Flight Safety Information February 10, 2015 - No. 028 In This Issue FAA Reports Fewest Cases Of Unruly Passengers In 20 Years Eleven planes forced to make Mayday landings at British airports last year because they were running out of fuel US Airways Flight 1825 Makes Emergency Landing In Houston Without Nose Gear Pilots suffer eye injuries after laser pointer shone into cockpit during approach to Sunport Child on Atlanta flight diagnosed with measles; CDC to contact passengers PROS 2015 TRAINING Chilean soccer team's plane found five decades after mountainside crash Bombardier Announces American Airlines Firm Order for 24 CRJ900 NextGen Aircraft Najeeb E. Halaby Graduate Student Fellowship Position Available Upcoming Events FAA Reports Fewest Cases Of Unruly Passengers In 20 Years The debate over the right to recline one's seat on an airplane, fueled by products such as the "knee defender," generated a slew of headlines in 2014. But despite the media coverage, and the few instances in which planes were forced to make emergency landings due to passenger squabbles, last year saw the fewest cases of unruly passengers on United States airplanes in almost two decades. Defined as assaulting, threatening, or interfering with a crewmember aboard an aircraft being operated, the Federal Aviation Administration received 121 reported cases of unruly passengers in 2014 - a drop from a peak of 310 cases in 2004 and the fewest since 1995. Passengers found in violation can face up to a $25,000 fine in addition to criminal charges with the possibility of jail time, depending on the severity of the incident, but reporting an incident is at the discretion of the crew. Security violations are also excluded from the FAA's figures as the Transportation Security Administration handles those cases. The new low comes a few years following an upward trend of unruly passengers from 2001 to 2004 that could likely be attributed to heightened tensions following the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 and a lower tolerance for disruptive behavior on U.S. airplanes. Back to Top Eleven planes forced to make Mayday landings at British airports last year because they were running out of fuel Of those, 11 planes were forced to issue a Mayday call to land due to fuel One airline operator is responsible for 35 of the 111 reports - almost a third Eleven passenger planes were forced to make Mayday calls to land at UK airports last year because they were running low on fuel, it has emerged. New figures reveal that a total of 11 planes had to radio an emergency call to schedule an earlier landing because fuel supplies on the aircraft were so low. A further 100 passenger jets were also caught 'flying on empty', but they didn't have to make Mayday calls, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) figures show. It means a total of 111 planes ended up running low on fuel during flights in 2014 - almost double the 58 British-registered planes which recorded low fuel levels in 2013. New figures show that a total of 111 commercial planes were caught flying low on fuel in UK airspace last year, with 11 of those planes being forced to issue a Mayday call to land because of low fuel levels (file picture) However, in comparison, the number of Mayday calls issued because of low fuel last year was two fewer than the 13 made in 2013. One operator, which the CAA did not name, was responsible for 35 of the 111 reports of low fuel in 2014 - which equates to almost a third. Another carrier was responsible for 12 incidents, while another was accountable for 10. A total of 36 operators were deemed responsible for the entire 111 incidents. London's Heathrow Airport experienced the highest number of reports of low fuel incidents in 2014, the figures show. A total of 19 commercial planes, of mixed nationality, were found to be flying low on fuel as they approached the west London airport. In comparison, there were 13 planes recorded at London Gatwick, four planes at London Stansted, and three at both Manchester and Edinburgh. Planes in UK airspace are required to have enough fuel to complete their journey, have enough to reach another airport in case of a diversion, circle an airport for 30 minutes if necessary and still have a final emergency reserve, which is equivalent to five per cent of the plane's original upload of fuel. All UK operators have a legal obligation to report safety issues and a low fuel declaration falls within that scope, meaning all carriers are forced to declare when an aircraft's fuel has not met the requirement. Some airlines have allegedly been cutting the amount of fuel they carry to make the aircraft lighter and save money. Others suffer fuel shortages during extreme weather when flight patterns are disrupted or aircraft are unable to land because of adverse conditions. A spokesman for the UK Civil Aviation Authority told MailOnline: 'European airlines have a legal responsibility to carry a set minimum level of fuel, enough for the aircraft to carry out its planned journey and cope with any potential issues during the flight. 'However, in very rare circumstances, for example extreme weather, an aircraft may burn fuel faster than calculated. In most cases the aircraft simply lands with less fuel than expected. 'Occasionally, however, the flight crew decide to request a priority landing as they approach an airport in order to maintain its final contingency reserve fuel. 'Airlines and air traffic controllers have well practiced standard operating procedures in place to deal with these situations.' One operator, which the CAA did not name, was responsible for 35 of the 111 reports of low fuel. London's Heathrow Airport (pictured) experienced the highest number of reports of low fuel incidents, with a total of 19 Pilots' union Balpa described the rising number of low fuel incidents as a 'matter of concern' and said pressure to remain competitive and keep fuel costs down must never compromise passenger safety. A spokesman said: 'Aircraft flying on low fuel not only put that aircraft potentially at risk, but also impact on the wider operation. 'Handling an aircraft on low-fuel means that other aircraft may have to hold longer to give appropriate priority to the emergency aircraft resulting in a possible "avalanche effect". 'It is natural, in such a competitive industry, for airlines to look to carry as little fuel as they can in order to save weight and save money. But that commercial pressure must never be at the expense of ensuring a safe flight. 'The CAA's approach to safety - that of "Safety Management Systems" - is to allow airlines to make their own judgement calls on safety matters and to monitor the result. 'Therefore we hope that the regulator has picked up the fact that one company has been responsible for 30 per cent of the low fuel incidents recorded and has reacted appropriately.' The CAA confirmed that passengers were not in danger in any of the 111 recorded fuel incidents and said there was 'no safety risk to passengers'. In 2012, budget airline Ryanair was ordered to 'review' the amount of fuel it carries after three of its planes - including one from the UK - were forced to make 'Mayday' emergency landings in Spain when they started to run out of fuel. The airline was operating with a level of fuel that was 'close to the minimum' required in the case of a diversion, watchdogs said. Three Ryanair Boeing 737-800 aircraft heading to Madrid were forced to make emergency landings after being diverted to Valencia because of thunderstorms over the Spanish capital. At the time, the Irish Aviation Authority Report recommended Ryanair 'reviews its fuel policy and considers issuing guidance to crew with respect to fuel when operating into busy airports with mixed aircraft operators and types, particularly in poor weather conditions when diversions are likely.' Share or comment on this article http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2947077/Eleven-planes-forced-make-Mayday-landings-British- airports-year-running-fuel.html#ixzz3RLOHBERc Back to Top US Airways Flight 1825 Makes Emergency Landing In Houston Without Nose Gear An American Airlines flight operated by US Airways made an emergency landing at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston on Monday night after its landing gear failed to deploy. Video from the scene, above, shows sparks shooting out of Flight 1825 as its nose dragged across the runway during the landing. In a statement released to ABC13, Americans Airlines said the Embraer 190 had 52 passengers and a crew of four, and that one person was injured. The injuries are not believed to be serious. One passenger's son posted an image he said was taken by his father after the landing: "American's primary concern at this time is for our passengers and crew. We are in contact with the authorities and cooperating with response efforts," the airline said. The flight first aborted its approach at 9:18 p.m. local time, according to data posted on the Aviation Safety Network. It then circled the airport three times and landed at 10:07 p.m., the website reported. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/10/houston-emergency-landing_n_6650372.html Back to Top Pilots suffer eye injuries after laser pointer shone into cockpit during approach to Sunport The Federal Aviation Administration says two pilots were hospitalized with eye injuries Saturday when a person on the ground shone a green laser into the plane's cockpit while it was approaching the airport to land at the Albuquerque Sunport. The FAA says the pilots managed to land the plane, an Airbus A300-600 being used by FedEx, safely, according to the Aviation Herald. New Mexico State Police are handling the investigation. The FBI and FAA saw 27 laser strikes in 2013 in Albuquerque, almost double the number from 2012. http://www.kob.com/article/stories/s3702384.shtml#.VNnzz_nF98E Back to Top Child on Atlanta flight diagnosed with measles; CDC to contact passengers The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working to contact passengers who shared three flights, including one to Atlanta, with a child diagnosed with measles at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Egleston. Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus. The diagnosis is the first in Georgia since 2012. Measles can be serious for young children. It can lead to pneumonia, encephalitis (swelling of the brain), and death, according to Atlanta-based CDC. State public health officials say the child, a boy under the age of one, left Kyrgyzstan headed for Istanbul, Turkey, reports Atlanta Business Chronicle broadcast partner WXIA-TV. The infant had symptoms on the flight. After a layover in Chicago, the infant was on a Feb. 4 flight to Atlanta. Officials did not release the flight number. The baby was taken from the airport to DeKalb County. It is unclear where the baby traveled while in DeKalb, WXIA says. On Feb. 6, the baby was diagnosed at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta with full-blown measles, the station reports. State health officials are working to determine who had contact with the baby after arriving in Atlanta. http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/morning_call/2015/02/child-on-atlanta-flight-diagnosed-with- measles-cdc.html Back to Top Back to Top Chilean soccer team's plane found five decades after mountainside crash Chilean mountaineers pose for a photo on what they say is the wreckage of a plane that crashed in the Andes mountains 54 years ago, killing 24 people, including eight members of a professional soccer team. (Leonardo Albornoz/AP) In early April 1961, the top-division Chilean soccer team Green Cross piled into a fixed-wing propeller plane headed home for the country's capital, Santiago. They had just played an away game in the Copa de Chile, Chile's domestic soccer cup. Then, somewhere over the Andes mountains, the plane crashed. All 24 passengers - including eight team members - were presumed dead, and the wreckage remained missing for 54 years. Now, Chilean mountaineers say they have found passengers' bones and the plane's mutilated remains, its propeller buried in stone, some 215 miles from Santiago. The discovery solves a decades-old South American mystery. "It was a breathtaking moment, and we felt all kinds of sensations. One could feel the energy of the place and breathe the pain," Leonardo Albornoz told Chile's Channel 7, according to the Associated Press. "The plane is more than 10,000 feet above sea level," he told the Mirror. "A large part of the fuselage is still intact and a lot of material, including human bones, are scattered around the wreck." The plane crash brings to mind a widely publicized disaster that followed in 1972, when a Uruguayan aircraft carrying a rugby team went down in the Andes in Argentina, near the border with Chile. The plane's survivors became the inspiration for numerous documentaries, movies and books, most notably the 1993 film "Alive," which was based on a book by the same name. But this was a different disaster. On April 3, 1961, the Green Cross players split up between two planes. One made a few stops before landing in Santiago, and the other disappeared in flight. Rescue workers searched for weeks and found no sign of the Douglas DC-3 or its passengers. Memorials were held for the players - their families had no bodies to bury. When mountaineers found the wreckage, they said they could see the remains. They have not released the exact location of the 1961 crash to keep the site from being looted. "We don't want this place to be defiled and the remains taken as trophies. You have to remember people died here and their families deserve respect," Albornoz said, according to the Scottish Daily Record. http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/02/09/chilean-soccer-teams-plane-found- five-decades-after-mountainside-crash Back to Top Bombardier Announces American Airlines Firm Order for 24 CRJ900 NextGen Aircraft Aircraft will be operated by American's regional subsidiary PSA Airlines under the American Eagle brand MONTREAL, QUEBEC, Feb 09, 2015 (Marketwired via COMTEX) -- Bombardier Commercial Aircraft announced today that American Airlines, Inc. ("American"), a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines Group Inc., has signed a firm order for 24 CRJ900 NextGen regional jets. This order was announced on December 30, 2014 and followed American exercising 24 of 40 previously booked CRJ900 NextGen aircraft options. The options were originally acquired as part of American's large regional jet order announced in December 2013. As previously announced by Bombardier, based on the list price for the CRJ900 NextGen aircraft, the firm order is valued at approximately $1.14 billion US. "We are pleased to add these new Bombardier CRJ900 NextGen aircraft to our growing fleet and see the award as a reflection of American's continued confidence in PSA to provide friendly, reliable and cost- effective regional services for American's customers," said Dion Flannery, President, PSA Airlines. "We are proudly building, from a foundation of strength, one of the largest regional service providers for the world's largest airline." "Having fostered a relationship that spans over 15 years, Bombardier is proud to once again stand alongside American and its regional subsidiary PSA Airlines as PSA prepares to integrate an additional 24 CRJ900 NextGen aircraft into its all-Bombardier aircraft fleet," said Mike Arcamone, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. "We congratulate American on the success of its merger and are honored to see American's continued confidence in our CRJ900 NextGen aircraft. "As the CRJ NextGen family of aircraft re-asserts itself as the benchmark in regional aviation, we are seeing the benefits of our most recent investments in the program; the resulting enhancements to the aircraft have strengthened their performance and reliability, and have positioned them exceedingly well to meet airline requirements in developed and emerging markets for many years to come," added Mr. Arcamone. Including this latest order, Bombardier has recorded firm orders for 1,858 CRJ Series aircraft, including 384 CRJ900 and CRJ900 NextGen aircraft. Worldwide, CRJ Series aircraft are in service with more than 60 airlines and over 60 customers operate corporate variants of the aircraft in more than 50 countries on six continents. CRJ Series aircraft have transported more than 1.5 billion passengers and have logged more than 41 million flight hours and over 34 million takeoffs and landings. About CRJ NextGen aircraft Bombardier revolutionized regional aviation with its CRJ Series aircraft which continuously move the world forward. As the world's most successful family of regional aircraft, a CRJ regional jet departs every 10 seconds linking people and communities together. Optimized for medium-haul regional routes, CRJ NextGen aircraft deliver best-in-class economics and set the benchmark for lowest fuel burn and operating costs; they also offer proven reliability, fleet commonality and enhanced passenger comfort. The CRJ NextGen regional jets are designed for hub expansion and point-to-point services, enabling operators to create and develop new markets and increase frequencies for decades to come. About Bombardier Bombardier is the world's only manufacturer of both planes and trains. Looking far ahead while delivering today, Bombardier is evolving mobility worldwide by answering the call for more efficient, sustainable and enjoyable transportation everywhere. Our vehicles, services and, most of all, our employees are what make us a global leader in transportation. Bombardier is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. Our shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD) and we are listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America Indexes. In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, we posted revenues of $18.2 billion. News and information are available at bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/bombardier-announces-american-airlines-firm-order-for-24-crj900- nextgen-aircraft-2015-02-09-9173244 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 GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Hello, My name is Samuel Lien and I am a Masters of Applied Science student working under the supervisions of Dr. Jonathan Histon in the Human in Complex Systems (HCOM) Lab of the Human Factor Research Group in the System Designs Department at the University of Waterloo. The reason we are contacting you is that we are conducting a study that looks at the effect of information asynchrony on pilot-ATC communication. We are currently seeking subject-matter experts including active or retired professional pilots (commercial or higher rating) and air traffic controllers (terminal / enroute) as our participants to the study. Participation in this study involves going to our online experiment website from your computer as the experiment will be conducted online. In appreciation of the time you have given to this study, you can enter your name into a draw for 1 of 10 prizes. The prizes include $100 amazon.com gift card. Your odds of winning one of the prizes is approximately 1 in 4. I would like to assure you that the study has been reviewed and received ethics clearance through a University of Waterloo Research Ethics Committee. However, the final decision about participation is yours. To be clear, this experiment is not an official Nav Canada / FAA / NASA funded/sponsored/endorsed research activity but is a student research project. If you are interested in finding out more, please visit the website link here at: http://rbhagat.uwaterloo.ca/IDEA/ Or, please contact me or Dr. Jonathan Histon at the contact information below. Sincerely, Samuel Lien, Dr. Jonathan Histon Humans in Complex Systems Lab Systems Design Engineering University of Waterloo slien@uwaterloo.ca, jhiston@uwaterloo.ca 519-888-4567 x32529 Back to Top Position Available Assistant/Associate Professor Organization Name DB-College of Aviation Instruction Division Daytona Beach Campus Brief Description The Applied Aviation Sciences Department has a Tenure Track/Non-Tenure Track Assistant/Associate Professor position within the Aerospace and Occupational Safety (AOS) program. The AOS program focuses on exposing students to Aviation Safety, Fire Safety, Safety Management, Risk Management, Hazard Identification, System Safety, regulatory processes related to DOT, FAA, OSHA, and EPA, and to aviation accident investigations processes at the program's Crash Lab. Detailed Description Teaching obligations will include teaching 12 undergraduate credit hours (4 courses) per semester with possible graduate teaching obligations. Teaching areas will require flexibility in order to teach a variety of courses that may include aviation safety management (SMS, FOQA, ASAP, VDRP, etc.) system safety, human factors, engineering hazard controls, accident investigation or industrial hygiene. Expectation include appropriate scholarly activity, participation in applied research, and a variety of activities designed to support the Aerospace and Occupational Safety degree program. This is nine-month position, renewed annually, with the possibility of summer teaching assignments. Job Requirements Ph.D. in Aviation Safety, Human Factors, Occupational/Public Health, Risk Management, Industrial Hygiene, Industrial/Occupational Safety, or related field and a proven record of teaching required. A doctorate in education (Ed.D.) or a candidate enrolled in a doctoral program with appropriated aviation/aerospace safety experience will be given consideration as well. Preferred - An earned doctorate with extensive work experience in aviation/aerospace safety, occupational/industrial safety, industrial hygiene, allied field. Additionally, candidates with CSP or CIH are desired. Candidates must show evidence of substantial and successful teaching experience of safety-related courses, along with service activities associated with the profession. Additionally, candidates must show exceptional promise in research related to safety and health. Position available beginning August, 2015. Additional Details Our Culture: As the world's leader in aviation and aerospace education, Embry-Riddle offers a fast-paced, energetic workplace that's sky-high with opportunity. Family friendly, innovative, and collaborative describe our culture. This culture is enhanced by the importance we place on family and maintaining a healthy balance between professional and personal life. We value our faculty and staff and encourage innovation and flexibility which contributes to our overall success and the success of our students. Open communication and frequent sharing of feedback are essential in every day interactions. Opportunities abound for those who desire personal growth and development during their careers at Embry-Riddle. Join our team of over 2,500 professionals and see why we've been recognized as one of the best places to work over and over again! 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We strive to create a campus climate free of discrimination so that networks, partnerships and cultural competency continue to be fostered through leadership, integrity, care and respect. We are Embry-Riddle. How To Apply For information on applying for open jobs, please read the following: * Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University considers applications for open positions only. You can obtain information regarding these openings from our online postings, media advertisements, or by contacting our recruitment team. * We retain applications until the vacancy has been filled. You may apply online for multiple positions. * Only applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be considered for open positions. Individuals whose qualifications and experience best meet the needs of the University will be contacted for an interview. * If you need reasonable accommodations during the application or interview process, please let us know as soon as possible. * If you have not created a profile (using your email address and creating a password) please click on the "Register Today" button. Once you have created your account, you will be able to successfully apply for the vacancy of your choice. * Please log back in to your profile often to check the status of your application. Please follow the steps below to update/add documents to your iRecruitment profile: 1. Log into your iRecruitment profile by visiting www.erau.edu/jobs. Click "Available Positions" and then "Login Here". 2. Once logged in, if you would like to update your profile, click "My Account" (on the left side near the top). You can add/delete documents on the "Personal Information" tab, or click on the remaining headings to view and/or update your profile. Please remember to SAVE often. 3. When you are finished updating your information, click the SAVE button and then the Home tab near the top right. This will take you back to the Welcome Page of your profile. Back to Top Upcoming Events: 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 Curt Lewis