Flight Safety Information May 8, 2015 - No. 090 In This Issue The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award Delta Flight From Fort Lauderdale Diverted After Smoke Fills Cabin GoAir gets DGCA notice over poor safety standards Mi-17 Accident (Pakistan) Piper Malibu Mirage Accident (Spokane, WA) Thunderbirds jet makes emergency landing in Alburquerque PROS 2015 TRAINING Alaska Airlines, Gevo to demonstrate renewable Alcohol-to-Jet fuel in upcoming flight MANDATORY PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION AND POLYGRAPH TESTS FOR PILOTS New Malaysia Air CEO vows turnaround for battered airline Making Abuja Aviation Hub for West Africa Harvard University Airline Pilot Health Survey Research Request GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY REQUEST Upcoming Events JOBS AVAILABLE (New Position) The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award It's time to honor individuals or groups that have made significant contributions to aviation safety-either in the past year or over a longer period of time. Nominations for the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award are being accepted through June 1, 2015. The release contains detailed instructions, but the basics are simple. The award's recipient is selected for a "significant individual or group effort contributing to improving aviation safety, with emphasis on original contributions," and a "significant individual or group effort performed above and beyond normal responsibilities." To nominate someone or a group, fill out the form available at the following links and provide a 1-2-page narrative. Submit nominations at the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award website via http://ltbaward.org/the-award/nomination-form/ ...or the Flight Safety Foundation website at http://flightsafety.org/aviation-awards/laura-taber-barbour-air-safety-award Remember--this year's nominations are due on or before June 1. Thank you in advance for your nomination! Sincerely, The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award Board www.ltbaward.org Back to Top Delta Flight From Fort Lauderdale Diverted After Smoke Fills Cabin A Delta Flight from Fort Lauderdale that was headed to New York was diverted to South Carolina Thursday after passengers said smoke filled the airplane's cabin. Flight 2028 had left Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and was heading to LaGuardia Airport when the incident happened. Plane From Fort Lauderdale Diverted After Smoke Fills Cabin[MI] Plane From Fort Lauderdale Diverted After Smoke Fills Cabin A Delta flight from Fort Lauderdale that was heading to New York was diverted to South Carolina after smoke filled the cabin. (Published Thursday, May 7, 2015) A total of 89 customers were on board. No injuries were reported. Delta officials said a "performance issue with one of the Boeing MD-88 aircraft's two engines was observed," according to a statement. Delta flight diverted after smoke fills cockpit[MI] Delta flight diverted after smoke fills cockpit A delta flight out of Ft. Lauderdale was diverted to Charleston after smoke filled the cockpit (Published Thursday, May 7, 2015) The plane landed safely at the airport in Charleston around 4:40 p.m. and technicians were examining the aircraft, Delta officials said. Another aircraft was coming from Atlanta to continue the flight to New York, officials said. http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Delta-Flight-From-Fort-Lauderdale-Diverted-After-Smoke-Fills- Cabin-302982701.html Back to Top GoAir gets DGCA notice over poor safety standards The budget carrier GoAir has received a show cause notice from the aviation safety regulator, after a routine audit conducted on March 25 found 19 deficiencies in the airline's air safety administration. In the notice, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked the airline to explain why it should not face action in the wake of the audit findings. "We are awaiting the airline's response to the notice, based on which an action taken report will be submitted," said a senior DGCA official. Airlines that neglects DGCA's safety directives are putting their passengers at risk, said air safety experts. "The airline failed to incorporate the DGCA's directives for the past three years," said another DGCA official. The audit also observed lapses in the airline's pilots' training standards. The airline confirmed the audit, but did not comment on the notice. "DGCA conducted an audit of GoAir flight operations and the findings are still awaited. Based on the debrief during the audit, GoAir has already initiated appropriate corrective measures. GoAir is committed to the safety and security of all passengers and in recognition thereof has achieved IOSA certification by IATA [International Air Transport Association," said the airline's chief of flight safety. http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/goair-gets-dgca-notice-over-poor-safety-standards/article1- 1344637.aspx Back to Top Mi-17 Accident (Pakistan) Date: 08-MAY-2015 Time: Type: Mil Mi-17 Owner/operator: Pakistan Army Registration: C/n / msn: Fatalities: Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 17 Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Naltar Valley, Gilgit - Pakistan Phase: Landing Nature: Military Departure airport: Destination airport: Narrative: Seven people including two pilots died in crash landing of the helicopter while carrying diplomats to the opening of a chairlift. The Ambassadors of Norway and Philippines died in the crash. Wives of the ambassadors of Indonesia and Malaysia also died. Ambassadors of the Netherlands and Poland injured. www.aviation-safety.net Back to Top Piper Malibu Mirage Accident (Spokane, WA) Date: 07-MAY-2015 Time: 16:00 Type: Piper PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage Owner/operator: Flying Colors Aviation LLC Registration: N962DA C/n / msn: 46-36031 Fatalities: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Unknown Location: Spokane River near Felts Field Airport (KSFF), Spokane, Washington - United States of America Phase: Approach Nature: Test Departure airport: Destination airport: Felts Field (KSFF) Narrative: the pilot was trying to make an emergency landing at nearby Felts Field but didn't make it. The plane with two men aboard crashed and sank in the Spokane River. The two men were fatally injured. www.aviation-safety.net Back to Top Thunderbirds jet makes emergency landing in Alburquerque ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KSNV News3LV) -- One of the Air Force Thunderbirds made an emergency landing Thursday morning in New Mexico. The operations officer says the Albuquerque International Sunport offered the nearest runway for the pilot to land. It was not immediately clear where the pilot was coming from or where the plane was headed. It was believed to be on a regular training flight when it experienced an engine problem. The plane was towed to Kirtland Air Force Base so mechanics could take a look at it. The Sunport and Kirtland share runways. The U.S. Air Force Demonstration Squadron is headquarters at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas and is scheduled to appear this weekend in Millville, N.J., at the Millville Wheels and Wings Airshow. Thunderbirds spokesman Major Darrick Lee told News 3 that the 40 to 50 members of the squadron and all F-16s scheduled to fly arrived in New Jersey late Thursday morning Las Vegas time. http://www.news3lv.com/content/news/story/Thunderbirds-jet-makes-emergency-landing-in/ojVE- RKuF0qXnJ9xqc8clA.cspx Back to Top Back to Top Alaska Airlines, Gevo to demonstrate renewable Alcohol-to-Jet fuel in upcoming flight Alaska Airlines ups the ante in the search for sustainable, affordable jet fuels. In Colorado, Gevo and Alaska Airlines announced a strategic alliance to purchase Gevo's renewable jet fuel and fly the first-ever commercial flight on alcohol-to-jet fuel (ATJ). The demonstration flight is expected to occur after Gevo receives ASTM International certification for its fuel, sometime in mid to late 2015. Gevo has been working through the rigorous ASTM process for six years, which includes extensive engine testing and data analysis by all of the major original equipment manufacturers to establish the specification for this drop in fuel. Once approved, this fuel can be seamlessly integrated into the existing distribution infrastructure and onto commercial aircraft. "Developing a domestic, competitively priced, sustainable supply of biofuels is fundamental to the future of American aviation," said Joe Sprague, senior vice president of external relations at Alaska Airlines. "The cost of fossil-based jet fuel is one of the largest expenses for airlines. This investment in Gevo's ATJ will help reduce our exposure to high fuel prices, minimize our carbon footprint and demonstrate growing demand for fuel alternatives." "A sustainable biofuels industry would help insulate airlines from fuel price spikes, enabling them to offer economical air travel while remaining profitable, while helping meet their environmental goals, and spur economic growth within and outside of aviation," said Gevo CEO Pat Gruber. "We greatly appreciate Alaska Airlines as a commercial partner as we move towards commercialization." Why alcohol-to-jet, anyways? When most of us think of highly customized aviation alcohols, we probably think of the little bottles of Johnnie Walker. But a handful of companies such as Gevo, Butamax and LanzaTech could shake up the emerging aviation biofuels markets by developing renewable aviation fuels from ethanol and/or biobutanol. "An alcohol molecule, looking at it one way, is really just a hydrocarbon carrying this extra OH [a hydroxyl group] on its back," LanzaTech CEO Jennifer Holmgren told The Digest, explaining that chemically reforming alcohol into jet fuel is not a bizarre form of medieval alchemy. In the process, you generally need two ethanol molecules to make a jet fuel molecule, so unless you are interested in trying to sell $3 jet fuel into a $2 market, you had better start with something that produces much better than $1.50 ethanol. Isobutanol, such as made by Gevo and Butamax, is an alcohol with special applications in jet fuel because it is a four-carbon molecule to begin with. Back in 2009, Gevo opined that the first "Sasol Synthetic Jet was C12- centered isoparaffin mixture with similar properties" to Gevo's jet fuel blend stock. Gevo said at the time that its jet fuel met all ASTM specifications except a slight miss on fuel density, and blended with 25% Jet A it met all specs. Gevo also indicated that it could make a jet fuel blend stock at an operating cost equivalent to $65 oil. Gevo and aviation fuels Gevo's ATJ is produced at its demo biorefinery in Silsbee, TX, using isobutanol produced at its Luverne, MN, fermentation facility. Gevo is currently operating its Luverne plant in Side-by-Side operational mode, whereby isobutanol is being produced in one of the facility's four fermenters, while the other three fermenters are dedicated to ethanol production. The isobutanol that Gevo is producing is meeting product specifications for direct drop-in applications, as well as for use as a feedstock for the Silsbee biorefinery to produce hydrocarbons such as ATJ. In March, NASA purchased volumes Gevo's renewable alcohol-to-jet fuel (ATJ) for aviation use at the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Gevo's ATJ is manufactured at its demonstration biorefinery located in Silsbee, Texas, using renewable isobutanol produced at its Luverne, Minnesota, isobutanol plant. The biorefinery, where Gevo also produces bioparaxylene and bioisooctane, is operated in conjunction with South Hampton Resources. In December 2014, the US Navy's Naval Air Systems Command announced its first successful alcohol-to- jet supersonic flight, fueled by Gevo's renewable isobutanol. This was the first aviation test program to comprehensively test and evaluate the performance of a 50/50 ATJ blend in supersonic (above Mach 1) afterburner operations - a critical test to successfully clear the F/A-18 for ATJ operations through its entire flight envelope. This military specification would allow for commercial supply of ATJ fuel to the Navy and Marines Corps. In April 2014, Gevo announced tan agreement with Lufthansa to evaluate Gevo's renewable jet fuel with the goal of approving Gevo's alcohol-to-jet fuel for commercial aviation use. Lufthansa's testing is being supported through work with the European Commission. Alaska Airlines and sustainable aviation fuel The key takeaway for Alaska is that the airline has set a goal of using sustainable aviation biofuel at one or more of its airports by 2020. Alaska Airlines was the first U.S. airline to fly multiple commercial passenger flights using a biofuel from used cooking oil. The carrier flew 75 flights between Seattle and Washington, D.C. and Seattle and Portland in November 2011. The fuel was supplied by SkyNRG, an aviation biofuels broker, and made by Dynamic Fuels, a producer of next-generation renewable, synthetic fuels made from used cooking oil, now a division of Renewable Energy Group nown as REG Geismar. At the time, Alaska Air Group estimated the 20 percent certified biofuel blend it is using for the 75 flights will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 10 percent, or 134 metric tons, the equivalent of taking 26 cars off the road for a year. If the company powered all of its flights with a 20 percent biofuel blend for one year, the annual emissions savings would represent the equivalent of taking nearly 64,000 cars off the road or providing electricity to 28,000 homes. In 2010, Alaska Airlines, Boeing, Portland International Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Spokane International Airport and Washington State University announced a strategic initiative to promote aviation biofuel development in the Pacific Northwest, the first regional US assessment of its kind, dubbed the "Sustainable Aviation Fuels Northwest" project. The consortium examined biomass options "within a four-state area," examining "all phases of developing a sustainable biofuel industry," including " an analysis of potential biomass sources that are indigenous to the Pacific Northwest." Since 2010, Alaska Air Group has been a partner in a strategic initiative called Sustainable Aviation Fuels Northwest (SAFN), a 10-month regional stakeholder effort to explore the feasibility, challenges and opportunities for creating an aviation biofuels industry in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. The study determined the region has the diverse stocks for biofuels, delivery infrastructure and political will needed to create a viable biofuels industry. There currently is no supply of aviation biofuels in the Pacific Northwest. The Bottom Line The Alaska / Gevo partnership is a solid step towards commercializing the fuels, which Gevo has the capability to produce at demonstration levels. It would need an equity infusion to take the Silsbee technology to the next level. In that context, consider the March 2015 memorandum of understanding between Praj Industries and Gevo, in which Praj would undertake to license up to 250 million gallons of isobutanol capacity for sugar- based ethanol plants over the next ten years. Gevo will market the isobutanol produced by Praj's sub- licensees - which could well include airline customers via a Silsbee-like commercial scale conversion facility. http://www.biofuelsdigest.com/bdigest/2015/05/07/alaska-airlines-gevos-to-demonstrate-renewable- alcohol-to-jet-fuel-flight/ Back to Top MANDATORY PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION AND POLYGRAPH TESTS FOR PILOTS If your pilot wants to crash your plane . . . If you cannot trust the pilot, who could you trust on an aircraft? This question is becoming more and more an issue over the last 20 years. There is a pattern of crashes, hijackings caused knowingly by exactly the same people that are paid by you to take you from point A to B on a safe aircaft. On March 24, 2015, German Wings flight 9525 was intentionally crashed into a mountain. Deliberate manipulation of flight controls by pilots also caused the crash of Japan Airlines flight 350 (1982), Silkair flight 185 (1997), Egypt Air Flight 990 (1999), and LAM Mozambique Airlines flight 470 (2013). There are some lingering questions about whether deliberate conduct on part of the flight crew led to the disappearance of Malaysian Airlines flight MH370. In 1986, China Airlines flight 334 was hijacked by one of the pilots, diverted to Guangzhou where the pilot defected. In 1994, an attempt by an off duty pilot "in despair" to crash Federal Express flight 705 was thwarted by the flight crew who put up a fight. In 2014, Ethiopian Airlines flight 702 was hijacked by the first officer and diverted to Geneva where he sought political asylum. In April 2015, a pilot for a Cathy Pacific flight scheduled to fly from London-Heathrow to Hong Kong was arrested before boarding the plane, after being found in possession of illegal knives. For over three decades, pilots suffering from emotional distress, financial and psychiatric problems have used aircraft as the weapon of choice to end their lives, ending the lives of hundreds of innocent passengers in the process. This is a harsh reminder that planes are lethal weapons when operated by the wrong people. In all the incidents mentioned above, the pilots in control were properly licensed, and had the relevant requirements listed in annex one (Personnel Licensing) to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, including valid medical fitness certificates. Preliminary and final investigation reports (Egypt Air and Silk Air are disputed) for all the incidents above disclose one hidden danger-mental distress- which is not obvious to dispatchers, cabin crew, other pilots or passengers. Civil Aviation safety rulesshould mandates physical and mental examination of pilots. Pilots should disclose medical facts concerning personal, familial and hereditary history. Pilots should not suffer from any disease or disability which could render them likely to become suddenly unable either to operate an aircraft safely, or to perform assigned duties safely. Further, pilots should have no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of mental, behavioral, delusional, stress related, neurotic, psychological development, emotional or any other mental disorders. In most cases once passed fit during a medical certification and issued a license, a pilot need not undergo further certification for a year. Some airlines have included clauses in their handbooks and operational guidelines that forbid any member of the flight crew to act as such, if they feel their physical or mental condition might jeopardize flight safety. Unfortunately, such clauses can only be effective if crew are comfortable with disclosure. Conditions like emotional distress associated with failed or problematic relationships/ marriages, or financial hardships are potentially embarrassing and considered personal. A disclosure requirement might be considered an invasion of privacy. However, privacy should not be an absolute right for pilots, especially where hundreds of innocent passengers rely on the confidence and competence of a flight crew, who they trust to deliver them safely to their destinations. Physical conditions are investigated and addressed by routine medical assessment and evaluation, the frequency of which increases with age. Cardiovascular, sight and hearing problems are under normal circumstances, critically examined as license holders' move up the age ladder. Mental distress, irrespective of cause, cuts across all age groups. The table below shows incidents, designation and age of responsible pilots. AIRLINE PILOT DESIGNATION AGE Japan Airlines flight 350 - crashed Feb 09,1982 Seiji Katagiri Captain 35 China Airlines flight 334 - hijacked May 3, 1986 Wang Xijue Unknown Unknown Federal Express flight 705 - attempted hijack and crash April 7, 1994 Auburn Calloway Off duty pilot travelling as passenger 42 Silkair flight 185 - crashed Dec 19, 1997 Tsu Way Ming Captain 41 Egypt Air Flight 990 - crashed Oct 31,1999 Gameel Al Batouti First officer 59 LAM Mozambique Flight 470 - crashed Nov 19, 2013 Herminio Dos Santos Captain Unknown Ethiopian Airlines Flight 702- hijacked Feb 17, 2014 Hailemedhin Abera Tegegn First officer 31 German Wings Flight 9525- crashed March 24, 2015 Andreas Lubitz First officer 27 Cathay Pacific flight 254 - pilot arrested while in possession of illegal knives April 19,2015 unknown unknown 61 A mentally distressed person is not ill and may look normal. Besides, the cause of such distress could have arisen after being certified by the regulator as fit to fly. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that crew will always disclose details of their marital, emotional, financial or any other issues that are likely to cause mental distress. This calls for radical changes by the International Civil Aviation Organization for instance; making disclosure mandatory (with a recommendation that member states impose harsh penalties in case of non- compliance), subjecting flight crew to random polygraph tests, psychiatric evaluation and counselling. Hopefully, this screening process can keep out crew with suicidal tendencies. Such changes should also apply to air traffic controllers, cabin crew, engineers and all persons directly or indirectly associated with operation of aircraft, whose deliberate acts or omissions might compromise air safety. http://www.eturbonews.com/58728/if-your-pilot-wants-crash-your-plane Back to Top New Malaysia Air CEO vows turnaround for battered airline KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) - The new CEO of Malaysia Airlines said its financial situation is more challenging than anticipated and it will shrink in size as it tries to overcome a tarnished image with the travel industry and the public. Malaysia Airlines was battered last year by double jet disasters. Its government owner has brought in a new CEO, former Aer Lingus chief Christoph Mueller, to oversee a 6 billion ringgit ($1.7 billion) turnaround. In a memo dated Tuesday, Mueller thanked Malaysia Airlines staff for a warm welcome since he started work at the airline on May 1 but also noted parts of the organization seemed "depressed" and customers say service is deteriorating. Malaysia Airlines, Mueller said, is "suffering badly from a heavily damaged brand reputation" in key markets with many people avoiding the carrier because "they are frightened." The carrier is moving ahead with a previously announced overhaul that will involve cutting its staff by 6,000 or about 30 percent. "Since the new airline will be smaller in size, we simply have not enough work for all of you," Mueller said. The airline had a good safety and service record before last year's disasters but the tragedies, and the airline's handling of the first one in particular, hurt its brand. A Malaysia Airlines jet with 239 people on board went missing March 8 last year while en route to Beijing and no trace of it has been found. In July, a Malaysia Airlines jet was shot down over Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board. Mueller said the airline will soon mail out termination letters and new job offer letters to those who will remain in the airline. That approach is being taken because staff requested privacy in the handling of employment matters, he said. The CEO's memo was shown to reporters on Friday by the National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia, which protested the termination exercise by mail as "obnoxious and arrogant." It said its 3,500 members were now stressed and worried. The union has written to Prime Minister Najib Razak, asking him to intervene and urging the airline to offer short and medium-term layoffs as well as salary cuts before a final termination exercise is carried out. Mueller comes to the Malaysian job from a stint reviving Ireland's Aer Lingus. He'll be the first foreigner to head the Malaysian state-owned company. Analysts say he's an industry veteran "battle-hardened" from his work carrying out corporate restructurings at other state-owned airlines, including failed Belgian carrier Sabena. He was dubbed "The Terminator" in Ireland because his German accent made for easy comparisons to Arnold Schwarzenegger in assassin robot mode as he outlined his plans to remorselessly fix Aer Lingus. Mueller said in the memo that the airline's new business plan will focus on cutting overall costs, which are up to 20 percent higher than its competitors, and withdrawing from markets where it cannot be competitive. "Sometimes you have to retreat and regroup before growing again. And that is the ultimate target. We want to grow again in the last phase of restructuring," he said. Mueller said he envisioned a new airline that is "safe, on-time and friendly" that will be the new pride of Malaysia. He said endurance and faith are needed for the turnaround program that will take three to five years. "It is my duty to tell you today that the medicine is bitter and that the fitness program which is required to bring us back into shape will cause a lot of sweat and sometimes tears. But it will be rewarding in the end." http://www.seattlepi.com/news/world/article/New-Malaysia-Air-CEO-vows-turnaround-for-battered- 6250493.php Back to Top Making Abuja Aviation Hub for West Africa For its strategic location and virgin land for expansion, industry experts reason that Abuja, instead of Lagos should be developed as a West African aviation hub, writes Chinedu Eze Former Managing Director of Ethiopian Airlines, Girma Wake said in a recent aviation conference in Addis Ababa that the whole Africa is waiting for Nigeria to get things right in aviation and the first step to achieve this is to develop a hub for West Africa. He also reasoned that the sub-region needs a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility and the natural place that such facility should be established is in Nigeria. Over the years, Lagos has been the centre of aviation development in Nigeria. The Murtala Muhammed International Airport located in the mega city is the busiest in West Africa and Lagos generates at least 70 per cent of all the revenues in the aviation industry both to the aviation agencies and the airlines. Lagos also houses the major aviation parastatals and it remains the choice destination for all international carriers and commands the highest traffic out of the country. From all projections, Lagos would continue to grow economically and its over 18 million population would also continue to grow, so naturally the mega city would continue to be the attractive market for airline operation. There are some arguments that Lagos is a natural hub for airline operation because it is Nigeria's commercial city, which is the cusp of the nation's economy; that as the city with the biggest seaport in the country, it is also natural that it should be airline operational hub. Ideally, what is expected is that Nigeria should develop the hub and spoke system whereby instead of international airlines flying to all the cities in West and Central Africa and huge costs, they can land in Nigeria where local and sub-regional carriers can airlift the passengers to other destinations in the sub- region. Nigeria commands the highest traffic in the sub-region; it is the largest economy and a country with the continent's largest population. So the country is the biggest market. But Nigeria is yet to meet the requisites to become a hub. It lacks the needed airport infrastructure, maintenance organisation, viable airlines with adequate capacity, manpower and favourable policies that would make it an attraction to the world as a major destination. Nigeria also needs passenger traffic, it has fertile private sector that can deploy and invest funds into profitable ventures, including aviation. Out of the entire countries in West and Central Africa, Nigeria has the potential to develop a hub in the shortest possible time and it has zestful entrepreneurs that can, with the right government policies, develop the aviation industry. Congestion However, some industry analysts say that Lagos is already saturated without enough space for expansion. They said Lagos is congested, noting that the existing Murtala Muhammed International Airport has been surrounded by private property, so there is a limit to expansion. On the other hand, Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, has all the land, which Lagos lacks. The Abuja airport is located far away from the city, although surrounded by hills; it is believed that the airport can take more runways, more terminals and other expansion measures. During the time of the late President Musa Yar'Adua, the international carrier, Lufthansa had reached agreement with Nigeria to establish a hub in Abuja for its West and Central African operations. There were other juicy attractions attached to that arrangement, which included training, strengthening of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria and the plan to build a second runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, which Julius Berger was primed to execute. But this plan was not realised and according to the German company, Nigeria afterwards refused to show enthusiasm for the plan and did not carry out its own side of the agreement. However, Lufthansa carried on with some aspects of the agreement that favoured it, including abstaining from the payment of charges and operating from three entry points in the country. Aerotropolis During the tenure of Stella Oduah as the Minister of Aviation, she introduced aviation master plan. Under that plan is aerotropolis, which is the building of airport city whereby businesses, maintenance facility and other structures would be clustered around the airport. According to Wikipedia, aerotropolis is an urban plan in which the layout, infrastructure and the economy is centred on an airport, existing as an airport city. Although the aerotropolis project was audaciously planned for more than one city in Nigeria, but many in the industry posit it could only be realised in Abuja because of the expansive land available there. Dr Daniel Tarka who was to drive the plan once told THISDAY what was earmarked in Abuja to realise the project. "For the Abuja Aerotropolis, we are expecting to have half a million square meters of retail, exhibition, business offices, hotel and entertainment complexes near the airport, including residential complexes where aviation and non-aviation related businesses will synergise for convergence of commercial enterprises," Tarka said. Virgin Land Industry analyst, founder and executive director of Centre for Aviation Safety and Research, Sheri Ayuba Kyari, said Abuja holds greater hope for airport expansion than Lagos where land is limited and there is existing congestion. "Some of us have had that view that Lagos being a hub will compound the already chaotic situation in the city. We need to have the hub moved to Abuja because of the virgin nature. There is lots of space there, so we can even have three runways. Lagos is reaching its peak so we need to develop other cities. Geographically the location of Abuja ideally makes it a West African hub and there are a lot of over fliers," Kyari said. He remarked that if Abuja was designated as hub it would enhance the infrastructural development of the capital city, including the provision of best navigational facilities being deployed because of its hilly nature. On the argument that in the US and other parts of the world hubs are not built in the nation's capital city. Kyari said there is no rigid rule about that, noting that in the US every major carrier builds its hub, although New York could be seen to be a hub in the US but Houston, Atlanta and others could be termed hubs because United Airlines brings passengers to Houston and from there distribute them to other destinations in US, Canada and South America; the same with Delta Air Lines in Atlanta. He also said that London Heathrow is a hub and London is the capital city of the UK, adding that airlines that didn't get slot in Heathrow are designated to Gatwick which is also in London. "So we are totally in a different setting from other countries. The US is already a well-developed nation. They don't need a flag carrier; we do. Abuja should be a well-developed hub located at the centre of the country. Even if Abuja becomes aviation commercial centre everybody can reach it. Lagos airport is already surrounded by property so it has limited its expansion, but Abuja can even have four runways. And if you develop Abuja as a hub it will reduce the need of multiple designation given to foreign airlines," Kyari said. He also remarked that Abuja is landlocked while Lagos has seaport, saying that the city is being chocked because government is not pre-emptive; otherwise government could have established another seaport in Ondo, Eket or Calabar in order to decongest Lagos. "And now we are trying to do the same thing with aviation; limiting the hub to Lagos will chock it. There is a lot of space in Abuja to build anything you wish to build: maintenance facility, aerotropolis, anything," Kyari said. He also remarked that Abuja is the capital of West Africa as the headquarters of ECOWAS and other international organisations, including the missions of many countries, so it will benefit the diplomatic community and also attract many businesses to the capital city. Also a senior official of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) who is charged with the development of aerotropolis in the agency, Kabir Mohammed, told THISDAY that if Abuja is chosen as hub it would diversify the nation' economy; it would also improve public interest in Abuja from the core north and north central. "You will be diversifying the nation's economy if you use Abuja as a hub. It will also galvanise economic development in the north central and other parts of the north. That is why we want to establish aerotropolis. There should be a second runway and technically the existing runway has expired. There will be increase in traffic so there should be other runways. In Abuja, there is room for expansion because Abuja has more land. Perishable cargo can easily be moved from Abuja because they will be produced from nearby states. With a hub more hotels will be built around the airport but in Lagos there is no space for such", Mohammed said. But industry analyst, Olu Fidel Ohunayo stated that picking a city for a hub is usually the prerogative of a major carrier not government; though government prepares the grounds by offering incentives and other facilities, adding that the government of Nigeria's decision would be more political than economic just like they did with the terminal renovation across the country that is incomplete and riddled with debts. "Building of a hub revolves round a major airline owned by a county private or public. Have they discussed with our operators or has a feasibility study been undertaken by an internationally recognised body to ascertain the appropriateness of this move. I am not excited neither am I dejected but am sure it is more political than economic," Ohuayo said. Ohuayo also asked, "How many airlines operate into Abuja? How many terminals, runway etc are there? For airlines applying to fly where is their major operation or frequency? The West Coast is the catchment of the hub policy which city is most suited for neighbouring countries to catch a flight? Why put the cat before the horse? You need strong, viable airlines, supported and protected airlines with the feel that it is owned by Nigerians to run a hub not a big terminal or government wishful thinking alone. Let us build the airline industry before thinking of a hub," Ohunayo also said. http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/making-abuja-aviation-hub-for-west-africa/208738/ Back to Top Research Request Website: www.pilothealthstudy.org Survey Link: https://harvard.az1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_5tI5A1w1asEx0CF 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 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: 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 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: Operations Director www.helioffshore.org contact: info@helioffshore.org Managing Director, Safety Airlines for America http://airlines.org/careers/ Curt Lewis