Aviation News - June 2016

Report Includes Further Safety Requirements

for 2016 Air Display Season

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has

published the  nal report from its Civil Air

Display Review, con rming a series of

measures aimed at making British civil air

displays even safer. The review was launched

immediately after the tragic Shoreham Airshow

accident last August and has been focused on

the regulation of civil air displays as a whole.

The  nal report builds on the measures

already announced in the action report

the CAA published in January this year. It

included enhanced risk assessments for

displays and strengthening requirements for

areas such as training and checks for those

overseeing displays and the experience, skill

and health of display pilots.

Further safety requirements have been

added that airshow organisers and display

pilots will have to meet for the 2016 air display

season. These include strengthening post-

display reporting requirements to re ect the

importance of feedback and safety reporting

from air displays; increasing the distance

between the display line and crowd line

for any situations where distances were

previously less than those in place for military

displays; increasing the minimum altitude at

which ex-military jet aircraft can undertake

aerobatic manoeuvres; and strengthening

the competency requirements for pilots

performing aerobatic manoeuvres in civil

registered, ex-military jet aircraft.

The CAA has also reiterated that

restrictions introduced immediately after the

Shoreham accident will remain in place until

the  nal Air Accidents Investigation Branch

report into the accident is published and the

CAA can review its  ndings. This included the

grounding of all UK civilian Hawker Hunter

aircraft; restricting the display manoeuvres

of similar ex-military jet aircraft over land to

 ypasts only and requiring additional risk

assessments for displays.

Dame Deirdre Hutton, Chair of the CAA,

said: “We began this review immediately after

the accident at Shoreham last summer with

the sole purpose of doing all that we can to

make UK civil airshows even safer. It has

been an extensive review, looking closely at

all aspects of airshow safety to identify any

areas where the system can be strengthened.

“Airshows are enjoyed by millions of

people up and down the country and we

want them to be successful. And while we

recognise implementing these changes will

require signi cant work from the airshow

community, we believe they are essential to

enhancing the safety of UK airshows and

safety must always be the top priority.

“We are already working with the airshow

community to make sure these measures

are implemented for the upcoming display

season and beyond, and so that the public

has every con dence that UK airshows meet

the highest safety standards.”

The full  nal report of the Civil Air Display

Review is available at http://www.caa.co.uk/

cap1400. Note that the changes detailed

in the review apply to UK civil air displays,

civilian licenced pilots and aircraft; they do not

apply to displays organised by the UK armed

forces at MOD air elds. David J Smith

Bombardier has won a major order from

Delta Air Lines for its C Series airliner. The

Atlanta, Georgia-based carrier has signed

a  rm agreement for the purchase of 75

CS100s with options for an additional

50 examples, making it the US launch

customer for the type. Delta also has the

 exibility to convert these to the larger

CS300 at a later date. The  rm order is

valued at $5.6bn.

“As we reshape our  eet for the future,

the innovative on board experience of the C

Series is a perfect complement for the top-

notch service provided every day by Delta

people,” said Ed Bastian, Delta’s incoming

chief executive. “These new aircraft are

a solid investment, allowing us to take

advantage of superior operating economics,

network  exibility and best-in-class fuel

performance.”

Fred Cromer, President, Bombardier

Commercial Aircraft, said: “This order is

a resounding endorsement of the CS

aircraft performance and its exceptionally

low operating costs. In addition, its widest

aisle, widest seats and largest bins in its

class will be attractive features for Delta’s

passengers.”

The CS100 features a state-of-the-art

interior with seatback in- ight entertainment,

in- ight Wi-Fi and high-capacity overhead

bins. The aircraft features a two-by-three

layout in the main cabin and Delta Comfort+

con guration, as well as a two-by-two First

Class layout.

The order – the largest in Bombardier

Commercial Aircraft history – makes Delta

the C Series largest customer. Deliveries

are scheduled to begin in spring 2018. As a

result of the deal Delta will not introduce the

Embraer 190 to its  eet as planned.

4 Aviation News incorporating Classic Aircraft June 2016

HEADLINES

Delta Commits to C Series

Delta Air Lines has signed a  rm agreement

for 75 Bombardier CS100 airliners with

options on a further 50. Bombardier

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