Flight Safety Information March 3, 2015 - No. 041 In This Issue FAA computers vulnerable to hackers, GAO report says American Airlines mechanic dies in jet bridge accident at D/FW International Airport Air India starts process for recruiting 197 pilots First batch of pilots sent to UAE's national service program United Airlines Won't Accept Rechargeable Battery Shipments Safety worries lead US airline to ban battery shipments Police: Woman Arrested For Scaling Miami Airport Fence PROS 2015 TRAINING 6th Pan American Aviation Safety Summit Graduate Research Survey Research Study 2015 AMERCA Flight Standards Meeting...April 7-8, 2015 Upcoming Events FAA computers vulnerable to hackers, GAO report says An airplane takes off in front of the control tower at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta in this Aug. 27, 2014, file photo. A government report says the FAA's air traffic control system could be attacked by hackers. (David Goldman/AP) The Federal Aviation Administration has fallen short in its efforts to protect the national air traffic control system from terrorists or others who might try to hack into the computers used to direct planes in flight, according to a government report released Monday. The Government Accountability Office report credited the FAA with taking steps to deter hackers but concluded that "significant security control weaknesses remain, threatening the agency's ability to ensure the safe and uninterrupted operation of the national airspace." The FAA said it intends to implement the 14 changes recommended in the GAO report. In a written response to the GAO last month, Keith Washington, acting assistant secretary for administration at the Department of Transportation, said the FAA already had achieved six "major milestones" toward improving cybersecurity and agreed with the GAO recommendations for improvements. A central finding in the GAO report is that the aviation agency has not fully put in place an organization-wide structure to protect its computers from attack. The report says threats to the air traffic control system are growing from terrorists, criminals and foreign governments. The GAO withheld details of specific security vulnerabilities. Air traffic controllers are responsible for the average 2,850 flights aloft at any given moment. The 14,000 controllers work in three types of facilities: 500 airport control towers that oversee landings and takeoffs; 160 facilities that direct planes to and from cruising altitudes; and 22 centers that supervise aircraft at cruising altitude. The most serious threat would come if hackers broke into the system and found a way to disrupt the flow of aircraft without being noticed. A breach that was detected immediately, however, would be less likely to significantly compromise operations, experts said. "The system is designed with contingency plans for a shutdown of any particular system," said Steven B. Wallace, an aviation safety consultant who formerly directed the FAA office of accident investigation. When fires - as in a recent incident in Chicago - tornadoes or other issues cause the rare shutdown of a facility, there are plans in place to transfer its responsibilities elsewhere in the system. "Is it conceivable that a hack could go systemwide? I doubt it," Wallace said, while acknowledging that ingenious hackers could strike anywhere. "I don't know which computer system you couldn't say that about." The GAO said, however, that as the FAA moves to implement the collections of computer-based systems known as NextGen, there will be increased integration of the FAA's national air system computers, "creating a greater need to secure these systems from remote, external threats." The FAA needs to do a better job of controlling access to computer systems and establishing multiple firewalls to protect against unauthorized intruders, the GAO said. It also should enhance encryption of sensitive data and ensure that employees and contractors take required security training. "A fundamental cause for these various weaknesses is that the FAA has not yet implemented an effective program for managing organizational information security," the report said. The FAA has created a cybersecurity steering committee, but the report said its work was hindered by disagreements between the agency's technological office and the air traffic control group. http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/faa-computers-vulnerable- to-hackers-gao-report-says/2015/03/02/388219ac-c119-11e4-9271- 610273846239_story.html Back to Top American Airlines mechanic dies in jet bridge accident at D/FW International Airport An American Airlines plane parked on the tarmac outside Terminal D at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport American Airlines says one of its mechanics was killed Monday morning following an accident at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Its statement, released just before 3 p.m. today, was brief. It said only that the accident took place on a jet bridge, which links the gate with the plane, at 10:30 a.m. "Sadly, he suffered fatal injuries," says the statement. "We extend our deepest sympathies to our co-worker's family and friends, and our hearts go out to our entire team of DFW airport and maintenance colleagues. Our focus is on taking care of his family and friends during this difficult time." The D/FW-based carrier provided no further details Airport officials say the accident took place at at Gate D30, where DFW Airport Department of Public Safety Emergency Medical Service crews responded to a report of an industrial accident just before 10:30 this morning. "DFW Airport first responders treated and then transported an American Airlines employee to a local hospital," says a statement from the airport. But D/FW officials aren't saying anything else. The reason: "Details of the accident remain under investigation." KTVT-Channel 11 is also reporting that the mechanic worked for American for 30 years. The mechanic for American Airlines died Monday after falling from a jet bridge atDallas/Fort Worth International