Flight Safety Information February 11, 2014 - No. 030 In This Issue Asiana Airlines changing pilot training after US crash Afghan Plane Crash Kills 2 ISAF Troops, Contractor Vernon couple unhurt in plane crash FAA Says India Must Update Aviation Technology Knowhow Save the Date: 6th Annual Aviation Human Factors and SMS Seminar - Dallas, TX Surge in Sexual Assaults on Airplanes SERC of ISASI Annual Meeting 2014 Sochi airport uses Silicon Valley facial recognition software Vietnam and Myanmar Lead Southeast Asia Airline Surge PRISM SMS 1929 Ford Tri-Motor Flight Tour in Naples Japan bid to glorify kamikaze pilots draws flak Has Air NZ taken safety videos too far? Calls for Application for The ISASI Rudolf Kapustin Memorial Scholarship University Research Call For Papers Asiana Airlines changing pilot training after US crash Executives of South Korea's Asiana Airlines say they're altering its pilot training program to encourage communication among senior managers and subordinates, after a July plane crash in San Francisco that killed three people and injured dozens. A U.S. hearing into the crash revealed one of the pilots said he did not feel he had the authority to abort a low-speed landing as individuals at a "higher level" had to make that decision, Reuters reported. "It's a reality that within our country there is a leaning toward a patriarchal culture and many pilots work and fly within the strict military order," Asiana's chief executive, Kim Soo-cheon, said Monday at a press conference in Seoul, Reuters reported. Kim's comments Monday are his first public statements about Asiana's corporate culture since the Boeing 777 crash-landed on a San Francisco International Airport runway and injured about 180 people. The changes at Asiana, South Korea's second-largest carrier, follow a July 9 CNBC.com article that outlined South Korea's aviation industry, which already had faced skepticism about its safety since a few deadly crashes beginning in the 1980s. The CNBC.com article detailed Korea's cockpit culture and aviation training that stresses a deference to seniority, which can make it challenging for younger employees to speak up in workplaces without repercussions. Many Korean commercial pilots also are air force veterans, who have been trained in a military culture that again emphasizes hierarchy. Young South Korean men must serve mandatory military service. "If that's how he [the pilot] thinks, that's because of how he was trained, not because he's Korean," David Greenberg, president of Compass Group, Aviation Consulting and Development, based outside Chicago, told CNBC.com late Monday. Greenberg, also a 28-year Delta Air Lines veteran, served as executive vice president of operations for five years at another Korean airline, Korean Air-beginning in 2000 after a series of fatal Korean Air flights. That incident's cockpit culture was detailed in Malcolm Gladwell's book, "Outliers." "It's not just Asian culture. Under any country's laws, the carrier has the responsibility to ensure the highest level of safety to the passenger," Greenberg said. Effective training that's compatible with cultures is key, he said. "I didn't change the Korean culture. I figured out a way to present information that's compatible with their culture," Greenberg said. Since September, Asiana has been strengthening its pilot training including out-of-office gatherings and the recommendation that all members of the flight crew address each other with honorifics while working, regardless of rank, Asiana CEO Kim said. Traditionally in Korean culture, an honorific form of communication-which requires more words and is more oblique-often is used for someone older or who holds a more senior position. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board investigation into the crash remains ongoing. http://www.cnbc.com/id/101404305 Back to Top Afghan Plane Crash Kills 2 ISAF Troops, Contractor An aircraft crash in Afghanistan killed three coalition-affiliated people, the International Security Assistance Force said Monday. "Two International Security Assistance Force service members and one ISAF civilian died following an aircraft incident in eastern Afghanistan," a statement said. Ataullah Khogyani, spokesman for the Maidan Wardak provincial governor, said the plane crashed Sunday in the mountainous Dai Merdad district of the province, Khaama Press reported. Names of the victims had not been released and the plane was not identified. http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/02/10/afghan-plane-crash-kills-2-isaf-troops- contractor.html?comp=700001075741&rank=5 Back to Top Vernon couple unhurt in plane crash VERNON - A Vernon resident and his wife walked away unhurt from their plane Sunday afternoon after it crash-landed in a snowy field in the Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge and flipped over, Vernon Police said Monday. Joseph Grande, 41, and his wife, Margaret, were flying their 1975, single-engine fixed-wing aircraft over the Vernon area when the plane's engine quit. According to police, Joseph Grande indicated to them that the plane couldn't make it back to Sussex Airport, from which it had taken off, so he decided to make an emergency landing in the field located off Peary Drive and Route 565. Grande reportedly