Flight Safety Information July 8, 2011 - No. 137 In This Issue Air-safety improvements stalled: Watchdog AI's 787 dreams grounded yet again GA Spoils Europe's Positive Trend in 2010 Accidents EASA Publishes Latest Annual Review Of European Aviation Safety Babbitt Announces Chief Of Air Traffic Organization DPS helicopter damaged at Waco airport FAA tries new strategy to attract controllers TSA luggage screener accused of stealing passengers' electronics American Eurocopter Appoints 2011 Vision Zero Aviation Safety Award Blue Ribbon Committee Phoenix man arrested after laser pointed at police helicopter GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Air-safety improvements stalled: Watchdog The Transportation Safety Board of Canada says more needs to be done to improve the safety of air travel in this country. OTTAWA - The head of Canada's Transportation Safety Board chastised the federal government Thursday for the "troubling" lack of progress in improving aviation safety. The independent agency's latest watchlist, released Thursday, highlights progress in marine and rail safety, but singles out problems in resolving key safety issues for air travellers, including one flagged 16 year ago. "We've seen some moderate progress on marine and rail safety issues. However, the lack of progress in aviation is what I would call troubling," board chairwoman Wendy Tadros said. They include unfulfilled recommendations to reduce the risk of landing accidents and aircraft overruns at Canada's major airports, to improve data and voice recorders on aircraft, and to require smaller aircraft to install special equipment to help prevent collisions with land or water while under crew control. "The reasons that these issues are on the watchlist is that they were the accidents we were seeing time and again and were systematic in the system," said Tadros. "We would hope that when you have a recommendation that's coming out of a solid, scientific investigation - and (in) most of these situations, Transport Canada and the minister agree with what the board is saying - it's just taking way too long," Tadros. For example, the independent body charged with investigating crashes first flagged in 1995 the need for regulations requiring ground-proximity awareness equipment on smaller aircraft. Collisions with land and water account for five per of accidents but nearly 25 per cent of all fatalities in Canada, and between 2000 and 2009, there were 129 accidents of this type, resulting in 128 fatalities, according to the safety board. Concerns around landing accidents and runway overruns were laid out in 2007, when the board tabled six key recommendations following an incident in August 2005. An Air France flight from Paris overshot the runway at Toronto's international airport in stormy weather, and the aircraft stopped in a nearby ravine and caught fire. All 309 aboard survived, with 12 sustaining serious injuries. In addition to unfulfilled training recommendations, Transport Canada has also yet to require all Code 4 runways used by large aircraft to have a 300-metre safety area or buffer zone at the end of the runway, in compliance with international standards. In a recent 10-year period, there were 3,821 runway incursions, the report notes. Given the millions of takeoff and landings each year, incursions are "rare" but the "consequences can be catastrophic," the watchlist report says. Meanwhile, the safety board's call for better data and voice recorders on aircraft date back to the devastating 1998 Swiss Air crash off the coast of Peggy's Cove in Nova Scotia. All 229 aboard the Geneva-bound flight from New York died. The board set January 2005 as the date for Transport Canada to require upgrading recording capacity in aircraft. After all these years, Transport Canada's response has been downgraded to unsatisfactory. "We're behind on both runway incursions and runway overruns. We're behind on controlled flight into terrain and we're behind on data recorders," said Tadros, noting the United States has done more than Canada. In a statement, Transport Minister Denis Lebel defended his department's progress on implementing the board's key safety recommendations. "We take these safety recommendations very seriously, and I have instructed my department to accelerate the necessary work with stakeholders, so that we continue our success in addressing the recommendations." Lebel cited work being undertaken to reduce the risk of landing accidents and runway overruns, including reviewing regulations to provide additional visual aids to help pilots assess landing distances. Transport Canada has also begun a risk assessment to determine the safety effectiveness of increasing runway end safety areas to 300 metres, he said. Pending the results of the assessment, the department could propose