Flight Safety Information October 20, 2015 - No. 208 In This Issue Adverse Weather and its Effects on Air Safety American Airlines Flight to Tel Aviv Declares Emergency The FAA Is Freaked Out About Lithium-Ion Batteries on Planes Panel set up to tackle air safety concerns (Nepal) Aviation safety vs commercial profits Lighter weight pilots banned from F-35 over faulty ejection seat New drone rules to include hobbyists Jet Blue flight diverted to Norfolk Is This The Scariest Landing Ever? PROS 2015 TRAINING United Airlines names general counsel acting CEO Probe Into Pilots Grounded Over Miley Lyric Texts Conklin & de Decker reveal Aircraft Cost Evaluator 15.2 What are the world's worst airports for 2015? Embry-Riddle and Partner Universities Receive FAA Research Awards to Study Unmanned Aircraft Systems GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY REQUEST (1) GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY REQUEST (2) Upcoming Events JOBS AVAILABLE (New Positions) Back to Top American Airlines Flight to Tel Aviv Declares Emergency An emergency was declared aboard an American Airlines flight from Philadelphia to Tel Aviv on Tuesday. Flight #AA796 declared an emergency, later clarified as a medical emergency, and landed at Heathrow while enroute to Tel Aviv. Friends and relatives waiting for travelers aboard American Airlines Flight #AA796 from Philadelphia to Tel Aviv will have to wait a little longer to see the passengers. An emergency was declared at approximately 10:30 am Israel time aboard the flight while enroute over England Tuesday morning. The plane landed instead at London's Heathrow Airport in order to evacuate a passenger with severe chest pain. There were no related security issues on board the flight. http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/american-airlines-flight-to-tel-aviv- declares-emergency/2015/10/20/ Back to Top The FAA Is Freaked Out About Lithium-Ion Batteries on Planes We still don't know why MH370 went down, but we do know it was carrying a big load of batteries. The FAA is getting the word out: Airplanes and lithium batteries don't mix. This might seem alarmist given how ubiquitous these batteries have become. Lithium-ion powers our phones, our computers, and even our cars. But on a moving aircraft they could be deadly, the agency said this month. The risk is that, if left unattended, the batteries could overheat and burst into flames, and that in the confines of a cargo hold a battery fire could spread so quickly that it could overpower existing fire-suppression systems. This is no idle threat, either. There was been multiple reports of lithium battery-related fires on cargo planes. And one (unsubstantiated) theory about the mysterious disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 last March focuses on the fact that the jet was carrying a large shipment of lithium-ion. The FAA is going after the problem on two fronts. In its most recent warning, the agency urged airlines to warn passengers of the risks of carrying spare batteries in their baggage, both checked luggage and carry-ons. Loose batteries "present a risk of both igniting and fueling fires in aircraft cargo and baggage compartments," FAA said. Airlines are now supposed to warn fliers of the risk at the time of booking, when they check in, and even a third time if they are gate-checking a bag they'd intended to carry into the cabin. Loose batteries in any bag are a hazard, an FAA spokeswoman said, adding that tests performed at the FAA's Atlantic City laboratory have confirmed the risk. "They have to be properly packaged" or already installed in a device, she said. Why are these batteries so dangerous? Part of the problem stems from what makes them so popular: They pack a lot of power for their size. But if they short-circuit they can overheat and create a chain reaction known as "thermal runaway," a cascading effect in which they reach very high temperatures and emit gasses that can fuel a fire or an explosion, especially if they're packed tightly with other lithium batteries. All aircraft, cargo or passenger, come equipped with fire suppression systems in cargo holds, but they might not be enough to stop such an intense blaze. But the far bigger risk to a plane would come from large shipments of the batteries- there been several documented cases of batteries causing fires on board commercial aircraft. As a result, the FAA is pushing for an international ban on carrying such cargo on passenger airliners. Some airlines are already voluntarily banning such cargo. Among them are the four largest domestic airlines-American, Delta, United, Southwest-and major international lines like British Airways, Lufthansa, Emirates, Etihad, and Qantas. Because big shipments often originate in Asia, carriers like Cathay Pacific, Singapore, and Dragonair are also supporting the ban. Looming over all this concern in the case of the missing MH370. And while there are a litany of theories about the plane's fate, some much more plausible than others, safety experts have noted for some time that the 777 was transporting an unusually large consignment of the batteries when it disappeared in March 2014. Until the jet is found and the crash explained, the presence of the lithium batteries can't be ruled out as a possible cause. http://www.popularmechanics.com/flight/a17824/faa-lithium-ion-batteries/ Back to Top Panel set up to tackle air safety concerns (Nepal) Kathmandu Oct 11, 2015- The government has set up a high-level committee to tackle the concerns raised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) over Nepal's aviation safety issue. The government's move comes nearly two years after Nepal was included in the EASA air safety list and the significant safety concerns (SSC) list of the ICAO. The EASA is an agency of the European Union with regulatory and executive tasks in the field of civilian aviation safety. Suresh Acharya, joint-secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, said the government has assembled the experts' group considering the fact that the aviation safety issue demands constant high-level intervention. A seven-member committee is led by former Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (Caan) Rajesh Raj Dali. "The committee has been entrusted with the task of making a number of recommendations to address the weaknesses identified by both the global aviation watchdogs," said Acharya, who is also the member-secretary of the committee. The committee has been given three months' time to submit the report. Acharya said the committee would also monitor and review the ongoing works carried out by the Caan in resolving the safety issues. As the Caan plans to invite the ICAO revalidation mission in March 2016 to audit the corrective measures taken by Nepal, the committee would play a key role in suggesting and facilitating on necessary policies and other technical aspects. The mission is normally invited by a state when it is fully confident that it has fulfilled all the compliances with international safety standards. According to Caan, Nepali carriers will not be removed from the European Commission blacklist unless the SSC tagged by the ICAO is eliminated. Unsatisfied with Nepal's progress, ICAO had given the SSC tag to Nepal's aviation sector in its audit report in August 2013 after conducting an on-site audit from July 10-16, 2013. ICAO has grave concerns about Nepal's air safety, and has placed it among the 13 worst performing nations, namely Botswana, Kazakhstan, Congo, Sao Tome and Principe, Angola, Djibouti, Eritrea, Haiti, Lebanon, Malawi, Papua New Guinea and Thailand. Thailand was the latest country to join the list. Nepal has been red-flagged on "operations", among the eight critical elements of safety oversight. ICAO monitors Nepal's aviation safety oversight capabilities through the ICAO Coordinated Validation Missions (ICVM). International airlines and travellers hesitate to travel to a country whose air safety has been questioned by ICAO. Nepal has performed poorly in effectively implementing air safety oversight systems, appearing way down in the 37th position out of 46 Asian countries, according to the safety audit report of ICAO. The audit report shows that Nepal has received a rating of 55.1 per cent, much below the Asian average. On Dec 5, 2013, the European Commission had put all Nepali carriers in its bad books for the worst record of air safety oversight based on ICAO's safety audit. The EC has asked European operators and travel agents to inform European travellers who will have the right to reimbursement if they had booked a seat on a Nepali carrier as part of a journey to Nepal and decide not to use it. http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2015-10-11/panel-set-up-to-tackle-air- safety-concerns.html Back to Top Aviation safety vs commercial profits The push to make airlines more competitive and affordable for travellers could also mean that safety is compromised Is a flawed system of aviation safety being challenged by competition and financial pressures brought about by relaxation on the issuing of airline licences? The Dutch report on the destruction of Malaysian Airlines MH17 in Ukrainian airspace is imminent, but it is now clear that the aircraft was shot down by a missile fired from the ground. This criminal act must be properly investigated and prosecuted. But who is responsible in the end? The man who fired the missile, the politicians prolonging the war, the Ukrainian government for failing to close their airspace. or the airline itself and the captain of the aircraft for flying through that airspace knowing there was a war in progress? Perhaps it is a flawed system of aviation safety being challenged at every turn by competition and immense financial pressures brought about by Open Skies policies and relaxation on the issuing of airline licences. Malaysian Airlines, like many others, would have wanted to fly the shortest route between Amsterdan and Kuala Lumpur on that fateful night. It aimed to minimise the amount of fuel burned (equals cost) during the flight. So it planned a direct route which took it over the Ukrainian territory. They had been told it was safe to fly above 32,000 feet because weapons known to be used in the conflict could not reach that height. Other airlines had also followed the same route without incident. Airline management cannot deny that costs are their major consideration and some airlines are known to have offered pilots financial rewards for cost saving. This practice is contrary to a proper safety culture and encourages operational decisions to be made on economic rather than safety considerations. Liberalisation of airspace over the last decades and the growth of airline companies has generated an intensely competitive market, which is exactly what the architects of the policy had in mind, as more competition generates lower ticket costs for the consumer. However, this also generates the risk that some air carriers may reduce their expenditure on training and maintenance. Passengers now have the choice to fly on a low cost carrier (LCC), or a full service airline - but at a greater cost for the full in-flight service and highly experienced crews. The queston then is whether the lower cost ticket entitles the passenger to the same standards of safety and security as with a more costly ticket on a full service carrier. In theory it should, and protection is provided by the various national aviation authorities whose job is to ensure that proper safety and security standards are maintained by all air operators under their jurisdiction. The International Civil Aviation Organization, (ICAO) is responsible for developing the rules with the aim of maintaining a consistent standard across Many of the worlds' national aviation regulators are deficient in their operations and are not sufficiently resourced by their governments. This is revealed in safety audit documents published by ICAO. The European Union takes action to safeguard its airspace by prohibiting the operation of many airlines in European skies, a decision based on the capability of the national regulatory authority to manage aviation safety. Now turn back to MH17, QZ8501 and other similar incidents. Were the pilots under pressure from company management to save money and shave their safety margins? Would they have had to undergo an inquisition if they diverted or turned back from their assigned routes for safety reasons? Pilots' salaries are lower now than they were before the advent of LCCs and there are some airlines where inexperienced pilots can pay for the opportunity to gain flight experience. These pilots are not employees on a salary. Do the passengers know of this situation? The safety culture of any organisation, particularly an air operator, starts with the Directors of the company. The CEO and Chairman are responsible for ensuring that a good safety culture permeates the entire organisation. But, in the reality of the commercial world, is this entirely possible? The costs of maintaining high safety standards is high but it is certainly less expensive than having a disaster! Should MH17 have diverted and flown an extra hour to ensure it was clear of the war zone? Should the pilots of Air Asia QZ8501 have turned back to Surabaya to avoid the massive storm system in their path? In either of these cases would the pilots have still had their jobs the following day or would they have been penalised for adding to the costs of their flights? It is ironic that the very policy of making airlines more competitive and affordable for travellers could also mean that safety is compromised, and nobody in the aviation industry would argue that profit is more important than safety. However, there is call for better policy in an increasingly competitive market. - See more at: http://www.policyforum.net/aviation-safety-vs-commercial- profits/#sthash.veOpVawo.dpuf Back to Top Lighter weight pilots banned from F-35 over faulty ejection seat The Air Force has banned lightweight pilots from flying F-35s due to seat problem. A U.S. Air Force F-35 takes off. Photo courtesy of U.S. Air Force WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- U.S. Air Force pilots weighing less than 136 pounds have been restricted from flying the F-35A Lightning II due to safety concerns. The restriction, announced by the Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs office, said the restriction is due to a safety concern over use of the plane's ejection seat. "In a recent test, analysis identified an unacceptable risk of neck injury during parachute deployment/opening for lighter-weight pilots at low-speed conditions," the announcement said. "Air Force leaders decided that as an interim solution, no pilot less than 136 pounds will be allowed to fly the aircraft until the problem is resolved. As a result, one pilot was impacted." The Air Force added that there is an elevated risk of injury for pilots between 136 and 165 pounds ejecting at slow speed - an estimated 1 in 100,000 flight hours. Pilots falling within the 136 to 165 pound weight range, however, will be allowed to fly the aircraft. "We expect the manufacturer to find and implement a solution," said Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James. "We must ensure the ejection seat is tested to meet our specifications and weight requirements. We are going to ensure this gets done right." The F-35 Joint Program Office is working in concert with the contractors to explore possible options to fix the ejection seat issue. Roll Call reported that all F-35 variants have ejection seats made by Martin-Baker Aircraft Co. Ltd. of Britain. During an ejection from the F-35, the pilot's canopy is shattered by an explosive charge, then the entire seat is propelled skyward. Tests this summer showed that the lightest F- 35 pilots are more likely to be rotated into a position in which they face injury from the parachute rocketing into their heads when the plane is flying low and relatively slowly, Roll Call reported. According to documents obtained by the publication, for "F-35 pilots weighing 135 pounds or less, there is a 98 percent 'probability of fatal injury' during ejections from the jet at 160 knots, a typical speed at take-off or landing." http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2015/10/19/Lighter-weight-pilots- banned-from-F-35-over-faulty-ejection-seat/9411445280046/ Back to Top New drone rules to include hobbyists The U.S. Department of Transportation will require recreational drone operators to register their aircraft with the federal government. A new task force has been formed to determine which aircraft should be exempt from the registration. USA TODAY The federal government will seek to register all drones, including the lighter, remote- controlled crafts favored by hobbyists, so it can track down any drone pilots who collide with other aircraft or violate rules for safe flights. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said Monday the new rules will apply to hobbyists as well as commercial drone operators, who already register. Government regulators and industry leaders are eager to get rules in place as interest in remote-controlled aircraft surges.Quadcopters equipped with a high-definition cameras cost little more than $40 and can be purchased easily online, while models that fly longer and higher can run thousands of dollars. Retailers expect drones to fly off the shelves as gifts this holiday season. Hobbyists argue their lighter aircraft pose less danger than the heavier commercial models and should not be as strictly regulated. Such regulations and higher costs associated with registration could drive away recreational fliers with smaller models, said Dave Mathewson, executive director of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA), which represents 180,000 hobbyists. AMA pilots put their membership number, name, address on their aircraft so the owners can be found if the drones are involved in a collision, Mathewson said. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) already requires registration numbers on commercial drones and it has approved 1,891 special permits through Oct. 15 for a variety of uses, such as aerial photography, pipeline inspections and agricultural monitoring. But until now, the FAA has not required hobbyists to register, although hundreds of thousands of remote-controlled aircraft have already been sold. Foxx on Monday announced the appointment of a task force to develop the registration requirements, due Nov. 20. Besides AMA, task-force members include the Air Line Pilots Association, the industry group Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, the American Association of Airport Executives. Foxx said the task force will review retroactive drone registration of those already sold. "It's a matter of responsibility that we will take seriously," Foxx said. "We want to ramp up on enforcement," he added, with $25,000 FAA fines and criminal penalties possible. The Air Line Pilots Association, a union representing 52,000 pilots, has urged a national registry so that when a drone collides with a passenger plane, authorities can trace the drone debris back to its owner. Capt. Tim Canoll, the union president, said registration will drive home the seriousness of flight rules. Pilots are eager "to ensure we maintain the highest levels of safety of our aviation system," he said. Pilots have reported an increase of drones around airports as they are taking off or landing. FAA officials now say reports of such incidents number about 100 a month, which is on pace to more than quadruple the 238 incidents reported in 2014. High profile incidents, including small drones crashing in January on White House grounds and this month on the Ellipse near the White House, have also drawn attention to the issue because all drone flights are prohibited in Washington, D.C. U.S. Park Police and Secret Service identified both recreational pilots, but tracking down operators would be easier with a national registry. "These reports signal a troubling trend," FAA Administrator Michael Huerta said. "Registration will help make sure that operators know the rules and remain accountable to the public for flying their unmanned aircraft responsibly. When they don't fly safely, they'll know there will be consequences." FAA expects comprehensive rules for drones to be completed in June 2016. For now, FAA guidelines require drone hobbyists to fly their crafts below 400 feet. Commercial drone pilots with permits must stay below 500 feet. Both types of operators must avoid flying within 5 miles of an airport unless they have the air-traffic control tower's permission. And pilots must also keep their aircraft within sight and fly only during the day. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/10/19/dot-drone-task-force- registry/74210902/ Back to Top Jet Blue flight diverted to Norfolk Jet Blue flight diverted to Norfolk due to mechanical issue Dwayne Perkins, 13News Now Viewer NORFOLK, Va. (WVEC) -- Jet Blue flight 262 was diverted to Norfolk Monday due to a mechanical issue. The Airbus A320, with 124 passengers and crew, was enroute from San Juan to Boston. The flight crew reported a smoke detector had alarmed in the avionics compartment located in the fuselage below the cockpit, airport officials said. The aircraft landed safely in Norfolk, The Airport Fire Department entered the compartment and found no signs of smoke or fire. The aircraft then taxied to the gate and passengers deplaned. There were no injuries or medical issues to the passengers or crew. Mechanics are inspecting the aircraft to determine if the flight can continue to Boston or if another aircraft is needed to fly the passengers to their destination. http://www.13newsnow.com/story/news/local/mycity/norfolk/2015/10/19/jet-blue-flight- diverted-norfolk/74225984/ Back to Top Is This The Scariest Landing Ever? WHOA! Afraid of flying? Then you might not want to watch this clip of a Qantas passenger jet landing in Sydney during a thunderstorm as lightning strikes around it. Despite the white-knuckle moment, the airplane does not appear to have been hit and landed without incident. The incredible footage was captured by storm chaser Daniel Shaw of the Severe Storms website and posted online by FreeNews Australia. Shaw also took a couple of still photos of the incident: While it might look scary -- and probably was frightening for the passengers flying through the storm -- modern aircraft are designed to handle the occasional lightning strike. The Washington Post has more on airplanes and lightning safety. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/qantas-lightning_5625ecc4e4b0bce347020b9a Back to Top Back to Top United Airlines names general counsel acting CEO DALLAS (AP) - United Airlines named an acting CEO on Monday night to replace its chief executive who suffered a heart attack about a month into the job. The company said that general counsel Brett J. Hart had taken over for Oscar Munoz, who went on medical leave. United confirmed that Munoz suffered a heart attack Thursday. The company said it was too soon to know how long he would need to recover. Munoz, 56, became CEO in early September after Jeff Smisek abruptly stepped down amid a federal investigation. The announcement of an acting CEO came after four days of speculation about leadership at the world's second-largest airline. Until Monday night, the company had refused meaningful comment on the situation, issuing two brief statements that said Munoz was in the hospital but giving no details about his condition or who was running the airline. United cited privacy concerns for Munoz and his family. The United Continental Holdings Inc. board turned to an insider as acting CEO. Hart, currently an executive vice president, joined United in 2010 after holding a similar position at Sara Lee. He previously was a law firm partner and a lawyer for the U.S. Treasury Department. In a statement, Hart, 46, said he would move quickly to act on Munoz's plan to improve customer service and increase shareholder value. Publicly traded companies must disclose when there is a change in CEOs, but there is no legal requirement to swiftly disclose a health setback or hospitalization of a top executive. It is up to the board to decide whether the information is material - whether investors would consider it important. Companies have tilted toward more disclosure ever since Apple Inc. was criticized for failing to give shareholders a complete picture about the health of CEO Steve Jobs, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2011. Last month, Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein disclosed he had lymphoma, and last year JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon revealed that he had been diagnosed with throat cancer. United's stance had drawn criticism. Vicki Bryan, an analyst for bond-research firm Gimme Credit, said earlier Monday that United's previous statement about Munoz's health was surprisingly sparse and raised more concerns than it answered. She said that United needed to be more open, "particularly in light of United's substantial management upheaval in recent months." Jill Fisch, a law professor and corporate-governance expert at the University of Pennsylvania, said boards are wary of making a statement about the CEO's health that might turn out to be too optimistic or too pessimistic - either could get them sued, she said. She added that doctors operate under their own confidentiality rules and might not have shared much information with United. United had said that operations were continuing normally in Munoz's absence. United and United Express operate nearly 5,000 flights a day. The Chicago company is scheduled to report third-quarter financial results Thursday. United has posted strong profits recently, earning $1.7 billion in the first half of 2015. United has been plagued by technology challenges since its 2010 merger with Continental. More recently, federal prosecutors began investigating whether under Smisek the airline gave preferential treatment to a former chairman of the agency that operates the New York-area airports. The company cited the probe in announcing on Sept. 8 that Smisek and two top government-affairs executives had left the company. United shares fell 3 percent on Friday but regained some of that Monday, when they rose 78 cents, or 1.4 percent, to close at $56.75. http://www.nwitimes.com/business/united-airlines-names-general-counsel-acting- ceo/article_92cf3f40-1ee4-5822-a025-7a2050703a2a.html Back to Top Probe Into Pilots Grounded Over Miley Lyric Texts The texts included references to Molly - the street name for ecstasy - but Congressmen say there is "no evidence of drug use". Laughlin Air Force Base Texas An instructor at Laughlin Air Force Base. Pic: Steven Doty/US Air Force The top Air Force general has ordered an investigation into the case of four pilots who were grounded after they exchanged text messages which commanders believed to be evidence of taking drugs. Air Force Chief of Staff, General Mark Welsh, directed the US military's inspector general to look into the case of the pilots at Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas. Officials at the base grounded the pilots based on the text messages, which included lyrics from Miley Cyrus' song We Can't Stop, including: "We like to party/Dancing with Molly/Doing whatever we want." US Air Force General Welsh testifies on military budgets before Senate Armed Services Committee in Washington General Mark Welsh has ordered a probe into the punishments The claim is that the text messages refer to ecstasy using its street name Molly, according to The Daily Beast. Republican Representatives Adam Kinzinger and Duncan Hunter sent a letter to Gen Welsh last month, demanding to know why "excessive punishment" had been handed out with "no evidence of drug use". The letter read: "At this time it is our firm belief that the Air Force had no grounds to proceed with the charges against the pilots involved. "The Air Force may not like showboating of any kind, even among its pilots, but to think that could be considered criminal, especially in the absence of evidence that a crime occurred, severely undermines the integrity of the Air Force's investigation process." The pilots referred to a Miley Cyrus song they heard on a Las Vegas visit The pilots claim they used the word Molly to refer to a weekend visit to Las Vegas last year, and to an inside joke between the group about a group of girls they had met whom they believed were on drugs, the website reported. The texts also refer to lyrics from songs by JellyRoll, Warren G and T.I. Three of the pilots have apparently been stripped of their wings and have permanent notes on their records which could end their careers in the Air Force and make it difficult for them to get a job as a commercial airline pilot. The Air Force is also reportedly considering discharging them altogether. All the pilots passed drug tests, according to Fox News. The texts emerged when a mobile phone belonging to an instructor was seized as part of a separate investigation into an allegation of an inappropriate relationship with a student. In a statement, the Air Force confirmed the inquiry by the inspector general. It said: "Commanders are expected to hold members accountable for their actions, while ensuring due process and equitable treatment are appropriately applied in every case. "Commanders take this responsibility very seriously. An allegation of misconduct is reviewed at multiple levels, and the Laughlin cases are no exception." Fox News reported that the Air Force could not say whether the punishment was based on any additional evidence. The inspector general probe is expected to take around six weeks. http://news.sky.com/story/1572851/probe-into-pilots-grounded-over-miley-lyric-texts Back to Top Conklin & de Decker reveal Aircraft Cost Evaluator 15.2 Conklin & de Decker has announced the 64th release of Aircraft Cost Evaluator, the industry's most innovative tool for benchmarking the operating and ownership costs for more than 585 jets, turboprops, helicopters and piston aircraft. As the flagship product from the Conklin & de Decker family of aircraft operating and acquisition data products, this Aircraft Cost Evaluator release marks the 64th release since it was first introduced. Aircraft Cost Evaluator (ACE) with its ACE Online feature, is the ideal solution for aircraft owners, operators, brokers and dealers that need to make important side-by-side operating cost, specification and performance comparisons. ACE enables users to make critical decisions regarding aircraft acquisitions and is often referred to as the industry standard. Currently, ACE is used by AMSTAT, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Business Jet Traveler, Twin & Turbine, Executive & VIP Jets and AvBuyer magazine. The latest Aircraft Cost Evaluator allows comparisons of up to three different aircraft in a single report, no matter what aircraft type is being compared, while ACE Online allows comparisons of up to six aircraft. Once the analysis is completed, the easy to read comparison report can quickly be emailed as a pdf. As Conklin & de Decker continues to expand its databases with the latest aircraft, every ACE release contains updated fuel costs, maintenance parts and labor costs, and all the data necessary for SEC reporting. New in this Release: * Embraer Legacy 450 added * Aircraft with new data include: Bombardier Challenger 650, Embraer Legacy 500, Cessna Citation Latitude, Cessna Citation CJ3+, Airbus H135, Airbus H175, Bell 407GXP, Cessna J182 JTA, Cirrus SR22 G5 GTS, Diamond DA40 NG, Piper Archer DX * Updated fuel costs for Jet A and AvGas * Updated over 4,100 maintenance cost and performance data points * Added 100 more aircraft images to AircraftPedia in the Aviation Resource Library "As the industry's impartial resource for aircraft operating costs for more than 30 years, we continue to expand and improve upon our flagship product," commented David Wyndham, president and co-owner of Conklin & de Decker. "The Aircraft Cost Evaluator with its online access is the ideal tool for aircraft buyers, as it provides the critical information to support complex aircraft transaction decisions," added Wyndham. ACE subscribers always have access to ACE Online to quickly reference aircraft cost information, via any browser, from mobile devices including iPads, smart phones or laptop computers, at no additional cost, and without downloading and installing any software first. As an added benefit, ACE subscribers also have access to Conklin & de Decker's online reference tool, AircraftPedia that includes over 2,900 aircraft drawings and historical biographies on various aircraft models. The recently expanded drawings can easily be exported into presentations or proposals, and the historical information is a great reference tool for any aviation professional. ACE subscribers can save time and shipping costs by downloading the latest software from the Members Only section of the Conklin & de Decker website. With the ACE software, users can not only compare up to six aircraft side-by-side, but also edit nearly two dozen variables, change currencies, and change measurement units to customize reports, allowing comparisons of local costs and salaries. A query function allows the user to narrow the selection to those that meet specific performance criteria. In addition, reports can easily be exported to Word, Excel, PDF, and others, with a click of a button. The price for the latest 15.2 release of Aircraft Cost Evaluator is $825 for jets, $675 for turboprops or helicopters and $495 for the piston database. In addition, multiple user licenses are available for $200. Updated twice each year, the annual subscription includes one free update and access to ACE Online and AircraftPedia. Customized reports for individual aircraft can be special ordered for $100 per aircraft for jets and $75 per aircraft for turboprops, helicopters and $50 for pistons. http://www.verticalmag.com/news/article/ConklindeDeckerrevealAircraftCostEvaluator152 Back to Top What are the world's worst airports for 2015? (CNN)Traveling through Nigeria's Port Harcourt International Airport any time soon? Sorry for your luck. The African terminal received the unfortunate distinction of being named "world's worst airport" in 2015 by travel website The Guide to Sleeping in Airports. This year's survey, which asked fliers to identify the world's worst and best aviation terminals, attracted 26,297 qualifying responses. Despite the site's name, airports weren't just rated according to how easy it is to take a nap while inside them. Sleeping in Airports' readers were asked to judge facilities in four categories: comfort, conveniences, cleanliness and customer service. What landed Port Harcourt at the top of the pile? Respondents reportedly complained about unpleasant and unhelpful staff, alleged corruption, a severe lack of seating, broken air-conditioning and the fact that the arrivals hall was inside a tent. "The good news is that some areas of the terminal have been recently renovated, meaning you can expect actual walls, floors and windows," says the website. "Though it is a far cry from reasonable, improvements are being made." Consistently bad: Saudi Arabia's King Abdulaziz International Airport CNN has asked for a comment from aviation authorities in Nigeria, but so far no response. Remarkably, Port Harcourt didn't even appear on last year's worst airports list. There were quite a few repeat offenders on this year's list though, as well as some notable omissions. Filipinos will be pleased to hear their long maligned Ninoy Aquino International Airport Manila Airport, crowned worst airport three years in a row before slipping to fourth place last year, didn't even make this year's top 10. Saudi Arabia's Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport held onto its position as world's second worst airport. Voters were annoyed by the chaotic, crowded, unclean airport -- particularly within the Hajj terminal. "From smoking in non-smoking areas to the bathroom odor wafting out into the lounges, few people sang praises after spending time here," said Sleeping in Airports. "Multi-hour immigration queues with distracted and absent officers further aggravated travelers." Fortunately, the site said Jeddah's days on the list are likely numbered -- the new Jeddah Airport is scheduled to open mid-2016. Nepal's Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport held onto the same spot as last year - - third. Last year's worst airport, Benazir Bhutto International Airport in Islamabad, Pakistan, slipped to ninth place, while Tashkent International Airport in Uzbekistan rose a spot to move from fifth to fourth place. Not a single United States airport appeared in this year's top 10, though Europe can't say the same. France's Beauvais-Tille Airport slipped in to land the number 10 spot. "Grievances from voters are detailed and far-reaching, but generally revolve around the absence of chairs, kind staff, sufficient toilets and hygienic standards," says Sleeping in Airports of the Paris facility. Worst airports of 2015 1. Port Harcourt International Airport (Nigeria) 2. King Abdulaziz International Airport (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) 3. Tribhuvan International Airport (Kathmandu, Nepal) 4. Tashkent International Airport (Uzbekistan) 5. Simon Bolivar International Airport (Caracas, Venezuela) 6. Toussaint Louverture International Airport (Port au Prince, Haiti) 7. Hamid Karzai International Airport (Kabul, Afghanistan) 8. Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) 9. Benazir Bhutto International Airport (Islamabad, Pakistan) 10. Beauvais-Tille International Airport (Paris) Best airports of 2015 Turning to the list airports actually do want to end up on, there were few surprises on Sleeping in Airports world's best airports of 2015 roundup. Singapore's Changi International, as it has for the last two decades, held onto the top spot. "It's hard to know where to begin when it comes to describing the airport's strengths," said Sleeping in Airports. "Perhaps, it's the extreme efficiency experienced when moving from the airplane to the city centre? Or maybe it's the luxurious layover indulgences, which include a fish spa, a sauna, a butterfly garden, showers and a koi pond?" The top 10 list was dominated by Asian airports, with Seoul, Tokyo, Taipei and Hong Kong rounding out the top five. 1. Changi International Airport (Singapore) 2. Incheon International Airport (Seoul, South Korea) 3. Haneda International Airport (Tokyo, Japan) 4. Taoyuan International Airport (Taipei, Taiwan) 5. Hong Kong International Airport 6. Munich International Airport (Germany) 7. Helsinki International Airport (Finland) 8. Vancouver International Airport (Canada) 9. Kuala Lumpur International Airport (Malaysia) 10. Kloten International Airport (Zurich, Switzerland) http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/19/aviation/worlds-worst-airports-2015/ Back to Top Embry-Riddle and Partner Universities Receive FAA Research Awards to Study Unmanned Aircraft Systems Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the ASSURE Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) have received the first group of FAA grant awards since the Center of Excellence was established in May 2015. The Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence (ASSURE) is composed of 21 of the world's leading research universities and more than 100 leading industry/government partners. ASSURE's mission is to give the FAA the research it needs to quickly, safely and efficiently integrate unmanned aircraft systems into the National Airspace System with minimal changes to the current system. Embry-Riddle will support three of the seven tasks awarded to ASSURE core institutions: Embry-Riddle, North Carolina State University (project lead), the University of North Dakota, Mississippi State University, Ohio State University and Oregon State University will study the critical role that surveillance technology plays in the ability of UAS to detect and avoid other aircraft. These ASSURE schools will also examine the adequacy of existing airborne surveillance equipment as applied to UAS operations. Dr. Mohammad Moallemi of the Next-Generation Embry-Riddle Advanced Research Lab will provide modeling and simulation capabilities in support of this study. Embry-Riddle, in cooperation with Kansas State University-Salinas (project lead) and Montana State University will address UAS maintenance. Dr. John Robbins, Embry-Riddle principal investigator for this task, states that the project will provide "an in-depth analysis of maintenance operations and considerations that differ from manned aircraft." In partnership with the University of Alabama-Huntsville (project lead), Mississippi State University and the University of Kansas, Embry-Riddle will study the risks associated with UAS ground collision (i.e. risk to people and property). Principal investigator Dr. Feng Zhu and this team will study the level of risk to people on the ground in the event of a UAS failure across a variety of scenarios using advanced simulation tools. These research awards kick-off FAA funded research in what is anticipated to be an excellent long-term partnership between the FAA and ASSURE," said Dr. Richard Stansbury, Embry-Riddle principal investigator and air traffic integration technical lead for ASSURE. "All three of our campuses - Daytona Beach, Prescott and Worldwide - will be conducting vital research within the framework of the Alliance to help create rules that will ensure the safe integration of UAS into the National Airspace System." About the Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence (ASSURE) ASSURE's goal is to help the unmanned aircraft systems market grow into its multibillion- dollar market potential by conducting research that quickly, safely and efficiently integrates these unmanned systems alongside manned aircraft around the world. Embry- Riddle is one of 21 ASSURE member schools (15 core and six affiliate), all with broad and deep skill sets in UAS and their applications. ASSURE is supported by more than 100 industry partners worldwide. The ASSURE alliance features expertise across a broad spectrum of research areas, including air traffic control interoperability, UAS airport ground operations, control and communications, detect and avoid, human factors, UAS noise reduction, UAS wake signatures, unmanned aircraft pilot training and certification, low-altitude operations safety, spectrum management and UAS traffic management. More information can be found at: www.assureuas.org. Additional information about the FAA's UAS Integration efforts may be found at www.faa.gov/uas. Categories: College of Aviation, Daytona Beach, Featured Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the world's largest, fully accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace, is a nonprofit, independent institution offering more than 75 baccalaureate, master's and Ph.D. degree programs in its colleges of Arts & Sciences, Aviation, Business, Engineering and Security & Intelligence. Embry-Riddle educates students at residential campuses in Daytona Beach, Fla., and Prescott, Ariz., through the Worldwide Campus with more than 125 locations in the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and through online programs. The university is a major research center, seeking solutions to real-world problems in partnership with the aerospace industry, other universities and government agencies. For more information, visit http://www.embryriddle.edu, follow us on Twitter (@EmbryRiddle) and facebook.com/EmbryRiddleUniversity, and find expert videos at YouTube.com/EmbryRiddleUniv. - See more at: http://news.erau.edu/top-news/assure-core-member-embry-riddle-and- partner-universities-receive-three-faa-research-awards-to-study-unmanned-aircraft- systems#sthash.PpCNK1jr.dpuf Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY REQUEST (1) I am a Senior First Officer with British Airways (BA), based at London, Heathrow flying the B777. I have been with BA for 15 years and have been flying the 777 for 6 years. Before that I was flying the 747-400. Prior to BA I flew the 747-400 with Virgin Atlantic, B757s and B767s with UK charter airline 'Airtours' (now part of Thomas Cook) and my professional flying career started as a manufacturer's pilot - flying Jetstream turboprops for British Aerospace. Before flying commercially, I worked with British Aerospace within the Technical Sales discipline and was, in my leisure time, involved with general aviation as an flying instructor. I am completing a Master's degree (MSc) in Air Transport Management with City University London and the final piece of that jigsaw is a project/dissertation and I have chosen the subject of 'Ice Crystal Icing'. Rather than the complex aero/thermodynamic concepts involved, I am exploring the operational and training challenges that airline flight crews face with this phenomenon. This qualification is not being sponsored by my employer; I have undertaken to finance it myself - the rationale being that as I intend to retire from airline flying in 5 years from now that new aviation challenges may become available to me based on this contemporary qualification and my aviation background (that is the plan any way!) the survey link follows https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ice-crystal-icing Sincere thanks, Mike Skelhorn Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY REQUEST (2) Dear Aviation Colleagues, My name is Tyler Spence, a PhD student at Purdue University working under the direction of Dr. Mary Johnson in the School of Aviation and Transportation Technology. We are seeking survey responses for an FAA funded research project targeting ways to improve the General Aviation safety record through the development of a national flight information database that collects anonymous flight data, known as Aviation Safety Information and Sharing (ASIAS). We are developing ways to analyze flight data from data recorder systems that have flight data monitoring capabilities like the Garmin G1000, Avidyne Entegra, or Aspen Evolution 1000. We are seeking feedback from anyone that uses the GA system including (but not limited to) pilots, maintenance personnel, flight instructors, pilot examiners, aircraft owners (individual or fleet), flight data analysts, and administrators. The survey comprises of two main sections: 1) Opinions of flight data monitoring and the use of a national database that should take about 10 minutes to complete; and, 2) potential flight analysis graphs and figures that could be included in the application tool that should take about 30 minutes to complete. You are free to not answer any questions, and stop participation in the survey at any time. No personally identifiable information will be collected. All answers reported in analysis will only be in aggregate without any connection to you on any response you may provide. Thank you very much for your participation on this survey. Your responses are greatly appreciated and will hopefully help the aviation industry improve the GA safety record. If you have any questions at all regarding this survey or the information contained within, please feel free to contact the researchers directly at either spence5@purdue.edu or mejohnson@purdue.edu. ***Survey Link https://purdue.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_8nOzSNWYbDGqIsJ ***(copy directly into web browser if link does not work). 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 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