Flight Safety Information November 9, 2012 - No. 226 In This Issue Washington DC-bound plane escorted by military jet over passenger praying in aisle Air-Safety-Data Pact to Expand NTSB Role Suit: Faulty Boeing equipment caused 'violent' Indonesian plane crash Flight center ordered to reinstate whistle-blower pilot Air India to deploy 700 category-III pilots for fog days Arizona helicopter pilot cited for harassing Colorado elk PROS IOSA Audit Experts NCAA Unveils Aircraft Safety Monitoring System (Nigeria) Spanish Airline Said to Be in 'Fight for Survival' Aviation Safety Conference Reveals Shocking Evidence of Failing Government Oversight ISASI - 2013 - Call For Papers International Accident Investigation Forum...Singapore SeeAndAvoid.org Washington DC-bound plane escorted by military jet over passenger praying in aisle DENVER -(AP) A United Airlines flight from Denver has landed safely in Washington, D.C., after its crew reported an emergency because a passenger began praying in an aisle. KUSA-TV reports the plane was escorted by military jets after the crew declared the emergency. The plane landed Thursday at Dulles International Airport. The Denver TV station reports that the crew made the decision because a male passenger started praying in the middle of an aisle. United spokeswoman Megan McCarthy says a passenger wasn't following flight attendant instructions for landing. Back to Top Air-Safety-Data Pact to Expand NTSB Role . By ANDY PASZTOR (WSJ) Federal aviation regulators announced a pioneering agreement to share summaries of confidential air-safety data with government accident investigators, though the information will remain under tight restrictions and typically won't be made public. The arrangement, which had been expected, for the first time calls for the Federal Aviation Administration to give the National Transportation Safety Board access to information distilled from a wide range of government and industry databases, including voluntary incident reports. Such data traditionally has been strictly off limits for the NTSB. The move helps expand the NTSB's role as an air-safety watchdog, with the FAA saying the goal is to allow the independent safety board to determine whether an accident "is a unique event or an indication of systemic risks." NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman, who pushed hard for the agreement, said in a joint press release that "better information leads to better investigations." With U.S. airliner accident rates currently at record low levels, the safety board has been maneuvering to move beyond its decades-old role of investigating individual crashes. Now, Mr. Hersman and the other four presidentially appointed members of the safety board want to also identify and resolve broad aviation-safety concerns. The shift has been controversial, and it took nearly two years to resolve the turf battle with the FAA. Critics fear the safety board is transgressing on the role of regulators, and they worry that release of confidential safety data could chill future voluntary reports of errors by pilots, mechanics and air-traffic controllers. The groundbreaking agreement, also signed by industry and labor representatives, sets out procedures and safeguards for giving the safety board data after it submits a formal written request. No raw data will be provided, and the NTSB promised it won't unilaterally publicly disclose any of the affected data. Still, the move increases the safety board's clout and safety mandate by providing it with details of potential aviation hazards gleaned from routinely downloading flight-data recorders after airliner flights. Back to Top Suit: Faulty Boeing equipment caused 'violent' Indonesian plane crash The families of over a dozen people killed when a plane crashed into an Indonesian mountain last May are suing Chicago-based Boeing Corporation, alleging the airplane manufacturer manufactured and installed faulty safety equipment that played a role in the crash On May 9 the brand new SSJ-100 plane -- carrying the 14 deceased Indonesians who are named in the wrongful death suit -- crashed into Mount Salak near Jakarta after the "enhanced ground proximity warning system" malfunctioned, according to a suit filed Thursday in Cook County Circuit Court. The plane, which was built by Boeing and Russian plane builder Sukhoi Aircraft Co., was "defective and unreasonably dangerous" when it was cleared for flight, the six-count suit alleges. Specifically, the suit claims the ground-warning system did not notify pilots that the plane had veered off course and -- to more calamitous result -- did not activate when the plane approached the mountain. Furthermore, the suit alleges the controls were sold and distributed by Boeing without adequate inspection and testing. The suit, which seeks an unspecified amount of money, says Boeing's negligence and failure to "exercise care"contributed to the "violent crash." Boeing officials did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday. http://www.suntimes.com/business/16261634-420/suit-faulty-boeing-equipment-caused-violent-indonesian-plane-crash.html Back to Top Flight center ordered to reinstate whistle-blower pilot The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has ordered a flight center that employs pilots to reinstate a whistle-blower pilot and pay him more than $500,000 in back wages, benefits and damages, the agency said Wednesday. The Lake in the Hills, Ill.-based Northern Illinois Flight Center Inc. employs pilots to fly aircraft for the transportation of passengers and property, OSHA said in its announcement. OSHA said the center violated the whistle-blower protection provisions of the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century by illegally terminating an unidentified pilot after he contacted the Federal Aviation Administration to discuss violations of the pilot certification process. The pilot charged that he was asked to falsify an FAA pilot certification for a training flight he performed with another pilot. The pilot maintained all the required elements were not completed during the training flight, which was conducted in February 2009, so that he could not certify the form. He charged that in March 2009, flight center supervisors tried to coerce him into signing a backdated and incorrect form, and that he was terminated in April 2009 after contacting the FAA on the issue, with no reason stated. OSHA does not release the names of employees involved in whistle-blower complaints. OSHA Assistant Secretary of Labor David Michaels said in a statement: "Firing pilots for reporting inaccurate procedures to the FAA endangers other pilots, their passengers and the public at large. "The Labor Department has a responsibility to protect all employees, including those in the aviation industry, from retaliation for raising safety concerns and exercising these basic worker rights." A spokesman for the flight center had no comment In July, OSHA ordered an air carrier to reinstate and compensate a whistle-blower pilot who was allegedly discharged for raising safety concerns and for contacting the FAA about those concerns. http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20121108/NEWS07/121109900?tags=%7C70%7C75%7C305%7C339%7C80%7C303# Back to Top Air India to deploy 700 category-III pilots for fog days New Delhi, Nov 9 - Air India will deploy nearly 700 pilots trained in category-III instrument landing system to tackle fog in the coming winter months. "We'll deploy one of the largest pools of nearly 700 pilots trained for category III operations in the upcoming fog season," a senior Air India official told IANS. "A roster is being prepared to provide adequate numbers of category III-rated pilots to operate flights to and from all metros to New Delhi," said the official, who did not want to be named. CAT-III ILS can track runway visibility of up to 50 metres. The airline has also made provisions for providing a flight to and from New Delhi to Mumbai every hour from 7 a.m.-11 p.m. in winter. The official said that in the first phase of operation, aircrafts designated for the early morning departures from north India would be parked overnight on category III-enabled parking bays. Fog is expected to hit the national capital's Indira Gandhi International Airport from Dec 10 and the condition is likely to continue till February next year, the India Meteorological Department has told aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). DGCA chief Arun Mishra recently met representatives of airport operators, domestic and foreign airlines, meteorological department and security agencies to review fog preparedness at north Indian airports. Read more: http://india.nydailynews.com/business/da281765e7129a9ab93427a9ab1b6b2c/air-india-to-deploy-700-category-iii- pilots-for-fog-days#ixzz2BjOuHTOe Back to Top Arizona helicopter pilot cited for harassing Colorado elk Medical pilot made multiple low-altitude passes over heard near Grand Junction "The people that saw this told me that the pilot ruined their hunt. When I mentioned this to Park, he agreed that his actions may have done that." - Ty Smith, district wildlife officer in Grand Junction, about an incident in which a helicopter pilot was cited for harassing elk. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has cited an Arizona helicopter pilot for harassing elk near Grand Junction. Owen Park, 35, of Page, Ariz., a pilot for Classic Lifeguard Air Medical in Page, was assessed 10 penalty points against his hunting and fishing privileges, and a $200 fine for flying his ship Sept. 23 very low over an elk herd in a canyon near the headwaters of Granite Creek, southwest of Grand Junction. Park has paid his fine, according to a Parks and Wildlife news release. There was not a patient onboard at the time of the incident. Park and the helicopter's medical crew were returning to base in Arizona after delivering a patient to a hospital in Grand Junction when hunters witnessed the aircraft drop into the canyon and begin harassing elk. Park flew erratically, making several passes below the rim of the canyon and at treetop level, causing several groups of elk to scatter in multiple directions, according to witness reports. At times, it looked as though Park was attempting to herd the elk, the release states. "The people that saw this told me that the pilot ruined their hunt," said Ty Smith, district wildlife officer in Grand Junction, in the release. "When I mentioned this to Park, he agreed that his actions may have done that." Witnesses were able to record the helicopter's tail numbers, which allowed Smith to trace its owner to a company in Utah. With assistance from officers with Utah Wildlife Conservation, Smith made contact with M&J Leisure L.C. of Ogden, Utah, the company that owns Classic Lifeguard Air Medical. Company officials were cooperative with Smith, according to the release, and within 15 minutes Park called Smith directly. Park told Smith he did not intend to harass the elk and was just trying to get a better look at the herd. "We understand that observing wildlife from aircraft can provide great views, but it is very harmful to wildlife and can lead to a citation, or in some cases, the confiscation of an aircraft," Smith said in the release. "For anyone who thinks this is a good idea, they should think again, and consider the ethical and legal consequences of their actions." Parks and Wildlife officials regularly receive reports of low flying aircraft. In some cases spotters in aircraft will assist hunters in locating their game, which is illegal the release states. In