Flight Safety Information April 3, 2012 - No. 066 In This Issue UTAir grounds ATR 72-200s after fatal crash ATR rolled sharply before crash but engines were functioning Air Crash Calls Minister's Future into Question (Russia) AF Scientific Board Says F-22 Pilot Safety a Priority Prosecutors want JetBlue captain held without bond PRISM ANNUAL SMS AUDIT RESULTS All Libyan Air Carriers Banned From Flying Into European Union Wife of 81-year-old pilot lands twin-engine plane in Wis. after he suffers medical emergency WFP Promotes Aviation Safety The ISASI Rudolf Kapustin Memorial Scholarship UTAir grounds ATR 72-200s after fatal crash Russia's UTAir is to ground its ATR 72-200 fleet at least until the conclusion of the investigation into the fatal departure crash at Tyumen. The airline says it will use its 15 ATR 72-500s to restore service on the routes operated by the -200s. UTAir chief Andrei Martirosov insists the carrier has "no doubts" about the operational safety and reliability of the aircraft, but is taking the decision "from a psychological point of view". He says that the limitation will not affect the airline's network because it will use its ATR 72-500 fleet to make up the capacity shortfall. The carrier signed for 20 new ATR 72-500s under an agreement sealed a year ago. UTAir has only two -200s following yesterday's accident. It also uses the smaller ATR 42 for its UTAir Express operation and its Ukrainian regional division. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news Back to Top ATR rolled sharply before crash but engines were functioning Both engines on the crashed UTAir ATR 72-200 at Tyumen were operating before the impact shortly after take-off, but the aircraft exhibited instability in the roll axis beforehand. Investigators from the Interstate Aviation Committee (MAK) state that the turboprop reached an altitude of 210m (690ft) then banked sharply to the right, about 35°. It then rolled in the opposite direction, reaching a left bank of more than 50° at the point of impact, says MAK. Both of the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW124 engines "operated up to the collision with the ground", it adds. One local report, quoting the deputy director of Tyumen airport, states that the ATR crew opted against de-icing before departure. Twelve of the 43 occupants were initially listed as having survived the accident. The aircraft had been operating a domestic service to Surgut when it came down yesterday. Source: Air Transport Intelligence news Back to Top Air Crash Calls Minister's Future into Question (Russia) "Minister of Catastrophe!" screams the Internet petition established within hours of Monday morning's tragedy in Tyumen. There follows a list of dozens of deadly disasters suffered by aircraft, trains and ships over the eight-year period since Igor Levitin became transportation minister in 2004. Levitin is not an aviator but a railway man. He spent large chunks of a military career that spanned the 1970s and 1980s in railway units. After leaving military service in 1994, he went into business, and also served on the Irkutsk regional Duma, before being called in to reform the Transportation Ministry in 2004. The eight years since have been boom years for a man in the business of moving things and people. Multibillion-dollar road, rail and airport building projects are planned to link the country's far-flung parts together, the car market is well on its way to becoming the largest in Europe, and airline passenger turnover has grown on average 9.8 percent a year since 2000 - a significantly high rate. But it has also been an era of tragedy. Russia has suffered 749 fatalities in civil aviation since 2004, according to Air-safety.net. More people died in aviation accidents in Russia in 2011 than in any other country in the world. Disasters on the waterways - like the sinking of the Bulgaria cruise ship on the Volga in 2011 and the 2009 bombing of the Nevsky Express between Moscow and St. Petersburg - mean the numbers killed on Russia's planes, trains and waterways are nearer 1000. And that's not counting the 28,000 people killed in 2011 alone on Russia's roads. For Andrei Rozhkov, an aviation analyst at Metropol, safety - especially aviation safety - is Levitin's greatest failure. "We've seen some good progress on things like rail access to Russian ports. But with air safety there are very bad results," he said. "Of course you can't call him an effective minister." "The main thing that needs doing is enforcement of the rules. Russian aviation law is strict enough, but there have been instances of corruption around smaller airlines that mean they have not necessarily met safety norms," he said. The environmental group fighting the controversial Moscow-St. Petersburg highway route through the Khimki forest began gathering signatures for his dismissal over a year ago, blaming him for forcing the road through and claiming he was set to benefit personally from the $8 billion project via a complex system of offshore companies. The renewed petition launched Sunday by the same group, which had gathered 5,873 signatures as of 6:54 p.m. Monday evening, but may ultimately be no more successful. "Simply, the influential group he is a part of still protects him from the ire of both the public and other figures in government," said Alexei Mukhin, a Kremlin-watcher at Moscow's Center for Political Information. "And the authorities are inclined to ignore public opinion as long as it thinks it can, anyway." Another reason for his longevity is President-elect Vladimir Putin's prioritizing of loyalty over efficiency - as well as Levitin's canny ability to get on with all sides in Russia's notoriously faction-based political scene. "He is not a very public figure, and as such, he is considered capable of maintaining relations with different clans," said Nikolai Petrov, a Kremlin-watcher at the Moscow Carnegie Center. That is evidenced by his regular appearance in lists of potential candidates to replace troublesome regional governors. The consensus, however, seems to be that his time could be running out. "I'd say the idea that he is not a very efficient minister and could leave the government is pretty much right," Petrov said. The consensus seems to be that he is the most likely candidate for retirement in the expected Cabinet reshuffle following Putin's inauguration as president in May, but where he would go is not clear. Levitin was mentioned as a potential successor to former Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov, and more recently his name was linked to the Moscow Region governorship (a job that ended up going to Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu). Levitin's rumored links to contractors working on infrastructure projects introduces another web of interests with a hand in his career prospects, Petrov warned. Another option would be a position at a state corporation, where he could continue his career as a civil servant-cum-businessman. Rozhkov put his money on "someone close to Putin" with the energy to more vigorously enforce aviation rules. "In everything else, the ministry seems to be doing a reasonable job." Levitin was in Baku on Monday, meeting the Azerbaijani president for the Transportation Ministry. Repeated calls to the ministry went unanswered Monday. His deputy Valery Okulov and Alexander Neradko, the head of the Federal Air Transportation Agency, Rosaviatsia, the ministry subdivision responsible for airline regulation, were dispatched to the crash site in Tyumen. Read more: http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/air-crash-calls-ministers- future-into-question/456001.html#ixzz1qz1ccjgq The Moscow Times Back to Top AF Scientific Board Says F-22 Pilot Safety a Priority Air Force leaders provided an update on the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board study into the F-22 Raptor life support systems and flight operations during a briefing in the Pentagon March 29. Retired Gen. Gregory Martin, an aviator and a former commander of two major commands, chaired the nine member SAB team which studied the aircrafts' on-board oxygen generation systems and briefed its findings and recommendations in trying to determine a root cause for pilots experiencing unexplained physiological events with the F-22 Raptor. "From April 2008 until May 2011, the Air Force experienced 14 physiological incidents with the fleet of F-22s," Martin said. "Each incident was investigated, and of those incidents, 10 did not reveal a root cause." It was the unexplained nature of those incidents that gave the Air Force concern and led the Secretary of the Air Force to ask for a broad area review which the SAB conducted, he added. "We were unable to determine a root cause, but we were able to put in place the proper safety measures and risk mitigation techniques that would allow the F-22 fleet to return to fly...to ensure the integrity of the life support system," Martin said. "We went from ground test to flight test to a return to fly phase, and moving into a transition phase." The advisory board made nine findings and 14 recommendations based on a seven- month study of the F-22's evolution - from conception and acquisition through current flight operations - which the Air Force can use to move forward. Martin said the findings and recommendations fall into three main areas; the acquisition processes and policies, the organizational structure recommendations and equipment recommendations to not only protect the pilots and crew members today but also for the future. "Some of the things we recommended give us a much better understating of the pilots' performance in those environments that we have not operated in before," Martin said. "It will further our understanding of the aviation physiology of operating in that environment." Air Force leaders remain steadfast that the F-22 is a fully combat capable aircraft and they have every confidence in its current and future performance. "Since September of last year we've flown over 10,000 sorties," said Maj. Gen. Charles Lyon, Air Combat Command Director of Operations. "We've had a 99.9 percent effective flying rate relative to physiological incidents, but that is not good enough. We will not rest; we will not stop; we will not end this journey we are on until we carry that 99 percent decimal point to the farthest right that we can." The Air Force is well into the implementation phase of the recommendations from the SAB team and continues to aggressively pursue the root cause of these unexplained incidents, he said. "Let there be no doubt that safety is paramount to the men and women who operate (the F-22) and the commander's who command them," Lyon said. "When we wear this uniform there is risk, there is risk inherent in aviation and risk inherently in conducting military operations. Pilot safety has and always will remain a priority for ACC, Lyon added. "We have taken a 9-1-1 call approach" Lyon said. "We have instructed and talked to our members in the field; whenever you get any indication that something may not be right, knock it off, the flying equivalent of calling 9-1-1 and terminate the flight. All eyes are focused on you and the safe recovery of your aircraft." When a physiological event occurs, the pilot is met by a medical team to care for the pilot and take additional tests and send the tests to the lab, and so far nothing remarkable has come back from the lab tests we've analyzed, he said. "When it comes to safety, no one second guesses the pilot," Lyon said. The F-22 is a fifth generation fighter and one that is needed for the United States to establish air superiority in today's and tomorrow's conflict's, said Maj. Gen. Noel "Tom" Jones, Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans and Requirements. "This aircraft is the world's most advanced aircraft and does air superiority mission unlike any other aircraft in the world," Jones said. "This is the leading edge of technology, and if our nation needs a capability to enter contested airspace to deal with air forces that are trying to deny our forces the ability to maneuver without prejudice on the ground; it will be the F-22 that takes on that mission." http://www.military.com/news/article/air-force-news/af-scientific-board-says-f22-pilot- safety-a-priority.html Back to Top Prosecutors want JetBlue captain held without bond AMARILLO, Texas (AP) - A JetBlue Airways captain charged with disrupting a Las Vegas- bound flight after he left the cockpit screaming about religion and terrorists should remain in federal custody without bond, prosecutors told a judge Monday. Clayton Osbon smiled at his wife and JetBlue employees who watched his first federal court appearance from the gallery, but did not speak other than to tell the judge he understood his rights and the charges against him. Osbon, 49, was not asked to enter a plea during the 10-minute hearing. U.S. Magistrate Judge Clinton E. Averitte is expected to rule on the bond issue at a detention hearing scheduled for Thursday. Osbon has remained in Amarillo since the plane he was piloting last Tuesday was forced to make an emergency landing there following his bizarre unraveling on Flight 191. Passengers wrestled Osbon to the ground after witnesses said he ran through the cabin yelling about Jesus and al-Qaida, and then restrained him with seat belt extenders. Read more: http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Prosecutors-want-JetBlue-captain- held-without-bond-3452782.php#ixzz1qyyucIZf Back to Top Back to Top All Libyan Air Carriers Banned From Flying Into European Union (RTTNews) - The European Union has banned all air carriers licensed in Libya from flying into its territory until at least November 22. On Tuesday, the European Commission adopted the 19th update of the European list of air carriers which are for safety reasons subject to an operating ban or operational restrictions within the European Union. Conviasa, an air carrier certified in Venezuela, was added to the EU "air safety list" due to safety concerns arising from accidents and the results of ramp checks at EU airports. Safety performance of two other Venezuelan air carriers, Estellar Latinoamerica and Aerotuy, was also reviewed in depth. They remain subject to increased monitoring. Following constructive consultations, Libyan authorities decided to adopt strong measures applicable to all air carriers licensed in Libya, Serious concerns were identified regarding the safety oversight of air carriers licensed in Libya. Hence, intense consultations were held with the Libyan civil aviation authorities and the Libyan Transport Minister. As a result, the European Commission, with the full support of the Air Safety Committee, considered that inclusion of Libyan air carriers in the EU air safety list was not necessary. Nonetheless, implementation of the measures decided by the Libyan authorities remains subject to close monitoring. The following air carriers were added to the European