Flight Safety Information April 28, 2015 - No. 082 In This Issue Flight Nurse Dies After Falling from Helicopter During Rescue (Austin, Texas) FAA Receives 4,000-Plus Comments to Drone Rule Asia-Pacific Airlines Seek More Safety Oversight Thai aviation faces fresh US, UN scrutiny Hazardous materials concern for PRC air safety: IATA Laser attacks on pilots on the rise (U.K.) Civil aviation ministry wants pilots out of Industrial Disputes Act (India) Spice Jet plane suffers bird hit, lands safely in Srinagar Hawaii Man Tased and Arrested Flying 3 Inch Drone. Is Tiny Flying Toy Really An Unmanned Aircraft? Airbus A380 Is the Plane Airlines Aren't Ordering Anymore PROS 2015 TRAINING North Dakota Farmers Planting Crop To Be Made Into Jet Fuel Lightweight membrane can reduce in-flight aircraft noise Oman Air hosts major gulf flight safety council meeting in Muscat Research Request Society of Air Safety Investigators Pakistan, announce: Aviation Security Management Course at Ramada Plaza Karachi 8th to 12th June, 2015 GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY REQUEST Upcoming Events JOBS AVAILABLE (New Positions) Aircraft Wanted: Flight Nurse Dies After Falling from Helicopter During Rescue (Austin, Texas) According to STAR Flight, 46-year-old nurse Kristin McClain died after falling from a helicopter while trying to rescue a fallen hiker in Austin Monday night. (April 28, 2015) A flight nurse has died after falling from a helicopter while conducting a rescue of a woman who had fallen in a hiking area in Austin Monday night. The woman had fallen near the Barton Creek Greenbelt in the 2600 block of Barton Hills Drive at about 8:25 p.m. According to a STAR Flight news release, 46-year-old Kristin McClain fell from an EC-145 helicopter while hoisting the woman into the aircraft at about 9:50 p.m. McClain died at the scene. The rescued patient was transported to University Medical Center-Brackenridge with injuries were not life threatening. STAR Flight program director Casey Ping said during the Tuesday press briefing that McClain has been with the company for seven years. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Kristin's family and friends during this difficult time," STAR Flight officials stated in a release. "She will be greatly missed." The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident. Further details were not released. http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Flight-Nurse-Dies-After-Falling-from-Helicopter- 301526521.html Back to Top FAA Receives 4,000-Plus Comments to Drone Rule The Federal Aviation Administration received 4,499 comments to its notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to regulate small unmanned aircraft systems weighing less than 55 pounds, a government website indicates. The public comment period closed on April 24; the FAA will now assess those comments in formulating a final regulation. The number of comments received and copies of comments to the proposed rule, "Operation and Certification of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems," are listed on the website Regulations.gov. The FAA announced the NPRM nearly four years later than expected on February 15; it was published in the Federal Register on February 23, beginning a 60-day comment period. Though substantial, the apparent number of comments received to a draft regulation that will enable commercial use of small drones fell short of estimates ranging to the tens of thousands. Similarly, a request for comments the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) issued on "privacy, transparency and accountability" considerations of using small drones drew only 51 responses as of the April 20 comment deadline. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), which sued in 2012 to compel the FAA to release information on certificates of authorization the agency had issued for drones, told AIN it planned to respond to the FAA's notice. However, the EFF did not respond to the NTIA solicitation "due to limited staff availability and the feeling that our resources could be better used elsewhere." The FAA has said the process of producing a final rule could take 18 months or longer. However, Administrator Michael Huerta has indicated that he would like to see the final rule published this year. http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aerospace/2015-04-27/website-faa-receives- 4000-plus-comments-drone-rule Back to Top Asia-Pacific Airlines Seek More Safety Oversight BEIJING-The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) is calling for Asian countries to step up their safety oversight, to end the region's lagging international performance. The association's data analysis shows that smaller Asian carriers, following years of dramatic safety improvements, are now suffering more crashes than they did around 2010. This seems to point to how new airlines are assessed as a cause for concern. Globally, "the industry is extraordinarily safe and getting safer," AAPA Director General Andrew Herdman says. Using three-year averages to reveal the trend, the association finds that 0.8 Western-built commercial jet aircraft were lost in accidents for every million flights in 2002-04. By 2012-14, the rate had fallen to fewer than 0.2 losses per million flights. "But in Asia it is plateauing or slightly rising," Herdman says. After bottoming at a little over 0.2 in 2008-10, the Asian loss rate reached 0.4 per million flights in 2012-14. "We want more regulatory oversight," Herman told Aviation Week on the sidelines of the Beijing International Forum on Civil Aviation Safety. An audit of Thailand's Department of Civil Aviation by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this year resulted in the global body reporting "significant safety concerns." Japan then refused to authorize additional flights to its territory by Thai carriers. The association found that aircraft of smaller carriers-a category that includes most start-ups-are more likely to crash than those of larger airlines. New carriers are especially prominent in Asia, where economic growth exceeds the world average, and where the budget-airline model arrived late, leaving plenty of market opportunities. Herdman wonders whether closer oversight is needed for companies that have recently received air operator's certificates (AOCs). "Are AOCs being granted without proper screening?" he adds. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has urged further accident-prevention efforts by China, a country with an outstanding safety record, despite extremely rapid traffic growth. IATA Director General Tony Tyler particularly points to the risk of carrying lithium batteries, which can cause fires. "China is a major production center for lithium batteries," Tyler told the conference in Beijing. "Ensuring the safe carriage of this cargo is a major concern for the Chinese air transport industry. Because of the complex supply chains involved, it is crucial that all stakeholders are aligned." IATA provides guidelines for the shipment of lithium batteries, which now includes translation in Chinese. http://aviationweek.com/commercial-aviation/asia-pacific-airlines-seek-more-safety- oversight Back to Top Thai aviation faces fresh US, UN scrutiny A Thai Airways plane takes off from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport February 26, 2014. Photo: Reuters BANGKOK - Thai aviation, already subject to safety concerns raised by an international watchdog, will come under renewed scrutiny as US and UN-based aviation agencies prepare to mount inspections of aviation licensing and airport security. Experts from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plan to come to Thailand in mid-July while the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which earlier identified flaws in Thai aviation in its latest audit in January this year, will run a check of international airports between 2016 and 2017, Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) chief Somchai Phiphutthawat said yesterday (April 27). The new inspections come as the DCA is struggling to improve its regulations on transporting hazardous items and air operator certification which do not meet standards set by the ICAO. The FAA's assessment will focus on processes to issue licences for aircraft and pilots. If the US agency finds these areas of aviation operations below standard, it can downgrade Thai aviation safety levels which will then have a serious impact on airlines arriving in Thailand, Mr Somchai said. He has no idea what the inspection results will be, but he expects them to take into account DCA aviation management improvement plans, which will be submitted to the ICAO by May. The ICAO is scheduled to announce the results of its audit of Thailand's action plan to resolve safety concerns on its website on June 18 amid hopes in Thailand that it will give a passing grade. This could pave the way for the easing of Japan and South Korea's restrictions on certain flights of Thai-registered airlines. From next year, the UN-based agency will also launch new inspections of airports worldwide, but this should not be an issue of grave concern, Mr Somchai said. Over the past few years, the DCA has worked closely with ICAO experts to improve security measures at airports. "I'm confident there will not be problems similar to those with aviation safety,'' he said. The inspectors will look into how a country screens air travellers and goods to prevent any irregularities. Thai airports under scrutiny are those with international flights. They are six main airports supervised by Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) - Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Mae Fa Luang in Chiang Rai, Phuket and Hat Yai - as well as DCA-owned airports with flights arriving from abroad - Krabi, Surat Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, Khon Kaen and Udon Thani, a source said. Meanwhile, newly appointed AoT president Nitinai Sirismatthakarn is speeding up Don Mueang airport's expansion plan, hoping to see its completion as soon as August this year. Mr Nitinai, who assumed office on April 20, stressed the upgrade, which will see the reopening of the ageing airport's Terminal 2, is an urgent job. He is committed to the AoT's plan to expand its airports' facilities to cope with overcrowding of air passengers, whose numbers surge every year. He said it is his "great challenge" to make sure the renovation of the Terminal 2 is finished on time as last year AoT failed to completely upgrade the airport facilities before December after an inspection found there were delays in many areas, including escalators, lifts, electricity and computer systems. AoT board chairman Prasong Poontaneat had previously expected everything to be completed in October or November this year. Mr Nitinai said he plans to inspect the progress of work at the airport next week. In another development, the AoT has decided not to hike airport fees to 800 baht (S$32.58) for international passengers and 200 baht for domestic passengers, as was earlier planned to raise money for airport expansions. "It is difficult to do so in the current situation," Mr Nitinai said. BANGKOK POST http://www.todayonline.com/world/asia/thai-aviation-faces-fresh-us-un- scrutiny?singlepage=true Back to Top Hazardous materials concern for PRC air safety: IATA China's booming e-commerce industry and the ability of the nation's small businesses to export hazardous materials are posing a safety concern for the country's air transport industry, the head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said yesterday. Ensuring the safe transport of lithium batteries is of particular importance, due to the complex supply chains involved, IATA director general and chief executive Tony Tyler told an industry forum in Beijing. "Disappointingly, we are seeing some willful non-compliance in the area of lithium batteries, particularly in China," Tyler said. "It would be a shame if China's exemplary safety record were compromised because of such negligence." Boeing Co warned last month that high-density packages of lithium batteries like those used in cellphones and laptops pose fire risks and should not be carried on passenger planes until safer methods for carrying them are developed. The risk is "continually increasing and requires action to be taken," the aircraft maker said. However, Chinese aviation officials stressed the safety record of Chinese airlines. Over the past five years, Chinese carriers beat world averages for safety, despite double- digit annual growth of passenger volume, Civil Aviation Administration of China head of safety Wu Chengchang (???) said. The country's air passenger volume has been rising by 11.1 percent annually from 2010 to last year, but its accident rate for each one million hours was just 0.03, significantly lower than the world average of 0.2, Wu added. Major accidents per 1 million flights stood at 0.07, also better than world average of 0.39, during the period, he added. Tyler also called for better coordination between the country's civil aviation authority and the military to minimize the impact of military exercises on civilian airline services. China has been scrambling to build airports across the country to keep pace with its fast- growing civil aviation market, but its military-controlled airspace has made flight delays the norm. Military drills can also be a headache. In July last year, drills led to a near shutdown of 20 airports in eastern China, with air traffic capacity falling by as much as three-quarters at Shanghai's two main airports. Earlier in the month, China announced a plan to open 10 new air corridors to help ease chronic air traffic congestion and address the problem of frequent flight delays. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2015/04/24/2003616633 Back to Top Laser attacks on pilots on the rise As many as four pilots a day are at risk of being dazzled or blinded on the approach to UK airports by people on the ground using powerful lasers to shine at aircraft cockpits. More than 1,400 laser incidents were reported to the Civil Aviation Authority last year - up by 3.5% in 12 months. This was the first annual increase in attacks in three years. A laser shone into a pilot's eyes on approach to an airport could bring down an aircraft, the CAA warned. Heathrow had the most incidents, followed by Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds Bradford, Gatwick and Glasgow, the Times reported. A further 312 attacks involved British aircraft landing at or taking off from airports overseas, figures show. "An aircraft on final approach at 1,000ft has around one minute before it reaches the threshold of the runway and touches down," the regulator said. "A pilot dazzled by a laser can be blinded for up to ten seconds followed by over a minute of impaired vision. The risks to passengers and crew are all too obvious." CAA guidance suggests that any pilot in a laser incident should see a specialist aeromedical doctor before flying again. The British Airline Pilots' Association said that the strength of laser pens had increased in recent years, posing additional risks to pilots. It wants mandatory prison terms for all offenders. The sale of powerful lasers is restricted in Britain but they can be bought online. http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/Articles/2015/04/28/53990/laser-attacks-on-pilots-on- the-rise.html Back to Top Civil aviation ministry wants pilots out of Industrial Disputes Act (India) The civil aviation ministry has decided to request the labour ministry to remove pilots from the workmen category under the Industrial Disputes Act. NEW DELHI: In a move that could take away rights of pilots to form unions, the civil aviation ministry has decided to request the labour ministry to remove pilots from the workmen category under the Industrial Disputes Act. "We are going to ask the labour ministry to remove pilots from the workmen category thus taking away the right to go on strike," said a senior civil aviation ministry official. The official added that civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapati Raju has asked aviation secretary V Somasundaran to take up the issue with the labour ministry. If approved, pilots will not be allowed to go on strike. Currently, workmen category employees that include pilots can go on a strike by giving 15-day prior notice to the management. This is not the first time that the civil aviation ministry has moved a proposal requesting the labour ministry to remove pilots from the workmen category. However, this is the first time the Modi government has moved this proposal. The proposal to remove commanders from the 'workmen' category was first proposed in 2009 when nearly 650 Jet Airways' pilots disrupted operations for five days. The proposal was again discussed by the government in May 2012, when Indian Pilots' Guild (IPG) - union for erstwhile Air India pilots - went on over a month long strike. There has, however, been no movement on these proposals yet. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/civil- aviation-ministry-wants-pilots-out-of-industrial-disputes-act/articleshow/47082094.cms Back to Top Spice Jet plane suffers bird hit, lands safely in Srinagar The aircraft was grounded after the incident A Spice Jet flight with over 180 people on board suffered a bird hit while landing at the international airport here this morning, but no one was injured. The aircraft was grounded after the incident. "There was a bird hit on a Spice Jet flight SG160 coming from Jammu at the airport at 11:10 am," Director of Srinagar International Airport, R N Shinde said. "The aircraft experienced bird hit on the nose while landing," he said, adding that all those on board were safe. There were 176 passengers and crew members in the plane when the incident happened, airline officials said. "The aircraft has been grounded and the passengers who had to travel onwards by the plane, were adjusted in other flights. Engineers from Delhi will come to Srinagar to check the plane," they added. http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/spice-jet-plane-suffers-bird-hit- lands-safely-in-srinagar-115042800449_1.html Back to Top Hawaii Man Tased and Arrested Flying 3 Inch Drone. Is Tiny Flying Toy Really An Unmanned Aircraft? Contributor - John Goglia News reports that a 35-year-old Hawaii man, Travis Sanders, was tased and arrested for flying a drone Saturday night at Volcanoes National Park caught my attention. The man had reportedly come to the Park with his family to view the rising lava lake at Halema'uma'u Crater and decided to fly his 3 inch drone. He was quoted by Hawaii News Now as saying "My toy has some lights on it so I thought it would be fun to fly it up and down-no big deal, right? Well apparently they're not allowed there I found out." Unfortunately for Mr. Sanders, the National Park Service considers 3 inch flying toys to be unmanned aircraft. According to a spokesperson for the Park, "It's illegal to fly unmanned aircraft in all 407 national park units across the United States." The Park Service is probably taking a cue from the Federal Aviation Administration that has taken a very hard line position interpreting the definition of aircraft in the Federal Aviation Regulations ("a device that is used or intended to be used for flight in the air") to cover unmanned aircraft of any size or weight. The NTSB supported the FAA's interpretation in its November 2014 decision in the Pirker case finding that model aircraft came within the definition of aircraft. It's hard to know from news reports whether Mr. Sanders in fact resisted arrest and whether the Park ranger was justified in tasing and arresting him. But it's clear to me that the encounter would never have been precipitated in the first place if 3 inch