addition, human-caused pressure from motorized vehicles and aircraft can lead to higher than normal mortality rates, according to the release, particularly during late winter months when game are surviving almost exclusively on fat reserves and during fawning seasons in early spring. "I believe that most pilots may not realize the extent of the harm they can cause when they fly low over wildlife," Smith said in the release. "We remind everyone that the best way to observe wildlife is to do it from the ground, from a safe distance, and with a good pair of binoculars or a camera." Members of the public who witness suspicious activity should contact their local district wildlife manager or call Operation Game Thief toll free at 877-265-6648. Callers may remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward if the information leads to a citation. http://www.craigdailypress.com/news/2012/nov/08/arizona-helicopter-pilot-cited-harassing-colorado-/ Back to Top Back to Top NCAA Unveils Aircraft Safety Monitoring System (Nigeria) Director General of NCAA, Dr Harold Demuren To have up-to-date checks on the safety of aircraft and how it is being operated by a pilot while in the air, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Thursday said it would soon unveil the Aircraft Flight Information System, which would provide every data on the aircraft in the airspace and also feed information of whatever is happening to the aircraft to installed system outside the aeroplane. This was disclosed by the Director General of NCAA, Dr Harold Demuren, during the inaugural flight of Med View Airlines at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. Demuren explained that each commercial aircraft in Nigeria must have the system installed and airlines have already started installing the equipment. "It will be installed on each aeroplane that is flying and we are going to have data control for all the airlines and also with NCAA. What is good is that we are improving our airlines to meet their obligations; we are improving them so that they have a very good dispatch. Even when they are flying and there is a problem they will know what the problem is," the Director General explained. He also said the concern about what happened to an aircraft, whether the aircraft had snags (technical problems) and others would be answered by the equipment which collects the needed data while the aircraft is airborne. "A lot of you are concerned during the last plane crash and needed answers to these questions: Was the airplane bad before the crash? Was there any snag on the plane? "Now it is going to be fully automated with sophisticated equipment on board. And what it is going to do is that it is going to be filing flight data recorders (DFR) every hour automatically while the aircraft is flying." It is not a question of saying we didn't see FDR. And then it has the capacity to record all exigencies, if there is any snag or engine failure it picks it immediately. "So whether the pilot reports such problems or not we will pick it up automatically. And then it has animation, you will exactly know how the aeroplane flies; that was what was missing in the last plane crash and there were too many insinuations and speculations. Now, it is going to be over and forever in Nigeria." On the high fares on domestic routes, he said the problem would soon be solved as new airlines are now being certified to start operation, although they must have to go through rigorous process before they are given Air Operating Certificate (AOC). "But now, we are getting other operators to come in. AOC certification is a tough business and it takes a long time to get it. Med- View has been on it for about 18 months and they had to fly their aeroplane for 50 hours without carrying passengers. They have flown 50 hours and 45 minutes and we are very happy they have finished, they are now happy coming on board. And like I said, we want to ensure zero accident, zero fatality." Demuren also disclosed that other airlines would also join the domestic market as Dana Air has finished demonstration flight and is waiting for certification. "They (Dana Air) flew 50 hours and about 30 minutes without passengers in their flight demonstration. I believe they are doing their compliance right now and where they are is in stage five and then we will be able to take it from there." http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/ncaa-unveils-aircraft-safety-monitoring-system/130124/ Back to Top Spanish Airline Said to Be in 'Fight for Survival' PARIS (NYT) - The parent company of Iberia, Spain's loss-making flag carrier, warned Friday that a deepening recession there and heightened competition from low-cost airlines had placed it in a "fight for survival" and announced a sweeping restructuring that will eliminate at least 4,500 jobs and cut capacity by 15 percent. The planned reductions, equivalent to more than 20 percent of the airline's work force, came as International Airlines Group - formed by the merger of Iberia with British Airways last year - reported a 24 percent drop in third-quarter net profit and forecast an operating loss of €120 million, or $150 million, for the full year. "Iberia is in a fight for survival and we will transform it to reduce its cost base so it can grow profitably in the future," Willie Walsh, the IAG chief executive, said in a statement. Iberia's unions were given a deadline of Jan. 31 to reach an agreement on the job cuts or face possibly deeper retrenchments. Labor unions have been bracing for major layoffs at Iberia for months as the grip of Spain's recession tightens and IAG has gradually shifted operation of many domestic and European flights to its low-cost subsidiary, Iberia Express. On Thursday, IAG, which owns 46 percent of Vueling, a rival Spanish low-cost carrier, made