December 28, 2022 - No. 048 In This Issue : Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce Launch Research Project With Virginia Tech : Embraer Releases New Designs for Next Generation Aircraft : EASA Approves Garmin's G5000 for Citation Excels/XLSs : Rolls-Royce Completes UltraFan Build : Raytheon completes first test for hybrid-eclectic engine to fly in a Dash 8 : FAA Alerts Operators To Pitch-Trim Issue With Garmin Autopilot : Russia to guard against cannibalising planes for parts, minister tells Vedomosti : Swedish startup has built the electric airliner of the future : Repair of two $2.1 billion B-2 Spirit nuclear bombers will take several years - entire squadron out of service : Safran To Build a Compressor Blades and Vanes Plant for Aero Engines in Partnership With Belgian and Walloon Governments : GE’s Avio To Test Hydrogen Hybrid-Electric Engine : This aircraft fuel-saving technology is based on the skin of sharks : Did you know the B-36 Checklist lasted Six Hours (with another hour for a preflight check of 600 items)? The Shortest Checklist is instead that of the T-38 Trainer. Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce Launch Research Project With Virginia Tech By Kate O'Connor - Published: December 12, 2022 Updated: December 13, 2022 Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce have signed an agreement with Virginia Tech to conduct research on the impact of environmental contaminants on aircraft engine operation and testing. Slated to last four years, the Virginia Tech departments involved in the project are expected to include Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace and Ocean Engineering and Geosciences. The project was designed to improve strategies for mitigating the impact of airborne particulates on aeroengines. “Detrimental effects of particle ingestion are common concerns in the aerospace industry and can lead to accelerated engine aging and performance loss,” the companies said. “This is a multifaceted problem that ranges from basic scientific questions about complex chemistry of the environmental contaminants within the engine, to fleet operations, maintenance procedures, engine design and even weather prediction.” The research project will start testing using a Rolls-Royce M250 engine. According to Rolls-Royce and Pratt & Whitney, environmental contaminants are responsible for “hundreds of millions of dollars of losses annually for both commercial and military operations”. The companies have previously partnered on similar research projects including a study of volcanic ash damage to aircraft engines. Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce Launch Research Project With Virginia Tech Embraer Releases New Designs for Next Generation Aircraft Arash Abed 12/12/2022 8:55 am Note: Important graphics included in original article. LONDON – Embraer has released four new design concept aircraft as part of the company’s progress report on Energia, Embraer’s initiative to get the aviation industry to net zero by 2050. New designs One year after Embraer presented its Embraer’s Sustainability in Action event, which detailed the study of four new aircraft concepts powered by new technologies and renewable energies, the company has been focusing on two 19 to 30-seater designs for hybrid electric and hydrogen-powered engines. Guided by the company’s 50-year technical expertise, external inputs from airlines, and joint studies with engine OEMs, the two approaches of flying with both hydrogen and electric engines, to net-zero offer a technically realistic and economically feasible pathway to net-zero. Here is an overview of the basic specifications of the new designs: Energia Hybrid (E19-HE and E30-HE) – revealed as a nine-seater in 2021, Embraer is exploring a 19 and a 30-seater variant: • parallel hybrid-electric propulsion • up to 90% CO2 emissions reduction when using SAF • 19 and 30-seat variants • rear-mounted engines • technology readiness – early 2030’s Energia H2 Fuel Cell (E19-H2FC and E30-H2FC) – revealed as a 19-seater in 2021, Embraer is also exploring a 30-seater variant: • hydrogen-electric propulsion • zero CO2 emissions • 19 and 30-seat variants • rear-mounted electric engines • technology readiness – 2035 While still in the evaluation phase, the architectures and technologies are being assessed for technical and commercial viability. The Energia Advisory Group has also been launched to harness inputs and collaboration from partner airlines. Embraer management statements Arjan Meijer, President, and CEO, of Embraer Commercial Aviation, said, “I believe we have set bold but realistic goals for these concepts to come to market. Since we announced our Energia concepts last year, we have been busy evaluating different architectures and propulsion systems.” “These efforts have resulted in the updates of our concepts that we are sharing with you today. A number of airlines are part of our Energia Advisory Group, the experience, and knowledge they bring to the study will be key to accelerate to the next phases.” “As new propulsion technologies will be first applied on smaller aircraft, Embraer is in a unique position. The 19 and 30-seaters are sensible starting points for focused studies since they are likely to present earlier technical and economical readiness,” said Luis Carlos Affonso, Sr. VP of Engineering, Technology and Corporate Strategy, Embraer. “While the challenges of net-zero are significant, in less than 25 years our commercial aircraft have already reduced fuel burn and CO2 emissions by almost 50% on a seat/mile basis, using only conventional fuels and propulsion – I’m convinced net-zero is a goal we can reach.” Technicality As Embraer stated, this project is still being assessed for its technical and economical viability. While this may sound promising, it still may not be technically feasible at this point, as we’re at our infancy stage with electric flight of a large plane. There are many start-ups too, like the Delft-based Maeve Aerospace, which claims to make a 40-seater, 8-engine, propeller plane. While this may sound beautiful, it’s still filled with loose promises, as the aerospace industry is a highly conservative industry, and doesn’t like change. Embraer Releases New Designs for Next Generation Aircraft EASA Approves Garmin's G5000 for Citation Excels/XLSs by Jerry Siebenmark - December 14, 2022, 10:17 AM Garmin's G5000 replaces the Cessna Citation Excel/XLS business jet’s Honeywell Primus 1000 avionics with three landscape-oriented flight displays featuring split-screen capability. (Photo: Garmin) Garmin has received EASA approval for its G5000 flight deck in the Cessna Citation Excel and XLS business jets, the Olathe, Kansas avionics OEM announced yesterday. The G5000 has been a popular upgrade for U.S. operators of these Citation midsize twins since receiving FAA certification three years ago. To date, the G5000 has received more than 100 commitments for installation in Excel/XLS twinjets, which includes charter and fractional provider FlyExclusive. The G5000 replaces the Excel/XLS’s Honeywell Primus 1000 avionics with three landscape-oriented flight displays featuring split-screen capability that allows pilots to simultaneously view maps, charts, checklists, terrain avoidance and warning system, traffic collision avoidance system, flight plan information, and weather. These displays also permit the viewing of electronic charts and Garmin SafeTaxi airport diagrams that are georeferenced. Touchscreen controls serve as the pilot interface to the flight deck and are intended to provide ease of operation and seamless transition between pages. EASA Approves Garmin's G5000 for Citation Excels/XLSs Rolls-Royce Completes UltraFan Build By Kate O'Connor - Published: December 19, 2022 Rolls-Royce announced on Monday that it has finished assembling its UltraFan technology demonstrator engine. According to the company, the engine has been moved its Testbed 80 facility in Derby, U.K., in preparation for testing, which is slated to begin early next year. The UltraFan demonstrator has a fan diameter of 140 inches and is expected to yield a 25 percent improvement in fuel efficiency compared to Rolls-Royce’s first-generation Trent engine. “Seeing the UltraFan demonstrator come together and getting ready for test in Testbed 80 is a great way to end the year,” said Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace President Chris Cholerton. “We have all been waiting for this moment, which is such an important milestone for the programme and for the team who have worked on it.” Rolls-Royce Completes UltraFan Buildesigned for both narrowbody and widebody aircraft, the UltraFan is capable of delivering between 25,000 and 110,000 pounds of thrust. It includes features such as Rolls-Royce’s Advance 3 core architecture and advanced low emissions combustion system (ALECSys), carbon titanium fan blades and a composite casing, advanced ceramic matrix composite (CMC) components and a geared design. Rolls-Royce noted that it is looking at options to transfer technologies from the UltraFan development program to its current Trent engines. Rolls-Royce Completes UltraFan Build Raytheon completes first test for hybrid-eclectic engine to fly in a Dash 8 BY VALIUS VENCKUNAS 2022-12-20 1 MINUTE READ Raytheon announced a successful first test of a new hybrid-electric engine to be mounted on a De Havilland Canada Dash 8 demonstrator. The engine, which combines a regular Pratt & Whitney powerplant with a 1 MW electric motor developed by Collins Aerospace, will enable cutting CO2 emissions by 30%, Raytheon said. The engine was tested at Pratt & Whitney’s facility Quebec, Canada. There, the engine will be mounted on a Dash 8-100 aircraft to conduct the first test flight in 2024. “With our ground test program now well underway, planned flight testing will enable us to accelerate the demonstration of this next generation sustainable propulsion technology,” Jean Thomassin, executive director of new products and services at Pratt & Whitney Canada is quoted as saying in the company’s press release. The Canadian branch of Pratt & Whitney announced the development of hybrid-electric powered technology demonstrator, which is being developed together with Collins Aerospace, another subsidiary of Raytheon, in 2021. However, early plans saw the demonstrator beginning ground tests at the end of 2022. The project received additional support from the Canadian and Quebec governments. While the release did not mention the cause for the delay, testing of the engine alone shows that progress is being made on the project. Pratt & Whitney reiterated that the demonstrator is on track to fly in 2024. This is not the first attempt to create a hybrid-electric engine for an aircraft. Pratt & Whitney’s competitors, such as General Electric and Rolls-Royce, and various start-ups are currently developing their own takes on this technology. Raytheon completes first test for hybrid-eclectic engine to fly in a Dash 8 FAA Alerts Operators To Pitch-Trim Issue With Garmin Autopilot By Mark Phelps Published: December 20, 2022 The FAA has posted a notice alerting operators that Garmin has issued Service Alert 22109 Revision A regarding its very popular GFC 500 digital autopilots. The notice only affects those autopilots with the optional GSA 28 pitch trim system installed, associated with Garmin’s Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SA01866W. That configuration, approved for certified, experimental and light-sport aircraft, has an issue that “may result in an uncommanded automatic trim runaway when the autopilot is first engaged,” according to the FAA notice, which includes the understatement: “The condition could result in a sudden and significant deviation from the intended flight path.” The FAA said Garmin is working on a software solution to the issue, expected by year-end. In the meantime, the service alert requires operators of certified aircraft with the STC “to pull and collar the autopilot circuit breaker and placard the autopilot as ‘inoperative’ prior to further flight.” The agency advises operators of certified aircraft with the STC to contact a Garmin dealer to enable reactivating the autopilot/pitch trim combination “in accordance with recommended Service Bulletin 22110 Revision A.” Meanwhile, the FAA alerts operators of experimental and light-sport aircraft equipped with the autopilot/trim configuration to comply with Garmin Service Bulletin 22112, which requires they “update system software or disable the autopilot or trim control prior to further flight.” FAA Alerts Operators To Pitch-Trim Issue With Garmin Autopilot Russia to guard against cannibalising planes for parts, minister tells Vedomosti Reuters Dec 22 (Reuters) - Russia's aviation sector will do everything it can to avoid the "total cannibalisation" of aircraft for spare parts, industry and trade minister Denis Manturov has told the Vedomosti business newspaper, as the impact of sanctions bites. "Everything is being done to prevent this (total cannibalisation) from happening. Much depends on how intensively the aircraft fleet will be used and how timely they are serviced," Manturov said in an interview published on Thursday. Manturov said that components could be moved between aircraft "for the prompt restoration of airworthiness", but that he was not aware of cases of full cannibalisation of planes for their spare parts. In August, Reuters reported that Russian airlines, including state-controlled Aeroflot (AFLT.MM), were stripping jetliners to secure spare parts they can no longer buy abroad because of Western sanctions, citing four industry sources. Russia to guard against cannibalising planes for parts, minister tells Vedomosti Swedish startup has built the electric airliner of the future © Heart Aerospace by Mauricio Ruiz 21 December 2022 AviationNews Sweden Note: Important graphics in original article. Swedish startup Heart Aerospace has built the world’s first electric airplane. The company has already tested a scale model of a 19-seat electric commuter plane, which attracted interest from several airlines, as reported by Reuters. In July 2021, United Airlines, in association with regional partner Mesa Airlines, announced the purchase of 200 ES-19, which is the 19-seat version. The aircraft is expected to enter service in 2026, two years ahead of the ES-30. In September of this year, Air Canada ordered 30 ES-30 electric-hybrid regional aircraft with a range of up to 800 km. Under the purchase agreement, Air Canada also acquired a US$5 million equity stake in Heart Aerospace. We have designed a cost-efficient airplane that allows airlines to deliver good service on a wide range of routes. Anders Forslund, CEO of Heart Aerospace The aircraft will fly on battery power, generating zero emissions and yielding significant operational benefits. The introduction of the revolutionary aircraft will help the airline reach the goal of net zero emissions by 2050, said Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau. The ES-30 is designed for short routes currently flown by conventional turbo-prop planes and will have a fully electric range of 200km, which can be extended to 400km on hybrid power. If payload is cut to 25 people, range rises to 800km, all with normal safety reserves. With level floor three-abreast seating, overhead cabin luggage bins, a galley and a lavatory the interior will resemble larger airliners. As well as cabin stowage, it will feature a large external cargo baggage and cargo compartment. In April, Air Canada operated four flights from San Francisco to its Canadian bases in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal using SAF, sourced from oil refining company Neste. Several other airlines were also interested in Heart Aerospace, such as New Zealand’s Sounds Air, which said it would have “at least three” ES-19s by 2026. Finnair, Sweden’s BRA airline, Norway-based Wideroe, Air Greenland, Quebec-based Pascan, California’s Quantum Air, UK newcomer CityClipper and Scandinavian Airlines have signed letters of intent for the aircraft, AIN Online reported. In addition to the orders already placed, letters of intent have been placed for 96 further ES-30s from major airlines including Scandinavian Airlines and Icelandair. Interest in electric aircraft comes as the industry continues to move toward greener operations, with global airlines and aviation regulators pushing for net-zero emissions by 2050. On September 8th, United announced an order for 200 Embraer Eve electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL), while American Airlines placed an order for VX4 eVTOLs from Vertical Aerospace in July. Delta Air Lines is the only major U.S. airline not investing in an electric aircraft. “We are thrilled to have two such strong partners as Saab and Air Canada join our mission to electrify regional air travel,” said Anders Forslund, founder and CEO of Heart Aerospace. “Air Canada is a strategically important partner with one of the world’s largest networks operated by regional turboprops.” Because its four engines will be electric, the ES-30 will be much quieter than an equivalent propeller driven plane and Heart says the electric engines will be much cheaper to maintain than their fossil fuel counterparts. “The ES-30 is an electric airplane that the industry can actually use,” said Forslund. “We have designed a cost-efficient airplane that allows airlines to deliver good service on a wide range of routes. With the ES-30 we can start cutting emissions from air travel well before the end of this decade and the response from the market has been fantastic.” At shorter ranges the ES-30 will generate zero emissions but even in hybrid mode it will create half the CO2 of a conventional turboprop airliner. Although the plane’s propellers will be driven by electric motors, it will carry two turbo generators powered by sustainable aviation fuel, which will guarantee that the aircraft can meet airline standards for reserve power in the event of having to divert to another airport. According to the World Economic Forum, the largest electric powered plane to take to the skies is the single engine 14-seat Magnix eCaravan, an all-electric version of the Cessna Grand Caravan 208B utility plane, which had its first flight in May 2020. Magnix’s electric motors also power the Eviation Alice, a nine seater all-electric commuter plane, which made a successful maiden flight in September 2022. Wright Electric’s Spirit is a 100-seat