journey is through the atmosphere, provided the satellite is high in the sky and not too close to the horizon. Khatri and co say that a constellation of similar satellites is a much better way to create a global quantum internet. The key is that to communicate securely, two ground stations must be able to see the same satellite at the same time so that both can receive entangled photons from it. Quantum internet At what altitude should the satellites fly to provide coverage as broad as possible? And how many will be needed? "Since satellites are currently an expensive resource, we would like to have as few satellites as possible in the network while still maintaining complete and continuous coverage," say Khatri and co. To find out, the team modeled such a constellation. It turns out there are a number of important trade-offs to take into account. For example, fewer satellites can provide global coverage when they orbit at a high altitude. But higher altitudes lead to greater photon losses. Also, satellites at lower altitudes can span only shorter distances between base stations, because both must be able to see the same satellite at the same time. Given these limitations, Khatri and co suggest that the best compromise is a constellation of at least 400 satellites flying at an altitude of around 3,000 kilometers. By contrast, GPS operates with 24 satellites. Even then, the maximum distance between base stations will be limited to about 7,500 kilometers. This means that such a system could support secure messaging between London and Mumbai, which are 7,200 km apart, but not between London and Houston, 7,800 km apart-or indeed between any cities that are farther apart. That's a significant drawback. Nevertheless, a space-based quantum internet significantly outperforms ground-based systems of quantum repeaters, say Khatri and co. Repeaters would have to be spaced at intervals of less than 200 kilometers, so covering long distances would require large numbers of them. This introduces its own set of limitations for a quantum internet. "We thus find that satellites offer a significant advantage over ground-based entanglement distribution," say Khatri and co. Of course, such a system would require significant investment. China has an obvious advantage, having already tested an orbiting satellite with this kind of technology. And it has plans to go further. By contrast, Europe and the US appear to have less ambition in this respect. That could change quickly if this technology can prove its worth. if so, the quantum space race may be just about to heat up. Ref: arxiv.org/abs/1912.06678 : Spooky Action at a Global Distance - Resource-Rate Analysis of a Space-Based Entanglement-Distribution Network for the Quantum Internet. https://www.technologyreview.com/s/614994/why-the-quantum-internet-should-be- built-in-space/ Back to Top Najeeb E. Halaby Graduate Student Fellowship The Najeeb E. Halaby Graduate Student Fellowship was established by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) to shape the next generation of aviation researchers, honoring the late Najeeb Elias Halaby, an eminent aviator and administrator, for his vision and more than five decades of extraordinary contributions to aviation (https://ral.ucar.edu/opportunity/halaby-fellowship). The Fellowship The recipient of a Najeeb E. Halaby Graduate Student Fellowship will spend three months (in 2020 or early 2021) in residence with NCAR's Aviation Weather Research Program, which Mr. Halaby was instrumental in establishing in the 1980s. As the nation's leader in addressing aviation weather research, NCAR plays a unique role in meeting user needs by transferring research results to operations through its Research Application Laboratory (http://www.ral.ucar.edu/). The Fellow will conduct research broadly aimed at mitigation of weather sensitivities (e.g., weather impact avoidance) on aviation. We particularly encourage applicants interested in weather impacts on emerging modes of transportation, like unmanned aerial system operations and urban air mobility. The Fellowship will provide: * a monthly stipend for three months, including temporary living expenses * round-trip travel expenses to and from Boulder, CO * travel to a conference to present results * page charges (if necessary) for one publication of key results Eligibility and Application The Halaby Fellowship targets graduate students (late Masters or early PhD level) enrolled in an aviation-relevant department or program of a domestic or international university. Interested candidates should have advanced research skills, far-reaching vision, and dedication to get things accomplished. Consideration for this Fellowship will be given to candidates based on the following submitted material: * Curriculum vitae * Proposal (maximum five pages) presenting the research to be conducted at NCAR, the anticipated outcome of that, and how the proposed effort ties into the candidate's ongoing graduate research project(s) * Contact information for three references (one of which should be the student's primary advisor) NCAR will accept applications for the Halaby Fellowship each year. Email Applications by February 28, 2020 to halabyfellowship@ucar.edu Back to Top RESEARCH SURVEY SMS for small operators: does it make sense? As part of an independent research project at Lund University, we'd like to hear from small business/private aviation operators about their experience with Safety Management Systems (SMS). Does your organisation have an SMS, and a workforce of 20 or less? Does the SMS generate value? Do you think there might be a disconnect between the SMS requirements and t he capabilities of your organisation? Considering the current lack of scientific research and peer-reviewed literature for this particular sector of aviation, this is a rather unique opportunity to share feedback in complete anonymity and to help identify any issue requiring focused attention. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey now, but also to share the link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RYDPYYT Any assistance to advance the industry's understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the SMS framework will be greatly appreciated! For any question or comment, please do not hesitate to contact st1830de- s@student.lu.se. Many thanks, and best wishes for 2020! Stéphane De Wolf MSc student, Human Factors & System Safety Lund University Curt Lewis