NTSB Issues Warning: 'Don’t Foul The Fuel!'

In the wake of several incidents involving the contamination of jet fuel with diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is highlighting the dangers of such contamination with the release this week of a new safety alert (SA-079) and an accompanying poster. The safety alert warns jet fuel providers to take measures to prevent the possible contamination of DEF into jet fuel.

Required for all new on- and off-road diesel-powered vehicles, DEF is becoming more prevalent on airfields as refueling trucks are replaced, NTSB advised. The urea-based clear, colorless DEF reduces nitrogen oxide emissions when injected into the diesel-powered vehicle’s exhaust, NTSB said.

However, the Safety Board added, “DEF is not designed, nor approved, for use in jet fuel. If it is inadvertently added to jet fuel, as has happened in several incidents over the last two years, DEF will react with certain chemical components...and result in a loss of engine power.”

Improperly stored in an unmarked container, DEF can be mistaken for other liquids such as fuel system icing inhibitors (FSII). Both DEF and FSII can be bought in bulk and transferred into smaller containers, increasing the chance of mixing them up. The NTSB advises fuel providers to ensure all chemicals are stored in labeled containers and that they add a “NOT FOR AVIATION USE" label to DEF containers.

AINsight: A Review of King Air Takeoff Accidents

Two deadly Beechcraft King Air accidents at the end of June helped propel business aviation safety into one of its darkest periods on record. Combined, these two crashes—one in Hawaii, the other in Texas—accounted for 21 of the 47 business aviation fatalities during the first half of 2019.

Since October 2014 there have been at least five King Air accidents during takeoff or initial climb. During each of these events, including the two most recent crashes, the pilot lost control of the aircraft shortly after takeoff. In four of these events, the aircraft wreckage hit structures on or near an airport.

Earlier this month, the NTSB released the preliminary reports on the two most recent crashes. Final reports have been published on the previous three takeoff events involving King Airs—two in the U.S., the other in Australia.

In each of these three earlier cases, investigators cited pilot performance as an issue rather than aircraft performance, with the final reports identifying specific pilot actions—use of the wrong rudder, loss of control due to impairment, or a mis-set trim—as probable causes. None identify any mechanical issues with the aircraft.

Metro Signs for Five Kopter SH09 Helos

Metro Aviation has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Kopter Group to purchase five SH09 helicopters following FAA certification, which is expected later next year. The cooperation between Metro Aviation and Kopter started in 2018, when the two companies worked on the design and completion of several interiors for the SH09, which were presented at helicopter exhibitions in North America. Metro’s commitment brings the total number of orders for the SH09 to 70 units, to which another 100 LOIs are to be added, Kopter said.

“We have become more familiar with the SH09 concept, and we've worked in conjunction with Kopter to develop interiors for EMS, airborne law enforcement, and tour operations, which Metro has rolled out to the industry in the last two years,” said Metro Aviation president Mike Stanberry. “Those interiors were very well received by the industry. The benefits of a twin-engine cabin with the purchase price and operation cost of a single-engine aircraft, along with exceptional performance, make the SH09 a very attractive option. It made sense for us to move forward with the MOA expressing our intent to purchase at this time.” 

Embry-Riddle Looks to Restock Cessna Skyhawk Fleet

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has agreed to purchase at least 60 Cessna Skyhawks over the next four years, Textron Aviation announced Thursday at EAA AirVenture. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by the two parties earlier this week includes options for more airplanes, according to Textron.

“In keeping with Embry-Riddle’s rigorous focus on aviation safety, new aircraft for our fleet were selected following an exhaustive evaluation by a team of experts on both our Prescott, Arizona, and Daytona Beach, Florida, campuses,” Embry-Riddle president P. Barry Butler said. “We are honored to extend our successful 21-year relationship with Textron Aviation to replenish the Embry-Riddle fleet with Skyhawk aircraft, to provide our students with a highly effective and reliable training platform that will serve them well.”

Since 2014, the university has purchased more than 75 airplanes from Textron Aviation, mostly Skyhawks. This new MOU serves to refresh the school’s fleet of Skyhawks. 

“Textron Aviation continues to build on its strong relationship with Embry-Riddle going back more than 20 years, and we look forward to helping train the next generation of pilots,” Textron Aviation president and CEO Ron Draper said.

Dickson Confirmation Widely Welcomed Within Industry

While his nomination became controversial in recent months on Capitol Hill, the confirmation of Stephen Dickson as FAA administrator is drawing broad support from industry leaders who have maintained that he has been a strong safety advocate with a wealth of aviation experience. A former U.S. Air Force F-15 pilot who spent 27 years with Delta Air Lines, Dickson was confirmed on Wednesday, filling a position that has been held on an acting basis by Dan Elwell. 

Meanwhile, the Senate approved by voice vote a waiver to allow Elwell to return to his previous position of deputy administrator, even though both Elwell and Dickson are former military officers.  

Dickson had become known within aviation circles, particularly for his involvement in NextGen initiatives. “NBAA has had a close working relationship with Steve for many years, and we’re confident he’s the right man for the job,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. Others had similar thoughts: “The industry would benefit from his vast knowledge and experience with aviation at all levels,” said NATA v-p of regulatory affairs John McGraw. National Air Traffic Controllers Association president Paul Rinaldi, who represents the largest workforce contingent at the FAA, added his organization would continue “our great working relationship with him.”

His nomination, however, drew concerns after a complaint filed against Delta came to light.

North Dakota Company’s Jet To Hunt Florida Storms

Fargo Jet Center’s sister company Weather Modification International (WMI) has been contracted by the University of North Dakota (UND) to assist in a research project sponsored by the U.S. Navy’s Naval Surface Warfare Center.

To begin later this month, the mission known as Cape Experiment 2019 will send the North Dakota-based company’s modified Cessna Citation II into Florida thunderstorms. The twin-engine jet will be outfitted with a variety of probes to measure the tops and centers of the storms on a variety of environmental parameters, including temperature, humidity, wind, and pressure, along with cloud size, cloud imaging, and precipitation imaging. The results, gathered over 20 to 30 hours of flying, will be compared with those from the Navy’s Mid-Course Doppler Radar, one of the most advanced radar systems on the planet, to develop better cloud models.

WMI has experience in the modification and operation of special mission aircraft for use in cloud seeding and atmospheric research. The company has partnered with UND in the past using its faculty and students in other research.

“CapeEx19 is one example of how we can leverage the strengths of UND and the atmospheric sciences department in deploying industry-leading equipment on domestic and international projects, in this case, a fully instrumented Cessna Citation II research aircraft to Cape Canaveral, Florida,” said WMI president Neil Brackin.

Flirtey To Begin Drone Delivery Service in 2020

U.S.-based drone delivery company Flirtey will begin commercial service in 2020, it said. Flirtey was the first drone delivery company to conduct FAA-approved commercial drone delivery demonstrations, a series of deliveries of medications and supplies. The July 2015 demonstrations were conducted in Virginia. The drone used for those demonstrations will soon be on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C.

Flirtey is also participating in the FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Integration Pilot Program (IPP) in partnership with the city of Reno, Nevada. It has received FAA approval for multi-drone, single-pilot operations, as well as for beyond visual line of sight operations (BVLOS). Since its founding in 2013, Flirtey launched the first pizza-by-drone delivery model (Domino’s in New Zealand), conducted the first autonomous drone home delivery (with 7-Eleven stores in the U.S.), and completed the first FAA-approved ship-to-shore drone delivery (with Johns Hopkins University).

To date, the company has received $16 million in funding from investors including Menlo Ventures and Qualcomm Ventures. “Flirtey’s Kitty Hawk moment on July 17, 2015, pioneered the commercial drone delivery industry, just as the Wright Brother’s flight at Kitty Hawk…pioneered the commercial aviation industry,” said Flirtey founder and CEO Matthew Sweeny. “Flirtey is now on the fast-track to begin lifesaving automatic electronic defibrillator delivery and commercial package delivery to homes in the U.S. in 2020."

WCA Opens Application Process for Fall Scholarships

Women in Corporate Aviation (WCA) is accepting applications through September 1 for 11 scholarships totaling more than $60,000 in value. The organization, which opened the application process last week, will announce the recipients on September 15 and then present the scholarships during its Scholarship & Networking Luncheon to be held October 23 during NBAA’s annual convention in Las Vegas. Applicants must be members or join WCA by August 25.

This year’s scholarships and values are: CAPS Aviation FAR 135.331 crewmember emergency training and pilot emergency training (two offered, valued at $750 each); DaVinci Inflight Training Institute Elite five-day course ($4,775); Executive Jet Management training scholarship ($2,000); FlightSafety International Pilatus PC-12NG pilot training scholarship ($36,200); FlyGirl Sporty’s advanced pilot training scholarship ($3,100, plus lodging); Jetstream aviation law scholarship ($1,000); KAL Aviation Services maintenance technician training ($1,000); StandardAero maintenance technician scholarship ($3,000); Susan Friedenberg corporate flight attendant training ($4,200); Universal Weather & Aviation dispatch scholarship ($3,695); and Women In Corporate Aviation career scholarship ($2,000).