flying toys were not considered "unmanned aircraft" subject to manned aircraft rules. It seems high time to me for Congress to step in and enact reasonable rules for the operation of unmanned aircraft, including not considering toys below a certain size to fall within the definition of aircraft. It might look to what other aviation safety agencies are proposing. For example, the European Aviation Safety Agency is proposing to exclude flying toys under 500 grams from its regulatory scheme. http://www.forbes.com/sites/johngoglia/2015/04/28/hawaii-man-tased-and-arrested- flying-3-inch-drone-is-tiny-flying-toy-really-an-unmanned-aircraft/ Back to Top Airbus A380 Is the Plane Airlines Aren't Ordering Anymore The Airbus 380 is facing an identity crisis as the manufacturer encourages airlines to stuff more seats into the aircraft for efficiency's sake. In this June 20, 2013 file photo, an Airbus A380 performs its demonstration flight during the 50th Paris Air Show at Le Bourget airport, north of Paris. Francois Mori / AP Photo At the tender age of 10, the Airbus A380 is already entering a mid-life crisis. The double-decker aircraft has failed to win a single order from any new airline customer for two years now, and senior management was forced to come to the airliner's defense in December after the planemaker's parent introduced the possibility of axing the A380 outright. As the mid point of the year approaches, the plane has yet again drawn a blank on deals. It's a far cry from the jubilations in 2005, when the giant airliner took off for the first time, hailed as the star of 21st century aviation. Airbus said the A380, certified to carry as many as 853 passengers, would push arch-rival Boeing Co. out of the monopoly on jumbo jets it held for decades and herald a new dawn of travel, pairing ultra-luxury with mass transport while alleviating the strain on congested airports. "It's true the market hasn't developed as much as we'd have liked," Airbus Chief Executive Officer Fabrice Bregier said this month. "This plane was probably launched 10 years too early." Bregier is now trying to breathe fresh life into the A380 campaign. Airbus has assembled a team of employees from within sales, marketing, engineering and design to lobby existing and future customers of the aircraft - including those who may buy the aircraft second-hand. Adding Seats Airbus said the "new organization will enhance our ability to respond to market trends and customer needs quicker, by developing and deploying complete solutions faster - in order to explore and open up new market segments," the company said in response to questions. Read MoreEmirates Fits Planes with Record 615 Seats for Danish Flights The lack of commercial success lies in part in a misuse of the A380's basic purpose. When Airbus introduced the plane, it was touted as the ideal response to crowded skies, with airlines benefiting from scale and better economics by packing in more seats. Instead, carriers used the vast real estate to embrace custom extravagances including bars, showers and duty-free shopping zones, turning many A380s more into exotic luxury liners rather than vehicles of mass transportation. Airbus wants customers to re-discover the A380 as a work horse, encouraging existing and prospective buyers to use denser configurations, seating 11-abreast instead of 10 in economy, while still exploiting the cabin's size to keep perks like bars that distinguish the plane. The company has lifted standard seat capacity to 544 in a bid to pull customers along. Two-Class Layout It's already helped Qantas Airways move in that direction and Singapore Airlines Ltd. is now refurbishing its 19 A380s to add premium economy seats. Emirates, the A380's biggest operator with 60 in use and another 80 on order, has some double-deckers flying in a two-class layout for 615 seats, stripping out its first-class berths. Since 2000, the A380 has won just 317 orders, less than a third of the 1,200 Airbus projected in its first 20 years. Not a single U.S. airline has ordered it, and only five have been contracted for China, which will be the world's largest aviation market in 20 years. By contrast, the two-engine A350 that Airbus introduced in 2006 had secured 780 orders by the time it first entered service early this year. To be sure, the Boeing 747-8, the latest iteration of the U.S. manufacturer's largest plane, has fared far worse than the A380, with Boeing cutting production to adapt. Creating Buzz The tepid response has haunted Airbus, particularly since the A380 is a hit with the flying public. The ride is smooth and quiet, and perks like bars where business-class passengers can mingle on Emirates planes have created buzz. Etihad Airways PJSC has gone as far as fitting a three-room residence into the front of its A380s, complete with a bed and a butler. The success of large and efficient two-engine aircraft has made marketing of more fuel- intensive four-engine models a harder task. Boeing's 777 wide-body, powered by two of the world's largest commercial jetliner engines, has been wildly successful with customers, while Airbus was forced to bury its four-turbine A340 model conceived for ultra-long routes. Even with cheap oil, fuel costs remain the single-biggest expense for airlines and cutting the fuel bill is a major incentive. One modest success that Airbus aims to celebrate this year is no longer producing each A380 at a loss, though admits the overall program itself will never recoup its $25 billion investment. So long as Airbus can persuade the parent company to ride out the current order dearth, the A380 has a chance to find a new generation of buyers attracted by the plane's economics. That at least is the view of John Leahy, the 64-year-old Airbus salesman who's sold more than 12,000 planes in two decades. "This program will be around for 40 to 50 years," Leahy said in a promotional video Airbus released for the anniversary. "No doubt in my mind about that." http://skift.com/2015/04/27/airbus-a380-is-the-plane-airlines-arent-ordering-anymore/ Back to Top Back to Top North Dakota Farmers Planting Crop To Be Made Into Jet Fuel BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Western North Dakota farmers this year have agreed to plant 6,000 acres of a crop that can be made into jet fuel. The farmers will be seeding carinata, a variety of mustard seed. Canadian seed producer Agrisoma Biosciences over the winter sought farmers to plant the crop. Spokesman Garret Groves said producers were quick to sign up and exceeded the 4,000-acre goal. "We've had pretty good success," he told The Bismarck Tribune. Carinata looks similar to the oilseed canola, only a little bushier. It will be grown in fields near Mott, Carson, Tioga, Ray, Williston, Noonan and Flasher. One potential customer for the crop is the U.S Navy, which is targeting carinata to help reach its goal of serving half of its energy needs with non-oil sources by 2020. John Rickertsen, research agronomist at the Hettinger Research Extension Center, said he had success with his first test plot of carinata last year. The plant grows well on marginally productive land and is considered more drought-tolerant than canola. Jet fuel made from carinata has lower carbon emissions, according to University of Florida researcher Christine Bliss. It can be used as a direct replacement for petroleum- based jet fuel, with no blending or engine changes needed, she said. About 3,500 acres of carinata were planted in Florida as a winter crop. Agrisoma hopes to expand to a total of 50,000 U.S. acres next year. http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2015/04/27/north-dakota-farmers-planting-crop-to-be- made-into-jet-fuel/ Back to Top Lightweight membrane can reduce in-flight aircraft noise Researchers have developed membranes that can be incorporated into aircraft to drastically reduce the low-frequency noise that penetrates the cabin and can be unpleasant to passengers' ears. Aircraft designs incorporate light materials with a honeycomb-like structure into their wings and cabins. It's the material that makes up the floor and ceiling of most airplane cabins. The sandwiched honeycomb structure makes it strong, and the light weight makes the aircraft more fuel efficient. But these honeycomb structures are very bad at blocking low-frequency noise - like the noise of an aircraft engine. Adding insulation materials to limit the noise would add significant weight to the aircraft, making it much less fuel efficient. Researchers from North Carolina State University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have found a possible solution. They have created a thin, lightweight membrane that covers one side of the honeycomb structure, like the skin of a drum. When soundwaves hit the membrane, they bounce off rather than passing through. "This design is promising for making structures that are strong, lightweight, and sound- proof," said Yun Jing, an assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at NC State and senior author of a paper describing the work. "It's particularly effective against low-frequency noise. At low frequencies - sounds below 500 Hertz - the honeycomb panel with the membrane blocks 100 to 1,000 times more sound energy than the panel without a membrane," Jing said. The membrane is made of rubber that is about 0.25 millimetres thick, and adds approximately 6 per cent to the overall weight of the honeycomb panel. "The membrane is relatively inexpensive to produce, and can be made of any material that does not impact the structural integrity of the honeycomb panel," said Ni Sui, a PhD student in Jing's lab and lead author of the paper. "It could make flying much more pleasant for passengers - particularly in helicopters," Sui said. The paper is published in the journal Applied Physics Letters. http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/lightweight-membrane-can- reduce-in-flight-aircraft-noise-115042800500_1.html Back to Top Oman Air hosts major gulf flight safety council meeting in Muscat Muscat: Oman Air has hosted a major meeting of the (GFSC) which was heldat the Golden Tulip Hotel, Muscat. The event was well-attended by representatives from the Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA), the Royal Oman Police, the Royal Air Force of Oman and Oman Airports Management Company (OAMC). Airlines from the region, including Emirates Airline, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Saudi Airlines, IndiGo, Fly Dubai and Amiri Flight, of Qatar,also played an important role in the proceedings. In addition, Aviation organizations such as Dubai Air Navigation Services(DANS) and Nexus participated fully. Delegates heard about a range of general issues and incidents relevant to regional carriers. Speakers also gave presentations on the 'Wake Turbulence Severity Classification Trial at Dubai', and 'Drones: their risk to aviation, the future and what the legislators are doing'. Captain Waheed Al Subhi, Senior Manager, Safety and Emergency Response Planning, welcomed the distinguish guests on behalf of Oman Air's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. He stated: "At Oman Air, safety is our core business function. Safety has been, and will always remain, the first priority in all our activities. We are committed to conducting our business in a manner that ensures the safety of our customers, employees, the general public, external contractors, agents and associated organizations. "Furthermore, Oman Air constantly strives to develop, implement, maintain and improve all our strategies and processes. This ensures that, by utilizing our safety management systems, all our aviation activities achieve the highest level of safety performance, and fully meet national and international standards" Concluding the meeting, Co-chairman Captain William Mermelstein extended his thanks to Oman Air for its hospitality, and for hosting the GFSC in Muscat. The Gulf Flight Safety Council was originally founded in Oman in 2004 by a group of safety professionals from various aviation companies located within the GCC region.Currently this group is made up of over 300 members representing more than 80 organizations within the region. The group meets three times a year to promote safety initiatives, including coordination with international organizations and bodies such as ICAO and IATA. The day beforethe GFSC meeting, the inaugural meetingsof the Gulf Cabin Safety Group (GCSG) and the Gulf Flight Ops Safety Group (GFLOPSG) were held. Inclusion of GCSG andGFLOPSG as sub groups of the GFSC enables members to share best practice and experiences in promoting and enhancing flight safety in the region. http://www.timesofoman.com/News/50912/Article-Oman-Air-hosts-major-gulf-flight- safety-council-meeting-in-Muscat Back to Top Research Request Research Request for Pilots Assistance in Validating a Prototype Knowledge & Competency Exam The Center for Aviation Safety Research (CASR) at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, MO (USA) requests your help recruiting volunteers to validate a new exam they have just created to test pilot's knowledge in certain topic areas. Professional Aviation Board of Certification (PABC) is a recruiter and registrar for this research effort and we hope you will: (1) take the exam yourself, (2) invite your fellow pilots to take it, or (3) both. Please note: All testing must be completed by May 29, 2015. * Qualifications to Participate - Pilots who hold current Commercial Licenses / Certificates with Instrument Ratings and higher, including: o A Multi-crew Pilot License (MPL) or ATP-level license with type ratings on modern jet transport aircraft o Retired ATP-holders who currently serve as Type Rating Instructors/Evaluators or Simulator Instructors/Evaluators. * This Exam is: o For research by CASR, with the pilots' answers kept anonymous and the study findings only showing data in aggregate form. o Conducted on a computer in testing centers located around the world. o Taken at a time and place that are convenient for each individual pilot. o Free - no cost to the pilot. o Expected to be completed in 1-3 hrs, but allow 4 hrs if needed. o To support follow-on research on aviation training, testing and safety. * In Return - Volunteers will not be paid, but will be given a letter of appreciation by PABC for their contribution to the vital air safety study. If you are willing to serving as a volunteer, please email the Registrar at: pjwolfe@pabc.aero If you know of other pilots who might be interested and willing, please pass this notice on to them. Thank you in advance for considering this request Pete Peter J. Wolfe, PABC Executive Director & Exam Registrar PO Box 58250, Houston, TX 77258 (O) +1 281-326-3938 Skype: pjwolfe pjwolfe@pabc.aero Back to Top Society of Air Safety Investigators Pakistan, announce "Aviation Security Management Course" To be conducted by IATA at Ramada Plaza Karachi, Pakistan (8th to 12th June, 2015). Objectives * Combine security with customer service , * Select AvSec contractors and create RFPs * Manage human factors in aviation security * Implement quality control measures to improve security * Conduct vulnerability assessment of your organization * Evaluate screening points and procedures for passenger and cargo Target Audience * Managers from airports, airlines or civil aviation authorities , service providers * Ground Handling agencies. * Civil organizations who play vital role in responding to major security emergencies * Airport and Airlines administration representatives * Custom and immigration personnel. Key Topics * Implementing international and national security legislation (EU, TSA) * Applying Annex 17, ICAO and IATA security manuals * Contract management and Service Level Agreements (SLA) * In-house versus outsourced aviation security * Controlling the flow of passenger and baggage * Evaluating facilitation and Security Management Systems (SeMS) * Ensuring the security of cargo, catering and stores * Vulnerability assessments of airport facilities and Guaranteeing asset protection * Preventing fraud and smuggling and Responding to major security emergencies What you get - Participants will receive a consolidated reference binder of class material with CD and a certificate by IATA. Course Location Karachi -A shopper's paradise. The cheapest city of the world has a wide range of activities for visitors; eating out is a fun in Karachi. Shopping malls and traditional bazaars where you can buy carpets, wooden articles and leather products. Cost - 1,695 US $ per person. It includes course material, snacks during tea and coffee break and lunch during course days. It also includes a welcome breakfast on first day and course dinner with a boat trip at "Port Grand" the land mark of Karachi. Free pick and drop from airport and two guided tours of the Karachi city on weekend For Registration rashidabhatti@hotmail.com for details Visit: www.sasi-pakistan.org Back To The Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY REQUEST Hello, you are receiving this message as a courtesy to Mr. Hussain Alhallaf, a Ph.D. candidate at Florida Institute of Technology's doctoral program in Aviation Sciences in the College of Aeronautics. He is examining the relationship between factors affecting the aviation profession and the concept of aviation professionalism, specifically understanding aviation professionalism, and is seeking your assistance to complete an online questionnaire, which would take 10-15 minutes to complete. Mr. Alhallaf endeavors to understand why the aviation profession is such an important career and how can we improve ourselves as professionals within the aviation profession. In addition to taking the survey we also are seeking your generosity in distributing the survey's link. Your assistance and participation are totally appreciated. To participate, you may access the online survey via the following link: http://questionpro.com/t/ALRnkZSa9Y If you have any questions or are unable to distribute the email to your members, please do not hesitate to contact me via e-mail at halhallaf2014@my.fit.edu or by Cell phone at (386) 847-7671. Thank you for your cooperation. Yours faithfully, Hussain Alhallaf Ph.D. candidate in Aviation Sciences Back To The Top Upcoming Events: ISASI MARC Meeting/Dinner April 30, 2015 Herndon, Virginia http://isasi.org/Documents/EventsAndAlerts/ISASI%20MARC%202015%20Dinner.pdf GWBAA Safety Standdown April 30th NTSB Academy www.gwbaa.com ERAU Advanced Aircraft Accident Investigation Seminar Prescott Campus, AZ May 4-8, 2015 www.erau.edu/cmas IATA Cabin Operations Safety Conference May 5-7, 2015 Paris, France www.iata.org/cabin-safety-conference ERAU Aviation SMS Seminar Daytona Beach, FL May 12-14, 2015 www.erau.edu/sms Aircraft Accident Investigation - Fire and Material Failures New course offered by BlazeTech Corp. Woburn MA USA 19-21 May 2015 www.blazetech.com Fundamentals of IS-BAH June 15, 2015 St. Hubert, Quebec Canada https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1659069 IS-BAH Auditing June 16, 2015 St. Hubert, Quebec Canada https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1659079 6th Pan American Aviation Safety Summit June 22-26th Medellin, Colombia http://www.alta.aero/safety/2015/home.php Fundamentals of IS-BAO April 23, 2015 PCAT Safety Smackdown, San Antonio TX USA https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1657525 IS-BAO Auditing April 24, 2015 PCAT Safety Smackdown, San Antonio TX USA https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1657526 Fundamentals of IS-BAO May 12, 2015 Toluca, Mexico https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1698113 IS-BAO Auditing May 13, 2015 Toluca, Mexico https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1698115 Back to Top JOBS AVAILABLE: Aviation Technical Writer Garmin www.Garmin.com/careers Curt Lewis