Airport. The incident occurred at the airport's Terminal D. http://thescoopblog.dallasnews.com/2015/03/american-airlines-mechanic-dies-in-jet- bridge-accident-at-dfw-international-airport.html/ Back to Top Air India starts process for recruiting 197 pilots New Delhi: National carrier Air India has initiated the process for recruiting 197 pilots, taking into consideration its fleet augmentation plans and retirements that will happen in the next two years. Air India had a strength of 1,464 pilots as on February 1 this year. "In view of the fleet augmentation and the retirements to take place in the next two years, Air India has advertised for filing up of 197 vacancies," Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma said in a written reply to Lok Sabha. Last fiscal, the carrier hired just one pilot while there was no recruitment of pilots in 2013-14 period. Prior to that, 2 pilots were hired in 2012-13 fiscal while the number stood at 39 during 2011-12 financial year. According to the Minister, pilots are subjected to fly only within the applicable Flight Duty and Time Limitations (FDTL). Necessary system has been in place, whereby, all operational situations are catered for exercising better supervision and control, he noted. "Only in exceptional and unavoidable, unforeseen circumstances beyond the control of airline, pilots are requested to complete the flight to avoid delays which cause inconvenience to passengers by giving extensions within applicable rules," Sharma said. He was responding to a query on whether there have been instances where pilots, including those from Air India, have been made to work extra time due to shortage of people. The Minister also noted that there is no proposal at present to amend the pilots' working hour rules. To a question on whether Air India is considering to employ foreign pilots, Sharma replied in negative. http://udaipurkiran.com/air-india-starts-process-for-recruiting-197-pilots/ Back to Top First batch of pilots sent to UAE's national service program NEW YORK, NY - The list of Madonna concert dates for her highly anticipated 35-city 'Rebel Heart' Tour were officially announced today by Live Nation with the opening night scheduled for August 29 in Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has marked the sendoff of its first batch of pilots enrolled in the UAE's national military service with an information session attended by the airlines' senior management. Fifteen Etihad Airways' pilots have enrolled in the National Service's 20-week pilot program specially devised in collaboration with the National Service and Reserve Authority to leverage and further develop their skills. A further 23 UAE nationals occupying various roles within the airline will also embark on national service training. Previously, more than 40 Etihad Airways' employees joined the military service. Speaking at the event, Hasan Al Hammadi, Etihad Airways' Senior Vice President of Executive Affairs, congratulated the recruits and thanked them on behalf of Etihad Airways for being part of this great cause. He added: "The specialised training you will receive as part of the national service will not only build your character and teach you to rely on yourselves but will also equip you with the leadership skills and qualities that will no doubt help you as you progress in your lives and careers in the future. "The UAE's leadership chose the name 'National Service' rather than obligatory service to reinforce the national sense of belonging. It is not about compulsion but rather it is about giving back to this generous country that has already given us so much." The airline's national service event also included a question and answer session that addressed many of the recruits' concerns and answered any inquiries they had on their roles and career progression while they are enrolled in the service. More than 60 pilots and employees are also expected to join the National Service by the end of the year bringing the total of Etihad Airways' UAE National staff on the country's first national duty service to over 150. Commenting on leaving his post and joining the National Service, Hasan Al Hashimi, Etihad Airways' General Manager in the Maldives said: "I am excited and proud at the same time at this opportunity to serve my country. I know it will be hard but it will definitely be worth it in the end." http://www.eturbonews.com/56040/first-batch-pilots-sent-uaes-national-service- program Back to Top United Airlines Won't Accept Rechargeable Battery Shipments WASHINGTON - By JOAN LOWY - Associated Press Citing safety concerns, United Airlines on Monday became the second major U.S. airline to announce it will no longer accept bulk shipments of rechargeable batteries of the kind that power everything from smartphones to laptops to power tools. Delta Air Lines quiet stopped accepting bulk shipments of the rechargeable batteries, also called lithium-ion batteries, on Feb. 1. It's not uncommon for tens of thousands of the batteries to be shipped in a single cargo container aboard a passenger plane on an international flight. Federal Aviation Administration tests over the past year show that when one battery overheats it can result in a chain reaction, causing other batteries to short-circuit and overheat. As they overheat, the batteries emit explosive gases that build up inside the cargo container. Several tests have resulted in fierce explosions that have blown the doors off containers, followed by violent fires. The tests have placed passenger airlines in a quandary. The bulk shipments of batteries are permitted under both U.S. regulations and international aviation safety standards. They are also profitable. So far, there have been no cargo fires aboard passenger airlines attributed to lithium batteries. But the batteries are believed by aviation officials in the U.S. and other nations to have either caused or contributed to fires that destroyed two Boeing 747 freighters in recent years, killing their pilots. The pilots of a third freighter managed to escape after landing in Philadelphia, but that plane was also destroyed. The announcement by United to its cargo customers said the airline will stop accepting the shipments immediately. "Our primary concerns when transporting dangerous goods are the safety of our customers, our customers' shipments and the environment," the airline said. A third major U.S. carrier, American Airlines, stopped accepting some types of lithium- ion battery shipments on Feb. 23. But the airline is continuing to accept small packages of batteries grouped together or "overpacked" into a single cargo container. Those kinds of shipments are actually the larger safety concern because they result in very large quantities of batteries in one container. All three airlines said they will continue to accept bulk shipments in which the batteries are packed inside or with equipment, such as laptops containing batteries or power tools with batteries inside the same package. Placing batteries inside equipment or in packaging that creates additional buffering is believed to provide added protection, although safety officials say that theory hasn't been fully tested. http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/united-airlines-accept-rechargeable- battery-shipments-29343209 Back to Top Safety worries lead US airline to ban battery shipments A lithium battery on fire Lithium batteries can catch fire. with disastrous consequences United Airlines has become the second major US airline to announce it will no longer carry bulk shipments of lithium-ion batteries. Delta Airlines stopped bulk shipments of the batteries in February. Aviation officials believe lithium-ion batteries contributed to fires that destroyed two Boeing 747 cargo planes, killing all four crew members. Federal Aviation Administration tests found overheating batteries could cause major fires. In its tests, the FAA filled a cargo container with 5,000 lithium-ion batteries and a cartridge heater, which was added to simulate a single battery overheating. The heat from the cartridge triggered a chain reaction in other batteries, with temperatures reaching about 600C. This was followed by an explosion, which blew open the container door and set the cargo box on fire. A second test, some months later, produced similar results, despite the addition of a fire-suppression agent. "Our primary concerns when transporting dangerous goods are the safety of our customers, our customers' shipments and the environment," United Airlines said in a statement. Plane crashes Experts think that batteries have contributed to several cargo plane fires in recent years. In 2010, a Boeing 747 cargo plane operated by UPS Airlines developed an in-flight fire and crashed in an unpopulated area in Dubai. Both crew members were killed. In the subsequent investigation, the FAA highlighted the fact that a large quantity of lithium-ion batteries had been on board. In 2011, an Asiana Airlines cargo plane carrying 880lb (400kg) of lithium batteries crashed into the Korea Strait, killing both crew members. The cause of the fire was never determined, but the International Civil Aviation Organisation did recommend new safety standards for the carriage of such batteries. And back in 2006, a UPS cargo plane made an emergency landing at Philadelphia International Airport, following a fire. In that case, all crew members escaped unharmed. The cause of the fire was never determined, but the recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board included advice about the transport of lithium-ion batteries. Malaysia Airlines flight 370 was also reported to have been carrying 440lb of lithium-ion batteries in its cargo, adding yet another theory to the mystery surrounding its disappearance last year. New rules The increasing focus on battery safety will put pressure on other airlines to follow suit, as well as on the technology industry to come up with safer ways of transporting them. Lithium-ion batteries power mobile phones, laptops and other digital devices. An estimated 4.8 billion lithium-ion cells were manufactured in 2013 and production is forecast to reach eight billion by 2025. Shipments of rechargeable batteries on passenger planes are supposed to be limited to no more than a handful in a single box, under safety standards set by the UN's International Civil Aviation Organisation. But a loophole permits many small boxes to be packed into one shipment, meaning that thousands of the batteries may be packed into pallets and loaded into the cargo holds of passenger planes. No cargo fires aboard passenger airlines have been attributed to batteries. American Airlines stopped accepting some types of lithium-ion battery shipments in February. It continues to accept small packages of batteries grouped together or packed into a single cargo container. But this has raised safety concerns because of the large number of batteries in one container. FAA tests also revealed that lithium-metal batteries, which are not rechargeable and power devices such as cameras and calculators, could catch fire much faster than other versions. The UN banned shipments of these batteries on passenger planes last year, and the ban came into effect in January. About 10% of the 2.5 billion lithium-metal batteries manufactured annually are shipped by air. Lithium-ion batteries are far more frequently shipped by air. All three US airlines will continue to accept shipments when the batteries are packed inside or with equipment such as laptops or power tools. http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-31709198 Back to Top Police: Woman Arrested For Scaling Miami Airport Fence MIAMI (CBSMiami) - A California woman is charged with trespassing after Miami-Dade Police said she scaled a fence at Miami International Airport and was stopped from getting close to the runway. It happened Monday morning during a busy time at the airport when planes were landing every few minutes. Police said Lani Kai Arriaga used a jacket to protect her hands from the barbed wire on top of the fence. Miami-Dade Police Detective Romelio Martinez told CBS4's Peter D'Oench that Arriaga was arrested on the inside of the perimeter fence on the western corner of airport at N.W. 16th St. and N.W. 72nd Ave. Arriaga was not injured and no one else was hurt. But Martinez said he is alarmed. There are numerous signs posted on the airport fences about the airport being a restricted area and how no trespassing was allowed and it was forbidden to climb on to or vandalize fences. "The main thing we'd like to focus on is that those signs are there for a reason," said Martinez. "You can get hit by a plane. These planes cannot stop. The thrust from those planes has been known to flip over large emergency vehicles. So it is very dangerous to try to run out to the tarmac. "If you were to trespass in this fashion, not only would you put your own life in danger but you would put officers in danger and emergency crews in danger plus the people who work at the airport. "Fortunately in this case our officers able to respond quickly and deal with this before anything happened. Fortunately this lady did not injure herself." Arriaga has posted a series of photos on Facebook, including one that shows her holding a sign that says "United as one divided by Zero," which is a reference to the Anonymous Group that has expressed social dissent. Martinez said he was not sure what prompted Arriaga to scale the airport fence. "We are not sure about a motive at this point," he said. "This appears just to be a case of trespassing." Arriaga was being held on $1,000 bond after being charged with trespassing. The charge is a misdemeanor. D'Oench asked Martinez if he thought Arriaga would also face federal charges. Martinez said at this point, he did not think that she would. http://miami.cbslocal.com/2015/03/02/police-woman-arrested-for-scaling-miami- airport-fence/ Back to Top Back to Top 6th Pan American Aviation Safety Summit Registrations is now open for the 6th Pan American Aviation Safety Summit, which will be held this year in Medellin, Colombia. The event will take place from June 22nd till the 26thof this year. You can join the most comprehensive forum on Aviation safety in Latin America and the Caribbean, featuring panel discussions, training and seminars focused on risk mitigation strategies. There will be over 200 participants and over 30+ Airline representatives present during this summit. For more information and for registration click here. http://curacaochronicle.com/aviation/6th-pan-american-aviation-safety-summit/ 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 Research Study The Human in Complex Systems (HCOM) Lab at the University of Waterloo is conducting an online study that looks at the effect of information asynchrony, or time delays in the transmission of surveillance information, 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. This is an online experiment that can be conducted from your personal computer. We recognize that the approximate 2.5 hour commitment is significant; while we cannot provide compensation for your time, 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 a $100 amazon.com gift card. Your odds of winning one of the prizes is approximately 1 in 4. 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. For clarity, this experiment is not an official FAA / NASA funded/sponsored/endorsed research activity but is part of Samuel Lien's graduate degree research project at the University of Waterloo. To find out more about the study and to register if you wish to participate, please visit the study website: http://rbhagat.uwaterloo.ca/IDEA/ or please contact Samuel Lien slien@uwaterloo.ca or Dr. Jonathan Histon jhiston@uwaterloo.ca Back to Top 2015 AMERCA Flight Standards Meeting April 7-8, 2015 Sheraton Tysons Hotel Tysons, Virginia The FAA Flight Standards Service is hosting a meeting with the States from the Africa/Middle East/Russia/Central Asia Region. The meeting will take place at the Sheraton Tysons Hotel on April 7-8, with meeting material pickup and check-in beginning the afternoon of April 6. This meeting provides a unique opportunity to share information on FAA best practices in the safety oversight of operations and continuing airworthiness with civil aviation authorities in the region. Continuing a tradition of other FAA international outreach activities, this meeting offers a forum for aviation safety leaders to delve more deeply into the FAA Flight Standards Service activities, as well as receive information on safety oversight topics key to the Region. The two-day meeting will be open to civil aviation authorities and industry. Industry attendance will also bring focus on topics related to air carrier operations and continuing airworthiness activities involved between the United States and the regions. Who Should Attend * Government aviation standards, certification, operations, and maintenance personnel * Industry representatives from the United States and the regions Registration Registration is now open! To complete your registration, please use the "Register Now" button located on the top-right-hand side of this page. The registration fee is $200.00, which covers the cost of your attendance as well as refreshments and lunch service for both days of the conference. All registrations must be completed by March 27. http://www.regonline.com/FAAflightstandards-AMERCA Questions about registration? Contact us at DOT.FAAeventsupport@sidemgroup.com Hotel Accommodation Please note that you are responsible for securing your own sleeping accommodations. Should you require a hotel room, The Sheraton Tysons Hotel has a special rate of $199.00 per night (exclusive of taxes and fees) for participants. This rate will only be available until March 7, 2015. Important Deadlines * Hotel Reservations: Discounted sleeping room rates must be booked by Saturday, March 7, 2015. * Meeting Registration: All registrations must be completed by Friday, March 27, 2015. No late registrations will be accepted. 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 Safety Smackdown Partnership for Corporate Aviation Training San Antonio, TX April 20-22, 2015 http://www.p4cat.org/ 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