Flight Safety Information December 9, 2014 - No. 248 In This Issue Executive plane crashes into Maryland house, kills six NTSB Launches Go-Team to Investigate Gaithersburg, MD Plane Crash 50-year-old fighter jet crashes near Lake Havasu Prolonged Use of Automation Dulls Pilots' Edge Air pilots offered Dh40k-plus salary in UAE European Air Safety Board to Probe Series of Near Mid-air Collisions Bricks and machetes: See items TSA took from Ford Airport passengers Korean Air Lines Exec Resigns Over Nut Dispute PRISM TO HELP PREPARE FOR E-IOSA Boeing, South African Air to Make Jet Fuel From Tobacco GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Aviation Students: Grants Available to Attend 2015 CHC Safety & Quality Summit 60th Annual Business Aviation Safety Summit Scheduled for May 2015 AIRCON3 - Pre-Conference Workshop Upcoming Events Executive plane crashes into Maryland house, kills six Smoke is seen after a small plane crashed in to a home and damaged others in Gaithersburg, Maryland, in this handout photo provided by the Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service, December 8, 2014. (Reuters) - An executive jet crashed into a Maryland house on Monday, killing all three people aboard the plane and a mother and two children inside the house, a fire official said. The pilot of the jet who died in the crash had previously crashed a plane destined for the same airport in 2010, according to records. The Embraer SA twin-engine Phenom 100 crashed into a home about one mile (1.6 km) from the Montgomery County Airpark in Gaithersburg, a Washington suburb. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the plane was registered to Michael Rosenberg, an adjunct professor of epidemiology at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and CEO of clinical research company Health Decisions, Inc. In 2010, Rosenberg crashed another airplane near Monday's wreck site, although there were no injuries in that crash, according to National Transportation Safety Board records. The 2010 accident occurred at the Montgomery County Airpark, also Rosenberg's destination on Monday, when he lost control while landing and crashed into trees, according to records. Monday's crash killed Rosenberg who was piloting the aircraft and the two other people on board, as well as a mother and two children in the home, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesman Pete Piringer said on Twitter. The crash sparked a fire that destroyed two homes, and three others were damaged. Piringer said crews had contained the fires but some jet fuel had leaked into a stream. The plane had departed from an airport on the Chapel Hill campus at 9:30 a.m., an NTSB spokesman told a news conference on Monday night. Investigators, who were expected to be on the scene for up to seven days, will examine the experience and training of the pilot, weather factors, engine condition and interview the aircraft controller who handled the attempted landing, NTSB spokesman Robert Sumwalt said. They will also look into a possible bird strike. "Our mission is to find out what happened and why it happened so it will never happen again," Sumwalt told the news conference. Witnesses told local media that the plane had been circling with the wheels down, and looked as if it was struggling for control. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/08/us-usa-maryland-crash-idUSKBN0JM1W620141208 *************** Status: Preliminary Date: Monday 8 December 2014 Time: 10:45 Type: Embraer EMB-500 Phenom 100 Operator: Sage Aviation Registration: N100EQ C/n / msn: 50000082 First flight: 2009 Engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PW617F-E Crew: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 Passengers: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 Total: Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 Ground casualties: Fatalities: 3 Airplane damage: Destroyed Airplane fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: 1 km (0.6 mls) NW of Gaithersburg-Montgomery County Airport, MD (GAI) ( United States of America) Phase: Approach (APR) Nature: Unknown Departure airport: ? Destination airport: Gaithersburg-Montgomery County Airport, MD (GAI/KGAI), United States of America Narrative: An Embraer EMB-500 Phenom 100 corporate jet was destroyed when it crashed in a residential area at Gaitersburg, Maryland. The three occupants of the plane and three people inside a house are said to have been killed. The airplane was on approach to runway 14 at the Montgomery County Airport, MD (GAI) when it impacted a house in the 19700 block of Drop Forge Lane. METAR Weather report: 14:55 UTC / 09:55 local time: KGAI 081455Z 04005KT 10SM OVC028 M01/M09 A3062 RMK AO1 52003 15:15 UTC / 10:15 local time: KGAI 081515Z 05005KT 10SM FEW023 OVC030 M01/M08 A3061 RMK AO1 15:35 UTC / 10:35 local time: KGAI 081535Z 04006KT 10SM FEW021 OVC032 M01/M08 A3061 RMK AO1 Wind: 040 degrees at 6 knots; Visibility: 10+ miles; Clouds: few at 2100 feet, overcast cloud deck at 3200 feet AGL; Temperature: -1°C; Dewpoint: -8°C; Pressure: 1036.7 mb 15:55 UTC / 10:55 local time: KGAI 081555Z 05005KT 10SM OVC032 M01/M08 A3060 RMK AO1 Wind: 050 degrees at 5 knots; Visibility: 10+ miles; Clouds: overcast cloud deck at 3200 feet AGL; Temperature: -1°C; Dewpoint: -8°C; Pressure: 1036.3 mb www.aviation-safety.net Back to Top NTSB Launches Go-Team to Investigate Gaithersburg, MD Plane Crash DECEMBER 8, 2014 WASHINGTON - The National Transportation Safety Board has sent a go-team to investigate today's aviation accident in Gaithersburg, MD involving an Embraer EMB-500/Phenom 100. Senior Investigator Timothy LeBaron is leading the team as investigator-in-charge. NTSB Board Member Robert L. Sumwalt is accompanying the team and will serve as the principal spokesman during the on-scene phase of the investigation. Public Affairs Officer Eric Weiss is also on-scene to coordinate media-related activities. He can be reached at eric.weiss@ntsb.gov or by mobile phone at (202)557-1350. Follow us on Twitter @ntsb for announcements related to the investigation. www.ntsb.gov Back to Top 50-year-old fighter jet crashes near Lake Havasu A 1964 twin-engine fighter jet sits in two pieces off the edge of a private airstrip in Mohave County after making an emergency landing Saturday north of Lake Havasu City. LAKE HAVASU CITY - A vintage fighter jet broke apart during an emergency landing Saturday afternoon near Lake Havasu City, but the pilot walked away from the crash uninjured. According to the Mohave County Sheriff's Office, 54-year-old Michael Perry, of Chino, Calif., was the only occupant of the 1964 twin-engine jet fighter when he reportedly lost power en route to Lake Havasu City from the Grand Canyon. He had scheduled a stop at Lake Havasu City for fuel but was not involved in a fuel emergency, reports indicated. After losing power, Perry told authorities he began looking for a landing spot and saw the runway of a private airstrip in Havasu Heights, north of Lake Havasu City. Perry attempted an emergency landing but the jet skidded sideways and crashed off the end of the runway. The plane broke in half shortly after landing. The Desert Hills Fire Department responded to the scene as did MCSO deputies, who found Perry unharmed. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating. http://www.mohavedailynews.com/news/year-old-fighter-jet-crashes-near-lake-havasu/article_6787b9ac- 7f7c-11e4-91de-bb4096b4f131.html Back to Top Prolonged Use of Automation Dulls Pilots' Edge Too much time spent immersed in a cockpit's technology can dull an aviator's ability to perform some key tasks, according to a study published last week in Human Factors. Steve Casner, a pilot and research psychologist at NASA's Ames Research Center, coauthored "The Retention of Manual Flying Skills in the Automated Cockpit" with Richard Geven, Matthias Recker and Jonathan Schooler. The group studied 16 experienced pilots in both routine and non-routine flights using a Boeing 747-100 simulator; the pilots also shared their thoughts as they flew with varying levels of automation. Results showed that while "stick and rudder" skills remained relatively intact, the pilots who relied more heavily on computers while allowing their thoughts to drift during flight were more likely to have rusty cognitive skills. "Our results suggest that we might be a bit less concerned about things that pilots do by hand in the cockpit and a bit more concerned about those things that they do by mind," Casner said. "Pilots' ability to remain mindful and engaged as they now watch computers do most of the flying may be a key challenge to keeping their cognitive skills fresh," he added. http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2014-12-08/prolonged-use-automation-dulls- pilots-edge Back to Top Air pilots offered Dh40k-plus salary in UAE Flydubai offering opportunity to become member of Boeing 737-800 flying team The programme is offered to commercial pilots who have less than 1,500 flying hours and is currently underway at the Emirates-CAE Flight Training (ECFT) and Dubai Silicon Oasis centres. (Shutterstock) For those looking for a high-flying career in aviation, there are opportunities to join a fast-growing Dubai airline. Low-cost carrier Flydubai is offering the opportunity to become a member of its Boeing 737-800 flying team, which could fetch a salary of Dh40,000 plus other benefits. Emirates-CAE Flight Training (ECFT) has signed a long-term pilot training agreement with Flydubai which will provide instruction on the Boeing aircraft to those interested in having an opportunity to fly for Flydubai. The programme is offered to commercial pilots who have less than 1,500 flying hours and is currently underway at the Emirates-CAE Flight Training (ECFT) and Dubai Silicon Oasis centres. Pilots should be between 20 and 30 years old, hold a valid 1st Class Medical and have a commercial pilot license with a minimum of 220 flying hours. First officers at the airline make approximately Dh39,500 per month (tax free) plus other benefits. "Pilots interested in the training programme can visit to register for the training programme. The website is the only method to apply for this programme and any subsequent job opportunities at Flydubai," the companies said in a statement. Kenneth Gile, Chief Operating Officer at Flydubai, said: "Flydubai pilots have trained solely with ECFT since the airline's beginning. With our focus on safety and passenger confidence, we seek to hire the best talent in the industry and have chosen ECFT as a trusted partner to help us find qualified pilots to join our team of passionate and dedicated people." As the aviation industry in the Middle East continues to grow, training facilities for pilots to gain additional experience and skills are essential. This programme demonstrates the commitment of ECFT and Flydubai to ensuring pilots are offered world-class training opportunities. http://www.emirates247.com/business/corporate/air-pilots-offered-dh40k-plus-salary-in-uae-2014-12-08- 1.572490 Back to Top European Air Safety Board to Probe Series of Near Mid-air Collisions LONDON--The European Commission has asked the region's premier aviation safety body to investigate a series of near mid-air collisions between commercial jetliners and military aircraft. The European Aviation Safety Agency on Monday said it would study the issue and, in March, deliver findings to the commission, the European Union's executive arm. "This is a very serious issue," Patrick Ky, executive director for the Cologne, Germany-based agency, said in a statement. Russia has been conducting a series of long-range military patrols with combat jets and bomber aircraft along the borders of European Union member states. The Russian military planes frequently don't employ transponders that can help identify the aircraft to commercial air traffic. The flights, which Russia previously said are not provocative, have prompted European militaries to launch fighter jets to identify the aircraft. The European commission's director general for transport, Joao Aguiar Machado, said EASA's work would "be essential in further identifying appropriate solutions and follow-up measures to address such events at the European level." http://www.nasdaq.com/article/european-air-safety-board-to-probe-series-of-near-midair-collisions- 20141208-00704#ixzz3LPJ7gqQq Back to Top Bricks and machetes: See items TSA took from Ford Airport passengers "Prohibited" items that were turned over to the Transportation Security Administration at Gerald R. Ford International Airport, Grand Rapids, Mich., Friday, December 5, 2014. GRAND RAPIDS, MI - When Transportation Security Administration agents snagged a gun from a traveler last week at Gerald R. Ford International Airport, it marked the fifth time a firearm was discovered in a passenger's bag in 2014. But between those finds, security staffers pull all sorts of prohibited items out of fliers' carry-on luggage. Much of it is mundane -- think liquids that don't conform to 3-ounce rules. Some of it, such as knives, potentially pose a threat. And then there's the oddity that occurred when agents found a brick in a bag "Something like this probably is a keepsake to someone, an old brick to a grandfather's home," said Max Harnish, the airport's federal security director. From switchblades to credit card knives and machetes to martial arts weapons, TSA manager Jamie Aitken said staff has seen most, if not all types of prohibited items, running through their X-ray machines during the security screening process. TSA officials said they do not keep individual records on what is discovered by agents but they sort roughly 300 to 500 pounds of banned material each month at Ford Airport. CNN reported 2,000 guns had been taken from passengers from all U.S. airports as of Dec. 1, marking an all-time high. Security personnel say knives, including cutlery items, pocket knives, and multi-tools are the most frequent items abandoned by passengers at the West Michigan airport. As long as the articles are not illegal, passengers have the option to run them back to a vehicle or have them mailed home. Most abandon the items because they don't want to miss their flight, Harnish said. Travelers carrying items classified as weapons, like the Wyoming man caught with the gun, almost uniformly express shock over the find. That's typically passengers' first and only excuse because there's almost never any malicious intent with bringing the item though security, Harnish said. "We hear a number of different things, but the 'I forgot it was there' or 'I didn't know it was there' probably bests them all," said Harnish, noting rarely a day passes without a discovery. The TSA would rather not have any of the left-behind gear, he added. Related: Ford Airport now host to expanded TSA 'PreCheck' program, allowing travelers to skip long lines As the holiday travel season moves into full swing, agents remind people to take a look in their bags and then pack wisely. Most of what is off-limits for carry-ons can be transported in checked baggage. Long lines slow further