Flight Safety Information September 7, 2011 - No. 184 In This Issue MIT Fined $175,000 for Air Cargo Package Fire Flight recorder found at MiG-31 crash site Air safety measure opens concerns Whirly-Girl Scholarship Applications are Due October 1, 2011 Five things that could get you kicked off a plane Police on missing explosives at airport: We messed up China will need 5,000 new planes by 2030: Boeing Air India replaces official accused of safety breach International Winter Operations Conference 2011 GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY MIT Fined $175,000 for Air Cargo Package Fire FAA alleges that MIT offered a fiberboard box containing 33 electronic devices to FedEx for transportation by air from Cambridge, Mass., to Seattle on Aug. 25, 2009. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a $175,000 civil penalty against the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for alleged violations of Department of Transportation Hazardous Materials Regulations. FAA alleges that MIT offered a fiberboard box containing 33 electronic devices to FedEx for transportation by air from Cambridge, Mass., to Seattle on Aug. 25, 2009. Each electronic device consisted of a lithium battery attached to a circuit board and tube-like container. The package was discovered with smoke and flames coming from it while it was moving on a conveyor at the FedEx sorting facility in Medford, Mass. Two of the devices in the package heated and melted, which caused the surrounding cushioning and packaging to catch fire. Because the package was not properly labeled and marked, FedEx employees did not know the shipment contained hazardous material. They made several unsuccessful attempts to extinguish the flames with a fire extinguisher. Specifically, the batteries were not packaged in a manner that would prevent a short-circuit that could create sparks or generate a dangerous quantity of heat. MIT allegedly offered the box when it was not packaged, marked, classed, described, labeled, or in condition for shipment as required by regulations. The airbill accompanying the shipment specifically stated the shipment did not contain dangerous goods. In addition, FAA alleges MIT employees were not properly trained and tested to handle hazardous material. http://ohsonline.com/articles/2011/09/07/mit-fined-175000-for-air-cargo-package-fire.aspx?admgarea=news Back to Top Flight recorder found at MiG-31 crash site Investigators have found one of the two flight recorders at a crash site of a Russian MiG-31 Foxhound fighter jet in the Urals, a source in the investigation committee said. The jet exploded in a fireball minutes after taking off from a military airfield in the Perm region in the early hours of Tuesday. Both pilots were killed in the crash. "We have found one of the flight recorders and will continue the investigation of the crash site tomorrow," the source told RIA Novosti. A technical failure is being considered as a possible cause of the crash. Relatively few MiG-31s have been modernized to the MiG-31BM version since the heavy interceptor entered service with the Russian Air Force in 1982. Experts believe that technical problems are inevitable on aircraft whose service life is nearing its end without a thorough overhaul. A similar jet crashed in the Urals region less than a year ago, but the pilots managed to parachute to safety. The Air Force has grounded all MiG-31s in its fleet and said the flight ban would continue until the cause of the crash is established. http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20110907/166486001.html Back to Top Air safety measure opens concerns By Tom Fontaine, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW The nation's air traffic control technology will move from the World War II era into the 21st century within a few years, making it safer to fly and making flights more profitable for airlines. But some people worry that pilots are becoming too dependent on satellites and in-flight gadgets and that the cost of outfitting planes could drive some fliers out of cockpits altogether. "The change is motivated more by economics than by safety," said former National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Jim Hall, who oversaw the investigation of the 1994 crash of USAir Flight 427 in Hopewell. "Safety needs to be the primary driver." The Federal Aviation Administration's commitment to switch by 2020 from ground radar and navigational guides to a satellite-based system will require all planes in controlled airspace to have GPS receivers, radios, antennas and multifunction displays that can receive and display traffic and weather information. That satellite-based global positioning system is called ADS-B, for Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast. The system "provides greater efficiency and improved situational awareness for aircraft operating in the national airspace system. It allows pilots and controllers to see the same aircraft position information, which enhances the safety of the overall operation," an FAA spokesperson said. The spokesperson said the agency is "working to ensure manufacturers bring suitable equipment to the marketplace when it's needed, and that any required upgrades are available at a reasonable cost." The system would allow planes to fly more direct routes, saving time and costly fuel, and enable more planes to fly closer together. Mike Voss, executive director of the Alexandria, Va.-based Flight Safety Foundation, said the amount of automated flying increased with the aviation industry's pursuit of reduced separation between planes -- which could increase the number of planes in the sky, boost revenue and reduce delays. As a result, pilots are becoming less skilled, Voss said. The switch to a satellite-based control system could magnify the problem. "We could be further reducing the time that the pilot can experience hand-flying the aircraft," he said. "The good news is, we know it. We have to fix this issue with some urgency." A recent report suggested many pilots already rely too heavily on automated flight controls. The Associated Press reported that although fatal airline crashes decreased dramatically during the past decade, pilots had trouble flying planes or made mistakes with automated flight controls in more than 60 percent of accidents. Opportunities for airline pilots to maintain proficiency by manually flying planes are increasingly limited, an FAA committee warned. Airlines and regulators discourage or even prohibit pilots from turning off autopilot, the committee said. Chris Dancy, spokesman for the Maryland-based nonprofit Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, estimates equipment in smaller private planes would run $8,000 or more, on average, if installed today. "It's enough to make an aircraft owner gulp," Dancy said. There are ways to spread the cost around. "I can see where it might be a burden for an individual who owns a plane, but we have 29 people to share the costs," said Gene Whited, president of the ABC Flying Club at Allegheny County Airport in West Mifflin. The club's three shared planes have GPS devices, but lack multifunction displays. Dan Haggerty, director of maintenance for the 44-member Beaver Valley Flying Club, said most general aviation pilots have GPS devices in their planes or bring portable ones. "It is such a glorious piece of equipment for navigation," Haggerty said. Dancy agrees the radar-based system is outdated and needs to be replaced, but wonders, "Will it drive some pilots out of flying? Possibly, even probably, but I can't say to what extent." The nation's more than 220,000 general aviation aircraft fly more than 20 million hours a year, according to FAA data. The agency forecasts that commercial traffic will grow, from about 787 million passengers to more than 1.2 billion in 2030. Read more: Air safety measure opens concerns - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_755368.html?_s_icmp=NetworkHeadlines#ixzz1XGkJ83xv Back to Top Whirly-Girl Scholarship Applications are Due October 1, 2011 The current list of scholarships for 2012 is as follows: American Eurocopter Flight Training Scholarship Sponsored by American Eurocopter, this scholarship will give a Whirly-Girl the opportunity to attend an AS350 Turbine Transition Course at the American Eurocopter Factory School in Grand Prairie, Texas, USA. Requirements: The applicant must be a member in good standing and must have been a member for no less than one year by the time she is awarded the scholarship (February 2012). Robinson Helicopter R22/R44 Safety Course and R44 Scholarship This scholarship, sponsored by Robinson Helicopter, provides a Whirly-Girl currently flying Robinsons the opportunity to attend the Safety Course and build R44 time. Robinson provides this 3-1/2 day course in Torrance, CA, USA, including 5 hours of R44 flight time. The course includes 2-1/2 days of classroom instruction, awareness training, SFAR 73, in the R22 and R44 helicopter systems. One day is devoted to maintenance, pre- flight inspections, and flying with an experienced RHC pilot. The course is open to any rated helicopter pilot who has at least 3 hours in the R22 or R44 helicopter. This course is required by most insurance companies and serves as a CFI refresher. Requirements: The applicant must be a member in good standing and must have been a member for no less than one year by the time she is awarded the scholarship (February 2012). Flight Safety International Bell 206 Initial Pilot Scholarship Sponsored by Flight Safety International, this scholarship is awarded to a Whirly-Girl who possesses at least a Private Pilot Helicopter license and has landing currency in a helicopter. (Note: the applicant need not have landing currency in a Bell 206.) This training program includes initial type training, recurrent training, and inadvertent IMC training using the world's first Bell 206 FAA Level 7 qualified Flight Training Device. This five-day course consists of academic training and six hours in the FTD. Training will be available at Flight Safety's Helicopter Learning Center of Excellence in Lafayette, LA, USA. Course value $10,000. Requirements: The applicant must be a member in good standing and must have been a member for no less than one year by the time she is awarded the scholarship (February 2012). Advanced Mountain Flight Training Scholarship This scholarship is provided in memory of Keiko Minakata, WG# 1339. This scholarship gives a deserving Whirly Girl the skills to cope with turbulence, rugged terrain, landing zone selection, in mountainous and canyon areas, with special emphasis placed on decision making. It also provides the skill needed to fly all sorts of private and commercial helicopter missions that require off-airport landings anywhere in the country, regardless of altitude or terrain. It's a real confidence-builder, especially if the pilot has very little experience in off-road operations. It includes ½ day extensive ground school with 5 hours of flight time. The pilot taking this course should preferably have 500 Rotorcraft hours and be current in the MD500 series or the Schweitzer/Hughes 300 series, but this is not mandatory. The training will take place in the MD500. Training will be at Western Helicopters Inc., Rialto, CA. Requirements: The applicant must be a member in good standing and must have been a member for no less than one year by the time she is awarded the scholarship (February 2012). Aviation Specialties Unlimited Scholarship Sponsored by Aviation Specialties Unlimited (ASU), this Night Vision Goggle (NVG) scholarship will be awarded to a career minded Whirly-Girl who needs an initial or a recurrent Night Vision Goggle (NVG) endorsement for a flight position, such as airborne law enforcement and airborne EMS to a variety of government agencies. The NVG course will go to a Whirly-Girl that possesses the following prerequisites: Commercial Rotorcraft Rating and Instrument Rotorcraft Rating, Current Class II Medical, 500 PIC flight hours in Rotorcraft or more, Turbine transition (preferable BH-206). The selected applicant will receive 8 hours of academic training and 5 hours of turbine instruction. The value of this scholarship opportunity is $7,000. Training will be conducted at Gowen Field Airport, Boise, Idaho, USA. The scholarship will be provided to a member in good standing who has been a member for no less than one year by the time she is awarded the scholarship (February 2012). Aircraft Ditching Course Scholarship This scholarship is provided by Survival Systems USA and provides a deserving Whirly-Girl the knowledge and skills necessary to react to an aircraft-ditching emergency, care for herself in a sea survival situation, and to participate to the maximum extent in her rescue. The pilot taking this course should have at least a private pilot license and is required to have no physical limitations that would prevent her from participating in strenuous physical training. Training will be at Survival Systems USA in Groton, Connecticut. Requirements: The applicant must be a member in good standing and must have been a member for no less than one year by the time she is awarded the scholarship (February 2012). Whirly-Girls Memorial Flight Training Scholarship This new scholarship is provided by the WGSF, Inc., and now combines the Phelan International and Doris Mullen Flight Training Scholarships. This scholarship provides $6,000 and is given in memory of our founder, Jean, and her husband Jim Phelan, along with the memory of Doris Mullen who lost her life in a fixed wing accident in 1968. This scholarship provides ANY Whirly-Girl a chance to UPGRADE her current rating. (It is typically applied toward Commercial, Instrument, Instructor, ATP, Long Line or Turbine Transition Training.) Requirements: The applicant must be a member in good standing and must have been a member for no less than one year by the time she is awarded the scholarship (February 2012). Whirly-Girls Helicopter Add-on Fight Training Scholarship FOR FEMALE PILOTS RATED IN AIRCRAFT OTHER THAN HELICOPTERS. This scholarship, funded by the WGSF, is provided this year in memory of Bob Vetter, WG Auxiliary member and husband of Bev WG#459. It provides $6,000 to assist a certificated female pilot, does not currently have a helicopter rating, in earning her add-on helicopter rating. Applicant will be evaluated for evidence of intent to work in the helicopter industry. Back to Top Five things that could get you kicked off a plane Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day had a run-in with Southwest Airlines over his saggy pants. You with the saggy pants, off the plane. That's been a mantra of sorts this summer at more than one airline. Most recent case in point: Green Day vocalist Billie Joe Armstrong. "Just got kicked off a southwest flight because my pants sagged too low! What the [expletive]? No joke!" Armstrong (@BJA official) tweeted last Thursday of the Oakland-Burbank flight. Southwest (@SouthwestAir) tweeted back "Very sorry for your experience tonight, someone from our Customer Relations Team will reach out to you to get more details." And with that, Armstrong was put on the next available flight. Things didn't go so smoothly for college football player Deshon Marman in June. He was booted from a U.S. Airways flight in San Francisco supposedly for refusing to hitch up his pants after a crew member asked him to do so. He was arrested at the time but no charges were filed, according to sfgate.com. So what really gets you kicked off a flight? FareCompare recently chronicled what caused some folks to be dragged out of their seats. --Dressing provocatively: Airlines sort of explain what crosses the line in their contracts of carriage. JetBlue and Southwest, for example, cite clothing that's "lewd, obscene, or patently offensive." "The airlines leave the judgment of what's lewd, obscene, offensive or inappropriate to their individual employees with no apparent specific guidelines as to what is, or is not permitted," Ned Levi writes at Consumer Traveler. "In my opinion, their rules are overly broad and poorly defined. That's a recipe for unequal and inappropriate application of them, which is precisely what's been happening." --Using profanity. --Refusing to stop texting -- or using your phone -- when instructed to do so. On Monday, a man on a Southwest flight pulling into El Paso refused to turn off his cellphone. He was arrested, according to the Associated Press. --Being intoxicated. --Being too big for the seat. Two words: Kevin Smith. http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-trb-kicked-off-planes-20110907,1,1856873.story Back to Top Police on missing explosives at airport: We messed up PHOENIX - In his first comments since some explosives disappeared during a training exercise at Sky Harbor Airport, the Phoenix police chief admitted somebody messed up. Low-grade explosives vanished Friday and turned up Monday. Acting Police Chief Joe Yahnerspoke spoke Tuesday about the need for training and keeping a closer eye on their equipment. Passengers gathered their bags and went on their way over the weekend with little idea Phoenix police were looking for missing explosives. "That's the crux of the issue," Chief Yahner said. "It shouldn't have happened. It shouldn't have. We should have eyes on it the entire time and we made a mistake. We took our eyes off it and it was stolen and we're accountable for that." Chief Yahner said they were training dogs in Terminal 4 just outside security Friday afternoon. When they train, they use real explosives that are nearly impossible to blow up. "It's a training aid that contains the necessary materials for the dog to hit on and we placed it in a common area and we practice like we play," said Yahner. But someone grabbed the small cooler bag with the two half pound cylinders inside. After police released pictures to news outlets Monday, a man called saying he had found them. The chief said they will look at how they conduct the training at the airport, but it will continue. He is happy to have the explosives back, but that doesn't mean there won't be more questions, and possibly disciplinary action. "We are going to look at this from an internal investigation yes," said Yahner. "We are going to have our Professional Standards Bureau look at it. We are also going to look at the theft, the theft of the item." The chief would not tell us if they have video of that suspect. He felt that would reveal too much about the level of security in that section of the airport. http://www.azfamily.com/news/Police-on-missing-explosives-at-airport-We-messed-up-129355363.html Back to Top China will need 5,000 new planes by 2030: Boeing BEIJING (AFP) - US aviation giant Boeing said on Wednesday it estimated China would need 5,000 new planes worth $600 billion by 2030, as growing wealth among the middle class triggers an air travel boom. Randy Tinseth, vice president of marketing for Boeing's commercial airplane section, said the Seattle-based company had revised up its expectations from last year, when it predicted China would need 4,330 new planes by 2029. Tinseth told reporters in Beijing the upgrade comes after the company enjoyed "a better year" than expected in China and also reflects greater demand for air travel among Chinese. "Sustained strong economic growth, growing trade activities, increasing personal wealth and income, as well continued market liberalisation will be the driving forces in shaping China's air travel market," he said. "But also, especially as we look at the international, we see an opportunity for the Chinese carriers to grow their market share." Boeing predicts that over the next 20 years, Chinese airlines' fleet of planes will increase from the current 1,750 to 5,930. Of the new planes, 16 percent will be replacements for ageing aircraft and 84 percent extra purchases, Tinseth said. China's air travel is booming. A total of 267 million air passenger trips were recorded in the country in 2010, up 15.8 percent from the previous year, official figures show. "We are becoming more Asia-centric," said Tinseth. "For the first time last year, the North American travel market was surpassed by travel within the Asia-Pacific (region)... China will account for more than 40 percent of demand in the Asia Pacific" over the next 20 years, he added. He said Boeing had no plans to set up an assembly factory in China, unlike its European rival Airbus which already operates a plant for A320 planes in the northern city of Tianjin. Tinseth said Boeing aimed to maintain its 51 to 52 percent share of the Chinese market. But the planned launch of the China-made C919 commercial plane in 2016 could make this difficult, as it will compete directly with the Boeing 737 and Airbus 320. Back to Top Air India replaces official accused of safety breach The national carrier Air India has replaced a top executive heading the airline's in-flight services department less than 15 days after a section of its cabin crew accused the official of rampant safety violations. On August 17, a section of the cabin crew has sought the airline's chairman and managing director Rohit Nandan's written approval to file a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking the arrest of captain AS Soman, for allegedly jeopardising passenger and crew safety. On September 2, Soman was stripped of the charge and replaced by the airline's former human resources head Anup Srivastav. An airline spokesperson confirmed the move. "It is a routine administrative change," said the spokesperson. AI crew claimed that the PIL is likely to be filed in the Bombay high court (HC) next week. The petition alleges that during Soman's tenure the airline operated 148 international flights between April and June with cabin crew below the count decided by the safety regulator. It also alleges that cabin crew was not provided the stipulated five-hour rest on board on most long distance international flights. Shortage of crew or depriving them rest can endanger passengers' safety. Sources added that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) also questioned Soman for the violations. On March 18, AK Sharan, joint director, DGCA had warned Soman that the regulator might take action against him as per the Aircraft Rules, 1937, for putting passengers' lives in danger. Under the Rules, a person found guilty of a safety violation can get a prison term of six months and a fine of up to Rs2 lakh for each violation. http://www.hindustantimes.com/Air-India-replaces-official-accused-of-safety-breach/Article1-742545.aspx Back to Top Registration is Now Open for the International Winter Operations Conference 2011 Hosted by The Air Canada Pilot's Association October 5-6, 2011 Fairmont Queen Elizabeth, Montreal, Quebec, Canada There is no secret to operating safely during the winter season. In Canada, as around the rest of the world, the aviation industry operates in all four seasons. But Winter, which presents the most challenging conditions, does not stop our industry from operating safely. Experts from around the world will share the lessons they have learned, and some of those we haven't, in all facets of winter operations. From their international experience and innovations, we will engage all attendees in the continuous improvement of aviation safety in the field of winter operations. More Information, Full Agenda and Online Registration at: www.winterops.ca Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Title: ERAU Research Survey - Pilot Perception of MANPADS & Counter-Measures Body: Greetings, My name is Dave Stach, and I am a Graduate Student with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University working to complete my Capstone Project for December Graduation. If you are or have been employed as a U.S. Commercial Airline Pilot, I ask for two minutes of your time to complete a survey concerning Airline Pilot Perception of Man-Portable Air Defense Systems and Counter-Measures. For your privacy, survey responses will be collected anonymously. Please click the link below to access the survey. http://freeonlinesurveys.com/rendersurvey.asp?sid=jqzr4fzuw4yxykd953926 Your participation is greatly appreciated. Regards, Dave Stach Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Dear Respondent, My name is Kenneth Haynes and I am a Graduate student at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University pursuing a Masters of Aeronautical Science Degree in Aviation Management. I am requesting your participation in a survey for my Comprehensive Examination proposal to explore air transportations mode of travel on a global and political scale on the use of outsourcing maintenance. The 13 question survey will target any management personnel (current, formally, retired) that are/were in a position responsible for the airworthiness requirements of the Federal Aviation Regulations (Director of Safety, Director of Operations, Chief Pilot, Director of Maintenance, Chief Inspector). This survey should take approximately 3 minutes to complete. Your participation is voluntary and your responses will remain completely anonymous. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DMDX66Y If you have any questions about the survey, please contact me at hayne780@my.erau.edu . Thank you for your time and participation! Sincerely, Kenneth J. Haynes Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Hello aviation colleagues, Navy friends and industry co-workers, my name is Candy Adamek and below is a survey that I created in lieu of completion of my Masters Capstone research project. I just took the survey and the time to complete this was around 3 to 4 minutes. I used a survey creation website called kwiksurveys and this survey is composed of 16 questions. The title of the survey is "Analysis of Federal Aviation Administration Airmen Certification within Naval Aviation Maintenance" Your responses will greatly help me in my analytical research of my hypothesis and forecasted probabilities conclusion. Also, I would like to ask you all to please forward the below survey link or this email to any of your family, friends and colleagues that have any type of Aviation background whatsoever...as the high number of responses returned will more accurately improve my final recommendations. http://www.kwiksurveys.com?s=NCJJLN_dfcf34f7 For my DOD folks - if you prefer, here is the secure site: https://www.kwiksurveys.com?s=NCJJLN_dfcf34f7 *Thank you so much for taking the time to complete and forward on my behalf!! I hope you are all well in life and if you want to know the final survey results or my Capstone Project conclusions just reply back to my yahoo address or at candace.adamek@navy.mil or adame3c8@my.erau.edu Again Thank you for your help ~ Warm Regards, Candy M. Adamek, LTJG, USNR Aerospace Maintenance Officer Graduate Student, Colorado Springs, CO. Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC