Flight Safety Information November 13, 2013 - No. 234 In This Issue NTSB On Scene Of Perry Inhofe Crash 2 Finnish air force Hawk jets collide, pilots eject Miami-to-Boston flight makes unscheduled stop in Orlando after windshield cracks Flight 587 crash anniversary marked in Rockaway EasyJet to Fit Some Aircraft With Volcanic-Ash Detectors Almost 1,000 smuggled turtles found in luggage at Thai airport Most aircraft in Nigeria not airworthy - Aviation experts Two men 'threatened to blow up plane' diverted to Stansted FAA 7thTriennial International Fire & Cabin Safety Research Conference Think ARGUS PROS Italy Restructures Pilot Training, Awaits M-346 Boeing breaks ground on 737 MAX jet propulsion plant Exercise, alcohol and Viagra -- best cures for jet lag? Embry-Riddle Aviation Symposium - Singapore NTSB On Scene Of Perry Inhofe Crash National Transportation Safety Board investigators were on scene of the crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-25 near Owasso, Okla., that claimed the life of Sen. James Inhofe's 52-year-old son, Perry Inhofe. Perry Inhofe, an orthopedic surgeon, was the pilot and sole person aboard the aircraft that crashed around 3:45 p.m. on Nov. 10. The 1974 model twin turboprop, N856JT, had departed Salina, Kan. and crashed into a heavily wooded area while on approach to Runway 18L of Tulsa International Airport. The aircraft was consumed by a post-impact fire, NTSB says. Perry Inhofe apparently had just acquired the aircraft in the weeks leading up to the government shutdown - it is still listed in FAA's Registry as belonging to Intermountain Powersports - and is believed to have had 12 hr. in type. The flight is believed to have been his first following training on the aircraft. NTSB Investigator Aaron Sauer confirmed that the pilot had been training on the aircraft in Kansas before the flight. However, he could not say whether that training involved the use of simulators. Reports indicate that the aircraft lost an engine in flight, and Inhofe contacted air traffic control for assistance, but Sauer could not yet confirm those reports. NTSB is still reviewing ATC communications and is in the process of interviewing several witnesses who observed the flight, he says. NTSB has boxed the Honeywell TPE331 engines and propellers, and did find the left engine propeller in the feathered position. The aircraft was not equipped with either a cockpit voice or flight data recorder. In addition to witness interviews, NTSB is reviewing maintenance records and the pilot's background. "Weather at this point we don't believe to be a factor," Sauer says. NTSB is working with FAA, Mitsubishi and Honeywell on the investigation. The MU-2 at one point had among the worst, if not the worst, safety record among turboprops, prompting FAA to conduct a comprehensive review of the high-performance aircraft. FAA ultimately concluded the aircraft met the applicable certification requirements, but mandated specific ground and flight training to help pilots with the unique handling qualities of the aircraft. Since that time the MU-2's record has become safer than the industry average, according to safety expert Robert Breiling of Robert E. Breiling Associates. The MU-2's accident record over the past five years is 1.35 per 100,000 hr., compared with the overall turboprop accident record of 1.55 per 100,000 hr. Likewise, the MU-2's fatal accident rate is 0.23 per 100,000 hr., compared with an overall turboprop rate of 0.30 per 100,000 hr. over the last five years. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association released a statement expressing sadness at the news of the accident. "Sen. Inhofe is an accomplished pilot and a staunch advocate for general aviation, and flying has been an important part of the Inhofe family's personal and professional lives for decades," says AOPA President Mark Baker. Sen. Inhofe (R-Okla.), a longtime general aviation advocate, has fought on behalf of the industry on a number of issues, ranging from product liability reform to user fees. He most recently pushed a Pilot's Bill of Rights through Congress to bolster pilots' ability to access information during enforcement cases. The senator himself has been involved in a few airplane incidents, including one in which he looped a Vans R- V on the ground and another when the propeller fell off his Grumman Tiger while in flight. Inhofe was able to safely land the Tiger and later recovered the propeller. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel also issued a statement following the crash. "I was deeply saddened to learn that Senator Jim Inhofe's son Perry was killed in a plane crash this weekend," Hagel says. "The entire DOD community stands with the Inhofe's at this tragic time, with enduring appreciation for all they do on behalf of our military." Sen. Inhofe is the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee. http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/awx_11_12_2013_p0-636025.xml Back to Top 2 Finnish air force Hawk jets collide, pilots eject HELSINKI - The Finnish defense force says that two Hawk jets have collided in midair during a training flight and that both pilots ejected. The air force says officials have been in contact with one of the pilots but gave no details in a brief statement on its website. It declined to take calls, saying that all information would be posted online. The statement said the accident occurred in a sparsely populated area of western Finland at 12:13 p.m. Wednesday (1013 GMT) and that two parachutes were observed in the sky. The air force says that since 1958 ejector seats have been used 27 times during accidents and that one pilot was killed in a collision with another jet in 2001. http://www.startribune.com/world/231722181.html Back to Top Miami-to-Boston flight makes unscheduled stop in Orlando after windshield cracks; no injuries MIAMI - An American Airlines flight from Miami to Boston had to make an unscheduled stop in Orlando after the aircraft's windshield cracked. Airline spokeswoman Andrea Huguely says Flight 160 (Boeing 757 ) landed in Orlando late Tuesday after the pilot's double-paned windshield cracked while the plane was in flight. Huguely says a cracked windshield "doesn't happen a lot, but it does happen on occasion." It wasn't immediately clear what caused the crack. The plane landed in Orlando with 156 passengers and crew members on board. No injuries were reported. Huguely says the passengers boarded another aircraft that landed in Boston early Wednesday. The aircraft with the cracked windshield was pulled out of service for repairs. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/miami-to-boston-flight-makes-unscheduled-stop-in-orlando-after- windshield-cracks-no-injuries/2013/11/13/a75a99c2-4c57-11e3-bf60-c1ca136ae14a_story.html Back to Top Flight 587 crash anniversary marked in Rockaway Mourners read the names of all 260 who died 12 years ago shortly after the American Airlines plane took off from John F. Kennedy International Airport. Firefighters search for survivors Nov. 12, 2001. The crash, initially feared to be terrorism, was the result of the first officer's overuse of rudder controls. Friends and family members of the victims of Flight 587 braved chilly winds and snow flurries Tuesday morning to honor loved ones lost when the plane crashed into Rockaway 12 years ago. Mayor Bloomberg attended the solemn service on Beach 116th St., where a memorial to the victims was constructed. The tail of American Airlines Flight 587. Mayor Bloomberg attended Tuesday's service on Beach 116th St. Mourners clutched flowers as they read the names of all 260 aboard and five on the ground who perished when the American Airlines plane, which was headed to the Dominican Republic, crashed shortly after it took off from John F. Kennedy International Airport. "This day is for us to get together and pay respects for our loved ones," said Belkis Lora, who lost her brother Jose in the crash. "Every day, I miss him like it happened yesterday." The crash, which at first was feared to be terrorism, was later determined to be the result of the first officer's overuse of rudder controls in response to wake turbulence from a Japan Airlines plane that had taken off five minutes earlier. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/flight-587-crash-anniversary-marked-queens-article-1.1514061 Back to Top EasyJet to Fit Some Aircraft With Volcanic-Ash Detectors EasyJet Plc (EZJ), Europe's second-biggest discount carrier, aims to fit sensors capable of detecting volcanic ash [AVOID (Airborne Volcanic Object Identifier and Detector technology)] on some of its planes by the end of next year. EasyJet, Airbus SAS and Nicarnica Aviation tested the gear last month in an artificial ash cloud at between 9,000 and 11,000 feet, the Luton, England-based carrier said today. The trial saw one aircraft release dust gathered from Icelandic volcanoes and a second use the new Airborne Volcanic Object Identifier and Detector to identify and avoid the particles. The system sensed ash from as far as 60 kilometers (37 miles), a distance at which pilots could adjust flightpaths around dangerous clouds, EasyJet said. European airline traffic fell 12 percent in April 2010, exceeding the worst declines of the recession, as ash from Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano grounded 100,000 flights. Carriers lost at least $1.7 billion in the first six days of the event, industry figures show. The ash cloud created during the test was between 600 feet and 800 feet deep, measured 2.8 kilometers in diameter and was visible to the naked eye before dissipating, the airline said. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-13/easyjet-to-fit-some-aircraft-with-volcanic-ash-detectors.html Back to Top Almost 1,000 smuggled turtles found in luggage at Thai airport Some people want pet turtles, and they don't care where they're from or whether they are endangered species. Sadly, this trade is apparently booming, as just in the past few days almost 1,000 turtles were confiscated at a Thai airport. Imagine all the turtles (and other animals) that weren't discovered and smuggled away... Customs officials at the airport have tightened security after 423 radiata turtles and 52 Hamilton turtles worth an estimated 900,000 baht were found inside two unclaimed suitcases from Dhaka in Bangladesh on Wednesday night. This extra security led to the arrest of a Pakistani man who was arrested with 470 black pond turtles "valued at around 3.5 million baht" hidden in his suitcases. All 3 turtle species are protected by the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act of 1992 and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites). "It does seem that the number of turtles and tortoises coming out of South Asia is skyrocketing, especially with regard to the black pond turtle," said Chris Shepherd of the wildlife trade protection group Traffic. http://www.treehugger.com/natural-sciences/575-smuggled-turtles-found-luggage-thai-airport.html Back to Top Most aircraft in Nigeria not airworthy - Aviation experts Aviation experts, on Monday, advised the Federal Government and other stakeholders in the aviation sector to ensure that all aircraft in the country were properly maintained to prevent aviation disasters. Leo Daniel and Chris Odetunde, both professors of aeronautics and astronautics at the Kwara State University, Malete, gave the advice in an interview in Malete. The professors stressed that all the domestic and international airports in the country should have facilities for aircraft maintenance and certification of airworthiness. They also underscored the need to expose pilots and aircraft crew members to training and retraining. Odetunde, who is the Head of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the university, said that most of the aircraft in the country were not airworthy, adding that it was quite unfortunate that they were still flying. He urged the Federal Government and those managing the aviation sector to enforce extant aviation laws so as to curtail the rate of air disasters in the country. Odetunde said that aircraft engines needed regular checks, while the runways of airports ought to be resurfaced and sanitised, as part of efforts to avoid air crashes. On the other hand, Daniel said that most aviation mishaps in the country were somewhat a replica of previous ones, stressing the need for aviation investigators to ensure that the factors behind air mishaps were duly rectified to avoid the recurrence of the accidents. He also urged the Federal Government to enforce aviation laws, while encouraging other stakeholders to play their expected roles in efforts to make air travels safe in the country. http://www.tribune.com.ng/news2013/index.php/en/news/news-headlines/item/26188-most-aircraft-in- nigeria-not-airworthy-aviation-experts.html Back to Top Two men 'threatened to blow up plane' diverted to Stansted Two men forced an airliner to be grounded after threatening to kill passengers and cabin crew by blowing up the plane while it was in flight, a court heard. Taxi driver Tayyab Subhani, 30, and restaurant worker Mohammed Safdar, 42, both from Nelson, in Lancashire, were among 347 passengers on a Pakistan International Airlines flight from Lahore to Manchester in May this year. The Boeing 777 was diverted to Stansted Airport, in Essex, after the prosecution say the defendants made threats to kill the passengers and cabin crew and blow up the plane. The men deny endangering the safety of an aircraft, which was escorted by RAF Typhoon jets. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-24916206 Back to Top FAA 7thTriennial International Fire & Cabin Safety Research Conference Dr. Albert Moussa of BlazeTech Corp. www.blazetech.com will present a talk on Wednesday Dec. 4, 2013, at the FAA 7thTriennial International Fire & Cabin Safety Research Conference in Philadelphia, PA, USA. The talk is entitled: "Structural Composite Burning -- Identifying Key Material Parameters". Here is a summary of the presentation: Composite structures are increasingly used in aircraft to replace aluminum because of their favorable strength to weight ratios. The behavior of composites in fire is complex given that they are composed of resin and fiber with significant differences in their thermal and flammability properties. Test data on the after flame time of composites subjected to an external radiant heat flux has recently been collected in the Cone Calorimeter and in a new lab-scale fire test under development at the FAA. For carbon fiber epoxy resin composites, these data show that as the number of plies increases from say four to sixteen plies, the after flame time increases continuously for one material while it increases initially then decreases for another. Dr. Moussa will present a model of composite heating, thermal degradation and burning developed at BlazeTech. The model predicts this surprising behavior, relating it to the thickness and the % resin content of the composites. Back to Top Back to Top Italy Restructures Pilot Training, Awaits M-346 The Italian Air Force is overhauling its pilot training program in advance of the arrival of the M-346 jet trainer. ROME - The Italian Air Force is overhauling its pilot training program to save money and increase specialization as it awaits delivery of new training jets and expands its main training base. Beginning next year, the Air Force will rearrange its syllabus at its Lecce base in southern Italy to more closely align training with fellow air forces, officials said, just ahead of the arrival of the new, Italian-built M-346 jet trainer, which has also been bought by Singapore and Israel. Hitherto, pilots at Lecce underwent advanced training, or Phase III training, by flying the Aermacchi MB-339A to obtain their military wings before dividing into groups destined for fighter, helicopter and support aircraft training, with the latter two groups leaving Lecce for further training. Under the new syllabus, helicopter and support aircraft pilots will split off immediately after basic training, or Phase II training, said Col. Sergio Cavuoti, commander of the Lecce base. Helicopter pilots will head to Frosinone, south of Rome, to complete Phase III using NH500 helicopters and, possibly, two AW139s used by Italy's civil protection agency, with the aim of training up seven new pilots a year. "Flying the NH500 costs one-eighth of the price of flying the MB-339," said Col. Paolo Tarantino, an official at the Air Force's Air and Space planning division. Support aircraft pilots will train on Air Force P180 turboprops at Pratica di Mare Air Base. "The first two pilots will conclude the course in October 2014 and we will see how they got on before pressing ahead," Tarantino said. "We will also need to find space elsewhere for pilots, and we are working on a deal for them to train at the US Navy base at Corpus Christi [Texas] on the T-44, which could prove economical. "Currently, the support pilots go straight from the MB-339 to the C-130J with no training on multiengine aircraft, or flying with crews, or the different mass and balance of transport aircraft, and all that training they need to do on the C-130J or C-27J is more expensive than the P180 to fly." The changes, he added, were "a reflection of falling funds and the decision to get in line with other nations which specialize earlier." In the meantime, fighter pilots will continue to undertake Phase III flying on the MB-339A at Lecce, albeit with a more specialized syllabus, before undergoing Lead in Fighter Training, or Phase IV training, flying the MB- 339CD. This offers a glass cockpit, head-up display and a certain amount of in-flight simulation. But by next year, operational testing will begin at Lecce on the first M-346 to arrive. Dubbed the T-346 by the Italian Air Force and built by Alenia Aermacchi, six aircraft are on order to take over Phase IV training from the MB-339CD. Designed to reduce flight hours by using better simulation and embedded training, the M-346 will add night- vision goggle training, a helmet-mounted display and voice command to the syllabus, as well as simulated radar, targeting pod and beyond-visual-range weapons. A full mission simulator supplied by Alenia Aermacchi has already been set up in a new facility devoted to M- 346 training at Lecce. Changes are also being made to the Air Force's Phase I, or initial screening training, and Phase II (basic training), which previously was carried out at Latina, south of Rome, using SF260 aircraft. Recent engine problems have grounded the fleet, and Phase I training is now being undertaken using the SIAI 208, while Phase II pilots have moved to Lecce to fly the MB-339A. "This move to Lecce could be permanent," Tarantino said. By 2020, the Air Force