when security staff have to pull items from bags and question travelers. Officials also remind travelers that gifts going though security are best left unwrapped as agents will open presents if they're deserving of additional inspection. http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2014/12/bricks_machetes_see_ford_airpo.html Back to Top Korean Air Lines Exec Resigns Over Nut Dispute SEOUL, South Korea - Dec 9, 2014, 5:41 AM ET A top executive of Korean Air Lines resigned Tuesday amid mounting public criticism that she delayed a plane over how she was served macadamia nuts. Company officials said that Chairman Cho Yang-ho has accepted the resignation of Cho Hyun-ah, his eldest daughter and an executive vice president. The junior Cho was under public fire following media revelations that a recent Korean Air Lines flight from New York to South Korea returned to the gate because she ordered a senior crew member off the plane. Cho was angered that she was served bagged macadamia nuts instead of nuts on a plate. The airline had apologized for inconveniencing passengers. But it also said it was "natural" for Cho to fault crew's ignorance of procedures. http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/korean-airlines-executive-resigns-nut-dispute-27464721 Back to Top Back to Top Boeing, South African Air to Make Jet Fuel From Tobacco Boeing Co. (BA) and South African Airways are among a group of companies that today started a project to turn tobacco plants into clean jet fuel. The companies, along with SkyNRG and Sunchem SA, will use the nicotine-free Solaris variety of tobacco plant to make clean fuel that South African Airways will test, they said in a joint statement. Test flights may begin next year. The project "will benefit the environment and public health while providing new economic opportunities for South Africa's small farmers," said Miguel Santos, Boeing's managing director for Africa. "This project also positions our valued airline customer to gain a long-term, viable domestic fuel supply and improve South Africa's national balance of payments." http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-12-09/boeing-south-african-air-to-make-jet-fuel-from- tobacco.html Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY I am Daniel Siao, and I am a graduate student studying Aviation Safety and Security Management at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). I hold both A&P and pilot certificates. I am conducting this research to attempt to reveal the hindrances that prohibit the successful implementation of Safety Management Systems (SMS) in maintenance facilities. Your participation in this survey will be greatly appreciated if you work in any capacity as an aircraft mechanic (with or without an A&P certificate). This survey is completely anonymous and should take no more than 10 minutes to complete. Please contact me regarding any questions you may have. The survey can be accessed with the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/66PF7WG Thank you in advance, Daniel H. Siao dhs2j@mtmail.mtsu.edu Back to Top Aviation Students: Grants Available to Attend 2015 CHC Safety & Quality Summit VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aviation students can now apply for an expenses-paid opportunity to attend the 11th-annual CHC Safety & Quality Summit, through grants which honour a longtime advocate of excellence in aviation safety training. "Integrated Safety Management Systems: Access All Areas." The Dr. Peter Gardiner Student Grant, worth more than C$4,000, covers admission to the summit, a choice of one of the pre-event courses, as well as C$1,500 in hotel and travel reimbursement. This year's pre-event training courses will include "Human Factors Analysis Classification System," taught by Dr. Douglas A. Wiegmann and Dr. Scott A. Shappell and others to be confirmed. The summit, hosted by CHC Helicopter, the operating company of CHC Group Ltd. (NYSE:HELI), is recognized by many as the most important helicopter-safety conference in the world. This year's event will be focused on the theme "Integrated Safety Management Systems: Access All Areas." The 2015 summit will be held March 23-25 at the Westin Bayshore Resort in Vancouver, with pre-summit courses starting March 18. This will be the fifth year Drs. Wiegmann and Shappell, of HFACS Inc., have sponsored a student to participate in the summit, in recognition of Dr. Gardiner. In addition, the Westin Bayshore - the host hotel - has generously matched the grant for a second time, enabling a second student to attend. The late Dr. Gardiner was president and chief executive officer of the Southern California Safety Institute (SCSI). His objective for SCSI was to provide people in aviation with the best possible tools and training, to reduce accident rates and ultimately increase the safety of those that fly. The focus on the human side of aviation safety and the development of safety management systems attracted Dr. Gardiner to the CHC event, where for three years he brought