Flight Safety Information August 1, 2014 - No. 158 In This Issue Investigators Set up Search Base at Jet Crash Site Taiwan Crash Pilots Sought Go Around 8 Secs Before Impact NTSB 'Concerned' About Proposal to End Medical Certification for Pilots Looming pilot shortage shows first signs Boeing says 55,000 new pilots needed in Middle East Pilot jumps from glider at 4,500 feet following mid-air crash U.S. Orders Airlines to Fly at Higher Altitudes Over Iraq West Texas man convicted of shining laser at aircraft PRISM TO HELP PREPARE FOR E-IOSA ALPA lists 10 airlines with lowest starting pay for pilots Ebola testing station set up in Houston airport Embry-Riddle Debuts Free Online Aviation Class Upcoming Events Investigators Set up Search Base at Jet Crash Site With the sound of artillery fire in the distance, dozens of international investigators arrived Friday at the zone where a Malaysia Airlines plane crashed in eastern Ukraine and began preparations to comb the rural area for remains of as many as 80 victims and jet debris. Several hours before they arrived, at least 10 Ukrainian soldiers were killed when their convoy was ambushed by pro-Russian separatist rebels in a town close to the wreckage site. Thirteen more soldiers were unaccounted for after the attack, officials said, and the bodies of four more people were being examined to determine whether they were soldiers or rebels. The investigators from the Netherlands and Australia plus officials with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe traveled from the rebel-held city of Donetsk in 15 cars and a bus to the crash site outside the village of Hrabove. Then they started setting up a base to work from at a chicken farm. As the investigators prepared equipment for the search, an Associated Press reporter heard the artillery fire. The investigative team's top priority is to recover human remains that have been rotting in midsummer heat of 90 degrees (32 degrees Celsius) since the plane went down on July 17. They will also try to retrieve the belongings of the 298 people killed who were aboard the Boeing 777. Ukraine and the West contend the plane was shot down by the rebels with a Russian- supplied missile. Rebel leaders publicly deny it, but one top rebel official has told the AP on condition of anonymity that insurgents were involved in the operation that downed the plane. Friday's search effort came after a smaller advance investigative team managed to perform a preliminary survey of the area a day earlier. For days, clashes along routes to the wreckage site had kept investigators from reaching the site. Independent observers warned that there has been tampering with evidence. The sprawling site of fields in between two villages will now be officially designated a crime scene and divided into grids that will be systematically searched for remains, victims' belongings and jet crash evidence, Australian police officer Brian McDonald told reporters in Hrabove. Specially trained dogs will be also be used in the search. The investigative team's journey in their convoy lasted about three hours from Donetsk, through the government-held town of Debaltseve, and back into the separatist- controlled territory, where the wreckage lies. At Debaltseve, the convoy was joined by three vehicles from the International Committee of the Red Cross. Both sides in the conflict tentatively agreed to a cease-fire around the crash zone, but the Friday morning attack by rebels on government troops took place less than 20 kilometers (12 miles) south of the crash site, outside the town of Shakhtarsk. Ukrainian forces and rebels have been battling in that area for several days but the town is still in rebel hands. Defense officials said that an army convoy was struck by mortars during redeployment. Ukraine security spokesman Vladislav Seleznev said the attack took place at 6 a.m., before the end of the 24-hour "day of quiet" declared Thursday in response to a call for a cease-fire from U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. "The militants are behaving in a cowardly and shameless fashion," Seleznev said. "They used the 'day of quiet' just to fire on us." Another Ukraine defense spokesman, Andriy Lysenko, said another 13 soldiers have been reported missing in action after the attack. Seleznev said the bodies of another four people killed in the incident have not yet been identified. Ukrainian forces in attempting to regain control of the area are trying to drive a wedge into an area between the largest rebel-controlled cities, Donetsk and Luhansk. Shakhtarsk lies on one of two highways linking those cities. In Donetsk, meanwhile, one person was killed Friday and three others were wounded when mortar fire struck a minibus carrying passengers near the central train station, said city hall spokesman Maxim Rovensky. The city government in Luhansk said five residents were killed and nine wounded after artillery shells rained down on them. Officials in the two cities did not say who they believe was responsible for the shelling. http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/investigators-set-search-base-jet-crash- site-24802870?page=2 Back to Top Taiwan Crash Pilots Sought Go Around 8 Secs Before Impact Pilots of TransAsia Airways Corp. (6702) Flight GE222 called for a go around eight seconds before the plane crashed into houses killing 48 people and the voice-recorder stopped, the Taiwan Aviation Safety Council said. GE222 deviated from its landing approach flight path in the final minute of its July 23 flight and data showed the aircraft banked sharply before slamming into buildings, the investigators said in Taipei today. There was an "unusual" reading on one of the engines of the propeller-driven plane, ASC Executive Director Thomas Wang said in the briefing. The announcements are the first official account of the final minutes of GE222. Ten people survived the crash of the ATR72-500 turboprop near Magong Airport on Taiwan's Penghu islands, with investigators examining factors including weather, flight personnel and mechanical issues to determine the cause of the accident. TransAsia, Taiwan's oldest civil airline, operates a fleet of ATRs on mostly domestic routes. Flight GE222, with 54 passengers and four crew, departed southern Taiwan's Kaohsiung city at 5:43 p.m. July 23 after a delay of more than 90 minutes. The pilots made contact with Magong air traffic control at 7:06 p.m., and disappeared after attempting a go- around during landing, the ASC has said in previous statements. Local fire fighters were on the scene by 7:12 p.m., it said. Runway 20 Radar tracking showed the aircraft circled away from the airfield multiple times prior to the crash, ASC said today. The pilots had requested a runway with instrument landing system prior to deciding on using a facility that didn't have one. Runway 20, a south-facing runway is equipped with so-called VHF Omnidirectional Range equipment that helps a pilot to fly the correct course toward a destination, according to charts for the airfield. The opposite Runway 02, facing north, has the more-advanced Instrument Landing System which also assists a pilot fly the correct altitude and glide slope, the charts show. Debris and broken foliage indicate the aircraft first hit trees 200 meters before the main crash site less than 1 kilometer (0.6 mile) left and short of the runway, investigators said. The pilot of the aircraft had almost 23,000 hours of flight experience and the co-pilot had about 2,400 hours, TransAsia said in a statement last week. Nearby residents told Bloomberg News last week that wind and rain were heavy at the time of the crash. Thunderstorms were observed in the area, according to a meteorology forecast for the airport, while the islands had been swept by a typhoon that passed through earlier in the day. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-08-01/taiwan-crash-pilots-sought-go-around-8- secs-before-impact.html Back to Top NTSB 'Concerned' About Proposal to End Medical Certification for Pilots Comments in post: NTSB 'Concerned' About Proposal to End Medical Certification for Pilots The acting head of the National Transportation Safety Board voiced doubts in House testimony Thursday about a proposed bill that would end the Federal Aviation Administration's medical certification requirement for many general aviation pilots. NTSB Acting Chairman Christopher Hart stopped short of explicitly opposing a bill sponsored by Reps. Todd Rokita, R-Ind., and Sam Graves, R-Mo., that would end the FAA's Third Class medical certification process for pilots whose aircraft carries up to five passengers. But at a hearing of the Subcommittee on Government Operations, Hart said, "We're very concerned about pilots flying without adequate medical standards." He explained that "we base our policy based on what we see in accidents and so far we haven't seen enough accidents to warrant an agency position on it. But we are very concerned about [pilots] not only not having to have a medical, but then in addition to that, if you don't have a medical, you're less likely to pay attention to the FAA's list of prohibited drugs" as well as illegal drugs. Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, D-Va., urged Hart to have the NTSB take a position on the bill and said, "I cannot believe that that [Rokita-Graves legislation] could come to any good." Ending the FAA certification requirement is a top priority for the general aviation pilots group, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. "We're laser focused on this," AOPA president Mark Baker told the aviation enthusiasts meeting EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis., Tuesday. Jim Coon, AOPA's senior vice president of government affairs and advocacy, said FAA administrator Michael Huerta made some encouraging comments about possible FAA action when he spoke to the Oshkosh gathering Thursday. FAA rules already allow recreational pilots to fly one- and two-seat light aircraft without a third class medical certificate. While urging the FAA to act, AOPA has also asked Congress to pass the Rokita-Graves bill. Graves has said that the FAA medical certification process is "nothing more than a bureaucratic hoop to jump through. It discourages new pilots and does not truly improve safety." Separately, NTSB chief Hart announced at Thursday's hearing that his agency is examining trends in the prevalence of over-the-counter, prescription, and illicit drugs identified by toxicology testing of fatally injured airmen between 1990 and 2012. "In general aviation, our investigators sometimes see evidence of drug use by pilots involved in accidents. So we decided it was time to look at this issue more in depth," he said. The NTSB plans to hold a public meeting in September to consider this study and issue potential recommendations. http://blogs.rollcall.com/the-container/medical-certification-for-pilots-ntsb-concerned- about-bill/?dcz= Back to Top Looming pilot shortage shows first signs KIMT News 3 - While an aviation safety legislation in 2013 is meant to keep the skies safe, it could also be keeping qualified pilots from reaching their goal. If you've flown any where in the past few years, you've probably noticed the cost of a single ticket is sky-rocketing, but the demand for flight has never been higher. To meet the rising demand of airline pilots around the country, the Federal Aviation Administration estimates that as many as 18,000 pilots will be needed by the year 2020. Some are calling it, the most expensive "gap year" you'll ever hear about. A staggering number, considering, that's the number of pilots currently flying regionally combined. What was once a manageable $40,000 to $50,000 worth of debt to get your commercial wings, has now become $150,000 in some cases. "Every kid likes to shock their parents. So when they asked what are you going to do next, I said I think I'd like to fly," said Albert Lea Municipal Airport Manager, Jim Hanson. At 16, many of us may have thought about school, sports, and getting our first car. For Jim Hanson, that wasn't the case. His wanting to rebel from the norm, led him to a not-so-ordinary passion. A passion for flight. "I went back out there, and spent nine hours or more, every hour that I could get into an airplane just to learn to fly," said Hanson. Now a member of the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame with more than 30,000 hours of flight time, and recent recipient of the Wright Brother's Award for 50 years of accident- free-flight ,it's safe to say, the man has some experience. While the news of a looming shortage of folks in the air service going into the field saddens the veteran pilot, it doesn't come as a surprise. "There have been pilot shortages, or rumors of pilot shortages several times over the last 30 years, but this time I guess it's for real," said Hanson. Up until August 2013, any one in search of their commercial pilots license would only have to obtain 190 to 250 hours of flight. However, a ruling by Congress to help ensure higher safety standards in the wake of many unforgettable crashes, now requires 1,500 hours of training and certification to make it to be considered qualified by larger carriers. Although you can still receive your license out of school for 250 hours. That's more than 62 days in the air. Although Jim agrees that their intentions were good, their solution couldn't have been more dramatic. "When you look at it compared to the Asian and European airlines, they come back and take people with no time and no flight experience at all. The 1,500 hour rule not only requires that they somehow come up with this additional time, but they also have to spend a lot of extra money," said Hanson. "For a flight-hour of training in an aircraft, it's about $100 per hour. If they've got another 1,200 hours to do, you're looking at a lot of money to increase that flight time to where they will actually be hired," said Ron Duer. Duer is a pilot instructor with Iowa Lakes Community College, and says the pressure put on pilots would only make sense, if these students were able to pay back the debt fairly quickly. "You can almost flip burgers for more than you'll make now as a starting pilot," said Duer. To help build up toward that goal of 1,500 hours, most pilots become flight instructors themselves and make money in the process, but according to Ron, even that isn't enough. "If they want to keep operating, they will have to raise the pay level for the entry-level pilot to make it look attractive for young pilots to go that route," said Duer. With the recent departure of one of their major carriers alongside the already high demand for more pilots, the Mason City Airport is one of many regional airports with their sights on taking off once again. "We knew that change was coming in the requirements of the pilots for commuter lines. We didn't know however, that it would have such a great effect," said Tom Hovland. Hovland is a board member with the Mason City Municipal Airport, which has struggled to find a new carrier since early this year. According to Tom, the trickle-down effect of these pilots is causing more harm than good. "All of a sudden to have this pilot situation, it's really putting a damper on the airport's economy, and it affects the economy of towns around here," said Hovland. Tom says he believes we can right the wrong done by an over-bearing policy and once again fly commercially out of Mason City. "Just because other ones have let you down, doesn't mean these guys are going to. We're very excited about getting them here," said Hovland. As he smiles and enjoys his craft, Jim says he's confident that long-term, this will not keep pilots from the itch to explore the world, one flight at a time. "If the flying bug catches you, there's probably not an escape. You will find a way to come up with money to do that training and make this a career. I've often said, that if we build a fence around the airport, people will find a way to get in if they really wanted to fly," said Hanson. The Federal Aviation Administration recently pushed the retirement age of pilots from 60 to 65-years-old in order to postpone the pilot shortage. In addition, many regional airlines now offer signing bonuses of up to $12,000. Current estimates show that the aviation industry could lose as much as $26 billion dollars, if the shortage continues. A report published this spring by the US Government Accountability Office, shows that small airports have lost 20 percent of flights since 2007, medium sized airports have lost 24 percent and large hubs have lost close to ten percent. This makes up a loss of 80,000 total seats. http://kimt.com/2014/07/28/looming-pilot-shortage-shows-first-signs/ Back to Top Boeing says 55,000 new pilots needed in Middle East US plane manufacturer Boeing said on Wednesday that the Middle East will need to recruit 55,000 new pilots over the next 20 years. The company's 2014 Pilot and Technician Outlook also forecast that a further 62,000 technicians will be needed in the region as airline fleets continue to grow. The report said the Middle East region in particular has seen significant growth since last year's outlook due to "increased airline capacity and orders for wide-body models which require more crew members". Globally, Boeing said it is forecasting continued strong growth in demand for commercial aviation pilots and maintenance technicians, projecting that between 2014 and 2033, the world's aviation system will require 533,000 new commercial airline pilots and 584,000 new maintenance technicians. "The challenge of meeting the global demand for airline professionals cannot be solved by one company or in one region of the world," said Sherry Carbary, vice president, Boeing Flight Services. "This is a global issue that can only be solved by all of the parties involved-airlines, aircraft and training equipment manufacturers, training delivery organisations, regulatory agencies and educational institutions around the world." The 2014 outlook projects continued increases in pilot demand, which is up approximately 7 percent compared to 2013; and in maintenance training, which increased just over 5 percent. Pilot demand in the Asia Pacific region now comprises 41 percent of the world's need. Overall, Boeing said the global demand is driven by steadily increasing airplane deliveries, particularly wide-body airplanes, and represents a global requirement for about 27,000 new pilots and 29,000 new technicians annually. Projected demand for new pilots and technicians by global region is: Asia Pacific - 216,000 pilots and 224,000 technicians Europe - 94,000 pilots and 102,000 technicians North America - 88,000 pilots and 109,000 technicians Latin America - 45,000 pilots and 44,000 technicians Middle East - 55,000 pilots and 62,000 technicians Africa - 17,000 pilots and 19,000 technicians Russia and CIS - 18,000 pilots and 24,000 technicians http://www.arabianbusiness.com/boeing-says-55-000-new-pilots-needed-in-middle- east-559717.html Back to Top Pilot jumps from glider at 4,500 feet following mid-air crash Glider pilot leaps from cockpit and parachutes to safety after wing breaks off his aircraft in midair collision A glider pilot escaped serious injury after he leapt from his aircraft following a collision with another glider Photo: Martin Boss/Geoff Robinson A glider pilot lept out of his aircraft and parachuted to safety after a mid-air collision at 4,500 feet. The pilot Andrew Preston, 70, from Banbury, baled out after the wing of his glider broke off in a collision with another glider during a competitoin in Cambridgeshire. Mr Preston, who has been gliding for 19 years and is a member of Banbury Gliding Club, described how his glider was flipped upside down in the collision. He opened the canopy, undid his seat buckle and fell out of the glider. He escaped with a fractured vertebrae and a cut on his leg. Mr Preston, who has done more than 1,000 hours of flying, said: "The other glider seemed to come out of nowhere. There was a very loud crash and my glider seemed to immediately tip upside down. "It was very scary. It was like a car crash in the air. I was very lucky to get out. "It all happened very quickly. I had to open the canopy, then release the buckle and I fell out of the glider, then pulled the parachute. "I've done more than 1,000 hours of flying and I enjoy gliding and competitions - nothing like this has ever happened before. "The parachute was very small, so it was a bit like jumping from a 15ft height and people often break their bones. "I was extremely lucky and only fractured a vertebrate in my back and cut my leg on the glider. I was in shock and spent a few days in hospital, but I am fine now." Mr Preston was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge after the accident. His glider crashed upside down in a field near Little Paxton in Cambridgeshire and the broken wing landed nearby. The pilot of the second glider was able to land safely on an airfield near Bedford. The accident in now being investigated by the British Gliding Association (BGA). The pilots were taking part in the week-long Hus Bos Challenge Cup on Saturday afternoon, which had 35 contestants, and each glider was believed to have been flying at around 50mph. They were flying from the Gliding Centre at Husbands Bosworth, near Market Harborough in Leicestershire. The dramatic incident was captured on camera by Martin Boss, who lives nearby. Mr Boss, an electronics engineer, had been in his garden trying to get photos of birds when he saw the gliders about half a mile away. The 45-year-old, who used a 400mm lens to capture the moment, said it was a shock to see the two gliders collide and one start to break up. He said: "There were about half a dozen to eight gliders and I took some pictures of them. Then two of them touched each other, one of the wings came off, and it went straight down." Pete Stratten, chief executive of the BGA, said: "This type of accident happens very rarely, it is a relatively safe sport but everybody does accept there is a greater risk than climbing on a commercial aircraft." He said each glider would have been flying around 50mph and the force of the crash was enough to separate the wing from the glider. He added: "The pilot jumped out effectively and the other pilot landed immediately." The Hus Bos Challenge Cup runs until Sunday (August 3). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/11005602/Pilot-jumps- from-glider-at-4500-feet-following-mid-air-crash.html Back to Top U.S. Orders Airlines to Fly at Higher Altitudes Over Iraq FAA Prohibits Flights Over Iraq Below 30,000 Feet The U.S. government has told airlines flying over Iraq to remain at higher altitudes, amid growing concerns about carriers operating around conflict zones. U.S. airlines are prohibited from flying over Iraq below 30,000 feet, the Federal Aviation Administration said late on Thursday. The agency, which had previously restricted airlines from flying below 20,000, issued the new requirement because of "the potentially hazardous situation created by the armed conflict in Iraq." The FAA's guidance, which is mandatory for all U.S. airlines but not others, comes amid elevated concerns about airlines flying near conflict zones after the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over war-torn eastern Ukraine. The Malaysia Airlines Boeing BA -1.48% 777 jetliner was flying at 33,000 feet in airspace the Ukrainian government had said was safe when it was shot down by a