Flight Safety Information September 12, 2013 - No. 189 In This Issue On Somber Day, Boston Airport Drill Prompts Anger Timing of simulated airplane fire questioned (St. Louis) Asiana to Strengthen Pilot Training After San Francisco Crash US to 'push for' role for Taiwan in world civil aviation body Phoenix PD: Man arrested after pointing laser light at police helicopter Plane with engine trouble lands in San Antonio No fault found with mid-air scare aircraft (New Zealand) Manpower crunch could result in aviation disasters (India) Viewpoint: New Pilot Requirements Are Misguided Think ARGUS PROS Aviation Safety Graduate Research Survey POSITION WANTED...Looking for a New Opportunity On Somber Day, Boston Airport Drill Prompts Anger a Fire Department drill at Logan Airport on Wednesday that brought criticism, including from the governor, who questioned its timing. BOSTON - On Wednesday morning, the 12th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the Twitter account for Logan International Airport here posted a single word: "Remembers." Two hours later, another message from the account informed the public that smoke would rise from the airfield during a training drill. "The fire department will be training this morning," it said. "Smoke on the airfield is part of the training." Before long, local news footage showed flames emanating from a long black object, evoking the image of a plane on fire. The flames sent black smoke into the air and stoked a salvo of consternation from those in the vicinity - including the governor of Massachusetts, Deval L. Patrick, who wondered if the somber anniversary was really the right day for such a drill. "It's just dumb; I mean, the timing could not be worse," Mr. Patrick, a Democrat, told reporters at the State House in Boston. "To people who experienced 9/11, many of whom work at Massport, I just feel so sorry," he said, referring to the agency that oversees the airport. Anger echoed around the region, even from those who were not at or near the airport. "I was just shocked today," said Ellen Rossano, 51, a media consultant from Hingham, Mass. "I think after the Boston Marathon bombing, Boston and New England showed how prepared we were for an emergency - but just not today." The two planes that were flown into the twin towers took off from Logan, a fact that brings added pause to remembrances of the attack's anniversary here, and one that was raised in the hundreds of comments left Wednesday on the airport's Facebook page. "Have some respect. People died 12 years ago on flights originating out of your airport. How dare you," a commenter named Bryan Lynch wrote. Some called it "ineptitude," "a slap in the face to this country" and characteristic of "middle management." Others said it exacerbated jitters left by the explosions at the Boston Marathon in April. Massport apologized on the airport's Facebook page around noon. "Safety and security is our top priority and constant vigilance and readiness is critical, but the exercise should not have taken place on the anniversary of 9/11," the post said. Airport officials declined to provide more details on the drill or its timing. Not everyone, however, was critical of the drill. Anthony Scalisi, who said he was a firefighter from Massachusetts, wrote, "Training is how we move forward." He added, "If you honestly say you honor this day, you will understand why they are training." http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/12/us/on-somber-day-boston-airport-drill-prompts- anger.html?_r=0 Back to Top Timing of simulated airplane fire questioned (St. Louis) ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI)- Lambert St. Louis International Airport began a 3-day, fire training requirement on the 12 year anniversary of 9/11. The training included a simulated aircraft fire. Flames engulfed the simulator while fire crews took turns extinguishing them. Some passengers felt the timing was in poor taste. Lambert officials say the equipment that simulates the fire was only available this week. St. Louis Fire Captain Michael Dean supervised the training. He said it`s a necessary requirement. "This is certification," explained Dean. He said without the training, certain types of aircraft would not be able to land at Lambert. A similar exercise was held at Boston`s Logan Airport. The agency in charge apologized for the timing. The Massachusetts governor called the decision to train on 9/11, 'A dumb idea.' Lambert officials say Logan has access to training equipment year round because the airport is an FAA training facility. Lambert does not own the simulator used in the training. The mobile device travels to other airports. Several passengers we talked felt the simulation should have been scheduled for a different day. Capt. Dean said the training is a reminder that firefighters do their job no matter what day it is. http://fox2now.com/2013/09/11/timing-of-simulated-airplane-fire-questioned/ Back to Top Asiana to Strengthen Pilot Training After San Francisco Crash Asiana Airlines Inc., the South Korean carrier that suffered a fatal jet crash in San Francisco July 6, said it will strengthen training for pilots and increase their evaluations after its first accident since 2011. The airline will increase the number of hours of simulated training to help improve approaches at airports that lack proper landing guidance systems, Seoul-based Asiana said in an e-mailed statement today. It will also have an outside company evaluate the carrier's safety standards. Three people died after an Asiana Boeing Co. 777 struck a seawall short of a runway at San Francisco International Airport, sending the plane spinning off the tarmac. More than 300 survived the crash, the first fatal airline accident in the U.S. since 2009. Asiana will also increase the number of safety experts to strengthen safety evaluation procedures and will boost maintenance of its aircraft, the airline said. Chief Executive Officer Yoon Young Doo said July 9 that the company will look at strengthening training of its pilots. The July 6 accident was Asiana's worst since 1993, when a Boeing 737 crashed in Mokpo, south of Seoul, killing 66 people, according to the National Archives of Korea. The airline's previous disaster was the crash of its cargo freighter in the sea south of Jeju island in July 2011. The accident dented Asiana's reputation as one of the top carriers in the world for service, honed over a quarter century since its formation in the run-up to the 1988 Seoul Olympics. South Korea plans to tighten aviation rules as the crash triggered concerns about the nation's safety regulations. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-12/asiana-to-strengthen-pilot-training-after- san-francisco-crash.html Back to Top US to 'push for' role for Taiwan in world civil aviation body Taiwan's inclusion in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is a public safety issue and the US will take all possible measures to push for results, US House Representative Ed Royce said on Tuesday. Royce, a Republican congressman who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Taiwan needs to be able to take part in the ICAO to gain access to the organization's safety rules. This is important because Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport is a major transit hub and the country has been admitted to the US visa waiver program, Royce said. There is no reason to exclude Taiwan from international organizations like the ICAO, since inclusion will help enhance the safety of every passenger, he said. The US Congress has passed a bill that requires the Secretary of State to facilitate Taiwan's participation in the ICAO and now is the time to discuss how to work toward that goal, Royce added. The congressman said he plans to discuss the issue with US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel and the US' allies. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2013/09/12/2003571961 Back to Top Phoenix PD: Man arrested after pointing laser light at police helicopter PHOENIX - A Phoenix man is in custody after he allegedly pointed a laser light at a Phoenix police helicopter Tuesday evening. Phoenix police say 21-year-old Antonio Rodriguez told officers he did not know it was against the law to point a laser at aircraft. Tuesday evening around 11 p.m. a Phoenix police helicopter was on patrol when a green laser light hit the aircraft with two officers on board. The officers aimed a spotlight at the apartment building the laser seemed to be coming from and called for assistance. Phoenix police officers located the apartment where the suspect fled and when they confronted Rodriguez he apologized and said he was "testing the range of the laser." Rodriguez was booked on two counts of endangerment. http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_phoenix_metro/central_phoenix/phoenix-pd-man- arrested-after-pointing-laser-light-at-police-helicopter#ixzz2egEpdLw8 Back to Top Plane with engine trouble lands in San Antonio A U.S. Airways passenger jet lands safely at San Antonio International Airport Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013, as emergency vehicles stand by. Emergency crews responded to a report of an aircraft in trouble at San Antonio International Airport Tuesday morning. The U.S. Airways flight originated in Houston and was headed to Phoenix, Ariz., with no scheduled stops in San Antonio, according to Nora Castro, a spokeswoman for San Antonio International Airport. Castro said that the airplane had experienced some sort of engine trouble, but could not offer more specifics as the situation developed. According to KENS-TV, a camera at the airport showed a plane had landed around 9:15 a.m. that was followed by several emergency vehicles shortly afterward. Castro said the plane's crew and 61 passengers were not injured. http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/Report-Aircraft-in-trouble-lands-at- airport-4801133.php Back to Top No fault found with mid-air scare aircraft (New Zealand) Air New Zealand Boeing 737, similar to that which had a mid-air incident on the way to Auckland. Air New Zealand could not find any fault with the aircraft involved in a cabin depressurisation scare last month. The Boeing 737-300 experienced a gradual loss of cabin pressure between Wellington and Auckland on August 30, causing the oxygen masks to deploy in the cabin. The aircraft descended to 7000 feet, at which point oxygen masks were no longer required. Airport emergency services were put on standby in Auckland but the flight landed safely. An Air New Zealand spokesman said its investigation was unable to find any issue with the aircraft's pressurisation system, however, some of the components were replaced as a precaution. The aircraft has now been returned to service. Olympic triathlete Hamish Carter, who was on the flight, described the experience at the time as "a bit of a shock''. "It was relatively scary for a while, not something you'd expect to happen. "There was no panic or anything, it's just that doesn't usually happen.'' The Transport Accident Investigation Commission is also investigating the incident, and is unlikely to complete its report before September 2014. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11123861 Back to Top Manpower crunch could result in aviation disasters (India) The number of air passengers in India has seen a manifold increase in the last decade, but the sector remains grossly understaffed which could lead to disasters. Realising the gravity of the situation, officers' association of the Air Navigation Service (ANS) has written to the civil aviation ministry about the manpower crunch and requested it to treat the matter on an urgent basis. The letter says the shortage should not be treated as part of the ongoing austerity drive at the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The ANS consists of staffers from the Air Traffic Control (ATC) and Communication Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) divisions. While ATC remains at the forefront of monitoring and managing air traffic, CNS provides it with the infrastructure. According to estimates, there are about 2,000 employees with CNS, approximately 1,500 less than the requirement. Similarly, the ATC has demanded an additional 2,000 staffers as it has only 2,200-plus employees across India. "Now, it has become regular for us to work overtime because of the staff shortage. It increases fatigue levels which could have a bearing on our concentration and subsequently, on air safety," said a CNS official stationed in Mumbai. The seriousness of the issue can be gauged from the fact that at least 118 cases of airprox have been recorded in the last five years. Airprox refers to a situation when two aircraft come dangerously close to each other mid-air. According to a study done by leading aviation consultancy firm CAPA last year, the passenger traffic projection for India is likely to shoot up to 452 million in 2020-21 from 143 million in 2010-11. Sources said the issue is expected to be discussed in a meeting with senior AAI officials on Friday. Civil aviation minister Ajit Singh remained unavailable for comment. The ANS letter further says that the UN aviation safety watchdog, International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), is very clear on upgrading and maintaining the safety of the aviation sector in the country. Therefore, there is a need for initial training, competence, and/or adaptation of new active operational staff, new roles, responsibilities and tasks to be defined and implemented. However, the acute staff shortage is defeating the purpose and attempts of the ICAO. "Safety is of utmost importance and the present staff shortage is severely compromising with it," said YP Gautam, general secretary, AAI Officers Association. http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/1887549/report-manpower-crunch-could-result-in- aviation-disasters Back to Top Viewpoint: New Pilot Requirements Are Misguided By Jeff Schneider Source: AWIN First In direct response to Colgan Air's 2009 accident near Buffalo, N.Y., Congress passed the Airline Safety and FAA Extension Act of 2010, requiring all crewmembers to have an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) license as of July 15, 2013. The rationale: The lack of flight time among pilots at smaller air carriers, also known as regional airlines, was leading to an unacceptable decrease in airline safety. While the FAA has proposed alternative minimums for ATPs, its stance is to keep the new mandate for such a license in place. But looking at data about crashes suggests the FAA should reverse its 2013 ATP mandate for first officers. Not only will the requirement greatly reduce the available pool of airline pilots, but also there is minimal empirical evidence to suggest an increase in entry-level flight time leads to safer flights. Somehow we have developed a false notion that in air- carrier operations, younger, less-experienced pilots are dangerous. Through analyzing more than 40 NTSB accident reports from 1991-2012, including Part 91, 121 and 135 scheduled flights, I tested the hypothesis that inexperience was a root cause in aviation fatal accidents. Interestingly enough, there was no direct correlation between a single individual's inexperience and overall safety of the aircraft. Instead, it was the combination of flight-crew experience that correlated with fatal accidents. Since the majority of aircraft are flown by a crew, not just one pilot, it is the culmination of both pilots' mistakes that leads to mishaps. Beyond 37,000 hr.-combined-aircrew time, the data suggest a low probability of fatal accidents caused by the pilots. For instance, in the case of the 2006 loss of a UPS DC-8 at Philadelphia, a 41,500-hr. crew's aircraft caught on fire. Even though the aircraft was later deemed destroyed, the pilots landed the jet and saved everyone onboard. It made sense to look at aircrew experience in both fatal and non-fatal accidents. That is because in the case of the non-fatal events, a great deal of luck was involved in whether an incident turned deadly. For instance, in the case of a 2007 runway overrun in Cleveland, the crew of an Embraer 170 operating a Delta Connection flight flew an illegal approach, landed long and fast, incorrectly applied the thrust reversers and departed the runway at 42 kt. Had the terrain not been covered in snow, fairly flat and with no obstructions, this situation could have easily turned fatal, as was the case when an American Airlines MD-82 departed a runway at 82 kt. in Little Rock, Ark., in 1999. Additionally, when I analyzed the data for both total flying time and hours in airframe, a trend developed that demonstrated minimum individual flight time plays less of a role than hours in the aircraft type. While it may be counterintuitive, it is actually safer for airlines to hire pilots with fewer hours so they can build time in the airframe under the scrutiny of established airline procedures. Additionally, it is safer for airlines to adjust their pairing model to avoid matching crews that fall near or below a "fatal trend line" I saw when I plotted the data on crew time. Using this trend line, the culprit for the Colgan Air accident appears to be a lack of aircrew time in airframe and not the fact that they had little combined total hours. Those pilots only had a combined 885 hr. in the airframe-the captain 111 hr. and the first officer 772 hr. Based on their experience levels, they should have never flown with each other. Instead, they should have had 1,230 more combined hours in the airframe to be safely above the trend line. The data suggest reversing the recent ATP mandate and instead instituting a mandatory aircrew-pairing avoidance model to reduce the likelihood of crew errors. In the Colgan Air case, the first officer actually had the requisite 1,500 hr. in all types, so it is doubtful whether the ATP rating would have prevented that accident. Instead of ATPs, by using an FAA-regulated avoidance tool, the airlines could reduce the airline accident rate substantially with no impact on the ensuing airline pilot-hiring deficit. Jeff Schneider is a former U.S. Air Force pilot with more than 1,700 hr. in the F-16 who additionally holds ATP and multiple instructor ratings. This Viewpoint ran in the September 9th edition of Aviation Week & Space Technology. http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/awx_09_11_2013_p0- 615324.xml&p=2 Back to Top Back to Top Aviation Safety Graduate Research Survey Dear Colleagues: I am a PHD student at Northcentral University. I would like to invite you to participate in a research study. The name of this study is titled Examining Principle Core Competencies for Aviation Safety Professionals. This study is in the area of Safety Management Systems and aviation technologies. Your feedback will help evaluate core aviation safety competencies. If you would like to participate, please check the Informed Consent Agreement Box at the survey site. The Survey is located at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CLCompetencySurveyStudy If you have any questions, please let me know. Thank you for your help in this research. Respectfully, Curt Lewis ___________ Curtis L. Lewis Doctoral Candidate - Northcentral University 1802 Briarcrest Lane Arlington, TX 76012 Cell: 817-845-3983 Home: 817-303-9096 E-mail: curt@curt-lewis.com Dr. Dalijit Singh Dissertation Committee Chair E-Mail: dsingh@ncu.edu Back to Top POSITION WANTED Looking for a New Opportunity Experienced current Gulfstream and Challenger pilot looking for a new opportunity in the cockpit with strong safety management and training skills. Professional, customer- and safety-focused aviator with 16 years of experience in domestic and international flight operations seeking a permanent position or contract work. Current Type Ratings in the GV series (V/550/450) and Challenger 604/605. San Diego based. Over 8000 total hours, 2800 turbine PIC, 1000 G-550, and 500 CL 604/605. Hands-on experience in development of FRMS and SMS, Threat and Error Management, and Standards and Training. NBAA committee member on the International Operators Conference Planning Group, Safety and Access Committees. Nat Iyengar, San Diego, CA, USA Tel: +1-219-616-3135 / Email: natiyengar@earthlink.net Professional Profile Curt Lewis