Flight Safety Information March 7, 2014 - No. 048 In This Issue China voices concern over aviation safety Abu Dhabi Airport Technical Failure Halts Flights Azerbaijan receives category 1 aviation safety rating Drone Pilot's Fine Dropped by Judge Finding Against FAA Plane refused entry to Iraq after minister's son misses boarding PRISM SMS Airbus books 108 new orders, delivers 44 aircraft Gulf Flight Safety Council meets in Abu Dhabi Upcoming Events PILOT HEALTH & MEDICAL CERTIFICATION CONFERENCE China voices concern over aviation safety China on Thursday said it attaches great importance to the safety of civil aviation and the "relevant country" should follow international practice to ensure the security of civilian facilities in airspace and maritime space. Foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang made the remarks at a regular press briefing in response to reports that North Korea had launched rockets into airways. South Korea has reportedly claimed the North's artillery launch on Tuesday happened minutes before a Chinese commercial plane crossed the same area. Qin said no specific matters related to China's civil aviation safety were reported on Tuesday. But "we will check the situation with relevant parties and express our concern which is necessary." "If any country is to hold training or exercises, it should take measures in accordance with international practice to ensure the safety of civil facilities in relevant airspace and maritime space," Qin said. http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/846764.shtml#.UxnC3fldU8k Back to Top Abu Dhabi Airport Technical Failure Halts Flights Dozens of flights to the United Arab Emirates capital of Abu Dhabi were diverted Thursday after a technical malfunction during heavy fog led authorities to stop accepting incoming planes, according to the airport and its main airline. Etihad Airways, the state-backed carrier that is the UAE's national airline, said all morning flights were redirected because of a "technical failure of the runway landing systems." The airport authority cited only operational challenges posed by low visibility conditions. The malfunction happened as dense fog descended over much of the country, snarling traffic during the morning commute. The airport in nearby Dubai, the region's busiest air hub, reported delays but remained operational. Abu Dhabi airport said 37 flights were diverted to several regional airports, some as far away as Dammam, Saudi Arabia, and Muscat, Oman. Flight operations resumed later in the day, though Etihad said "significant delays" were expected to continue for some time. Etihad, the main user of Abu Dhabi airport, and its larger competitors Qatar Airways and Dubai-based Emirates are growing rapidly and use their Gulf bases as major long-haul aviation transit hubs. Abu Dhabi International Airport is undergoing a major expansion that includes the construction of a new terminal complex. Morning fog is not uncommon along the UAE's Gulf coast during certain times of the year. In 2012, some 50 flights were diverted from Dubai International Airport after a backup system needed to deal with heavy fog failed. http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/wireStory/abu-dhabi-airport-technical-failure-halts-flights-22801265 Back to Top Azerbaijan receives category 1 aviation safety rating Following its International Aviation Safety Assessment, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ranked Azerbaijan in category 1 for aviation safety, according to a message from the U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan. "This categorization will permit Azerbaijani air carriers to initiate direct flights to the United States, which will support the development of tourism and cargo trade between our two countries," the embassy said. FAA determined that the Azerbaijani State Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) is effectively fulfilling its safety oversight obligations as a member state of the International Civil Aviation Organization in all eight critical elements. This determination was made following a Technical Review mission to Azerbaijan conducted by an FAA team in October 2013 and subsequent comprehensive technical discussions with the SCAA in December 2013 and January 2014 to review the progress that SCAA made, according to the embassy. "The U.S. Trade and Development Agency is pleased to have contributed to the SCAA's improvements in aviation safety oversight that resulted in the category 1 determination. By particularly funding two phases of aviation safety technical assistance, the U.S. government demonstrated its commitment to helping the SCAA achieve the international standard in the oversight of its aviation system," the U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan said. "We would like to congratulate the Azerbaijani government for its diligent work, professionalism, and dedication over the course of the past several years to attain this categorization. The U.S. government looks forward to continuing its work with Azerbaijan in the field of civil aviation". http://en.trend.az/news/society/2250447.html Back to Top Drone Pilot's Fine Dropped by Judge Finding Against FAA By Alan Levin A judge overturned a U.S. regulator's first fine against a drone operator, a ruling that may lead to more commercial unmanned-aircraft flights in the U.S. before rules are written to govern their use. Judge Patrick Geraghty of the National Transportation Safety Board, which decides appeals of enforcement actions by the Federal Aviation Administration, dismissed yesterday the agency's $10,000 fine against Raphael Pirker for reckless flying. The FAA has no authority over small unmanned aircraft, Geraghty ruled. "This has very significant implications for companies that have been eager to proceed with commercial applications for UAS technologies," Brendan Schulman, Pirker's lawyer, said in an interview. The decision is a setback for the FAA, which has held that U.S. commercial drone flights are prohibited until it writes rules governing their use. Agency officials didn't immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment. At the time of Pirker's flight to shoot a promotional video over the University of Virginia in Charlottesville on Oct. 17, 2011, "there was no enforceable FAA rule" on the type of model aircraft he used, Geraghty said in his decision. The FAA argued that Pirker's flight, with a plane made with a foam wing and weighing less than 5 pounds, was "careless and reckless," putting it under the agency's authority to enforce flying safety. Pirker flew under bridges, near statues and over pedestrians, as documented on video he shot that day. Regulation Undermined The decision counters the FAA's assertion, most recently made in an update posted on its website Feb. 26, that there are "no shades of gray in FAA regulations. Anyone who wants to fly an aircraft -- manned or unmanned -- in U.S. airspace needs some level of FAA approval." Even before the ruling, the FAA was struggling to police the commercial use of drones that anyone can purchase online or at hobby shops. Drones have been used to film scenes in the Martin Scorsese-directed movie "The Wolf of Wall Street" and sporting events for Walt Disney Co. (DIS)'s ESPN. They've inspected oilfield equipment, mapped agricultural land and photographed homes and neighborhoods for real estate marketing, according to industry officials, company websites and videos on the Internet. While the FAA hasn't issued any permits for commercial drone use outside the Arctic, the agency said in a Feb. 10 statement that it will consider them on a case-by-case basis. Model Planes Congress in 2012 ordered the FAA to craft rules to safely integrate drones into U.S. skies by 2015. The agency doesn't expect to allow all drone operations by then and will instead phase them into the system over a longer period, FAA Administrator Michael Huerta told a Senate hearing Jan. 15. While flying a model aircraft "solely for hobby or recreational reasons" doesn't require approval, hobbyists must operate according to 1981 guidelines, such as staying away from populated areas, the agency has said. Pirker didn't qualify as a hobbyist, the FAA argued. Geraghty found the guidelines can't be enforced, at least for people piloting a "model" plane. The agency needs to create exceptions for businesses that want to use them, Michael Toscano, president of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, said March 5 at a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee session in Washington. Toscano's association is an Arlington, Virginia-based trade group representing unmanned aircraft manufacturers such as Boeing Co. (BA) and Textron Inc. (TXT) http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-06/drone-pilot-s-fine-dropped-by-judge-finding-against- faa.html Back to Top Plane refused entry to Iraq after minister's son misses boarding MEA flight refused entry to Baghdad, turned back after 20 minutes Reports suggest an Iraqi minister's son, who missed the flight, was the cause (CNN) -- A minor furor has broken out on social media after reports a Middle East Airlines (MEA) flight was refused entry to Baghdad because an Iraqi minister's son had been left behind in Lebanon. Various media outlets have reported that Mahdi al-Amiri, son of Iraqi Transport Minister Hadi al-Amiri, forced the plane to turn back after he missed the flight. Rima Mikaoui, director of public relations for Middle East Airlines-Air Liban, told CNN: "It is true that MEA airplane that was heading to Baghdad yesterday on March 6, 2014 was forced to return to Beirut. "Matter is still under investigation, and we are awaiting the result of the investigation." The National News Agency (NNA) in Lebanon, run by the Ministry of Information, reported that "20 minutes after taking off from Beirut International Airport, the director of MEA bureau in Baghdad informed the airliner that the Iraqi authorities would not allow the aircraft to land in Baghdad airport if it wasn't carrying the minister's son on board." Other reports claim that airline staff searched for the missing passenger and made the usual announcements for boarding, and then departed after a six- minute delay without him. Investigations go on Iraq's Transport Ministry has denied the claims, saying the plane was turned back due to "cleaning operations" at the airport. Various comments have since emerged on Twitter. "You might consider getting ... to the gate on time, Mahdi al-Amiri," tweeted one. Lebanon's NNA has also reported that Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi Prime Minister, is investigating the allegations with a view to chastising those responsible. The Australian reports that MEA is in touch with the Iraqi authorities, claiming the incident has cost it time and money. Minister Hadi al-Amiri is also the head of Iraq's Badr Organization, a political party that was previously the armed wing of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq. http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/07/travel/mea-flight-turns-back/ Back to Top Back to Top Airbus books 108 new orders, delivers 44 aircraft PARIS--European commercial plane maker Airbus Group (AIR.FR) Friday said it booked 108 new orders for commercial aircraft in February and delivered 44 jets during the month. The company's orders tally was boosted by an order for 56 A320 single-aisle jets from low-cost Vietnamese airline VietJet Air and another smaller order from Kuwait Airlines, which ordered 15 A320 jets during the month. Airbus delivered 44 jets in the month, including one A380 super jumbo jet. The company also said it recorded 38 order cancellations over the first two months of the year so that its net orders so far this year stand at 80. The company expects to deliver a number of planes in 2014 close to the 626 ones it delivered in 2013. It expects orders will once again run at a faster pace than deliveries. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/airbus-books-108-new-orders-delivers-44-aircraft-2014-03-07 Back to Top Press Release - Gulf Flight Safety Council meets in Abu Dhabi The Gulf Flight Safety Council (GFSC) has conducted its first meeting for the year 2014 on Sunday 2nd of March in Gulf Center for Aviation Studies (GCAS) building in Bateen Airport (Abu Dhabi). The Council conducts its meeting periodically every three months to exchange information on Flight Safety issues among more than two Hundred Members (200) representing more than Eighty (80) different agencies from around the world that have interest in the Gulf region Flight Safety. Among the recent activities of the GFSC, which aims to improve Flight Safety in the Gulf Region, was the organization of the Aviation Safety Management Systems course delivered last week in Dubai by the University of Southern California (USC). This is the first course of an ongoing educational partnership between the GFSC and the USC that will deliver the Safety and Security Program in the Gulf region. The Gulf Flight Safety Council has addressed many regionally and internationally important Flight Safety issues in its Sunday meeting. The Council has emphasized the importance of the continuous cooperation and exchange of information among all stakeholders in the Aviation field as a cornerstone in building the highest possible level of safety regionally and internationally, the attendees also agreed on seconding the International Air Transportation Association (IATA) point of view that does not endorse the approach of Safety Ranking of Air Carriers conducted by some Websites; and stand with the view of the airline community that safety is not a competitive issue. GFSC strongly supports and encourages all possible mechanisms to exchange information that enhances flight safety, said Captain Mohammed Ahmed Malatani the Chairman of Council after the Sunday meeting. For additional information, contact Captain Mohammed Ahmed Malatani: chair@gfsc.aero or +966 505 356760 About the Gulf Flight Safety Council The Gulf Flight Safety Council began over a cup of coffee several years ago in Oman, when a small group of individuals sought to establish a focus for Gulf regional flight safety issues. From those humble beginnings the GFSC has grown into a diverse organization consisting of members from all over the region and around the world, including manufacturers, regulators, air traffic service providers, business jet and VVIP operators, airli Back to Top Upcoming Events: 25th Annual International Women in Aviation Conference March 6-8, 2014 Disney's Coronado Springs Resort Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA www.wai.org/14conference/index.cfm 8th World Cargo Symposium March 11-13, 2014 Los Angeles, California https://www.iata.org/events/wcs/pages/index.aspx Tucson Jet Rally lands in Marana next week The Tucson Jet Rally next week featuring radio-controlled, turbine-powered electric jets is expected to attract aeronautics aficionados from across the country. The three-day rally March 13-15 will feature planes that measure up to 6 feet and can cost $15,000 to $20,000. Many are scale models of military aircraft. Spectators can sign up for a behind-the-scenes tour. The rally runs from about 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. all three days at Tucson International Modelplex Park, 3250 N. Reservation Road, west of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Marana. Cost is $5 per vehicle for spectators. There's a $40 registration fee to fly. Go to www.timpa.org for more information about the rally and directions to the Modelplex Park http://azstarnet.com/news/local/tucson-jet-rally-lands-in-marana-next-week/article_8e638856-555f-5ea2-90b7- 07951177f7e9.html Middle East Air Cargo and Logistics Exhibition & Conference 2014 April 9-10, 2014 Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) http://cargomiddleeast.com Airport Show Dubai May 11-13, 2014 Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) www.theairportshow.com/portal/home.aspx Back to Top PILOT HEALTH & MEDICAL CERTIFICATION - AVIATION SAFETY STARTS HERE Mayflower Hotel | Washington, DC | April 1, 2014 Hosted by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l The most critical safety feature on any airliner is the pilot. Join us for this informative one-day conference to explore and learn about the current state of pilot health and medical certification issues which not only influence safety, but also the pilot's livelihood, and the airline's investment. For registration, meeting agenda and additional information visit: http://pilothealthconference.alpa.org This conference is supported by the Aerospace Medical Association Curt Lewis