a regulatory amendment at the September meeting of the Canadian Aviation Regulation Advisory Council, Lebel said. At the end of the day, Tadros said consumers should remember that "if you look at the statistics in Canada, we have a fundamentally safe system, but a number of these recommendations have been outstanding for many, many years, and if they are implemented, then I think we will see a safer system still." Read more: http://www.canada.com/ Back to Top AI's 787 dreams grounded yet again Mumbai: India's hope of travelling in comfort by the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the super- efficient jumbo jet made by the US-based Boeing Commercial Airplanes will have to wait as plans have been delayed yet again. The national carrier's plans of buying the passengers jets will have to brave further storms, as there is a delay in the delivery owing to disagreements over payment between the two parties, claimed inside sources. In the year 2006, Air India ordered 27 Dreamliners as part of a plan to buy 68 passenger jets worth about $8.1 billion from Boeing. The aircraft were scheduled to be delivered in 2009, but later shifted to 2010 and now the delivery date has been shifted to the fourth quarter of 2011. Owing to the delay in the process of delivery Air India authorities are asking for a compensation of about $840 million. "Air India and Boeing are disagreeing on the terms of compensation. Boeing officials are not comfortable with coughing up $840 million as the compensation amount," said a civil aviation ministry official, on condition of anonymity. Sources claim that till the time Boeing and Air India do not reach common ground, travelling by the jets will be a distant dream. Speaking to MiD DAY, an Air India spokesperson said, "The government of India and the Civil Aviation Minister including top management at Air India are holding talks with Boeing to finalise the amount of compensation." Meanwhile, Boeing's India president Dinesh Keskar refused to reveal the compensation amount and the date of delivery of the Dreamliners. "We understand that there has been a delay in the delivery of the jets. We are working on the same but at this time I cannot tell you the exact amount of the compensation asked." According to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Hasan Ali Khan who is in the custody of the CBI for money laundering allegedly earned a commission of US $ 11.5 million for a Boeing deal with Air India in 1986-87. Boeing 787 Dreamliners are very fuel-efficient jets using 20 per cent less fuel for comparable missions than today's similarly sized airplane. The jets will also travel at similar speeds that of the Mach 0.85. The aircraft also has the highest cargo capacity. Air India employees more than 42,000 people with a huge fleet of more than 100 aircraft with about 4,400 cabin crewmembers and about 2,000 pilots. The airline has incurred a total loss of Rs. 40,000 crore till date. Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/ais-787-dreams-grounded-yet-again- 117686&cp Back to Top GA Spoils Europe's Positive Trend in 2010 Accidents General aviation as a whole was a stain on an otherwise excellent year for aviation safety in Europe, according to 2010 accident figures released today by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). For all GA operations including both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters weighing more than 2,250 kg (4,960 pounds) involved in private, business and aerial work activity, the total number of accidents increased from 19 in 2009 to 31 last year. However, the number of fatal accidents fell from nine to six over the same period. In the business aviation category alone, there were a total of 14 accidents in 2010 and only one of these involved an aircraft registered in Europe. The GA accident total for 2010 was above the average of 20 recorded between 1999 and 2008. Helicopters accounted for 14 of last year's GA accidents and three of these involved fatalities, all of them in the aerial work category. The EASA concluded that loss of control in flight was the most frequent cause of general aviation accidents last year, representing a significantly bigger factor than technical issues with the aircraft involved. Between 2001 and 2010, fixed-wing business aviation operations accounted for 15 percent of all fatal aircraft accidents in Europe, while helicopters accounted for 18 percent. http://www.ainonline.com/news/single-news-page/article/ga-spoils-europes-positive- trend-in-2010-accidents-30523/ Back to Top EASA Publishes Latest Annual Review Of European Aviation Safety Report Touts A High Level Of Commercial Air Transport Safety The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has published its Annual Safety Review for 2010. The review shows a high level of safety for commercial air transport operations in EASA Member States. EASA says 2010 was the first year in the history of aviation in Europe that no fatal accidents occurred for commercial helicopter and airplane operations. However, the number of non-fatal accidents, although higher than in 2009, has been within the decade average. The survivability rate of all accidents involving EASA MS operated aircraft in the decade of 2001 to 2010 has been 95% for all persons aboard. According to the executive summary at the top of the report, the fatal accident rate of scheduled passenger operations with airplanes was significantly lower in Europe than in the rest of the world. The summary states that in other world regions the number of fatal accidents increased from 39 to 47. In 2010 for those regions the rate of fatal accidents in scheduled operations has increased. It appears that the overall level of safety has reached a plateau. In Europe, the number of fatal accidents for General Aviation and Aerial Work operations with aeroplanes and helicopters, with with 'Maximum Take-Off Mass' (MTOM) over 2,250 kg, increased. 'Loss of control in flight' (LOC-I) is the most frequent accident category for this type of operation. Technical issues appear to play a much smaller role than LOC-I. For the fifth year, the Agency says it collected from EASA Member States data for light aircraft with certificated MTOM below 2,250 kg. In comparison to 2009, in 2010 the number of accidents reported decreased by 16%. However, the data received was not complete as some Member States did not report all accidents. The Agency continues to cooperate with the Member States to further improve harmonization of data collection and to facilitate data sharing. "Action on safety issues of crucial importance such as loss of control and runway excursions must continue," said EASA's Executive Director, Patrick Goudou. "Only by implementing safety management and facilitating the integration of new technologies can we ensure positive safety trends in times of air traffic growth." The Annual Safety Review has Chapters dedicated to Air Traffic Management, General Aviation, Aerial Work as well as the European Central Repository. In addition, the review includes analysis of accidents involving light aircraft based on data reported directly to EASA from its Member States. States to further improve harmonization of data collection and to facilitate data sharing. FMI: Read The Report http://easa.europa.eu/communications/docs/annual-safety-review/2010/EASA-Annual- Safety-Review-2010.pdf Back to Top Babbitt Announces Chief Of Air Traffic Organization David Grizzle Will Take Over As Chief Operating Officer FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt announced Thursday that David Grizzle will be the chief operating officer of the FAA's Air Traffic Organization. "David is the right person to take on this critical challenge. He has a unique ability to manage complex situations and the leadership skills to bring people together and get the job done," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "David is committed to transparency, accountability, and to building a safety culture that encourages collaboration. I am thrilled that he has agreed to accept this critical responsibility," said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. Grizzle, who became FAA's chief counsel in 2009, has been filling the role of chief operating officer since mid-April. Before joining the FAA, he worked with Continental Airlines and its affiliates for 22 years. "The Air Traffic Organization is involved in a once- in-a-generation transformation. I could not be more honored to be a part of the ATO team," said Grizzle. As chief operating officer, David is responsible for leading the FAA's 35,000 air traffic controllers, technicians, engineers and support personnel who keep our nation's air traffic system moving safely and efficiently, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. FMI: www.faa.gov Back to Top DPS helicopter damaged at Waco airport A helicopter owned by the Department of Public Safety was damaged Thursday in an accident at the Waco Regional Airport. The accident happened around 1 p.m. DPS Spokesman Trooper D.L. Wilson said the helicopter was parked in its normal spot. An airplane tug carrying a Cessna Citation 7 corporate jet to its hangar pushed the airplane into the helicopter. Wilson said the helicopter's tail rotor was damaged in the incident. No one was inside the airplane or the helicopter and there were no injuries. Both the tug and the airplane are owned by Texas Aero, Wilson said. Wilson said the helicopter, a 2002 Eurocopter AStar 350, will be sent to the manufacturing plant in Ft. Worth for repairs. Wilson said he did not have an estimate for the cost of the repairs, but DPS