a unique blend of professionalism and humour to the sessions he taught. The student grant is a tribute to Dr. Gardiner's commitment to aviation safety, and is intended to help inspire excellence in aviation students. Students interested in this year's grants must apply and submit a 500-word essay prior by the Jan. 5 deadline. More information about the grants and access to the application are available at www.chcsafetyqualitysummit.com. About CHC CHC Helicopter is a leader in enabling customers to go further, do more and come home safely, including oil and gas companies, government search-and-rescue agencies and organizations requiring helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul services through the Heli-One segment. The company operates about 230 aircraft in approximately 30 countries around the world. Contacts CHC Helicopter SUMMIT Barbara Long, 919-599-6727 Executive Assistant, Safety & Quality summit@chc.ca or MEDIA Liam Fitzgerald, 604-232-8273 Communications Advisor communications@chc.ca Back to Top 60th Annual Business Aviation Safety Summit Scheduled for May 2015 Alexandria, VA - Flight Safety Foundation announced today that the 60th annual Business Aviation Safety Summit (BASS 2015) will be held at the Bonaventure Resort and Spa in Weston, Florida from May 13-14, 2015. FSF summits, including the very successful 67th International Air Safety Summit (IASS) which just concluded in Abu Dhabi, UAE last month, attract attendees from every segment of the industry and feature presentations and panels on the latest safety information as well as topical keynote speakers. BASS 2015 will also include an exhibit hall and numerous sponsorship opportunities in order to increase visibility before and during the meeting. Details about these opportunities can be found on the website at flightsafety.org/bass2015. BASS is traditionally FSF's largest meeting each year with an increasingly large percentage of attendees, exhibitors and sponsors from outside North America. It will provide a forum for the business aviation industry to meet in a collaborative environment to identify safety concerns, devise approaches to reduce risk and implement initiatives to improve safety. The seminar will cover safety, training, practical solutions, management, human factors and other issues concerning the business aviation industry. Contact: Emily McGee, +1 703 739 6700, ext. 126; mcgee@flightsafety.org Flight Safety Foundation (www.flightsafety.org) is an independent, non-profit, international organization engaged in research, education, advocacy and publishing to improve aviation safety. The Foundation's mission is to be the leading voice of safety for the global aerospace community. © Press Release 2014 https://www.zawya.com/story/60th_Annual_Business_Aviation_Safety_Summit_Scheduled_for_May_2015- ZAWYA20141208074625/ Back to Top Pre-Conference Workshop: Thursday, January 15th: Investigations in support of Safety Management Systems (SMS): The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) defines SMS as "A systematic approach to managing safety, including the necessary organizational structures, accountabilities, policies and procedures." Most Civil Aviation Authorities support the implementation of SMS in aviation training organizations and service providers. Many also include the provisions for a Safety Manager within those safety programs. This workshop will investigate the attributes of a supportive Safety Culture along with the competencies and skill-sets required of the Safety Manager to appropriately collect, analyze and take actions on safety information. The outcomes of this workshop will be assembled and distributed to participants in order for their consideration for inclusion into existing and future aviation programs and curricula. Workshop Leaders: Stewart Schreckengast, PhD, Senior Lecturer, Aviation Department, University of South Australia & Douglas Drury, PhD, Senior Lecturer, Aviation Department, University of South Australia are hosting. Free conference add on- but space is limited. Sponsored by the Robertson Safety Institute Registration Back to Top Upcoming Events: ERAU UAS FUNDAMENTALS COURSE December 9 - 11, 2014 ERAU Daytona Beach Campus, FL www.daytonabeach.erau.edu/uas Event: "The Future of Regulation of SMS and QA" Symposium. Keynote: Mr. Martin Eley, Director General Transport Canada. Location: Coronado Resort Hotel @ Disney World, Orlando Florida. Date: Jan 4-6, 2015 info: http://www.dtiatlanta.com/symposium.html A3IR CON 2015 January 16-17, 2015 Phoenix, AZ http://commons.erau.edu/aircon/2015/ Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) NTSB Training Center, Ashburn, VA March 10-11, 2015 www.acsf.aero/symposium FAA Helicopter Safety Effort three-day safety forum April 21-23, 2015 Hurst, Texas eugene.trainor@faa.gov www.faahelisafety.org IS-BAO Workshop Information and Registration 6 - 7 Dec. 2014 Dubai, UAE 13 - 14 Jan. 2015 Baltimore, MD USA https://www.regonline.com/CalendarNET/EventCalendar.aspx?EventID=1592658&view=Month Curt Lewis