stated that he was able to glide the aircraft down until the landing gear hit the snow- covered field, which caused the plane to flip over. Both he and his wife freed themselves from the downed aircraft without further incident, after which Grande immediately contacted police. In his phone call, which was received shortly after 3 p.m., Grande reportedly indicated he and his wife were trekking through the snow toward Route 565. The Grandes were found a short time later by Vernon police and members of the Pochuck Valley Ambulance Squad, who were waiting for them along the road. The Grandes were examined and found to be unhurt. Vernon Police Cpl. Charles Reid, accompanied by a pilot from Sussex Airport, went up shortly afterward in a 1974 Cessna and managed to locate the downed plane approximately 150 to 200 yards north of the Tennessee Gas pipeline on property belonging to the wildlife refuge, which is overseen by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The plane and scene were secured and turned over to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and to the Federal Aviation Administration, which was continuing to investigate the crash late Monday. An FAA spokesperson confirmed there were no injuries but said the extent of damage to the aircraft, a 1975 Bellanca 7KCab registered to the Aviation Club of Sussex, was still being determined as of Monday. FAA investigators were completing their damage assessment, which is necessary before the matter can officially be labeled an accident. Efforts to contact the Grandes were unsuccessful. But Rich Bartlett, a Sussex Airport flight instructor and Vernon resident who gave Grande his first flying lessons two years ago, said knowing how to land a plane in an emergency is part of the training all pilots undergo. As for the Grandes' ability to extricate themselves from the plane, Bartlett said, "It's not actually that remarkable that he (Grande) got out the way he did. It's a matter of training. All pilots are trained to do landings." He added: "If there hadn't been snow in the field, he likely would have been able to land that plane without incident." Despite snow showers that began late Sunday afternoon, there was no indication that precipitation had begun falling or that atmospheric conditions were a factor at the time of the crash. Other members of the Vernon Police Department who responded to the call, in addition to Reid, were Cpl. Scott Waleck, Cpl. Ken Lazicki, and Patrolman Brian Patterson. http://www.njherald.com/story/24684362/2014/02/10/vernon-couple-unhurt-in-plane-crash Back to Top FAA Says India Must Update Aviation Technology Knowhow India's aviation regulator needs to demonstrate it understands the technology behind new aircraft and it has the resources to ensure airlines follow safe practices, the U.S.Federal Aviation Administration said. The FAA on Jan. 31. downgraded India's aviation safety ranking to Category 2 from Category 1, putting it on par with Zimbabwe and Indonesia. Getting upgraded could take months, if not years, though only if the Indian administration moved quickly to address the concerns, FAA Administrator Michael Huerta said in an interview in Singapore today. "The principal thing is, there's been a lot evolution in the aviation industry there," Huerta said. "They bought a lot of new aircraft to their fleet including technologically advanced aircraft. Are there inspectors trained and conversant in the nature of the aircraft the authority is operating," he said. "As a regulator you can only oversee what you have technical understanding of." India, home to 1.2 billion people, couldn't find enough officials to ensure safe operation of flights, forcing the FAA to strip the country of the top-rank safety rating and prompting Singapore to increase inspection on Indian aircraft. The South Asian country's aviation industry has boomed in the past decade with carriers ordering more than $50 billion of new planes, including most modern aircraft such as Boeing Co. (BA) 787. State-run Air India operates 12 Boeing 787 Dreamliners while Jet Airways (India) Ltd. has 10 on order. Air India last week had to divert a Dreamliner to Kuala Lumpur after a software glitch on a flight to New Delhi from Melbourne. New Inspectors The FAA's downgrade meant Indian carriers had to freeze capacity to the U.S. at current levels. Indian authorities will hire 75 flight operation inspectors and provide training to more people to win back the rating, Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh said Jan. 31. The FAA found deficiencies at India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation in December 2012, according to a statement from the U.S. regulator. It again held consultations with the DGCA and Indian ministries last year and in January. India had won the Category 1 rating in 1997. Mexico, which was downgraded two and a half years ago, regained the top rating after only six months, a record, he said. India is considering setting up a new civil aviation authority which will replace the current regulator. That proposal has been lying with the government for over a year. While the downgrade constitutes a criticism of the country's regulatory framework, it's the individual airlines that end up suffering, Tony Tyler, head of the largest aviation industry group, told journalists at a briefing in Singapore earlier this week. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-11/faa-says-india-must-update-aviation-technology- knowhow.html Back to Top Back to Top Surge in Sexual Assaults on Airplanes FBI agents have investigated at least four reports of sexual assaults aboard airplanes en route to Reagan National and Dulles International airports in recent months. In two cases, the attackers were charged with federal crimes, the News4 I-Team has learned. The agents cannot point to a reason behind the recent surge of cases, but a News4 I-Team review revealed alarming details from the attacks and a series of other similar sex assaults on flights nationwide. And although federal law enforcement officers admit onboard sex assaults are often complicated to investigate, the News4 I-Team's review found no federal agency is maintaining data or statistics showing the frequency of sex assaults on airplanes. The major airlines were unwilling to publicly disclose any of their own tabulations on attacks. In one recent incident, the FBI's Washington, D.C., field office investigated a Dulles-bound passenger for molesting a 15-year-old girl. In a criminal complaint filed by federal prosecutors, the passenger, Carlos Vasquez, ran his hand up the girl's shorts, touched her buttocks and touched a "private area" as he sat next to her on a flight from Houston. The girl, who didn't know her attacker, pretended to be asleep during the ordeal, prosecutors said. FBI Supervisory Special Agent Drew Ptasienski, who investigated the case, said victims of similar assaults have also pretended to sleep through the attacks. Ptasienski said, "Victims are so shocked they're being assaulted, it takes them awhile to process it." Vasquez pleaded guilty in October to a federal charge. Court records show he was issued a $3,000 fine and three years of probation. In a separate incident, FBI agents investigated Saurabh Agarwal, a passenger aboard a flight to Reagan National, for fondling the breast of the woman next to whom he was seated. Prosecutors said Agarwal, who didn't know the woman, squeezed the victim's body, including her nipple. The victim pretended to sleep during the attack, prosecutors said. A witness saw some of Agarwal's behavior and later saw the victim in tears. An air marshal placed Agarwal under arrest before the flight arrived at Reagan National. Agarwal pleaded guilty and was issued a $4,000 fine and probation in late 2013, according to court records. Ptasienski said two other recent incidents were not prosecuted, because of a lack of evidence. He said there's a pattern to the crimes, in many cases happening on red-eye, overnight flights. "The crew isn't walking around (as much). It's a crime of opportunity," Ptasienski said. Victims, either frightened or shell-shocked by the attacks, sometimes fail to notify flight crews of an assault before the planes arrive at an airport and their attackers depart. Investigations, though still possible, become more complicated after attackers and witnesses have left the scene. A News4 I-Team review found no federal agency is maintaining an official count of airborne sexual assaults, including the Federal Aviation Administration, which oversees air travel. The Bureau of Justice Statistics, which maintains hundreds of databases on crime in the United States, doesn't formally track these types of assaults either. The News4 I-Team asked major airlines for their own internal data on assaults. None shared any of their data. In a statement, Delta Airlines said it "cannot share details about security measures so we can make sure the integrity of said measures isn't compromised." Several other men have been charged with sexual attacks against strangers on airplanes since 2012, including men on flights to New Jersey and California. Dana Larue, a California-based blogger, told the News4 I-Team she'd suffered a sexual assault aboard a flight to Chicago in recent months. Larue said the attacker fondled her legs and breasts. Larue said she was so stunned by the attack, she failed to notify the flight crew. She said, "I knew there was nowhere to go. And I would've had to get by him to get out of my seat. I was just completely terrified and frozen." Larue notified authorities after her flight landed. The FBI, which investigates crimes aboard commercial flights, looked into her case, Larue said. But she said they were unable to bring charges against the attacker because other passengers and potential witnesses had already dispersed. FBI agents and safety groups urge assaulted passengers or witnesses to immediately notify flight crews, if possible. Veda Shook, president of the International Association of Flight Attendants, said airplane crews are prepared to respond to reports of assault. Shook said, "There's only a handful of flight attendants sometimes as few as one flight attendant working a flight. It's up to all of the passengers to be mindful of what's happening around them." http://www.nbcwashington.com/investigations/Surge-in-Sexual-Assaults-on-Airplanes-244798921.html Back to Top SERC of ISASI Annual Meeting 2014 The Southeast Regional Chapter of ISASI would like to invite you to attend their 2014 Meeting to be held in Cape Canaveral, FL on Saturday, March 22, 2014. Please see the registration form below. A tour of the Columbia Research and Preservation Center is also being offered on Friday, March 21, 2014. Availability is limited, and the deadline for tour registration is Monday, February 10, 2014. Please contact astorey@srca.net for additional information and reservations. ISASAI Registration Form 2014 Back to Top Sochi airport uses Silicon Valley facial recognition software PALO ALTO -- At the international airport in Sochi, Russia, the entry point for thousands of athletes, spectators and world leaders bound for the 2014 Winter Olympics, a state-of-the-art security system made by a Silicon Valley company is keeping watch. Artec Group, a 3-D camera tech company founded in the valley by Russian engineers, has created facial recognition software that Sochi officials are using to improve airport security during the games, which have been threatened by terrorist attacks. The technology, which uses a 3-D camera to identify a person using their facial features, is screening airport employees and officials entering secure areas. Experts say facial recognition could soon be in airports across the United States to screen passengers. Artec, which has offices in San Jose, Russia and Luxembourg, is set to open a showroom and 3-D printing center on University Avenue in Palo Alto on Tuesday. Artec Chief Executive Artyom Yukhin says the 3-D software can distinguish between identical twins, isn't fooled by disguises and offers one of the most advanced improvements in airport security. It also carries with it concerns about personal privacy violations and another layer of the NSA-type data gathering that has outraged much of the nation. "It's one thing to gather public data by having a police officer tail you," said Christopher Budd, global threats communication manager for data security firm Trend Micro. "When those physical limitations are removed, it becomes much easier to build a profile of someone." Facial recognition is common in social media and retail -- Facebook uses it to suggest names on photos, Google Plus' "Find My Face" relies on similar technology and even some TVs come with facial recognition. But the technology has also become a favorite tool for law enforcement and intelligence officials as the security industry has focused on real-time identification of threats, Budd said. Yukhin said the facial recognition software is used at other Russian airports and has been tested in airports around the world. He said Artec Group's partners in the U.S. have been discussing with aviation authorities ways to add the technology to this country's larger airports. Artec's partners include Unisys, one of the largest security technology companies. "There is a lot of testing going on," Yukhin said. "It's definitely going to come to airports" to screen passengers. A report published in May by The World Economic Forum and research firm Boston Consulting Group predicts that facial recognition will become part of a fully-automated check-in system at airports and border crossings by 2025. "Check-in for a flight would be expedited by replacing paper documents with an electronic passport, as well as biometric traveler identification through fingerprints, facial recognition or an iris scan," according to the report. Yukhin said facial recognition would speed up lines at the airport and improve security, because airport officials match the passenger's passport photo against the photo in the government computer system against the facial recognition software to confirm the identity. "From a security point of view the nice thing is you are targeting not what someone is going to do, but who they are, and that's a very powerful thing," Budd said. But in cases of false-positives - and the software can make mistakes - innocent people face the risk of being wrongly accused, and may not have a clear or easy way to appeal, experts say. Yukhin said faces are public data - unlike social security numbers or bank accounts - and the privacy intrusion is less than many of the security systems currently in use. All your neighbors know what your face looks like, he said. But some privacy experts say it's unclear what happens with the data and worry that security officials may use it to build a profile on people without their knowledge. "When we talk about public data, there is no notice about consent," Budd said. "With Facebook you have the option to not open an account. When you are walking down the street you don't have the option to say 'Don't use facial recognition on me.'" http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_25108220/sochi-airport-uses-silicon-valley-facial-recognition- software Back to Top Vietnam and Myanmar Lead Southeast Asia Airline Surge Southeast Asian carriers VietJetAir and Myanmar Airways maintained the region's strong growth-curve yesterday, announcing new airliner deals with almost $7.4 billion. At the Singapore Airshow, Vietnam's VietJetAir gave Airbus a $6.4 billion contract covering firm orders for 42 A320neos, 14 A320ceos and seven A321ceos. Earlier in the day, GE Capital Aviation Services (Gecas) and Myanmar state-owned flag carrier Myanmar Airways signed a $1 billion leasing agreement for 10 Boeing 737-800 and 737 Max models. The VietJetAir deal includes purchase rights for another 30 airplanes and accompanies lease contracts covering seven more A320-family airplanes from third parties. It calls for delivery of the first current generation A320 this year and the first A320neo in 2018. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, vice chairwoman and CEO of VietJetAir, and Airbus president Fabrice Brégier signed the final papers at the show yesterday. Dinh La Thang, Minister of Transport of Vietnam, and Le Luong Minh, Secretary General of ASEAN, witnessed the signing during ceremonies held in the show's exhibit hall. Myanmar Airways will take delivery of six Boeing 737NGs from Gecas, the commercial aircraft leasing and financing arm of GE, between 2015 and 2017; deliveries of four 737 Max 8s with CFM International Leap- 1B engines will follow through 2020. The value of the aircraft is $960 million at list price. The transaction represents one of the largest investments by a U.S. company in Myanmar since the two countries reestablished diplomatic ties in 2012, said Norman Liu, Gecas president and CEO. In business for a little more than two years, VietJetAir already has grown to command 26.2 percent of Vietnam's domestic market share. It now flies 11 leased A320s on 16 domestic and four international routes. Registering average load factors of 90 percent, the airline recorded profits during its second year of operation. "The A320 has proven to be extremely efficient in service with VietJetAir and is a favorite with our passengers," said VietJetAir managing director Luu Duc Khanh. "Based on this experience, we look forward to developing our business across the Asia-Pacific region. Airbus will be our strategic partner and provide us with the most economic and comfortable aircraft and coordinate with VietJetAir in relevant training programs." Bregier referred to VietJetAir as one of the fastest growing airlines in the region and a rising star in the low-fare market segment, thanks largely to explosive traffic growth in Vietnam. Airbus projections call for at least 10 percent annual traffic growth in Vietnam over the next 20 years. Going To Japan Myanmar's transport minister described the contract there, which was announced yesterday morning before the Singapore Airshow opened, as the largest such transaction in the country's aviation history. At Tuesday's press conference Nyan Htun Aung, Myanmar union minister for transport, said Myanmar Airways will serve destinations in Japan with the 737s, enabling the carrier to "reenter the international market-with the support of our good friends, Gecas." The airline initially leased two Embraer E190s from Gecas in 2012. The minister said international travel through Myanmar grew by 34 percent last year but domestic airlines are capturing only 10 percent of that traffic. "We need to increase that," he said, describing the transaction as the largest in the country's aviation history. Joining the officials on the podium at Singapore's Shangri-La Hotel was Derek Mitchell, the U.S. ambassador to Myanmar. The U.S. Senate confirmed Mitchell as ambassador in June 2012, sending the first ambassador to the former Burma in 22 years. The appointment "came because the relationship between our two countries has evolved...We have eased our sanctions [against Myanmar] and are engaged in an eager effort to renew our ties," he said. Also at the press conference, Win Swe Tun, deputy director-general of Myanmar's Department of Civil Aviation, defended the country's aviation safety record. Last summer, the civil aviation authorities of Indonesia and Myanmar grounded Merpati Nusantara Airlines' and Myanmar Airways' Chinese-made Xian MA60 turboprops for safety checks following a series of accidents. Win Swe Tun said Myanmar has instituted a safety management system for carriers and will continue to improve upon aviation safety. "We are a member state of ICAO and we take care of our passengers and our property," he said. http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/singapore-air-show/2014-02-10/vietnam-and-myanmar-lead- southeast-asia-airline-surge Back to Top Back to Top 1929 Ford Tri-Motor Flight Tour in Naples NAPLES, Fla. - The airplane that started the airline industry as we know is at the Naples Municipal Airport. The Ford Tri-Motor is one of the most important pieces of aviation history still flying. At the ripe old age of 85, she took her maiden flight in August of 1929. Just 26 years after the Wright Bothers historic powered flight at Kitty Hawk. That's how long aviation took to grow from infancy to airlines. Henry Ford designed the 3 engine airplane after World War I, when he recognized the need for mass air transportation. "It's not very complicated the engines are still available today for this" says Tom Leahy, A Tri-Motor Pilot. He says, "Henry Ford thought that this is the way to travel." Ford wanted to make flying more enjoyable for passengers. By doing so, each seat provided the 9 flyers on board with a window and isle experience under an enclosed cabin. These airplanes were built using all metal according to Leahy. They were nicknamed "The Tin Goose." Leahy's been flying this particular Tri-Motor since 2002. In fact, it's one of only a few that is still around, "there are 7 other flyable airplanes like this, however they're all static displays or not available for the public to use" says Leahy. Back then Ford built 199 of the aircrafts. http://www.winknews.com/Local-Florida/2014-02-10/1929-Ford-Tri-Motor-Flight-Tour-in- Naples#.UvojRvldWSo Back to Top Japan bid to glorify kamikaze pilots draws flak Beijing : China on Monday slammed attempts by a Japanese city for approaching the UNESCO for inclusion of 333 items left behind by WW-II kamikaze suicide pilots in the UN body's Memory of the World Register. "The application is trying to embellish the invasion history of Japanese militarism and challenge the achievements of the world anti-Fascism war and post-war international order," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a media briefing answering a question. The application was made by the Chiran Peace Museum in Minamikyushu city. Hua said Japan committed many atrocities against humanity during World War II. The kamikaze were suicide pilots recruited by Japan to attack Allied naval vessels during the closing stages of the Pacific campaign of World War II. Their attacks were designed to run down warships more effectively than conventional attacks. Although numbers quoted vary, at least 300 Allied vessels were damaged. The kamikaze also caused serious losses to the American Pacific fleet, especially at Okinawa. "The application is completely against the mission of the UNESCO to maintain world peace and will surely be strongly condemned and firmly opposed by the international community," Hua said. The 333 notes and letters are part of 14,000 pieces of writing kept in the museum, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Speaking at a regular press briefing, she added that Japan committed 'numerous' crimes against humanity during World War II. "This effort runs completely counter to UNESCO's objective of upholding world peace, and will inevitably meet strong condemnation and resolute opposition from the international community," she said. Relations between Beijing and Tokyo are heavily coloured by history, particularly the rampage across China by Japan's imperial forces in the 1930s and 1940s, when Chinese government researchers say 20.6 million people were killed. http://freepressjournal.in/japan-bid-to-glorify-kamikaze-pilots-draws-flak/ Back to Top Has Air NZ taken safety videos too far? Until Air New Zealand reinvented them, in-flight safety videos used to be utterly boring to watch. We would be advised in soothing tones what to do "in the unlikely event of an emergency". We should "follow the instructions of your crew" and take note of the "safety features on board this aircraft" such as life- jackets and "floor strip lighting" which will guide us to the exit. Furthermore, should oxygen masks appear before us we should "breathe normally". Many of us could recite the entire script word for word. I knew it off by heart (hand signals, fake smiles and all) when I was a teenager and harboured (still unfulfilled) dreams of being a flight attendant. When Air New Zealand launched its groundbreaking "Bare Essentials" safety video featuring cast members wearing nothing but body paint, the world took notice. It was captivating, jaw-dropping. It went viral. The clip attracted over 7-million hits. People watched it for fun, for entertainment. Turning a duty, a chore, an aviation requirement into something we wanted to see was sheer genius. This first effort was so successful (and so surprising) that subsequent versions were viewed with suspicion. However, the All Blacks and the Hobbit safety videos mostly satisfied the viewing public. Unfortunately, Richard Simmons' "Fit to Fly" safety video - which incorporated sparkly tank-tops, headbands, disco flooring and a Paul Henry cameo - was undeniably cheesy and lacked broad appeal. It possessed so much colour, flamboyance and zaniness that the original "Bare Essentials" video seemed quite tame in comparison. At least the early versions of the safety briefings were filmed on board an aircraft. Subsequent safety videos were shot all over the place. The Bear Grylls' version was filmed outdoors on the Routeburn Track while Betty White's one was located at the (fictitious) Second Wind Retirement Resort. Call me old-fashioned but I reckon safety videos ought to be shot inside a plane. I just don't think the core message is reinforced while we're distracted by the scenery. This is a theory that will be put to the test when Air New Zealand's latest safety video is released. According to Swimsuit video lands Air NZ in hot water, it was produced in conjunction with US magazine Sports Illustrated and will feature "cavorting swimsuit models" in a "beach setting". The "Safety in Paradise" video has been described by one related party as "tasteful" while another labelled it "raucous". We will have to wait and see which description is true. In the meantime, feminists are protesting that it's inappropriate for our national carrier to be objectifying women in this manner. One correspondent to the NZ Herald wrote: "Women's bodies are so frequently objectified in advertising that many are desensitised to it, so it's almost surprising it has caused a stir before official release ... Perhaps this is an opportunity to raise awareness of how women are represented in the media, and to start a meaningful dialogue about the harmful effects of this on our young women and society at large." Of course, the welfare of society at large is unlikely to be the primary concern of any commercial airline. Like its predecessors, this safety video is designed to gain maximum media coverage. Simply by discussing it, we are furthering the aims of whoever is behind this savvy public relations initiative. Air New Zealand's videos have become the stuff of legends. As reported in Betty White straps in for new Air NZ safety video, the "airline's safety videos have collectively clocked up more than 25 million views online and have featured in coverage by global media outlets, such as CNN, BBC and the New York Times". The purpose of this latest controversial production is to lift the airline's global profile and to promote the Pacific as an exotic destination. Despite its core function as a safety video, it's not been designed to necessarily please the people who are already strapped into their seats. The executive decision has been made that it's worth disappointing some passengers in order to work with a magazine that reaches 70- million people. The airline is clearly prepared to endure a few pursed lips and criticism from feminists in return for a heightened level of international exposure. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11199941 Back to Top Calls for Application for The ISASI Rudolf Kapustin Memorial Scholarship DEADLINE for filling application 15 April, 2014 The 2014 ISASI Seminar will be held in the Stamford Hotel in Glenelg, near Adelaide, Australia 13-16 October 2014. INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF AIR SAFETY INVESTIGATORS 2014 The ISASI Rudolf Kapustin Memorial Scholarship (In memorial to all ISASI members who have died) Purpose: To encourage and assist college-level students interested in the field of aviation safety and aircraft occurrence investigation. Funding: The ISASI Rudolf Kapustin Memorial Scholarship fund will be established through donations and will provide an annual allocation of funds for the scholarship if funds are available. Eligibility: Applicants must be enrolled as full time students in a recognized (note ISASI recognized) education program, which includes courses in aircraft engineering and/or operations, aviation psychology, aviation safety and/or aircraft occurrence investigation, etc., with major or minor subjects that focus on aviation safety/investigation are eligible for the scholarship. A student who has received the annual ISASI Rudolf Kapustin Memorial Scholarship will not be eligible to apply for it again. Administration of the Fund: The President of ISASI will appoint a two person committee to be executors and administrators of the fund. The ISASI Treasurer will oversee all expenditures. The Scholarship Fund Committee will check that the education program is at a recognized school and applicable to the aims of the Society, assess the applications and determine the most suitable candidate. Donors and recipients will be advised if donations are made in honor of a particular individual. Annual Scholarship: Funded attendance at ISASI Annual Seminar An award of $2000 will be made to each student who wins the competitive writing requirement, meets the application requirements and will register for the ISASI annual seminar. The award will be used to cover costs for the seminar registration fees, travel, and lodging/meals expenses. Any expenses above and beyond the amount of the award will be borne by the recipient. ISASI will assist with coordination and control the expenditure of funds. In addition, the following are offered to the winner(s) of the scholarship. 1. A one year membership to ISASI 2. The Southern California Safety Institute (SCSI) offers tuition-free attendance to ANY regularly scheduled SCSI course to the winner of the ISASI Scholarship. This includes the two-week Aircraft Accident Investigator course or any other investigation courses. Travel to/from the course and accommodations are not included. More information at http://www.scsi-inc.com/ 3. The Transportation Safety Institute offers a tuition free course for the winner of the Scholarship. Travel to/from the course and accommodations are not included. More information is available at http://www.tsi.dot.gov/ 4. The Cranfield University Safety and Accident Investigation Centre offers tuition-free attendance at its 5-day Accident Investigation course which runs as part of its Masters Degree program at the Cranfield campus, 50 miles north of London, UK. Travel to/from the course and accommodation are not included. Further information is available from www.csaic.net/ Application requirements: 1. A full time student who meets the Eligibility requirement stated above and has been enrolled for a duration of one year 2. The student is to submit a 1000 (+/- 10%) word paper in English addressing "the challenges for air safety investigators" 3. The paper is to be the students own work and must be countersigned by the student's tutor/academic supervisor as authentic, original work 4. The papers will be judged on their content, original thinking, logic and clarity of expression 5. The essay and application must be submitted in a format that can be opened by Microsoft Word. 6. The student must complete the application form with their paper by April 15, 2014 and submit it to ISASI by mail, fax, or email to isasi@erols.com. ISASI contact information - Ann Schull, International Office Manager 107 E. Holly Avenue, Suite #11 Sterling, VA 20164 703 430 9668 (Main) 703 430-4970 (FAX) Some advice to those applying: 1. Late submissions are not advisable 2. Handwritten applications are not advisable 3. Make sure to include your email address as indicated above Application Form 2014 INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF AIR SAFETY INVESTIGATORS The ISASI Rudolf Kapustin Memorial Scholarship (In memorial to all ISASI members who have died) Name: Date: Address: Course enrolled for: Year /Subjects Studied: Academic Institute: Address: Email: Telephone number: Student Signature:_____________________________________________________________ Tutor/Academic Supervisor title and signature:________________________________________ 1000 Word Paper ""the challenges for air safety investigators" NOTE: Students who wish to apply for the scholarship should visit www.isasi.org or send email to isasi@erols.com. The ISASI office telephone number is 1-703-430-9668. Back to Top The Aerospace Department at Middle Tennessee State University Journal Survey Dear Colleague, The Aerospace Department at Middle Tennessee State University invites you to participate in a survey regarding non-engineering aviation, aeronautic, and space periodicals. The value of non-engineering aerospace journals is significant for our discipline especially when considering publication opportunities and the impact those peer-reviewed and industry publications may have in our research, education, and outreach endeavors. How these journals are rated by our peers may also help define periodical status for non-engineering aerospace faculty. Our goal is to update a 2006 study that identified periodicals providing exceptional value and utility to academicians. Unlike studies that focus primarily on research quality and prestige of academic journals, we will continue to investigate a wider set of issues. We hope to gain insight into the value of non-engineering aviation, aeronautic, and space-related periodicals (both academic journals and industry publications) that are used by academicians in their research, outreach, and teaching activities. Thus, your participation and opinion is very important to the success of the study. We would also request that you please pass this email along to colleagues in your department, school, and/or college who may be teaching aerospace courses. Please visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/5X6GT5B to begin the survey. We would greatly appreciate a response by March 1, 2014. Thank you. Randy Johnson, Ph.D. Paul Craig, Ph.D. Aerospace Department Middle Tennessee State University Informed Consent Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU Protocol Number: #14-198) Project Title Usefulness of Collegiate Aviation and Space Publications: An Expansion and Update Purpose of Project The study will update and expand a survey conducted and published in 2006 in The Collegiate Aviation Review (Johnson, Hamilton, Gibson, & Hanna, 2006). Procedures The survey includes questions about which periodicals and journals you may use in your work. Specifically we would like to find out how useful periodicals and journals inform your research, teaching, and/or outreach. We are also requesting some demographic information as well as institutional emphasis on research, teaching, and outreach. Risks/Benefits of this study You will be contributing to knowledge on the usefulness of publications in aerospace education. After we have finished the data collection, we will be happy to provide you with a more detailed description of the data if you request. No risks or discomforts are anticipated from participating in this survey. If you are uncomfortable with a particular question, you are free to skip it or withdraw from the study altogether. Confidentiality Your responses will be kept completely confidential. We will not know your IP address when responding to the survey. Participation Your participation is voluntary and you are free to withdraw from the study at any time. If you do not want to continue, you may simply leave the website. All efforts, within reason, will be made to keep the personal information in your research record private but total privacy cannot be promised, for example, you information may be shared with the Middle Tennessee State University Institutional Review Board. In the event of questions or difficulties of any kind during or following participation, the subject may contact the Principal Investigator as indicated above. For additional information about giving consent or your rights as a participant in this study, please feel free to contact the MTSU Office of Compliance at (616) 494-8918 Consent I have read the above information and I understand the purpose, benefits, and risks of the study and give my informed and fee consent to be a participant. By beginning the survey, I acknowledge that I have read this information and agree to participate in this research, with the knowledge that I am free to withdraw at any time without penalty. Principal Investigators: Dr. Randy Johnson Randall.Johnson@mtsu.edu (615) 898-2288 Dr. Paul Craig Paul.Craig@mtsu.edu (615) 494-8637 Curt Lewis