anticipates that it may be covered by insurance. http://stage.www.wacotrib.com/news/breakingnews/DPS-helicopter-damaged-at-Waco- airport.html Back to Top FAA tries new strategy to attract controllers Many recruits do not make cut, leaving Chicago area facing shortage A hiring experiment is being conducted at the main air traffic control center for the Chicago region to recruit controllers with the talent and experience needed to eventually become certified to work every position in the radar facility. So far, that has not happened among the vast numbers of college graduates and walk- ins off the street who were hired, or even controllers who transferred from smaller facilities in recent years, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. "They've been coming in hot and heavy for four years and we haven't had a completely successful one go all the way yet to full-performance level," said James Hall, a controller who is the union representative at the Terminal Radar Approach Control center, or TRACON, in Elgin. Raytheon Company The track record has been that about half of the experienced controllers who transferred to the TRACON and 80 percent of the new hires fail during initial training, officials said. "This is the major leagues," said Joan Linnane, air traffic district manager at the TRACON. "If you want to play here, you have to be able to make one decision while somebody is screaming at you through a land line asking you another question while you are still watching the radar scope making sure the airplanes are all separated." Over the last 20 years, the facility has not attracted enough controller candidates, Linnane said. At least eight controllers and managers will be retiring or transferring out soon. The facility employs 114 controllers, trainees and managers. The hiring experiment, called an operational assessment, will bring in dozens of controllers who have at least one year experience at FAA airport towers and radar facilities nationwide, officials said. Each applicant will be tested for a week in a simulation lab to see how well they solve problems and handle the intense traffic volume in the Chicago region. They work on radar scopes and communicate with "pilots" who are employees of Raytheon Co. sitting in a separate room of the TRACON. Operational assessments are also being conducted at TRACONs in Atlanta and southern California, officials said. "We'll see if it reaps the benefits we want," Linnane said. Rich Gurney, 24, a controller who has worked for more than two years at Bradley TRACON in Windsor Locks, Conn., tried out at Chicago TRACON last week. What immediately impressed him was the huge ramp-up in the number of planes controllers handle. "At Bradley, I'm busy when I have 10 planes come in all at once," Gurney said. "Here, 10 planes is small fries." Another applicant, Karl Langenfelder, 28, has worked both the tower and the radar room at the airport in Bangor, Maine, for almost three years. He first visited a control tower when he was 6 and "thought it was the coolest thing I had ever seen in my life." Langenfelder is confident he can make the grade at Chicago TRACON because he handles stress well and has a good memory. "Some people can do air traffic and some people can't. I'm one of the fortunate ones," he said. The key, he said, is that "you've got to be able to look at the radar screen and project very well. You've got to decide who is going to be No. 1, where the planes are going to fit in together, how to make it work. I'll see if I can do it here." http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-controller-washouts-0608- 20110708,0,5269310.story Back to Top TSA luggage screener accused of stealing passengers' electronics A Transportation Security Administration employee may have had a keen eye for screening luggage, but authorities say he also had sticky fingers. Nelson Santiago, 30, of Hollywood, was arrested Monday on two counts of grand theft after a Continental Airlines employee at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport accused Santiago of stealing an iPad electronic tablet out of someone's luggage and stuffing it in his pants. During questioning, Santiago told Broward Sheriff's detectives he stole electronics from plane passengers' luggage to sell online - often posting the items for sale and cashing in on them during the same shift, officials said. Continental Airlines Detectives say such thefts went on for six months, and the losses totaled $50,000. The TSA hired him in January 2009; on Thursday agency spokeswoman Sari Koshetz said Santiago was no longer employed there. She declined to elaborate. Santiago had been assigned to the airport's Terminal 1, which houses Southwest and Continental airlines. An entry level employee, Santiago's salary likely was $29,000 to $33,000, Koshetz said. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/fl-tsa-employee-thefts- 20110707,0,7298767.story Back to Top American Eurocopter Appoints 2011 Vision Zero Aviation Safety Award Blue Ribbon Committee Grand Prairie, Texas - American Eurocopter announced today that it has appointed the 2011 Vision Zero Aviation Safety Award Blue Ribbon Committee. This committee will be responsible for evaluating the applications and determining the winner for the 2011 Vision Zero Aviation Safety award. This prestigious award was established by American Eurocopter with the purpose of promoting a higher level of safety within the air medical industry. As part of the award, American Eurocopter contributes up to $10,000 to the winner of the award to further develop aviation safety initiatives within its organization. This will be the fifth year for the award. In 2010, Travis County's STARFlight program was selected to receive the award for its investment and proactive accomplishments in training and safety initiatives throughout the organization. All programs and operators who are members of the Association of Air Medical Service (AAMS) are eligible to apply for the Vision Zero Aviation Safety Award and may nominate themselves. Application forms are now available on the AAMS website (www.aams.org). To be considered for the 2011 award, completed forms must be received by August 1, 2011 (instructions are included on the form). Once the forms have been submitted, the 2011 Blue Ribbon Committee will review the applications and select this year's winner. Each member of the committee has extensive background within the air medical industry: Bill Bryant MPA/HSA (Chairman) Mr. Bryant is the president and principal of Sierra Health Group, a national healthcare consulting firm based in Golden, Colorado. Mr. Bryant has over 25 years experience in the air medical industry and has worked on consulting projects in over 30 states. He is a prior AAMS Board member and officer. Denise Landis, RN, EMT-P, MSA, CMTE Ms. Landis has been in the air ambulance industry over 25 years, is the Program Director for the University of Michigan Survival Flight, and is also a past President of the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS). She is the current Chairperson of the Medical Transport Leadership Institute (MTLI), the current President of Michigan AAMS, and the president-elect of Michigan Association Ambulance Services. Eileen Frazer, RN, CMTE Ms. Frazer has been the Executive Director of CAMTS since its inception in 1990. Frazer has published many articles and chapters related to safety and medical transport operations and has a regular feature in the Air Med Journal entitled "Ask CAMTS". Ed MacDonald Mr. MacDonald has over 40 years experience flying patients, beginning in 1970 as a combat medical evacuation pilot and including 17 years of experience as an active EMS Pilot. He has held positions as a Chief Pilot, Safety Manager, and Lead Pilot. He is a retired U.S. Army Major and is past President of NEMSPA, the Co-Chair of the AAMS/CORE Safety Committee, and current Chairman of AMSAC. Clark Kurschner Mr. Kurschner is the Director of Operations for Omniflight Helicopters, Inc. His duties during his thirty plus-year career at Omniflight include EMS line pilot, a flight instructor, a check airman and Chief Pilot. He is a member of the AAMS Safety Committee, the HAI Flight Operations Committee, the HAI Air Medical Committee, and past Chairman of AMSAC. Gerry Pagano Mr. Pagano is the Director of Medical Transport & Aeromedical Facilities for the Health Care District of Palm Beach County's Trauma Hawk Aeromedical Program in West Palm Beach, Florida. He has over 30 years experience in aviation operations, including combat flight assignment, air traffic control, and emergency medical services, and consults on air carrier certification. Mr. Pagano has been certified as an Aviation Safety Program Manager at the Transportation Safety Institute, currently serves on the AAMS Board, and is the Chairman of the AAMS Safety Committee. Jason Schwebach MBA, MHA, CMTE Mr. Schwebach is the Administrative Director for MedCenter Air, the transport service for Carolinas Healthcare System in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is a former military medical service corps officer and helicopter pilot with both the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force and has been in the air medical industry for 18 years. He is a CAMTS site surveyor and immediate past president of the North Carolina Air-Medical Affiliation. Joe Syslo Mr. Syslo is the Senior Manager, Fleet Safety, for American Eurocopter. He is a retired US Army Aviator and Commercial Pilot who has flown helicopters for the last 42 years in a variety of applications, including HEMS. He has been a Chief Pilot for a Part 135 company and an ARNG CW4 ASO and is also retired from Bell Helicopter, where he was a Senior Aircraft Accident Investigator and Aviation Safety Specialist. Mr. Syslo is actively involved in the International Helicopter Safety Team, whose goal is to reduce helicopter accidents 80% by 2016. For more information on the American Eurocopter Vision Zero Aviation Safety Award, please visit www.aams.org or www.eurocopterusa.com. About American Eurocopter American Eurocopter is the U.S. affiliate of Eurocopter, the largest helicopter manufacturer in the world, and a subsidiary of EADS North America Holdings, the North American operations of EADS, the second largest aerospace and defense company in the world. American Eurocopter is a helicopter manufacturer and markets, sells and supports the broadest range of civil and para-public helicopters offered by any manufacturer. The product line represents the most cost-effective, technologically-advanced helicopters, ranging from light single to heavy twin, serving all markets and missions. American Eurocopter's headquarters and main facility are in Grand Prairie, TX, with a large manufacturing and production facility in Columbus, MS. Back to Top Phoenix man arrested after laser pointed at police helicopter Phoenix police Thursday were spreading the word that people who shoot laser beams at aircraft are liable to go to jail. That is exactly what happened Wednesday when Conrad Rzewuski, 24, admitted to officers that he had aimed a green-laser pointer at a police helicopter flying above the 2300 block of West Portal Lane, south of Greenway Road, at about 10:30 p.m., police spokesman Tommy Thompson said. Two officers with the Police Air Unit were piloting the helicopter at the time. "Our officers in the helicopter saw three people on the ground and directed responding units to them," Thompson said. "They made contact with the three, and one said, 'Yeah, I was the guy who shot the laser.' " Rzewuski's arrest was not the first over a laser pointer. In April, a 26-year-old Phoenix man was arrested near 43rd and Glendale avenues after officers said he shined a laser pointer at a police helicopter and the pilot spotted him. Authorities say lasers can temporarily blind or distract pilots or crew members on board an aircraft, making it difficult to safely land. Thompson said that, several times a month, people on the ground direct laser pointers at police aircraft. "It's terribly dangerous, can be very distracting and do damage to the eyes," Thompson said. "In February, one of our pilots who had a laser aimed at him had to make an emergency landing, and he was off the flight line for two days." Authorities take misuse of the pointers seriously, Thompson said. "We booked the suspect (Rzewuski) into jail on suspicion of two felony counts of endangerment," he said. "In addition to the felony crimes, he faces civil penalties from the (Federal Aviation Administration) for up to $11,000." http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2011/07/07/20110707phoenix- laser-pointer-helicopter-abrk.html Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY My name is Terry Lesak and I am working on a Master's degree in Aeronautical Science at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The purpose of this survey is to gather information about the use of rotorcraft as commercial airline transportation. The survey will only take a couple of minutes to complete. All responses will be considered confidential and the information will only be used for its intended purpose. Completion and return of this survey indicate voluntary consent to participate in this study. Questions about this study can be directed to me at: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Randolph Air Force Base San Antonio, TX. 78148 Thank you for taking the time to assist me in this research. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VBCJ2K7 Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Hello my name is Todd Camp and I am completing a Master Degree in Aeronautical Science with Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. Part of my program requires the completion of a research project on an aerospace industry topic. My chosen topic is on the study of pilot transition between dial instrumentation and Garmin 1000 or similar electronic unit. I am hoping that pilots that have familiarization with the Garmin 1000 or similar electronic unit, and have had to transition from old dial gauges will complete this survey. This survey should only take five minutes to complete and would help me to complete my research and hopefully improve the understanding of difficulties associated with this transition in the current market. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FVRN2JF Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC