Flight Safety Information February 25, 2015 - No. 037 In This Issue FAA: Southwest for now can use planes that missed inspection Death toll rises to four in Turkish jet crashes Air France Jet Stranded in Manchester as Pilot Runs Out of Hours Aerobridge of Vistara flight detaches at Ahmedabad airport, fliers safe Silver Airways Meets Department of Defense Quality and Safety Requirements PROS 2015 TRAINING New Bombardier Jet Due to Fly Thursday ICAEA - Istanbul April 2015 KSU Salina receives statewide access for flight of small unmanned aircraft Graduate Research Survey The Giles Group Upcoming Events FAA: Southwest for now can use planes that missed inspection DALLAS - Federal officials have agreed to let Southwest Airlines Co. keep flying planes that missed an inspection of a backup rudder system if the planes are checked in the next five days. Southwest grounded 128 planes - about one-fifth of its fleet - on Tuesday after discovering the missed inspections. Southwest spokeswoman Brandy King said the airline canceled about 80 flights Tuesday and expected to cancel up to 19 more on Wednesday while some inspections are done. She said the airline expected to finish "a good portion" of the inspections by Wednesday morning. The missed inspections involved hydraulic systems used to control the rudder if the main system fails. King said that after discovering the lapse, Southwest immediately notified federal safety regulators, took the planes out of service and began checking them. Late Tuesday night, the Federal Aviation Administration agreed to let the airline resume flying the planes while inspections are done, likely during overnight hours. FAA spokesman Lynn Lunsford confirmed that the agency approved the plan after talking with Southwest and Boeing, the manufacturer of the planes. The missed inspections were first reported by The Wall Street Journal. Dallas-based Southwest is the nation's fourth-biggest airline. It has 665 jets, all of which are some version of the Boeing 737. Tuesday's groundings involved nearly one-third of its 737-700 models, which seat 137 or 143 passengers, depending on the layout. Southwest was fined in 2009 for failing to inspect dozens of planes for cracks in the fuselage. Southwest agreed to pay $7.5 million to settle with the FAA, which had sought a $10.2 million penalty. In 2011, the FAA ordered extensive inspections of some of Southwest's older 737s after a 5-foot hole burst open in one plane in mid-flight, forcing an emergency landing at a military base in Arizona. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/southwest-grounding-128-planes-over-missed- inspections/2015/02/24/f6323804-bca7-11e4-9dfb-03366e719af8_story.html Back to Top Death toll rises to four in Turkish jet crashes Both planes allegedly crashed due to an accident, according to the Turkish army. No further details were given. (AFP/File)Both planes allegedly crashed due to an accident, according to the Turkish army. No further details were given. (AFP/File) More > Necdet Özel, Efkan Ala, Turkish Air Force, Turkish army, Interior Ministry Two Turkish Air Force jets have crashed in the Eastern Anatolia region due to unknown reasons, killing four people, the Interior Ministry says. "Unfortunately, four were martyred. We have reached the wreckage of the two planes," AFP quoted Interior Minister Efkan Ala as saying on Tuesday. Each of the RF-4E jets was carrying a pilot and a co-pilot as they crashed late Tuesday evening near the city of Malatya, in the province of the same name. According to a statement released by Turkey's Chief of General Staff Necdet Özel, both jets took off from Malatya Erhaç 7th Air Base at 6:07 p.m. local time (1607 GMT) and disappeared from radar screens on 7:05 p.m. (1705 GMT). "The debris of our two planes was found at 8:45 p.m. (1845 GMT) and our four hero pilots were martyred," the statement said. The Turkish army said the planes crashed due to an accident but refrained from giving further information over the cause of the incident or how the two jets apparently crashed simultaneously. http://www.albawaba.com/news/death-toll-rises-four-turkish-jet-crashes-661314 Back to Top Air France Jet Stranded in Manchester as Pilot Runs Out of Hours (Bloomberg) -- Passengers on an Air France flight from New York to Paris on Feb. 22 wound up in Manchester after the pilot landed the Airbus A380 superjumbo with 440 travelers prematurely in the U.K. to avoid exceeding maximum work hours. The flight had already been six hours late when it left New York because of bad weather, according to Paris-based Air France. By the time the double-decker jet touched down in Manchester, the pilot had clocked almost almost 13 hours of work, more than the 11 maximum permitted by European Union regulation, the airline said. Covering the distance from Manchester to Paris typically takes about 1.5 hours on a plane. The A380 was unable to continue with rested crew following the Manchester hiatus because of a pressurization fault, forcing the airline to dispatch three smaller planes and fetch the stranded passengers. The carrier is contacting each of its customers to propose compensation. "Given a need to respect European regulations concerning maximum hours for flying personnel, the crew had to make a stop at Manchester," the airline said in a statement today. "The airline understands well the exasperation of its customers in this situation." http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-02-24/air-france-passengers-left-stranded-in-manchester- as-pilo Back to Top Aerobridge of Vistara flight detaches at Ahmedabad airport, fliers safe At least five passengers were yet to get off a Vistara flight when one of the aerobridge got detached from the aircraft door at the Ahmedabad airport on Monday. The flight was carrying passengers from Delhi to Ahmedabad. Although the incident wasn't a serious one, the aviation safety regulator's preliminary report found that one end of the aerobridge gave in while the passengers were still using it to get off the aircraft. This incident delayed the journeys of Delhi-bound passengers who scheduled to fly by the same aircraft. "It could have been fatal for the passengers stepping on the aerobridge when the incident took place," said Lalit Gupta, joint director general (air safety) with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). He also added that 'appropriate action' would be taken after getting a detailed report in the matter. Trouble for the newly launched Vistara flight didn't end there as the DGCA primary report also stated that a technician called in to fix the glitch met with serious injury when his fingers got stuck in the aircraft door. According to Ahmedabad airport officials, the worker, Bhavesh Prajapati would require surgery and was recuperating at a city hospital. "We are also probing the cause of the incident and whether there was any negligence on either sides," said Sanjay Brahmane, deputy director general (air safety) western region. Brahmane's team is investigating the matter. Airport officials added that the incident had caused a huge dent on the aircraft and a significant portion of the aerobridge canopy was also damaged. This is the first reported mishap involving the less than two-month-old Vistara. A Vistara spokesperson confirmed an incident involving the aircraft exit and the aerobridge but did not respond to HT's specific queries on the DGCA's preliminary probe. "Owing to a problem in the moving aerobridge, the front door of Vistara's stationary aircraft got damaged while the aircraft was being prepared to operate from Ahmedabad to Delhi in the afternoon on Monday, February 23, 2015. The aircraft door got damaged while the ground personnel at the Ahmedabad airport were repositioning the aerobridge. The passengers were informed of the incident and were transferred on the subsequent flight plying on that route. Airport authorities are investigating the cause of the incident," he said. http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/aerobridge-of-vistara-flight-detaches-at-ahmedabad-airport- fliers-safe/article1-1320130.aspx Back to Top Silver Airways Meets Department of Defense Quality and Safety Requirements Florida's Largest Independent Airline Approved for Participation in DOD Air Transportation Program FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Feb. 23, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Silver Airways has successfully met the Department of Defense's (DOD) Commercial Air Carrier Quality and Safety Requirements in all areas of the airline's operation. As such, Florida's largest independent airline is approved for participation in the DOD's Air Transportation Program. "Operating safely is always our number one focus. Joining the DOD's Air Transportation Program is yet another significant milestone as we continue to improve our service and reliability as the airline of choice for Florida and the Bahamas, and will allow us to better support the large military presence and government travelers in many of the cities we serve throughout the Sunshine State, including Jacksonville, Pensacola, Tampa, and Key West, as well as from Washington, D.C.-Dulles," said Silver Airways CEO Sami Teittinen. "Thank you to all of our professional team members who work diligently each and every day to offer our customers safe, reliable air transportation." The DOD's Commercial Air Transportation Quality and Safety Requirements mandate airlines to engage in quality programs and business practices that not only ensure good service, but enhance the safety, operational, and maintenance standards established by regulatory agencies. As such, the DOD has established a set of air carrier quality and safety requirements that reflect the type of programs and practices the DOD seeks from air carriers or operators airlifting DOD resources. About Silver Airways As the airline of choice for Florida and the Bahamas, Silver Airways operates more routes within Florida and between Florida and the Bahamas than any other airline. The airline averages over 130 daily flights to 28 destinations in Florida and the Bahamas, as well as the Mid-Atlantic region from Washington-Dulles. Silver is a codeshare partner with United Airlines and has interline agreements with American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, US Airways, Alaska Airlines, Bahamasair, Hahn Air, and All Nippon Airways. Silver's fleet is comprised of 27 highly reliable and fuel-efficient 34-seat Saab 340B Plus turbo-prop aircraft. With the lowest accident rate of any other commercial aircraft, Saab is the safest in the world. Silver is privately owned by Victory Park Capital, a Chicago-based investment firm that launched the airline in May 2011. Visit Silver Airways at silverairways.com. http://globenewswire.com/news-release/2015/02/23/708985/10121519/en/Silver-Airways-Meets- Department-of-Defense-Quality-and-Safety-Requirements.html#sthash.UG4ES0pN.dpuf Back to Top Back to Top New Bombardier Jet Due to Fly Thursday CS300 aircraft can seat 130 to 160 passengers Bombardier Inc. confirmed the company is targeting Thursday for the maiden flight of its new CSeries CS300 jetliner. The CS300, which can seat 130 to 160 passengers, is the larger of two single-aisle jets developed to compete with the smallest aircraft made by Airbus Group NV and Boeing Co. , but the Canadian company has struggled to secure orders and faced design issues that have pushed back its expected entry into service. Cash-strapped Bombardier, which recently installed a new chief executive officer and completed a $750 million equity offering, has secured 243 firm orders for the CSeries, with around two-thirds of them for the larger CS300. The all-new jets feature carbon-fiber composite wings and a wider cabin. Bombardier last week was granted approvals from Transport Canada, the country's aviation regulator and said it had targeted a window of Feb. 26-28 for the jet's first flight, heavily dependent on the frigid winter weather in northern Quebec. The company said it completed high-speed taxi and braking test runs earlier this week. The first model, the CS100, began flight trials in September 2013 and is slated to enter service in the second half of 2015, about two years beyond Bombardier's original plan. Supply-chain and technical challenges have slowed the jet's development, but its test fleet has so far completed more than 1,000 of the planned 2,400 fight testing hours. The CS300, which is due to fly Thursday at the company's Mirabel, Quebec, facility, features a longer fuselage to seat additional passengers, and is expected to be certified by aviation authorities six months after the first smaller model. http://www.wsj.com/articles/new-bombardier-jet-due-to-fly-thursday-1424804576 Back to Top ICAEA - Istanbul April 2015 ICAEA forum - Istanbul, 2015 Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. ICAEA Istanbul 2015 Human Factors, Communications and Safety The International Civil Aviation English Association announces the 17th international forum, hosted by 27-28 April 2015 ** Programme now available ** CLICK HERE TO REGISTER VENUE: Radisson Blu Conference & Airport Hotel, Istanbul Key note speakers, panellists and workshop facilitators will discuss: * The role of English in communication and human factors * Language proficiency and culture in human factors * Training strategies to mitigate safety issues in cross-cultural communications * English as a common link for CRM among international crews * Training for optimum on-board communications * Human factors in air to ground communication - culture, language and the communication interference * The role of English communication in human factors on the flight deck, with ATC and between cabin crew * Communication in the cabin among crew and with passengers For more information and registration details visit ICAEA For more information please contact: info@icaea.aero Copyright © ICAEA 2015, all rights reserved unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences*|IFNOT:ARCHIVview email in browser KSU Salina receives statewide access for flight of small unmanned aircraft KSU Quadcopter SALINA, Kansas - Kansas State University Salina has reached a national milestone in the unmanned aircraft systems industry, becoming the first entity in the country to receive approval from the Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA, for statewide access during flight operations. The university has received three Certificates of Authorization that will allow its unmanned aircraft systems, or UAS, program to conduct research anywhere in the state on public property, or on private property with landowner permission. "These new authorizations are yet another example of how K-State Salina is truly a leader in unmanned aircraft systems," said Kurt Carraway, K-State Salina's UAS flight operations manager. "Our statewide access will allow us to continue to provide practical applications of technology to our students and will further develop our research abilities for the university, the FAA and our industry partners." K-State Salina's UAS program will use the three new Certificates of Authorization, or COAs, primarily to conduct research on unmanned aircraft systems operating requirements for remote sensing in agriculture and emergency response. The certificates are effective for two years, giving the university's UAS program a flexibility and immediacy in collecting research data, specifically in agriculture remote sensing, when conditions promptly change. "The nature of agriculture research is subjective to environmental conditions and it's important that we are able to investigate the impact of drought, floods, insect infestation and other factors," Carraway said. "Before this access, we would have to apply for a COA from the FAA for a specific area of Kansas and then wait at least 60 days for approval. In a two-month time period, valuable information could be lost." With more research opportunities, K-State Salina will be able to offer additional application-based experiences to unmanned aircraft systems students as well as students majoring in engineering, engineering technology, agriculture and other areas. And with more flying time, the UAS program will contribute to the FAA's need for more data about integration of UAS into the nation's airspace. Even though the three new authorizations grant K-State Salina statewide access for small UAS operations, there are many regulations the university must follow. All flight missions are limited to 700 feet above ground level; they must be conducted during the day and in visual line-of-sight; missions cannot operate over heavily trafficked roads or in an open-air assembly of people; and they must have ground or flight observers at all times. K-State Salina requires the pilot in command to have completed FAA private pilot ground instruction and passed the written examination within the preceding 24 calendar months. Additionally, the pilot in command must hold a private pilot certificate if flying an unmanned aircraft above 400 feet, and all pilots must hold a current second-class FAA medical certificate. "Two common interests regarding the flying of unmanned aircraft surround safety and privacy," said Mark Blanks, K-State Salina's UAS program manager. "And we take those two things very seriously. One of the most important guidelines we follow is getting a landowner's permission before flying on private property. We also carefully evaluate each mission to ensure that all risks are mitigated before we even leave the campus to go fly." Blanks says the regulations have been created not only for civilians, but for other pilots as well. Before flying, K-State Salina must issue what is called a Notice to Airmen at least 24 hours before its mission to ensure all pilots are aware of the university's operations. And any unmanned flight within 5 nautical miles of an airport requires the operator to have an FAA private pilot certificate. The flight operations will use a mix of fixed-wing and rotary wing UAS, all components of K-State Salina's fleet of more than 20 aircraft. UAS students will be able to participate in multiple facets of the research missions, from integrating equipment on the unmanned aircraft to acting as part of the ground support crew analyzing data from the flights. K-State Salina is one of the first universities in the nation to offer a bachelor's degree in UAS, which started in 2011, and since then, the program has nearly doubled its enrollment every year. http://ksn.com/2015/02/24/ksu-salina-receives-statewide-access-for-flight-of-small-unmanned-aircraft/ Back to Top Graduate Research Survey The survey is being conducted as part of a Master's thesis in Human Factors Engineering at Tufts University. It explores differences in opinions and perceived use of voluntary reporting practices at several major airlines that utilize a similar system. The end goal is to recommend best practices for the successful implementation and continued use of such systems to maximize the benefit to an organization and its employees. This survey is voluntary and can be stopped at any time without consequence. Participants only need to answer questions that they feel comfortable answering and Katherine (the creator of the survey), GE Aviation, and Tufts University will have no knowledge of the name or identity of any person who submits a response to this survey. It is completely anonymous. Additionally, airline names will never be disclosed. The survey should take less than 5 minutes. Please contact her if you have any questions: katherine.darveau@ge.com W: 781-594-7799 C: 781-439-7431 Mechanic/Technician survey link: https://tufts.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_6x6T69RkMwDJvA9 Manager survey link: https://tufts.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_5i5oyQqRSqruyy1 Back to Top The Giles Group Global Aviation Consultants 10724 Horde Street Silver Spring, MD 20902 Contact: Lynn McCloud Dorfman +1 571 331 5119 lynndorfman@gmail.com For Immediate Release THE GILES GROUP EXPANDS CAPABILITIES; ACQUIRES EXPERTISE FROM F J LEONELLI GROUP Silver Spring, MD, Feb. 24, 2015 - International aviation consultancy Carol E. Giles & Associates announced that it is expanding its capabilities and will now operate around the world under the name The Giles Group, effective immediately. "The new name reflects our firm's expanded capabilities with the addition of trusted and highly regarded aviation safety experts, who have worked with the F J Leonelli Group," said President Carol E. Giles. "Further, the addition of Fred Leonelli as strategic advisor strengthens the expert counsel we can offer U.S. and international clients." The Giles Group services include safety assessments, certification and regulatory compliance audits, technical assistance, help with incorporating Safety Management Systems, and developing and delivering training programs. Giles adds, "One our of key specialties is spotting and solving problems for clients before they become compliance issues." Team members have helped numerous clients worldwide by diagnosing regulatory issues, prescribing corrections, and overseeing the changes to keep their operation in compliance as well as improve the client's safety culture. "Our bench of safety experts is deep and strong," says Fred Leonelli, "and we have long been committed to providing the highest quality service in today's ever-changing and challenging commercial aviation environment." Giles says this commitment to high quality service will only grow with the transition to The Giles Group. The Giles Group develops certification and regulatory compliance strategies for air carriers and maintenance and repair organizations and delivers approved training programs for both U.S. and foreign- certificated air carriers and repair stations. Clients include air carriers, maintenance organizations, business aviation operators, suppliers and distributors, manufacturers, and foreign civil aviation authorities. http://gilesgroup.com Back to Top Upcoming Events: Fundamentals of IS-BAO March 5, 2015 HAI Heli-Expo - Orlando, FL USA https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1628315 IS-BAO Auditing March 6, 2015 HAI Heli-Expo - Orlando, FL USA https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1628316 Fundamentals of IS-BAO March 31, 2015 Houston, TX USA https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1657515 IS-BAO Auditing April 1, 2015 Houston, TX USA https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1657517 Fundamentals of IS-BAO April 15, 2015 Toluca, Mexico https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1657510 IS-BAO Auditing April 16, 2015 Toluca, Mexico https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1657512 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