Flight Safety Information August 19, 2015 - No. 164 In This Issue Indonesia Says Flight Data Recorder of Plane Still Missing CAAS extends agreement with ICAO to develop talent for aviation sector (Singapore) Calls for lithium battery review after Boeing Dreamliner fire at Heathrow Air safety oversight mechanism: DGCA categorises carriers on the basis of aircraft size (India) Turbulence in AI as woman pilot who has never flown is made safety chief Harpreet Singh appointed as Air India's safety chief Norway jails drunk Latvian airBaltic co-pilot Fighter jets collide on ground at Nellis Air Force Base Lawsuit Claims Unattended United Airlines Serving Cart Fell On, Injured Passenger Iberian Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Argentina PROS 2015 TRAINING Mitsubishi Regional Jet may debut on ANA route from Nagoya AIR PARTNER JETS OFF WITH AVIATION SAFETY BUSINESS The New Airbus Wing Morphs In Flight Aviation leaders meet to develop training standards for plane technicians GRADUATE RESEARCH REQUEST Digital Human Modeling Survey GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY ISASI 2015, Germany, August 24 - 27, 2015 Upcoming Events JOBS AVAILABLE (New Positions) Indonesia Says Flight Data Recorder of Plane Still Missing Indonesia's Search and Rescue Agency says it is still searching for one of the two "black boxes" from a passenger plane that crashed into a mountain over the weekend, killing all 54 people on board. Agency chief Henry Bambang Soelistyo said rescuers who reached the crash site on Tuesday had retrieved the cockpit voice recorder, but not the flight data recorder. Soelistyo earlier said both black boxes had been recovered. But on Wednesday he said officials had misinterpreted reports from rescuers at the scene. The ATR42-300 twin turboprop plane crashed Sunday into a mountain while on a scheduled 42-minute flight from Jayapura to Oksibil in Papua province. http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/indonesia-flight-data-recorder-plane- missing-33173272 Back to Top CAAS extends agreement with ICAO to develop talent for aviation sector (Singapore) The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore signs a new MoU with ICAO to to expand and extend the Singapore-ICAO Developing Countries Training Programme (DCTP) for another three years from 2016 to 2019. SINGAPORE: The Republic has reaffirmed its commitment to develop talent for the global aviation sector, after Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) inked a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) on Wednesday (Aug 19). The MoU is to expand and extend the Singapore-ICAO Developing Countries Training Programme (DCTP) for another three years from 2016 to 2019. The DTCP aims to help developing ICAO Member States build up human resources critical to the development of civil aviation by providing fellowships, scholarships and specialised training programmes. Singapore will contribute US$2.25 million (about S$3 million) over the next 3 years for 300 fellowships and 10 scholarships. This is up from the US$2.2 million in 2013 and an increase of 50 fellowships and 4 scholarships. "Competent aviation professionals will continue to be in short supply, particularly in emerging economies. The talent pool is limited, and the shortage is worsened by competition with other industries for the same talents," said Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew. "ICAO's 'No Country Left Behind' initiative is a collaborative approach where developed states assist developing states via training assistance and sharing of aviation knowledge and experiences." Established in 2001, the programme is administered by ICAO and jointly sponsored by Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the CAAS. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/business/singapore/caas-extends- agreement/2060034.html Back to Top Calls for lithium battery review after Boeing Dreamliner fire at Heathrow Air Accident Investigations Branch raises concerns that aircraft equipment powered by the batteries could be vulnerable in report on 2013 blaze Boeing 787 Dreamliner 'Queen of Sheba', which caught fire at Heathrow. Investigators are calling for a safety review of all lithium battery-powered equipment on planes after a fire on board a parked Boeing 787 Dreamliner at Heathrow, which crew would have struggled to contain in flight, was traced to a tracking device carrying such batteries. The blaze, on board the empty Ethiopian Airlines jet in July 2013, burned through the fuselage and filled the cabin with acrid smoke while the plane was parked at a remote stand on the runway. Britain's Air Accident Investigations Branch (AAIB) said that while the fire was caused by the plane's lithium battery-powered emergency locator transmitter (ELT), the homing beacon used to find missing aircraft, there were concerns other on-board equipment powered by similar batteries may be vulnerable. Its investigation found the ELT's battery wires were "crossed and trapped" under the battery compartment cover plate, which probably created a short circuit that caused an uncontrollable increase