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Reports from NBAA’s Regional Forum in Houston, attacking the pilot and mechanic shortage, and NBAA’s top safety focus areas. Wo look at the Boeing 737 Max, AOA indicators, MCAS, and the certification process. Also, a Southwest Airlines labor agreement, more coin tosses for good luck, B-52 re-engining, famous aviation siblings, Red Bull air races, and the Boeing 747.
Aviation News
Flawed analysis, failed oversight: How Boeing and FAA certified the suspect 737 MAX flight control system
The original safety analysis that Boeing delivered to the FAA for MCAS understated the amount of horizontal stabilizer movement that the system ultimately provided.
Pilots offer insights on Boeing 737 crashes
A good explanation on how the system was meant to make the control forces feel the same as older 737s, and how either pilot can easily just turn the system off.
Airlines with buyers’ remorse may use Boeing 737 MAX ban to revise orders
Comments from analysts suggest that “airlines that over-ordered the latest version of Boeing’s 737 workhorse, the grounding could be a good excuse to delay or cancel purchases, saving cash on the balance sheet.”
See also, Letter from Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg to Airlines, Passengers and the Aviation Community.
Southwest Airlines’ new mechanics contract gives immediate 20 percent pay hike
After six years of negotiations, Southwest Airlines and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association have an agreement in principle for a new five-year contract.
Air Force resumes KC-46 deliveries after Boeing changes inspections
After passing a foreign object debris inspection, Boeing has been giving the go-ahead to resume KC-46 tanker deliveries.
Lucky Air flight #8L9616 delayed because two passengers tossed coins to aircraft engine for good luck
It’s happened again. This time two women were observed tossing coins at the engine as they boarded the aircraft.
NBAA Regional Forum
Airplane Geeks Reporter-at-Large Launchpad Marzari attended the 2019 NBAA Regional Forum March 14, 2019, in Houston Texas. He recorded these interviews:
Blain Stanley, Aircare International Emergency Procedures Instructor on fire training classes for aircraft crew.
NBAA Senior Manager of Flight Operations and Regulations Brain Koester on ADS-B in corporate aircraft.
Dave Brown, Sales Manager at Garmin, on jets and ADS-B.
Russell Otowchits, Regional Sales Manager with Gogo Business Aviation on inflight connectivity.
Raymond Goyco from Baker Aviation, the maker of fireproof bags for lithium-ion fires. Aircraft Specialties, Inc. is the sole U.S. stocking dealer for the HOT-STOP® ‘L’ Fire Containment Kit.
Also….
NBAA’s Bolen Asks Industry To Be Bizav Ambassadors
NBAA chief executive Ed Bolen says business aviation industry’s next big test is the pilot and maintenance technician shortage. Interest in business aviation careers needs to be generated among young people. Ed has some suggestions on how to accomplish that.
Prior to the Forum, the NBAA Safety Committee identified the 2019 NBAA Top Safety Focus Areas and provided many good supporting resources.
Mentioned
PaxEx Podcast: Max Flight and Mary Kirby on why no-MAX flight.
January/February 2019 Air Force Magazine: Re-Engining the B-52 and The Air Force Wants to Install New Engines on the B-52 Bomber.
Ross Macpherson Smith and Keith Macpherson Smith, the first pilots to fly from England to Australia, in 1919.
Video: Auckland from the Skies (1918) – Charles F. Newham – Auckland Museum Collection.
Qantas introduces twin sister pilots.
Credit
Outtro by Bruno Misonne.