hopes to replace the MB-339A with a new trainer and has signed a letter of intent with Alenia Aermacchi to develop the M-345 HET, which the firm claims will cost less than a turbo prop to buy but the same to run. Moving Phase II pilots to Lecce will help ramp up the number of flight hours at the base from 7,500 this year to about 10,500 by 2015, Cavuoti said. Other factors driving the increase are better maintenance, which is squeezing more flight hours out of aircraft, and more foreign students taking courses, he added. Pilots from 13 air forces have come to Lecce, with four Kuwaiti and nine Singaporean students enrolled. Italian pilots do not all train at Lecce, with some heading to the US or Greece. Some 45 pilots get military flying qualifications annually on passing Phase III training at Lecce. Tarantino said the much-discussed Eurotraining plan, which envisioned European air forces creating a common training program, has yet to materialize. "Bilateral deals on shared training are now driving cooperation," he said. http://www.defensenews.com/article/20131112/DEFREG01/311120042/Italy-Restructures-Pilot-Training- Awaits-M-346 Back to Top Boeing breaks ground on 737 MAX jet propulsion plant Provided n artist rendering of the new 737 MAX jet propulsion plant in North Charleston. With a union vote looming Wednesday in Washington state over production of a new Boeing jet, the aerospace giant broke ground Tuesday on a new plant in North Charleston to build engine components for a different airplane. Union vote All eyes will be on Washington state today Wednesday as the Machinists union votes on a proposed labor agreement with Boeing. The International Association of Machinists will vote through 6 p.m. Pacific time on an eight-year contract that would ensure labor peace through 2024. The current contract ends in 2016. The agreement calls for concessions by the union on pension and health care benefits. It also offers members a $10,000 signing bonus and other carrots to get them to vote for it. Media reports out of the Evergreen State suggest the vote will be close. The governor on Monday signed into law an $8.7 billion package of tax breaks and other incentives to ensure production of the new Boeing 777X stays in Washington state. If the union rejects the deal, Boeing said it will explore options to build the plane elsewhere. Jack Jones, Boeing South Carolina's top executive, declined to comment on whether the 777X could be built in North Charleston, though he noted that parts of the plane will be designed in the Lowcountry. He said Tuesday that the decision is now the union's hands, and he would not speculate further. Boeing and other officials grabbed shovels and ceremoniously turned dirt on the start of a new 225,000- square-foot building in Palmetto Commerce Park where engine inlet parts will be designed and assembled for the 737 MAX and possibly future airplanes. Propulsion South Carolina, as it's being called, will sit behind Boeing's Interior Responsibility Center on Patriot Boulevard where workers make bins, partitions and other cabin parts for the 787 Dreamliner. Construction on the nearly 60-foot-tall structure will take about a year, and the 48-acre site can accommodate future expansion up to 600,000 square feet, according to Boeing officials. The first parts are expected to be produced in May 2015 and the plant will eventually ramp up for components to be produced for 47 planes per month, said Charlie Hix, director of Propulsion South Carolina. Hix added that if workers build 737 MAX engine parts without any problems, on time and at cost, then South Carolina could see work on other planes. "If we're successful here, we will earn the rights to future work," Hix said. The plant will include high bays, low bays, offices, support space and parking for 300 vehicles. If it's expanded, it could handle another 400 parking spaces. "Today we break ground, but what we are doing is ground-breaking," said Nicole Piasecki, vice president and general manager of Boeing's Propulsion Systems Division. "We are investing in new capabilities for our company. Propulsion South Carolina will be at the heart of the action. We are redefining the future and delivering a wake-up call for our industry." The company announced the propulsion factory earlier this year. It will handle the engineering and assembly of the 737 MAX nacelles, which include the circular inlets and carbon-reinforced composite pods that encase the engines. The plant is Boeing's first major investment in South Carolina not associated with the 787. The company has not announced the number of jobs the new plant will create, except to say they are part of the 2,000 new positions and the $1 billion investment Boeing will make over the next eight years. The 737 MAX is the updated version of Boeing's top-selling, single-aisle jet. The Chicago-based aerospace giant employs about 6,100 workers in the region. Most are based at its 787 Dreamliner factory at Charleston International Airport. "We are excited to see this new piece of Boeing for us," North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey said. "We hope they will be successful, and we hope it will lead to more Boeing in the future." http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20131112/PC05/131119852 Back to Top Exercise, alcohol and Viagra -- best cures for jet lag? Stretching and doing some light exercise in flight is recommended for avoiding muscle cramps and deep-vein thrombosis, but 61% of the Singaporean fliers polled by Skyscanner also claimed to do it to avoid jetlag. Some 51% of people who tried this cure said it worked, making it the most successful jetlag cure on the list. Stretching and doing some light exercise in flight is recommended for avoiding muscle cramps and deep-vein thrombosis, but 61% of the Singaporean fliers polled by Skyscanner also claimed to do it to avoid jetlag. Some 51% of people who tried this cure said it worked, making it the most successful jetlag cure on the list. (CNN) -- If you've ever been stuck for a jet lag cure, consider the experience of Singaporeans. A new survey reveals a dozen ways Singaporean travelers try to avoid the 5 p.m. shuteye, along with their success rates. Among them: Viagra, drinking alcohol and not drinking alcohol. "Our survey has shown that people will often try various methods in order to beat jet lag -- but they may not work for everyone," said Singapore marketing manager Ira Noviani at travel search site Skyscanner, which conducted the poll of 1,000 travelers. The most surprising choice was taking Viagra, which 11% of those surveyed said they'd tried. Nearly half of those who said they'd tried the Viagra remedy claimed it works. According to research conducted a few years ago, jet-lagged hamsters might agree. More mundane methods of beating jet lag include taking melatonin, taking sleeping pills, staying awake during the flight and doing light exercise. Jetlag "cure" and success rate, as reported by travelers 1. Stretch/light exercise on flight: 51% (51% of people who tried this cure, reported that it worked) 2. Sleeping tablets: 48% 3.= Set watch to new time zone: 46% 3.= Light and healthy diet: 46% 5.= Viagra: 45% 5.= Exercise/fresh air before flight: 45% 7.= Avoid alcohol completely: 42% 7.= Herbal remedies: 42% 9. Consume alcohol: 41% 10. Stay awake for duration of the flight: 40% 11. Anti-jet lag pills: 39% 12. Melatonin: 36% http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/12/travel/jetlag-cures/ Back to Top Embry-Riddle Aviation Symposium Sunday 9th February 2014 Singapore Aviation Academy (SAA) Singapore SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES For more information, please contact sponsor@aeropodium.com Media Partners Aircraft Financing and Leasing in Asia SYMPOSIUM CHAIRMAN Professor Graham J. F. Hunt, Head of Asia, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Asia CONFIRMED EXPERT-SPEAKERS - George Arnokouros, Vice President Legal, AerCap - Christophe Chicandard, Senior Vice President Marketing Asia Pacific, Aircastle Singapore - Bill Cumberlidge, Executive Director, KV Aviation - Lorenzo Di Loreto, Associate Director, Aviation, Samsung C&T - Peter Huijbers, Regional Head of Commercial - Asia Pacific, Hong Kong Aviation Capital - Roland H. Moore Esq., Aviation Attorney - Tomoo Nakayama, President and CEO, ITC Aerospace & Chairman and Director, ITC-Leasing - Dr. Malick Sy, Professor of Finance, RMIT Australia and ERAU - Senior Representative of CIT - Senior Representative of ICF SH&E HIGHLIGHTS - Aircraft financing in the secondary market - Aviation boom in Asia: Do the numbers tell the truth? - Airworthiness and delivery conditions from the airline perspective: A case study and its impact on the industry - Structuring operating leases and benefits for regional airlines - Leasing options for regional operators - Airline jet fuel price volatility - Dynamic hedging and alternative solutions Explore the latest developments in commercial aircraft financing and leasing in Asia! Learn about financing structures in the region! Discuss the leasing options for regional operators! Debate the future of commercial aviation in Asia! Network with the experts! Mark your 2014 Diary! Do not miss this major networking event in Asia! Sponsorship & Exhibition Opportunities available! Early-Bird Registration: US$190 For more information, please visit www.aeropodium.com/afla.html Curt Lewis