in temperature, leading to rupture and fire emitting toxic fumes. The trapped wires broke the battery seal, allowing flames, gas and battery decomposition products to escape. A circuit protector that should have tripped proved inadequate, which allowed the flames to take hold in the fuselage, according to a 182-page report published on Wednesday. A new "slow blow" fuse, which offered enhanced protection to the circuit protector, had not been fitted to any aircraft by June this year, the report noted. It recommended the US-based Federal Aviation Administration, the European Aviation Safety Agency and Transport Canada conduct a full review to ensure such batteries had acceptable circuit protection and complied with precautions for venting toxic gas. Had the aircraft been in flight, the location of the ELT, which was above ceiling panels at the rear of the passenger cabin, meant crew or passengers would not have immediately noticed the fire. "It is not known how long it may take for such a fire to be detected and the location of the ELT could prolong the time taken to locate the source," the report said. Since the Heathrow incident, Boeing has added a specific section on fighting lithium battery fires to its flight attendant manual. But cabin crew might not locate the source of a non-visible fire because the aircraft's environmental control system would distribute the smoke and fumes, the AAIB said. And if they did, crew on the B787 would have to stand on a seat or armrest to access it. Without specific training, locating the flames would be challenging and unrealistic, and if a fire happened in flight, odour and fumes could hinder crew, while opening the ceiling panel could fuel and invigorate the fire with oxygen. The jet's rescue and firefighting manual did not at the time include the location of the ELT lithium battery, which meant firefighters tackling the blaze at Heathrow initially had no idea it could be a source. The report highlighted "design vulnerabilities" in the battery and called for an overhaul of the certification process, parts of which were outdated, and more thorough testing of heat dissipation in the batteries. At the time of the Heathrow fire, there were an estimated 3,650 identical RESCU 406AFN ELT batteries in service, fitted to numerous aircraft types, plus 2,900 similar batteries in portable ELTs. The RESCU 406AFN ELT was part of the Boeing 787 Navigation Radio System (NRS) designed by US-based Honeywell Aerospace, who subcontracted the manufacture of the ELT to Instrumar Limited, who again subcontracted the development and design of the battery to Ultralife Corporation, in Newark, the report said. Honeywell was not aware of any previous thermal "runaway" events. But the company did know of a battery wiring anomaly on a previous ELT returned in February 2013 by a manufacturer where wires were trapped under the cover plate - though this did not lead to a fire, the report said. As a result the Instrumar battery assembly instructions were modified to better contain the wires on new ELTs in April 2013, though not on those already in service. Following the Heathrow fire, all similar units were subjected to a mandatory one-off inspection ordered by the US FAA. By August 2014, 35 had been identified with trapped wires. Wiring had since been moved to underneath the battery and away from the cover plate on all new units of this kind. However, said the report, "with a battery service life of 10 years, it will be many years until all in-service RESCU 406AF and AFN ELTs have the inverted battery installed". http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/aug/19/lithium-battery-review-boeing- dreamliner-fire-heathrow Back to Top Air safety oversight mechanism: DGCA categorises carriers on the basis of aircraft size (India) The ICAO had highlighted 70 findings and recommendations related to lack of organisational structure in DGCA. The regulator has classified air transportation keeping in view provisions of ICAO, FAA, EASA and drafted complementary regulations for both certification and operations of aircraft in India. In a bid to align the country's aviation safety oversight mechanism with the best international practices, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has for the first time classified air transport services into four categories and commenced work to frame proportionate regulations for commercial and non-commercial aircraft operations depending on the size of aircraft deployed by each operator. The measure comes ahead of a safety audit by international Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in November. A senior official in the DGCA said, "Currently, there is no basic document that classifies air transport operations which has led to varying interpretations and lack of clarity in the scope of commercial operations and the attendant safety oversight obligations. We have studied the global norms as outlined by ICAO, FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) and come up with four categories of services for which we will frame proportionate regulations." The regulator has classified air transportation