Flight Safety Information January 7, 2020 - No. 005 In This Issue Boeing's List of Max Problems Grows Incident: Pegasus B738 at Istanbul on Jan 7th 2020, runway excursion on landing Incident: Qatar B788 near Moscow on Dec 30th 2019, engine shut down in flight Incident: American B738 at Charlotte on Jan 4th 2020, burst tyre on landing damages flaps 2 pilots killed in Pakistan's training jet crash New Illegal Charter Guidance for Pilots and Passengers DGCA to issue notices to 100 GoAir pilots, senior officials for violation of FDTL norms FAA monitoring Middle East situation for safety risks Bek Air further clouds picture of Fokker 100 crash Claims in aviation are skyrocketing, in spite of better safety records Aviation Administration to modernise Kazakhstan's aviation standards Canada's appointment to the International Civil Aviation Organization U.S. Turbine Bizav Fatalities Reach Record High in 2019 FAA Proposes Airbus A380 Engine Inspections HAI Names Senior FAA Safety Exec Viola as CEO...James Viola Vietnam Airlines given green light for Delta partnership Irish lessor Avolon owned or managed 525 aircraft at the end of 2019 Boeing training pilots ask to decertify union JetBlue to power some flights with "sustainable" jet fuel Aircraft and Helicopter Accident Investigation from SCSI DTI Training Canada Najeeb E. Halaby Graduate Student Fellowship RESEARCH SURVEY Laura Taber Barbour Aviation Scholarship Fund Boeing's List of Max Problems Grows During an audit, Boeing discovered a problem with electrical wiring used for the plane's controls. In this Dec. 11, 2019, file photo, a Boeing 737 Max airplane being built for Norwegian Air International turns as it taxis for take off for a test flight at Renton Municipal Airport in Renton, Wash. Boeing faces a growing checklist of items it could be forced to fix before federal safety officials let the grounded 737 Max airliner fly again. The Federal Aviation Administration recently asked Boeing to review all possible ramifications of the changes it is making on the plane. DALLAS (AP) - The list of items Boeing could be forced to fix before federal safety officials let the grounded 737 Max airliner fly again has grown to include a problem with electrical wiring used for the plane's controls. Separately on Monday, the financial damage to Boeing from the airplane crisis came into sharper focus as American Airlines said it has reached agreement over compensation from the plane maker for thousands of flights it canceled because its Max jets were grounded most of the year. American did not say how much it will receive but said it will give $30 million to employees as profit-sharing. American estimated in October that the Max grounding would cost it $540 million in pretax income for all of 2019. Aeromexico said it too settled with Boeing but declined to release details. The airline has six Max jets. The wiring issue came to light after the Federal Aviation Administration asked Boeing to audit key systems on the Max after two crashes in which new software and faulty sensors were implicated. During that review of changes Boeing is making to the plane, Boeing discovered that bundles of electrical wiring were too close together and - at least in theory - raised the potential for a short circuit that could cause pilots to lose control of the plane. "We identified this wiring-bundle issue ... and we are working with the FAA to perform the appropriate analysis," said Boeing spokesman Gordon Johndroe. The company said, however, it is too soon to know whether it will need to make any design changes, such as moving the wiring bundles farther apart. Boeing says it believes that other safeguards, including circuit breakers and insulation around the wiring, could be sufficient to prevent a short-circuit from leading to another crash. The discovery of the wiring issue was first reported by The New York Times. Boeing built and delivered nearly 400 Max jets to airlines before the plane was grounded in March after two crashes that killed 346 people. Since then, another 400 or so Max jets have rolled off the assembly line, although they can't be sent to airlines. Boeing engineers have finished changes to a key software system called MCAS that was activated by faulty sensors in each crash, firmly pushing the noses of the planes down, a condition called runaway stabilizer. The recent review of changes to the Max raised the question whether a wiring short circuit could also cause a runaway stabilizer. Boeing has been working for more than a year to fix MCAS, which was designed partly to prevent the plane from aerodynamic stalls that could cause it to fall from the sky. Boeing is making the system less powerful and linking it to two sensors instead of one for extra protection against the kind of sensor failures that occurred before the crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia. Separately, in June FAA test pilots were able to cause a failure of flight computers on the Max during a simulator test. It is unclear when the Max will be cleared to fly. On Monday, FAA spokesman Lynn Lunsford repeated the agency's position that it has no timetable for reviewing the plane. He said the FAA and Boeing are analyzing findings from the recent review of Boeing's changes to the plane, and "the agency will ensure that all safety related issues identified during this process are addressed before the aircraft is approved for return to passenger service." The FAA has not yet decided whether to require that Max pilots train on flight simulators before carrying passengers. That would cause another long delay in the plane's return. For one thing, there are only a handful of Max simulators, while Southwest has nearly 10,000 pilots who fly the Max and other versions of the 737; American has 4,200. Southwest Airlines, which has 34 Max planes, the most of any carrier, announced last month that it reached a deal on partial compensation from Boeing and will share $125 million of the undisclosed amount with employees. United Airlines has not announced a settlement. Before the grounding, the Max was Boeing's best-selling plane, with nearly 5,000 unfilled orders. However, Boeing will stop production temporarily in mid-January, affecting about 3,000 employees in the Seattle area. On Monday, the company began notifying them whether they will move or change jobs. Boeing promises to avoid layoffs or furloughs. The crisis cost former Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg his job. He was ousted last month and will be replaced next week by David Calhoun, a private-equity executive who once ran General Electric's jet-engine business and has served on Boeing's board since 2009, most recently as chairman. https://www.manufacturing.net/aerospace/news/21108676/boeings-list-of-max- problems-grows Back to Top Incident: Pegasus B738 at Istanbul on Jan 7th 2020, runway excursion on landing A Pegasus Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration TC-CCK performing flight PC-747 from Sharjah (United Arab Emirates) to Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen (Turkey) with 164 people on board, landed on Sabiha Gokcen Airport's runway 06 at 09:09L (06:09Z) but shortly after touchdown veered left and came to a stop with all gear on soft ground off the left runway edge about 1000 meters/3330 feet down the runway. The aircraft was evacuated via slides. There were no injuries, the damage to the aircraft is being assessed. Istanbul's Governor's Office reported the incident occurred due to bad weather. The airport is currently closed, flights are being redirected. The occurrence is being investigated. The airline reported the aircraft suffered a runway excursion after landing, all occupants disembarked safely. An investigation has begun. http://avherald.com/h?article=4d1a5fd9&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Qatar B788 near Moscow on Dec 30th 2019, engine shut down in flight A Qatar Airways Boeing 787-8, registration A7-BCO performing flight QR-179 from Doha (Qatar) to Oslo (Norway), was enroute at FL320 about 180nm west of Moscow Domodedovo (Russia) when the right hand engine (GEnx) failed prompting the crew to shut the engine down. The aircraft drifted down and diverted to Moscow Domodedovo for a safe landing on runway 32L about 40 minutes after leaving FL320. A replacement Boeing 787-8 registration A7-BDD was dispatched from Doha to Moscow, resumed the flight and reached Oslo with a delay of about 12.5 hours. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground until Jan 3rd 2020 for 101 hours (4 days 5 hours), then positioned back to Doha and resumed service on Jan 4th 2020. The airline reported the aircraft diverted to Moscow for technical reasons. http://avherald.com/h?article=4d19dc61&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: American B738 at Charlotte on Jan 4th 2020, burst tyre on landing damages flaps An American Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration N952AA performing flight AA-2549 from Austin,TX to Charlotte,NC (USA), landed on Charlotte's runway 18R but burst a left main tyre. The aircraft rolled out without further incident. The FAA reported the burst tyre damaged a flap. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/AAL2549/history/20200104/1247Z/KAUS/KCLT http://avherald.com/h?article=4d19c8ef&opt=0 Back to Top 2 pilots killed in Pakistan's training jet crash FT-7 jet crashes in northeastern Punjab province during routine training flight KARACHI, Pakistan - A Pakistan Air Force aircraft crashed on Tuesday in northeastern Punjab province, killing both pilots onboard, the force said in a statement. The FT-7 plane that crashed near Mianwali district was on a routine operational training mission, the statement said. The dead included a squadron leader and a flying officer. There was no immediate word on the cause of the crash. "A board of inquiry has been ordered by Air [Force] Headquarters to determine the cause of accident," the statement concluded. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/2-pilots-killed-in-pakistan-s-training-jet- crash/1694936 Back to Top New Illegal Charter Guidance for Pilots and Passengers The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released new guidance and resources to educate pilots and air passengers on illegal charter, while warning that future non- compliance may result in FAA sanctions. The updates posted to the FAA's website include a detailed letter to Blackbird Air - a web-based app that connects passengers with pilots - in which the agency states that any pilot who provides charter flights without complying with Part 119 will be in violation of Federal Aviation Regulations. An additional document provides a series of questions and answers to help passengers and pilots understand the legal consequences of engaging in air transportation services without the operator holding the requisite certifications. In a related action, the FAA has also empowered their inspectors to focus on illegal charter activity through formalizing their process during investigations. By giving inspectors specific work-flows to use when reviewing possible non-certificated activities, the FAA will be able to better coordinate its national response to illegal charter. The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) has been working in concert with the FAA to determine better ways to approach the issue of illegal charter operations and these documents are a direct result of these efforts. "This is a great example of a government organization listening to the industry and following through to address mis-information and noncompliance," stated NATA COO and General Counsel Timothy Obitts. "When NATA first met with the FAA on illegal charter, we expressed a need for specific tools and training for inspectors and a clarification of rules governing legal and safe flight sharing for the industry. We are very grateful to Administrator Dickson and his team at the FAA for their efforts. Through these positive steps, together we are taking action to eliminate illegal charter activity." NATA's Senior Vice President, Ryan Waguespack, added, "We are seeing the hard work of our members pay off. These new FAA materials resulted from the industry voicing concerns about non-complaint operations and will help everyone gain a better understanding of the scope and scale of the issue. Better education, with enforcement when appropriate, are essential to combating the problem of illegal charters." As we enter into our 80th year of service to aviation businesses, we will continue our work with the FAA to prioritize this issue and provide resources to keep the industry and our skies safe. More information about illegal charter is available through the FAA's updated Safe Air Charter Operations website and NATA's Avoid Illegal Charter website. https://www.aviationpros.com/fbos-tenants/press-release/21120067/federal-aviation- administration-faa-new-illegal-charter-guidance-for-pilots-and-passengers Back to Top DGCA to issue notices to 100 GoAir pilots, senior officials for violation of FDTL norms According to a source, GoAir experienced extensive flight delays and diversions leading to cancellation of flights as its crew approached its FDTL in the last two-three days. Those who have violated FDTL are being issued show cause notices as to why action should not be taken against them. According to a source, GoAir cancelled as many as 40 flights between December 23 and 24. During this period, it also reported air turn back of two if its aircraft due to engine glitches and they were later taken out of operations for further inspection. Aviation regulator DGCA has started the process of issuing show cause notices to approximately 100 pilots and senior executives of GoAir over alleged violation of flight duty time limit (FDTL) norms, a senior official said on Monday. According to a source, GoAir cancelled as many as 40 flights between December 23 and 24. During this period, it also reported air turn back of two if its aircraft due to engine glitches and they were later taken out of operations for further inspection. The airline had said on December 26 that due to inclement weather in north India, it experienced extensive flight delays and diversions leading to cancellation of flights as its crew approached its FDTL in the last two-three days. "This was further exacerbated due to the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) protests wherein our crew members were unable to report for duty," the airline had said. Asked if the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated the process of issuing notices to around 100 pilots and senior officials of budget carrier GoAir over violation of FDTL norms, the senior official replied in the affirmative. "Yes, it is in process. Those who have violated FDTL are being issued show cause notices as to why action should not be taken against them," the official said. GoAir did not respond to queries sent by PTI on Monday. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/dgca- to-issue-notices-to-100-goair-pilots-senior-officials-for-violation-of-fdtl- norms/articleshow/73128108.cms Back to Top FAA monitoring Middle East situation for safety risks The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said Monday, Jan. 6 that it is closely monitoring events in the Middle East "to identify potential risks to civil aviation safety." FAA's statement comes in the wake of a U.S. drone attack early Jan. 3 in Baghdad that killed Iran's top military commander, Gen. Qassem Soleimani. "We continue to coordinate with our national security partners and share information with U.S. air carriers and foreign civil aviation authorities," the agency said. "The FAA will take actions as necessary to ensure the safety of U.S. civil aviation operations worldwide." News of the attack sent U.S. airline stock prices tumbling 1-3% in trading Jan. 3. The stock prices of several of the largest U.S. carriers were down again Monday, but the range of declines was more modest. FAA's Threat Analysis Division said in an information note released Jan. 3 that "while there are no indications of an intent to target civil aviation, there is an increasing inadvertent risk to civil aviation in the region, particularly if kinetic attack operations occur." In the days since the attack, Jordanian flag carrier Royal Jordanian and Gulf Air, the national carrier of Bahrain, have suspended service to Baghdad because of safety and security concerns. Gulf Air also has suspended service to Najaf, Iraq, until further notice. Tensions between the U.S. and Iran have been building for months. In September, FAA warned U.S. operators to exercise caution when operating into, out of, within or over what is known as the Tehran flight information region, which is largely comprised of the airspace over Iran and adjacent areas. In June, after Iran shot down a U.S. surveillance drone, FAA banned U.S.-registered aircraft from flying over the Persian Gulf or the Gulf of Oman. Both of those bodies of water are within the Tehran flight information region. https://www.freightwaves.com/news/faa-monitoring-middle-east-situation-for-safety- risks Back to Top Bek Air further clouds picture of Fokker 100 crash Bek Air is still pushing its theory that wake turbulence contributed to the loss of a Fokker 100 during take-off from Almaty, and is also indicating that the proximity of buildings should be examined by the inquiry. The airline has released further flight data which, it says, has been obtained from the aircraft - including rudder and aileron positions, engine power, and wind speed information. Little context or clarification accompanies the data, however, which appears to cover a longer time interval than the 36s previously disclosed. It appears to show the ailerons, rudder and elevators were active during rotation, as the aircraft experienced lateral and longitudinal instability during the brief period it was fully airborne. Some of the data - such as the airspeed - is discontinuous, suggesting it has been sourced only after the jet lifted off, while other information, like sudden changes in wind speed and direction, is likely to be unreliable because the aircraft, having descended back to the ground, subsequently travelled at an unusual attitude, barely above the terrain. After the aircraft lost height, the data suggests thrust on both Rolls-Royce Tay engines simultaneously reduced for around 10s before increasing to a higher level than before the power dip. Bek Air has highlighted regulations about the proximity of buildings to airports Bek Air has acknowledged the surveillance video showing the de-icing of the aircraft's horizontal stabiliser, a video which does not indicate any de-icing of the wings. The airline has released a document on de-icing fluid hold-over times, which appears to highlight a figure of 45min for Type I fluid in frost below minus 10C. Such fluids are not particularly viscous and are intended for short-term use. Bek Air has also published documentation detailing the threat from wake vortices and the efforts to counter the problem. But air navigation service Kazaeronavigatsia has already insisted that the 2min interval between the Fokker 100's departure and that of a preceding aircraft was sufficient for wake vortex separation. Bek Air's latest information briefing - which is not an official part of the inquiry - also features a list of 2011 regulations regarding permission for the construction of buildings in proximity to airports. Russian and Kazakh investigators have yet to disclose any formal information of the 27 December accident sequence, which resulted in 12 fatalities. https://www.flightglobal.com/safety/bek-air-further-clouds-picture-of-fokker-100- crash/136017.article Back to Top Claims in aviation are skyrocketing, in spite of better safety records Passengers can take a deep breath - the global airline industry has had some of its safest