electric conversion of the BAe-146 regional jetliner. The company says it will be capable of flying routes of one hour and be ready to enter service in 2026. Swedish startup has built the electric airliner of the future Repair of two $2.1 billion B-2 Spirit nuclear bombers will take several years - entire squadron out of service By: Maksim Panasovskyi | 16.12.2022, 19:41 The U.S. Air Force's bomber squadron is temporarily out of service after the second incident with the B-2 Spirit in two years. It will take several years to repair the strategic aircraft. Here's What We Know Last September, the strategic bomber went into a skid during a landing at Whiteman Base and caught the ground with its wings. A week ago, another B-2 caught fire after an emergency landing. The Air Force closed the runway. The squadron is temporarily out of service and unable to perform combat missions. This is because there is only one runway at Whiteman Base. The recovery team is working around the clock to get the military facility back up and running as quickly as possible. The 509th Bomber Wing is based at Whiteman Base. It is the only U.S. Air Force unit with $2.1 billion worth of B-2 Spirit nuclear stealth bombers. Northrop Grumman developed the aircraft at the end of the last century. Initially, the U.S. wanted 120 bombers, which were intended for strikes against the USSR (in case of conflict). After the collapse of the USSR, the program was cut. Northrop Grumman produced only 21 bombers. The last one rolled off the assembly line in 2000. The U.S. significantly reduced the number of strategic bombers - only 20 B-2 Spirit, 76 B-52 Stratofortress and 45 B-1B Lancer remain, and production ended 20 years ago since. In 2008, during a scheduled flight from Guam to Kansas City, the plane crashed. The crew members survived. It was the first and only crash involving Spirit, and also the most expensive in aviation history. The damage was estimated at $1.4 billion. Thus, the total number of bombers was reduced to 20 units. The U.S. now has 18 "working" planes. To repair the B-2 Spirit, which crashed last year, will cost $10 million. How much it will cost to restore the second plane is still unknown. The U.S. says the work will last for several years. In the next few years, the U.S. will begin to withdraw from the B-2 Spirit, as the production of the B-21 Raider, which was created with a view not to Russia but to China, will start. The new generation bomber will cost less. In addition, the U.S. Air Force will be able to send the Raider to other countries, which cannot be done with the Spirit due to difficulties in maintenance. Source: Military Watch Repair of two $2.1 billion B-2 Spirit nuclear bombers will take several years - entire squadron out of service Safran To Build a Compressor Blades and Vanes Plant for Aero Engines in Partnership With Belgian and Walloon Governments Dec. 21, 2022 Related To: Safran Group François Lepot, CEO of Safran Aero Boosters, announced that a new compressor blades and vanes production plant for aircraft engines will be set up in the Walloon region of Belgium, in the province of Liège. The announcement was made before Willy Borsus, vice president of Wallonia; Adrien Dolimont, Walloon Minister of Finance; and Thomas Dermine, Secretary of State for Recovery and Strategic Investments. Representing a €50 million investment, the new plant will produce titanium compressor blades, including those required for the LEAP engine, and will bolster Safran Aero Boosters' industrial expertise in its flagship product, the low-pressure compressor. Bearing the name Safran Blades, it is being set up in partnership with the Belgian and Walloon federal authorities, the Société Régionale dʼInvestissement de Wallonie (S.R.I.W) and the Société Fédérale de Participations et d'Investissement (S.F.P.I.M). Safran Aero Boosters has a majority stake of 56% and the two partners each hold 22%. “There are hundreds of blades in the compressor. They are a key component in our supply chain. Managing their production in both technical and logistical terms will guarantee our performance," Lepot said. The 10,000-square-meter center of excellence will be located in Marchin, on a former ArcelorMittal site that will be completely refurbished, incorporating Safran's best industrial technologies to meet the highest global standards. Featuring automation, highly qualified personnel and the most advanced digital technologies, Plant 4.0 will produce more than 2,000 blades and vanes a day, with innovative, autonomous real-time quality control at every critical stage of production. It will be operational in 2025 and will employ around 100 people. In addition, the site is designed to meet the highest standards in terms of sustainable development, with a significant reduction in energy and water consumption and the use of renewable energy (solar panels, hydraulic turbines, etc.). Safran To Build a Compressor Blades and Vanes Plant for Aero Engines in Partnership With Belgian and Walloon Governments GE’s Avio To Test Hydrogen Hybrid-Electric Engine Thierry Dubois December 15, 2022 Catalyst LYON, France–An Avio Aero-led consortium has been awarded €34 million ($36 million) for a technology demonstration program that combines a fuel cell and a hybrid-electric propulsion system based on a GE Catalyst turboprop. The four-year agreement helps the European Commission’s Clean Aviation public-private partnership materialize, as the Joint Undertaking is proceeding with the first contracting phase. Dubbed Amber, the demonstrator will be ground tested in the mid-2020s, according to the plan of Avio Aero, a GE Aerospace company. It is aimed at validating technologies for a megawatt-class, hybrid-electric propulsion system powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. Studied will be integration of hybrid-electric components—including a motor-generator, power converters, and power transmission systems—with a fuel cell. The parallel hybrid-electric propulsion system will be based on a Catalyst supplemented by an electric motor powered with the fuel cell. Germany-based H2FLY—a company specializing in the development of hydrogen-electric power systems for aircraft—will supply the megawatt-class fuel cell system along with the corresponding architecture, interfaces, and fuel cell controls. Leonardo will provide guidance on aircraft integration. Other partners in the 21-member consortium include German aerospace research center DLR and its Italian counterpart, CIRA. The hybrid-electric technologies developed with Amber will be compatible with advanced engine architectures, such as an open fan, Avio Aero says. “Clean Aviation’s primary ambition is to drive a step change in aircraft performance by radically boosting efficiency in aircraft and fleet performance,” said Axel Krein, executive director of Clean Aviation. “For regional aircraft, our goal is an improvement of at least 50% compared to a typical flight today. The Amber project, as one of our 20 daring new projects now underway, will play a key role in helping us deliver this ambitious target.” GE’s Avio To Test Hydrogen Hybrid-Electric Engine This aircraft fuel-saving technology is based on the skin of sharks The innovation results in annual savings of around 400 tons of kerosene and more than 1,200 tons of carbon dioxide for each Boeing 777-300ER. Loukia Papadopoulos Created: Dec 25, 2022 11:27 AM EST INNOVATION Note: This aircraft fuel-saving technology is based on the skin of sharks. Last week, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) granted Lufthansa Technik permission to modify two Boeing 777 variants with the fuel-saving AeroSHARK riblet films, a sustainability-focused innovation developed jointly by Lufthansa Technik and chemicals company BASF, according to a press release by the aircraft maintenance firm. The new technology will now be installed on Lufthansa Cargo and Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) aircraft. “Thanks to its special surface structure of microscopic ribs – so-called riblets – AeroSHARK reduces the frictional resistance of the aircraft skin. As a result, the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are reduced by around one percent,” noted the statement. “For each Boeing 777-300ER operated by SWISS, this means annual savings of around 400 tons of kerosene and more than 1,200 tons of carbon dioxide. The slightly shorter Boeing 777F saves around 370 tons of fuel and 1,170 tons of CO2 each year.” First flights with the new tech already on the way The first AeroSHARK-equipped Boeing 777-300ER of the Swiss airline had already begun daily operations in October. The first flights of this plane, conducted on September 8 and 9 2022 with the EASA, were undertaken to collect detailed proof that the AeroSHARK modification had no negative impact on the operational safety and handling of the Boeing 777. The initial flights were followed by several weeks of evaluation of the collected data and other documents, such as measured values from flow simulations. The new decree issued by EASA will now allow Lufthansa Technik to apply the riblet films to any given Boeing 777-300ER and 777F aircraft. Lufthansa "The approval of AeroSHARK for the Boeing 777 variants is an important step in the distribution of this new technology for more sustainability in air transport," said Soeren Stark, Chief Executive Officer of Lufthansa Technik. "With our partner BASF, we can now support our customers in making entire subfleets more climate-friendly. Moreover, we intend to realize the use of the new technology for further aircraft types. We are the only MRO company in the world to offer such solutions to reduce fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions for commercial aircraft. We are naturally very proud of this." "Realizing such a project is only possible through cooperation in partnership and great trust in each other's expertise. Together, we have succeeded in developing a tailor-made solution that combines economic action and sustainability in equal measure," further explained Dr. Uta Holzenkamp, head of BASF's Coatings division. "With the Novaflex Sharkskin functional film, we are helping our customers to achieve their individual sustainability goals and in this way make aviation measurably more environmentally friendly." To be installed on several aircraft AeroSHARK will now be installed on SWISS and Lufthansa Cargo’s twelve 777-300ERs and eleven 777Fs. The changes are expected to reduce Lufthansa Group's carbon footprint by more than 25,000 tons annually. In 2020, Lufthansa operated its first-ever 100% carbon-neutral cargo flight. This aircraft fuel-saving technology is based on the skin of sharks Did you know the B-36 Checklist lasted Six Hours (with another hour for a preflight check of 600 items)? The Shortest Checklist is instead that of the T-38 Trainer. By Dario Leone Dec 22 2022 Note: Important graphics included in the original article. How many items are on a pilot checklist? In aviation, a preflight checklist is a list of tasks that should be performed by pilots and aircrew prior to takeoff. Its purpose is to improve flight safety by ensuring that no important tasks are forgotten. Failure to correctly conduct a preflight check using a checklist is a major contributing factor to aircraft accidents. According to researcher and writer Atul Gawande, the concept of a pre-flight checklist was first introduced by management and engineers at Boeing Corporation following the 1935 crash of the prototype Boeing B-17 (then known as the Model 299) at Wright Field in Dayton, Ohio, killing both pilots. Investigation found that the pilots had forgotten to disengage the crucial gust locks (devices which stop control surfaces moving in the wind while parked) prior to take-off. How many items are on a pilot checklist? ‘Good question, easily answered by showing the shortest one and the longest one,’ Ron Wagner, former USAF Pilot and author at www.renazonce.com, on Quora. THE SHORTEST ONE ‘The shortest one I know of was the spin recovery checklist for the USAF T-38 Talon. It was a bold-faced checklist, which meant we were required to memorize it verbatim. The USAF replaced that old ejection seat about a decade ago and the new one has a loop to pull instead of arm handles that need to be raised to expose the triggers that need to be squeezed. So, the ejection checklist could now be a single item. And I suppose everyone is required to memorize that one, too. LOL.’ WHAT’S THE LONGEST CHECKLIST? ‘According to an article appeared on Flight Safety Australia, the record holder is the engine start checklist for the Convair B-36 Peacemaker. ‘The article says that it took the ground crew six hours to prepare this 10-engined Cold War strategic bomber for a mission, after which the flight crew took another hour for a preflight check of 600 items. ‘With six huge radial piston engines and four jet engines, it must have been long. ‘And it was a bomber, with far more systems than just the ten engines, such as armament, four bomb bays and associated doors, and guns and a galley. ‘And it had a crew of 15 and one of those crew members was the flight engineer who had a scope that could monitor the condition of all 336 spark plugs. ‘The checklist just for that engineer’s station might set the world record even if you left off the whole rest of the airplane. ‘Oh, and if it looks like you’re seeing two seats, well, yep.’ Wagner concludes; ‘Here’s a cutaway of the entire front crew area. A typical B-36 flight could last 40 hours. One would assume that was due to long flights, but, damn, it might have been because they had to start running checklists a day before takeoff.’ Photo credit: U.S. Air Force and Unknown Did you know the B-36 Checklist lasted Six Hours (with another hour for a preflight check of 600 items)? The Shortest Checklist is instead that of the T-38 Trainer. Curt Lewis