Flight Safety Information February 21, 2013 - No. 041 In This Issue Small jet crashes in Georgia; 5 dead NTSB LAUNCHES TEAM TO AVIATION ACCIDENT IN THOMSON GEORGIA Fighter jet makes emergency landing in Utah Boeing Heads To Washington To Propose 787 Battery Fix To FAA CHP Helicopter Helps Save Man From Mountain Lion PROS IOSA Audit Experts Russian leasing company inks US $2.56bn deal for 32 bombardier aircraft Missed flight connections at MIA blamed on understaffed border and customs officials International Accident Investigation Forum...Singapore, 23 - 25 April 2013 Graduate Research Survey Small jet crashes in Georgia; 5 dead THOMSON, Ga. (AP) - Five people were killed and two injured when a small jet crashed off the end of a runway in eastern Georgia, an official confirmed early Thursday. Thomson-McDuffie County Sheriff Logan Marshall said the jet crashed after 8 p.m. Wednesday. He said the two survivors were taken to area hospitals but did not have information on their conditions. He said the identities of those killed were being withheld pending notification of family members. The Hawker Beechcraft 390/Premier I en route from Nashville, Tenn., crashed around 8:30 p.m. at the Thomson-McDuffie County Airport, about 30 miles west of Augusta, Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said in an email. Seven people were aboard, she told The Associated Press in the email. She added that she had no immediate details about a possible cause. The Augusta Chronicle (http://bit.ly/WbvMGa) cited Assistant County Fire Chief Stephen Sewell as saying there were at least two survivors identified as a pilot and a passenger. But he provided no additional information about those aboard in that account. The newspaper said a brush fire flared near the crash scene, quoting witnesses who reported local power outages that prompted a utility to send workers to the site. A photograph posted on the newspaper's online site showed ambulances with lights flashing. The plane was on a flight from John Tune Airport in Nashville, Tenn., to the Thomson- McDuffie airport, Bergen said in her email, adding the aircraft is registered to a company based in Wilmington, Del. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/02/21/georgia-plane- crash/1934953/ ************ Status: Final Date: 20 FEB 2013 Time: 20:30 Type: Raytheon 390 Premier IA Operator: Pavilion Group LLC Registration: N777VG C/n / msn: RB-208 First flight: 2007 Engines: 2 Williams International FJ44-2A Crew: Fatalities: / Occupants: Passengers: Fatalities: / Occupants: Total: Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 7 Airplane damage: Destroyed Airplane fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Thomson-McDuffie County Airport, GA (United States of America) Phase: Landing (LDG) Nature: Executive Departure airport: Nashville-John C. Tune Airport, TN () (KJWN), United States of America Destination airport: Thomson-McDuffie County Airport, GA (KHQU), United States of America Narrative: A Raytheon 390 Premier 1A corporate jet, registered N777VG, was destroyed in a landing accident at homson-McDuffie County Airport, GA, USA. One passenger and the pilot survived. The remaining five occupants were reportedly killed. www.aviation-safety.net Back to Top NTSB LAUNCHES TEAM TO AVIATION ACCIDENT IN THOMSON GEORGIA WASHINGTON - The National Transportation Safety Board is launching a go-team to investigate yesterday's accident in Thomson, Georgia involving a Beech 390 that overran the runway during landing and crashed into the woods. Senior Aviation Investigator Ralph Hicks will serve as the Investigator-in- Charge. Board Member Robert Sumwalt is traveling with the team and will serve as the principal on-scene spokesman. Public Affairs Officer Terry Williams is also accompanying the team and can be reached at 202-557-1350. Follow us on twitter (@ntsb) for announcements related to the investigation. www.ntsb.gov Back to Top Fighter jet makes emergency landing in Utah SALT LAKE CITY - An Air Force fighter jet is grounded at a tiny Utah airport after making an emergency landing on one engine. Officials say the A-10 Thunderbolt was being flown from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Ariz., on Wednesday when one of the two engines failed and couldn't be restarted in mid-flight. The pilot landed at a rural air strip outside Price, Utah, about 120 miles short of his destination at Hill Air Force Base in Layton, Utah. Officials say maintenance crews from Hill are arriving to inspect the fighter jet. The Thunderbolt belongs to the 75th Fighter Squad at Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, Georgia. It was being flown to Utah for maintenance. Lt. Meredith Kirchoff of Moody Air Force Base says Thunderbolts can fly on one engine, but the pilot landed for safety reasons. http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/fighter-jet-makes-emergency-landing-in- utah/article_1f5badd0-7ba2-11e2-94a8-001a4bcf887a.html Back to Top Boeing Heads To Washington To Propose 787 Battery Fix To FAA A Boeing team led by Commercial Airplanes President Ray Conner is set to present details of its proposed near-term solution to the 787 battery issues to the FAA later this week, possibly as early as today. According to airline sources, Conner will present details of the manufacturer's revised battery system directly to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta in Washington . If the plans are accepted, then Boeing is understood to have provisional plans in place to begin flight testing the modified system immediately, and for fleet-wide retrofit action that would enable the first 787 to return to service as early as mid-March. However, given the high-profile nature of the battery probe, and the subsequent review of the FAA 's oversight in connection with the original certification of the 787, it is far from clear if the agency will even consider Boeing 's request until the NTSB has completed its investigation. The NTSB , and its Japanese counterpart, the Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB), are still evaluating the root cause of multiple battery failures in early January that prompted a worldwide grounding of the 787 on Jan. 16. Boeing , which revealed additional details of the aircraft's battery and related electrical system features on Feb. 20, declines to comment on the upcoming appeal to the FAA or on reported details of the proposed interim battery modification. Without identifying specifics, Boeing says that details published last weekend in a local newspaper contain "significant errors and speculation." The manufacturer adds it is "working tirelessly in cooperation with our customers and the appropriate regulatory and investigative authorities. Everyone is working to get to the answer as quickly as possible, and good progress is being made." Boeing 's bid for approval, which is based on developing a sturdy containment system and additional sensors, comes as investigators from the JTSB reveal that two cells in the second battery of the All Nippon Airways 787 that made an emergency landing at Takamatsu Airport on Jan. 16 were "swollen." Although the emergency was prompted by problems with the main battery, which was badly damaged by burning electrolyte, the signs of apparent degradation were found in the auxiliary power unit battery located in the aft electrical/electronic equipment bay. The JTSB says the APU battery was initially thought to be undamaged, but adds that subsequent tomographic scans revealed evidence of slight swelling. Officials, however, say that the probe remains focused on the causes of the original failure in the main battery . Airlines, meanwhile, continue to make contingency plans to cover for the continued grounding of the 787. United Airlines expects the aircraft to remain out of service through March 30, while Air India expresses hope that the 787 will be back in operation by early April. http://www.aviationweek.com Back to Top CHP Helicopter Helps Save Man From Mountain Lion PLACER COUNTY - The assignment that officers Monty Emery and David White received on Saturday is unlike anything they had ever experienced or expected as helicopter pilots with the California Highway Patrol. The officers were dispatched to help a hiker, David Nash of Rocklin, who was being stalked by a mountain lion on the Stevens Trail near Colfax. The man was not able to scare the lion off. It was blocking his path two miles from the trailhead, and the sun was setting. "You know, I shudder to think what would have happened if (Nash) wouldn't have had a cell phone...to call for help," White told FOX40. Thankfully, Stevens Trail is a very short flight from the CHP's Air Operations Unit at the Auburn Airport. Emery and White flew from there to Nash's location on the trail. They found him frantically waving a flashlight, with the lion standing twenty-to-thirty feet in front of him. But there was no suitable place to land the helicopter. "I'd never scared off a mountain lion before using a helicopter," said Emery. But he and White accomplished that very feat. "We actually had to come in quite low and close to Mr. Nash for the cat to finally take off and run up the mountain," explained White. "We were able to hover over top of Mr. Nash with a bright light which is our night sun spotlight. And we stayed over the top of him until he met up with deputies further up the trail." On Sunday, a state Fish and Wildlife warden went to the trail to put up warning signs. According to Fish and Wildlife, the lion aggressively approached the warden, and he fatally shot it. http://fox40.com/2013/02/20/chp-helicopter-helps-save-man-from-mountain- lion/#ixzz2LXXpiCDB Back to Top Back to Top Russian leasing company inks US $2.56bn deal for 32 bombardier aircraft MIRABEL, Quebec: Moscow-based national leasing company Ilyushin Finance (IFC) has signed here a purchase agreement to acquire Bombardier 32 CS300 aircraft and options for an additional 10 CS300 aircraft valued at approximately US $2.56 billion. The landmark transaction with Bombardier Aerospace is subject to approval by the company's shareholders. Based on the list price for the CS300 aircraft, a firm order from IFC for 32 aircraft would be valued at approximately US $2.56 billion US. Should IFC also exercise its 10 options, the contract would have a total value of approximately US $3.42 billion. Bombardier Commercial Aircraft President Mike Arcamone said, "The CSeries aircraft was tailor-made for operation in this vast region and has the potential to offer a step-change in air travel in Russia and throughout the Commonwealth of Independent States." (QNA) http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/latest-news/226494-russian-leasing-company-inks-us- 256bn-deal-for-32-bombardier-aircraft.html Back to Top Missed flight connections at MIA blamed on