air safety list: Jet Congo Airways (DR Congo); Punto Azul (Equatorial Guinea); TransNusa Aviation Mandiri, Enggang Air Service, Surya Air, Ersa Eastern Aviation and Matthew Air Nusantara (Indonesia); Mauritania Airlines (Mauritania); Aero Equipment Aviation Inc, AirAsia Philippines, Certeza Infosys Corp., Mid-Sea Express, Southern Air Flight Services, NorthSky Air Inc., and Island Helicopter Services (the Philippines.) The Commission recognized the efforts of the safety oversight authorities of Albania, Aruba, Indonesia, Libya, Pakistan and Russia to reform their civil aviation system and notably to improve safety to guarantee that international safety standards are effectively and consistently applied. The updated European air safety list includes all carriers certified in 21 countries, accounting for 279 known air carriers, whose operations are fully banned in the European Union. They are: Afghanistan, Angola, Benin, Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon (with the exception of three carriers which operate under restrictions and conditions), Indonesia (with the exception of six carriers), Kazakhstan (with the exception of one carrier which operates under restrictions and conditions), Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Mauritania, Mozambique, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Sao Tome and Principe, Sudan, Swaziland and Zambia. The list also includes four individual carriers: Blue Wing Airlines from Surinam, Meridian Airways from Ghana, Rollins Air from Honduras and Silverback Cargo Freighters from Rwanda. Additionally, the list includes 11 air carriers which are subject to operational restrictions and allowed to operate into the EU under strict conditions: Air Astana from Kazakhstan, Air Koryo from North Korea, Airlift International from Ghana, Air Service Comores, Afrijet, Gabon Airlines and SN2AG from Gabon, Iran Air, TAAG Angolan Airlines, Air Madagascar and Jordan Aviation. Back to Top Wife of 81-year-old pilot lands twin-engine plane in Wis. after he suffers medical emergency STURGEON BAY, Wis. (AP) - An 80-year-old woman was able to successfully land a twin-engine airplane in northeastern Wisconsin after her husband became unconscious at the controls and died. Door County Sheriff Terry Vogel says the dispatch center was told just after 5 p.m. Monday that a Cessna about 6 miles south of Sturgeon Bay had declared an emergency. The pilot, an 81-year-old man from the Sturgeon Bay area, had suffered a medical emergency and was unconscious. His wife, who was the passenger, was flying the plane. A certified pilot was able to fly alongside the plane and coach the wife. Just after 6 p.m., her right engine ran out of fuel and lost power. She was able to land at Door County Cherryland Airport. The wife suffered minor injuries. Her husband was pronounced dead. Back to Top WFP Promotes Aviation Safety Organizing Safety Awareness Campaign Dubai-UAE April 22 - 26 2012 The United Nations World Food Programme the world's Largest Humanitarian Organization and UN's front line agency in the fight against global hunger is very pleased to inform you that we are organizing within the RASG-MID framework a Safety Awareness Campaign with great support of UAE GCAA and in close coordination with ICAO, IFALPA, with other support partners such as Boeing and GCC COSCAP. The Safety Awareness Campaign will be taking place in Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel and Towers , Dubai- UAE, April 22nd - 26th 2012. The campaign is part of WFP Aviation Safety annual plan and endeavourers to promote aviation safety worldwide. We are entrusted to provide the utmost possible support to all WFP service providers and the aviation industry in general and to ensure the highest benefits exposure, the safety Awareness campaign will be FREE OF CHARGE to attend. The Safety Awareness Campaign will include essential components that are supported by ICAO and their strategic objectives in the implementation of safety and threat management across all safety-related disciplines and staff members in all States. The Safety Awareness Campaign agenda is put to address as many vital safety factors and principles as possible: 22 - 26 April 2011 SMS Course A: * Full Introduction to ICAO Safety Management System Course (0830-1630) 23rd April 2011 Full day session: Perspectives on Regional safety concerns: (0830 - 1730)(please see attached Agenda) 24th April 2011 Workshop A: * State Safety Program (SSP) and Safety Mangement System (SMS) Implementation workshop (0900-1600) Workshop B: * Exploring Threat and Error Managment (TEM) in the Air Trafice Control Worl (0900-1600) 25th April 2011 Workshop A: * State Safety Program (SSP) and Safety Mangement System (SMS) Implementation workshop (0900-1600) Workshop B: * Safety reporting system ( the need to have the State in the loop (0900-1600) Workshop C: * Safety Managment System (SMS) Interface Aspects in an Airport Enviroment (0900 - 1600) 26th April 2011 Workshop A: * Stay Alert- Applying Fatigue Risk management system (FRSM) in a large scale in the Mega-Carriers (0900-1600) Workshop B: * Safety reporting system ( the need to have the State in the loop ) (0900-1600) Workshop C: * State Safety Program (SSP) and Safety Mangement System (SMS) Implementation worshop (0900 - 1600) For ICAO SMS Course 22-26 April ; Note 01: ICAO requires all 4 days course attendance and exam passing grade to be awarded a successful completion of the ICAO SMS course certificate. Note 02: Please fill the Registration form for the related event and send it to sharjah.asu@wfp.org Please find attached the Registration Form. Thank you and hope to see you with us. *********** Back to Top 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 INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF AIR SAFETY INVESTIGATORS 2012 The ISASI Rudolf Kapustin Memorial Scholarship (In memorial to all ISASI members who have died) Purpose: To encourage and assist college-level students interested in the field of aviation safety and aircraft occurrence investigation. Funding: The ISASI Rudolf Kapustin Memorial Scholarship fund will be established through donations and will provide an annual allocation of funds for the scholarship if funds are available. Eligibility: Applicants must be enrolled as 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. Administration of the Fund: The President of ISASI will appoint a two person committee to be executors and administrators of the fund. The ISASI Treasurer will oversee all expenditures. The Scholarship Fund Committee will check that the education program is at a recognized school and applicable to the aims of the Society, assess the applications and determine the most suitable candidate. Donors and recipients will be advised if donations are made in honor of a particular individual. Annual Scholarship: Funded 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. In addition, the following are offered to the winner(s) of the scholarship. 1. A one year membership to ISASI 2. The Southern California Safety Institute (SCSI) offers tuition-free attendance to ANY regularly scheduled SCSI course to the winner of the ISASI Scholarship. This includes the two-week Aircraft Accident Investigator course or any other investigation courses. Travel to/from the course and accommodations are not included. More information at http://www.scsi-inc.com/ 3. The Transportation Safety Institute offers a tuition free course for the winner of the Scholarship. Travel to/from the course and accommodations are not included. More information is available at http://www.tsi.dot.gov/ 4. The Cranfield University Safety and Accident Investigation Centre offers tuition-free attendance at its 5-day Accident Investigation course which runs as part of its Masters Degree program at the Cranfield campus, 50 miles north of London, UK. Travel to/from the course and accommodation are not included. Further information is available from www.csaic.net/ Application requirements: 1.A full time student who meets the Eligibility requirement stated above and has been enrolled for a duration of one year 2. The student is to submit a 1000 (+/- 10%) word paper in English addressing "the challenges for air safety investigators" 3. The paper is to be the students own work and must be countersigned by the student's tutor/academic supervisor as authentic, original work 4. The papers will be judged on their content, original thinking, logic and clarity of expression 5. The student must complete the application form with their paper by April 15, 2012 and submit it to ISASI by mail, fax, or email to isasi@erols.com. ISASI contact information - Ann Schull, International Office Manager 107 E. Holly Avenue, Suite #11 Sterling, VA 20164 703 430 9668 (Main) 703 430-4970 (FAX) Some advice to those applying: 1. Late submissions are not advisable 2. Handwritten applications are not advisable 3. Make sure to include your email address as indicated in 5/ above 4. For email submissions the essay should be in MS Word format; however, the application form may be in pdf, in order to facilitate scanning the completed and signed application. *********** Application Form 2012 INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF AIR SAFETY INVESTIGATORS The ISASI Rudolf Kapustin Memorial Scholarship (In memorial to all ISASI members who have died) Name: Date: Address: Course enrolled for: Year /Subjects Studied: Academic Institute: Address: Email: Telephone number: Student Signature:_____________________________________________________________ Tutor/Academic Supervisor title and signature:________________________________________ 1000 Word Paper ""the challenges for air safety investigators" NOTE: Students who wish to apply for the scholarship should visit www.isasi.org or send email to isasi@erols.com. The ISASI office telephone number is 1-703-430-9668. Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP, FRAeS, FISASI CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC