Flight Safety Information February 14, 2012 - No. 032 In This Issue Budget Ax Falls On Armed Pilot Program Aircraft Fires Tied to Lithium-Battery Cargo Prompt New UN Rule Indonesia Starts Testing Pilot for Drug Before Flying... Congo-Kinshasa: Minister Injured in Air Crash DGCA orders removal of Jet's chief of flight safety (India) Aviation Apps Still Create Buzz at Heli-Expo 2012 ARGUS PROS Global Auditing Southwest flight returns to Orlando airport because of strange odor Pentagon working with FAA to open U.S. airspace to combat drones Two airplanes nearly collide on Metropolitan Airport's runway (Argentina) Indian airlines to be allowed to expand overseas ops Steven Rush Elected President of the Professional Helicopter Pilots Association Budget Ax Falls On Armed Pilot Program Armed Pilots Greatly Outnumber Better-Known Federal Air Marshals WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Barack Obama's budget ax is falling hard on a program that allows pilots to carry handguns in the cockpit as a last line of defense against terrorists. Obama's proposed 2013 budget cuts in half funds for the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) program. The current budget of $25 million a year -- which goes for such things as conducting background checks, training the pilots, and periodic gun proficiency tests and retraining, in addition to administrative costs -- would be cut to $12 million. The thousands of armed pilots, who greatly outnumber the better-known federal air marshals, volunteer for the job, train at federal academies and are deputized to use their weapons in the cockpit. They call themselves the "single most cost-effective counter- terrorism measure" the government has taken. The federal government spends about $15 a flight for FFDOs, as armed pilots are called, compared to $3,000 per flight for federal air marshals, said Mike Karn, vice president of the Federal Flight Deck Officers Association. Those numbers are based on costs of the respective programs divided by the number of flights covered by armed pilots and air marshals. As recently as last March, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano voiced support for the program, agreeing with Rep. Chip Cravaack, R-Minnesota, a former airline pilot and FFDO, that it was a vital part of the country's layer defenses. But in the budget documents released Monday, administration officials said security measures put in place since 2001, such as locked cockpit doors and 100% screening of airline passengers, "have greatly lowered the chances of unauthorized cockpit access." The proposed budget also cuts Federal Air Marshal Service funds almost 4%, to $927 million. It is unclear whether that cut will result in fewer air marshals. The number of air marshals is classified. The $36.5 million budget cut for the air marshals reflects "efficiencies and program changes that leverage other aviation security system enhancements, allowing for more efficient mission deployments focused on high-risk flights," according to the Department of Homeland Security. A current flight deck officer, contact by CNN, called cuts to the FFDO program "very surprising." "I think that this is just another example of essentially TSA (Transportation Security Administration) and DHS mismanaging a highly efficient program, that operates on cents on the dollar compared to (air marshals)," said the pilot, who spoke on condition that he not be named. The program prohibits pilots from identifying themselves as FFDOs for security reasons. The flight deck officer said he believes the cuts will result in fewer flights being covered by armed officers. "You're cutting the feet off the (FFDO) program," said Mark Weiss, a former pilot who served as deputy chairman of security for the Allied Pilots Association, the bargaining unit for American Airlines. "It's extremely shortsighted." Weiss, now with the Spectrum Group in Washington, said the government is sending a "very clear message" to armed pilots that they are not valued. "It's probably (a message) that they're very appreciative of hearing in terrorist camps around the world," he added. Like the federal air marshal program, the FFDO program has been marred by occasional mishaps. An FFDO pilot was removed from the program, and his airline, after he accidentally discharged his gun in the cockpit. No one was injured. And last year, a traveler at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport accidentally picked up the wrong bag -- a bag belonging to an FFDO and containing a firearm. The incident resulted in two flights being delayed, and the hour-long closure of an airport checkpoint. But the firearm was secured in a fashion that "rendered it incapable of being discharged," a TSA spokesman said at the time. http://www.ktvz.com/travelgetaways/30450800/detail.html Back to Top Aircraft Fires Tied to Lithium-Battery Cargo Prompt New UN Rule By Alan Levin (Bloomberg) A United Nations panel is calling for tougher inspections and detailed labeling of air shipments of lithium batteries following two incidents in which aircraft were destroyed when freight shipments burst into flames. The Dangerous Goods Panel at the UN's International Civil Aviation Organization agreed Friday to the new standards, said Mark Rogers, who heads hazardous-materials handling issues for the Air Line Pilots Association union. The action may lead to more stringent U.S. rules for battery shipments. Congress earlier this month passed an aviation bill restricting U.S. regulators from imposing rules stricter than those set by the ICAO. Tighter rules proposed by the Department of Transportation stalled following industry objections that they would lead to higher consumer costs. "I've been working on lithium batteries for 10 years and this is the biggest development to date," said Rogers, who serves on the 19-member ICAO panel. Without new safety standards, lithium batteries that can spontaneously combust were projected to destroy one U.S.