understaffed border and customs officials For a picture of the nation's border struggles, look at the long lines and understaffed international-passenger checkpoints at Miami International Airport. Up to 1,000 passengers in a single day have missed connecting flights at the airport - the busiest in the nation for international flights - because they're held up at the Customs and Border Protection facility. And the problem could get even worse next month because of looming federal budget cuts, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Wednesday after visiting the airport. "Everything we are trying to do here - the additional staffing, overtime, technology.... will come to a screeching halt," Napolitano said. "It means not adding Customs officers, we're going to be starting to furlough Customs officers," she said. "Not adding overtime to cover peak periods, but eliminating overtime." If Congress comes up with a deal to avoid the cuts - under the so-called sequester - the agency either needs to shift resources to properly staff its Miami facility or get more money to hire more officers. Absent a Congressional deal, however, Napolitano also warned that Transportation Security Administration officers might be furloughed as well, meaning travelers should arrive at busy airports like MIA an hour early and citizens re-entering the United States could wind up waiting twice as long to get back in the country. U.S. Rep. Joe Garcia, a Miami Democrat, toured the airport with Napolitano and said earlier that the situation at the airport encapsulates what's wrong with Congress as well as the entire immigration system. "We're having a big debate over fixing our borders in Mexico, but we can't even get a rich Argentinian businessman through Customs on time because we don't have the proper staffing," Garcia said before the press conference. Garcia noted that up to half of the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States overstayed their visas and probably flew into the country - they didn't cross the U.S.-Mexico border. "We have to focus on a broader solution," Garcia said. While he toured the airport with Napolitano and U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Garcia noted that half of the 72 booths at the international-passenger checkpoint were unstaffed on Wednesday. U.S. Rep. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Miami, joined the tour at the airport, but she slipped away before cameras caught her with the Democrats. U.S. Rep. Rep. Mario Diaz- Balart, also a Miami Republican, met Napolitano earlier Wednesday at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale but couldn't make the airport tour because he had engagements in the Naples area. Diaz-Balart called for more officers in South Florida. After touring the facilities Wednesday, Napolitano pointed out that the lines are better now than in the past. Almost as soon as the new $180 million facility opened in July, it was understaffed and plagued with long lines. Gov. Rick Scott wrote to Napolitano in September and again on Wednesday, asking for more Customs and Border Protection staff. He said the long lines and missed flights were bad for Florida's reputation and therefore its bottom line. "CBP has not been able to meet the necessary staffing numbers in the new facility. As a result, customers, often numbering well over 1,000 daily, and their baggage are misconnected and must be re-booked on later flights, many leaving the next day," Scott wrote. During one 30-day study in February 2012, nearly 5,000 American Airlines customers missed their connecting flights as a direct result of delays in CBP processing. Napolitano said she was able to provide a few more staff at peak times and that it helped alleviate some of the long lines. The airport's director, Jose Abreu, said wait times are down as are the incidence of missed flights. But up to 700 people daily can miss flights because they're held up in lines, waiting to be processed by border officers. To further shorten lines, Napolitano said, her agency would like to increase a pre- screening program for low-risk international travelers and hire more border officers in cooperation with local officials. Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez, who met with Napolitano and the congressional members, said he'd be willing to help out by pitching money generated at the airport. Wasserman Schultz, the Democratic National Committee chairwoman, said she and the other South Florida congressional members will try to pass legislation giving local governments the ability to help underwrite the costs of federal border officers. But, she said, the looming federal budget cuts need to be handled quickly. "Deep cuts to Customs and Border Protection operations will mean less staffing and even more frustrated passengers," she said. www.miamiherald.com/2013/02/20/3244748/missed-flight-connections-at- mia.html#storylink=cpy 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 (SAA) on 23 - 25 April 2013. The IAI Forum 2013 is co-organised by the SAA, and strongly supported by: - International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), - Flight Safety Foundation (FSF), - European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC), and - International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI). The IAI Forum 2013 aims 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 IAI Forum 2013 