years in recent times when it comes to fatalities. This news comes despite a number of crashes, according to a new study from Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS), though the report also notes that the long-term improvement of risk management records is challenged by a growing number of claims and risks. "Air travel has never been safer in the history of aviation," said James Van Meter (pictured), regional head of aviation programs and product development in North America for AGCS, adding that the insurance company partnered with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, known as 'the Harvard of the Skies,' to analyze some 50,000 aviation claims. "We looked at the trends and it's very clear that it's never been safer to get on to an airplane as a passenger. If you look at how many unfortunate deaths and fatalities occurred just between 1959 and 2017, there were almost 30,000 aircraft accidents that led to fatalities and, in 2008-2017, that number dropped to almost 2,200." In fact, flying on an airplane is one of the safest ways to travel today - safer than even a bicycle and definitely safer than travelling in a car. There are a couple of key factors that have led to the vast improvement in the safety of air travel, according to the AGCS aviation expert. One is the aircraft itself, which is constructed better today and has safer systems in place as well as improved engine reliability. "You very rarely see an engine incident [or] engine failure leading to an aircraft crashing whereas a decade ago or 20 years ago, that was a very frequent occurrence around the world," Van Meter told Insurance Business. "In addition to the improvement in the aircraft and the hardware is the training that pilots receive today. Twenty years ago, simulator training was really just becoming the norm, whereas now we're in a fully mature training environment where every airline pilot goes through simulator training usually every six months, and there's been improvement on things like crew resource management and constant communications." That improved safety record doesn't, however, mean that there aren't some risks that still exist. For one, the potential for aviation insurers to pay out large sums has grown. "Probably a decade ago, the average thought was that fatality would cost between $1- $3 million, and we've really seen multiples of that recently," explained Van Meter. "You put that into the context of an aircraft that again a decade ago, 20 years ago, it was a lot for it to have 100 people on board. Today, there are aircrafts capable of carrying 600 passengers. You take the potential pay-out per passenger, and you multiply that by 500 or 600. All of a sudden, you get to a very big number and that has a huge impact on the aviation insurance marketplace." With potential awards per passenger reaching millions of dollars, a major crash could result in a liability loss of up to US$1 billion in the future, the report said. It also warned of a range of emerging risk scenarios, such as the projected demand for new pilots - about 800,000 over the next 20 years - which brings challenges in recruitment and training. "Certain events throughout the early 2000s have impacted the growth rate seen in air travel and with airlines, but now we're really in a boom cycle in air travel where we see the amount of passengers flying continue to increase drastically around the world," explained Van Meter. "Obviously you need more pilots to fly those airplanes, so it's really driving the demand for new pilots." One of the key takeaways of the AGCS report is that while it's never been this safe to fly on an airplane, from the insurance side, the technology brought into the aircrafts and the new manufacturing processes, like the use of composites instead of alloys, leads to much more expensive aircrafts, and therefore leads to much more expensive repairs. "While we see the safety rates in aviation from a fatality perspective dropping, we see the claims and the amount of money that it costs to handle those claims skyrocketing," underscored Van Meter. "What cost maybe $10 million a few years ago, today could easily run $90-$100 million dollars." https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/breaking-news/claims-in-aviation- are-skyrocketing-in-spite-of-better-safety-records-195856.aspx Back to Top Aviation Administration to modernise Kazakhstan's aviation standards NUR-SULTAN - The Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan (AAK), which began engaging in technical control and supervision Aug. 1, will modernise the country's aviation regulations within two years. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Kazakhstan Director General Peter Griffiths spoke with The Astana Times about the details of its work. "The purpose of the AAK is to take out all of the regulatory activity which is done by the government and to oversee all of the airlines, making sure that they are operating to high international standards, to bring all the airports and other mechanisms we need up in order for international airlines to come in," he said. The 100 Concrete Steps Plan of the Nation proposed by First President Nursultan Nazarbayev in 2015 lists Step 68 as switching to the British model of aviation industry state regulation. The change will allow meeting International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) requirements for qualified inspectors and achieving its 80-percent safety goal. The U.K. Civil Aviation Authority International (CAAi) and AAK concluded an agreement Oct. 7 in London to provide technical assistance in transitioning to the British civil aviation regulatory model. In the past year and a half, the Civil Aviation Committee (CAC) has developed and introduced appropriate amendments to the main civil aviation law. "We are trying to change the regulation system here in Kazakhstan to be able to make it more dynamic towards the industry, but also to modernise it. Many countries have been doing this, when they have been putting up a number of separate agencies. The United Kingdom is probably the leader in doing that. So, Kazakhstan decided to do the same," said Griffiths. It is easy to say, but it is not easy to do, he noted. Because Kazakhstan does not have an equivalent organisation for AAK to use as a model, it is trying to create one. The agency is trying to incorporate all the work practices in use in the United Kingdom and Europe and, at the same time, modernise the technology and ways of working. "It takes about six months for us to set up a regulator. In my career, I have managed to do this twice. It takes quite a long time to get a regulator going. The last one I did was for the European Commission; I was chair of the performance review body overseeing the 31 countries. There was a regulator we set up and that took us nearly six years to get going. So, this one we need to do in two years, because the President wants Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Category 1 status, which gives them the ability to fly from Nur-Sultan to New York. To do that we have to improve all the regulations, but he has set the time on that, which is 2021. It is quite a difficult challenge for us to do, but we are working on it," he added. In the future, AAK plans to apply for International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) FAA Category 1, meaning the country's civil aviation authority complies with ICAO standards and its certified air carriers can provide services in the United States, as well as use the American partners' code. Since the administration needs to complete the process quickly, it considers getting the right people its primary asset. "You have to get people who are willing to work above and beyond what we ask them to do. They also have to be quite innovative. I come from a low-cost industry; I was part of the low-cost transformation in Europe, I was part of EasyJet. We were asked to achieve the same objective, but quicker and cheaper. Transforming systems, building new systems, building new ways of working is something that I have been doing for about 30 years now. Second is to make sure that you train the people properly, that they have access to all the material that they need, so they can do self-analysis," said Griffiths. He noted working with Kazakh airlines has been a very positive experience. He appreciated the work of Air Astana, which operates on European standards, making it not that difficult to manage. The other airlines, such as SCAT and Qazaq Air are at different levels but are all working towards the same common objective. "As we go through an education process of our regulating community on what it is that we need from them, we can tailor it to their (the airlines') requirements. We are getting quite positive responses from them. We have very good engagement from the airports. The first problematic one was Kostanai. We were working with them and trying to be as flexible as possible, trying to give them operating capabilities as quickly as we can, but still make sure to maintain the standards," he said. He also addressed the situation with Air Astana purchasing Boeing 737s. "Air Astana did not purchase anything; they said they will if the planes are certified. Boeing staked their reputation on this aircraft; they only have one chance. If one of these aircraft crashes, that will be the end of Boeing. I do not think that they will make this mistake again," said Griffiths. Kazakhstan has 893 aircraft on its register, many of which are of Soviet heritage, he added. More than 755 flights a day and 15,000 a month are conducted in Kazakh airspace, not counting military flights. Aviation is quite advanced, but still there are some accidents, including the most recent one of Bek Air near Almaty on Dec. 27, and AAK's task is to bring them down to zero. https://astanatimes.com/2020/01/aviation-administration-to-modernise-kazakhstans- aviation-standards/ Back to Top Canada's appointment to the International Civil Aviation Organization The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is the premier forum for co- operation in all fields of civil aviation among its 193 member states and international civil aviation stakeholders. Canada is proud host to this United Nations specialized agency in Montréal. Marc Garneau, minister of Transport, and François-Philippe Champagne, minister of Foreign Affairs, announced the appointment of Capt Claude Hurley as Canada's new permanent representative to ICAO, effective immediately. ICAO was created to promote the safe and orderly development of civil aviation throughout the world. It sets standards and regulations and develops guidance material touching on a number of important aspects of the global aviation sector, including safety, security, sustainable economic growth and environmental standards. Hurley, a professional pilot, most recently served as the president for ICAO's Air Navigation Commission, the organization's primary technical body. He has been Canada's nominee to the Air Navigation Commission since 2014. Prior to his assignment at ICAO, Hurley worked in Transport Canada's Civil Aviation directorate, providing oversight of air operators, flight training units and aerodromes. As a pilot with over 30 years of experience, he has worked in a variety of international settings. He also served as an officer and pilot in the Canadian Armed Forces, where he participated in flight operations for peacekeeping missions. "As a founding member and leading contributor to ICAO, Canada has been the proud host state since 1947, and is fully committed to ICAO's success. We value the important role ICAO plays in coordinating the global response to new opportunities and challenges in civil aviation, and we welcome every opportunity to make a contribution. It is my pleasure to congratulate Capt Claude Hurley on his new position. He is an outstanding candidate and I look forward to working closely with him in the years ahead," said Garneau. "I am delighted to welcome Capt Claude Hurley as Canada's new permanent representative to ICAO. Over the years, Canada has worked with ICAO to promote international civil aviation around the world. Today, travellers and shippers can be confident in the extremely high levels of safety and security in the aviation industry, and that is due in no small part to the international collaboration that ICAO facilitates," added Champagne. https://www.skiesmag.com/press-releases/canadas-appointment-to-the-international- civil-aviation-organization/ Back to Top U.S. Turbine Bizav Fatalities Reach Record High in 2019 Although there were no fatal accidents of U.S.-registered business jets in the second half of last year, the 21 fatalities from accidents involving business jets in the first half were the highest number since the previous record level of 30 deaths in 2014 (all occurring under Part 91). An additional 55 fatalities from turboprop accidents (all except one under Part 91) further increased the total number of deaths for the full year to 76, a level not previously reached since 2006. According to preliminary figures gathered by AIN, a single Part 135 business jet accident last year resulted in 13 fatalities. Records do not show a previous death count that high in a single business jet charter flight. Also last year, eight people died in four Part 91 mishaps. In 2018, there were no Part 135 fatalities, but 10 people lost their lives in four Part 91 crashes. Historically, fatalities from Part 91 turboprop accidents far exceed those from business jets. Last year was no exception. In 2019, 54 people died in 11 Part 91 U.S.-registered turboprop accidents and one death resulted from a sole Part 135 mishap. In 2018, six turboprop accidents (all under Part 91) were fatal to 16. In 2019, one private non-U.S.-registered business jet suffered a fatal accident in which one person died. Also last year, three died in the crash of a chartered jet. In 2018, three private jet accidents resulted in 16 deaths. Non-fatal accidents doubled year over year from six to 12. Meanwhile, seven accidents in 2019 involving non-N-numbered turboprops were fatal to 30 compared with 19 killed in five accidents in 2018. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2020-01-06/us-turbine- bizav-fatalities-reach-record-high-2019 Back to Top FAA Proposes Airbus A380 Engine Inspections The Federal Aviation Administration is proposing engine checks on Engine Alliance equipped Airbus A380s. The action comes following an uncontained engine failure of an Air France Airbus A380 above Greenland in 2017. Air France, Airbus A380, Retired An Air France A380 suffered an uncontained engine failure over Greenland in 2017. Photo: Getty Images The jury is still out on what happened inside the engine of F-HPJE in the skies above Greenland according to FlightGlobal. However, the FAA has proposed engine checks on similar engines as a result of the incident. The Airworthiness Directive addressing the checks is open for comment until January 13th. It will then go into force on January 14th. What does the airworthiness directive say? According to the airworthiness directive issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA-2019-0912) affected engines must have their first stage low-pressure compressor fan blades scanned by ultrasound. If blades are found to be defective, then they will need to be replaced. The Federal Aviation Administration has calculates proposed costs for the action. According to the FAA, it will take around eight hours to inspect each engine. At a cost of around $85 per hour, each engine will cost around $680, so around $2,700 per Airbus A380 with four engines. Things start to get pricy when the blades need to be replaced. These cost $190,000. With about four hours of work required to replace the parts, add another $340. Airbus A380, Engine Failure, Airworthiness Directive Only Engine Alliance engines are affected. Photo: Zeugma fr via Wikimedia Only five airline will be affected by the airworthiness directive, as the remaining airlines use Rolls Royce engines as opposed to those from Engine Alliance. The affected airlines are Air France, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Korean Air, and last but not least by any means, Qatar Airways. What happened to prompt this? The airworthiness directive was prompted by an uncontained engine failure which afflicted Air France in 2017. The Airbus A380 was operating Air France flight 66. Having departed from Paris Charles De Gaulle the aircraft was supposed to fly to Los Angeles International. Following the failure of the aircraft's number 4 engine, the Airbus A380 diverted to Goose Bay in Canada. As the engine failure was uncontained, pieces of the engine plummeted down to Greenland. It took until 2019 for some of these pieces to be discovered, with the help of specialist teams. A380 Engine Part Recovery A part of the engine was buried deep within the snow. Photo: Dick van As of Greenland Guidance While not the aircraft that was involved in the incident, Air France recently retired its first Airbus A380. F-HPJB was repainted in an all-white livery in November. Following this, the aircraft was recently flown to Dresden for maintenance at the same outfit that is refurbishing Qantas' Airbus A380s. Once the maintenance is complete, the aircraft will be returned to its lessor, the Doctor Peters Group. https://simpleflying.com/faa-proposes-airbus-a380-engine-inspections/ Back to Top HAI Names Senior FAA Safety Exec Viola as CEO James Viola, will join HAI on January 16 as its new president and CEO. The Helicopter Association International (HAI) has selected James Viola to succeed Matthew Zuccaro as president and CEO, bringing on board a long-time government and military professional with deep aviation safety and helicopter experience. Viola will join HAI on January 16 after spending more than a decade with the U.S. FAA, most recently as director of General Aviation Safety Assurance. In that role, he oversaw 78 Flight Standards District Offices (FSDOs) and 2,500 employees across the U.S., responsible for the application of safety oversight activities involving the GA community. He helped launch the U.S. Helicopter Safety Team (USHST) as the initial government co-chair. A former U.S. Army special operations MH-6 and MH-47 helicopter pilot, Viola also gained experience managing large operations during his military service. His final assignment was division chief, Army Aviation for Current Operations, steering the aviation unit station, including the prioritization and optimization of 4,200 army aircraft, 100 manned units, and the combat rotation plan to Iraq and Afghanistan. HAI named Viola to the position following a search process that began last summer, when Zuccaro announced his plans to retire from the association he has led since November 2005. "When Matt announced his retirement, the board knew that replacing him would be no easy task. We had to find a dynamic, innovative CEO who has both vision and passion," said HAI board chair Jan Becker. "We sought someone able to take up the challenge of leading HAI forward to meet the needs of a globally changing industry. With Jim, we found that leader, as well as one who understands and supports HAI's safety values." Viola shares HAI's vision for member service initiatives, including a further international outreach, and reflects the changes occurring through vertical-lift aviation such as increasing use of unmanned aircraft systems, the association said. "I am grateful to the board of directors for selecting me to take up Matt's role in promoting the international vertical lift industry," Viola said. "Matt's unwavering advocacy for safe flight of all kinds made him a pleasure to work with while I was with the FAA. I look forward to continuing his legacy of HAI advocacy for safety." Zuccaro called Viola the ideal person to lead the association. "You've got a Chinook driver who understands the safety and regulatory issues facing our industry, as well as the capacity to effect change where and when it is needed. I am proud to leave this organization in Jim's hands." An airline transport pilot with ratings for helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, Viola has accumulated more than 6,000 flight hours, 1,100 of which with night-vision goggles. He holds three master's degrees and is a member of the Army Aviation Association of America (Quad A), the Military Officers Association of America, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2020-01-06/hai-names- senior-faa-safety-exec-viola-ceo Back to Top Vietnam Airlines given green light for Delta partnership The United States' Department of Transport (DoT) has allowed Vietnam Airlines and Delta Air Lines to widen their codeshare cooperation. The approval comes after both carriers first inked an agreement last August with the intent of upgrading their relationship. The cooperation, expected to take effect this month, will see both carriers put each other's code on their respective flights, whether within Vietnam or the US, or from Vietnam and/or the US to other points in the network. From this month, Delta will be able to sell tickets for Vietnam Airlines-operated flights between Hanoi and Tokyo, for passengers connecting onward to the US. Furthermore, Vietnam Airlines' code can be placed on flights operated by Delta's regional affiliates, which include SkyWest Airlines, Compass Airlines, as well as Republic Airlines. The DoT approval follows Vietnam's attainment of Category 1 status from the US Federal Aviation Administration, which allows Vietnamese carriers to offer services to the USA and carry the code of USA-based airlines. It builds on a 2010 agreement both SkyTeam members signed, which allows Vietnam Airlines to sell onward connections aboard Delta from Tokyo Narita and Frankfurt. https://www.flightglobal.com/airlines/vietnam-airlines-given-green-light-for-delta- partnership/136016.article Back to Top Irish lessor Avolon owned or managed 525 aircraft at the end of 2019 Aircraft leasing company paid investors dividend of $285m in final quarter of 2019 Avolon chief executive Dómhnal Slattery with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at the official opening of the company's global headquarters in Ballsbridge. Photograph: Robbie Reynolds Dublin-based aviation lessor Avolon delivered, delivered, sold or moved 170 aircraft in 2019, an average of more than three transactions a week, the Irish company said on Monday. Avolon, which buys aircraft from manufacturers and leases them to airlines around the world, owned or managed 525 aircraft at the end of last year. The company's annual review added that it had pledged to take a further 400 new craft from manufacturers such as Airbus and Boeing at end of 2019. Avolon last year delivered 54 new craft to airlines, and moved a further 24 between customers. It sold 92 aircraft in 2019, five of which it managed. Dómhnal Slattery, Avolon's chief executive, described it as a "landmark" year for the company. He highlighted that it earned investment-grade ratings from agencies that assess businesses' ability to repay debt. Ratings agencies Fitch, Moody's, S&P Global and KBRA all ranked Avolon as BBB or higher, indicating that there is a low risk that the company would default on debts. "Our current ratings profile will ensure that we continue to have access to funding at attractive terms and with greater financial flexibility," Mr Slattery said. He added that Avolon's prospects for this year were "positive" and said it was focused on continuing to give investors, Chinese group Bohai Leasing and US backer Orix, attractive returns. Avolon paid these investors a dividend of $285 million the final quarter of 2019. The Irish company repaid $3.7 billion of secured debt during the year, so less of its assets were used as security for loans. It also reduced the interest paid on its remaining secured liabilities. Avolon raised $5.1 billion in debt during last year, including $3.6 billion in senior unsecured bonds, a $500 million unsecured term loan and a further $1 billion in other credit. Learn more Avolon is headquartered in the Republic with offices in the United States, Dubai, Singapore and Shanghai. https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/irish-lessor-avolon-owned- or-managed-525-aircraft-at-the-end-of-2019-1.4132064 Back to Top Boeing training pilots ask to decertify union Boeing Chief Pilot Jim Webb prepares the 737 MAX 7 for its first flight in March 2018. Boeing will need many additional pilots to prepare the MAX fleet and airline pilots for its return to service. (Mike Siegel / The Seattle Times) Boeing training pilots in the Seattle area, who will play a key role in preparing airline crews when the 737 MAX returns to service, are expected to cut ties with the white- collar union representing them. After Boeing gave a 25% pay raise exclusively to its nonunion pilots late last year, a majority of the unionized training pilots - a group of 29 pilots represented by the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) - filed a petition Friday with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to decertify, or kick out, the union. A person with knowledge of the matter said Boeing's pilot-training leadership "sees this as a big win, the end of union pilots at Boeing." When the MAX returns to service, some airlines will require their pilots to go through full-flight-simulator training to become familiar with the updated systems before they fly passengers on the jet. Boeing is preparing for the possibility that such training may even be widely mandated by regulators, either by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) here in the United States or by various foreign authorities. Many airlines, especially overseas and smaller carriers, will need Boeing's help to put their pilots through such a training regimen. In addition, the FAA has said it wants each individual MAX aircraft flight tested before it carries passengers. So Boeing will need a large number of both instructor pilots and pilots able to conduct flight tests and fly customer demo flights. Boeing's 737 MAX crisis leaves it badly behind in 'arms race' for next decade's jets New snags add to uncertainty over Boeing 737 MAX's return to service Boeing redeploys workers as 737 MAX production in Renton prepares to shut down More For that, Boeing plans to hire temporary contract pilots from Isle of Man-based aircrew and training firm CCL Aviation, with which it has contracted since 2013. SPEEA's criticism of such "pilot outsourcing" sparked acrimony with management. Union sees a 'bribe' SPEEA executive director Ray Goforth said Boeing management's attempt to "bust the bargaining unit ... has poisoned the relationship (with SPEEA) for the foreseeable future." He described Boeing's pay raise for nonunion pilots as a ploy to "bribe the pilots into decertifying the union." Boeing "told our pilots they have to decertify the unit to get the same pay increase," he added. Boeing spokesman Paul Bergman denied any such interference by management with its employees' right to be in a union. Such a maneuver could be an illegal unfair-labor practice under federal law. He said the petition to leave the union was filed by "a group of individual employees and was not initiated, requested or encouraged by Boeing management." A person familiar with the details said 70% of the SPEEA pilot-bargaining unit signed the petition requesting a vote, well above the necessary 30% threshold, strongly suggesting that the outcome will go against the union. NLRB regional director Ron Hooks said Monday that once the agency confirms the petition attained the threshold, a vote of the pilots on whether to decertify the union is likely to be scheduled "within weeks." https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/with-heavy-need-for-737- max-training-pilots-ahead-boeing-pilots-ask-to-decertify-union/ Back to Top JetBlue to power some flights with "sustainable" jet fuel JetBlue plans to use what it calls sustainably sourced jet fuel on some of its flights and buy carbon offsets to cancel out emissions from its domestic flights. The discount carrier will offset carbon emissions from its U.S. flights starting in July, it announced Monday. JetBlue will do this by investing in environmental projects including forest conservation; capturing and reusing methane gas emitted from landfills; and developing solar and wind farms in areas that would otherwise rely on fossil fuels for energy. The airline also said it will power flights departing San Francisco International Airport with a form of jet fuel that emits less carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and other planet- heating gasses than regular fuel. Sustainable fuel from Finnish company Neste, which is created from waste and emits 80% less climate pollution than conventional fossil fuels, will make up part of the fuel for JetBlue's 17 daily flights from San Francisco. They will be the first commercial flights to use sustainable fuel, a spokesperson for JetBlue said. The airline will not raise ticket prices to pay for these changes, the spokesperson said. "This is the cost of doing business," she said in an email. "We've always anticipated customer's need and expectations - from TV to leg room. From a business perspective this is similar. The difference is that in addition to answering our customers' needs, it also addresses an urgent societal issue, growing emissions." Globally, JetBlue emitted about 8.4 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent in 2018, the most recent year for which data are available, according to records submitted to the nonprofit CDP. The airline industry has faced criticism in recent years over its contribution to climate change. Commercial flights were responsible for 2.4% of global carbon emissions last year; airplanes also heat the planet through trails left in the sky. Offsets are intended to let companies or people "balance out" the carbon emissions they create by investing money into carbon-capturing projects elsewhere, such as re- foresting denuded forest areas or capturing gas emitted from landfills. However, many offset programs have come under criticism for overstating their impact, and studies have shown that much of the clean energy projects funded this way would have received funding anyway. A leading climate-change researcher, Kevin Anderson, has written that "offsetting is worse than doing nothing" because it allows people to continue climate-heating activities without feeling the need to change their behavior. Other experts say offsetting carbon emissions is effective when done right. "If you're burning any fossil fuels ... the only way you offset that is by capturing carbon from the atmosphere and injecting it back into the earth's crust," said Mark Jaccard, a longtime climate policy researcher and author of "The Citizen's Guide to Climate Success." Although the technology exists to do that, such efforts are expensive, he said, costing between $100 and $200 per metric ton of carbon instead of the $10-per-ton price more typical of offset programs. But Jaccard praised JetBlue's attempt to grapple with its carbon footprint, as well as the company's nod toward more sustainable jet fuel, which he hopes will grow beyond one city. "We need more airlines talking like this, and that is really nice," he said. JetBlue follows European discount airline EasyJet, which announced last November that it would offset its carbon emissions. U.K.-based airline Virgin is also moving toward lessening its carbon footprint, powering a transatlantic flight back in 2018 with captured factory emissions. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jetblue-to-power-some-flights-with-sustainable-jet- fuel-and-offset-emissions-from-domestic-flights/ Back to Top SpaceX launches new round of Starlink satellites SpaceX Starlink launch & Falcon 9 first stage landing, January 2020 SpaceX took another step toward its worldwide Internet system on Monday (6 January 2020). One of its Falcon-9 rockets launched from Florida's Cape Canaberal hauling sixty of the company's 'Starlink' satellites. This is the third batch of satellies that Elon Musk's private rocket company has fired into space. Eventually SpaceX wants to put 12,000 up in low-Earth orbit. The latest batch will join more than a hundred already in space. The hope is this constellation will be able to beam high-speed internet almost anywhere in the world. If all goes to plan, customers in United States and Canada will be able to access Starlink as early as this year. Starlink is worth the effort for Musk, helping to pave the way for his larger goals of space exploration. He's said the project is pivotal to help bring in cash for projects like commercial space travel and eventually colonizing Mars. However, SpaceX isn't the only one trying to install an orbital network. Among them, Airbus partner OneWeb is probably Starlink's biggest competitor. It launched its own satellites early last year. https://www.yahoo.com/news/spacex-launches-round-starlink-satellites- 073801692.html Back to Top Back to Top 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