- registered cargo jet every other year, according to a study commissioned by U.S. and Canadian aviation regulators. Shipments of lithium batteries that include those used in mobile phones, tablets and laptop computers have been suspected of contributing to two U.S. cargo-jet accidents since 2006. The Rechargeable Battery Association, which represents companies such as Apple Inc (APPL). and Panasonic Corp., said in an e- mail statement Feb. 13 that the ICAO panel's recommendations were a "reasonable compromise." New Rules 'Imperative' The industry group urged the Transportation Department's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to adopt the ICAO standards, according to the statement. "It is imperative that countries strictly enforce these new regulations that go into effect on January 1, 2013, or the hard work by the ICAO Panel will be for naught," it said in the statement. The group previously said the proposed U.S. regulations were too costly and wouldn't improve safety. The ICAO standards are less strict than the pipeline agency's proposal. Lithium batteries for products ranging from hearing aids to laptops can be shipped on cargo planes with few restrictions today. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration barred passenger flights from carrying non- rechargeable lithium batteries in 2004 because they if they catch fire, flames cannot be stopped by cargo compartment extinguishers. Labeling, Inspections Packages containing as much as 66 pounds (30 kilos) of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries can be carried as cargo on passenger flights under U.S. regulations. Under the proposed ICAO standards, all lithium battery shipments will have to be labeled as hazardous material, Rogers said. Companies that want to ship batteries must train employees on how to handle the battery shipments. Airlines such as United Continental Holdings Inc. (UAL)'s United Airlines or FedEx Corp. (FDX) would have to inspect the battery shipments before loading them on a plane and after they are removed, Rogers said. Pilots would also be notified when lithium batteries are loaded on a flight, he said. The new standard would exempt shipments of two or fewer batteries from the requirements as well as devices that have installed batteries. The ICAO panel's recommendation will now be considered by the organization, Stephane Dubois, a spokesman, said by phone. It will become the international standard Jan. 1 if approved, she said. Two Accidents Three pilots on a United Parcel (UPS) Service Inc. Boeing Co. DC- 8 barely escaped on Feb. 7, 2006, after fire broke out as they approached Philadelphia, a U.S. National Transportation Safety Board investigation found. The jet contained "numerous" lithium batteries in computers and other devices, according to the NTSB. The investigation, which focused on batteries, was unable to determine the cause of the fire. A UPS Boeing 747-400 that caught fire 22 minutes after it left Dubai on Sept. 3, 2010, was carrying more than 81,000 lithium batteries, according to a preliminary report by the General Civil Aviation Authority of the United Arab Emirates. The jet crashed at a military base while pilots tried to make an emergency landing. Both pilots died. Back to Top Indonesia Starts Testing Pilot for Drug Before Flying Indonesian transport ministry has begun introducing drug test on pilot just before flying at the international airport in Bali to prevent them flying a plane under the affect of drug, Deputy Transport Minister Bambang Susantono was quoted by the Jakarta Post as saying on Tuesday. Indonesia tightened test on pilot for drug from once in six months to hours or days before flying as the government considered that the earlier test was not effective because the pilot could make a preparation. The new policy was made following the appearance of safety concerns after the arrest of three pilots and a co-pilot of budget airline, Lion Air, for allegedly using drug since last year. "We have taken urine samples from several pilots to find whether or not they take drug," Susantono said on Monday. " Everyone is clean." He said that a sanction would be imposed should any airline allow pilot consuming drug to fly plane. The government has aimed to put priority to develop aviation industry as it is an effective transport mean in the vast archipelago country with over 17,500 islands. The number of international air passengers in 2011 rose by 12.3 percent to 10.8 million people, compared with the previous year. For domestic flight, the number of passenger rose by 17.68 percent to 51.5 million people, the Statistic Bureau announced on Feb. 1. http://english.cri.cn/6966/2012/02/14/3123s680968.htm Back to Top Congo-Kinshasa: Minister Injured in Air Crash The private jet that transported Augustin Katumba Mwanke and the Minister of Finance Matata Ponyo Mapon. (Photo Courtesy Radio Okapi) A presidential adviser was killed and finance minister injured in a plane crash which occurred in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday, a statement from the government said. Finance Minister Matata Ponyo Mapon was seriously injured in the accident, which happened near Bukavu, the provincial capital of South Kivu. The government did not release the total casualties, although its statement indicated that they might involve several central and local government officials. A provincial official, who declined to be named, told Xinhua that the plane owned by former lawmaker Katumba Mwake crashed at the airport of Kavumu. Mwake and South Kivu Governor Marcelin Cishambo were also on board. Presidential adviser Augustin Katumba Mwanke and one of the co- pilots were killed, the official said, adding Governor Cishambo was taken to hospital after the crash, in which most of the dozen or so passengers survived. The accident comes barely two weeks since an Antonov 28 plane with five persons on board crashed in the forest in the eastern province of Maniema on Jan. 30 injuring three people. DR Congo is known for poorly maintained airports and under developed technical control mechanisms and a poor system for verifying professional licences. Congolese airlines are blacklisted by the European Union for safety and management. http://allafrica.com/stories/201202140070.html ******** Status: Preliminary Date: 12 FEB 2012 Time: ca 13:00 Type: Grumman G-1159C Gulfstream IV Operator: Democratic Republic of the Congo Government Registration: N2SA C/n / msn: 1104 First flight: 1989 Engines: 2 Rolls Royce 610-8 Tay Crew: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 Passengers: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 7 Total: Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 9 Ground casualties: Fatalities: 2 Airplane damage: Written off Airplane fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Bukavu-Kavumu Airport (BKY) (Congo (Democratic Republic)) Phase: Landing (LDG) Nature: Executive Departure airport: Goma Airport (GOM) (GOM/FZNA), Congo (Democratic Republic) Destination airport: Bukavu-Kavumu Airport (BKY) (BKY/FZMA), Congo (Democratic Republic) Narrative: A Gulfstream IV corporate jet, was damaged in a landing accident at Bukavu-Kavumu Airport (BKY), D.R. Congo. Both pilots and one passenger were killed in the accident. Radio Okapi reports that former governor of Katanga, Katumba Mwanke, was killed. The Finance Minister Matata Ponyo, the governor of South Kivu, Marcelin Cishambo, as ambassador-president, Antoine Ghonda, were seriously injured in this accident. The flight was said to have departed Kinshasa on a flight to Bukavu via Goma. The airplane suffered a runway excursion, went down an embankment and broke in two. Accident photos show flaps down and thrust reversers on both engines activated. www.aviation-safety.net Back to Top DGCA orders removal of Jet's chief of flight safety (India) New Delhi - The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered the removal of Jet Airways (India) Ltd's chief of flight safety Vishesh Oberoi for failing to perform his duty as the airline's top safety manager, a first in recent times. The regulator took the action against Jet Airways for allowing a trainee pilot to land a packed flight on 14 October in Mumbai, violating safety norms. DGCA had summoned Jet officials for an explanation on Monday. The airline was also found to have violated rules, including not informing the regulator about the incident, Mint reported on 13 February. Jet Airways chief executive Nikos Kardasis, along with other officials, had an hour-long meeting with Bharat Bhushan, the director general of civil aviation, on Monday, said a government official who declined to be named. "The head of flight safety has been ordered to be removed immediately for failing to perform his duties," the official said. A second government official confirmed the move and added that the airline has to inform the regulator on the appointment of a new chief of flight safety. A Jet spokesperson declined to respond to an email. Phone calls and text messages seeking comment remained unanswered. DGCA approves the chief of flight safety for each airline. The official is directly responsible to the regulator and is required to make regular reports about matters of safety. An airline is expected to voluntarily report safety issues to the regulator, including minor snags. DGCA came to know of the incident through a complaint on 5 February. "About four months back, Jet Airways captain Sheikh Ahmed was operating a flight into Mumbai along with F/O (flight officer) Khajuria (co-pilot). There was a supernumerary pilot on board. I understand that the captain asked the first officer to vacate his seat and he permitted the supernumerary pilot to occupy the right seat for the landing," the complaint said. "This is a very serious violation and endangers the lives of all on board. I understand Khajuria gave a written complaint. There appears to be an intervention from someone to soften the action against the captain, who was merely suspended for three months and is now back to flying as a captain." The complaint asked if "the airline inform(ed) the DGCA of this serious violation? If they did, what action did DGCA take and was this recorded in the list of violations in the safety audit conducted? If they did not report this, what action will DGCA take against the pilot and the airline?" The licence of the commander has been suspended, according to DGCA. It, however, remains to be seen if his flying licence will be cancelled too as DGCA has done in past cases, said Mohan Ranganathan, an air safety expert and member of the government-appointed Civil Aviation Safety Advisory Council. "DGCA should not stop with action against the flight safety head. A clear message has to go to all airlines that such violations will not be tolerated. A strong action against the airline is also warranted for hiding this incident," he said. http://www.livemint.com/2012/02/13230917/DGCA-orders-removal-of- Jet82.html?atype=tp Back to Top Aviation Apps Still Create Buzz at Heli-Expo 2012 Location, communication and safety management were buzz words among the newest batch of app-makers at the 2012 Heli-Expo in Dallas, Texas. Helicopter Association International led off the bunch with an app to help you find exhibitors, and find out about them, too. But that was just their convention app. The organization has also turned its Helicopter Annual printed industry directory into HAI Mobile, a smartphone app that gives instant access to the entire database, in its most current form. The app also links to FAA databases for up-to-date Notams and regulations. Links are included to TSA, NTSB and even a directory of aviation officials in the U.S. SkyTrac Systems, a flight-following and satcom supplier, released its RDA user interface for the iPhone at the Expo. "RDA allows users to increase the functionality of their system," said SkyTrac president and CEO Kathleen Wallace. The app connects to the SkyTrac system via an installed Wifi unit. RDA provides a simple interface for passengers to have air-to-ground text and voice calls. Blue Sky Network is offering a free HTC Android smartphone or Visio Android tablet to the first 10 purchasers of its new Hawkeye Link. "We chose a Bluetooth-based system so that voice calls can be made while the user is wearing a Bluetooth-capable headset," said Matt Caldwell, sales representative for Blue Sky. "You can dial Iridium satellite phone calls right from your smartphone, without the need for a satellite phone," he continued. The program also handles text messages and email. "The nice part about it is that the user interface, the smartphone or the tablet, are completely familiar to all users," said Caldwell. The Hawkeye Link is portable and can be carried from BlueSky equipped aircraft to aircraft. Latitude Technologies Corporation demonstrated the newest version of its WebSentinel app at Heli-Expo 2012. Registered users of Latitude's SkyNode satcom products, who have a WebSentinel service account, can now view live and historic flight-tracking data, adjust reporting parameters and do two-way text messaging with their SkyNode products. Mikey McBryan, general manager for Buffalo Airways in Yellowknife, Canada, was the first customer to use the new app. "We operate 18 aircraft and fly to the northernmost airport in the world. I have less stress when I am away from the office, because I have the convenience of tracking aircraft from anywhere. Now the plane information is always in my pocket," said McBryan. The app is freely available in the Apple App Store and functions on the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch. For users of Latitude's existing iOS app, the new version is available as an update. Sextant Readings Solutions introduced its Q-Pulse Audit app for iPad and iPhone with a special show price that includes implementation and training on the product for any company purchasing its fully IS-BAO (H) compliant app. "We built the IS-BAO audit questions and guidance right into the app," said Bob Trevelyan, president of Sextant Readings Solutions. "The idea was to use the simple interface of the Apple product to make the audit process everyone's business in your company," he continued, explaining that Q-Pulse Audit replaces paperwork onsite and through simple guided checklist gives each employee in the company the ability to be the provider of integral data necessary to complete the audit process. "It's really a document-distribution system in an app," he said. "Say someone spots an issue. They can sign onto an iPad, enter the Q-Pulse app, and immediately document the issue, even send an ASAP report that can be exported to ASIS." The app and laptop versions of Q-Pulse are IS-BAO, SASO and IOSA compliant. FlightOffice.com's CEO Pierre Rouleau has taken the concept of an app just a little further, designing an entire management solution for flight operations that can be run, through an app on an Apple iOS device. "We've put flight department management into the cloud," said Rouleau. "The iPad is an approved device in the cockpit, which is why we chose the platform for the FlightOffice product." The product can be used for dynamic real-time monitoring of flight department crews, maintenance, training, scheduling, communication, SMS, tracking of key performance indicators and accounting. During Heli-Expo 2012 the company is offering a free iPad (with 3G and WiFi) for every aircraft in one's fleet for each new customer signing up for a three-year contract. http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/hai-convention-news/2012-02-13/aviation- apps-still-create-buzz-heli-expo-2012 Back to Top Back to Top Southwest flight returns to Orlando airport because of strange odor Passengers will take off for Panama City on a different airplane. A Southwest Airlines flight from Orlando to Panama City returned to the gate this evening because of a strange odor in the galley, authorities said. Flight No. 517 left Orlando International Airport about 6 p.m. and returned about 20 minutes later. One hundred thirty-three passengers and five crew members debarked while Southwest employees and Orlando firefighters inspected the Boeing 737-700, a Southwest spokeswoman said. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-02-13/news/os-southwest-flight-returns-to- orlando-20120213_1_strange-odor-orlando-airport-southwest-airplane Back to Top Pentagon working with FAA to open U.S. airspace to combat drones The military says the nearly 7,500 robotic aircraft it has accrued for use overseas need to come home at some point. But the FAA doesn't allow drones in U.S. airspace without a special certificate. Drones such as the jet-powered, high-flying RQ-4 Global Hawk made by Northrop Grumman have been successful in providing aerial coverage of recent catastrophic events like the tsunami in Japan and earthquake in Haiti. (U.S. Air Force / January 25, 2012) With a growing fleet of combat drones in its arsenal, the Pentagon is working with the Federal Aviation Administration to open U.S. airspace to its robotic aircraft. As the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan wind down, the military says the drones that it has spent the last decade accruing need to return to the United States. When the nation first went to war after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the military had around 50 drones. Now it owns nearly 7,500. These flying robots need to be shipped home at some point, and the military then hopes to station them at various military bases and use them for many purposes. But the FAA doesn't allow drones in national airspace without a special certificate. These aircraft would be used to help train and retrain the pilots who fly the drones remotely, but they also are likely to find new roles at home in emergencies, helping firefighters see hot spots during wildfires or possibly even dropping water to combat the blaze. At a recent conference about robotic technology in Washington, D.C., a number of military members spoke about the importance of integrating drones along with manned aircraft. "The stuff from Afghanistan is going to come back," Steve Pennington, the Air Force's director of ranges, bases and airspace, said at the conference. The Department of Defense "doesn't want a segregated environment. We want a fully integrated environment." That means the Pentagon wants the same rules for drones as any other military aircraft in the U.S. today. Robotic technology was the focus of the Assn. for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International's annual program review conference in Washington last week. For three days, a crowd made up of more than 500 military contractors, military personnel and industry insiders packed the Omni Shoreham Hotel to listen to the foremost experts on robots in the air, on the ground and in the sea. Once the stuff of science-fiction novels, robotic technology now plays a major role day- to-day life. Automated machines help farmers gather crops. Robotic submarines scour the ocean floor for signs of oil beds. Flying drones have become crucial in hunting suspected terrorists in the Middle East. Drones such as the jet-powered, high-flying RQ-4 Global Hawk made by Northrop Grumman Corp. have also been successful in providing aerial coverage of recent catastrophic events like the tsunami in Japan and earthquake in Haiti. The FAA has said that remotely piloted aircraft aren't allowed in national airspace on a wide scale because they don't have an adequate "detect, sense and avoid" technology to prevent midair collisions. The FAA does allow exceptions. Unarmed Predator drones are used to patrol the nation's borders through special certifications. The FAA said it issued 313 such certificates last year. The vast majority of the military's drones are small - similar to hobby aircraft. The FAA is working on proposed rules for integrating these drones, which are being eyed by law enforcement and private business to provide aerial surveillance. The FAA expects to release the proposal on small drones this spring. But the Pentagon is concerned about flying hundreds of larger drones, including Global Hawks as well as MQ-1 Predators and MQ-9 Reapers, both made by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. in Poway. And last week Congress approved legislation that requires the FAA to have a plan to integrate drones of all kinds into national airspace on a wide scale by 2015. The Army will conduct a demonstration this summer at its Dugway Proving Ground in Utah, testing ground-based radars and other sense-and-avoid technology, Mary Ottman, deputy product director with the Army, said at the conference. These first steps are crucial, said Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), who co-chairs a bipartisan drone caucus with Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon (R-Santa Clarita). Officially known as the Congressional Unmanned Systems Caucus, the panel was formed in 2009 to inform members of Congress on the far-reaching applications of drone technology. McKeon also said he was in favor of moving along the process of integrating drones into civil airspace. This came before he was abruptly interrupted by an anti-drone female protester during a speech. "These drones are playing God," she said, carrying a banner that read "Stop Killer Drones." She was part of a group that wants the end of drone strikes. Within seconds, hotel security personnel surrounded the woman. She was carried out chanting, "Stop killer drones." McKeon, who stood silent throughout the brief protest, went on with his speech. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-military-drones-20120214,0,5726973.story Back to Top Two airplanes nearly collide on Metropolitan Airport's runway (Argentina) Two airplanes almost collided along the runway of Jorge B. Newbery Metropolitan Airport. No injured people were reported, according to authorities. The incident took place today at noon when the tip of the wing of a Gol airplane (Flight 7678) that had just landed from Sao Paulo scratched the fuselage of a LAN's airplane that was stopped waiting for authorization to take off to Iguazú, Misiones province. The LAN flight was immediately suspended in order to take all necessary technical check- ups. The Aviation Investigation committee is already studying the case to find out what happened and who was responsible for the maneuvers. http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/92673/two-airplanes-nearly-collide-on- metropolitan-airports-runway Back to Top Indian airlines to be allowed to expand overseas ops NEW DELHI Feb 14 (Reuters) - Indian airlines including state-run Air India will now be allowed to use maximum permissible bilateral flying rights, allowing them to expand their overseas operations, the Aviation Ministry said on Tuesday. India has been under-utilising its bilateral agreements under self-imposed restrictions because struggling Air India, the country's flag carrier, was unable to use the maximum limit. "Under the new arrangement, code share operations will be encouraged," the ministry said in a statement. The move is a big positive for all carriers, said Kapil Kaul, regional head of the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, a consulting firm. Most Indian airlines are losing money as a result of high fuel costs, huge debts, cutthroat competition and a slowdown in the economy. Back to Top Steven Rush Elected President of the Professional Helicopter Pilots Association International (PHPA) DALLAS, Feb. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- The Professional Helicopter Pilots Association International (PHPA), a council of the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU), AFL-CIO, elected Steven Rush to serve as president at its board meeting in Dallas, Texas on February 12, 2012. OPEIU represents approximately 3,000 helicopter pilots throughout the United States and Canada. Rush is a founding member of the PHPA Council, and a force behind its establishment in 2002. He is also president of OPEIU Local 102, one of the original Local Unions affiliated with the Council, and has served as a Council member since 2002. "As one of the founders of PHPA, I'm very pleased to have the opportunity to have an even bigger role in our efforts to protect the interests of helicopter pilots, working to improve air safety, security, training and opportunities available to pilots throughout the world." With a flight career that spans four decades and includes more than 12,000 aircraft hours and 8,000 hours in flight simulators, Rush began his career in the Army in December 1970. After flight training at Ft. Rucker, Alabama, he served in Korea for a year and then returned to Ft. Rucker to serve as a military flight instructor until 1977. After departing active duty, Rush traveled to Alaska to fly 135 ops for the Alaska Pipeline and then returned to Ft. Rucker to work as a civilian flight instructor on the Flight Training Contract for 32 years. During that time he also spent 16 years in the U.S. Army Reserve. Rush succeeds Captain Butch Grafton, who has served as PHPA president since its establishment in 2002. ABOUT PHPA INTERNATIONALThe Professional Helicopter Pilots Association International (PHPA) is a professional, non-profit organization dedicated to improving air safety and protecting the interests of commercial helicopter pilots. PHPA promotes industry professionalism, education and training, and encourages professional helicopter pilots, the military and civilians of all flying disciplines to join together to represent and enforce the high standards, ideals and goals of the profession Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP, FRAeS, FISASI CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC