Flight Safety Information June 18, 2013 - No. 121 In This Issue Paris EASA/FAA Conference Sees Calls For Greater Harmonization. New rules for aviation safety and incident investigation (Macau) FBI rushes to Newark airport after passenger says poison on plane. Sea-Tac contractors, Alaska Air fined for workplace safety violations. European Pilots Attack EU on Accident Prevention. Annual SMS Audit Results Released Boeing's new Dreamliner steps up big jet battle S. Korea kicks off bidding for US$7.3 bln fighter jet deal FAA Safety Briefing Wins Flight Safety Foundation's Publication Award The New Fastest Helicopter on Earth Can Fly at an Insane 300MPH Paris EASA/FAA Conference Sees Calls For Greater Harmonization PARIS AIR SHOW » 2013 Last week's EASA/FAA conference included a panel discussion on worldwide integration of air traffic management procedures with next-generation air traffic technology. June 17, 2013, 10:30 AM Will the aviation world ever be truly seamless? This was the question being asked at last week's annual EASA/FAA conference, held here in Paris. The goal seems as far away as ever with the U.S. and Europe struggling to fund ambitious new ATM systems. However, it was not missed on panelists that it is the developing world that might lead the way, as they have no legacy systems or personnel issues to deal with. Patrick Ky, who is executive director of the Sesar Joint Undertaking and will become EASA's executive director on September 1, chaired a panel discussion titled "Towards a Global & Integrated Aviation System." John Hamilton, Boeing v-p and former 737 chief project engineer, said, "I think harmonization is happening, although it's a bit stop-go on some things." He referred to the ICAO Block Upgrade plan: "For the first time now all countries could move forward and participate in modernizing the ATM system, allowing more flexible and efficient routes." He pointed out that the first RNP procedures were implemented around eight years ago in Alaska and now they are widespread in the U.S. and growing in number throughout the world. "The business case [for modernizing ATC] is very difficult to sell," said Anne Jany, Airbus head of the airworthiness technical directorate. "[Also] we need to look at the regulatory framework. We need to understand the hard law and the soft law and how they work together. We need to think end-to end, as the aircraft can't do it by itself." John Hickey, FAA deputy associate administrator for aviation safety, warned: "There is not a uniformity of safety levels. If we're not careful as we move forward with ATM we could further aggravate the differences in safety." He worries about "divergence rather than harmonization; it was an easier world in the 1990s when we dealt with the harmonization of design standards." With ATM modernization, Hickey observed, "Return on investment is a huge discussion going on in the U.S. right now. At the NextGen advisory committee operators said they will not invest in equipment unless they get return on investment." He also noted that the only aspect of the future ATM system that had been mandated so far was data links in Europe. The U.S. meanwhile has a timetable to implement ADS-B OUT by 2020, its only mandate, with Europe coming on board with ADS-B earlier. "We're just deciding what to do with ADS-B IN, too," he added, noting the implications if pilots are expected to self-separate from other aircraft. "But my biggest concern is Datacom, with different timetables and requirements; the Europeans are going to implement standards first and then we're going to go above the Europeans, which could be untenable for operators." Bullish as ever about the advantages of Sesar/NextGen technologies, Patrick Ky said, "We're still using 1950s technology with VHF comms. The ATN [Aeronautical Telecommunications Network] ICAO standard was adopted in the 1990s and is only just being implemented in Europe this year, so it takes 20 to 30 years to adopt an ICAO standard." He continued by asking, "Are we moving too fast?" This was prompted by Boeing v-p Hamilton's comment that, "We almost feel that we are ahead [with technology in aircraft] and should slow down a bit" to let the ground infrastructure catch up. "I can't tell you the number of operator CEOs who have said [to Boeing] that they send aircraft to the desert having not used some one or two million [worth of] equipment." A discussion ensued about "Best-equipped, best-served," which has been touted by some as a possible effective way to give operators payback for their investment in equipment. "We're contemplating the controversial policy of best-equipped, best-served," said the FAA's Hickey. "We have a [general] policy that policy has to be cost-beneficial [for end-users]." Sesar's Ky asked whether safety improvement could be used as a reason to mandate airspace advances. Hickey pointed out, "The flip-side of safety is with more precise flight paths we're going to [have] more and more aircraft closer together, which could result in a less safe environment. So we have to look out for unintended consequences." He also said that trying to introduce technology to improve ATC at the moment is proving difficult, with fiscal constraints in the U.S.(sequestration) and strikes in Europe. "We sometimes fall into the 'comfort zone' of dealing with just the major airlines," he added, "but in fact many [business aviation aircraft] actually have better equipment." So it is struggling airlines that may find it hardest to afford new equipment. The panel also discussed pilot training and quality. Hickey noted that, "There is growing concern about the potential that the complexity of the airplane has surpassed the capability of the pilot," and that pilot quality is not as it once was when most were ex-military and when it was a more attractive profession. "So the pilot is now seen as right on the border of minimum standards," he warned. "There are now incidents where you can't believe that pilots could behave that way, and if you bring more ATC advances and take the pilot away from doing any kind of work, how do you maintain [their skill set]?" Jany said that Airbus was spending a lot of time researching human factors and the risk of low situational awareness. Hickey summarized what needs to be done: "First, we have to be harmonized, but there is great consternation in mind as to how we get there. Second, we need to take a building-block approach; we can't do it all at once. Third, we need to train the pilots and controllers." http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/paris-air-show/2013-06-17/paris-easa/faa-conference-sees-calls- greater-harmonization Back to Top New rules for aviation safety and incident investigation (Macau) AACM has been organizing a number of promotional sessions since March 2013 The "Civil Aviation Accident, Incident Investigation and Aviation Safety Information Protection Law" which was passed by the Legislative Assembly in January this year will come into effect today. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Macau (AACM), the law's implementation means that the MSAR govern- ment will be held responsi-ble for the investigation of civi aviation accidents. The law is applicable for the following three scenarios: accidents and incidents that take place in Macau or in the airspace under Macau's jurisdiction; aircrafts registered in Macau or if a local air operator has an accident or incident in a foreign country and for the aviation safety data collection and handling system. When one of the above scenarios takes place the policy in place instructs that the operator, the aircraft owner, the captain and the airport or heliport are bound by their legal responsibilities to submit a compulsory report to the AACM. If an accident or serious incident happens, AACM will name an investigator-in-chief and appoint other members to form an investigation team. According to AACM, this investigator- in-chief will have independence and complete power. During the investigation process, AACM can request experts from the government or private entities from either local or overseas to participate in the investigation. If an accident or incident involves investigation by police authorities, the law indicates that the investigation by AACM and the investigation by those authorities will be carried out simultaneously but independently. Supporting this new law, the "Macau Confidential Aviation Reporting System (MACCARES)" will commence its operation today. This system collects safety information and identifies safety threats so that data can be analyzed and generated, and safety alerts can be issued out to prevent the occurrence of accidents and incidents. In accordance with MACCARES, any person who notices an occurrence or an act of non-compliance relating to aviation safety can complete the reporting form with the necessary information and then send it by post or email to the authority. AACM is charged to use the information gathered through MACCARES to produce statistical reports with anonymous data, published and shared with the industry so that each entity can learn from experience and make the necessary improvements. In the case of a report highlighting a situation that poses immediate threat to aviation safety, AACM will address the safety alert to the concerned operator. The authority has pointed out that the system works on a confidential and non- punitive principle and AACM will not penalize the operators or any person by using the information collected from this reporting system. In a press release issued yesterday, the AACM has pledged to continue to conduct sessions in Chinese and English for different categories of industry personnel to explain to them the law. They will also be explaining the objectives of MACCARES: how the industry can participate, how the information will be used and how the reporter will be protected by the confidential and non-punitive principles. http://www.macaudailytimes.com.mo/macau/43903-new-rules-for-aviation-safety-and-incident- investigation.html Back to Top FBI rushes to Newark airport after passenger says poison on plane NEWARK, New Jersey (Reuters) - A passenger who screamed that he had poison aboard a plane that was headed for New Jersey's Newark airport on Monday was taken into custody by FBI agents when the plane landed, law enforcement officials said. United Airlines Flight 116 was en route from Hong Kong to Newark Liberty International Airport when a passenger "became disruptive," the carrier said. "A passenger got up and started screaming something to the effect that there was poison" on board, said FBI Special Agent Luis Rodriguez. He said the passenger was taken into custody and transported to a local hospital for evaluation. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control "cleared the plane," Rodriguez said. He said witnesses were being interviewed by the FBI and Port Authority Police detectives. United spokeswoman Mary Clark said in a statement that the plane's "crew followed procedures and the flight landed safely and without incident just after 1:30 p.m. Authorities met the aircraft, and the 238 customers deplaned normally at the gate an hour after landing." Rodriguez declined to confirm media reports that the passenger, who was not publicly identified, claimed to have poisoned others. "I haven't received any type of information that anybody has gotten sick on that flight," Rodriguez said, adding that the passenger would be questioned by authorities. No further details about the passenger were available, he said. The flight had originated in Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam, and made a scheduled stop in Hong Kong before continuing on to Newark, as planned. Back to Top Sea-Tac contractors, Alaska Air fined for workplace safety violations SEATTLE -- Alaska Airlines is responding to a state investigation into workplace safety violations at Sea-Tac Airport. The violations concern the workers who clean up what you leave behind on a plane. The state cited Sea-Tac contractors and Alaska Airlines for 21 different health and safety violations. The report said workers weren't protected from exposure to bodily fluids, or didn't have gloves for use with cabin cleaners. Alaska had one $2,400 violation, while three airport contractors were responsible for the others...with fines totaling $68,000. Thea Levkovitz with Working Washington says Alaska should make some changes. "A lot of the policies that are set out by Alaska for its contractors then bleed out, essentially, into other contractors as well," Levkovitz said. Alaska says it has already made those changes. A statement from the airline says it responded immediately to the state inquiry and revised its policies. "Each of the subcontractors cited responded promptly and have already addressed the majority of concerns raised by the Washington Department of Labor & Industries," said Alaska Airlines spokeswoman Bobbie Egan. "We put the safety of our passengers, our employees and our aircraft above all else. " http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Sea-Tac-contractors-Alaska-Air-fined-for-workplace-safety-violations- 211556671.html Back to Top European Pilots Attack EU on Accident Prevention "A new informal agreement" by European transport ministers has "watered down" a proposal by the European Commission for better prevention of aviation incidents and accidents, according to a June 10 statement issued by the European Cockpit Association (ECA). The pilot professional association said key issues altered include provisions for non-punitive mandatory and voluntary reporting, as well as the obligations of EU member states to ensure adequate safety oversight. "The best approach to prevent accidents is one that encourages learning from mistakes," said ECA president Nico Voorbach. "To do this, pilots, air traffic controllers and all other safety professionals must be able to talk openly about safety incidents, mishaps or honest mistakes in a confidential environment, one that neither entails [company] reprisals nor leads to unfounded legal prosecution." Voorbach said, "Yet EU transport ministers are weakening the provisions for such reporting within a confidential, 'Just Culture' environment." The ministers are also taking a step back on the voluntary reporting of incidents, a trust-based system that is essential to encourage reporting beyond the legal minimums, according to Alexis Brathwaite, president of the International Federation of Air Traffic Control Associations (Ifatca). "Some changes seem to be motivated by the desire to reduce the costs that the proposed reporting and analysis requirements will entail," said ECA secretary general Philip von Schöppenthau. "Such a focus on costs, however, will not help improve aviation safety." The ECA represents more than 38,000 European pilots from national associations in 37 European states. http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/ Back to Top Back to Top Boeing's new Dreamliner steps up big jet battle (Reuters) - Boeing (BA.N) launched a larger version of its flagship Dreamliner aircraft at the Paris Airshow on Tuesday, sharpening the battle with rival Airbus (EAD.PA) in the booming market for fuel-efficient, long- distance jets. The much-anticipated announcement of the 787-10 Dreamliner, with 102 firm orders worth nearly $30 billion at list prices, is a vote of support for the lightweight, carbon-composite jet just months after the first version was grounded by battery problems. It came shortly after Airbus clinched an $11.5 billion order from British budget airline easyJet (EZJ.L) for 135 of its A320neos on day two of the aerospace industry's showcase event. Boeing and Airbus slug it out for the lion's share of the $100 billion-a-year global jet market. In the past couple of years, the battle has centered on the market for popular smaller models. But the focus has shifted in recent months to the next generation of larger planes, with Airbus successfully completing a test flight of its answer to the Dreamliner - the A350 - on the eve of the Paris show. "We promised a strong launch and we have achieved it," Boeing Chief Executive Jim McNerney said at a signing ceremony on Tuesday. The buyers of the new 787-10 are Air Lease Corp (AL.N) and Singapore Airlines (SIAL.SI) with 30 planes each, United Airlines with 20, British Airways (ICAG.L) with 12, and GE Capital Services (GE.N) with 10. The third variant of the Dreamliner family will have a range of 7,000 nautical miles, with seating for up to 330 passengers. It will be 25 percent more efficient to operate than current comparable planes, Boeing Commercial Airplanes Chief Executive Ray Conner said. The 787-8, introduced in late 2011, was grounded worldwide in January after its lithium-ion batteries overheated on two jets in about a week. It resumed commercial service in May after Boeing installed a redesigned battery system on the 50 jets in service. "POWERFUL" PLANE The plane "will be one of the most powerful wide-body aircraft for decades ahead", Air Lease chief executive Steven Udvar-Hazy said at the ceremony. "We believe it will be very profitable for us." In a moment of levity, Conner introduced Chief Executive McNerney to speak before the ceremonial contracts had been signed and then said: "I think we forgot to do the contract." "I forgot to bring my checkbook," Udvar-Hazy quipped. "I'll give you an IOU." Boeing said it was already designing the new jet and that it expected to begin final assembly in 2017, with the first delivery scheduled for 2018. United said it expected to receive its first 787-10 in 2018, while Udvar-Hazy said Air Lease would take first delivery in the spring of 2019. United's order includes 10 new planes and 10 conversions from the earlier 787-9 model, due for first flight later this year. GECAS' order was announced on Monday. Air Lease also ordered an additional three 787-9s for a total of 33 new aircraft. It already had 12 787-9s on order. Airbus's A320neo order from easyJet included 35 current generation planes and 100 next-generation versions, with options for a further 100 aircraft. The order followed a bitter competition with Boeing, which had been keen to win back one of the world's largest budget airlines a decade after losing to Airbus in a fight-out that became sucked into the world's largest trade dispute over aircraft aid. Back to Top S. Korea kicks off bidding for US$7.3 bln fighter jet deal SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea started the bidding process Tuesday to pick a contractor to provide 60 advanced fighter jets for 8.3 trillion won (US$7.3 billion), the Defense Acquisition Program and Administration (DAPA) said. Seoul faces a tough decision in selecting either the Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II stealth jet, Boeing's F- 15 Silent Eagle or the European Aerospace Defense and Space Company (EADS)'s Eurofighter Tranche 3 Typhoon, to replace the Air Force's aging fleet of F-4 and F-5 jets. The bidding is expected to last 11 days, and once completed DAPA will assess the three jets before making a final decision in a meeting slated for early next month, officials said. Seoul has officially said they are looking for affordable yet highly capable aircraft, but many expect the companies will propose prices that exceed Seoul's budget and adopt a wait-and-see approach during the competitive bidding sessions. If prices proposed by the three firms exceed the budget approved by parliament last year, the acquisition plan will need to be re-examined by the finance ministry, which handles state budget allocations. Unlike the two other companies that offer aircraft through direct commercial sales, Lockheed Martin, which sells the F-35 through the foreign military sales program by the U.S. government, has faced suspicion that its proposed price could increase later on due to its rising operational costs. The heated competition for South Korea's single priciest arms purchase project has led the three firms to provide competitive offset packages, including technology support for Seoul's indigenous fighter jet projects. Lockheed Martin promised to support South Korea's effort to develop and launch military communications satellites if it wins Seoul's multi-billion dollar fighter jet deal and establish live virtual constructive (LVC) to train Korean pilots. EADS offered an investment of $2 billion in Seoul's plan to build its own fighter aircraft and assemble 53 planes in South Korea to boost the nation's aerospace industry. It also offered to provide the source code to its fighter jets -- the key to the plane's electronic brains -- and purchase Korean-made parts. Boeing promised to buy billions of dollars in parts from Korean companies and set up its own LVC system to train Korean pilots. Seoul had initially been slated to pick a bidder last October with the goal of receiving the first delivery in December 2016, but it has recently decided to delay the schedule to get the first batch in August 2017 in accordance with the change in the negotiation procedure. Back to Top FAA Safety Briefing Wins Flight Safety Foundation's Publication Award PARIS AIR SHOW During the Paris Air Show aerospace media dinner on Sunday at the Aero Club de France, the Flight Safety Foundation presented its Cecil A. Brownlow Publication Award to FAA Safety Briefing, the bimonthly publication and active online community serving pilots, flight instructors and aircraft technicians that is produced by the U.S. FAA. The FSF said the award is usually presented at the organization's annual International Air Safety Summit, but this year it decided to bestow the award at the Paris Air Show. The FAA's aviation safety publication is being lauded for "taking a highly informative, yet conversational approach to helping the general aviation community better understand safety and regulatory issues, promoting continued training and skills development and helping general aviation keep in touch with FAA policies and the reasons behind them." http://ainonline.com/aviation-news/paris-air-show/2013-06-17/faa-safety-briefing-wins-flight-safety- foundations-publication-award Back to Top The New Fastest Helicopter on Earth Can Fly at an Insane 300MPH Most helicopters are built for hovering, not for speed. But the Eurocopter X3 is built for both. The demonstrator tilt-rotor aircraft proved as much when it set a pair of air speed records earlier this month. Mi-24 HIND: The Flying Russian Crocodile Can Fight and Flee Most helicopters are designed to either carry a lot of cargo at the expense of maneuverability--like the Chinook--or be quick and nimble while... Read... Based on the Eurocopter EC155, the X3 is a hybrid helicopter. That is, in addition to its five blade main and tail rotors, the X3 is also outfitted with a pair of stubby wings (similar to those aboard the Mi-24 HIND but with propellers instead of missile pods) that provide up to 80 percent of the aircraft's lift. A pair of 2270 HP Rolls- Royce Turbomeca RTM322 turboshaft engines drive all four rotors and allow for a 12,500 foot service ceiling and blindingly fast speed. On June 7th, the X3 blew through the previous air speed record for helicopters by cruising at 255 knots (293 MPH) during a 40-minute flight over Southern France near Istres. This acheivement followed the X3 topping 263 knots (302 MPH) during a descent just days before. "It's no exaggeration to say that the X3 is clearly in its element at high speeds." said Eurocopter test pilot Hervé Jammayrac. "While flying at both 255 knots and 263 knots, the X3 performed exactly as it has throughout its flight envelope, exhibiting outstanding stability and providing a low vibration level without any anti-vibration system." Since its maiden flight in 2010, the X3 has ammassed over 140 hours of air time. And though this particular demonstrator will likely be retired at the year's end, the X3's turboprop technology is slowly making its way into production. "Helicopters can fly relatively fast and the noise footprint for people living around the airport is relatively similar to current traffic noise, so vertical lift can still play a role in commuting people, providing you can design an aircraft that delivers higher speed at reasonable cost," said former Eurocopter CEO Lutz Bertling. "I believe we could well see the first serial products which could do the job with a smaller number of passengers-say 19 seats-at the beginning of the 2020s, and I could imagine seeing larger aircraft with 30-40 seats in the mid-'20s." While these hybrid aircraft are significantly faster than conventional helicopters, the X3 cannot keep up with turboprop planes-yet. But for a helicopter, its speed is utterly amazing. [Gizmag - Eurocopter - Aviation Week - Wikipedia] http://gizmodo.com/-513838351 Curt Lewis