Flight Safety Information February 2, 2012 - No. 023 In This Issue Calls for Application for...The ISASI Rudolf Kapustin Memorial Scholarship Medallion Foundation, Inc. Co-pilot overcome by nausea during cockpit fume event Qantas Flight Grounded By Dirty Diaper SkyWest Airlines Names Steve Black Managing Director -- Safety & Quality PRISM Certification Consultants Confessions of a regional jet pilot 2 in 3 fliers don't pay attention to flight safety procedures American Airlines parent plans to cut 13,000 workers Business leaders back third runway at London Heathrow Calls for Application for The ISASI Rudolf Kapustin Memorial Scholarship DEADLINE for filling application 15 April, 2012 The 2012 ISASI Seminar will be held at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Aug 28-30, 2012 The International Society of Air Safety Investigators announces their 2012 Scholarship program. The scholarship is open to all full time students in a recognized (note ISASI recognized) education program, which includes courses in aircraft engineering and/or operations, aviation psychology, aviation safety and/or aircraft occurrence investigation, etc., with major or minor subjects that focus on aviation safety/investigation are eligible for the scholarship. A student who has received the annual ISASI Rudolf Kapustin Memorial Scholarship will not be eligible to apply for it again. The scholarship is for attendance at ISASI Annual Seminar. An award of $2000 will be made to each student who wins the competitive writing requirement, meets the application requirements and will register for the ISASI annual seminar. The award will be used to cover costs for the seminar registration fees, travel, and lodging/meals expenses. Any expenses above and beyond the amount of the award will be borne by the recipient. ISASI will assist with coordination and control the expenditure of funds. The application and further information is available at www.isasi.org. Back to Top Medallion Foundation, Inc. 5520 Lake Otis Parkway, Suite 104, Anchorage, AK 99507 Phone: 907-743-8050 Fax: 907-743-8051 Website: www.medallionfoundation.org E-mail: info@medallionfoundation.org Medallion Foundation Introduces a New Single Pilot Operator Safety Program Anchorage, AK (Jan. 31, 2012)-Using the standards developed by its successful Star and Shield safety programs, the Alaska based Medallion Foundation is offering a single pilot Part 135 aviation safety program. "Medallion has developed a special safety program for Part 135 operations that is being run by a very experienced member of our team Doug Ankney," said Dennis Ward, executive director of the Medallion Foundation. "This program will help an operator develop their own safety program by repackaging the Medallion Foundation's Star and Shield safety standards." Ankney, who recently joined the Medallion Foundation, is a 10,000 hour commercial pilot, Director of Operations and Chief Pilot of a Part 135 operation, Chief Flight Instructor for a Part 141 Flight School and possesses multi-engine and single engine ratings with experience as a glacier pilot here in Alaska. Medallion's Single Pilot Operator program combines aspects of all five of individual Star programs: Safety Program, CFIT (Controlled Flight Into Terrain) Avoidance, Operational Control, Maintenance & Ground Service, and Internal Audit. Ankney will provide support to existing and new Part 135 single pilot operations using Medallion's experience with its Star program guidelines and audit points to help an operator craft their safety program. "We are proud to announce the revitalization of this program and are glad to have such an experienced program manager to help Part 135 single pilot operators develop safe operating guidelines," said Ward. The non-profit Medallion Foundation was formed in 2002 to reduce aviation accidents through the use of systems enhancements. Medallion is actively looking for interested Part 135 single pilot operators to join the SPO Program to enhance business and improve aviation safety statewide in Alaska. The Medallion Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit 501c3 organization that offers aviation safety programs and training seminars to improve aviation safety statewide. The Medallion Foundation is located at 5520 Lake Otis Parkway, Suite 104 and offers 15 Aviation Training Devices at various locations in Anchorage, Bethel, Fairbanks, Homer Juneau, Ketchikan, and Palmer Soldotna and at Lake Hood. For more information about the program contact Doug Ankney at 907-743-8050 or visit the Medallion Foundation website at: http://medallionfoundation.org/Single- PilotOperatorProgram.asp Back to Top Co-pilot overcome by nausea during cockpit fume event Fumes entering the flightdeck of a Boeing 737-700 caused the co-pilot to be overcome by nausea, according to an incident report produced by German air accident investigation agency BFU. In addition, blood taken from the co-pilot immediately after the flight on 18 November 2011 tested positive for the neurotoxin tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate (TOCP), said the report. The BFU is now further investigating the medical implications of the exposure to the chemical. According to the BFU incident bulletin, Air Berlin flight 8407 from Milan Malpensa to Düsseldorf suffered a cockpit fume event - described as "a strong smell" - shortly after take-off. A few minutes later the co-pilot was overcome by nausea and had to leave the flightdeck for the washroom. The flight was operated by Germania for Air Berlin using a Boeing 737-700 (D-AGEU). Having recovered sufficiently to return, the co-pilot immediately went on oxygen for about 15min and then felt well enough to remove the mask. Meanwhile, the captain continued the flight toward Düsseldorf unaided. The report said that passing 7,000ft in the descent the smell returned, although only the co-pilot noticed it, and he again donned the oxygen mask. The captain landed the aircraft safely at Düsseldorf. A blood sample was taken from the co-pilot at a local hospital. The blood was sent for further testing by specialists at the University of Nebraska, which sent the following report to the BFU: "[The blood] is positive for exposure to tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate. This sample had a strong signal for the adduct on butyrylcholinesterase. It was estimated that 1.4% of [the co-pilot's] butyrylcholinesterase was modified as a consequence of exposure to TOCP." Butyrylcholinesterase is a naturally occurring bodily enzyme with several neurological functions related to muscle activity and cognition, and the co-pilot's butyrylcholinesterase, as the University of Nebraska test report stated, had been "modified" by the presence of TOCP. The BFU report said that further medical assessment of the effect of TOCP on health is being conducted as a result of this event. Air Berlin issued a statement from the aircraft's operator, Germania, on the event: "The safety of Germania passengers and crew members is always top priority. For them there was never a threat; the safe conduct of the flight was always guaranteed. Germania takes the incident very seriously. We have immediately reported the incident to the federal aviation authority and fully support its investigations. "Our reputation depends not only on ensuring flight safety but also on the welfare of the crew members and passengers. In no other area is the issue of safety as strictly regulated and monitored as in aviation." Source: Air Transport Intelligence Back to Top Qantas Flight Grounded By Dirty Diaper It wasn't a security threat that kept Qantas flight 825 from the skies, but rather a smelly, dirty diaper. The plane was en route from Darwin to Brisbane, Australia Sunday when passengers started complaining of a strange odor. And, in that situation, Qantas procedures dictate that the plane land as soon as possible, reports ntnwes.com.au. The plane landed in Mt. Isa. A Qantas statement said an "odor" was detected, but the commenters at The Aviation Herald pinpointed the real culprit. "Unfortunately the fumes turned out to be a very smelly nappy dumped in the fwd toilet," posted Frank Smith. Because the Mt. Isa airport couldn't handle a plane as large as a Boeing 767, the passengers had to be removed from the plane by forklift, five at a time, in a process that took two hours. A new plane picked them up in Mt. Isa and brought them to Brisbane. Their original craft later joined them in Brisbane, with their luggage. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/02/qantas-flight-grounded-by-dirty- diaper_n_1249458.html?ref=travel Back to Top SkyWest Airlines Names Steve Black Managing Director -- Safety & Quality SAINT GEORGE, Utah, Feb. 1, 2012 -- /PRNewswire/ -- SkyWest Airlines is pleased to name Steve Black as Managing Director of Safety and Quality. Black succeeds Dave Faddis, who has returned to his roots in flight instructing in the airline's Flight Operations Department. Black will report to Russell "Chip" Childs, SkyWest Airlines President and Chief Operating Officer, and will be responsible for all safety programs, auditing and compliance throughout the airline's operation, including flight operations, maintenance, ground operations and passenger safety. He will manage the airline's emergency response, audit and internal evaluation programs, and will oversee development and implementation of procedures to ensure the highest possible level of safety throughout the company's operation. "Steve has extensive knowledge of SkyWest's operation from top to bottom, and his progressive approach will ensure SkyWest Airlines remains an industry leader in both safety and performance," said Childs. Black's extensive background with the airline spans two decades and includes significant station, regional, and code share expansion where SkyWest's enviable blend of high quality and efficient costs has proven very successful. His leadership, vision and expertise will prove invaluable to his new role and to furthering SkyWest's commitment to safety and quality. SkyWest Airlines, a subsidiary of SkyWest, Inc. (NASDAQ: SKYW), employs more than 11,000 aviation professionals and operates more than 1,600 flights each day to 156 destinations throughout North America. As a leading air service provider offering global access to millions of people each month, SkyWest partners with the world's largest network carriers including United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines and US Airways. SkyWest is known for its industry-leading workforce, exceptional leadership team, and continued solid performance. The airline is headquartered in St. George, Utah. More about SkyWest Airlines and this press release can be found at www.skywest.com, or by following us on Twitter @SkyWestAirlines. SOURCE SkyWest Airlines Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/01/4230753/skywest-airlines-names- steve-black.html#storylink=cpy Back to Top Back to Top Confessions of a regional jet pilot In our continuing series interviewing airline personnel Airfarewatchdog.com asked a regional jet pilot about his work. The answers may surprise--and perhaps disturb--you. Is it true that you get paid less than some flight attendants? Yes, but it depends on the airline. Most of us are doing this because we have a passion for aviation and plan to move up in the industry. We do not plan to fly 50-seat regional jets all of our life. While the hefty salaries of experienced pilots may not stay as high as they once were, we are not doing this for the pay. We earn experience by flying regional jets and that experience will help us fly for larger airlines with mainline aircraft where the pay is higher. How do you earn the hours needed to qualify to be an airline pilot? Many of us begin very early taking flight lessons and earning our hours. Others come through the military and earn their hours flying during their training or in school. They are the lucky ones because their training is paid for; school is the biggest expense for non-military pilots. It is a double whammy to have loans to pay for school and survive on such little pay. But, we love what we do so much that we deal with it. Do you get paid more if you trained with the military versus at a flight school? No, we all start at the same pay at my airline although it depends if you're hired as a first officer or captain.Do you ever find yourself being treated differently by more experienced pilots because you are so young?On the flight deck, it depends. Most pilots respect each other and their decisions although occasionally advice and recommendations for how to do things are shared. However, there are a few more senior pilots that were furloughed from major airlines that now find themselves flying regional jets. They feel like they are superior to those who are just starting out and often seem a bit condescending. It is all part of the learning experience though. Being a pilot is just as much about learning to work with various personalities as it is about actually flying the airplane. How do you survive on such a small salary? For one thing, we are like flight attendants, and we have crash pads in our bases. These are apartments, houses, or sometimes even trailers that we all share as pilots. We are never all there at once meaning we all pay a portion of the rent, and then we use the beds a few nights a month. It is a lot cheaper than a hotel or paying for an apartment. Secondly, almost all of my friends have a second job. They are real estate agents, temporary workers, part-time coaches, or even eBay pros. We do what we have to do to survive, but our lifestyle is not glamorous. It is all fueled by the hope to grow our career while building our skills as a pilot. Is it true that you sometimes sleep in the airport? There have been times when crew scheduling has us operate flights into cities that arrive after midnight and depart around 4-5 am. In these instances, it makes little sense for us to take a shuttle to a hotel, check in, sleep for only a few hours, and then have a wake- up call an hour and a half before departure. What ends up happening is that we have "quiet rooms" in some terminals with La-Z-Boy style loungers, pitch-black surroundings, and absolute quiet. We get more rest knowing that we are at the airport, but it never qualifies as sound sleep. The media likes to make it seem that we slurp coffee in the airport bar all night, but we do have a place to sleep. It is not entirely restful, and our schedule only allows for one of these on a multi-day trip, but it does happen. This is becoming rare, but it happens. We will have more extended rest periods built into the trip later down the line. Explain the parking lot trailer park at LAX. It's true. Some crew members based in the LAX area don't even bother looking for crash pads in town. Instead, they pay rent to sleep in one of a series of trailers in a parking lot under the approach path at LAX. These are popular with pilots on reserve who need to be within close proximity to the airport and those who don't want to deal with the city traffic. Why would you even accept this job if the schedule is so intense? This is a stepping-stone for almost all of us. The major airlines typically hire from the regional carriers so this is a great avenue for growth. Sadly, there are also a lot of pilots who have been furloughed from their jobs flying the big jets at the majors who accept jobs flying for regional carriers because that is their only option. Could you accept a pay cut from $90,000 to $30,000 in a year? Most people could not, but we pilots are an enterprising bunch. Why do pilots have to go through the same security checks that passengers do? Isn't that counter-intuitive? That's exactly what we think! If we have the controls of the aircraft anyway, it makes more sense to ease the lines by clearing pilots in advance. Some airports have a test program and waive us through (Baltimore has this in some terminals for example), but others are still struggling to implement it. For now, we must go through the same charades as passengers except it really is pointless for us. Do you ever hear qualms from passengers about your young age? Occasionally, we will hear people commenting that we look like kids. But, it's really all relative and a matter of perspective. What we hear most often is people exclaiming how small the plane is or their reference to it as a puddle jumper. This, too, is relative and most often heard by infrequent flyers. Seasoned travelers know that as many as half of domestic flights today (if not more) are operated by regional jets. The flight decks on these aircraft are just as modern as mainline aircraft. In fact, most regional jets are fairly new from the past decade or so, and they can fly distances of more than 1,000 miles easily. That is a pretty large puddle! The airplane has a legacy carrier logo name on it; is that who you work for? No. While regional jets often bear the branding of a major legacy carrier, we are often a smaller independent airline that operates under the banner of the larger carrier to provide flight connections and additional frequencies to their system of flights. These smaller airlines operate as subcontractors and have different safety procedures, training departments, and management teams than the larger airlines although, all of this is governed by the FAA to insure everything is up to par. Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2012/02/01/confessions-regional-jet- pilot/#ixzz1lEDaHDT8 Back to Top 2 in 3 fliers don't pay attention to flight safety procedures According to a new study from a flight comparison site, two-thirds of UK fliers admit to not paying attention during the flight safety demonstration on-board. When asked why, the majority simply deemed it 'unnecessary'. New research has revealed that flight safety demonstrations may be going unnoticed by UK fliers, as a new study has found that just under two-thirds of Britons claim that they don't pay attention to the demonstrations given on-flight. The study, conducted by flight comparison site www.Jetcost.co.uk, aimed to look more into the experiences of UK fliers when on-board an aircraft. 1,389 people aged 18 and over subsequently took part in the poll, all of whom had flown on an aircraft overseas within the past 2 years. Those taking part in the study were asked, "When flying, do you pay attention to the safety demonstrations given on-board by cabin crew or a pre-recorded video?" to which just under two thirds, 63%, of respondents answered 'no'. Just a quarter, 26%, said 'yes'; whilst the remaining 11% of respondents stated that they 'sometimes' paid attention. Those who said they didn't pay attention were asked why this was the case. The majority, 51%, claimed to feel that the safety demonstrations were simply 'unnecessary', whilst a third, 31%, thought that they would be 'reminded of them, in case of real emergency' anyway. Furthermore, 12% of these respondents claimed that the safety demonstrations 'unnerved them' as they were 'nervous fliers'; and so felt it best to ignore the thought of having to put them into practise. When asked if they made themselves aware of where emergency exits were on an aircraft after boarding, over half, 53%, of the respondents answered 'no'. Furthermore, a third, 31%, claimed to have no idea where life vests were stored on-board aircrafts. When asked if they were happy with the level of security measures currently in place in UK airports, the majority of those taking part, 62%, said 'yes'. Of those who said 'no', a quarter, 26%, actually believed that airports in the UK had 'too many' security procedures currently in place. Jerome Cohen-Scali, Co-Founder of Jetcost.co.uk, commented on the findings: "Safety procedures are put in place on aircrafts for a reason, and it's vital that even frequent fliers pay attention to demonstrations before take- off. Whilst they can seem 'unnecessary' or even unnerving to watch for nervous fliers, they're an important aspect of any flight, and are vital in ensuring that everyone on-board knows what to do in the rare case of an emergency." http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/2-in-3-of-fliers-dont-pay-attention-to- flight-safety-procedures/ Back to Top American Airlines parent plans to cut 13,000 workers AMR Corp., parent of American Airlines, wants to cut some 13,000 jobs, about one- seventh of its workforce, as part of its bankruptcy reorganization, the company said Wednesday. The Texas-based airline employs about 9,900 in the Chicago region and 88,000 nationwide. The impact on jobs at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, where American is the No. 2 airline next to United Airlines and accounts for 36 percent of passenger service, is not clear. An airline spokeswoman would only say it was too early to predict the effect on Chicago-based employees. American executives have said in the past that O'Hare, one of American's flight hubs, is a key piece to its business strategy. And the airline said Wednesday that it plans to build its network by 20 percent over the next five years by increasing departures in its five key markets, which are Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, Los Angeles and New York. American Airlines serves about 23 million passengers annually at O'Hare. "We have been reassured by American that Chicago remains a key part of its long-term business strategy and that any immediate or long-term impacts will be very minimal for Chicago," said Chicago Department of Aviation Commissioner Rosemarie Andolino. However, Sean Doyle, president of local 512 of the Transportation Workers Union, called Wednesday the "worst day of my career." Even if flight service at O'Hare is not significantly reduced, the region could stand to lose dozens or even hundreds of Chicago maintenance worker jobs as those functions are outsourced, said Doyle, whose union local represents about 1,300 workers at the airport. "It's just devastating to the workers," he said. "These are decent-paying American jobs that are just going away." His union represents workers who operate a cargo facility, fuel airplanes, drive buses and clean aircraft cabins, among other functions. The average age of a worker in the union is 48, with an average tenure of 18 years. "You have a professional, dedicated workforce who take pride in work having the rug pulled out from under them in the twilight of their careers," he said. "It's unconscionable." The airline said Wednesday that every employee work group, including management, must reduce its total salary and benefits costs by 20 percent. The move will save $1.25 billion per year, the company said. "While we are now firmly on a path to a successful growing future, we must acknowledge the near-term pain these changes will require," Tom Horton, chief executive of AMR Corp., said in a letter to employees Wednesday. "That's especially true because we will end this journey with many fewer people. But we will also preserve tens of thousands of jobs that would have been lost if we had not embarked on this path." A breakdown of the 13,000 job cuts in round numbers includes 4,600 mechanics, 4,200 fleet service and other transportation workers, 2,300 flight attendants, 1,400 managers and support staff and 400 pilots. Besides job cuts, the airline will make changes to employee medical coverage and coverage for retirees. The airline will seek bankruptcy court permission to terminate its defined pensions plans, which would be replaced by 401(k) plans with a company match. Profit-sharing plans will also be affected. And the airline will outsource more work, such as some aircraft maintenance, and change work rules to increase employee productivity. James Little, international president of the Transport Workers Union, which is slated for about 9,000 job cuts nationwide, said he was shocked by AMR's proposals, the concessions they ask of his union members and the extent to which the company wants to outsource maintenance work. He said the union has hired consultants to evaluate the company's plan and "help pick it apart and see if it makes sense." "We're going to fight it," Little said. "We're going to challenge it where we can." All told, the company aims to make cuts of more than $2 billion by 2017, not only from layoffs but also by restructuring debt and leases, grounding older planes, improving supplier contracts and other initiatives. It also aims to boost revenue by $1 billion. Reaction from Chicago officials was supportive. "American Airlines' decisions today demonstrate its commitment to provide better service for its customers while maintaining its important place in Chicago's economy," Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in a statement. Andolino said the restructuring will give American the flexibility to invest in Chicago, especially in international flights. "By making the tough decisions the company is now making, American is preserving the future of its business and jobs in our communities for the long run, which is good for Chicago and for O'Hare," she said. The parent of American Airlines and American Eagle regional service filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Nov. 29. The filing was anticipated. The airline was loaded down with costs that other airlines cast off in their own bankruptcies after the9/11attacks. American said it simply couldn't compete. Its bankruptcy gives the airline a window of opportunity in which to cut costs. Prior to filing, American Airlines executives tried to stave off bankruptcy to protect employees, investors, suppliers and others who lose out in a Chapter 11 filing. But rising fuel costs and a sour world economy squashed whatever hope the airline had to honor its obligations. Meanwhile, the money-losing company fell from its perch as the country's largest airline to No. 3 as competitors merged and grew. The airline said it has lost $10 billion during the past decade. Details about the AMR's plans are available at restructuringamr.com. http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-0202-amr-20120202,0,7745578.story Back to Top Business leaders back third runway at London Heathrow A third runway at London Heathrow is "the most credible solution" to meeting the need for increased airport capacity in the UK over the next 15 years, an independent commission has said. London First's Connectivity Commission, a group of business leaders tasked with reviewing transport links to and from the capital, has strongly recommended that the government revise its national aviation policy to include an expansion of Heathrow. The coalition government in November ruled out the proposal to build a third runway due to concerns about noise and local air pollution. But the commission argued that today's aircraft are much quieter than those manufactured 20-30 years ago and said, to tackle local air pollution, rail transport links could be improved and road congestion cut. "Britain faces severe public sector financial constraints and low growth from its traditional major export markets," said the commission in its report, entitled London, Britain and the world: Transport links for economic growth. "The need to seek out growth and demand in new markets makes the case for a privately-financed, fundable and deliverable means of growing London's connectivity in the next decade even stronger." Other proposals for increasing capacity in the UK include creating a dual hub linking Heathrow to another airport or building a new, four-runway hub in the Thames Estuary. The commission said a new hub did not have the political commitment, funding and planning permission to be constructed in the medium term. Moreover, the business leaders were "sceptical" that a dual hub model could deliver the minimum connection time required by passengers and available at other European hubs. "A third runway at Heathrow appears to the commission to be the most credible solution to meeting London and the UK's vital need for increased hub capacity in the next 15 years." The UK Department for Transport responded by reaffirming its intention to explore all options for maintaining the UK's aviation hub status "with the exception of a third runway at Heathrow". "The government will consult on an overarching sustainable framework for UK aviation this spring and alongside this we will publish a call for evidence on maintaining effective UK hub airport connectivity," said a DfT spokesperson. The Connectivity Commission also recommended that Heathrow should be able to allow aircraft to land and take-off concurrently on both runways, as long as measures were put in place to mitigate the local impact of additional noise. This would increase runway capacity by 10-15%, the group claimed. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP, FRAeS CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC