Flight Safety Information May 1, 2012 - No. 087 In This Issue Annual Aviation Statistics For 2011 Released Air Force leader: Some pilots want to avoid F-22 Colombian Air Force helicopter crashes, killing 13 Authorities fear al-Qaeda terror attack on US-bound aircraft PRISM CERTIFICATION CONSULTANTS Fixing Aviation Safety Oversight Shortcomings Should be Israel's Priority... Qatar says to spend $2 bn more on new airport NTSB's Hersman Addresses Aviation Safety At AAAE Conference "A Practical Approach To Quality Assurance & Quality Auditing" Course Annual Aviation Statistics For 2011 Released: No Fatalities on U.S. Airlines or Commuters, General Aviation Fatal Accidents Increased ________________________________________ The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) today released preliminary aviation accident statistics showing a slight overall increase in U.S. civil aviation accidents for 2011 from the previous year. Marked increases were seen in accidents involving on-demand Part 135 operations. However, for the second year in a row, there were no fatal accidents involving scheduled Part 121 air carriers or scheduled Part 135 commuter operations. U.S. civil aviation accidents rose from 1,500 in 2010 to 1,550 in 2011. Fatalities also increased, from 469 in 2010 to 485 in 2011. All of the fatalities were in general aviation and on-demand Part 135 operations (charter, air taxi, air tour, and air medical operations). Twenty-eight accidents were recorded for scheduled Part 121 air carriers and four accidents were recorded for scheduled Part 135 commuter operations. Total accidents involving on-demand Part 135 operations climbed from 31 in 2010 to 50 in 2011, while fatal accidents rose from 6 to 16 and fatalities rose from 17 to 41. The accident rate per 100,000 flight hours for on-demand Part 135 operations experienced the most dramatic rate increase among major U.S. civil aviation segments, rising from 1.00 in 2010 to 1.50 in 2011. General aviation accidents, which continue to account for the greatest number of civil aviation accidents, reversed their downward trend over the previous two years increasing from 1,439 in 2010 to 1,466 in 2011. However, there were 263 fatal general aviation accidents in 2011, down from 268 in 2010. General aviation fatalities declined from 454 in 2010 to 444 in 2011. While the number of general aviation flight hours increased in 2011, the accident rate per flight hours decreased from 6.63 in 2010 to 6.51 in 2011. The 2011 statistical tables showing accidents, fatalities, and accident rates for major segments of U.S. civil aviation are found at http://www.ntsb.gov/data/aviation_stats_2012.html. Back to Top Air Force leader: Some pilots want to avoid F-22 An Air Force F-22 Raptor displays it's weapons bays as it goes through maneuvers during a demonstration at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Va., Monday, April 30, 2012. Air Force Gen. Mike Hostage, commander of Air Combat Command, said Monday that the F-22 Raptor is vital to the Air Force and that the service continues to search what is causing hypoxia like symptoms in some pilots. HAMPTON, Va. - Some of the nation's 200 F-22 Raptor pilots want to be moved into other jobs because of oxygen-deficit problems with the stealth fighter, an Air Force leader said Monday. Gen. Mike Hostage, commander of Air Combat Command at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Va., told reporters that a "very small" number of pilots have asked not to fly the fifth-generation fighter jets or to be reassigned. "Obviously it's a very sensitive thing because we are trying to ensure that the community fully understands all that we're doing to try to get to a solution," Hostage said. He did not provide exact figures on the number of pilots who have asked to not fly the jets and said each pilot's request would be handled individually. Air Force officials believe the airplane is safe to fly - Hostage noted that he'll fly soon because he won't ask a pilot to do something that he will not. "I'm going to check out and fly the airplane so I can understand exactly what it is they're dealing with. The day we figure out what the problem is I will stop flying (the plane) because we don't have enough sorties for all of our combat aviators to get as much training as they need," he said. The nation's F-22 fighter jets were grounded for four months last year after pilots complained of experiencing a lack of oxygen that can cause dizziness and blackouts. Air Force officials said they have taken steps against the problem, but still haven't pinpointed what's causing the hypoxia-like symptoms. Hypoxia is when the body doesn't receive enough oxygen. An Air Force panel is meeting weekly to investigate the problem and has enlisted the help of NASA and the Navy to learn more about what happens to the body under extreme conditions, among other things. Hostage spoke during a media day event at the base, highlighting the nation's most advanced fighter plane. After being introduced in 2005, the last of nearly 190 jets are scheduled to be delivered to the Air Force this week. At a price tag of $143 million each, the Raptor has come under some criticism for not being used in place of older and less-sophisticated jets in Iraq or Afghanistan. Hostage said the plane is critical to maintaining the nation's air superiority in the future and that he wishes he had more of the jets at his disposal. On Monday, Iran's defense minister said that reports of the stealth fighter jet being deployed to the United Arab Emirates would damage regional security, the semiofficial ISNA news agency reported. Without saying which country in the region the F-22s were deployed to - or which base or bases they were deployed from - Hostage said there's a reason other nations take note of the plane's movements. "People pay attention to where this airplane goes and what it does because, regardless of the furor in our press and public about the suitability or the safety of the airplane, they're very worried about its capability. That, to me, means we're on the right path with this capability," he said. The planes are stationed at five other bases besides Virginia: Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska; Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii; Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.; Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.; and Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501363_162-57424710/air-force-leader-some-pilots-want-to-avoid-f-22/ Back to Top Colombian Air Force helicopter crashes, killing 13 (CNN) -- A helicopter carrying members of the Colombian Air Force and police crashed in the north of the Latin American nation on Monday, killing all 13 people on board. The crash took place at 4:30 p.m. local time (5:30 p.m. ET) in the municipality of Sabanagrande, near Colombia's Caribbean coast, according to a statement from the Colombian Air Force. Seven of the dead were from the air force and six were from the police. "We regret the accident of the Air Force helicopter crash," President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia said in a message posted on his official twitter account. "Our condolences to the families of the patriotic heroes who died in this accident." In an amateur video broadcast on the local Caracol TV, dozens of people were shown standing near the crash site, which was covered with smoke and flames. The Colombian Air Force said that the Bell 212 helicopter was on a transportation mission from Barranquilla to Caucasia when it went down. An inspection team was sent to the site to work on the investigation and determine what may have caused the crash. Back to Top Authorities fear al-Qaeda terror attack on US-bound aircraft American and European authorities have said that they fear an al-Qaeda terror attack on US-bound aircraft with explosives hidden inside the bodies of terrorists, as the first death anniversary of Osama bin laden looms. Security at several airports in the UK and at many other airports in Europe and Middle East has been beefed up, with special focus on US carriers, ABC News reports. Additional federal air marshals have also been shifted overseas in advance of the death anniversary. US officials have said, however, that there is no credible information of an impending attack. Medical experts have said that there is plenty of scope for planting a bomb in the stomach area of the body surgically. In a released statement, Department of Homeland Security spokesman Peter Boogaard said, "We have no indication of any specific, credible threats or plots against the US tied to the one-year anniversary of bin Laden's death." Since last year, US and European authorities have warned that al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), al-Qaeda's Yemeni affiliate, and its master bomb-maker, Ibrahim al-Asiri, have been designing body bombs with no metal parts to get clearance from airport security. But earlier on Monday, White House counter-terrorism advisor John Brennan called the al-Qaeda group in Yemen as the greatest threat to the United States. "AQAP continues to be al-Qaeda 's most active affiliate, and it continues to seek the opportunity to strike our homeland," Brennan said during a speech at the Woodrow Wilson International Center in Washington. http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report_authorities-fear-al-qaeda-terror-attack-on-us-bound-aircraft_1683046 Back to Top Back to Top Fixing Aviation Safety Oversight Shortcomings Should be Israel's Priority The FINANCIAL -- The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called on Israeli lawmakers to move forward quickly with urgent legislative work to bring Israel's safety oversight in line with established global standards. According to IATA, in December 2008 the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) downgraded Israel to Category 2 in its International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA). The IASA program focuses on a country's ability to adhere to international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance established by the United Nation's technical agency for aviation, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Category 2 indicates a deficiency. While in Category 2, no additional services from Israel to the US can be established. Currently some 25 countries are on the Category 2 list. Among those, countries with service to the US at the time of assessment include Bangladesh, Cote D'Ivoire Curacao, Ghana, Guyana, Indonesia, Israel, Montenegro, Nauru, Philippines, Serbia, Sint Maarten, and Ukraine . "The government's intention to sign an open skies agreement with the European Union makes Israel's return to IASA Category 1 urgent," said Thomas Windmuller, IATA's Senior Vice President for Member and Government Relations in meetings with local airline representatives and Eliezer Sckedi, El AL's CEO. "Opening markets to competition is an important and positive step in developing the aviation market in Israel. But it is imperative that Israel's carriers are able to compete on a level playing field. For Israel's airlines, open skies while in IASA Category Two, is like being sent into the boxing ring with one hand tied behind their backs. We are approaching three and half years since Israel was downgraded to Category Two. During that time, Israel's carriers have been at a competitive disadvantage in the US market. That disadvantage will grow with intensified competition from Europe. A sense of urgency is needed among Israeli lawmakers to close the gaps and put Israel's aviation industry on an equal footing with its competitors," said Windmuller. IATA noted that the shortcomings identified by the FAA's IASA audit can only be fixed by the Government of Israel. "Safety is our top priority. El Al, Arkia, Israir and CAL are IATA members. As such, they are on the registry of the IATA Operational Safety Audit showing that they have met the highest international standards of safety. However, Israeli carriers that are unable to compete on a level playing field so long as the Government of Israel fails to rectify the shortcomings identified in the IASA audit. Fixing the legislative shortcomings affecting safety oversight should be Israel's highest aviation priority today. And I am confident that, with the right political will and resolve, these issues can be closed in time to ensure that Israel's carriers can meet the competitive challenges that open skies will bring," said Windmuller. http://finchannel.com/news_flash/Travel_Biz_News/108348_Fixing_Aviation_Safety_Oversight_Shortcomings_Should_be_Israel%E2%80%99s_Priority/ Back to Top Qatar says to spend $2 bn more on new airport DUBAI May 1 (Reuters) - Qatar will spend an additional $2 billion on its new international aiport at Doha to accommodate aggressive expansion by its airline, a top government official said on Tuesday. "The ultimate phase of the airport is estimated to cost another $2 billion over the $15.5 billion," Akbar al Baker, member of the steering committee for the airport's development and chief executive of Qatar Airways, told reporters at a travel fair in Dubai. He said the original cost of the airport, which is scheduled to open in December, was $14.5 billion, which had risen to $15.5 billion to cover an increase in passenger numbers. The tendering process is underway for the new expansion, he said. The airport is being developed in three phases to be completed by 2015. Qatar Airways, which plans to fly to 170 destinations over the next three years, will see its fleet size exceed 120 aircraft this year, Baker said. The airline continues to grapple with high fuel prices despite hedging as fuel accounts for some 41 percent of its costs, he said. The airline has hedged its fuel upto 2015. He said Qatar Airways did not need acquisitions to increase its aircraft numbers or the frequency of its services as it could sustain its growth. "We will get into acquisition of airlines if they are well run and have shortage of equity," he said, declining to comment on whether any airlines had been identified. Qatar's government has allocated 40 percent of its budget between now and 2016 to infrastructure projects, including $5.5 billion for a deepwater seaport, $20 billion for roads and $1 billion for a transport corridor in the capital, Doha. (Reporting By Stanley Carvalho, Editing by Sitaraman Shankar) Back to Top NTSB's Hersman Addresses Aviation Safety At AAAE Conference National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Deborah Hersman told AAAE annual conference delegates Monday that professionalism and preparation are critical to airport safety. Pointing to the safety board's release last week of preliminary accident statistics for 2011, Hersman noted that overall civil aviation accidents increased over 2010. Airports know the importance of being prepared for the possibility of an accident, she said, adding, "That is why taking advantage of AAAE training and accreditation programs is so important to maintaining professionalism." She added that AAAE "is doing a great job" on training, which encompasses both traditional and web-based products. Because an aircraft accident could happen at any airport, Hersman advised delegates to maintain and expand their professional involvement in AAAE by taking advantage of the association's training opportunities; maintain relationships with peers in the industry-"Don't wait, think ahead and ask for help"; and "Know that you have to be nimble and flexible in the event of an accident." http://www.aviationnews.net/?do=headline&news_ID=204854 Back to Top Beyond Risk Management Ltd. in conjunction withCurt Lewis & Associates LLC are pleased to host "A Practical Approach to Quality Assurance and Auditing" a proven* course designed for the aviation industry. One of the cornerstones of a functioning Safety Management System is Quality Assurance. You can get ahead of the curve and save time and money by learning the potential pitfalls and challenges associated to its implementation. If you already have a functioning QA or Auditing system you know that best practices require you to continuously search for new methods. To better prepare you and your organization to meet these challenges we are pleased to bring to you the Canadian 705 experience of regulated Safety Management Systems and Quality Assurance and Auditing. Location - Calgary, Canada Overview - Improve processes in any or all departments of your organization by learning and applying the fundamentals of a Practical Quality Assurance Program within your organization. Get past the barriers of independent departments to an integrated system. This exclusive two-day course gives you both the understanding and the tools to assist you in preparing for change in your organization. Who should attend -Any individuals who will be actively involved in the organization's Safety Management System (safety program). Any individual who will be actively involved in quality within the organization. Individuals with previous experience and those with no knowledge in quality or in auditing will find this course useful for the formation or expansion of quality programs within their organizations. Important Details - Although this course is structured to exceed the requirements of a Quality Assurance and Auditing program within SMS in aviation the content is global in nature, participants from other nations and industries will find the material both useful and beneficial. What you get - Participants will receive a consolidated reference binder of class material as well as an electronic version of forms and guidance material to assist in setting a comprehensive Quality Assurance and Auditing program within their organization. Upon successful completion of the course a certificate will be issued. Subjects that will be reviewed are: *History of Quality Assurance *Quality Assurance and Auditing Definitions *System Requirements *Quality Assurance & Auditing Tools *Rules, Laws, and Expectations *Best Practices *Putting Theory into Practice *Conclusion NOTE: You will understand how to gather and graph data in meaningful ways at the end of this course - a skill critical to statistical analysis and to quality assurance programming Logistics - Tea/coffee/juice/water will be provided in the classroom at all times, continental breakfast and lunch on both days is included Cost - $1,195.00 per person Canadian funds SPECIAL OFFER: When 3 people from one organization register for they may bring a 4th person as our guest to this session! (Save $1,195.00!) DISCOUNTS: Option 1 - When attending the preceding CAP - Corrective Action Plan Course (June 20, 2012) and this course there is a special discount - the two courses for $1,600.00 a $345.00 savings! To receive this discount enter the code "CAP2012" when registering for the Quality Assurance and Auditing Course, then register for the Corrective Action Plan Course and enter the discount code "QA2012." Option 2 - When attending the preceding Safety Management Systems Course (June 18 & 19, 2012) and this course there is a special discount - the two courses for $2,000.00 a $390.00 savings! To receive this discount enter the code "QA2012" when registering for the Safety Management Course, then register for the Quality Assurance course and enter the discount code "SMS2012." Option 3 - BEST SAVINGS - When attending this course and both the Corrective Action Plan Course & the Safety Management Systems Course (all three courses, five days) there is a bonus discount - the three courses for $2,500.00 a $540.00 savings! To receive this discount enter the code "ALL2012" when registering for the each of the courses. *all costs shown are exclusive of GST* Register on line at: http://www.regonline.ca/QAYYCJune2012 For further information or questions: email - Brendan@beyondriskmgmt.com Or call: Brendan Kapuscinski 403-804-9745 Facilitators - Captain Elaine Parker and Captain Wayne Walsh Hosted by Beyond Risk Management Ltd. - Seating Restricted for better workshop discussion - - Registration is limited - Register now - Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP, FRAeS, FISASI CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC