Flight Safety Information September 11, 2015 - No. 181 In This Issue Investigators Have Aircraft 'Black Boxes' in Plane Fire Jet engine parts on Las Vegas runway indicate major failure Government Accountability Office looks into aviation insurance Thailand PM Prayut invokes Section 44 to resolve aviation safety problem AIRPLANE FULL OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS SEIZED AT TEXAS BORDER Jamaica Has Enviable Record in Air Safety and Security HIDDEN DANGER:...A Special Report On The Intertropical Convergence Zone...By Roger Rapoport North Texas Business Aviation Association (NTBAA) Safety Show-Down 23-24 Sep. PROS 2015 TRAINING Stay Current on Aviation Safety - Follow FSI on Twitter Inmarsat jet tracking system aims to avoid repeat of MH370. Holloman Air Force Base plans to train more than 800 drone pilots next year Singapore Airlines named best global airline for business travel Last known surviving 9/11 search dog from Ground Zero enjoys 'Sweet 16' bash Legal Skills for Accident Investigators Fundamentals of material failures for accident investigators iCRM - HF Training ERAU AVIATION SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS seminar Upcoming Events JOBS AVAILABLE (New Positions) Investigators Have Aircraft 'Black Boxes' in Plane Fire Aircraft "black boxes" are in the hands of federal investigators probing a blaze that engulfed the engine of a London-bound airliner while passengers and crew escaped down emergency slides on a Las Vegas runway. National Transportation Safety Administration spokesman Eric Weiss says a team in Las Vegas may provide preliminary findings as early as Thursday. Weiss says flight data and cockpit voice recorders have arrived in Washington, D.C. Investigators in Las Vegas are expected to talk with pilots, and begin looking at everything from fuel lines to maintenance records to engine history to pinpoint what sparked the blaze. British Airways Flight 2276 was accelerating down a runway Tuesday when one engine caught fire. The takeoff was aborted, slides deployed, and 170 passengers and crew escaped the Boeing 777 without serious injury. http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/investigators-aircraft-black-boxes-plane-fire- 33661281 Back to Top Jet engine parts on Las Vegas runway indicate major failure LAS VEGAS (AP) - Jet engine parts found on the Las Vegas runway where a British Airways flight aborted takeoff as the engine burst into flames indicate a rare catastrophic failure, experts said Thursday as investigators released preliminary findings and began analyzing flight data and cockpit recordings. Early findings show the failure occurred where the engine was under the highest pressure, though there was no immediate indication of what caused it or the fire that forced 170 people to evacuate Tuesday at McCarran International Airport as smoke poured from the aircraft. "You really don't see catastrophic or uncontained engine failure like this very often," said John Cox, an aviation safety consultant who spent 23 years as a U.S. Airways pilot. He said the failure indicates parts sliced through the engine casing. The National Transportation Safety Board said there was damage to the armored shell around the left engine's high-pressure compressor, and several 7- to 8-inch fragments of the compressor were found on the tarmac. No one was seriously injured when British Airways Flight 2276 screeched to a halt and the 157 passengers and 13 crew members escaped down evacuation slides as firefighters doused flames spewing from the engine beneath the wing of the Boeing 777. The pilot who halted the takeoff and calmly called "mayday, mayday" said he will retire one flight shy of the day he had planned to hang up his wings. View galleryFirefighters stand by a plane that caught fire at McCarren … Firefighters stand by a plane that caught fire at McCarren International Airport, Tuesday, Sept. 8, ... Chris Henkey of Padworth, England, told NBC News he'd never had such a close call in a 42-year career, and he's "finished flying." He won't captain what was to be his final flight to Barbados, where he intended to vacation with his daughter. Investigators planned to interview Henkey and two senior first officers with 18 and 10 years of experience. Henkey, 63, was hailed by fire officials and airline observers for a flawless reaction and evacuation, though he deflected praise, saying the entire crew helped. The whole ordeal lasted about five minutes. Engine fires are unusual but not unheard-of. In July, a Southwest Airlines flight evacuated at Midway International Airport in Chicago when one engine caught fire on takeoff. View galleryIn this photo provided by David Somers and taken from … In this photo provided by David Somers and taken from the view of a plane window, smoke billows out ... In June 2006, an American Airlines jet engine exploded during testing at a maintenance area at Los Angeles International Airport, launching parts into the body of the plane and as far as half a mile away. No one was injured in either incident. Both jets had different engines than the British Airways plane. NTSB and Federal Aviation Administration investigators, along with teams from Boeing and engine manufacturer General Electric, were examining the aircraft before removing the damaged engine for a thorough analysis. The flight data and cockpit voice recorder "black boxes" and a quick access recorder arrived at an NTSB laboratory, said Eric Weiss, an agency spokesman. Investigators in Las Vegas were expected to look at fuel lines, maintenance records and other factors. Don Knutson, an aircraft accident investigator in Wichita, Kansas, said mechanical failure, parts fatigue or the ingestion of debris all could have created the failure. "Jet engines suck, squeeze, burn, turn and blow," he said. "That creates the energy to propel the jet forward. If something fails during intake, it could lead to compression failure. But that in itself may not cause a fire." The damaged components came from the engine core, which spins at ultra-high speeds adjacent to the engine combustion chamber. The NTSB statement didn't address possible causes of the fire, or whether a fuel line might have broken. But John Goglia, an independent aviation safety expert and former NTSB member, said it was likely flames erupted when a broken compressor blade damaged the combustion chamber awash with fuel during acceleration. Goglia discounted passenger accounts of an explosion, saying the release of pressure would create noise but not necessarily an explosion. He and Cox said a breach in the Kevlar-reinforced engine casing could have crippled the effectiveness of a chemical system to snuff out an engine fire in flight. "Halon breaks down the chemistry of the fire and smothers the fire," Cox said. "When you have an open system where the casing is not intact, halon can't do its job." Clark County Fire Chief Greg Cassell said he couldn't tell if a fire suppression system had been activated. British Airways said the plane arrived from London Gatwick on schedule at 1:25 p.m. Tuesday. It initiated takeoff less than three hours later. The large plane with two GE90 engines was built in 1998 and was registered to British Airways a year later. By the end of 2013, it had flown 76,618 hours, according to the British Civil Aviation Authority. GE90 engines are used in most Boeing 777s. Aircraft records compiled by Flightglobal of England showed the engine underwent a heavy maintenance check and inspection in December 2005, which Goglia said was probably within the recommended service schedule. He said it was unlikely the failure stemmed from a malfunction cited in a 2013 FAA airworthiness directive related to GE90 engines capable of greater thrust than the one on the British Airways jet. The airline said all passengers were offered flights to London on Wednesday and most had taken them. http://news.yahoo.com/investigators-las-vegas-seek-cause-planes-engine-fire- 062538445.html Back to Top Government Accountability Office looks into aviation insurance The GAO looking into mandatory liability insurance for airplane owners. WICHITA, Kan. --- Some members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation asking if the country needs a law requiring all airplane owners to have liability insurance? Currently only eleven states have such a mandate and Kansas isn't one of them. That committee asked the General Accountability Office, GAO, to look into it. Dr. Gerald Dillingham headed up the study and tells KAKE news, "The members of congress were interested in information. What does the liability coverage look like generally for this segment of aviation?" Dillingham says no one really knows whether a problem exists or not. He says, ".. almost all of the general aviation community is somehow insured, the question is there's really no available data base to indicate whether there is a problem or how much of a problem there is with regards to general liability insurance coverage." Randy Hardy is owner of Hardy Aviation Insurance agency in Wichita. Hardy says, "My experience has been a large portion and a majority of the general aviation community do in fact already buy insurance. If it could be measured, I would bet more GA aircraft owners, by percentage, purchase financial responsibility, through insurance, than the general public buys auto insurance. which is already mandated and required." The GAO study has Hardy and others in aviation concerned the government might consider legislation to fix something they say isn't broken. Hardy says, "If the system isn't broke then why should we fix it?" The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association says: "As far as AOPA can determine, the GAO report did not determine that there is a problem that rises to a level that would require a federal mandate or federal legislation." http://www.kake.com/home/headlines/Government-Accountability-Office-looks-into- aviation-insurance-326518621.html Back to Top Thailand PM Prayut invokes Section 44 to resolve aviation safety problem BANGKOK: - The abrupt decision came ahead of another review of Thailand's aviation safety oversight by the International Civil Aviation Organisation. Failure to pass the review, especially regarding the significant safety concern (SSC) issues will render a devastating blow to Thai aviation industry. Under the NCPO's order issued by virtue of Section 44, an ad hoc centre officially called the Command Centre for Resolving Civil Aviation Issues (CRCA) will be set up. The centre is answerable directly the NCPO head and to be headed by the air force commander-in-chief. Both the air force and the Civil Aviation Department will work together under the supervision of the CRCA to resolve aviation safety issues. The commander of the centre is empowered to appoint air force officers to work or to assist work in the Civil Aviation Department or other related agencies for up to four years while they still keep their posts at the air force. The command centre is also empowered to hire consultants for help. Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pm-invokes-section-44-to-resolve-aviation- safety-problem Back to Top AIRPLANE FULL OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS SEIZED AT TEXAS BORDER Private plane seized after smuggling attempt near Texas border.Photo: U.S. Customs and Border Protection MCALLEN, Texas - Federal authorities have seized a private airplane full of illegal immigrants. The aircraft was being used in an attempt to smuggle seven illegal immigrants from the Texas border into the interior U.S. to avoid immigration checkpoints. The arrests of the seven illegal immigrants and seizure of the airplane took place on Sunday morning following a routine inspection at the McAllen Miller International airport, information released by the Air and Marine branch of U.S. Customs and Border Protection revealed. It was during that inspection that authorities found the illegal immigrants hiding inside a Beech King Air E90 aircraft. The airplane's pilot, a United States citizen, was released as the investigation continues. Human smugglers using airplanes to fly illegal aliens out of border cities is not an uncommon practice. A similar situation took place in the border city of Harlingen last year, as Breitbart Texas previously reported. In that situation, the pilot of a small Mexican airplane, an alleged accomplice, and four illegal immigrants prepared to fly out to San Marcos. That city is located north of the U.S. Border Patrol checkpoints along the main highways leaving the Rio Grande Valley. Carolos Franco Montoya and Hever Marin Castillo both pleaded guilty in that case to the charge and have since been sentenced to prison. Montoya, the pilot, was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Marin, his accomplice, was sentenced to 13 months in prison. Both face deportation after completing their sentences. The illegal immigrants in that case had each paid, or were to pay, $14,000 to go from Mexico to Houston. In 2013, U.S. border patrol agents carried out a similar arrest at the McAllen airport. They arrested five illegal immigrants who were preparing to climb into a chartered plane to fly. The plan was to fly them from the Rio Grande Valley to San Antonio. http://www.breitbart.com/texas/2015/09/10/airplane-full-of-illegal-immigrants-seized- at-border/ Back to Top Jamaica Has Enviable Record in Air Safety and Security Director General of the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCCA), Nari Williams-Singh, addresses a JIS Think Director General of the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA), Nari Williams-Singh, says the country boasts a first rate air transport system, with an enviable record of safety and security, which it continuously seeks to maintain. He was addressing a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank held recently at the agency's head office in Kingston. Mr. Williams-Singh noted that the JCAA boasts highly skilled, trained and qualified professionals working together to achieve its mission. Director General of the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA), Nari Williams-Singh, says the country boasts a first rate air transport system, with an enviable record of safety and security, which it continuously seeks to maintain. He was addressing a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank held recently at the agency's head office in Kingston. Mr. Williams-Singh noted that the JCAA boasts highly skilled, trained and qualified professionals working together to achieve its mission. "We seek to provide a safe, efficient and user-friendly air transport system being cognisant of the Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPS) of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) of which Jamaica is one of 193 contracting states," the Director General said. He informed that Jamaica is above the world average in terms of effective implementation of international standards and requirements. He noted that the country also enjoys a category one rating from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which is the highest ranking attainable by a state. Mr. Williams-Singh advised that the JCAA is a trusted leader in civil aviation administration, holding such coveted responsibilities as the chairmanship of Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight System. He said the flight safety division of the JCAA is an essential pillar of the organisation that provides critical oversight and surveillance activities to ensure the safety and security of the air transport system. The division is responsible for airworthiness as it relates to aircraft; oversight of safety management systems, aerodromes and air navigation; and certification and licensing of air operators, maintenance providers and training organisations. It is also charged with the implementation of civil aviation regulations and monitoring of all operations in aviation safety, security and facilitation, in line with the Ministry of National Security requirements and international standards. Mr. Williams-Singh told JIS News that JCAA continues to conduct rigorous system monitoring and important preventative maintenance activities. He said the authority has a well-established contingency plan, which includes the institution of flow control measures to manage the number of aircraft entering Jamaican airspace in times of system challenges. "We can assure the public that at the JCAA, we never take our safety responsibility lightly and we are always working to improve our systems and their reliability. This remains our focus," he said. http://jis.gov.jm/jamaica-has-enviable-record-in-air-safety-and-security/ Back to Top HIDDEN DANGER: A Special Report On The Intertropical Convergence Zone By Roger Rapoport Editor's Note: This is the first in an exclusive series of Flight Safety Information articles on the growing problem of commercial airline accidents in the intertropical convergence zone. During the past six years three commercial airline crashes taking the lives of 506 passengers and crew have pinpointed a growing problem challenging outstanding legacy airlines and lesser known carriers alike. Two of these tragedies took place in 2014, five years after the traveling public was alerted to this challenge by the disappearance of a plane in the South Atlantic. While the companies flying these planes , Air France, Air Algérie and Air Asia operate on vastly different business models, it's clear that in each case special challenges presented by adverse weather in the intertropical convergence zone were misunderstood by inadequately trained flight crews. Hundreds of thousands of passengers fly through the intertropical convergence zone ITCZ every day. Few realize that the best pilots find special weather conditions here that go well beyond their experience in the classroom and in the air. It doesn't matter whether you are in your first year of flying or have many thousands of hours behind you, chances are your airline training did NOT offer special instruction on the unique challenges that this potentially deadly zone. Even now, in the wake of these three devastating accidents, training at many carriers fails to address this important challenge. The ITCZ is a constant presence in the world and as Professor Debbie Schaum of Embry Riddle University explains: "If you haven't taken an aviation weather class from a meteorologist chances are you probably don't understand the dynamics of thunderstorms and heights to which structural icing can impact aircraft in this area of the world." On a map the ITCZ looks like a floating equator. Its latitude depends on the season. In the summer the ITCZ is north of the equator and during the winter it moves south with the greatest variations in the western Pacific and Indian Ocean Typically the active parts of the ITCZ form over warmer waters where storm activity varies depending on the season. In the summer the ITCZ is very active in the Atlantic north of the equator and during the winter it is a strong force in the Southern Indian Ocean. For pilots the significance of this zone can not be overstated. For example most Atlantic hurricanes get their head start in the ITCZ off the coast of Africa during late summer and fall. And during the winter all hell breaks loose in the Indian Ocean south of the equator creating cyclones in Australia as well as scary convective storms in Africa where clouds top out at 50,000 feet. "The problem," says Schaum, "is that most pilots, dispatchers and air traffic controllers don't understand the dynamics of these weather problems. This is a problem that the best automation and engineering design can't eliminate. Even the newest plane in the sky equipped with the latest onboard weather radar can run into trouble here. One storm in the ITCZ could be a once in a lifetime phenomenon that tests skills of even the most experienced pilots." Why is there so little aviation training on the impacts of the ITCZ on flight? "We concentrate a lot over land because of the dynamic forces caused by land," says meteorologist Schaum. "Since the water is smoother, oceans normally get much less attention in training. We gear much of our flight instruction in the U.S. for the northern hemisphere and the mid latitudes where icing caused by thunderstorms doesn't reach the altitudes it can in the ITCZ. "Except for the summertime over the Atlantic we don't really deal that much with the ITCZ in the northern hemisphere. In the parts of the world where the problem exists flight crews don't get adequate instruction." The three ITCZ related accidents in the southern Atlantic, the Java Sea and Africa are well known. But Schaum is quick to point out that "many other flights also encounter these conditions which cause significant icing at high altitudes where they are not normally expected. Because more planes are flying these ITCZ routes this problem is magnified. Until pilots, dispatchers and controllers are trained to recognize the subtleties of these hazards at altitude this dangerous problem will continue." Next: Air France 447, ITCZ Accident Waiting To Happen Roger Rapoport contributes regularly to Flight Safety Information. He is the author of The Rio Paris Crash: Air France 447 and the producer screenwriter of the feature film Pilot Error. C 2015 All Rights Reserved www.fsinfo.org Back to Top North Texas Business Aviation Association (NTBAA) Safety Show-Down 23-24 Sep 3RD ANNUAL SAFETY SHOW-DOWN AND GOLF OUTING SEPTEMBER 23 & 24, 2015 NBAA CAM Approved! ***Early Bird Registration Now Open*** Dr. Mark Maier, Ph.D. - Keynote Speaker "Leading with Integrity...Creating a Climate for Open Communication." Additional breakout sessions from industry leading presenters covering... "Maintaining Your Composure When You Want to Strangle Someone" "Renegade Cowboys or Important Skills for Professional Pilots" "Strategic Alignment: Balancing Service and Risk Management" "Maintaining Your Professionalism with the FAA" "Decision Making Under High Stress" "Leadership for Professional Aviators" "NTSB Most Wanted List" Sponsorshipsavailable! Static Display Featuring the Falcon 2000LX, Embraer Legacy 450, Gulfstream G150 and G280 Show-Down 2015 Details!! On behalf of the flight operations personnel represented on the North Texas Business Aviation Association Board of Directors, we want to personally invite you and your department to the 3rd Annual NTBAA Safety Show-Down and Golf Outing on September 23-24, 2015. "You can learn about dealing with the FAA...keeping your temper and your certificate." -Kent Jackson, Aviation Attorney and 2015 NTBAA Show-Down Session Presenter The NTBAA Safety Show-Down is an information packed, safety focused event that brings some of the best subject matter experts presenting on topics exclusively for pilots, flight attendants, schedulers, maintenance technicians, and flight operations personnel. This NBAA CAM Certified event will be located at the Addison Texas Conference Centre (across the street from Addison Airport) on September 23rd and will feature 8 different breakout sessions to choose from throughout the day, including a keynote presentation by internationally renowned writer and producer, Mark Maier, Ph.D. His presentation, "A Major Malfunction..." The Story Behind the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster, has been adopted by over 800 institutions in 23 countries, including many of the nation's leading aerospace firms and Fortune 500 companies. "All of us have the responsibility to lead and make a difference whenever and wherever you can." -Mark Maier, Ph.D. Chapman University and 2015 NTBAA Show-Down Session Presenter In addition to the educational sessions, the Safety Show-Down will also include an aircraft static display, a fire simulator/trainer, and numerous vendor booths. Many flight departments from North Texas and surrounding areas will be in attendance, making this a great opportunity for networking and connecting with others in the aviation community. Various giveaways will occur throughout the day and breakfast, lunch, and snacks are all included! "Do you know how aware you are of your thoughts and behaviors, and of the intentions and actions of others during those times of stress or fatigue?" -Dr. Shari Frisinger, Behavior Analyst and 2015 NTBAA Show-Down Session Presenter Lastly, don't miss out on the NTBAA Golf Outing held at the Cowboys Golf Club in Grapevine TX on September 24th. The Cowboys Golf Club is the premier resort-style golf course in Texas. As the world's first NFL themed golf course, this is the ultimate NTBAA Golf Outing to unwind after the Safety Show-Down. Special "Early Bird" registration discounts and package deals are available for the Safety Show-Down and Golf Outing, visit: www.ntbaaonline.com to register. Back to Top Back to Top Stay Current on Aviation Safety Follow Flight Safety Information on Twitter https://twitter.com/curtllewis01 Back To Top Inmarsat jet tracking system aims to avoid repeat of MH370 Children write well-wishes on a banner for the passengers and crew of the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 at a viewing gallery in Kuala Lumpur International Airport March 19, 2014. Investigators probing the disappearance of Flight MH370 with 239 people on board believe it most likely flew into the southern Indian Ocean, a source close to the investigation said on Wednesday. A satellite-based tracking service for passenger jets, designed to stop a repeat of the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, is ready for global adoption after the conclusion of a successful trial. Inmarsat, an operator of satellites, has worked with Airservices Australia, the country's air traffic control provider, to show that a tracking service using the UK group's communications network would operate at little extra cost to airlines. Investigators are still no closer to solving the mystery of MH370's disappearance in March last year, although a small part of wreckage from the Boeing 777 aircraft, which vanished while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board, was found on a beach on an island in the Indian Ocean in July. All communications with MH370 were lost shortly after take-off, and it is thought that systems onboard that could identify the aircraft were disabled. Following MH370's disappearance, Inmarsat offered to provide a basic satellite-tracking service to airlines at no extra cost. More than 90 per cent of the world's long-haul airliners are fitted with equipment that can automatically send data over the Inmarsat network, but many airlines have not paid to have it activated, including Malaysia Airlines at the time of MH370's disappearance. The International Civil Aviation Organisation, the UN agency that sets global aviation standards, proposed in February that from 2016 all commercial airliners flying over oceans must transmit data about their speed, height and direction every 15 minutes when they are out of range of ground-based radar. The Inmarsat trial that started in January in Australia was expanded in June to include the US and New Zealand, and enabled air traffic controllers in all three countries to track aircraft on trans-Pacific routes every 14 minutes. Mary McMillan, vice-president of Inmarsat's safety and operational services division and a former 777 pilot, said the trial had "met the ICAO defined requirements and regulatory performance criterion" and the additional data traffic had had "negligible impact" on the company's satellite network. She added the cost of using the tracking system was "neutral or minimal" and Inmarsat confirmed it intended to offer the basic service free of charge to airlines. Inmarsat has estimated the free service would cost it $3m a year but was hoping to recoup that by signing airlines up to its premium offering, which allows an aircraft to transmit information on a minute-by-minute basis about the performance of its onboard systems. This premium service is already used by some of the world's largest airlines, and also by aircraft engine makers, which typically lease their power units to carriers and charge for usage. The constant monitoring of all the systems allows engineers at an airline's base to fine- tune the maintenance schedule for each aircraft, and optimise fuel consumption. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c3dd7614-57d6-11e5-9846- de406ccb37f2.html#axzz3lQgUtjTa Back to Top Holloman Air Force Base plans to train more than 800 drone pilots next year LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Officials with Holloman Air Force Base told KFOX14 the base is planning to train 818 remotely piloted aircraft or RPA pilots in 2016, the most in the program's history. For years the military has used drones to drop bombs or spy on enemies. Now the increase in their usage has created a demand for more pilots. From 2009 to 2014, the number of pilots graduating the program increased from 136 to 716. Lt. Col. Steven Beattie, a training squadron commander, told KFOX14, "The students are typically here for four to five months, and that varies depending on the weather and how well the students are doing." On Thursday, KFOX14 got a behind-the-scenes look at the remotely piloted aircraft. The MQ-1 and the MQ-9 both have high-tech cameras and can hover over a target for more than 20 hours. However, the MQ-9 is bigger, has a better engine and more fire power. After learning the basics, pilots are assigned to an operation squadron where they can fight terror groups like ISIS without being deployed. http://www.kfoxtv.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/Holloman-Air-Force-Base- plans-to-train-more-than-800-drone-pilots-next-year-203056.shtml Back to Top Singapore Airlines named best global airline for business travel The results of Fortune and Travel + Leisure's second annual survey of the Best in Business Travel. Singapore Airlines is ranked the best among international carriers in the Best in Business Travel survey again this year, two years in a row. For our second annual survey, Fortune partnered with Travel + Leisure to ask readers about their habits and brand preferences while traveling for work. They named their favorite airlines and rated them using a variety of criteria, including customer service, frequent flier programs, in-flight class experience, food and entertainment options, and airport lounges. Here's what sets Singapore Airlines apart from the rest: Many of its 15,000 menus are tailored to the carrier's route map. First- and business- class fliers leaving from London, for example, can have a full English breakfast. KrisFlyer Spree, the airline's new online mall, means passengers have nearly 2,000 brands-from Paul Smith to Muji-at their fingertips. A new premium economy class will debut on U.S. flights by the end of 2015, with custom leather seats, foldout leg rests, and 13.3-inch HD screens. A new customer-experience management system will soon give crew members access to passengers' travel preferences. See below for rankings of international airlines by survey categories. Courtesy of Singapore Airlines Best International Airlines for Business Travel - Overall 1. Singapore Airlines 2. Emirates 3. Air New Zealand 4. Cathay Pacific 5. Qatar Airways Best Customer Service 1. Singapore Airlines 2. Air New Zealand 3. Cathay Pacific 4. ANA/All Nippon Airways 5. Japan Airlines Best Airport Lounges 1. Singapore Airlines 2. Qatar Airways 3. Emirates 4. Cathay Pacific 5. Virgin Atlantic Airways Best Frequent-Flier Loyalty Programs 1. Singapore Airlines 2. EVA Air 3. Turkish Airlines 4. Cathay Pacific 5. Asiana Airlines Best Economy Class In-Flight Experience 1. Singapore Airlines 2. Air New Zealand 3. Virgin Atlantic Airways 4. Japan Airlines 5. Emirates Best Premium Economy In-Flight Experience 1. Singapore Airlines 2. Virgin Atlantic Airways 3. Air France 4. Lufthansa 5. British Airways Best Business Class In-Flight Experience 1. Emirates 2. Singapore Airlines 3. Qatar Airways 4. Cathay Pacific 5. Virgin Atlantic Airways Best First Class In-Flight Experience 1. Cathay Pacific 2. Emirates 3. Lufthansa 4. British Airways 5. KLM http://fortune.com/2015/09/10/best-international-airlines-business-travel/ Back to Top Last known surviving 9/11 search dog from Ground Zero enjoys 'Sweet 16' bash In human years, Bretagne is more than 100 years old - but she acted like an exuberant puppy at an epic Sweet 16 birthday bash thrown in her honor in New York City. Bretagne (pronounced "Brittany") is the last known surviving search dog who worked at Ground Zero after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. This year, as Bretagne's 16th birthday approached, New Yorkers decided to come together and do something unforgettable for her. Bretagne, 9/11 search dog from Ground Zero, turns 16 Bretagne, the last known surviving 9/11 search dog from Ground Zero, enjoys a 16th birthday party held in her honor in New York City. During her daylong celebration, the golden retriever reclined on soft beds at a classy Central Park hotel, ate a gourmet burger, rode around in a vintage New York City taxi, frolicked at a doggie splash park, played with oodles of new toys, donned a birthday party hat and inhaled a dog-friendly cake in a matter of minutes. Through it all, she wore a blissed-out smile on her furry face and relished all the attention and affection she was getting. "There are so many reasons Bretagne's story is special, but this one really hit home for BarkPost since we are based in New York," said Laura Hartle, creative producer for BarkPost Video, which coordinated the celebration in late August. "To be able to have the chance to thank one of the dogs who helped our city when we needed it most was an unforgettable experience." BarkPost - the publishing arm of Bark & Co., which offers monthly BarkBox subscriptions for dogs - has an ongoing video series called Dog's Best Day that aims to give deserving pooches the best 24 hours of their lives. In Bretagne's case, that day included an illuminated billboard in Times Square and the dedication of a cobblestone in her honor on the plaza of the 9/11 Memorial. Billboard in Times Square honoring Bretagne the dog and her handler Bretagne the dog and her human family were greeted in New York City's Times Square with a billboard featuring messages of welcome and gratitude. "It was really surprising and very touching to see how many people were involved and excited about her coming back to New York," Bretagne's longtime handler and owner, Denise Corliss of Cypress, Texas, told TODAY.com. "Of course, it's not just about Bretagne. It's about the love and support that New York showed for those who responded to 9/11. She's kind of a symbol of that." "People we met on this trip were very emotional and very nice to us," she said. "People were hugging her, and some were crying." New York residents were elated to meet Bretagne upon her arrival in the city. Bretagne made national news last year when, at age 15, she returned to Ground Zero with Corliss for the first time since the 2001 terrorist attacks. NBC News' Tom Brokaw interviewed Corliss at the 9/11 Memorial and also spent time with Bretagne, who was a 2014 finalist for the American Humane Association's annual Hero Dog Awards. During that visit, Corliss cried as she beheld the 9/11 Memorial's enormous waterfalls and reflecting pools, which are surrounded by bronze panels bearing the names of the nearly 3,000 people killed in the attacks. Denise Corliss is pictured with her search dog Bretagne at Ground Zero in New York City in September 2001. It was their first deployment together. "Seeing this kind of took my breath away a bit, similar to how the pile was the first time I saw it," Corliss said at the time. "It's so calm and peaceful now, unlike the chaos of before." Corliss found herself wiping tears away again during this year's much more relaxed trip to New York. Her husband, Randy Corliss, 49, said he could tell how grateful his wife was. "When they had us look up at that big display (in Times Square) and we saw those beautiful pictures presented up there for Bretagne and Denise, I thought, 'Uh-oh! Here comes squirt time for Denise,'" Randy Corliss said. "It tends to happen at this time of year." Today, Bretagne represents the rarest of breeds: All of the 300 or so known search dogs who worked the pile at Ground Zero have died, including Woodie, a dog featured in TODAY.com's coverage last year. Another search dog from 9/11, a 16-year-old English springer spaniel named Morgan, worked at Staten Island after the terrorist attacks and is still alive today, said Dr. Cindy Otto, a veterinarian who provided on-the-scene medical care for 9/11 search dogs and has been tracking their health ever since. "It warms my heart that both Bretagne and Morgan are still with us almost 14 years after their heroic work in the 9/11 response," Otto said. Described as a 'foodie' by her human parents, Bretagne digs in to a dog-friendly cake at her birthday bash. Bretagne's birthday celebration included a $1,000 donation in Bretagne's honor from 1 Hotel Central Park to Texas Task Force 1, which trained Corliss and Bretagne and sent them to Ground Zero for their very first deployment together. The day also included a romp in the fountains at Hudson River Park, where Bretagne splashed with glee and relished catching a tennis ball in her mouth before being presented with "the bone to the dog park." Bretagne and her parents got to ride around in a vintage NYC taxi provided by FilmCars. "I'm just so grateful for everything people did for us - and for Bretagne still being here with me," said Denise Corliss, 51. "I know I'm on borrowed time in a sense because of her age, but I'm so grateful that she's still here and we're still having such a good time together." http://www.today.com/pets/last-known-surviving-9-11-search-dog-ground-zero-enjoys- t43176 Back to Top Legal Skills for Accident Investigators Back to Top Fundamentals of material failures for accident investigators Back to Top iCRM - HF Training Back to Top AVIATION SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS SEMINAR Aviation SMS: Application and Implementation This three-day Embry-Riddle course provides participants with an expanded background in intermediate and advanced Safety Management Systems (SMS) concepts, and supports both implementation and continuous improvement of an active SMS within their organization. Through a focus on practical strategies for maturing safety management practices, attendees will come to develop tools to implement the theory and principles of SMS as well as an understanding of current FAA guidance and requirements for operators and organizations. Participants will receive a copy of Implementing Safety Management Systems in Aviation, authored in part by Dr. A. Stolzer, Department Chair at ERAU. Key Topics: * SMS Structure and Components * Safety Policy and Objectives * Safety Risk Management â€" Moving to Proactive and Predictive Methods * SMS Common Issues and Road-Blocks * Safety Assurance, Promotion, and Culture * Human Factors in SMS * Safety Performance Indicators and Targets * Safety Performance Monitoring and Operational Data * SMS Implementation Guidance NOVEMBER 17-19, 2015 REGISTER TODAY Embry-Riddle Increases Its Commitment to Continuing Education " Embry-Riddle is a premier university for aviation training and education; join us for your professional development needs. " Aviation SMS: Application and Implementation Course Dates: November 17-19, 2015 Course Location: Daytona Beach Campus, FL Course Fee: Early Bird Fee: $1,300 (Prior to Sept. 16, 2015) Standard Fee: $1,400 (includes all learning materials, textbook and copies of presentations) ERAU Point of Contact: Director: Sarah Ochs Email: case@erau.edu Phone: (386) 226-6928 www.erau.edu/sms Back to Top Upcoming Events: 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 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 Southern California Aviation Association "Safety Standdown" September 14, 2015 Carlsbad, CA http://tinyurl.com/pg2yh4g 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 BARS Auditor Training October 6-8, 2015 Dubai, United Arab Emirates http://flightsafety.org/bars/auditor-training 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 New HFACS workshop Las Vegas December 15 & 16 www.hfacs.com '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: Vice President Flight Operations FEDEX Express https://www.appone.com/MainInfoReq.asp?R_ID=1120042 Curt Lewis