Flight Safety Information August 20, 2015 - No. 165 In This Issue First bodies recovered from Indonesia plane crash site CVR Recovered From Trigana Air Service Aircraft American Airlines Had Serious Close Call in Texas in June FAA reviewing flammability of composites in wake of Heathrow 787 fire FAA issues flight restrictions during papal visit Porter's past secret problems spark concerns over airline safety SINGH BEST SUITED FOR AI FLIGHT SAFETY CHIEF: DGCA; NO, SAY PILOTS Safety concerns for Life Flight pilots lead to grounded drones NTSB is looking into aborted landing that damaged an American Airlines jet at Charlotte airport Door from jet falls on Mt. Holly golf course King Air 350 Landing Gear Accident,...Paipa, Colombia United Airlines Plane Strikes Jetway at Dulles Airport Mom says United left her young son alone at the airport PROS 2015 TRAINING Qantas seeks return to glory days with new aircraft UND committee talks expanding role as unmanned aircraft industry evolves Northeast State details plans for aviation program (Tennessee) Allegiant to add its 50th Airbus aircraft Kerala, India has the world's first solar-powered airport Back To School with ERAU - Aviation Safety Seminars for Professionals NASA is raiding museums for spare parts GRADUATE RESEARCH REQUEST GRADUATE RESEARCH REQUEST Digital Human Modeling Survey GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY ISASI 2015, Germany, August 24 - 27, 2015 Upcoming Events JOBS AVAILABLE (New Positions) First bodies recovered from Indonesia plane crash site The first bodies of 54 people killed when a plane went down in eastern Indonesia were Wednesday carried from the remote crash site after bad weather hampered efforts to airlift them. Authorities also revealed rescuers were still looking for one of the Trigana Air plane's two "black boxes", the flight data recorder, after initially saying that both had been found. The remains of 17 people who died when the plane crashed during a short flight in bad weather Sunday were taken by hundreds of locals and rescuers through jungle and over mountains in Papua province. The bodies arrived at the settlement of Oksibil, the intended destination of the ATR 42-300 plane, after a gruelling, hours-long journey. Four bodies had already been flown on to Papua's capital Jayapura while the other 13 were still in the local hospital, transport ministry spokesman J. A. Barata told AFP. The recovery effort was halted at nightfall and will resume Thursday. Authorities had initially hoped to use helicopters to airlift the bodies from the site, but bad weather made it too dangerous to fly in the area Wednesday. Rescue team work at the crash site of a Trigana Air plane, at Oksob village in Okbape district, Bint ... "The current conditions make it impossible for us to use helicopters, so we have to do it via land," said local military spokesman Pudji Teguh Rahardjo. Officials initially believed that both black boxes -- the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder -- had been found in the wreckage. But transport ministry spokesman J. A. Barata said Wednesday the flight data recorder, which takes readings from many different parts of the aircraft, had not yet been recovered. The tragedy was just the latest air accident in Indonesia, which has a poor aviation safety record and has suffered major disasters in recent months, including the crash of an AirAsia plane in December with the loss of 162 lives. It took rescuers two days to reach the site, about 15 kilometres (nine miles) from Oksibil, after initial efforts were hindered by the rough terrain and bad weather. Rescuers search through wreckage of the Trigana Air ATR 42-300 twin-turboprop plane at the crash sit ... They found the twin-turboprop aircraft in pieces scattered across a fire-blackened clearing, and the bodies of the 49 passengers and five crew who had been aboard. They also recovered some of the 6.5 billion rupiah ($470,000) in government social assistance funds that was being transported for distribution to poor families. Some of the money was badly burnt. A team of three investigators from France's BEA agency, which probes air accidents, and four technical advisors from ATR, a European plane maker based in France, is heading to Indonesia to look into the accident. The plane had set off from Jayapura on what was supposed to be a 45-minute flight to Oksibil, but lost contact 10 minutes before landing as it sought to descend in heavy cloud and rain. The airline has said the accident was likely caused by bad weather. Trigana Air, a small domestic Indonesian airline, has experienced a string of serious incidents and is banned from flying in European Union airspace. http://news.yahoo.com/bad-weather-hampers-recovery-efforts-indonesia-plane-crash-071737811.html Back to Top CVR Recovered From Trigana Air Service Aircraft Trigana Air ATR 42-300. Photo: Trigana Air Service. The aircraft lost contact with Air Traffic Control (ATC) radar coverage on Sunday, Aug. 16 in the province of Papua, about 30 minutes after takeoff on a flight from the city of Jayapura to Oksibil. Indonesian Search and Rescue (SAR) agency Basarnas confirmed on Tuesday that all 54 passengers and flight crew members on the aircraft perished in the crash. Officials involved in the investigation have indicated that the flight crew did not issue any distress call prior to losing contact with ATC during the fatal flight. "The plane was totally destroyed," said Tatang Kurniadi, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Committee, during a press conference on Tuesday. "Everything was in pieces and part of the plane is burnt. We could see burn marks on some pieces," said Soelistyo. The CVR has been transported to the Indonesian capital of Jakarta for analysis, according to Kurniadi. Analysis of both boxes should provide clues as to what caused the crash, which Indonesian officials believe was likely due to deteriorating weather conditions. Stephen Carbone, a former safety inspector for the FAA and former aviation accident investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and author of "Jet Blast" said the initial FDR and CVR analysis will take several days. "You have to have those assigned to the accident to sit in on the recorder play, which they have to transcribe first, and put it on paper so you can follow along as the recorder is played," Carbone told Avionics Magazine. While several theories have already been floated as to what might have caused the crash, everything is pure speculation until the analysis of the FDR and CVR is complete and further investigative action is taken, he said. "At this point, the most important thing is to either eliminate or verify maintenance problems associated with that aircraft," said Carbone. "The maintenance investigator should be onsite at their maintenance base going through all the documented records ensuring that the engines were good, there were no overdue repairs on the fuselage and ensuring the complete airworthiness of the airframe and all of the onboard instruments. Either you eliminate that as a possibility or you verify if that is a possibility that it demands further investigation. The Trigana Air Service ATR 42-300 crash is the third major Indonesian aviation incident since the December 2014. AirAsia flight QZ8501 carrying 155 passengers and crew crashed in the Karimata Strait in late December. In June, an Indonesian military plane crashed into a residential neighborhood in the city of Medan, killing 142 people. Trigana Air Service also has a poor safety record. The airline is one of a large number of carriers that is banned from operating in European airspace by the civil aviation authorities of the member states of the European Union. Trigana Air Service has been banned from operating in Europe since 2007. http://www.aviationtoday.com/asw/topstories/CVR-Recovered-From-Trigana-Air-Service- Aircraft_85838.html#.VdW3vvlVhBc Back to Top American Airlines Had Serious Close Call in Texas in June Occurrence preceded tail strike accident in Charlotte last weekend An American Airlines jetliner suffered a close call during wind shear conditions in June while approaching Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, according to people familiar with the details. Another jet for the airline sustained damages to the underside of its tail last weekend while trying to land in Charlotte. By ANDY PASZTOR As federal investigators rev up their probe of an American Airlines landing accident in North Carolina last weekend, it turns out that another of the carrier's jets suffered a dangerous close call approaching a Texas strip in similar stormy weather two months earlier. On Wednesday, the National Transportation Safety Board said it launched a formal investigation into why American Airlines Group's Flight 1851, an Airbus A321 operated by US Airways, collided with approach lights on Saturday before striking and damaging the underside of its tail on the runway while trying to land at the Charlotte, N.C. international airport. Pilots reported experiencing a wind shear, or sudden and dramatic shift in wind direction, before climbing away and landing safely on the second try. Nobody was hurt, but the accident prompted scrutiny from the NTSB and the Federal Aviation Administration, while also attracting the attention of outside safety experts. Accidents caused by such wind shear phenomena, typically associated with thunderstorms, are almost unheard of in the U.S. these days due to decades of targeted pilot training and installation of enhanced radars. But on June 26, an American Airlines jetliner approaching Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport suffered a serious close call, also reportedly during wind shear conditions, and came within dozens of feet of touching down prematurely, according to people familiar with the details. There were no injuries and the aircraft wasn't damaged, these people said. Regardless of weather, cockpit crews are required to comply with safety rules at individual airlines, mandating landing pilots to execute a go-around if their planes aren't stabilized during the final phases of the approach with the proper speed, altitude and orientation relative to the ground. Wind shear events, sometimes called microbursts, are notorious for suddenly pushing planes toward the ground during the final phase of an approach, when speed generally is low and engines are throttled back. In last Saturday's accident, the safety board said the single-aisle, twin-engine jet, which was immediately taken out of service, suffered "substantial damage following a tail strike." According to the safety board's release, investigators will examine weather factors, airplane performance and pilot actions. The A321's black box recorders, containing flight data along with cockpit conversations and voice communications, are being downloaded and analyzed at the NTSB's laboratory in Washington. http://www.wsj.com/articles/american-airlines-had-serious-close-call-in-texas-in-june-1440030093 Back to Top FAA reviewing flammability of composites in wake of Heathrow 787 fire Air Ethiopian Boeing 787 Dreamliner 'Queen of Sheba' aeroplane, on the runway at Heathrow Airport, London, on July 12, 2013. (Anthony Devlin / The Associated Press) The Federal Aviation Administration is re-evaluating the flammability testing conducted to certify Boeing's 787 Dreamliner and is "investigating new test methods," according to an accident report about the intense July 2013 fire aboard a Dreamliner parked at Heathrow airport. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is re-evaluating the flammability testing that was conducted to certify Boeing's 787 Dreamliner and is "investigating new test methods" for future certification of such composite plastic aircraft, according to an accident report released Wednesday about the intense July 2013 fire aboard a Dreamliner parked at Heathrow airport. The report by Britain's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) says the fire, previously determined to have started from a short circuit in a small lithium battery powering an electronic-emergency beacon, was fed by the epoxy resin in the composite plastic that forms the plane's fuselage. The fire severely damaged the empty Ethiopian Airlines 787 and continued to burn even after the battery energy was exhausted. "The resin in the composite material provided fuel for the fire, allowing a slow-burning fire to become established in the fuselage crown, which continued to propagate," said the report. Because of those findings, the AAIB says, the FAA is re-evaluating "the current flammability and toxicity testing of composite aircraft materials" and will research new test methods for future certification. The results have not been published yet. Learned something An FAA official familiar with the certification standards said the incident "taught people something they weren't aware of." Regulators had not anticipated the circumstances of the Heathrow fire when flammability tests were done on the 787 during certification, he said. The fire smoldered in the ceiling of the aircraft above fire-resistant insulation blankets and burned outward, damaging the crown of the fuselage over an area of about 11 square yards, the report said. "The standards used in testing didn't assume there would be insulation to trap the heat and energy," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the topic. The accident clearly demonstrates that if an intense fire starts on an airplane, the resin in the composites will burn and create a self-sustaining fire, said the official. He continued: "The key is, what are the threats that could start such a fire and are they being addressed?" Steps toward eliminating the specific cause of the Heathrow fire have been taken in the two years since the accident. The report confirms the long-established root cause: A pinched wire inside an emergency-locator beacon in the rear cabin ceiling resulted in a short circuit that caused a lithium-battery cell to discharge and overheat. The batteries in such devices were inspected, and battery supplier Honeywell redesigned the wiring and developed a protective fuse. Small batteries in other devices throughout the 787 and other jets were given similar scrutiny to ensure their designs protected against initiating a short-circuit fire. In a statement, Boeing said, "We are confident the 787 is safe and we stand behind its overall integrity." The report points out that the 787 passed FAA flammability tests during certification, including tests mandated under a so-called "Special Condition" addressing the possibility of in-flight fire. However, the FAA re-evaluation of flammability and toxicity standards in light of the Heathrow fire could mean further government scrutiny of 787 safety. The FAA official said federal regulators "will have to go back and look at the effects of any new standards on existing aircraft." Apparently anticipating that possibility, Boeing's statement said, "It is important that any potential changes to the airplane's design be reviewed with great care, and with due consideration for any potential unintended consequences of any change." The FAA itself did not respond to questions about the AAIB report in time for publication. Tough to find The AAIB report concludes that, if the fire had happened while the plane was in the air, the flight crew would have struggled to locate and extinguish the blaze in the 787's ceiling. Even Heathrow's specialist-fire services found it difficult to locate the origin of the blaze in the top of the 787's interior fuselage, the AAIB said. However, thermal-computer models predicted that in flight, the cooling airflow over the jet's exterior and the low outside temperature would have "substantially" slowed the propagation of the fire. Boeing modeling concluded that the jet's fuselage would have maintained its structural integrity. But an in-flight fire would still have been very serious. The jet-maker's engineers also concluded that such a fire could have depressurized the aircraft. Heathrow's firefighters also found the airplane cabin filled with "dense smoke." But in the aftermath of the fire, the AAIB said, it was not possible to determine accurately the potential toxicity of the fumes produced by the fire. The AAIB noted that "Boeing is reviewing their current test methodology to determine whether additional tests can be introduced to more accurately assess combustion products" from the burning of the 787 structure. The battery that overheated and caused the fire was a nonrechargeable lithium metal battery, with different chemistry than the lithium-ion type used in the 787's two main batteries. The failure of the main lithium-ion batteries earlier in 2013 had grounded the Dreamliner fleet worldwide for more than three months before the Ethiopian incident. The AAIB report makes clear the Ethiopian jet fire was unrelated to the previous main battery incidents. http://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/fire-on-grounded-787-would-have-been-tough- to-put-out-mid-flight/ Back to Top FAA issues flight restrictions during papal visit Drones and model aircraft prohibited. Air ambulances, law enforcement, media must get prior approval The Federal Aviation Administration has issued temporary flight restrictions over the Philadelphia region during Pope Francis' visit September 26 and 27. The restrictions, issued Tuesday at the request of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, prohibit the use of all drones and model aircrafts over the Philadelphia area, including aerobatic maneuvers, gliders, parachute operations, air balloons, agricultural air devices and more. Pope and Drones Specific details, including the restriction boundaries, will be outlined in an official Notice to Airmen, NOTAM, in early September. Law enforcement, first responders, air ambulances and media must contact the Aviation Security Operations Center (ASOC) for special Airspace Access vetting and approval at least seven days prior to the event, the FAA said. http://www.phillyvoice.com/faa-issues-flight-restrictions-during-papal-visit/ Back to Top Porter's past secret problems spark concerns over airline safety Regulators threatened to ground Canada's Porter Airlines over safety problems in 2008, according to documents reviewed by Reuters, but the matter was kept secret for years - a sign, some critics say, of how little the public is told about the safety of Canadian airlines. The documents, prepared by staff at the federal transport regulator, show that in early October that year, Canadian government inspectors scored Porter at only two on a scale of one to five, where five is best and three indicates compliance. The threat was first reported in the Canadian media in 2011 but the score and some of the reasons for it have not been previously disclosed. Air Canada passenger Dominic Stettler says he is really happy to be alive after an "abrupt" landing at Halifax airport. The Airbus 320 skidded off the runway in bad weather injuring 23 people. Reuters got access to the documents in June from Transport Canada, the nation's main transport regulator, under Canada's Access to Information Act. Porter had fought for years to prevent Transport Canada from releasing them in the face of media applications filed under that law. And while a court ruled against Canada's No. 3 airline in 2014, the judge still allowed the documents to be heavily redacted by Transport Canada, meaning that many details are blacked out. Porter did not have to suspend flights, and was able to satisfy the regulator within two months that it had dealt with its most serious problems. But the secrecy surrounding the episode has prompted safety advocates to warn that Transport Canada and Canadian airlines are keeping the public in the dark about safety questions. Transport Canada said in response to questions from Reuters that it has to balance transparency against privacy laws. It said in a statement that it felt no need to make the warning to Porter public, and that in the end it was satisfied with the airline's corrective measures. "The decision to make a notice of suspension public is made on a case-by-case basis, and is not taken lightly," it said. MORE SECRETIVE Porter pointed out in a statement that the assessment is nearly seven years old and said it had carried out all required maintenance work. Porter also said it has increased training and added investigators as it has expanded. "The matter in question related to administrative paperwork and procedural issues that were subsequently addressed by Porter in a timely, proactive manner to the satisfaction of Transport Canada," it said. "No operational safety issues were involved." Greg McConnell, president of the Canadian Federal Pilots Association union that represents government inspectors, reviewed the documents concerning Porter, but said it was difficult to conclude much given the redactions, which was a concern. He said the documents show how Transport Canada's work has changed over his career: "The documentation has become, almost, very secretive." Canada was the first country in the world to require that airlines each create their own safety management system (SMS), after the approach was endorsed by the United Nations' aviation agency. The new approach put more emphasis on self-regulation by airlines, and less on inspections by the regulator. Some experts, such as McConnell, see that change as part of the reason for the lack of disclosure. In Canada, inspectors' reviews now draw much more heavily on internal reports and data provided by the airlines, and the regulator does not disclose a lot of that material even when it receives applications from journalists and others under the access to information law. Transport Canada staff who handle such requests will often heavily redact the information in safety-related documents that they do release, citing the section of the law that protects trade secrets. Recent evaluations of a number of Canadian airlines, including WestJet and closely-held Arctic airline First Air, requested by Reuters under the law, have come back with all of Transport Canada's conclusions and the evidence they were based on blacked out. There are no indications either airline has serious problems, but the redactions make it impossible to make an independent assessment. "WestJet requested redactions in the recent Transport Canada audit report because we believe more background and context is needed to fully understand the culture of safety at our airline," the airline said in a statement. It said the audit found administrative issues that were quickly corrected. First Air CEO Brock Friesen said transparency was in the public's best interest: "We did not request these redactions from TC, especially since the document in question is showing minor findings, largely administrative in nature," he said in an emailed statement. Transport Canada said in a statement that it releases information under access to information "in a way that is compliant with the provisions of the law." Ken Rubin, a Canadian safety advocate and researcher, says the increased "self-policing" has been bad for transparency. "I can tell you that when I first applied in the early '80s for air inspection reports and audits, I used to get them," he said. "They became less accessible." LIMITED RESOURCES The SMS approach was designed to improve safety, ensuring that airlines find and fix problems before they cause an accident, and take broad responsibility for improving safety instead of just following the direction of regulators. SMS, which will be mandatory for most U.S. airlines in 2018, also can keep a regulator's inspection costs under control, an important consideration as the airline industry continues to grow rapidly across the globe. A 2013 report from Canada's Library of Parliament, the research arm of Canada's parliament, said the adoption of SMS was being driven partly by regulators' "limited resources." The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said that calling SMS self-regulation is a "basic misunderstanding." It said the change will make airlines more proactive, giving them processes to identify and reduce risk, without relaxing existing protections. "SMS requires compliance with technical standards but also promotes a safety culture to improve the overall performance of the organization," the FAA said in a statement, adding that SMS will not replace FAA inspections and audits. Before the new system, there were examples of greater disclosure. In 1996, Transport Canada issued a notice of suspension to then-new WestJet, threatening to ground the airline unless it fixed problems with its maintenance system. The department put out a news release, and the airline, now Canada's No. 2 carrier, chose to briefly suspend flights, though it disputed the findings. Some support SMS in principle, but criticize its implementation. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB), a federal watchdog agency, has praised SMS, saying it can help companies manage risk. But the TSB has also cited major concerns, highlighting crashes and near-misses that came after Transport Canada failed to identify problems with companies' safety processes. One case it cited was a 2011 First Air crash in northern Canada, which killed 12 people. Upon investigation, the TSB found problems with First Air's safety management system. Transport Canada said it takes the TSB's recommendations very seriously, and has made "significant progress" to address the board's concerns, but did not offer any detail on what it has changed. In Porter's case, Transport Canada inspectors said the airline was taking too long to address potential safety problems flagged by its employees. Inspectors issued a notice of suspension, warning the airline that its operating certificate could be revoked if it did not fulfill several conditions. "Your organization has demonstrated that your maintenance program and maintenance system does not meet the minimum regulatory requirements," said Transport Canada in 2008 in a letter to Porter CEO Robert Deluce that has not been previously disclosed. Porter said its most recent Transport Canada evaluation in 2014 had no negative findings. But it declined to share that report, saying public disclosure can lead to misunderstandings. "We believe that overall passenger safety is best served by ensuring that our team members freely report safety matters without worrying about repercussions of being associated with public reports," it said. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/is-the-public-kept-in-the-dark-about-canadian-air-safety- issues/article26029983/ Back to Top SINGH BEST SUITED FOR AI FLIGHT SAFETY CHIEF: DGCA; NO, SAY PILOTS (Air India) Harpreet Singh Air India pilots claim Harpreet Singh has little flying experience, but aviation regulator says she is a trained auditor, fits bill. Playing down criticism from the aviation industry, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) defended the appointment of Harpreet Singh as Air India's flight safety chief. The airline, faced with objection over Singh being chosen for the key post by its own pilots, backed the decision to appoint her. Singh, who was Air India's executive director (Customer Relations) before being made the flight safety chief, was chosen over Captain Chetan Prakash, who heads Air India's Airbus fleet operations, for the job by DGCA after an interview. A top DGCA official, who declined to be named, defended the move. "The prerequisite was that the person be either a pilot or an engineer experienced in carrying out an audit. We have found that Singh fits the bill. Besides being a trained auditor, she is on the International Air Transport Association (IATA) board," he told Mumbai Mirror. Aviation expert Capt Mohan Ranganathan said, "From what I hear, there are complaints against her for being behind the extended duty time for cabin crew, operating flights with inadequate cabin crew strength, doctoring documents of Air India Express for the ICAO audit, and many other troubleshooting acts." Among the factors that went in Singh's favour were her qualification as a certified Safety Management System (SMS) trainer, and Chairman-cum-Managing Director Rohit Nandan's backing. "She seems to have the bosses' confidence and is disliked by all unions. I am surprised DGCA accommodated a CPL holder who has flown nothing other than a Cessna," Ranganathan added. A senior pilot from the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) said, "We are shocked. It isn't legally possible to appoint her to the post as her flying license must have expired some 30 years ago. We are in the process of ascertaining the facts before announcing our next course of action." Defending its nomination in a statement, Air India said, "Harpreet A De Singh, executive director, has been approved by the DGCA to be the chief of flight safety of Air India. She has an excellent track record and has been involved in various areas pertaining to safety. She has also been involved with emergency response, accident investigation, human factors, crew resource management (CRM) and has worked in operations and training." Senior AI officials said that by virtue of being a certified lead auditor for safety, Singh had been involved with auditing and ensuring compliance in all areas of the organisation. http://www.mumbaimirror.com/mumbai/others/Singh-best-suited-for-AI-flight-safety-chief-DGCA-no-say- pilots/articleshow/48549556.cms Back to Top Safety concerns for Life Flight pilots lead to grounded drones Flying for Memorial Hermann Life Flight is the ultimate adrenaline rush and now pilots like Mike Mock have to watch out for drones Memorial Hermann Life Flight pilots now have to watch out for drones Safety concerns for Life Flight pilots lead to grounded drones HOUSTON -- Flying for Memorial Hermann Life Flight is the ultimate adrenaline rush, and now pilots like Mike Mock have to watch out for drones. "My paramedic noticed a drone pass on the right side about 100 feet below us," Mock said. The drone was cruising at 700 feet, 300 feet higher than Federal Aviation Administration regulations permit. "Breaking all the rules to operate those, and I never even saw it," Mock said. Memorial Hermann Life Flight pilots aren't alone. This year, U.S. pilots have reported drones flying near their aircraft at least 650 times -- nearly triple the number in 2014. "People think they're so small that they wouldn't do significant amount of damage," Mock said. But Mock says that way of thinking is wrong. He showed KHOU 11 News damage to a chopper from a recent bird strike. A seagull penetrated the underside of the nose. A drone, he says, could do a lot worse. "It's very concerning," Mock said. "They have a real danger to us if we hit one of those in flight." Hobbyist drone sales are soaring, too. Agencies like the Harris County Precinct 1 Constable's Office and Houston Fire Department are also using them too, but both agencies have grounded their drones until the FAA clear them for use. But private individuals don't need a license to fly a drone The FAA says it's individuals who pose the biggest risk because many don't know the rules: Fly under 400 feet and five miles away from airports. "We train for that," Mock said. For Life Flight pilots, their biggest concern is taking off and landing at hectic scenes, places that generate public interest. "They come see us land and want to get their drone out of their backyard and fly it around," Mock said. "Then I run into them as I'm taking off. We just have to be extra vigilant. It's one more thing we have to be on the lookout for and have our head on a swivel." The FAA says private individuals who fail to follow the rules can be fined. Any commercial or government agency can also face legal action if they operate drones without seeking the appropriate Certificate of Authorization, or COA, from the FAA. The FAA says it usually takes about 60 days to get approval, but it depends on the situation and the agency involved. http://www.khou.com/story/news/2015/08/18/safety-concerns-for-life-flight-pilots-lead-to-grounded- drones/31948977/ Back to Top NTSB is looking into aborted landing that damaged an American Airlines jet at Charlotte airport The Charlotte incident involved an Airbus A321 like this one photographed at D/FW Airport in May. (Terry Maxon/DMN) The National Transportation Board said Wednesday that it is investigating a Saturday accident in which an American Airlines jet had a "tail strike" during an aborted landing at the Charlotte, N.C., airport. The NTSB said the Airbus A321 "suffered substantial damage" in the incident. Said the NTSB: On August 15, 2015, at about 6:34 pm eastern daylight time, an Airbus A321, operated by American Airlines as Flight 1851 inbound from Atlanta, reportedly encountered wind shear on final approach to the Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The airplane impacted runway approach lights followed by an airplane tail to runway impact. The flight crew then performed a go-around maneuver and completed the landing. No injuries were reported; however, the airplane was substantially damaged. "After landing, the captain discovered damage to the underside of the aircraft. We have reported the incident to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)," American said. "There were no reported injuries. The aircraft, an Airbus A321 is out of service. There were 153 passengers and a crew of six on the flight," the airline said. The NTSB said its laboratory in Washington D.C., has the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, and "they are being downloaded and analyzed." "The investigation will include an examination of weather conditions at the time of the event, airplane performance and operational factors," the agency said. http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2015/08/ntsb-is-looking-into-aborted-landing-that-damaged-an- american-airlines-jet-at-charlotte-airport.html/ Back to Top Door from jet falls on Mt. Holly golf course MOUNT HOLLY, N.C. - A panel door from a plane that was landing in Charlotte Wednesday afternoon fell just yards away from golfers in Mount Holly. The door fell off an American Airlines Flight 1910 from Dallas that was landing at Charlotte Douglas Airport. Channel 9 reporter Ken Lemon talked to two golfers at Green Meadows golf course who were nearby when the door fell. They said they saw the plane flying overhead and then noticed something falling from the sky. "It was flying right over top of our heads," golfer Brian Francis said. The panel door covers the hydraulic servicing area, which is not a pressurized area of the aircraft. It would not cause a flight safety issue, airline officials said. Sonny Barrett said fate may have saved him from standing in the path of this door panel that fell from a American Airlines plane. "Just twirling around in the air, falling to the ground," Barrett said. Barrett and two other golfers heard the plane in the clouds flying over the course in Mount Holly. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating. American said they are working with the FAA who is also investigating. The golfers tell Channel 9 the FAA was angry when they arrived to inspect the part only to learn that an employee for American Airlines had already taken it away. The FAA released the following statement: "American Airlines 1910, an Airbus 321 aircraft, lost a small panel door while on approach to Charlotte- Douglas Intl. Airport this morning. A golfer called the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and reported that the panel fell on the Green Meadows Golf Course in Mt. Holly, NC at about 8:20 am. The flight originated at Dallas/Ft. Worth Intl. Airport. The FAA is investigating." American Airlines released the following statement: "American Airlines Flight 1910, operated by US Airways, from Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to Charlotte (CLT) lost a small panel door prior to landing in CLT. The panel has been recovered, and no one was injured. The Airbus A321, operated by a crew of six, was carrying 146 passengers and landed at 8:44 a.m. ET. We have reported this incident to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The panel door covers the hydraulic servicing area, which is not a pressurized area of the aircraft. It would not cause a flight safety issue." http://www.wsoctv.com/news/news/local/door-jet-falls-mt-holly-golf-course/nnMx5/ Back to Top King Air 350 Landing Gear Accident, Paipa, Colombia A King Air 350 Landing Gear Accident at Paipa, Colombia this last weekend. Back to Top United Airlines Plane Strikes Jetway at Dulles Airport A United Airlines plane smashed into a jetway at Dulles International Airport Wednesday afternoon, damaging the plane but resulting in no injuries. UA Flight 127 from Dublin crashed into the jetway at Gate D3, a Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority representative said about 3:40 p.m. The engine of the plane with 162 passengers and eight crew members on board was damaged, United said in a statement. No passengers or workers were hurt. Maintenance crews will inspect and repair the plane, United said. No information was provided immediately about the cause of the crash. http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Plane-Strikes-Jetway-at-Dulles-Airport-322319682.html Back to Top Mom says United left her young son alone at the airport Owen Kirvan at Eillis Island in New York. It's every parent's nightmare. You make the tough decision to let your child take a flight on his or her own and then they get lost. That's what happened to Owen Kirvan, 11, while on a trip to see his grandparents on Sunday. Owen's mother paid the $300 round-trip unaccompanied minor fee for United flight 4261 from Dulles Airport in Washington, D.C. to Newark Liberty Airport in New Jersey, which insured that he be escorted by a representative to the arrivals area to meet his party. But Owen's mother, Kathy Kirvan, said that after the one hour flight she began to panic when she started getting text messages from her son saying he was given no instructions and that no one was there to greet him. Meanwhile, Owen's grandfather, who was at the airport, was given the wrong gate information and after seeking help at customer service, was told he needed to find the boy himself. "They (customer service) made no attempt to track him down. We were left on our own to find him," said Kirvan. After about a half hour, Owen's grandfather, communicating with the family via text message, found Owen safe. "Something could have happened. Someone could have easily come up to him posing as a representative and he would have followed," Kirvan said. She subsequently filed a complaint with the Department of Transportation and United, but has not heard back from either organization. But a United spokeswoman told FoxNews.com that they're looking into the incident. "We are reaching out directly to the family to apologize for not fully providing the service they expected. After asking Owen to wait so that she could escort him off the aircraft upon arrival, the flight attendant didn't notice that he had exited with the rest of the customers onboard. Owen was met by his family about 30 minutes later at the arriving gate," she said in a statement. According to United, children five through 11 flying without an adult must go with United's unaccompanied minor program --eligible only on direct flights. Last year United changed its unaccompanied minor program and excluded connecting flights after parents of a 10-year-old girl accused United of losing their child in the Chicago airport when she missed her connecting flight. About.com's family travel expert Suzanne Rowan Kelleher says it's rare, but these services are not foolproof. "Most problems don't happen on the aircraft; they happen in the airport. It's up to parents to find out if the airline will designate someone to bring your child to the departure gate, and on the other end, from the arrival gate to the pickup area at the airport. Ask whether that person will stay with the child." She said in this case, Owen was smart enough to text his family. "I always advise that kids are given a cell phone for the trip -- even if they normally don't carry one -- with parents preprogrammed into the contact numbers. This alone can do a lot to empower the child and give a way to communicate if something goes wrong, as it happened with poor Owen. Older kids can also get a small amount of cash or a prepaid credit card of a reasonable denomination in case there's a hiccup and he or she needs a meal," she advised. She also suggests that if possible, get a point of contact, not just a customer service number. Kirvan says, beyond the safety of her child, she is frustrated that she paid $300 and got no service at all. Meanwhile, Owen is scheduled to fly home Wednesday on a return flight as an unaccompanied minor. "You go through all these steps, to get there on time, to give the airlines the name of someone who is to pick them up, and then they leave an 11-year-old alone at one of the busiest airports," Kirvan said. "I just don't want it to happen to anyone else." http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2015/08/18/mom-says-united-left-her-young-son-alone-at-airport/ Back to Top Back to Top Qantas seeks return to glory days with new aircraft Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce has twinned the airline's return to strong profit growth with a long- awaited order for new aircraft and the first capital return for shareholders in six years. The order for eight fuel-efficient Boeing Dreamliner aircraft will contribute to the narrative that Qantas has found its feet again after its toughest years since its 1993 privatisation and is back on a growth trajectory. But the challenge for Joyce now that he has steered the company through a hellish chapter is delivering the operational growth needed in future years when the threat of stiff international competition is only going to keep increasing. Qantas's annual underlying profit of $975 million was well flagged, coming in a fraction shy of analyst consensus of $982 million, and will not disappoint the market. While they fell short of the coveted $1 billion mark, the numbers look truly staggering when stacked up against the airline's losses a year ago. Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce is all smiles as the flag carrier returns to profit, plans a capital return for the first time in six years and will buy new fuel-efficient Boeing aircraft for long-haul flights. Qantas says the transformation benefits of $894 million include $576 million of non-fuel expenditure reduction,$136 million fuel efficiency and $182 million revenue benefits from aircraft utilisation. The strong profit increase well outstripped revenues which rose 3 per cent in the year. The operation of international and domestic air transportation services, the sale of worldwide and domestic holiday tours and associated support activities including catering, information technology, ground handling and engineering and maintenance. There will be more benefits and savings this year which ensure another strong profit, although Qantas has not given guidance for the current financial year despite the upbeat tone of its commentary. When the transformation is complete, the challenge is finding the operational growth. The end of the domestic turf war with Virgin Australia which has seen capacity return to more realistiic levels has helped and Joyce is in a stronger position going forward now that he has implemented a lower cost base. The latest aircraft order highlights the fact the international business will grow its network and Qantas is hiring more cabin crew and pilots as it flies to new routes like Tokyo and San Francisco. But like many Australian companies which have been focused on cost cuts and meeting investor demand for capital returns, Qantas will be seeking growth once it moves out of the recovery phase. Another key feature of the result which reflect the airline's return to health was a $505 million capital return, or 23¢ per share, for shareholders. The return is similar to a dividend but has been structured differently for tax reasons which shareholders will like. The last time the airline paid a dividend was in 2009. Because Qantas only has $84 million in franking credits, it meant a regular dividend was not a tax- effective way to return capital to shareholders. Wesfarmers did something similar last year. Joyce has now met every target he set himself as the airline embarked on an uphill climb from last year's $2.8 billion loss. He has paid off more than $1 billion in debt and exceeded return on invested capital targets. One of the biggest hurdles was fixing Qantas International, which is now profitable for the first time since the financial crisis. The latest orders for the long-range, twin-engine Boeing 787-9 aircraft signal a return to growth in the international business, which has been in survival mode for several years as it struggled with the flood of new competition. Qantas pushed back its options and purchase rights for the aircraft last year, angering pilots. Securing a new enterprise agreement with pilots cleared the way for the order. The 787 aircraft will replace Qantas' larger 747 aircraft. The strategy behind the order is the opposite of the huge Airbus A380 aircraft which have not been as cost effective as airlines globally would have liked. The new Boeing aircraft are smaller and more fuel-efficient and means there is more flexibility to fly to new destinations. Joyce has some loose ends to tie-up though and some strong competitors, particularly now that American and European carriers have consolidated and look more formidable than ever. Not all of Jetstar's Asian operations are profitable and the airline's Hong Kong ambitions have hit a snag. But the international division is back on a growth path and Qantas will be seeking to restore its image as a premier long-haul carrier. http://www.afr.com/brand/chanticleer/qantas-seeks-return-to-glory-days-with-new-aircraft-20150819- gj3btx#ixzz3jLz7tJx2 Back to Top UND committee talks expanding role as unmanned aircraft industry evolves The evolving unmanned aircraft systems industry in North Dakota has some members of a UND committee wondering what the group's role will be in the future. The UAS Research Compliance Committee is charged with reviewing and approving university research projects involving unmanned aircraft, though some wondered Wednesday if it would be able to keep up with rapiding-changing industry standards, including a push toward commercial flight. The discussion began during a group review of suggested changes that could make the committee's research project application more user-friendly. "As much as I'd like to see us as a viable group, I think the industry is almost getting beyond us," committee member Peter O'Neill said. As research projects proposed to the committee will likely move outside of what the committee has approved previously in terms of altitude, scope and aircraft type and size, some wondered if group's approval process may impede future research. In addition to vetting UND projects, the group also approves research projects conducted through the Northern Plains UAS Test Site, an entity headquartered in Grand Forks that, among other charges, examines the integration of unmanned aircraft into commercial airspace. "I don't want to stand in the way of anybody either because we don't know where they fit in," committee member Mark Nelson said of future researchers. Much of the group agreed the committee's role will change as the industry does, though not all agreed where the committee fell in relation to the industry's evolution. "It's clear to me that we're ahead of the curve," Chairwoman Thomasine Heitkamp said, citing national interest in the group's work from the Federal Aviation Administration and other agencies. Despite the flurry of questions surrounding the group's future and a potentially expanded role, Assistant General Counsel Jason Jenkins said the group still needed to keep traditional campus researchers in mind when altering its application and process. "When you think about being user-driven, a lot of it is about being responsive-we can't anticipate all these things, clearly," he said. "I would encourage anyone who's having those concerns to bear with it for now." http://www.grandforksherald.com/news/education/3821203-und-committee-talks-expanding-role- unmanned-aircraft-industry-evolves Back to Top Northeast State details plans for aviation program (Tennessee) Richard Blevins, the director and head of the new technical certificate program in Aviation Maintenance Technology, speaks during a news conference Monday morning. Photo by Rick Wagner. BLOUNTVILLE - You may be able to get a college degree in operating drones here soon. An aviation initiative at Northeast State Community College envisioned in June 2014 has grown into a certificate program this fall. However, plans are for the program - housed on a campus adjoining Tri-Cities Regional Airport - to become an associate's degree program in the fall of 2016, pending Tennessee Board of Regents approval, and eventually offer more advanced maintenance training, instructions on how to operate commercial drones and a two-year private-to-commercial pilot's license, all through eventual degree programs. Northeast President Janice Gilliam Monday morning announced that Richard Blevins has been named department head and director of the new Aviation Maintenance technical certificate program. She said the program will work with area high schools, Tennessee College of Applied Technology Elizabethton and East Tennessee State University in Johnson City. Blevins said that in Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina, 17,000 aviation jobs are vacant. In addition, he said aircraft maker Boeing predicts 550,000 aviation mechanics and 450,000 pilots will be needed in the next decade. "We're going to be able to fill those jobs and help fill that gap," Blevins said. Northeast's Advanced Technologies Division is adding the technical certificate program in Aviation Maintenance Technology. The 29-credit-hour program will offer classes starting in fall 2015 and eventually will be based in the new Emerging Technologies building at Northeast to have a groundbreaking in the spring of 2016. Blevins said the program will emphasize craftsmanship, attention to detail and taking ownership. "There's no room for errors in this business," Blevins said. The certificate is designed to provide students with the fundamental knowledge and skills of the aviation maintenance and repair industry. The program emphasizes skills associated with the repair and installation of aviation electronics, aircraft structures and aircraft mechanical systems. Students will develop core skills in fuselage and sheet metal repair, electrical systems, hydraulics, and aircraft repair procedures. Courses include an introduction to aviation and those related to mechanical, electrical, quality and inspection, maintenance, structures, electronics and hydraulics systems. NETWORKS - Sullivan Partnership Chief Executive Officer Clay Walker said the aviation program fits perfectly with the aviation cluster NETWORKS and Tri-Cities Regional Airport emphasize Airport CEO Patrick Wilson said the initiative fits well with the 165-acre Aerospace Park the airport began in 1999 and in which it has invested about $23 million. Wilson said site selection firms say that sites obviously are essential but that workforce development often is a determining factor. "To have this as a discussion point really differentiates us from other areas," Wilson said. Blevins came to Northeast from Bell Helicopter in Piney Flats, where he was a training department manager, and he presented Gilliam a model of a Bell 412 helicopter during the news conference, which also featured a drone and models of other aircraft on display. Blevins was responsible for the training development of more than 500 employees in the areas of aircraft alternations, maintenance, and inspections to meet FAA and ISO AS 9100 requirements. Blevins, a graduate of the former Lynn View High School, also served in the U.S. Air Force from 1979 to 2006, attaining the top enlisted rank of chief master sergeant, which no more than 1 percent of Air Force members receive. He served in several capacities, including intercontinental ballistic missile systems analyst, superintendent of space launch operations, quality control superintendent on test launch systems and electronics laboratory manager. Blevins is completing a master's degree in education from Trident University International, and he holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Trident University International and an associate of arts and sciences degree from Park University-USAF College. The Northeast program grew out of a Northeast Tennessee Aviation initiative spearheaded by Hank Somers and former state Rep. Tony Shipley. Students interested in admission to the Aviation Maintenance Technology certificate program may contact Blevins at (423) 279-7639 or rablevins@NortheastState.edu or the Office of Admissions and Records at (800) 836-7822 or admissions@NortheastState.edu. Northeast State details plans for aviation program | Kingsport Times-News http://www.timesnews.net/article/9091075/northeast-state-details-plans-for-aviation- program#ixzz3jMA3pUnE Back to Top Allegiant to add its 50th Airbus aircraft Allegiant Air has ordered an Airbus A320, which will be its 50th Airbus aircraft. Airbus Courtesy photo Allegiant Travel Co., which operates Allegiant Air, has ordered its 50th Airbus A320 single-aisle passenger jet, the European planemaker said Wednesday. Airbus said in a release it's the first time Allegiant -based in Las Vegas and which operates service at Wichita Eisenhower National Airport - has placed an aircraft order directly with it. "By the end of 2016, Allegiant will be a majority Airbus carrier as measured by available seat miles," Jude Bricker, Allegiant Travel senior vice president of planning, said in the Airbus release. "This is an exciting milestone for Allegiant having taken delivery of our first Airbus aircraft just in 2013." Allegiant has seven A319s and 10 A320s in service, and 17 A320 Family jets either pending service or leased to other operators. It also operates a fleet of six Boeing 757 and 53 MD-80 aircraft. In Wichita, Allegiant operates nonstop flights to Las Vegas and Phoenix-Mesa. http://www.kansas.com/news/business/aviation/air-capital-insider/article31511078.html#storylink=cpy Back to Top Kerala, India has the world's first solar-powered airport The southern Indian city of Kochi is now the proud home of the world's first solar-powered airport. On Aug. 18, the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL)-India's fourth largest international airport in terms of passenger traffic-commissioned a 12 mega watt (MW) solar power project. The airport already had a 1MW solar power plant, which can produce 4,000 units of electricity daily. With its new solar plant, the airport can now produce 60,000 units of electricity every day, which is more than enough to meet its daily requirement. "We initiated a pilot project in February 2013 as part of our plan to shift to renewable energy by setting up a 100 kilo watt unit," VJ Kurian, managing director of CIAL told Quartz in a telephone interview. "When we found that feasible, we set up a 1MW unit in November 2013." "We did not want to be identified as just another airport and be confined to it," Kurian added. After the airport found the 1MW project financially viable, it invited tenders to set up a 12MW project within the airport complex. "Work on the 12MW project started in February 2015 and was completed in less than six months" Kurian said. Spread across 45 acres of land-equivalent to 25 football fields-the project was built by German engineering company Bosch for Rs62 crore ($9.5 million). The area for the solar unit was earlier designated for setting up a cargo handling facility. Since the airport expects to produce more than what it is likely to consume, CIAL is planning to feed some of the power into the state grid. "Over the next 25 years, this green power project will avoid carbon dioxide emissions from coal fired power plants by more than 3 lakh metric tons, which is equivalent to planting 3 million trees or not driving 750 miles," CIAL said in a statement. Meanwhile, close on the heels of Kochi, another Indian airport has also laid out plans to focus on solar. On Aug.18, Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, said that it plans to set up a 15 MW solar power plant on 60 acres of land. India is currently in the midst of ramping up its solar power generation. The Narendra Modi government has plans to increase the country's solar power capacity from the existing 4GW (gigawatt) to 100GW (gigawatt)by 2022. To fund such an ambitious expansion, the government expects an investment of $100 billion in the sector in the next seven years. Some of Asia's biggest billionaires-including SoftBank's Masayoshi Son, Gautam Adani and Anil Ambani-have already promised massive investments in the sector. Alongside, smaller establishments like Kochi's airport are also joining the party. http://qz.com/482985/kerala-india-has-the-worlds-first-solar-powered-airport/ Back to Top CERTIFICATE OF MANAGEMENT IN AVIATION SAFETY Professional education seminars for aviation practitioners Embry-Riddle will host a variety of aviation safety focused executive education courses at its Daytona Beach Campus; all courses are offered in a face-to-face traditional classroom setting taught by subject matter experts from the aviation industry. Who Should Attend: These courses are tailored for industry professionals involved in the operations, management, and supervision of aviation organizations. What You Will Learn:The certificate is designed for participants interested in obtaining a strong safety foundation; the objective is to produce aviation industry professionals who are skilled in providing expertise in safety management and technical guidance on FAA, OSHA, DOT and EPA Compliance Issues. The certificate requires completion of three 5-day courses in Occupational Safety and Health & Aviation Ground Safety, Aviation Safety Program Management & Aircraft Accident Investigation and Management (Basic or Advanced). REGISTER TODAY ONLINE ERAU FALL 2015 CERTIFICATE OF MANAGEMENT IN AVIATION SAFETY SERIES: OCT. 19-23, 2015: OSHA & Aviation Ground Safety Oct. 26-30, 2015: Aviation Safety Program Management Nov. 2-6, 2015: Aircraft Accident Investigation LOCATION: DAYTONA BEACH CAMPUS, FLORIDA CONTACT INFORMATION: Ms. Sarah Ochs, Director of Professional Programs Email: case@erau.edu Phone: (386) 226-6928 www.erau.edu/cmas Back to Top NASA is raiding museums for spare parts This is what happens when budgets are cut Nasa is raiding museums for spare parts Engineers from NASA are being forced to cannibalise old parts from museums to meet budget goals for new chunks of the International Space Station. When the space shuttle program was shut down in 2011, the four remaining craft were sent to museums around the United States. Now, those shuttles are being stripped for useful parts. This week, Nasa is removing four tanks that stored water for the crew of the shuttle Endeavour, which is parked permanently in the California Science Center. Back in May, the same tanks were removed from the shuttle Atlantis, on display at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. No Timeline Each set of tanks has a combined capacity of 300 litres, and were designed for many more missions than they actually flew. As such, they're still in good working order and a Nasa spokesperson told New Scientist that they could form part of a new water storage facility on the International Space Station. Be he added: "There is currently no timeline for when they would fly and the design details, certifications and deployment details for the project are still in development." http://www.techradar.com/news/world-of-tech/nasa-is-raiding-museums-for-spare-parts-1302255 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 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: 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: Assistant Airline Safety Manager - Investigation (AASM-I) Cathay Pacific https://cathaypacific.tms.hrdepartment.com/jobs/1580/Assistant-Airline-Safety-Manager-Investigation- AASM-IHong-Kong-Hong-Kong 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