Flight Safety Information May 26, 2014 - No. 106 In This Issue Jet Lands With Cracked Windshield After Hailstorm El Al pilot shortage may worsen due to new EU age restrictions 165 pilots reported drunk for duty in last 5 years (India) PRISM SMS IJAAA Article Submmissions ERAU Unmanned Aircraft Systems Short Course, Seattle Campus Upcoming Events Passenger jet diverts to Shannon as system fails A passenger jet had to burn off thousands of litres of fuel before it could safely land in Shannon after suffering a navigation systems failure.US Airways flight AWE-711 was travelling from Zurich in Switzerland to Philadelphia in the US and was about 200km west of the Clare Coast when the problem emerged. Shortly after 1.40pm yesterday the pilot contacted air traffic controllers in Shannon to inform them that he had no navigation systems. He told them he would have to abort crossing the Atlantic and divert to the airport.The crew of the Boeing 767-200 made a U-turn and routed back towards the Clare coast, where they entered a holding pattern in an effort to burn off excess fuel. This was to ensure the jet could land within safe landing weight limits. After spending over an hour circling over the Atlantic off the Clare coast the flight landed safely at Shannon shortly before 3pm.The flight was later cancelled while the 110 passengers and crew were accommodated in hotels in Limerick and Clare last night. They were due to return to Shannon early today to continue their journey to the US.It was the third time this month that a US Airways flight had to divert to an Irish airport - with crew members falling ill on two recent flights. http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/passenger-jet-diverts-to-shannon-as-system-fails-30304398.html Back to Top El Al pilot shortage may worsen due to new EU age restrictions New regulations will bar pilots over the age of 65 from flying in European airspace.Over the weekend, El Al Israel Airlines delayed a flight from Tel Aviv to Milan that had been scheduled to take off Friday at 2:45 P.M. until Saturday, due to what the airline said was a crew shortage.But unlike the cancelled flights that have plagued the carrier in recent weeks, the latest snafu is symptomatic of a much bigger problem: El Al is contending with a shortage of pilots, particularly among those flying medium-haul flights on Boeing 737s. The shortage is likely to grow worse when a new European Union aviation regulation goes into effect that from the end of the year will bar pilots over the age of 65 from flying in European airspace. Currently Israeli pilots can serve as captains until age 65 and for the two years after that continue as co- pilots, or first officers as they are formally known, with special permission from the Civil Aviation Authority. Thus the new European regulations risk grounding several dozen Israeli pilots in the upper age group.At this point, it is not clear if the Civil Aviation Authority will seek an exemption from the EU regarding the new rule. El Al, which declined to comment on the matter, has on its staff about 520 pilots.At its height, the earlier labor problem forced El Al to cancel four flights to Europe on a single day after the pilots, whose flights were booked by more than 600 passengers, called in sick. In response, El Al leased planes and crew from its rival, Israir, for an estimated half million shekels ($143,000) and two weeks ago signed a new labor agreement with the pilots flying its Boeing 737s.The labor pact signed with the pilots this month was meant to address their concerns amid the changes, including provisions for longer rest periods between flights and at least one day a week when they would not be required to work."A pilot who is not fit for a flight due to fatigue, won't fly," said Yosi Shuv, chairman of National Association of Israeli Pilots during the labor dispute at El Al a couple of weeks ago. El AL pilots have been feeling the impact of the so-called Open Skies aviation liberalization pact between Israel and the EU last year, which has led to a significant increase in flights by El Al and other carriers serving the Israel-Europe market. Most of these additional flights have been flown on El Al's Boeing 737s, some of which have been diverted to the airline's new discount carrier, Up Airlines.Under the new labor arrangement, El Al's 737 pilots are being given easier access to the airline's computer system to plan their work schedules, but the agreement has not solved the bigger problem of the pilot shortage. In response, management has begun recruiting some 50 new pilots, a record number, for the airline's pilots course. El Al is requiring that in addition to 1,000 flying hours to qualify as head pilot, recruits must have Israeli citizenship and have completed the Israel Air Force's pilots' course or similar civil or military training in Israel or abroad. http://www.haaretz.com/business/.premium-1.592742 Back to Top 165 pilots reported drunk for duty in last 5 years (India) Between 2009 and Feb 2014, a total of 165 pilots across the country were found to have high blood alcohol levels during checks, reveal the answers to an RTI application filed by TOI.CHENNAI: Pilots continue to turn up drunk for work despite restrictions and tests. Between 2009 and February 2014, a total of 165 pilots across the country were found to have high blood alcohol levels during checks, reveal the answers to an RTI application filed by TOI.Delhi tops the list with 50 pilots being grounded after reporting drunk for work in the last five years. In Mumbai, the number was 47, Kolkata it was 18 and in Chennai 17.Statistics from the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) show there has been a gradual increase every year in the number of pilots having higher-than-permissible limits of alcohol in their bloodstream during pre-flight medical tests - from 35 in 2009 to 41 in 2013. Till February this year four pilots were caught for being drunk. In Chennai, there has been an increase in the number of pilots found drunk on duty - from two in 2009 to five in 2013.In its RTI reply, the DGCA said it does not have records of the number of pilots terminated for being drunk. It does not maintain data on pilots who are allowed to fly despite being drunk. The DGCA refused to divulge the names of airlines where these pilots are working. "The information pertains to third party, hence details cannot be provided according to the RTI Act," it said.Sources say many instances go unreported because the DGCA is under-staffed and unable to verify if airlines are carrying out mandatory checks before pilots take off. Airline doctors are supposed to conduct breathalyzer tests on every pilot before a flight. DGCA officials do random checks.Rule 24 of the Aircraft Rules prohibits crew members - pilots and cabin crew - from taking alcoholic drinks 12 hours prior to the commencement of a flight. The flying licence of a crew member found drunk on duty should be suspended for three months as per the rules. The licence will be suspended for two years for a second offence and five years is the person is caught a third time.Sources say the shortage of experienced pilots makes airlines lax about pre-flight checks. Most cases are detected among pilots reporting for early morning departures. Instances of being drunk on duty are common during Christmas and New Year. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/165-pilots-reported-drunk-for-duty-in-last-5- years/articleshow/35613016.cms Back to Top Back to Top Back to Top View this email in a web page TWO-DAY CONTINUING EDUCATION UNIT (CEU) COURSE UAS Applications, Operations and Support: Key Topics of Industry This two-day, continuing education unit (CEU) course is specifically designed for professionals and specialists seeking to expand their understanding of the application, operation and support of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Discussions will focus on the considerations, regulations, policies, business opportunities and challenges of the industry. This course is developed and taught by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide faculty with UAS operations and research experience. Who Should Attend: ? Business Developers ? Executive Leadership ? Small Business Owner/Entrepreneur ? Engineers (including aerospace, communications, electrical, GNC, hardware, logistics, software, systems, quality assurance and test) ? UAS Operators, Pilots, Sensor Operators ? Analysts (system, data management, manufacturing, operations, procurement, research and quality) ? Managers (account, contracts, program, project and operations) ? Training Developers/Coordinators ? Administrators (government, contracts, IT and property) ? Planners (mission, facilities, schedule and strategic) ? Technicians (avionics, electronics, manufacturing and radio frequency) ? Writers (technical, grant and proposal) Key Topics: ? Introduction and Impact of UAS ? UAS Designs ? Legislation, Certification and Regulation ? Industry Concerns ? Applications ? Operational Profiles ? Business Opportunities ? Future of UAS When: Where: Course Fee: Thursday, June 5 to Friday, June 6 Embry-Riddle Worldwide Seattle Campus 1000 Oakesdale Avenue SW Suite 110 Renton, WA 98057 USD $700 Time: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with an hour lunch For more information: Al Astbury, Office of Professional Programs Tel: (866) 574-9125 * email: training@erau.edu CLICK HERE FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS AND REGISTRATION Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University 600 S Clyde Morris Boulevard Daytona Beach, FL 32114 USA If you wish to be removed from this group's mailing list, click here Back to Top Upcoming Events: SMS & Risk Management Training Tampa, FL June 4-5, 2014 http://atcvantage.com ERAU Unmanned Aircraft Systems Short Course Seattle, WA June 5-6, 2014 http://proed.erau.edu/programs/specialized-industry-training/unmanned-aircraft-systems-workshop-nv/index.html 6th Annual Aviation Human Factors & SMS Seminar June 24th & 25th 2014 Dallas, TX www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?EventID=1384474 21st Century Pilot Reliability Certification Workshop June 30th and July 1st, 2014 Hasbrouck Heights, NJ 07605 Please contact Kacy Schwartz kacy@convergentperformance.com 719-481-0530 International System Safety Society Annual Symposium 04-08AUG2014 - St. Louis, MO http://issc2014.system-safety.org Curt Lewis