Flight Safety Information September 16, 2014 - No. 190 In This Issue MH370 Mystery: 58 'Hard Objects' Found in Indian Ocean Teen who cut Boeing 767 wires to get back at his boss avoids jail term The 'world's strangest-looking airplane' turns 20 Southwest flight out of San Jose diverted to Oakland due to emergency PRISM TO HELP PREPARE FOR E-IOSA ICAEA-ANAC-CIPE Aviation English Workshop Graduate Survey Research Request AIRPORT WILDLIFE HAZARD MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP ISASI 2014 - Annual Seminar, October 13-16, 2014 - Early Bird Registration Deadline Upcoming Events MH370 Mystery: 58 'Hard Objects' Found in Indian Ocean MH370 Search - P3 Orion maritime search aircraft flies over the southern Indian Ocean (Reuters) KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: The Australia-led search team for the missing Malaysian flight MH370 has discovered 58 hard objects inconsistent with the Indian Ocean seabed, raising hopes of solving the over six months-long aviation mystery. Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said the Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC) which is leading the search for the plane is currently in the midst of retrieving the objects to be analysed. "We have only discovered 58 solid objects, but yet to learn if they are from (Malaysia Airlines) flight MH370. We have to verify whether the objects are the plane's wreckage or hard rocks before coming to a conclusion," he said in a press conference on Sunday. Liow also said Malaysia's Petronas will be deploying its "Go Phoenix" vessel to assist in the MH370 search mission at the southern Indian Ocean floor. He said the asset, which is commonly used in oil exploration is expected to arrive in Perth on September 21. "Go Phoenix will help in the search mission, alongside Australia's Furgo Discovery ship to map the ocean floor," Liow was quoted as saying by the New Strait Times. The Beijing-bound Boeing 777-200 carrying 239 people, including five Indians, an Indo-Canadian and 154 Chinese nationals - mysteriously vanished on March 8 en route to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur. Earlier this month, the Australian authority leading the search for the plane said that "hard spots" had been found on the Indian Ocean seabed, but that most would likely be geological features. Experts are conducting a sonar survey of a remote patch of the southern Indian Ocean, an area never previously explored in such detail, in preparation for an underwater search for the plane. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau had said the sonar search had provided information on the depth of the water and the composition of the sea floor in the search zone. Last month Australian Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss said the ongoing mapping of the ocean floor had already uncovered "quite remarkable" geographical features, including the discovery of new volcanoes up to 2,000 metres high. Six months after the jet disappeared in the Indian Ocean, aviation experts are still clueless over the world's greatest aviation mystery. The search operation, described by Australian officials as the largest in history, has so far turned up no debris from the plane. http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/mh370-mystery-58-hard-objects-found-in-indian-ocean-591796 Back to Top Teen who cut Boeing 767 wires to get back at his boss avoids jail term Judge decides that former trainee who lashed out in revenge had shown remorse A teenager who cut wires in an airliner's communications system to take revenge on his "rude" boss avoided a jail term yesterday after a judge decided the young man was remorseful. District Court Judge Frankie Yiu Fun-che told former trainee flight mechanic Tang Wing-hon, 19, he could have gone to jail for three years as he had endangered people's lives. "If this had not been discovered, it's hard to imagine what kind of irreversible consequences it could have brought to the crew members, passengers and other flights," the judge said. Tang had admitted recklessly damaging property in a way that endangered people's safety. The court heard the damage would have impaired the Boeing 767's ability to use autopilot and satellite communications. Tang was an intern at flight maintenance company Haeco when he cut the wires to take revenge on his supervisor for telling him off and swearing at him. The damage was repaired at a cost of HK$86,892 before the plane took off on a flight to Hawaii. Defence lawyer Joseph Lam Siu-wah yesterday said that Tang was truly regretful and asked the court to impose a training centre term instead of jail. Lam said Tang was willing to offer Haeco HK$15,000, a sum he had saved working part-time in a kitchen, and surrender his $8,000 bail money regardless of the outcome. He said Tang was a young man who would volunteer for charity and had once handed in to police a wallet he picked up in the street. The court was also given letters of mitigation from Tang's family and former principal. The teenager was sentenced to spend between six months and three years attending a training centre, where he will learn a trade. The length of time will depend on his behaviour. After handing down the sentence, Yiu reminded Tang that it was an exception. He urged the youngster to re-take the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education exam, which Tang indicated he would do. http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1593371/teen-who-cut-communication-wires-aircraft- avoids-jail-term Back to Top The 'world's strangest-looking airplane' turns 20 The Airbus Beluga, also known as the A300-600ST Super Transporter, was developed to carry complete sections of Airbus aircraft from different production sites around Europe to the final assembly lines in Toulouse, France, and Hamburg.The Airbus Beluga, also known as the A300-600ST Super Transporter, was developed to carry complete sections of Airbus aircraft from different production sites around Europe to the final assembly lines in Toulouse, France, and Hamburg. (Photo: Airbus) The Airbus Beluga, also known as the A300-600ST Super Transporter, was developed to carry complete sections of Airbus aircraft from different production sites around Europe to the final assembly lines in Toulouse, France, and Hamburg. Airbus operates a fleet of five Beluga aircraft, which together perform more than sixty flights each week to transport components for the company's jetliners between 11 sites in Europe. Airbus' Beluga aircraft performs with the French Air Force's "Patrouille de France" aerobatic demonstration team on May 30, 2014. Airbus' Beluga aircraft performs with the French Air Force's "Patrouille de France" aerobatic demonstration team on May 30, 2014. The first of six new loading hangars dedicated to the Beluga carriers opened in May 2014 in Hamburg. The Airbus A300-600ST Super Transporter, also known as the Airbus Beluga. An Airbus Beluga aircraft is loaded with wings at the Airbus SAS wing assembly factory in Broughton, England, on Nov. 7, 2013. An Airbus Beluga aircraft is loaded with wings at the Airbus SAS wing assembly factory in Broughton, England,on Nov. 7, 2013. An Airbus Beluga aircraft is loaded with wings at the Airbus SAS wing assembly factory in Broughton, England,on Nov. 7, 2013. Birds fly past an Airbus Beluga aircraft, loaded with wings, as it takes off from the Airbus SAS wing assembly factory in Broughton, England, on Nov. 7, 2013. An Airbus Beluga takes off from the Airbus SAS wing assembly factory in Broughton, England, on Nov. 7, 2013. An Airbus Beluga takes off from the Airbus SAS wing assembly factory in Broughton, England, on Nov. 7, 2013. A closer look at the nose of an Airbus Beluga as it takes off from the Airbus SAS wing assembly factory in Broughton, England, on Nov. 7, 2013. The Airbus SAS wing assembly plant in Broughton, England, assembles over 1,000 wings a year for all Airbus civil aircraft. Completed wings are transported by the Beluga for final assembly in Toulouse or Hamburg. The Airbus Beluga attracts a crowd at the Berlin Air Show on Sept. 14, 2012. The cockpit of an Airbus A400M military transport airplane is unloaded from an Airbus Beluga at the airport in Dresden, Germany, on Jan. 5, 2010. A Beluga Super Transporter, used to transport large aircraft parts between the EADS and Airbus factories in different European countries, leaves the Airbus plant at Hamburg Finkenwerder Airport in Germany, with another Beluga in the background. Two cockpit elements are unloaded from an Airbus Beluga at the Airbus plant at Hamburg Finkenwerder Airport in Germany. Two Airbus A300-600ST Super Transporters sit at the main Airbus plant in Toulouse, France, on April 29, 2010. A Nighthawk F117 A and an Airbus Beluga cargo plane sit next to each other at the International Aerospace Exhibition at Berlin-Schoenefeld Airport on June 6, 2000. A man walks by an Airbus Beluga at the International Aerospace Exhibition at Berlin-Schoenefeld Airport on June 5, 2000. Ann Airbus Beluga plane performs at the International Aerospace Exhibition at Berlin-Schonefeld Airport on June 8, 2000. Visitors at the International Aerospace Exhibition walk past the Airbus Beluga on May 18, 1998. A jetfighter flies over the Airbus Beluga at the ILA Berlin Air Show on May 12, 1996. The Airbus Beluga performs a demonstration flight during the Paris Air Show on June 12, 1995. The Airbus Beluga makes its maiden flight over Toulouse, France, on Sept.13, 1994. The Airbus Beluga rolls out of the hanger on June 23, 1994, in Toulouse, France. Airbus' distinctive "Beluga" aircraft made its first flight 20 years ago this past weekend. The Airbus A300-600ST, a transport aircraft often referred to as "the Beluga" for its uncanny resemblance to the whale of the same name, made its first-ever flight on Sept. 13, 1994. The aircraft, dubbed by at least one media outlet as "the world's strangest-looking airplane," is used by Airbus to help fly large plane pieces to its assembly lines in Toulouse, France, and Hamburg, Germany. The Beluga is capable of holding the wings of an A340 widebody. It's also capable of transporting the fuselage section of Airbus' newest widebody jet, the A350. Such oversized parts would otherwise be difficult - or downright impossible - to fit into typical transport aircraft. Airbus paid homage to the 20th anniversary of the first Beluga flight. "The Beluga is an essential element of Airbus' integrated logistics and production system," Airbus COO Günter Butschek said in a statement ahead of the anniversary. "It is thanks to its reliability and engagement of the Beluga teams that we can fulfil our constant pursuit of efficiency." Boeing, of course, has its own special transport plane for flying oversized items. Boeing's is a modified 747, which was designed largely for transporting pieces of the Dreamliner - which explains the "Dreamlifter" name that Boeing gave to its equivalent of the A300-600ST. http://www.usatoday.com/story/todayinthesky/2014/09/16/the-worlds-strangest-looking-airplane-turns- 20/15703969/ Back to Top Southwest flight out of San Jose diverted to Oakland due to emergency A Southwest Airlines flight en route to Phoenix was diverted to Oakland International Airport on Monday after a problem was found with the flight controls. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) Southwest Flight 468 out of San Jose diverted to Oakland due to flight controls emergency Southwest flight lands safely in Oakland after captain declares emergency due to issue with flight controls A Southwest Boeing 737 leaving San Jose for Phoenix was diverted to Oakland International Airport on Monday afternoon due to an emergency after some flight controls were not performing properly. The plane, Southwest Flight 468, landed at the Oakland airport at 3:30 p.m. and was able to "taxi under its own power" to a gate, said Mona Hernandez, an airport spokeswoman. "Indications in the cockpit were that a portion of the redundant flight control surfaces were not performing optimally and, as is required to deviate from a filed flight plan, the captain declared an emergency to receive priority handling into Oakland," according to a statement from Southwest. The 128 passengers and five crew members would board a different plane and continue to Phoenix, according to the statement. No one was injured during the incident, officials said. http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-southwest-flight-diverted-oakland-20140915-story.html Back to Top Back to Top ICAEA-ANAC-CIPE Aviation English Workshop Buenos Aires, Argentina. International Civil Aviation English Association Workshop, hosted by Argentina ANAC and CIPE. "Skills and competencies needed in aviation communications: The Latin American Challenge." Open to anyone interested in aviation English. Nov. 20-21, 2014. www.icaea.aero Back to Top Graduate Survey Research Request Dear fellow pilots/Dear Colleagues: Apart from still very actively flying airplanes like all of us, in my case the Airbus, I'm also about to write a thesis with the University of Applied Sciences in Zurich, Switzerland, on the topic of culture and Crew Resource Management. Part of my research consists of a questionnaire for pilots, which takes about 10 minutes to fill in and is completely anonymous. Not even the IP-address is logged or traced, absolutely nothing. It would be great if you could take a few minutes to answer the survey which can be accessed using this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/UNI-HWZ Every additional reply is of great help. So, please feel free to answer my questions. For any feedback, comment or expression of doubt, just drop me a line. Many thanks and very kind regards, Thomas Thomas Häderli Captain Hadlaubstrasse 39 8044 Zürich Switzerland Cell +41 79 638 48 38 tom.h@me.com skype: thaederli Back to Top Back to Top INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF AIR SAFETY INVESTIGATORS ISASI 2014 45TH ANNUAL SEMINAR "Investigations and Safety Management Systems" This year's seminar will take place at the Stamford Hotel in Glenelg, near Adelaide, Australia, from 13 -16 October, 2014. All current information regarding seminar registration, hotel reservations and speakers can be found on the official seminar website at www.asasi.org. Please note the deadline for Early Bird Registration and the discounted rate at the hotel is midnight September 4. Questions can be directed to: Mr. Lindsay Naylor ISASI 2014 Seminar Chair lindsaynaylor77@gmail.com or Ms.Barbara Dunn International Seminar Chair - ISASI avsafe@shaw.ca Back to Top Upcoming Events: 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 ISASI 2014 - Annual Seminar October 13-16, 2014 Adelaide, Australia www.isasi.org IASS 2014 Abu Dhabi, UAE November 11-13, 2014 http://flightsafety.org/meeting/iass-2014 ICAEA-ANAC-CIPE Aviation English Workshop. Buenos Aires, Argentina. International Civil Aviation English Association Workshop, hosted by Argentina ANAC and CIPE. "Skills and competencies needed in aviation communications: The Latin American Challenge." Open to anyone interested in aviation English. Nov. 20-21, 2014. www.icaea.aero ERAU UAS FUNDAMENTALS COURSE December 9 - 11, 2014 ERAU Daytona Beach Campus, FL www.daytonabeach.erau.edu/uas FAA Helicopter Safety Effort three-day safety forum April 21-23, 2015 Hurst, Texas eugene.trainor@faa.gov www.faahelisafety.org Curt Lewis