Flight Safety Information January 22, 2015 - No. 016 In This Issue Indonesian divers recover bodies from near crashed AirAsia jet fuselage AirAsia Flight 8501: 'Screaming' Alarms Buried Pilots' Voices, Stalling Alarm Also Heard Before Crash New Zealand Pilots' Body Expresses Concern On Drones Key Lime Air cargo plane from Centennial crashed in Kansas; pilot OK Russia and India Defence Ministries to cooperate in air safety PROS 2015 TRAINING ATR Targets 100-Aircraft Annual Production Rate Research Survey Request Najeeb E. Halaby Graduate Student Fellowship ERAU NextGen 101 Seminar - Washington, D.C. Upcoming Events Positions Available Indonesian divers recover bodies from near crashed AirAsia jet fuselage Part of the fuselage of crashed AirAsia Flight QZ8501 is seen inside a storage facility at Kumai port in Pangkalan Bun, January 19, 2015. REUTERS/Beawiharta (Reuters) - Indonesian divers on Thursday found six bodies near the fuselage of an AirAsia jet that crashed last month into the Java Sea, but were unable to enter the wreckage where most of the victims are believed to be trapped, a navy official said. Days of rough weather and poor underwater visibility have hampered navy divers' efforts to recover bodies and lift the main part of the plane off the sea bed. "It was very dark, visibility was very limited so our diving teams could not enter," Rear Admiral Widodo, commander of the navy's western fleet, told reporters aboard the warship KRI Banda Aceh. "However we still predict we can evacuate all the bodies from there." Widodo added rescuers expected to attach giant air bags to the fuselage to lift it to the surface by Friday. Indonesia AirAsia Flight QZ8501 lost contact with air traffic control in bad weather on Dec. 28, less than halfway into a two-hour flight from the Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore. There were no survivors among the 162 people on board the Airbus A320. A multinational search and rescue operation has recovered 59 bodies so far and located both "black box" flight recorders, which will provide clues as to why the plane crashed. The cause of AirAsia's first fatal crash is not yet known, though investigators have ruled out foul play. Transport Minister Ignasius Jonan on Tuesday told a parliamentary hearing that radar data showed the plane had climbed faster than normal in its final minutes, and then stalled. Three days after the crash a source familiar with initial investigations had told Reuters the plane appeared to have made an "unbelievably steep climb" that may have pushed it beyond its performance envelope. The National Transport Safety Committee (NTSC), which is responsible for the crash investigations in Indonesia, is set to release some initial findings next week, but its full preliminary report will not be made public. The final report on the investigation, which will be made public, must be filed within a year. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/22/us-indonesia-airplane-idUSKBN0KV0PX20150122 Back to Top AirAsia Flight 8501: 'Screaming' Alarms Buried Pilots' Voices, Stalling Alarm Also Heard Before Crash AirAsia cockpit recorder Indonesian officials stand near the cockpit voice recorder of AirAsia flight QZ8501 during news conference at the National Transportation Safety Committee office in Jakarta Jan. 13, 2015. Reuters/Pius Erlangga AirAsia Flight 8501 alarms were "screaming" as the pilots attempted to control the plane before it crashed into the Java Sea, an investigator told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Wednesday. Investigators at the National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC) are analyzing the flight data recorders to determine the cause of the crash. The NTSC investigator, who did not want to be named, told AFP that the sound of the alarms, which also included one that goes off when an aircraft stalls, were heard on the plane's cockpit voice recorder. The news comes a day after Indonesia's transport minister said that the plane made an abnormally steep climb before stalling and crashing into the sea. "The warning alarms, we can say, were screaming, while in the background they (the pilot and co-pilot) were busy trying to recover," the investigator reportedly said, adding that the warning signals went on "for some time." The investigator also reportedly said that the pilots' voices were buried by the sound of the alarms. Transport Minister Ignasius Jonan had said Tuesday that radar data revealed that the plane "went up faster than normal speed. ... Then it stalled." The NTSC's chairman announced Wednesday that a preliminary report on the probe will not be publicly released. However, the agency investigating the crash is expected to conduct a press briefing next Wednesday, according to Reuters. On Tuesday, investigators said that the probe will now focus on human error and aircraft damage as possible reasons for the plane's crash, after ruling out terrorist involvement. Indonesia's meteorological agency had previously said that bad weather may have caused the crash after the plane went off radar on Dec. 28, following a request from the pilot for a change of course due to unfavorable weather. Meanwhile, divers continue to make efforts to reach the fuselage at the bottom of the Java Sea where the bodies of several passengers are expected to be trapped. So far, 53 bodies of the 162 people on board the plane have been recovered from the sea, and 46 have been identified. http://www.ibtimes.com/airasia-flight-8501-screaming-alarms-buried-pilots-voices-stalling-alarm-also- heard-1789688 Back to Top New Zealand Pilots' Body Expresses Concern On Drones: Aviation Authority Working On New Rules For Safe Drone Use The pilots' association in New Zealand has called for safer methods to integrate unmanned aerial vehicles and drones into New Zealand's existing aviation system. At a recent symposium, the New Zealand Air Line Pilots' Association, discussed the new trends in aviation and noted how drones are transforming many fields of economic activity with their expanding private use. The pilots appreciated the rising use of drones and the associated commercial benefits. But they had reservations on its impact over air safety, unless safeguards are put in place. The symposium on unmanned aerial vehicles was held on Jan. 17, co terminus with the Royal Aeronautical Society's air expo in Masterton, reported Nzcity.co.Nz. Hazard to Aircraft The pilots expressed concern that drones and UAVs have the potential to present a serious hazard to aircraft. According to NZALPA Technical Director Captain Rob Torenvlied, "we have developed an insight into these devices from the commercial pilot and air traffic controllers." The pilot association's leader said the lessons of the past cannot be forgotten and safety must be paramount to all users of the aviation system. According to Torenvlied, the association has apprised the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority ist views on the issue and is ready to assist in the safe introduction of drone like devices into New Zealand's aviation system, reported IHLS News. The pilots' association represents 2,500 commercial pilots and air traffic controllers and is one of the largest pilot bodies in the southern hemisphere. Drone Rules The Civil Aviation Authority is now engaged in the process of consulting the stakeholders on framing new rules to regulate the flying of drones so as to integrate them into the country's aviation system. It has sought public feedback to the proposals by Jan. 31, reported New Zealand Herald. According to Steve Moore, CAA general manager, the proposed rules will focus on the safety risks associated with high performance unmanned aircraft and will also mandate operators to require CAA certification. But he said the intent is to make sure that recreational users can still operate drones in a low-risk environment. The existing rules will be modified, if required, so that they can continue to do this wherever appropriate. Among the wide ranging uses of drones are scientific research, film production and agriculture. http://au.ibtimes.com/new-zealand-pilots-body-expresses-concern-drones-aviation-authority-working- new-rules-safe-drone-use Back to Top Key Lime Air cargo plane from Centennial crashed in Kansas; pilot OK The pilot of a Key Lime Air cargo plane survived a crash landing Wednesday morning near Goodland, Kan., authorities say. The twin-engine Piper PA-31 was carrying UPS cargo from Denver International Airport to Colby, Kan., when it went down about 20 miles east of the Colorado state line near Interstate 70. "The pilot reported an engine problem and attempted to land on a road," said Tony Molinaro, an FAA spokesman. "The plane came to rest in a field, and there was substantial damage to the aircraft." The Kansas State Patrol said the plane crashed about 10 a.m. Trooper Tod Hileman said the pilot was "OK." The pilot was the only one aboard when the plane crashed in a rural area in Sherman County. "There were no injuries to the pilot or anyone on the ground," Key Lime Air said. The company, which operates cargo and passenger air charters with a fleet of more than 30 aircraft, said it plans to conduct a "thorough investigation to determine the cause of the anomaly." The charter service says it will participate in the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board inquiry into the crash. A Key Lime Air twin-engine cargo plane crashed in late December about 10 feet from a home after taking off from Centennial Airport en route to Denver International Airport. The pilot, who died in the crash, told air traffic controllers that he lost engine power before his Cessna 404 went down. An investigation into the December crash is ongoing. On Jan. 8, a Key Lime Air plane made an emergency landing at Centennial Airport after experiencing an engine malfunction in flight, according to 7News. No one was hurt. http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_27363731/key-lime-air-cargo-plane-from-centennial-crashed Back to Top Russia and India Defence Ministries to cooperate in air safety On Wednesday, the Defence Ministries of Russia and India signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of aviation safety in New Delhi. Major-General Alexander Berzan, the Chief of Aviation Safety in the Russian Armed Forces, signed the document from the Russian side. The agreement was signed in the presence of defence ministers of Russia and India - Sergey Shoigu and Manohar Parrikar. The Russian Defence Ministry spokesperson Igor Konashenkov explained that the agreement is based on the provisions of the declaration of strategic partnership between Russia and India signed on October 5, 2000. He noted that this agreement defines the procedure for the mutual exchange of information on facts and causes of accidents and incidents related to the operation of the specific types of aircraft. Here the two sides also spelled out the principles of mutual assistance in the investigation of accidents and incidents, as well as monitoring compliance with safety requirements during joint bilateral exercises. The draft agreement was first approved by the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and by the Russian Government. http://in.rbth.com/news/2015/01/21/ Back to Top Back to Top ATR Targets 100-Aircraft Annual Production Rate ATR chief executive Patrick de Castelbajac After ending 2014 with record sales, deliveries and revenues, ATR is preparing to assemble 100 aircraft per year, a level where it expects production to stabilize. The Toulouse-based manufacturer last year received firm orders for 160 ATR 42/72-600 regional turboprops and its turnover amounted to $1.8 billion, it announced Wednesday in Paris at its annual press conference. The backlog stands at 280 aircraft, about 90 of which comes from the larger of the family's two models, the ATR 72. ATR's output reached 83 last year and plans call for an increase to "over 90" in 2015 and then "over 100" in 2016. "I would be comfortable with an annual production rate of 100 in the mid-term, plateauing there," CEO Patrick de Castelbajac said. Although the the market continues to grow, the company must "support the weakest part of the supply chain," he added. Last August, an extended and reorganized assembly line started operating in Toulouse. It will bring capacity to 10 aircraft per month, or 120 aircraft per year, in 2016. Still, ATR sees last year's sales as exceptional. This year the negative effect of falling oil prices "may slow down some orders." Although the phenomenon stands to favorably affect airlines' cash flow, it makes more fuel-efficient aircraft less attractive. But Castelbajac emphasized buyers maintain a long-term view when they order aircraft. "No one believes that the price of oil will be this low 15 years from now; the long-term trend is up," he said. ATR still hopes to sell aircraft in China. "The market is not completely open to us but we have tripled the team in Beijing; if there is a way in, we'll get there," Castelbajac stressed. The local situation is complicated, however, as China's Avic acts as both a competitor-with its new MA700 turboprop-and a partner, building a large part of ATR's aerostructures. Meanwhile, plans for a 90-seater have not progressed. "We still have one shareholder, Alenia Aermacchi, who is very much willing to do it, whereas the other one, Airbus, is not," Castelbajac said. At least the two companies agree on a product improvement policy. Last year, a new version of the Pratt & Whitney Canada turboprop, the PW127N, won certification. It provides a 4.5-percent power increase for better performance in a hot-and-high environment, according to ATR's data. In avionics, the "standard 2" suite now includes LPV, VNAV and RNP 0.3/AR capability. For example, it enables a continuous descent approach, Castelbajac pointed out. ATR is considering still more developments, as ATR and Thales engineers turn their attention to a "standard 3" for avionics this year. Runway performance could improve with further-refined engines and new brakes. Designers could upgrade air conditioning for tropical climates. Moreover, Castelbajac has set 2015 as the deadline to determine the feasibility of squeezing a few extra seats into the ATR 72's cabin. ATR has set a capacity target of 78 passengers, made possible by slimmer seats and "adjusted" galley space. The feasibility study also involves the authorities. In customer support, efforts over the 2014-2015 period concentrate on South America and the Far East. ATR expects to open an office this year in Tokyo, following last year's training partnerships established in Bogota and Bangkok. In Brazil, the company endeavors to repair 30 percent of the spares through two local partners. It has scheduled tests for February. Moving from today's consortium structure to a full-fledged company does not rank as a top priority. Castelbajac stills wants to do it, he said, but other challenges remain more pressing. "We would have to negotiate with our shareholders and with tax authorities in France and Italy," he said. http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aerospace/2015-01-21/atr-targets-100-aircraft-annual- production-rate Back to Top Research Survey Request CASR's Limited Job Task Analysis Validation Survey Extended to February 28, 2015 Limited Job Task Analysis Validation Survey The Center for Aviation Safety Research at Saint Louis University (USA) invites active and recently retired pilots, check airmen and instructors to validate a Limited Job Task Analysis for professional pilots. This task analysis focuses on a select set of phases of flight and seeks your opinion regarding the criticality of the underpinning knowledge requirements. This task analysis was developed with the help of an international panel of subject matter experts and practicing professional pilots. We are requesting you to kindly take this 45-minute online survey (https://slu.az1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_0GuI969wyJB4snP ) to validate our draft of the task analysis. Please note that we need to have all survey responses by February 28, 2015. And, if you have friends who are qualified to support this research, we respectfully ask that you forward this invitation to them, as well. If you have any trouble accessing the survey, please feel free to contact Dr. Manoj Patankar, Executive Director of the Center for Aviation Safety, at patankar@slu.edu or 314-977-8725. 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 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 Upcoming Events: Fundamentals of IS-BAO February 3, 2015 Atlanta, GA USA https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1628307 IS-BAO Auditing February 4, 2015 Atlanta, GA USA https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1628308 Fundamentals of IS-BAO February 10, 2015 Long Beach, CA USA https://www.regonline.com/eventInfo.asp?eventID=1651572 Fundamentals of IS-BAH February 10, 2015 Long Beach, CA USA https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1651575 IS-BAH Auditing February 11, 2015 Long Beach, CA USA https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1651581 Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) NTSB Training Center, Ashburn, VA March 10-11, 2015 www.acsf.aero/symposium ERAU NextGen 101 Seminar April 21-22, 2015. Washington D.C. http://proed.erau.edu/programs/specialized-industry-training/nextgen-101-seminar/index.html FAA Helicopter Safety Effort three-day safety forum April 21-23, 2015 Hurst, Texas eugene.trainor@faa.gov www.faahelisafety.org ERAU OSHA & Aviation Ground Safety Seminar Daytona Beach, FL Apr.13-17, 2015 www.erau.edu/cmas ERAU Aviation Safety Program Management Seminar Daytona Beach, FL Apr.20-24, 2015 www.erau.edu/cmas ERAU Aircraft Accident Investigation Seminar Daytona Beach, FL Apr. 27-May 1, 2015 www.erau.edu/cmas ERAU Advanced Aircraft Accident Investigation Seminar Prescott Campus, AZ May 4-8, 2015 www.erau.edu/cmas ERAU Aviation SMS Seminar Daytona Beach, FL May 12-14, 2015 www.erau.edu/sms Back to Top Positions Available: Director Safety Assurance Alaska Airlines http://alaskaair.jobs/seattle-wa/director-safety-assurance/32B51332CBA14B28B14EFF0F793F90CB/job/ Curt Lewis