a €113 million bid for the rest of the airline, though it said it had no immediate plans to merge it with Iberia Express. "The company is burning €1.7 million every day," Rafael Sánchez-Lozano, Iberia's chief executive, said in a statement. "Iberia has to modernize and adapt to the new competitive environment, as its cost base is significantly higher than its main competitors in Spain and Latin America." IAG said Iberia's operating losses of €262 million for the first nine months of this year had all but wiped out a €286 million profit made by British Airways in the same period. The job cuts were the latest retrenchments for Europe's biggest airlines as they compete with leaner and nimbler rivals like Ryanair, easyJet and Air Berlin in Europe and with rapidly expanding Middle Eastern carriers like Emirates and Etihad on long- distance routes. Air France in June that it would eliminate more than 5,100 jobs, or 10 percent of its work force, by the end of next year as part of a €2 billion restructuring, while Lufthansa announced the elimination of 3,500 administrative jobs in May as it targets €1.5 billion in savings over the next three years. While airlines globally have managed to trim costs and improve operating margins over the past year, the economic slowdown that has accompanied the sovereign debt crisis continues to weigh heavily on European carriers. Last month, the International Air Transport Association predicted that European airlines would lose a combined $1.2 billion this year, while it forecast global industry profits of $4.1 billion. European losses are expected to shrink to $200 million in 2013, the I.A.T.A. said, while airline profits worldwide are predicted to rise to $7.5 billion. Back to Top Aviation Safety Conference Reveals Shocking Evidence of Failing Government VALETTA, Malta and LEIMUIDEN, the Netherlands, November 8, 2012 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers attending the 40th AEI (Aircraft Engineers International) Annual Congress in Valletta, Malta were presented with a staggering amount of evidence detailing safety lapses by both commercial operators and aviation regulators. Indeed delegates were also informed that recent ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) safety audit results revealed some shocking truths about the aviation industry. ICAO figures show an average rate of compliance with their regulations of around 60% whilst national aviation safety regulator manning levels have on average only attained 24% of their target levels. "A scandalous situation," says Fred Bruggeman, AEI's Secretary General. "These facts explain why regulatory authorities consistently fail to uncover, let alone correct, serious safety lapses." AEI have previously claimed that safety regulators fail to investigate serious safety lapses and Mr Bruggeman says "we now know why. It is not possible for industry regulators to oversee a safety-critical industry without being properly resourced." Delegates at congress were presented with evidence and advice on how to deal with the ever-increasing methods employed by commercial operators to avoid their safety responsibilities. Occurrence reporting and whistleblowing were also discussed as airlines, supported by regulators, wish to further deregulate the industry by making the commercial operator fully responsible for safety. This move towards self-regulation is apparently based upon an open and transparent safety reporting system. The evidence presented to congress, however, suggested that the aviation industry is not yet ready to take on such responsibility. Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers are responsible for certifying that an aircraft is in a condition for safe operation. They are licensed independently of the airlines by national aviation authorities rather than by the airlines themselves which should ensure maintenance activities are performed in the correct manner, to the highest standards and that safety is not compromised. The naming of licensed personnel with authority to release aircraft into service by signature is an accepted method of accountability that applies worldwide. It also reflects the fact that aircraft maintenance is an area of high potential danger and therefore critical to safe flight operations. Despite this, those same airlines pushing for self-regulation based upon a culture of open reporting and transparency are quite happy to terminate the employment of Licensed Aircraft Engineers raising safety issues. Colleagues who take their safety responsibilities seriously are often deemed by airlines to be a problem and all too often a simple logic prevails: shoot the messenger and you remove the problem. An unacceptable situation for AEI President Robert Alway: "Pressure on Aircraft Engineers to overlook safety issues has been steadily increasing as the priority for airlines shifts from safety to profit. Regulators need to do more to protect Aircraft Engineers who report safety problems. After all, their actions could well prevent an accident and that is most certainly in the public interest." Further detailed information can be found on the AEI website: http://www.airengineers.org SOURCE AEI (Aircraft Engineers) Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/08/4970225/aviation-safety-conference-reveals.html#storylink=cpy Back to Top INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF AIR SAFETY INVESTIGATORS ISASI 2013 44TH ANNUAL SEMINAR CALL FOR PAPERS "Preparing the Next Generation of Investigators" August 19 - 22, 2013 The Westin Bayshore, Vancouver, BC Canada ISASI, the world's premier organization for professional aircraft accident investigators and analysts, with individual and corporate members from 60 countries, announces the 44 th annual seminar will be held in Vancouver, BC, from August 19, 2013 through August 22, 2013. Papers are invited which address the theme of the seminar or timely matters of air safety. The seminar theme is "Preparing the Next Generation of Investigators" February 4, 2013 - Authors' who wish to present a paper should email an expression of interest to isasi2013@msn.com. March 4, 2013 - Deadline for submission of abstracts of the paper to isasi2013@msn.com. Please include a title, name(s), brief resume, affiliation and position(s).Please limit the abstract to 300 words. April 4, 2013- The Technical Program committee will make the final decision of the papers offered and notify authors. An Authors Guidelines for submission of papers will be included. July 19, 2013 - Deadline for submission of the final paper (email attachment of file that can be opened in MS Word) toisasi2013@msn.com. Back to Top International Accident Investigation Forum Singapore, 23 - 25 April 2013 The Air Accident Investigation Bureau of Singapore (AAIB) will be hosting the Second International Accident Investigation (IAI) Forum at the Singapore Aviation Academy on 23 - 25 April 2013. The IAI Forum aimed to bring together the world's top government investigation officials and experts to discuss issues relating to the organisation, infrastructure and management of accident investigation. It is open to investigation officials responsible for discharging their country's obligation under Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, regulatory officials and aviation safety professionals from the private sector. The Inaugural IAI Forum was held on 21 - 23 April 2010, with the strong support of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC), the International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI), the Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) and the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). It was attended by 149 government investigation officials and aviation safety professionals from 29 countries. The IAI Forum served as a platform for ICAO to inform, explain to and discuss with the safety investigation community regarding the developments and issues being pursued by ICAO. Encouraged by the success of the Inaugural IAI Forum, the AAIB has decided to make the IAI Forum a triennial event. Ms Nancy Graham, Director of ICAO Air Navigation Bureau, has very kindly consented to attend the Second IAI Forum to deliver a keynote speech. The Second IAI Forum will cover the following important topics, among others: * Development of a new ICAO Annex 19 on Safety Management * Outcome of the ICAO Safety Information Protection Task Force * Conclusions of the AIG Roundtable held in Singapore on 16 - 17 October 2012 and chaired by Mr Marcus Costa, Chief of the ICAO Accident Investigation Section For more information on the Second IAI Forum, please contact Mr Steven Teo (Fax: (65) 6542-2394 or Email: steven_teo@mot.gov.sg). Back to Top SeeAndAvoid.org General aviation pilots and military flight safety officers are using an interactive Web site created by the Air National Guard, and now hosted by the FAA, to help eliminate midair collisions and close calls. Each year, on average, there are 30 midair collisions and thousands of near midair collisions internationally, and the number of unreported close calls in the United States alone may be much higher, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The Air National Guard has created the http://seeandavoid.org web site portal to help make the skies safer for pilots and passengers. Adopted for use throughout the Defense Department in 2006, the SeeAndAvoid.org portal offers a centralized, credible Web site for civilian pilots and military safety officers. The site offers reciprocal information and education on airspace, visual identification, aircraft performance and mutual hazards to safe flight, with the ultimate goal of eliminating midair collisions and reducing close calls. The portal features an easy-to-use graphical interface that permits aviators to locate reported midair collisions and near midair collisions on a Google-driven map, and then directly link to the FAA or National Transportation Safety Board official report on the incident. General aviation pilots, by and large, use the Internet to get their most important flight planning information, such as weather, Notices to Airmen - known in the aviation world as NOTAMs -- and routing. The SeeAndAvoid portal provides key information for flight planning, as knowing where military operational flying areas are and how to avoid that airspace is crucial to a safe flight. For military safety officers, SeeAndAvoid.org provides the opportunity to create a Web-based midair-collision-avoidance educational and public-outreach program. The site integrates and links with related sites such as FAA Special Use Airspace, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association's Air Safety Foundation, and others to create a comprehensive online flight-safety community. The goal is to eliminate midair collisions and reduce close calls through continuous flight safety and proper flight planning. SeeAndAvoid.org allows users to find and link to all existing military mid-air collision-avoidance programs on a single Web site, while also enjoying new access to information from government agencies and military bases that previously did not have Web-based content. The web site is now hosted by the FAA and a free, readily available resource for all pilots across the country. By promoting information exchange between civilian pilots and the military flight safety community, SeeAndAvoid.org provides one-stop shopping to help all pilots safely share the skies. If there are any questions about seeandavoid.org - you call e-mail the Air National Guard Flight Safety Directorate at ngb.se.2@ang.af.mil Curt Lewis