Flight Safety Information June 20, 2011 - No. 125 In This Issue PARIS: Wingtip hit grounds A380 demonstration flight South Korean military apologizes for firing at commercial jet United Continental Pilots Split on Training Simulators FAA seeks to fine Atlantic Southeast $425,000 Three arrested for pointing a laser at Chicago Police helicopter PARIS: Wingtip hit grounds A380 demonstration flight Airbus has scrapped plans for the flying display of its A380 superjumbo jet at the Paris air show after the aircraft's wingtip "touched a structure" during ground manoeuvres at the Le Bourget airport. The airframer stated the incident on A380 flight test aircraft, MSN 004, occurred near taxiway Victor on 19 June at 15:50 local time. Airbus said its experts are inspecting the aircraft, but "it is already confirmed" the aircraft "will not perform" at the show. The aircraft had landed shortly beforehand and was given clearance by ground controllers to travel along taxiway Victor. While the crew had been informed that the taxiway was clear for the A380, said Airbus, and the aircraft was on the centreline, it hit a building belonging to Aeroports de Paris. Its wing fence was sheared off in the collision and the right wing-tip has also sustained damage. The aircraft will be examined and eventually flown back to Toulouse. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/06/19/358300/paris-picture-wingtip-hit- grounds-a380-demonstration-flight.html Back to Top South Korean military apologizes for firing at commercial jet Seoul, South Korea (CNN) -- The South Korean military apologized Monday for shooting at a commercial airplane carrying 119 passengers and crew. The Asiana Airlines flight was preparing to land Friday morning at Incheon International Airport, 70 kilometers (43 miles) west of Seoul, when two soldiers fired at the aircraft after mistaking it for a North Korean military jet. The soldiers were on Gyodong Island near the North Korean border. After firing 99 rounds, they reported the incident. The South Korean military claims the rounds were only warning shots from K-2 rifles, and there was no damage to the aircraft because it was out of range. "I sincerely apologize for causing the public concern over the incident," Col. Lee Bung- Woo, spokesman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Monday. The aircraft, on its way from Chengdu, China, was "flying on its regular route under command of the flight control tower," Asiana Airlines spokesman Ki Won Suh said. Asiana confirmed two other flights flew on the same route 20 minutes before and after the firing incident, raising questions about why only one flight concerned the soldiers. The passengers and pilots were unaware they had been fired upon until they landed. "We understand the guards need more education on how to distinguish civilian airplanes," said Lee, the military spokesman. But the South Korean military said it will not reprimand the two soldiers because they acted in accordance with procedure. The incident comes at a time of heightened tensions between the two Koreas. Pyongyang said it would cut off all ties with Seoul last month, accusing the South of waging psychological warfare by sending propaganda into North Korea undermining the regime. Back to Top United Continental Pilots Split on Training Simulators By ANDY PASZTOR And SUSAN CAREY PARIS (WSJ)-United Continental Holdings Inc. wants to use less-expensive and less- realistic flight simulators than most big international airlines for essential, recurrent pilot-training tasks, prompting criticism from outside safety groups and many of its own cockpit crews. With pilot-training issues on the minds of many of the industry leaders gathered here for the Paris Air Show this week, the company's strategy could have broader safety implications for airlines around the world, according to some safety experts. By pitting pilot-union leaders at the company's Continental Airlines unit-who are comfortable with the less-expensive, 10-year-old regime-against counterparts at United Airlines, who strongly oppose it, the behind-the-scenes debate also shows the technical and personnel challenges of fully integrating operations of the combined company. The disagreement within United Continental revolves around using fixed-base simulators-which don't mimic the movements of planes in flight-rather than full-motion devices to conduct certain types of mandatory, recurrent pilot training. A decade ago, Continental received Federal Aviation Administration regulatory approval to use such devices, costing roughly one-third less than full-motion simulators, during the last phase of periodic proficiency checks for pilots flying its Boeing Co. 777 fleet. Continental was moving to expand the practice to its Boeing 737 pilots before last year's merger agreement with United shifted the combined airlines' focus to integrating all FAA paperwork. Continental believes its novel approach is superior to traditional practice by stressing human factors and cockpit interaction and thereby enhancing safety. But the position, according to some safety experts, appears to run counter to at least some of the latest guidance coming from parts of the FAA and international standard-setting groups such as the International Civil Aviation Organization, an arm of the United Nations. "We should be aiming for the greatest possible realism to teach crews how to use both mental skills and motor skills to most effectively deal with emergencies," according to Mark Rosenker, a former member of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board. The NTSB continues to champion full-motion simulators for recurrent training. Except for cost considerations, Mr. Rosenker said, "why would anyone opt for anything less?" Bryan Burks, a pilot for Alaska Airlines Group Inc. and a participant in various U.S. and international study groups looking into training, also questioned Continental's stance. "For a flight exam that goes beyond just checking procedures," he said, "there is broad consensus that simulator motion is essential." Capt. Wendy Morse, chairman of the Air Line Pilots Association branch at United, said the disparity between recurrent Boeing 777 training for Continental and United pilots "absolutely" will be an internal hot issue as the two carriers prepare to bring their operations into harmony. "When it comes to safety, let's go the more conservative route," she said recently. "When the simulator doesn't move, we feel strongly you don't get the quality [of] training." Depending on the outcome of United's training-integration efforts, the airline could set the stage for other carriers to follow suit. Smaller, financially-strained airlines-including some in developing countries and certain U.S. commuter carriers-may try to jump on the cost-saving trend, safety experts said. That would undercut the general tendency of commercial-jet manufacturers and global pilot-training companies to prod fast-growing carriers to embrace full-motion simulators with the greatest possible realism. "All of our training programs meet and exceed FAA requirements," said a United spokeswoman. "We continuously review and implement best practices" to ensure optimal training methods to give pilots "a complete and thorough experience." An FAA spokeswoman said Continental relies on "an innovative approach" for using so- called fixed-base simulators to assess the ability of pilots "to work together to assess and handle unusual, complex situations." Now, leaders of the merged company's training department are pushing to expand that training model across the entire fleet. Continental pilots still must periodically demonstrate mastery of certain flying skills in full-motion simulators. But for their final simulator test-replicating various problems or emergencies encountered on what is supposed to be an actual flight-aircraft motion isn't a factor. Training managers at other carriers, by contrast, contend it is short-sighted and even potentially dangerous to validate pilot skills and decision-making without the benefit of the most realistic aircraft motion. Full-motion simulators are designed to help pilots better understand and cope with engine failures, aircraft upsets, impending stalls, windy landing conditions and many other types of emergencies. John Allen, a senior FAA official who helped devise the principles allowing Continental to specifically tailor training to its operations, declined to comment. Continental convinced the FAA by showing that pilots who successfully go through its training program are just as proficient as those who use full-motion simulators. In addition, every Continental pilot must pass a random check of cockpit proficiency at least every two years. Back to Top FAA seeks to fine Atlantic Southeast $425,000 The US FAA aims to levy a $425,000 fine against US regional carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA) for operating two Bombardier CRJs that were not in compliance with federal regulations. FAA stated SkyWest subsidiary ASA failed to complete required inspections of two aircraft after they were struck by lightning. One strike occurred on 21 July 2008 followed by the second on 23 July of the same year. FAA said one of its air safety inspectors discovered both alleged violations. The agency stated ASA operated the two regional jets on 13 Delta Connection revenue passenger flights from 22 July to 24 July 2008 while in non-compliance. "FAA regulations require the carrier to conduct and document detailed checks for lightning strike damage mandated in the airline's aircraft maintenance manual," the agency said. ASA has 30 days to respond to the FAA. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/06/16/358139/faa-seeks-to-fine-atlantic- southeast-425000.html Back to Top Three arrested for pointing a laser at Chicago Police helicopter On Saturday night, Chicago Police were alerted of an incident in which a laser was pointed at a Chicago department helicopter On June 1, 2011 the Federal Aviation Administration announced that the agency will seek civil action against anyone caught pointing lasers at airplanes or helicopters, fines as high as $11,000 per violation. Officers on the ground apprehended three men from nearby suburbs and charged each with two misdemeanor counts of unlawful use of a weapon after they allegedly pointed a laser at the aircraft while on top of a building in Old Town, police said. The Chicago Police and Cook County Sheriff's police helicopter pilots noticed a beam of light shining into the cockpit and were able to determine the location of the laser, police said. Three men from nearby suburbs of Chicago were charged with two misdemeanor counts each of unlawful use of a weapon and aiming a laser pointer at an officer, police said. There has been a spike in the number of laser pointing incidents into aircr`aft cockpits from people on the ground over the last five years. In 2005, there were less than 300 incidents reported in the entire U.S. Last year, there were a total of 2,836 reported incidents. Pilots have reported cases so extreme that control of the aircraft was delegated to a co-pilot because of vision loss. In 2010, Chicago O'Hare International Airport reported ninety-eight laser pointer incidents, the second highest of all U.S. airports - Los Angeles International Airport reported one hundred and two incidents. The problem is widespread in the Western aviation industry; Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency has reported 30 similar incidents since the start of the year. Earlier this month, the Moscow Times reported that in two incidents that occurred days apart laser beams blinded two pilots. Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency has reported 30 incidents so far in 2011. The lasers are marketed as tools to point out stars at night. They are many times more powerful than the laser pointers typically used by lecturers. According to Sergei Kurnikov, a technical director at Laser New Tec, a one-watt laser can be bought for $1,000 or less on eBay, can cause a blinding flash from a distance of about one kilometer, depending on the weather. Most European countries have laws in place that ban pointing a laser beam at an aircraft. After Germany experienced 273 laser incidents in 2010, officials are considering a ban on the sale of lasers. Australia banned the possession of powerful lasers in 2008. Randy Babbitt said at a press conference on June 1, "These are dangerous, they're distractive and they can result inpermanent eye damage to flight crew members." Unfortunetly, "People think these things are toys - they are not toys. They can be very dangerous," said Babbitt. The reason for the increase of laser incidents is due in part to stronger lasers that can hit aircraft at higher altitudes along with the introduction of green lasers which are easier to see than red lasers, according to the FAA. Some cities and states already have established laws in place, making it illegal to shine lasers at aircraft. In those wirg laws alreasy in place the FAA says they will work together. In April, Elvin Slater 24-year-old man spent a month ib the Cook County Jail for aiming a laser at a plane near Midway Airport in Chicago.. The U.S. House and Senate passed separate measures that would make knowingly pointing a laser at an aircraft a federal crime subject to up to five years in prison. The legislative is one of a few ammendments that will become part of a is part of still pending in Congress as the details are worked out. On Feb. 28, the House of Representatives passed legislation that would enact a similar penalty for shining lasers at aircraft. On Feb. 17, 2011 the Senate passed legislation that would criminalize purposefully aiming a laser device at an aircraft is currently pending in Congress. The Senate included this language in the FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act, This ammendment and others are attachments to the complex FAA Reauthorization Act of 2011 that must pass in order for amendments to become law. http://www.examiner.com/homeland-security-in-chicago/three-arrested-for-pointing-a- laser-at-chicago-police-helicopter Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC