Flight Safety Information October 14, 2015 - No. 204 In This Issue Beyond MH17, a century of air crash probes and new pressures Air Accidents at All-Time Low, Despite MH17, Germanwings Crashes Russia appeals to UN aviation body to open new MH17 probe FAA to airline passengers: Leave spare batteries at home Airways to enhance aviation safety in the Pacific. Bombardier introduces recipient of Eugene Cernan Safety Award C-5M scoops up in-flight data for NASA Airlines on alert over Russian missile strikes on Syria Beyond MH17, a century of air crash probes and new pressures Passenger jet aborts takeoff when car makes wrong turn onto LAX runway Airport Employee Causes Near-Miss On LAX Runway PROS 2015 TRAINING Hartsfield-Jackson to build another gate for A380 super-jumbo jet Researchers Explore How To Make Jet Fuel Out Of Leftover Animal Fat Or Forest Waste Chinese airlines luring Korean pilots with promise of better wages Business aircraft activity moves higher in September Gulf Air to buy 40-50 aircraft in next 6 months Aviation company looking to hire 50 airplane mechanics locally Position:...Project Manager - Airport Technology Research and Development Rockwell Collins Elevates Embry-Riddle to Prestigious Tier One Status Upcoming Events JOBS AVAILABLE (New Positions) Beyond MH17, a century of air crash probes and new pressures Wreckage of the MH17 airplane is seen after the presentation of the final report into the crash of July 2014 of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine, in Gilze Rijen, the Netherlands, October 13, 2015. As the spotlight falls on Dutch crash investigators and their high=profile probe into the downing of a Malaysian airliner, air accident detectives worldwide are waging a much more discreet daily battle to keep flying safe. The Dutch team's findings, concluding that the plane was shot down by a Russian-made missile over eastern Ukraine in 2014, provoked an angry reaction on Tuesday from Russia, which dismissed their report as biased. But despite the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines MH17, the disappearance of sister plane MH370 and an apparent Germanwings suicide crash in the Alps, the last year has brought the lowest accident rate in memory. This is in large part due to the work of the crash investigators, who are quietly marking the centenary of the creation in Britain of the world's first crash analysis agency. Investigators now are having to juggle growing challenges from conflict zones to drones, dizzying automation, poor pilot training and questions over their own independence. Topping the list, a series of incidents in which pilots erred when abruptly handed back control has drawn attention to a loss of skills brought about by modern reliance on computers. "I don't think there is any replacement for more flying around and getting experience," Keith Conradi, Britain's chief air accident investigator, told Reuters in a recent interview. "The issue of automation is a real one. I do get concerned that it could bite us," said Conradi, whose Air Accidents Investigation Branch marks its centenary on Wednesday. TRAINING IS KEY ISSUE At a recent gathering of global investigators, France's BEA investigation agency presented a damning report about an incident in 2014 when an ill-trained, fatigued and poorly regulated crew overshot the runway at Lyon. Over 180 passengers and crew had a lucky escape when their jet stopped short of a 15 metre-deep hole in the ground - itself the result of a regulatory anomaly. It was later filled in. "Everyone agrees that training is the number one issue today," BEA Director Remi Jouty told Reuters. European planemaker Airbus (AIR.PA) says that each new generation of computers halves the accident rate. But the complexity of modern aircraft systems can tax even the resources of investigators when things go wrong. "The speed of technology is very hard for investigators to follow. It is no longer possible to know all the systems, you need the experts from industry," Ulf Kramer, head of Germany's Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU), said. That worries some investigators who point out they are reliant on manufacturers to help them discover potential flaws. "We have the same overall objectives but our short-term objectives can be different," Jouty said. SKILL SHORTAGES The degree of reliance on the industry's own investigators' firepower emerged during the grounding of Boeing's high-tech 787 Dreamliner jets in 2013 after a series of battery problems. As its flagship product remained grounded, the U.S. company produced a "man-year" of data every day to try to find the root cause of the battery problems, a feat far beyond the capacity of all but the largest government safety agencies. Investigators fret about other potential threats to their independence - from politicians turning up at crash sites to pressures from media, lawyers and family groups. Many countries have yet to set up independent air crash investigation agencies, which are recommended by the United Nations' aviation arm as a means of keeping flying safe. Record numbers of planes on order have meanwhile led to shortages of pilots and mechanics and encouraged some airlines to take short cuts in recruiting staff. "The entire industry faces severe shortages in both fields," said Frank del Gandio, a former FAA official who heads the International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI), which devoted a recent annual safety summit to issues of independence. Still, he and other safety veterans say the system of factual and blame-free reports dating back to World War One, coupled with new technology, has saved countless lives. A result of that success is that the "go teams" of forensic crash experts are being called into action less than before and more attention is being spent on learning from lesser incidents. "We don't have a lot of accidents now. When I started as an investigator in 1980 I did 45 accidents and incidents in five years. You get some investigators now who won't do 45 if they live to be 200," Del Gandio said. "Aviation is safe. You are in more danger going home in a car than in an airplane." http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/10/13/us-aviation-safety-investigations-idUSKCN0S72PA20151013 Back to Top Air Accidents at All-Time Low, Despite MH17, Germanwings Crashes As the spotlight falls on Dutch crash investigators and their high profile probe into the downing of a Malaysian airliner, air accident detectives worldwide are waging a much more discreet daily battle to keep flying safe. The Dutch team's findings, concluding that the plane was shot down by a Russian-made missile over eastern Ukraine in 2014, provoked an angry reaction on Tuesday from Russia, which dismissed their report as biased. But despite the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines MH17, the disappearance of sister plane MH370 and an apparent Germanwings suicide crash in the Alps, the last year has brought the lowest accident rate in memory. This is in large part due to the work of the crash investigators, who are quietly marking the centenary of the creation in Britain of the world's first crash analysis agency. Investigators now have to juggle growing challenges, from conflict zones to drones, dizzying automation, poor pilot training and questions over their own independence. Topping the list, a series of incidents in which pilots erred when abruptly handed back control has drawn attention to a loss of skills brought about by modern reliance on computers. "I don't think there is any replacement for more flying around and getting experience," Keith Conradi, Britain's chief air accident investigator, told Reuters in a recent interview. "The issue of automation is a real one. I do get concerned that it could bite us," said Conradi, whose Air Accidents Investigation Branch marks its centenary on Wednesday. TRAINING IS KEY ISSUE At a recent gathering of global investigators, France's BEA investigation agency presented a damning report about an incident in 2014 when an ill-trained, fatigued and poorly regulated crew overshot the runway at Lyon. Over 180 passengers and crew had a lucky escape when their jet stopped short of a 15 meter-deep hole in the ground - itself the result of a regulatory anomaly. It was later filled in. "Everyone agrees that training is the number one issue today," BEA Director Remi Jouty told Reuters. European plane maker Airbus says that each new generation of computers halves the accident rate. But the complexity of modern aircraft systems can tax even the resources of investigators when things go wrong. "The speed of technology is very hard for investigators to follow. It is no longer possible to know all the systems, you need the experts from industry," Ulf Kramer, head of Germany's Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU), said. That worries some investigators who point out they are reliant on manufacturers to help them discover potential flaws. "We have the same overall objectives, but our short-term objectives can be different," Jouty said. SKILL SHORTAGES The degree of reliance on the industry's own investigators' firepower emerged during the grounding of Boeing's high-tech 787 Dreamliner jets in 2013 after a series of battery problems. As its flagship product remained grounded, the U.S. company produced a "man-year" of data every day to try to find the root cause of the battery problems, a feat far beyond the capacity of all but the largest government safety agencies. Investigators fret about other potential threats to their independence - from politicians turning up at crash sites to pressures from media, lawyers and family groups. Many countries have yet to set up independent air crash investigation agencies, which are recommended by the United Nations' aviation arm, as a means of keeping flying safe. Record numbers of planes on order have meanwhile led to shortages of pilots and mechanics and encouraged some airlines to take short cuts in recruiting staff. "The entire industry faces severe shortages in both fields," said Frank del Gandio, a former FAA official who heads the International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI), which devoted a recent annual safety summit to issues of independence. Still, he and other safety veterans say the system of factual and blame-free reports dating back to World War One, coupled with new technology, has saved countless lives. A result of that success is that the "go teams" of forensic crash experts are being called into action less than before and more attention is being spent on learning from lesser incidents. "We don't have a lot of accidents now. When I started as an investigator in 1980 I did 45 accidents and incidents in five years. You get some investigators now who won't do 45 if they live to be 200," Del Gandio said. "Aviation is safe. You are in more danger going home in a car than in an airplane," he added. http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2015/10/14/384791.htm Back to Top Russia appeals to UN aviation body to open new MH17 probe MOSCOW - Russia has appealed to the International Civil Aviation Organization to open a new probe into last year's downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine, the chief of the Russian aviation agency said Wednesday. The Boeing 777 crashed on July 17, 2014, in the middle of a military conflict between Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian government forces. The Dutch Safety Board said in its final report released on Tuesday that the jet was destroyed by a Soviet- made Buk surface-to-air missile. Two-thirds of the 298 people who died were Dutch. The 15-month probe did not explicitly say who had fired the missile, but it identified an area of 320 square kilometers (120 square miles) from where it said the launch must have taken place. All of the land was in the hands of pro-Russian separatists fighting Ukrainian forces at the time of the disaster, according to daily maps of fighting released by the Ukrainian National Security Council. Russia and the rebels insist that if the plane was destroyed by a missile, it must have been fired by the Ukrainian military. "The Russian commission categorically disagrees with the conclusions of the final report. They are fundamentally wrong, the lack of logic there is beyond comparison," Oleg Storchevoi said in a televised news conference on Wednesday. "I had a feeling that the commission was cherry-picking the evidence to suit a theory they had chosen." Storchevoi said Russia "will use its right" to continue the probe and has already appealed to the U.N.'s civil aviation agency to intervene. Storchevoi hinted that Russia believes that some of the evidence has been faked. He accused the Dutch of "hiding important data" from Russia, calling into question the authenticity of the shrapnel and pieces of the missile reportedly found in the wreckage. Speaking in Donetsk, rebel leader Alexander Zakharchenko denied any involvement in the crash. "We have said before and we still say that we did not shoot down the plane," he said. http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/2015/10/14/russia-appeals-un-aviation-body-open-new- mh17-probe/73914292/ Back to Top FAA to airline passengers: Leave spare batteries at home The Federal Aviation Administration is encouraging airline passengers to leave their spare lithium batteries at home when they pack for flights. The agency issued as Safe Alert for flight operators to encourage airlines to inform passengers at the point of ticket purchases and check-in that lithium batteries are prohibited in checked and carry-on luggage. "Lithium batteries present a risk of both igniting and fueling fires in aircraft cargo/baggage compartments," the agency said in the safety notice. "To reduce the risk of lithium battery fires, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR), and equivalent International Civil Aviation Organization's Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods (ICAO TI), prohibit spare lithium batteries from checked baggage (including baggage checked at the gate or on-board the aircraft)," the notice continued. Lithium batteries became a topic of concern in aviation circles after a series of incidents involving Boeing's 787 "Dreamliner" during its 2013 rollout drew attention to problems with transporting the devices on airplanes. The FAA said in its notice that airlines should "ensure all crewmembers and ground personnel handling passengers and baggage understand that they must report incidents where fire, violent rupture, explosion, or heat sufficient to be dangerous to packaging or personal safety to include charring of packaging, melting of packaging, scorching of packaging, or other evidence, occurs as a result of a battery or battery- powered device." The agency added that "during ticket purchase and check-in processes, [airlines should] inform passengers that spare lithium batteries are prohibited from checked baggage (including checked baggage at the gate) and refer passengers to FAA's Pack Safe website for additional information. "Prior to allowing a passenger or crewmember to offer their carry-on baggage to be checked from the gate or on-board the aircraft, verbally inform them to remove all spare lithium batteries from their carry-on baggage," the agency said. http://thehill.com/policy/transportation/256811-faa-to-airline-passengers-leave-spare-batteries-at-home Back to Top Airways to enhance aviation safety in the Pacific New Zealand's air navigation service provider Airways will deliver a $2.4 million project to enhance safety at airfields in eight Pacific countries. The organisation has been contracted by The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) to undertake the two-year Pacific Aeronautical Charting and Procedures (PACP) programme - further cementing its long- term commitment to providing safe and sustainable services to the Pacific Islands. The project will be implemented at 38 aerodromes across the Pacific over the next two years, and includes more accurate surveying of runways, and designing satellite-based approach procedures to improve the ability of aircraft to land safely, especially in poor weather. Initial work will be undertaken in Vanuatu and the Cook Islands, before being expanded out to airfields Niue, Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga and other Pacific nations. Airways' Chief Executive Ed Sims says Airways is well positioned to implement a comprehensive programme which will deliver on the organisation's vision to enhance aviation safety and develop sustainable and efficient services in the Pacific. "We have a long history of working in the Pacific, with over 40 years of experience delivering safe, value- for-money projects and services in the region," Mr Sims says. "Safe aeronautical procedures are critical to aviation safety. While these new procedures contribute to safer air travel, they also enable a far greater range of options and flexibility, for the airlines and other commercial operators," he adds. Training will also be provided to local Pacific staff to ensure that Pacific Islands are able to update aviation charts and procedures on an ongoing basis. The programme commences later this month, with specialist procedure design work beginning, and the deployment of aerodrome surveyors, flight inspection and training teams. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1510/S00454/airways-to-enhance-aviation-safety-in-the-pacific.htm Back to Top Bombardier introduces recipient of Eugene Cernan Safety Award Capt. Matt Barre, a pilot and safety advisor, is the winner of the 2015 Eugene Cernan Safety Award. Bombardier Photo Bombardier has announced the winner of the 2015 Eugene Cernan Safety Award is Capt. Matt Barre, a pilot and safety advisor who has demonstrated his dedication to aviation safety while on active duty in the Coast Guard and as a member of Aflac's corporate flight department. The award was presented at the 19th annual Bombardier Safety Standdown USA, held Oct. 6-8 in Wichita, Kan. Barre was nominated by his peers for his outstanding commitment to aviation safety and his continuous efforts to develop more robust safety programs within the aviation industry. "A rigorous safety culture in flight departments requires leadership, innovative thinking, study of the safety discipline as well as advocacy to take hold and stay effective," said Chris Lutat, Convergent Performance. "Matt's efforts both within the Aflac flight department, and regionally at the Southeast Aviation Safety Roundtable (SEASRT), demonstrate his commitment to safety - well beyond the minimum job expectations - in addition to his ability to inspire others through demonstrated actions and behaviours," he said. "I am very proud of the impact Safety Standdown has on our industry," said Andy Nureddin, vice president and general manager of customer services, Bombardier Business Aircraft and the Safety Standdown program's executive sponsor. "More than 450 aviation professionals, including pilots, crew members and maintenance technicians dedicated themselves to sharpening their skills this week. They will now go back to work, apply their new skills and share their knowledge, and have a positive impact on aviation safety," he added. Next year's edition of Bombardier's Safety Standdown will be held Sept. 27-29 in Wichita, Kan. http://skiesmag.com/news/article/BombardierintroducesrecipientofEugeneCernanSafetyAward Back to Top C-5M scoops up in-flight data for NASA TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) -- Lockheed Martin and base officials recently recorded in-flight noise and vibration data onboard a C-5M Super Galaxy, ensuring the newly upgraded airframe was still compliant with NASA requirements. The objective of the test was to collect interior noise and vibration data to verify that the C-5M Space Cargo Modification (SCM) cargo compartment still met the vibroacoustic requirements set forth by NASA, said Brian Austin, a Lockheed Martin representative assigned to the 60th Maintenance Group. In order to record the data, engineers strategically placed 12 microphones, five single-axis accelerometers and four triaxle accelerometers throughout the aircraft's specially modified cargo compartment. Austin added that while the data gathering facet of this test has been deemed a success, the data is currently being analyzed to verify the aircraft's compliance. One of only two C-5Cs, an aircraft specially modified to carry satellites and other large cargo, the aircraft recently returned here after being retrofitted with General Electric CF6-80C2 engines and modernized as part of the C-5M Reliability Enhancement and Re-Engining Program (RERP). Because the new engines provide the C-5 with 22 percent greater takeoff thrust, potentially altering the vibrations generated within the cargo compartment, Air Force Space Command raised concerns that the aircraft be re-evaluated to verify the aircraft sill met NASA requirements. NASA is currently one of the C-5C's largest customers and has utilized it to carry satellites, components of the International Space Station and the Hubble Space Telescope. Unlike traditional C-5s, the C-5M-SCM's aft troop compartment was removed and special modifications were made to the rear loading doors, creating a larger cargo area that can accommodate and transport the Space Container Transportation System. The need to record the vibratory environment of the cargo compartment primarily stems from just how tight the SCTS canister is placed into the airframe. On average, the clearance between the canister and the walls and ceiling of the aircraft is approximately 1 inch, leaving little wiggle room should the cargo shift within flight. On and off-loading from the aircraft is an operation that can take hours to complete as the canister is basically inched out of the cargo bay. Currently, there is only one C-5M-SCM suitable for SCTS transportation as another one has recently departed to undergo the RERP upgrade and is not slated to return until late 2017. http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/Article/622873/c-5m-scoops-up-in-flight-data-for- nasa.aspx Back to Top Airlines on alert over Russian missile strikes on Syria US and Russia jets came within visual range over Syria Airlines flying over the Middle East, including Qantas, have been alerted by European authorities that Russian warships have been firing long-range missiles into Syria that could cross under their flight paths. Qantas A380s flying between Dubai and London twice daily fly over Iran at about 39,000 feet which is tens of thousands of feet higher than the typical altitude for the missiles being fired. The more direct route would take them over Iraq and Syria, but Qantas stopped flying over those nations last year because of the risk from the conflict. Since Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over the Ukraine last year, the global aviation industry has been focused on providing timely information to carriers. The alert from the European Aviation Safety Agency gave no specific recommendations to avoid the airspace between the Caspian Sea and Syria, which includes the area of Iran overflown by Qantas A380s, according to FlightRadar24's latest flight path data. "This safety information bulletin is issued to inform airspace users about the hazard," the European agency said. "EASA will amend this safety information bulletin if more specific information is received related to that situation." European authorities have alerted airlines that Russian warships have been firing long-range missiles under the flight path it uses between Dubai and London. MH17 aftermath Since Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over the Ukraine by a surface-to-air missile last year, the global aviation industry has been focused on providing timely information to carriers that allows them to avoid dangers from global conflicts. MH17 was flying at 33,000 feet when it was shot down over the Ukraine. It was 1000 feet higher than the minimum safe altitude advised by Ukrainian authorities. But the Russian cruise missiles being fired at targets in Syria have an altitude measured in hundreds of feet. In a decompression emergency modern airliners drop to 10,000 feet, meaning they would remain well above the flight path of any missiles being fired. A senior Qantas spokesman would not say if the Australian carrier would alter its flight path, adding it did not provide "blow by blow" accounts of the air corridors it used, as they could change from time to time due to a variety of factors, including weather and winds. "But we always monitor and consult with the intelligence community on any safety risks and we have alternative flight paths in place if we decided they were necessary," the spokesman said. Air France was reportedly altering its flight paths as a result. British Airways and Lufthansa said they would not change. http://www.smh.com.au/business/aviation/airlines-on-alert-over-russian-missile-strikes-on-syria- 20151013-gk82ez.html#ixzz3oXc0kM37 Back to Top Beyond MH17, a century of air crash probes and new pressures As the spotlight falls on Dutch crash investigators and their high-profile probe into the downing of a Malaysian airliner, air accident detectives worldwide are waging a much more discreet daily battle to keep flying safe. The Dutch team's findings, concluding that the plane was shot down by a Russian-made missile over eastern Ukraine in 2014, provoked an angry reaction on Tuesday (13 October) from Russia, which dismissed their report as biased. But despite the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines MH17, the disappearance of sister plane MH370 and an apparent Germanwings suicide crash in the Alps, the last year has brought the lowest accident rate in memory. This is in large part due to the work of the crash investigators, who are quietly marking the centenary of the creation in Britain of the world's first crash analysis agency. Investigators now are having to juggle growing challenges from conflict zones to drones, dizzying automation, poor pilot training and questions over their own independence. Topping the list, a series of incidents in which pilots erred when abruptly handed back control has drawn attention to a loss of skills brought about by modern reliance on computers. "I don't think there is any replacement for more flying around and getting experience," Keith Conradi, Britain's chief air accident investigator, told Reuters in a recent interview. "The issue of automation is a real one. I do get concerned that it could bite us," said Conradi, whose Air Accidents Investigation Branch marks its centenary on Wednesday. Training is key issue At a recent gathering of global investigators, France's BEA investigation agency presented a damning report about an incident in 2014 when an ill-trained, fatigued and poorly regulated crew overshot the runway at Lyon. Over 180 passengers and crew had a lucky escape when their jet stopped short of a 15 metre-deep hole in the ground - itself the result of a regulatory anomaly. It was later filled in. "Everyone agrees that training is the number one issue today," BEA Director Remi Jouty told Reuters. European planemaker Airbus says that each new generation of computers halves the accident rate. But the complexity of modern aircraft systems can tax even the resources of investigators when things go wrong. "The speed of technology is very hard for investigators to follow. It is no longer possible to know all the systems, you need the experts from industry," Ulf Kramer, head of Germany's Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU), said. That worries some investigators who point out they are reliant on manufacturers to help them discover potential flaws. "We have the same overall objectives but our short-term objectives can be different," Jouty said. Skill shortages The degree of reliance on the industry's own investigators' firepower emerged during the grounding of Boeing's high-tech 787 Dreamliner jets in 2013 after a series of battery problems. As its flagship product remained grounded, the U.S. company produced a "man-year" of data every day to try to find the root cause of the battery problems, a feat far beyond the capacity of all but the largest government safety agencies. Investigators fret about other potential threats to their independence - from politicians turning up at crash sites to pressures from media, lawyers and family groups. Many countries have yet to set up independent air crash investigation agencies, which are recommended by the United Nations' aviation arm as a means of keeping flying safe. Record numbers of planes on order have meanwhile led to shortages of pilots and mechanics and encouraged some airlines to take short cuts in recruiting staff. "The entire industry faces severe shortages in both fields," said Frank del Gandio, a former FAA official who heads the International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI), which devoted a recent annual safety summit to issues of independence. Still, he and other safety veterans say the system of factual and blame-free reports dating back to World War One, coupled with new technology, has saved countless lives. A result of that success is that the "go teams" of forensic crash experts are being called into action less than before and more attention is being spent on learning from lesser incidents. "We don't have a lot of accidents now. When I started as an investigator in 1980 I did 45 accidents and incidents in five years. You get some investigators now who won't do 45 if they live to be 200," Del Gandio said. "Aviation is safe. You are in more danger going home in a car than in an airplane." BACKGROUND European aviation safety regulators introduced new training requirements last May to help prevent accidents by pilots losing control of planes in-flight, such as during a stall or in bad weather. The new rules include training on stall recovery, dealing with situations where the plane's nose is too low or too high, and also include more training on environmental hazards such as thunderstorms and weather zones like the turbulent Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). The move by the Cologne-based European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) follows voluntary guidelines made by the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) last year, and prescribe training on both preventing and recovering from in-air upsets. EASA said it expected the new requirements, which European airlines and commercial business jet operators have until May 2016 to implement, to result in a one-off cost of €12.5 million. The new training should also cover the "startle" effect that pilots can experience when unexpected problems arise, as well as how to deal with other issues such as spatial disorientation. http://www.euractiv.com/sections/transport/beyond-mh17-century-air-crash-probes-and-new-pressures- 318479 Back to Top Passenger jet aborts takeoff when car makes wrong turn onto LAX runway A jet carrying 78 passengers and crew members had to abort a takeoff at Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday when a car made a wrong turn onto a runway, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The unusual incident occurred about 11:50 a.m., around the same time that air traffic controllers were dealing with requests for emergency landings from two other airliners. FAA officials said a Compass Airlines Embraer 170, a regional jet, was headed down a runway on the south side of LAX when an alarm sounded in the tower and air traffic control spotted the car. A Los Angeles World Airports employee driving an official airport vehicle had mistakenly turned onto the runway from a taxiway and was headed toward the twin-engine jet, officials said. After air traffic control canceled the takeoff, the pilot applied the brakes and pulled off the runway after traveling a few thousand feet. No injuries were reported. Though it has not been officially confirmed, the jet and car were apparently several thousand feet apart when the airliner came to a stop. "We can't immediately confirm when the last time a runway incident involving a vehicle last occurred, but this is extremely rare."said Nancy Castles, a spokeswoman for LAWA who has worked for the LAX operator for 20 years. Interested in the stories shaping California? Sign up for the free Essential California newsletter >> FAA officials said they will investigate the incident. The Compass jet, which was flying for Delta Connection, departed for Kansas City International Airport after a short delay. Airport officials said they intercepted the car and later rescinded the employee's authorization to drive on airfield service roads. The driver had not been cleared to go on or near runways, officials said. The emergency landings included a Delta Airlines A330 from Atlanta to Honolulu that diverted to LAX because of a medical emergency and landed about 11:55 a.m. The other urgent landing involved an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 from LAX to Seattle, which returned because of a mechanical issue and landed without incident shortly after noon. http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-lax-runway-incursion-20151013-story.html Back to Top Airport Employee Causes Near-Miss On LAX Runway LAX (CBSLA.com) - An employee at Los Angeles International Airport caused a near-miss on the airport's runway Tuesday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA said a Compass Airlines Embraer E170 was cleared for takeoff about 11:50 a.m. when the pilots noticed a vehicle driven by an airport worker entering a runway toward the aircraft from a taxiway. An alarm sounded at the air traffic control tower. The pilots were forced to apply the brakes, immediately abort the takeoff and pull off the runway. The twin-engine jet was carrying 74 passengers and four crew members. LAX operations quickly escorted the airport vehicle off the tarmac. The airport rescinded the employee's authorization to drive on the airfield. While some travelers at LAX were surprised, Ross Aimer, a retired captain and air-safety consultant, was not. "Every second of the taxi time could be a danger. Obviously, nothing will happen to the passengers, in most cases, even if they run into a small vehicle on the runway or taxiway," Aimer said. "But obviously, it shouldn't happen." According to Aimer, contractors can often be unfamiliar with protocols. He said sensors on the runway alert air traffic control to foreign objects. "We have what we call a transponder that gives a position to the towers so they know which aircraft is supposed to be on the runway, which is not," he said. Airport operations said, at the time, it was also dealing with two other emergency landings. The FAA is investigating the incident. The jet did later take off for Kansas City International Airport. http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2015/10/13/airport-employee-causes-near-miss-on-lax-runway/ Back to Top Back to Top Hartsfield-Jackson to build another gate for A380 super-jumbo jet Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is moving forward with plans to build a gate that can accommodate the A380 super-jumbo jet on Concourse F at its international terminal. The airport is striking an agreement with joint venture New South-Synergy for a contract worth up to $13.78 million to modify gate F3 so it can accommodate the A380. The work will include a second loading bridge, a new fuel pit, new escalator, elevator and stairs and an extension of a corridor to tie into it. The construction could take nearly a year to complete. The airport already spent $30 million for runway and taxiway widening and modifications on Concourse E to accept the giant jet before Korean Air launched the first A380 flights to Atlanta in 2013. A380 But one problem that arose was the long walk for arriving international travelers from E1 - the A380 gate on Concourse E. After the international terminal opened in 2012, some passengers complained about the long walk from the farthest gates on Concourse E to the Customs processing area at the international terminal. The walk is up to six-tenths of a mile long. After an Atlanta Journal-Constitution story on complaints about the walk, the airport began planning for an additional moving walkway on part of the path that doesn't have one. Now, the airport said in documentation submitted to the Atlanta city council, it "desires to have an A380 capable gate on Concourse F to minimize travel time for A380 passengers." http://airport.blog.ajc.com/2015/10/14/hartsfield-jackson-to-build-another-gate-for-a380-super-jumbo- jet/ Back to Top Researchers Explore How To Make Jet Fuel Out Of Leftover Animal Fat Or Forest Waste Forest waste, known as "slash," could be a promising material for making an alternative jet fuel The aviation industry faces increased pressure to lower its carbon footprint. There has long been a hope that alternative jet fuels could be the answer, and this week in Seattle, experts on such fuels will gather to present their research. In June, the Obama administration took the first step toward regulating greenhouse gas emissions from airplanes. So that is an additional incentive to airplane makers and airlines to reduce pollution. It is something the industry and academic researchers have already been collaborating on. Two years ago, the Federal Aviation Administration funded ASCENT, a "Center of Excellence" focused on alternative jet fuels and the environment, led by Washington State University and MIT. This week, researchers with the center will give updates on their progress to the advisory committee, which includes industry heavyweights such as Boeing, Airbus and Delta Air Lines. John Gardner with WSU is one of the center's administrators. He says one promising area is "green diesel," which is made from a variety of materials. "Some of it is made out of forest waste; Some of it is made out of tallow - in other words, animal fats. It can be made out of vegetable fats, as well," Gardner said. "There are some new facilities coming online, hopefully within the next year or two, that will be using municipal waste." Gardner says green diesel is usually blended with regular jet fuel. One big reason why alternative fuels are still not widely used is that they are more expensive. But Gardner says there has been some incremental progress on bringing the cost down. http://www.kplu.org/post/researchers-explore-how-make-jet-fuel-out-leftover-animal-fat-or-forest-waste Back to Top Chinese airlines luring Korean pilots with promise of better wages BEIJING, China - The airlines in China lure pilots with the promise of better wages, leading to the resignation of Korean airline pilots, the Yonhap reported on Monday. The data of South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport show that 42 pilots of Korean Air handed in their resignations from January to July 2015. Some in the industry said that most of these airline pilots intended to switch to the airlines in China. According to the Yonhap, Boeing is expected to deliver about a quarter of the planes manufactured this year to China. Boeing might deliver more planes to China in the next few years, resulting in a potential shortage of airline pilots in China. With quite a few budget airlines stepping into market in recent years, China witnesses an increasing demand for airline pilots. A Chinese airline company posted a recruitment announcement and promised that it will pay nearly 300 thousand dollars annually to each recruit, which is three times the average wage of the young Korean pilots. The wages of the Korean airline pilots are below the international standard wages for the job. Moreover, foreign pilots will get more pay than the Korean pilots in the airlines in Korea. http://www.eturbonews.com/64784/chinese-airlines-luring-korean-pilots-promise-better-wages Back to Top Business aircraft activity moves higher in September There were more business aircraft operations in the U.S. and Canada last month than the same month a year ago, according to a report Tuesday by Cincinnati-based aviation data firm Argus International. Argus said it also is forecasting increases for October and the fourth quarter of 2015. Argus said in its report that business aircraft flight activity increased 3 percent in September 2015 compared with September 2014, calling it a "September surge." And for the first nine months of 2015, business aircraft flight activity increased 2.2 percent compared with the same period in 2014, Argus said. September business aviation activity increased the most among charter operations - 7 percent - while for individual operations the increase was a "solid" 1.4 percent, Argus said. Among aircraft types, operations were highest among turboprops followed by large-cabin, midsize and light business jets, respectively, Argus said. Argus said it expects business aviation activity in October to be up 2.7 percent compared with October 2014. And it projects the fourth quarter will see a 3.5 percent increase in business aviation operations over the fourth quarter of 2015. Increased business aircraft operations is an important measure because it portends greater fuel consumption and demand for maintenance services. It also is a closely watched measure by business aircraft manufacturers. http://www.kansas.com/news/business/aviation/air-capital-insider/article38996205.html#storylink=cpy Back to Top Gulf Air to buy 40-50 aircraft in next 6 months Bahraini airline expanding its fleet to replace older aircraft and meet growth plans Dubai: Gulf Air, Bahrain's national airline, will place an order for between 40 and 50 aircraft in the next six months, Chief Financial Officer, Sahar Ataei, told Gulf News in Dubai on Tuesday. "We have finalised some aircraft deals and are still looking to finalise some others within the coming six months," Ataei said on the sidelines of the Middle East & Africa Airfinance Conference. The new aircraft will be used for regional and long-haul routes and will feature a new cabin product, Ataei said without providing further details. Gulf Air is in the third year of an aggressive restructuring plan that saw the airline cut its losses in 2014 by 32 per cent to 62.7 million Bahraini dinars ($166.2 million). The aircraft order, which will include narrow- body short haul and wide-body long haul aircraft, is part of the airline's expansion plans from the end of 2016 when it expects to be debt free. "We have almost paid 75 to 80 per cent of all the [legacy] debts" and the airline is on track to pay off all of its pre-2013 debts by the end of next year, Ataei said. http://gulfnews.com/business/aviation/gulf-air-to-buy-40-50-aircraft-in-next-6-months-1.1600231 Back to Top Aviation company looking to hire 50 airplane mechanics locally FORT WAYNE, Ind. (21Alive) -- About 40 to 50 high-paying jobs could be coming to the Hoosier state as a fast-growing aviation company looks to expand. Representatives with the AAR Corporation met with students with the Ivy Tech Aviation Technology Department Tuesday morning out at Smith Field. r Headquartered in Wood Dale, Illinois, the company is looking to hire a number of airplane mechanics, engineers and pilots for their growing work force. "And of course these are jobs and careers that require a STEM education: science, technology, engineering, and math. So here at Ivy Tech in Fort Wayne, it's one of the few places across Indiana where you can earn that certification by the FAA - your A&P certification - along with an associate's degree," Greg Dellinger of the AAR Corp. said. Dellinger said that AAR is looking to get out in front of the job demand curve as the aviation industry will soon need more than 600,000 aircraft mechanics and 500,000 commercial pilots worldwide. http://www.21alive.com/news/local/Hoosier-aviation-company-looking-to-hire-50-airplane-mechanics- locally--332580852.html Back to Top Position: Project Manager - Airport Technology Research and Development Requisition ID: 2015-5308 Job Location: US-NJ-Linwood Posted Date: 9/8/2015 Category: Program & Project Management Clearance Required: No SRA is currently seeking a qualified individual to lead/manage the Airport Safety Task Area under SRA's ATRD contract. SRA International, Inc. (SRA) currently holds a contract with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to support the airport technology research and development (ATRD) technical/engineering support program at the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center (WJHTC) in Atlantic City, N.J. The ATRD Branch supports the FAA's mission by conducting research and development required to enhance the safety of operations at our nation's airports and to ensure the adequacy of engineering specifications and standards in all areas of the airport systems and, where necessary, develop data to support new standards. Responsibilities: Acts as technical lead on multiple tasks, conducting and overseeing quality assurance on major deliverables; Manages the evaluation of implications/risks on existing or proposed projects, programs, processes, and policies/laws and implements improvements; Manages customer interactions and expectations; Reports on program status to clients and SRA leadership; Attends to staffing needs, such as interviewing, rewards & recognition, mentoring, and conflict resolution; Oversees the initiating and planning of program/project activities, and performs professional or technical work related to program management. Manages the execution effort by controlling scope, budget, schedule, quality, risk, customer satisfaction in accordance with the contract requirements; Acts as a mentor to junior Project Managers; Provides leadership of task order proposals for new/follow-on work under a program; Provides significant support for proposal/pricing development for related new business. The Safety Area Task Area Manage manages a staff of analysts, engineers (electrical, mechanical, civil), technicians. The staff has varying levels of experience ranging from high school degrees to Masters degrees. The ideal candidate shall have detailed knowledge and experience in the following task areas, that will have various projects associated with each: 1. Aircraft Arresting Systems 2. Airport Surface Safety and Maintenance 3. Airport Winter Safety and Operations 4. Visual Guidance 5. Test and Evaluation of NAS Visual Aids 6. Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting 7. Airport Wildlife Hazards 8. Web Based Application Tools 9. Airport Planning 10. Innovative Sensor Technology 11. Airport Design and Operations 12. Heliport/Vertiport Facility Design 13. Environmental Effects 1. 14. Software, Database and Website Support 2. 15. Airport Safety Data Analysis This candidate provides overall management of personnel working in the Airport Safety technical environment on individual Delivery/Task Orders. Candidate shall be proficient in Government contract and design standards, planning tools (i.e. work breakdown structures, Gantt charts, critical path analyses, PERT charts, etc.), budgeting and report development. Task areas are typically managed by Task Area Leads, who report directly to the Safety Area Task Manager, however, the overall success of the Safety Area is that of this candidate. Qualifications: 1. The qualified candidate shall have a 4-year degree in engineering or a management degree from an accredited college or university with at least 4 years of experience in airport safety or aviation related research and development 2. The best candidate will be self-motivated, have attention to detail, excellent decision-making skills, ability to work independently, be adaptable, selfless, and able to motivate their staff 3. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are also required. He/she must be able to present clear and concise information to targeted audiences that may or not be familiar with the topic at hand 4. The successful candidate should be proficient with MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint. In addition, he/she should have a strong understanding of MS Access and MS Project https://careers-sra.icims.com/jobs/5308/project-manager---airport-technology-research-and- development/job?mobile=false&width=930&height=500&bga=true&needsRedirect=false&jan1offset=- 300&jun1offset=-240 Back to Top Rockwell Collins Elevates Embry-Riddle to Prestigious Tier One Status; Benefits Include Closer Connection in Applied Research and Hiring Opportunities Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the global leader in aviation and aerospace higher education, has earned special recognition from Rockwell Collins Inc., a major provider of avionics and information technology systems and services to government agencies and aircraft manufacturers. The new Tier One designation, which signals an expanding partnership and was shepherded by the Embry- Riddle offices of Corporate Relations & Development and Career Services, will involve increases in high- level funding, joint research projects, campus visits from Rockwell Collins teams, co-op/intern opportunities for current students and full-time hiring of Embry-Riddle graduates. "We look at many factors as part of this designation, including the number of students who graduate in core disciplines, the diversified student body, and the number of students we hire, as well as retention and quality," said Martha May, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Rockwell Collins. "We're eager to see what this new partnership brings to both organizations." Nearly 400 Embry-Riddle alumni work for Rockwell Collins, about half of them at the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, headquarters. Over the last five years the company has hired 48 Embry-Riddle graduates, including 33 women and minorities. Embry-Riddle graduates employed at Rockwell Collins hold 362 degrees awarded in the disciplines most critical to the company, such as software and systems engineering. The company foresees a growing need for employees holding Embry-Riddle degrees in such areas as computer and electrical engineering, cyber security, flight planning, human factors, management and meteorology, among others. "Over the course of more than 25 years, Rockwell Collins and Embry-Riddle have had a proud and productive history together," said Dr. Richard Heist, Embry-Riddle's Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research. "Through the years, we have seen substantial contributions from them supporting various engineering projects, programs and student-led organizations tied to research, diversity and securing a pipeline of talent they can be proud of. As a Tier One university, we will grant Rockwell Collins enhanced access to our state-of-the-art facilities, talented faculty and dedicated students. We look forward to partnering on STEM-related initiatives and applied research solutions for the aerospace and aviation industries." Rockwell Collins officials took part in the annual Industry/Career Expo at Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach Campus recently and will return to the campus in January for Rockwell's annual spring visit. An event in April hosted by Rockwell Collins will celebrate the university's Tier One status. Rockwell Collins Media Contact: Kim Garrett, Senior Communications Business Partner, Human Resources, Rockwell Collins; Office: (319) 295-1886; kim.garrett@rockwellcollins.com Embry-Riddle Media Contact: Mary Van Buren, Assistant Director of Communications, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.; Office: (386) 226-6525; mary.van.buren@erau.edu http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12126121/rockwell-collins-elevates-embry-riddle-to- prestigious-tier-one-status-benefits-include-closer-connection-in-applied-research-and-hiring-opportunities Back to Top Upcoming Events: Fundamentals of IS-BAO November 2, 2015 Hong Kong, China https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1724162 IS-BAO Auditing November 3, 2015 Hong Kong, China https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1724176 BARS Auditor Training Washington DC? Tuesday-Thursday 5-7 April 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 Air Cargo Safety and Security Symposium ALPA Washington, DC November 5, 2015 http://aircargoconference.alpa.org 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 2016 DTI SMS/QA Symposium January 3, 4, & 5 2016 Disney World, FL 1-866-870-5490 www.dtiatlanta.com Back to Top JOBS AVAILABLE: Aerospace Tenure-Track Faculty Middle Tennessee State University http://mtsujobs.mtsu.edu/postings/2124 Aerospace (UAS), Tenure-Track Faculty Middle Tennessee State University http://mtsujobs.mtsu.edu/postings/2125 *IOSA FLT Auditors *Experienced Trainers in the area of Safety Management Systems *Quality Control Specialist *Manager Quality Assurance and Quality Control Aviation Quality Services GmbH www.aviation-quality-services.com Curt Lewis