Flight Safety Information December 11, 2014 - No. 250 In This Issue France crash: Alpha Jet hits home for disabled in Vouvray NTSB: No Evidence of Engine Trouble, Bird Strike Aviation: Commission updates the EU air safety list Safety checks ordered on North Sea helicopters amid door jamming fears Aviation Officials: Hackers Could Tamper With Airline Systems PRISM TO HELP PREPARE FOR E-IOSA ERAU NextGen 101 Seminar - Washington, D.C. GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Najeeb E. Halaby Graduate Student Fellowship Upcoming Events France crash: Alpha Jet hits home for disabled in Vouvray Debris from Alpha Jet crash, Vouvray, 10 Dec 2014 Wreckage from the jet was scattered in the grounds of the home at Vouvray A French air force jet has crashed into a home for disabled people in central France, killing one person and leaving several others injured, one seriously. French media said the Alpha Jet aircraft, which was on a training flight, came down in the town of Vouvray near Tours at about 17:30 local time (16:30 GMT). The two crew members had ejected and were unhurt, the air force said. Uninjured residents of the home are being moved to new lodgings. The 63-year-old resident who was killed had lived at the home for several years, said Health Minister Marisol Touraine after visiting the scene of the accident. About 75 people live at home. The plane hit one of two buildings housing female residents. A witness quoted by the local Nouvelle Republique newspaper, named as Sebastien, described a "very loud noise" and a "huge fireball". He also said he had seen the two crew of the jet descending in parachutes. The pilots had made for "a dark area that appeared to be uninhabited," said Col Cyrille Duvivier, commander of air base 705 near Parcay-Melay. He said the plane had been on a night training flight with an instructor and trainee pilot on board. Col Duvivier described the Alpha Jet as a "very reliable design, which has been in service for some 30 years. "It belongs to a generation of straightforward planes, which have proved themselves," he added. It is more than 30 years since the last such accident at base 705, according to Le Monde newspaper. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30418422 Back to Top NTSB: No Evidence of Engine Trouble, Bird Strike The family members of six people killed in a tragic plane crash are beginning to heal, as NTSB investigators work on determining exactly what caused the crash. (Published Tuesday, Dec 9, 2014) Tuesday, Dec 9, 2014 * Updated at 8:11 PM EST There's no evidence that a plane that crashed into a neighborhood in the suburbs of D.C. killing six people Monday had engine trouble or struck a bird, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. The private jet reached its slowest speed of the flight shortly before the crash in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and the NTSB is investigating whether that affected the plane's performance. About 20 seconds before the crash, an impending aerodynamic stall warning sounded, NTSB member Robert Sumwalt said Tuesday. Such a stall occurs when airflow over the wings isn't smooth because of the angle of the wings, so the wing doesn't have enough lift to support the aircraft. But the throttle was applied and the engines did respond, according to the plane's flight data recorder. There is no evidence of fire or catastrophic engine failure, Sumwalt said. Two pilots in the area said they observed the plane pitch and roll at steep angles, Sumwalt said. Just before air traffic control realized it had lost the plane, there was a brief discussion of how many birds were around the airport, but the NTSB said Tuesday there's no evidence of a bird strike, and the pilot who mentioned the birds said they were 1,000 feet down the runway and on the ground -- not near the jet or its path to the runway, Sumwalt said. "Loss No Person Should Endure": Families Mourn After Plane Crash The jet crashed about a mile from its destination of Montgomery County Airpark, making a narrow gash through the roof of one home before coming to rest against a second house. A wing containing fuel catapulted into a third home, causing a large fire. Marie Gemmell, 36, died on the second floor of her home cradling her sons, 7-week-old Devon and 3-year-old Cole. "We hear planes come through all the time," he said. "...I was actually in the kitchen making formula for my son, and I heard it come through, and that one was significantly louder than the other ones. And at the same time it passed over the house... I heard a thump... And then I started hearing sirens." He said he looked out a window and saw smoke. "I could hear a small explosion go off when I first opened the window, and you could just see the black smoke rising," he said. 6 Killed, Including Mother and Kids, in Plane Crash6 Killed, Including Mother and Kids, in Plane CrashSix people, including a CEO, a mother and two children were killed when a small jet crashed into a Gaithersburg neighborhood. (Published Monday, Dec 8, 2014) Firefighters tried to save them but had to back off because of intense flames and structural damage. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue has counseling available for anyone who needs it. "Our firefighters are trained for these types of scenarios," said Pete Piringer of Montgomery County Fire and Rescue. "Not maybe exactly like this, but we have the resources and personnel training to deal with it, and I think they did a great job." Three men from Raleigh, North Carolina, who were aboard the plane also died: 52-year-old Michael Rosenberg, CEO of a North Carolina-based biopharma corporation; 66-year-old David Hartman, a vice president at a pharmacology consulting firm; and 31-year-old Chikioke Ogbuka. Four years ago, Rosenberg was involved in a minor plane crash at Montgomery County Airpark. According to the News Observer in Chapel Hill, he was scheduled to meet with his son who lives in the D.C. area Monday night. No one was injured in the two adjacent homes that also had major damage. "No words can describe the enormity of our loss and sadness over yesterday's tragedy," Marie Gemmell's husband, Ken, posted on Facebook Tuesday. "We lost Marie, the love of my life and college sweetheart, and our two young, innocent and joyful sons - a loss that no person should ever endure." Neither Ken Gemmell nor his 5-year-old daughter, Arabelle, was home at the time of the crash. A GoFundMe page has been set up for Ken and surviving child. Jet Engines Loaded on to Truck at Crash SiteJet Engines Loaded on to Truck at Crash SiteRAW VIDEO: At the site where a plane crashed into a Gaithersburg, Maryland, neighborhood Monday, jet engines were hauled away Tuesday. (Published Tuesday, Dec 9, 2014) The NTSB located the "four corners" of the plane -- the nose, the tail and the tips of the wings -- meaning the plane was intact upon impact. The engines were hauled to a warehouse for storage until needed. An NTSB team will spend about three days to a week collecting evidence at the scene. Determining the cause of the crash could take months. In 911 calls released by authorities overnight, shock and alarm is evident in the callers' voices. "I just saw a jet hit a house! The house is on fire," one man said. "When he came in on final (approach), it flamed out and he went straight down into that house." The home was gutted by the crash and ensuing blaze. http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Plane-Crash-Reported-in-Montgomery-County-285090681.html Back to Top Aviation: Commission updates the EU air safety list Brussels, 11 December 2014 Today the European Commission has updated the European list of airlines subject to an operating ban or operational restrictions within the European Union (EU air safety list). All airlines from Libya have now been added to the EU Air Safety List and are banned from operating in European airspace. No decisions were taken to remove countries whose carriers are on the EU Air Safety List. The new list can be found on the Commission's website. Violeta Bulc, EU Commissioner for Transport said: "Recent events in Libya have led to a situation whereby the Civil Aviation Authority is no longer able to fulfil its international obligations with regard to the safety of the Libyan aviation sector. My priority in aviation is passenger safety, which is non-negotiable, and we stand ready to help the Libyan aviation sector as soon as the situation on the ground will allow for this. I am also pleased to see that progress has been made in a number of countries whose carriers are on list, notably the Philippines, Sudan, Mozambique and Zambia. Hopefully this progress can lead to a positive decision in the future." The updated EU air safety list includes all airlines certified in 21 states, for a total of 308 airlines fully banned from EU skies: Afghanistan, Angola, Benin, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon (with the exception of 3 airlines which operate under restrictions and conditions), Indonesia (with the exception of 5 airlines), Kazakhstan (with the exception of one airline which operates under restrictions and conditions), Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Libya, Mozambique, Nepal, Philippines (with the exception of two airlines), Sierra Leone, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sudan and Zambia. The list also includes two individual airlines: Blue Wing Airlines (Suriname) and Meridian Airways (Ghana), for an overall total of 310 airlines. Additionally, the list includes 10 airlines which are subject to operational restrictions. These airlines can only fly to the Union with specific aircraft types: Air Astana (Kazakhstan), Afrijet, Gabon Airlines and SN2AG (Gabon), Air Koryo (Democratic People's Republic of Korea), Airlift International (Ghana), Air Service Comores (the Comoros), Iran Air (Iran), TAAG Angolan Airlines (Angola) and Air Madagascar (Madagascar). Background information The Commission decision is based on the unanimous opinion of the EU Air Safety Committee, which met on 25 and 26 November 2014 and pursuant to REGULATION (EC) No 2111/2005. The decision also received a positive opinion from the European Parliament and from the Council of Ministers. The authentic version of the EU Safety List is annexed to the Commission Regulation, as published today in the Official Journal of the European Union. The EU Air Safety List is a list of airlines which are either considered not to be able to respect international aviation safety standards, or whose civil aviation authorities are deemed unable to provide the necessary safety oversight as foreseen by international aviation safety rules. The airlines mentioned on the EU Air Safety List are not allowed to operate to the EU, except for some of them, which can only do so under very strict conditions. The EU Air Safety List also serves as a tool to warn the travelling public when travelling in other parts of the world. The EU Air Safety Committee consists of aviation safety experts from the Commission, from each of the 28 Member States of the Union, as well as from Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Aviation supports 5.1 million jobs in Europe, directly and indirectly. It provides one billion euros of European GDP every day, generating trade and tourism. With more than 800 million passengers using 450 airports, and with 150 scheduled airlines, the European Union is a key player in global aviation: a third of the world market. Europe is also home to some of the world's largest airlines and airports. It is a leader in aircraft and engine manufacturing, and in air traffic management research and technology. Since 1992, the number of flights within the EU has more than doubled. Flights operated by more than two airlines have quadrupled. It's no surprise that passengers are happy: over that time, their numbers have gone up by 300%. For more information: Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport: List of airlines banned within the EU: http://ec.europa.eu/transport/modes/air/safety/air-ban/index_en.htm Importance of aviation for the European economy: http://ec.europa.eu/transport/facts-fundings/infographics/connect-to-compete/index_en.htm http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-2580_en.htm Back to Top Safety checks ordered on North Sea helicopters amid door jamming fears Inspections have been ordered on two North Sea helicopter types after a door fault was discovered that could prevent the safe evacuation of passengers. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) identified an issue onboard the Airbus AS 332 and EC 225 Super Pumas during a scheduled check. An emergency door mechanism failed and an investigation revealed corrosion damage caused by undrained water. The EASA Airworthiness Directive states: "This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to jamming of the door jettisoning mechanism, possibly preventing jettisoning of the affected door in an emergency situation and obstructing the safe evacuation of occupants." Inspections have been ordered within three months for older aircraft and 15 months for newer ones. The EC 225 was temporarily grounded after two ditchings off Aberdeen and Shetland in 2012. Sixteen people died in 2009 when the same model plunged into the sea off the Aberdeenshire coast while returning from a BP platform. A spokesman for the British Airline Pilots Association said: "The Airworthiness Directive has been issued as a result of an unusual failure of an aircraft to pass the jettison test and is intended to ensure that there is not a wider problem throughout the fleet by a special inspection of the jettison system. "The jettison test is carried out on a flying hour basis and most aircraft in regular use will have it done about twice a year. "The directive will ensure that any aircraft not in regular use is inspected within a reasonably short timescale of three months before any excessive corrosion can develop." http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/safety-checks-ordered-on-north-sea- helicopters-amid-door-jamming-fears.1418141905 Back to Top Aviation Officials: Hackers Could Tamper With Airline Systems An Airbus A320 airplane takes off from a runway at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, September 23, 2013 Montreal (AFP) - Cyber crime is a serious threat to safety in the skies, aviation industry heavyweights said, vowing to fight the growing scourge before it causes a catastrophic incident. Hackers, cyber criminals and other "terrorists" are stealing information but in a worst-case scenario could endanger lives by tampering with airline systems. Among the five organisations getting together to take action against hacking are the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and other bodies that signed a new cyber security agreement late last week, formalising their front against cyber crime. "Our common goal in developing this agreement is to work more effectively together to establish and promote a robust cyber security culture and strategy for the benefit of all actors in our industry," said Raymond Benjamin, secretary general of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). He added: "As technologies rapidly evolve and become more readily accessible to all, cyber threats cannot be ignored. "This is an important new area of aviation security concern and our global community will ensure that it is met with a strong level of commitment and response." http://www.businessinsider.com/afp-hacking-threatens-airline-safety-aviation-chiefs-2014- 12#ixzz3LbESgT8g Back to Top Back to Top ERAU NextGen 101 Seminar - Washington, D.C. "The Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide Office of Professional Education is pleased to announce a two-day seminar entitled NextGen 101. The course is designed to identify the key concepts, attributes, and challenges of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). Government and industry employees with an interest in NextGen, aviation stakeholders and members of the military transitioning to a career in civilian education should attend. The course will take place in Washington D.C. on April 21-22, 2015. Course fee is $750 per person or $675 per person with five or more people registering from the same group. For more information and to register, please visit us online at http://proed.erau.edu/programs/specialized-industry-training/nextgen-101- seminar/index.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 Najeeb E. Halaby Graduate Student Fellowship The Najeeb E. Halaby Graduate Student Fellowship was established by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) to shape the next generation of researchers in aviation weather, honoring the late Najeeb Elias Halaby, an eminent aviator and administrator, for his vision and more than five decades of extraordinary contributions to aviation (http://www.ral.ucar.edu/halabyfellowship.pdf). The Fellowship The recipient of a Najeeb E. Halaby Graduate Student Fellowship will spend three months (in 2015 or early 2016) in residence with NCAR's Aviation Weather Research Program, which Mr. Halaby was instrumental in establishing in the 1980s. As the nation's leader in addressing aviation weather research, NCAR plays a unique role in meeting user needs by transferring research results to operations through its Research Application Laboratory (http://www.ral.ucar.edu/). The Fellow will conduct research broadly aimed at improving the integration of weather into decision support tools for improved weather avoidance and air traffic management. The Fellowship will provide: * a monthly stipend for three months, including temporary living expenses * round-trip travel expenses to and from Boulder, CO * travel to a conference to present results * page charges for one publication of key results Eligibility and Application The Halaby Fellowship targets graduate students (late Masters or early PhD level) enrolled in an aviation-relevant department or program of a domestic or international university. Interested candidates should have advanced research skills, far-reaching vision, and dedication to get things accomplished. Consideration for this Fellowship will be given to candidates based on the following submitted material: * Curriculum vitae * Proposal (maximum five pages) presenting the research to be conducted at NCAR, the anticipated outcome of that, and how the proposed effort ties into the candidate's ongoing graduate research project(s) * Contact information for three references (one of which should be the student's primary advisor) NCAR will accept applications for the Halaby Fellowship each year. Email Applications by February 28, 2015 to halabyfellowship@ucar.edu Back to Top Upcoming Events: 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 13 - 14 Jan. 2015 Baltimore, MD USA https://www.regonline.com/CalendarNET/EventCalendar.aspx?EventID=1592658&view=Month Curt Lewis