suspected antiaircraft missile fired by pro-Russian separatist rebels. Russia denies the rebels downed the plane. Amid such concerns some airlines have already opted to avoid Iraqi airspace altogether and European aviation safety regulators are poised to issue their own safety bulletin on the country on Friday, although the European guidance isn't binding. Air France AF.FR -1.99% said this week it stopped flying over Iraq, while Emirates Airline, the world's largest by international traffic, said it is reviewing the situation. Virgin Atlantic Airways also has ceased flying over Iraq. "Safety and security is our top priority and we will always follow government advice in such matters," the carrier said. Airlines generally operate along two trunk routes in eastern Iraq as they travel between Europe and the busy Persian Gulf hubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, while others fly over the region to connect Europe and Southeast Asia. The FAA's guidance on Iraq also requires planes taking off from countries neighboring Iraq to have reached 30,000 feet before traversing the country In another example of concerns about flying near conflict areas, the Cologne-based European Aviation Safety Agency warned airlines Friday about flights in Libya's airspace "taking into consideration the recent escalation of violence and the attacks on the Tripoli airport." The FAA has already issued a flight ban for airspace in the area. The air safety arm of the United Nations on Tuesday convened a meeting to discuss the issue of operating around conflict zones. The meeting with airline, air traffic control and airport representatives said they would "urgently review" ways to share information on flight risks. International Consolidated Airlines Group SA IAG.MC +1.55% Chief Executive Willie Walsh said Friday that "individual airlines have to remain in charge of making the final decision" on where to fly. IAG's British Airways unit has continued flying over Iraq, but avoided the eastern Ukraine airspace even before the government shut those routes after the downing of Flight 17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur that killed all 298 people onboard. "We constantly look at our operation and assess whether it is safe or unsafe to operate and if we identify any areas where we consider to be unsafe we will stop flying there," Mr. Walsh said. The key now is to find ways for airlines to better communicate flight risks among each other, Mr. Walsh said. "It would be helpful if it was easy for us to share that with one another," he added. http://online.wsj.com/articles/u-s-increases-airspace-limits-on-iraq-flights-1406882674 Back to Top West Texas man convicted of shining laser at aircraft EL PASO, Texas - A federal jury has convicted a West Texas man of shining a laser at a helicopter flying overhead. Don Ray Dorsett had been arrested was arrested Feb. 14 in El Paso. With Thursday's conviction in El Paso, the 28-year-old El Paso man faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he's sentenced Oct. 2. No one was injured in the Jan. 4 incident involving a Texas Department of Public Safety helicopter. However, U.S. Attorney Robert Pittman has said that pointing lasers at aircraft poses a risk to flight crews, passengers and people on the ground. Consequently, it's a federal crime. In 2013, 3,960 laser strikes were reported, a 1,100% increase since the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) started tracking the incidents in 2005. http://www.ksat.com/content/pns/ksat/news/2014/08/01/west-texas-man-convicted-of- shining-laser-at-aircraft.html Back to Top Back to Top ALPA lists 10 airlines with lowest starting pay for pilots By Terry Maxon tmaxon@dallasnews.com The Air Line Pilots Association, as part of its argument that low pay is the reason U.S. airlines can't attract enough pilot candidates, has put out a list of the 10 U.S. airlines with the lowest starting pay. In each case, the salary listed is what a first officer (co-pilot) would earn in his or her first year on the job. Pilots start at airlines as first officers. They can move up to captain if they stay long enough to get enough seniority. Here's the list: 10 Lowest-Paying Airlines Estimated First-Year Salary as of July 20, 2014 Great Lakes $14,616 Silver Airways $18,693 SkyWest Airlines $20,064 Mesa Airlines $20,183 GoJet Airlines $20,504 Republic/Shuttle/Chautauqua $20,655 ExpressJet Airlines $20,745 Atlantic Southeast Airlines $20,907 Trans States Airlines $21,531 PSA Airlines $21,600 These are all small/regional carriers, not the major mainline carriers. While the regional carriers have struggled to find enough candidates to fill their starting jobs, the major carriers haven't reported problems - mainly because they can pull from the regional carriers' cockpits. Some of the 10 airlines are under common ownership. Republic Airways owns Republic Airlines, Shuttle America and Chautauqua Airlines. Trans States Holdings owns Trans States Airlines and GoJet Airlines. SkyWest owns SkyWest Airlines, ExpressJet and Atlantic Southeast Airlines. Only one has a major carrier as its parent. PSA Airlines is a unit of US Airways, a unit of American Airlines Group. ALPA cited the number of pilots on furlough at North American carriers or working for non-U.S. airlines as evidence that there are enough pilots out there if pay was just high enough. "The rock-bottom starting pay offered by regional airlines has become a serious deterrent for anyone considering becoming an airline pilot or, if they are already qualified, for choosing to work in the profession in the United States," ALPA president Lee Moak said. Boeing on Wednesday, in its "2014 Pilot and Technician Outlook," projected 533,000 new commercial airline pilots will be needed over the next 20 years (through 2033). North America will need the third most behind the Asia-Pacific and European regions. - Asia Pacific - 216,000 pilots - Europe - 94,000 pilots - North America - 88,000 pilots - Middle East - 55,000 pilots - Latin America - 45,000 pilots - Russia and CIS - 18,000 pilots - Africa - 17,000 pilots http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2014/07/alpa-lists-10-airlines-with-lowest-starting- pay.html/ Back to Top Ebola testing station set up in Houston airport Houston, TX - The Centers for Disease Control is warning travelers to avoid parts of West Africa, because of the Ebola outbreak. The CDC says more than 700 people have died from Ebola in Nigeria and nearby countries. With Bush International Airport in Houston, Texas supplying a direct flight to and from Nigeria every day, Houston has the largest Nigerian population outside of Nigeria. West Africa is dealing with the worst Ebola outbreak ever some 1,300 people infected and in the last 4 days alone. Customs agents at Bush International Airport say at this point they are not doing anything out of the ordinary, but routinely keeping an eye out for passengers with outward signs of sickness. The airport now has a CDC quarantine station, which is prepared to handle infected travelers. The CDC is also advising airline crews to watch for passengers from those West African countries who might have any symptoms of the virus, but, health experts say it can take 21 days for a person to show those symptoms, after they are infected and as many as 90% of victims die. Experts do not believe Ebola could spread in the US the way it has in West Africa because of our more advanced healthcare system. They also say more people die from from Malaria in one day than have died in this Ebola outbreak. http://www.newschannel10.com/story/26170516/ebola-testing-station-set-up-in- houston-airport Back to Top Embry-Riddle Debuts Free Online Aviation Class With the education of students about aviation as one of the goals at EAA AirVenture 2014, which is being held this week in Oshkosh, Wis., Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University chose the venue to announced the launch of its free online Aviation 101 course aimed at introducing high school and middle school students to the aviation industry. The class consists of 12 high-definition video lessons that cover topics such as aircraft systems, aerodynamics, flight instruments, airports, airspace, air traffic control, aeromedical factors and aviation weather. Students who complete the program could receive one hour of course credit at the school's Daytona Beach, Fla., or Prescott, Ariz. campuses. "Aviation 101 is a great example of what Embry-Riddle can offer to students who are interested in pursuing a career in aviation," said Ken Byrnes, the university's Daytona Beach campus flight department chair. It's professionally delivered, high-quality education that ensures that each student becomes a knowledgeable, safety conscious aviator." http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/eaa-airventure/2014-07-30/embry-riddle- debuts-free-online-aviation-class Back to Top Upcoming Events: ACI-NA Annual Conference and Exhibition Atlanta, GA September 7 - 10, 2014 http://annual.aci-na.org/ IFA - Maintaining Airworthiness Standards and Investing in the Most Important Asset 'The Human Element' 17 - 18 September, 2014 Emirates Eng Facility, Dubai www.ifairworthy.com Public Safety and Security Fall Conference Arlington, VA October 6 - 9, 2014 http://aci-na.org/event/4309 IASS 2014 Abu Dhabi, UAE November 11-13, 2014 http://flightsafety.org/meeting/iass-2014 Curt Lewis