The Week in Brief 29 September 2011

Embraer has released its outlook for the Chinese regional aviation market through to 2030. The outlook indicates that world aviation showed signs of recovery in 2010, after the economic crisis of 2008, with China emerging as one of the fastest growing and most important air transport markets. In line with the expansion of China's aviation market and economic development, it is forecast that 975 new regional jets will be delivered over the next 20 years, including 15 for 30-60 seats, 440 for 61-90 seats, and 520 for 91-120 seats, which accounts for around 13 per cent of global market demands.

Meanwhile, Boeing has forecast that the Asia Pacific region will require hundreds of thousands of new commercial airline pilots and technicians over the next 20 years to support airline fleet modernization and the rapid growth of air travel. The 2011 Boeing Pilot & Technician Outlook calls for 182,300 new pilots and 247,400 new technicians in the Asia Pacific region through to 2030. The greatest need will be in China, which will require 72,700 pilots and 108,300 technicians over the next 20 years.

Airbiz has received the Smart Systems Award at the 2011 Victorian Engineering Excellence Awards, for its contribution to the development of the Next Generation Check-In for Qantas. The award acknowledges the expertise of the Airbiz team, which was made up of airport and terminal planners, business analysts, project facilitators, simulation specialists and creative strategists, renowned for lateral thinking resulting in innovative and cost effective outcomes.

At the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial Meeting in San Francisco on September 14, the US-based General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) expressed its strong support for an initiative to facilitate business aviation operations in the Asia Pacific region. GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce noted that the strong forecast for business aircraft deliveries, including rotorcraft, to the Asia Pacific region over the next several decades will require solutions to existing challenges such as a shortage of pilots and technical personnel, as well as insufficient infrastructure.

IATA has called on Indonesia to lift its air safety game to the next level via "coordinated policy measures". Indonesia recorded 33 air accidents in the six years to the close of 2010, including four per cent of global accidents last year. Three of four accidents in 2010 involved runway excursions. IATA chief Tyler has called for Indonesia to mandate IOSA compliance for all of its airlines, to build on the safety enhancements that have been achieved by flag carrier Garuda. Tyler is also concerned about inadequate air traffic management, pointing out that installed ADS-B technology "is not being used".

And ICOA is moving towards a single repository and a common taxonomy for reporting all aviation accidents and incidents. The initial stage of this initiative is being coordinated with the European Commission.

Cessna has this week added an 11th member to its Citation business jet family in the form of the Citation M2, a new light business jet that fills the gap between the Citation Mustang and the Citation CJ family. With room for two crew and up to six pax, the US$4.195 million Citation M2 has a maximum cruise speed of 400 KTAS and a range of 1300 nautical miles. The M2 can operate at airports with runways as short as 991 metres and will climb to 41,000 feet in 24 minutes. First flight is set for the first half of next year, with certification expected a year later.

The FBI says that there were almost 2900 laser incidents involving aircraft in the US in 2010, which is an average of close to eight incidents each day. A spokesman described the rate of increase in laser incidents in the US as "exponential". The majority of incidents involve green lasers, which are apparently particularly dangerous because the human eye is most susceptible to damage from light in the yellow-green spectrum.

How's this for industry talent? Entertainment at the charity BBQ at the upcoming Safeskies conference in Canberra (26-27 October) will be provided by the band Mid Life Crisis, comprised of musicians drawn from the aviation industry: Lead Guitar: Rob Lee, Consultant in Human Factors and Systems Safety; Group Captain, RAAF Specialist Reserve. Drums: Stuart Jones, Flying Operations Inspector, Standards Development and Future Technology Division – CASA. Rhythm Guitar: Joe Hattley, Team Leader Aviation Safety Investigations, ATSB. Vocals: Pieter van Dijk, Airworthiness Engineer, Airworthiness & Engineering Branch, Standards Development and Future Technology, CASA. Bass Guitar: Alex Zvargulis, IT specialist and Frequent Flyer. Special guest vocalist: Mr Geoff Leach, Manager Dangerous Goods Office, CAA United Kingdom, member of UK rock group "Plane Crazy'.