will also serve 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. The Inaugural IAI Forum was held on 21 - 23 April 2010 was attended by 149 government investigation officials and aviation safety professionals from 29 countries. Ms Nancy Graham, Director of ICAO Air Navigation Bureau, Ms Deborah Hersman, Chairman of US National Transportation Safety Board, and Capt. Kevin L. Hiatt, President and CEO of the FSF, have very kindly consented to attend the Second IAI Forum to each deliver a keynote speech. The Second IAI Forum will cover the following topics: - Developments in Accident Investigation * New ICAO Annex 19 on Safety Management and consequential amendments to other Annexes, in particular to Annex 13 * ICAO USOAP; Corrective Action Plan and the challenges in meeting them * Upgrading of ICAO Circular 285 on Guidance on Assistance to Aircraft Accident Victims and Their Families to Document 9973 and its impact to accident investigation agencies - Updates from AIG Communities * 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 - Protection of Safety Information * Outcome of the ICAO Safety Information Protection Task Force - Management & operational challenges/lessons learnt from recent accidents * AF447 * Recent helicopter crash in London, and * BN-2 aircraft accident in high mountainous - Investigators' training and maintaining competency in a safe aviation climate - Litigation and Criminalisation relating to Accident Investigation Registration for the IAI Forum 2013 is now opened via this website (http://www.amiando.com/IAIForum2013.html). Participants are encouraged to register before 15 March 2013. Administration - The IAI Forum will be held at the Singapore Aviation Academy (SAA). Free Wifi is available at SAA. - There is no registration fee for the IAI Forum. Participants will need to bear their own travelling, visa application (if applicable) and accommodation costs. Please register for the IAI Forum 2013 by 15 Mar 2013. - You may refer to the Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority's website to check if the travelling documents you and your delegates are holding require you to apply entry visa and application instructions. - Lunch and tea breaks will be provided each day. Hotel Accommodation - Participants may wish to consider staying at the Changi Village Hotel or Grand Mercure Roxy Hotel which are providing special rates to SAA. Please download and fill in the appropriate (Changi Village Hotel/Grand Mercure Roxy Hotel) reservation form from the IAI Forum Registration website and email/fax directly to the respective hotel. * Changi Village Hotel is the nearest hotel from the IAI Forum venue, at about 8 minutes' walk from the SAA. Hotel rates include scheduled airport transfer, breakfast and internet access. * Grand Mercure Roxy Hotel is located about 18 km away. The hotel offers a shuttle service to bring their guests to and from SAA. The shuttle service departs the hotel at 7.30 am, and picks up their guest at about 5 pm. Hotel rates include scheduled airport transfer, shuttle service to and from SAA, breakfast and internet access. For assistance in registration and more information on the IAI Forum 2013, please contact Mr Steven Teo (Email: steven_teo@mot.gov.sg or Fax: +65- 6-542-2394). Back to Top Graduate Research Survey The survey topic is "air rage" or "passenger misconduct". The objective is to measure the frequency and severity of any incidents experienced by the survey participants. The link is: http://pilot-survey.com/ If you have any desire to preview or test the survey, you may select "None of the Above" as your answer to the first question on page #2. This will mark the record as delete-able for me. My Background: I go by Rob or Robert Chapin. I am a senior undergraduate student at Eastern Michigan University (EMU), studying Aviation Flight Technology in the EMU College of Technology. I will be graduating in April this year. I hold a Commercial Pilot certificate with ASEL, AMEL, and Instrument Airplane ratings. I have 313 total hours logged. I am currently working on the Certified Flight Instructor and the Aircraft Dispatcher certificates. I have also completed the Airline Transport Pilot knowledge test. Project Background: I have a research fellowship at EMU called Symposium Undergraduate Research Fellow. This means I am nominated by a faculty member (Dr. Tartalone) and sponsored by the program donors. Last year, I developed the air rage research topic, read all available literature from 2001 to 2012, outlined and created a mock-up of the survey, and then delivered a formal research proposal. In researching the literature, I could not find any past example of a survey of pilots on the topic of air rage. As far as I can determine, this will be a first. So while the survey is designed with many groups in mind, I am personally interested in getting as many pilot participants as possible for the survey. This year, I designed and built the survey website from scratch. There is no limit on the number of participants this way, and I will be able to monitor the website to make sure it doesn't get overwhelmed by visitors. My goals after the survey collection are to discuss the preliminary results at the EMU Undergraduate Symposium, and then pursue journal publication of a final paper about the incident rate and circumstances pertaining to air rage. Sincerely, ________________ Robert A. Chapin Curt Lewis