keeping in view provisions of ICAO, FAA, EASA and drafted complementary regulations for both certification and operations of aircraft in India. The classifications and regulations, scheduled to be finalised by end 2015, will become effective from February 2016. As per norms outlined by DGCA, air transport service providers will be classified under four heads - those conducting commercial air transport operations with large and turbojet aircraft weighing over 5,700 kg for domestic and international operations (this would include scheduled commercial airlines, some non-scheduled (NSOPs) and proposed regional commuter carriers); those carrying out domestic commercial air transport operations with small aircraft weighing below 5,700 kg (this would include all scheduled and non-scheduled aircraft for regional/remote connectivity conducted with non-turbojet aircraft with limited all up weight and passenger seating capacity); general aviation operations with large and turbojet aircraft (this would include all operations except commercial air transport operation or an aerial work operation conducted with bigger aircraft but not available to the general public. These would include both domestic and international operations. This would include state/government, corporate/business operations with larger aircraft for non-commercial purposes); and general aviation operations with smaller aircraft (this would include all operations other than commercial air transport operations or aerial work operations conducted with aircraft below 5,700 kg). These regulations will ensure 'ease of doing business' for small aircraft operators in the country. At present, small aircraft operators also have to go through the same process to fetch operator's permit and comply with the same operational regulations as large aircraft operators. The certification regulations based on the above classification would have no distinction between aircraft and helicopters although operating regulations will address the specific requirements of both categories of both categories of aircraft. "This classification would not only bring clarity to operators as regards safety norms they need to follow for certification and subsequent operations, it will also help us in deploying our resources more optimally and making our oversight mechanism more effective," added the official. Come November, ICAO would be assessing the country's safety oversight mechanism for the third time after 2006 and 2012. The ICAO audit will be based on parameters such as aerodrome operations, air traffic control, airports, and air navigations. Although a downgrade by ICAO will not have any direct impact on the regulator or on Indian airlines but it may trigger alarm bells among other aviation authorities. An ICAO audit of the DGCA in December 2012, which had put India in its list of 13 worst- performing nations, had prompted the FAA to conduct its own assessment of India's compliance with ICAO standards under its International Aviation Safety Assessments (IASA) programme. The FAA had subsequently downgraded India to category II status in safety oversight capability in January 2014 on two key concerns lack of training of its officials and lack of full-time FOIs on DGCA's rolls. The downgrade meant that no Indian airline could launch any additional flights to the US and the existing flights to America could be subjected to more checks which could lead to delays. While the downgrade did not mean that Indian airlines were unsafe, it showed that the FAA's Indian counterpart - DGCA - was not adequately equipped to properly monitor the safety performance of Indian carriers. The downgrade additionally barred Indian airlines from code-sharing with their American counterparts. The ICAO had highlighted 70 findings and recommendations related to lack of organisational structure in DGCA, shortage of trained manpower besides effective mechanism of resolution of safety concerns for passengers in its 2006 audit. http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/air-safety-oversight-mechanism- dgca-categorises-carriers-on-the-basis-of-aircraft-size/ Back to Top Turbulence in AI as woman pilot who has never flown is made safety chief NEW DELHI: Air India pilots are up in arms over the airline's decision to appoint its first woman pilot - who joined AI in 1988 but could never fly an aircraft as she failed to clear company medical tests - as the airline's chief of flight safety (CoFS). The directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) had last month removed AI's previous CoFS after it was found that he had not kept data records of some flights for six months, as required by law. After his removal, AI was to recommend some experienced pilot or engineer, though airlines almost always nominate their best pilots for the job. AI sources say the airline had recommended two candidates to the DGCA, one a 'flying' captain and the woman. DGCA selected the latter."The approval shall remain valid for one year or till she remains in the employment of AI ... and subject to her undergoing technical performance course on Boeing 787 type of aircraft," reads the DGCA order clearing her appointment issued on Tuesday. Neither AI nor DGCA offered comments for the story . While senior AI pilots are opposing her elevation, saying the job is for active pilots, a former airline CEO said, "The person who has been ap pointed has a commercial pilot licence which means she is a trained pilot, though nonflying, and meets the basic requirement for the job." After failing the medical tests, the woman got ground jobs in AI and became a ground instructor for pilots.She later became a director in AI and was the in-charge of inflight service and cabin crew. Air India co-pilot beats up captain inside cockpit Meanwhile, the airline's executive pilots have threatened to take action against AI's decision to cut 25% of their pay for failing to have pay parity in the erstwhile AI and Indian Airlines. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Turbulence-in-AI-as-woman-pilot-who-has- never-flown-is-made-safety-chief/articleshow/48536934.cms Back to Top Harpreet Singh appointed as Air India's safety chief The post fell vacant after DGCA ordered removal of Captain A S Soman from the post for not preserving flight data after an air safety incident Directorate General of Civil Aviation has approved the appointment of Harpreet A D Singh as the chief of flight safety in Air India. The post fell vacant after the aviation regulator ordered removal of Captain A S Soman from the post for not preserving flight data after an air safety incident. Air India had requested the DGCA to reconsider its decision on removing Capt Soman from the post. Singh is the executive director of customer services department in the airline and in charge of inflight services. While Singh has been heading the airline's quality management system and has been involved in operational safety audits, she has had run-ins with the airline's cabin crew on issues of crew complement on flights and safety. "The approval shall remain valid for the period of one year or till she remains in the employment of Air India and is subject to her undergoing technical performance course on the Boeing 787 type of aicraft," said the order issued by Maneesh Kumar, director of air safety, DGCA. http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/harpreet-singh-appointed-as- air-india-s-safety-chief-115081801141_1.html Back to Top Norway jails drunk Latvian airBaltic co-pilot A Latvian co-pilot who admitted to drinking whisky and beer barely hours before an airBaltic flight from Norway to Crete has been jailed for six months, media reported on Tuesday. A Norwegian court on Monday also sentenced two flight attendants to prison for 45 and 60 days, respectively, BBC reported. The co-pilot, 38, was found to have a blood alcohol level almost seven times the legal limit. He told the court that he and his colleagues had downed two bottles of whisky before he began drinking beer on August 7. The reason for their drinking was because they were tired after three consecutive flights. "We lost control," the man told the court, explaining his blood alcohol reading of 1.35mg of ethanol per ml of blood -- far over the permitted 0.2mg limit. The crew were tested by Norwegian police after an anonymous tip-off. The plane's 50-year-old captain is also being held in custody and faces trial on September 17. The airline said all four had been suspended and it was seeking their dismissal. http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/norway-jails-drunk-latvian- airbaltic-co-pilot-115081800870_1.html Back to Top Fighter jets collide on ground at Nellis Air Force Base An F-16 Falcon fighter jet is shown departing Nellis Air Force Base in February 2011 Red Flag exercises. Two F-16 Fighting Falcons collided shortly after landing at Nellis Air Force Base on Saturday morning. The jets, assigned to the 301st Fighter Wing, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Fort Worth, Texas, crashed about 11:20 a.m. The two pilots were evaluated for injuries, a Nellis spokesman said in a statement. The extent of the pilots' injuries had not been released as of Monday night. A safety board will convene to investigate the incident, the base said. A public affairs officer could not be reached for more information. http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/military/fighter-jets-collide-ground-nellis-air-force- base Back to Top Lawsuit Claims Unattended United Airlines Serving Cart Fell On, Injured Passenger Anyone who's left their elbow and knee in the airplane aisle knows - getting bumped by the beverage cart isn't a pleasant experience. But one couple who flew on a United Airlines flight from Hawaii to Japan say in a new lawsuit that their flight crew left a service cart unsecured and on its own in the aisle, claiming that it fell on the man, injuring his leg. A married couple from Hawaii filed a federal lawsuit alleging that during dinner service, a flight attendant rolled a heavy serving cart next to the man's seat in the emergency exit row, reports KHON.com. The suit claims she walked away, and that the cart fell on him, injuring his left knee and leg. The lawsuit says he's had to have three surgeries since the incident. As a result, the lawsuit claims, the man "has suffered and continues to suffer serious physical and psychological injuries, including but not limited to extreme pain and suffering, mental anguish, emotional and mental distress relating to his injuries, loss of enjoyment of life, and special damages, including but not limited to medical care expenses, travel expenses, substitute services, all in amounts to be determined and proven at the time of trial." The lawsuit seeks a total of $75,000. United Airlines issued a statement to KHON, saying it can't comment on the situation. "The safety of our customers is paramount to our business, however, we cannot comment on pending litigation," a spokeswoman said. http://consumerist.com/2015/08/18/lawsuit-claims-unattended-united-airlines-serving- cart-fell-on-injured-passenger/ Back to Top Iberian Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Argentina An Iberian Airlines flight with 240 people on board has made an emergency landing at Argentina's largest airport because of technical problems after hitting birds. The plane took off Tuesday afternoon from Carrasco, Uruguay. Shortly thereafter, the pilots made the landing at Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires in neighboring Argentina. Ezeiza is one of the largest airports in South America, making it more able to handle extra air traffic. The Ezeiza press office released a statement saying the landing was precipitated by the plane hitting birds but didn't provide more details. The statement said no one was injured. The Iberian flight was heading to Madrid. http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/iberian-flight-makes-emergency- landing-argentina-33165158 Back to Top Back to Top Mitsubishi Regional Jet may debut on ANA route from Nagoya NEW YORK - ANA Holdings Inc. is considering flying the Mitsubishi Regional Jet, the nation's first indigenously built small jet, on a domestic route to and from Chubu Centrair International Airport, a source at the airline group said Tuesday. The airport serves Nagoya city. This will be the commercial debut of the MRJ since ANA Holdings, the parent of All Nippon Airways Co., is scheduled to be the world's first recipient of the jet among six clients signed up so far. ANA has ordered 25 of the aircraft, with the first expected to be delivered in the first quarter of fiscal 2017. In all, Mitsubishi Aircraft has received orders for 407 aircraft from ANA, Japan Airlines Co., and four carriers in the U.S. and Myanmar. Nearly half, or 184, are on option and purchase rights, which allows the buyer to pull out of the deal within a designated window. The ANA group, Japan's largest airline operator, has yet to decide which route the MRJ will fly from Nagoya. "We would like to use it soon after it is delivered," the ANA source said, adding that the model will be operated by wholly owned subsidiary ANA Wings Co., which serves regional cities in Japan. Potential routes under consideration are thought to be those linking cities in the Hokkaido, Tohoku and Kyushu regions to the airport in Aichi, a prefecture which is home to the head office of Mitsubishi Aircraft, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and the MRJ's final assembly facility. ANA hopes that the MRJ will replace the 126-seater Boeing 737-500, which is deemed to be oversized for some services to local cities in Japan. The MRJ seats roughly 70 to 90 people. June data showed some ANA flights to and from Chubu Centrair were at 40-50 percent capacity. The ANA source said that the MRJ "will help balance supply capacity and demand" on those routes. The MRJ is also known to be more than 20 percent more fuel efficient than existing comparable aircraft. Japanese airlines hope this will help them compete better with shinkansen bullet trains and long-distance bus services. "We are pinning hopes on the MRJ for its substantial advantage in fuel efficiency," said Osamu Shinobe, director of ANA Holdings, who also serves as president of ANA. The Boeing jet also flies on ANA's services from Naha in Japan's southern prefecture of Okinawa to adjacent island airports such as Miyako and Ishigaki. These may well be eventually served by the MRJ as well. Naha Airport is also expected to be the base for MRO Japan Co., set up by ANA and other investors to service the MRJ and other small aircraft for regional services. JAL, which has ordered 32 units, is set to introduce the aircraft in 2021. The nation's second-largest airline envisages flying the MRJ mainly on routes to and from Osaka's Itami airport, run by subsidiary J-Air Corp., as well as some routes to and from Tokyo's Haneda airport. J-Air currently has the E170 of Brazil's Embraer SA and the CRJ200 of Canada's Bombadier Inc. in its fleet and is hoping to replace them with the MRJ, a streamlining step to reduce aircraft servicing costs. Japan Airlines Chairman Masaru Onishi said the MRJ "offers an ideal combination of aircraft size and engine" among various small jets. The MRJ faced four major delays in development, pushing back the delivery from the initially planned 2013. Mitsubishi Aircraft is planning a test model's maiden flight in the September-October period this year. It will be the first domestically produced passenger aircraft in Japan in over half a century since the YS-11, a turboprop aircraft that made its first flight in 1962. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/08/19/business/corporate-business/mitsubishi- regional-jet-may-debut-ana-route-nagoya/#.VdRYa_lVikp Back to Top AIR PARTNER JETS OFF WITH AVIATION SAFETY BUSINESS Air Partner, the London Stock Exchange-listed aviation services group, has snapped up an aviation safety consultancy in Surrey in a deal worth up to £6m. Baines Simmons, founded in 2001, is a consultant and adviser to more than 750 aviation organisations and more than 40 aviation authorities. The company specialises in aviation regulations, compliance and safety. Its clients include KLM, SAS, Thomas Cook, Thomson, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, The Isle of Man Government, BAE Systems, MoD, Rolls Royce, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, Airbus, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and UK Military Aviation Authority (MAA). Air Partner said the acquisition of Baines Simmons, which is expected to be earnings enhancing in its first full year of ownership, will complement and enhance its existing broking business. Baines Simmons will continue to be managed by its current executive team led by managing director Andrew Parker and founders Keven Baines and Bob Simmons. It will remain headquartered at Fairoaks Airport in Surrey. Air Partner chief executive Mark Briffa described the deal as "an exciting step" for the group. He added: "We look forward to working with the team at Baines Simmons on a range of strategic and complimentary growth opportunities from new regulatory changes, busier skies, greater organisational complexities, geographic expansion and new performance products and services." Baines Simmons is Air Partner's second acquisition this year, following its takeover of Cabot Aviation in May 2015. http://www.insidermedia.com/insider/south-east/145799-air-partner-jets-aviation- safety-business/ Back to Top The New Airbus Wing Morphs In Flight The A350-1000 wing cover ready to be assembled in Broughton, Wales. Airbus has started production on a new wing for the A350-1000, considered to be the next generation of the new wide-body airliners in the A350-XWB family. The wing, 32 meters long and six meters wide, morphs in flight changing shape for maximum aerodynamic efficiency throughout the duration of the flight. The wing is also the largest single part made from carbon composite material in civil aviation to date. Seventy percent of the A350 XWB frame is made from advanced lightweight materials including 53% composites of titanium and advanced aluminium alloys. This makes the plane lighter with better fuel efficiency. The A350-1000 wings are a modified design based on the A350-900 wings. The A350- 1000 wing design changes support the longer fuselage of the jetliner with 90% of the parts modified to increase the jetliner's efficiency at low speeds. To improve efficiency at higher speeds, the A350 XWB can deflect its wing flaps differentially which optimizes the wing profile and enables better load control. With the new wing design (and Rolls Royce engine with 97,000 pounds of thrust on take off), the A350-1000 is capable of flying 450 kilometers farther (16 nautical miles) than the A350-900. That's 14,800 kilometers in one go. This opens up long-haul routes for emerging markets such as Shanghai-Boston or Paris-Santiago for carriers. Customers to date for the A350-1000 include United Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Air Lease Corporation, International Airlines Group, Japan Airlines and Air Caraibes. The wings for the first Airbus A350-1000 are being assembled in Broughton, North Wales. http://www.forbes.com/sites/jenniferhicks/2015/08/18/the-new-airbus-wing-morphs-in- flight/ Back to Top Aviation leaders meet to develop training standards for plane technicians KANSAS CITY, MO - On Wednesday, a group of aerospace and aviation experts will launch an effort to create global training standards for technicians and other industry workers. The group meets at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. This is the first new committee launched this year by ASTM International, one of the world's largest standards development organizations. Called Committee F46 on Aerospace Personnel, the group aims to create consensus- driven standards that will help workers gain skills that adapt to new technologies and other advancements. The group also hopes that their efforts will strengthen the pipeline of workers due to the industry's aging workforce and the growing demand for air travel. Boeing, for example, recently announced that over the next 20 years, global aviation will add 38,000 planes requiring 600,000 more technicians. The committee consists of a cross-section of industry, including manufacturers, suppliers, nonprofits, training institutes, governments and others. They are particularly interested in addressing the need for high-skilled workers in areas such as aircraft assembly, avionics, IT systems, repair stations and more. The group's chairman, Sam Haycraft, a technician who founded jet-maintenance company West Star Aviation, says, "Training standards need to reflect what technology is today, not what it was 40 or 50 years ago." The committee - whose meeting coincides with National General Aviation Maintenance and Manufacturing Week - will develop standards that define core competencies, providing a baseline for education, testing and certification requirements. These standards will help employers by providing a uniform expectation of knowledge and skills while also supporting broader efforts to attract and retain workers. Jim Sparks, an aviation maintenance professional on the committee, cites the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration's Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) initiative as an example of why the group's work is crucial. He says, "It has become increasingly critical for knowledge and skill standards to evolve in step with the rapid advancement in the aviation industry. Training, education and certification need to keep up." Already, ASTM International has developed many standards in areas such as airplanes and jet fuel. In 2013, the National Center for Aerospace and Transportation Technologies became part of ASTM, providing a significant boost to ASTM's portfolio of personnel certification programs. Helping our world work better Over 12,000 ASTM standards operate globally. Defined and set by us, they improve the lives of millions every day. Combined with our innovative business services, they enhance performance and help everyone have confidence in the things they buy and use - from the toy in a child's hand to the aircraft overhead. Working across borders, disciplines, and industries we harness the expertise of over 30,000 members to create consensus and improve performance in manufacturing and materials, products and processes, systems and services. Understanding commercial needs and consumer priorities, we touch every part of everyday life: helping our world work better. http://www.eturbonews.com/62758/aviation-leaders-meet-develop-training-standards- plane-technicia Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH REQUEST Aircraft Maintenance Technician Decision-Making Purpose of Project My name is Robert Norcross. I am a doctoral student at Northcentral University in Arizona. I am conducting a research study about aircraft maintenance technician decision-making processes when aircraft repair information is not in the aircraft maintenance repair manuals. Focus group sessions will be held to gain your valuable experience, views, and opinions on nine questions pertaining to the research topic. Your views on the questions are important to me and I invite you to participate. The focus group sessions should last between 30 and 60 minutes and held at a date and time convenient for you. The focus group sessions will use www.gotomeeting.com and a conference call phone number. You are eligible to participate in this research if you: 1. 1. Are older than 18 years of age. 2. 2. Hold a Federal Aviation Administration issued Airframe and Power Plant certificate. 3. 3. Issued the Airframe and Power Plant certificate on or before 1 January 2010. 4. 4. A resident of the United States. Risks: There are minimal risks in this study. Some possible risks include: discomfort sharing views about the proposed research questions, other participants knowing your identity. To decrease the impact of these risks: you can refuse to answer any question, stop participating at any time, or request to answer the questions with a phone call to the researcher. Benefits: If you decide to participate, there is no direct benefits/compensation to you. The potential benefits to others are improved efficiency and less time and money spent reworking aircraft discrepancies. If you are interested in participating please contact me, Robert Norcross at R.Norcross4749@email.ncu.edu or 757-281-9289. Back to Top SIZE NORTH AMERICA .com Digital Human Modeling Survey We are looking for participant companies nationwide. Survey of Human Body Dimensions, Measurements with associated demographic data. First standardized 3D body scanning representative of the United States population. Ideal, current data for statistical, market analysis in Aerospace, Aviation, Automotive, Fashion industries. For more info: diego@ddurrelltech.com Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Dear Aviation Colleague, Despite efforts to prevent aircraft accidents, they tragically continue to happen. While one may think "What is there left to improve?" research continues to be the foundation of finding areas to be perfected. For the purpose of my Masters project in Air Safety Management at City University London, UK, I am studying what underlying factors may influence decision- making/communication in the cockpit. I have kindly requested a friend/colleague of yours to assist me by forwarding this E-Mail to you. Your professional experience shared through this short online survey will greatly assist me. May I invite you to participate in this 5-10 minute survey? I would very much appreciate your contribution and thank you in advance for investing your valuable time in this questionnaire, which consists of 19 questions. Protecting your identity is important to me. This web-based survey is for study purposes only. It is anonymous and your answers consist of de-identified data strings. No personal details are asked and no computer IP-address is stored that may identify you. Upon completing the survey, all data will be removed from the server. By clicking on the link and participating in the survey you are voluntarily giving your informed consent for the extracted data to be used in my research. May I ask that you complete this survey before 25.08.2015 (25AUG2015), at which time the survey will be closed. Click the following link to start the survey (or copy/paste it directly into your internet browser window if the hyperlink does not work): http://maq-online.de/evaluation/users/www.php?l=maq&u=IXJP8B3dgd&p=FBy6Ncj3 For questions about this survey or if want to share your knowledge with me you may contact me using the following e-mail address: cockpitdecisionmaking@pobox.com Thank you for your participation! Wolfgang Baumruck Back to Top ISASI 2015, Germany, August 24 - 27, 2015 "Independence does not mean isolation". The International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI) will hold their 46th annual seminar at the Kongress am Park, Augsburg, Germany, from August 24 - 27, 2015. For all current information including the link to the registration and hotel pages please go to www.esasi.eu/isasi-2015 Note: Cut off dates for hotel reservations are June 23rd for the Dorint & July 23rd for the Ibis & the Intercity For questions regarding Sponsorship please contact Ron Schleede - ronschleede@aol.com or Steve Hull - steve.hull@rtiforensics.com Exhibitors should contact Steve Hull or Ann Schull - isasi@erols.com Back to Top Upcoming Events: IS-BAO Auditing August 20, 2015 Madrid, Spain https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1659096 Fundamentals of IS-BAO August 25, 2015 Denver, CO USA https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1737105 IS-BAO Auditing August 26, 2015 Denver, CO USA https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1737126 Fundamentals of IS-BAO (En Español) August 25, 2015 Monterrey, Mexico https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1736215 IS-BAO Auditing (En Español) August 26, 2015 Monterrey, Mexico https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1736218 Fundamentals of IS-BAO September 15, 2015 St. Louis, Missouri USA https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1660854 IS-BAO Auditing September 16, 2015 St. Louis, Missouri USA https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1660878 Fundamentals of IS-BAO August 30, 2015 Casablanca, Morocco https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1725994 IS-BAO Auditing August 31, 2015 Casablanca, Morocco https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1725997 Aircraft Fire Hazards, Protection & Investigation Course 9-11 Sept. 2015 Hotel Ibis Nanterre La Defense (near Paris) France http://blazetech.com/resources/pro_services/FireCourse-France_2015.pdf AViCON - Aviation Insurance Conference September 10th and 11th, 2015 Stevensville, MD 21666 http://www.rtiforensics.com/news-events/avicon Regulatory Affairs Training Course September 15 & 16 Fort Worth, TX http://jdasolutions.aero/services/regulatory-affairs.php Suspected Unapproved Parts (SUPS) Training Course September 15 & 16 Fort Worth, TX http://jdasolutions.aero/ Safeskies 2015 Aviation Safety Conference 22 to 24 September 2015 Realm Hotel, Canberra www.SafeskiesAustralia.org 2015 International Air Safety Summit (IASS) Flight Safety Foundation November 2-4, 2015 Miami Beach, Florida http://flightsafety.org/meeting/iass-2015 OSHA & Aviation Ground Safety Training Course (ERAU) Oct. 19-23, 2015 Daytona Beach, FL www.erau.edu/cmas Aviation Safety Program Management Training Course (ERAU) Oct. 26-30, 2015 Daytona Beach, FL www.erau.edu/cmas Aircraft Accident Investigation Training Course (ERAU) Nov. 2-6, 2015 Daytona Beach, FL www.erau.edu/cmas Aviation Safety Management Systems (SMS) Seminar (ERAU) Nov. 17-19, 2015 Daytona Beach, FL www.erau.edu/sms Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Seminar (ERAU) Dec. 8-10, 2015 Daytona Beach, FL www.erau.edu/uas 'DTI QA & SMS Workshops are Back in Town!' (Toronto, Winnipeg, Vancouver, Melbourne FL, and YOUR town just contact us) www.dtitraining.com Back to Top JOBS AVAILABLE: Operations Integrity Risk Specialist Air New Zealand https://careers.airnz.co.nz/jobdetails?jobmc=111020RE Assistant Director, Flight Standards NetJets http://www.netjets.com/careers , requisition #843 Maintenance Program Developer NetJets http://www.netjets.com/careers requisition #926 Director, Aviation Safety NetJets www.netjets.com/careers Fatigue Risk Management Systems (FRMS) Program Advisor Virgin Australia http://careers.virginaustralia.com/cw/en/job/496246/fatigue-risk-management-systems- frms-program-advisor Curt Lewis