Flight Safety Information January 12, 2016 - No. 008 In This Issue PROS 2016 TRAINING FAA orders checks on a handful of 777 engines Relatives of those killed in Sinai plane crash to sue aircraft owner Swedish Airports on High Alert After Traces of Explosives Found on Suitcase American Airlines Should Not Have Told Family They Couldn't Use FAA-Approved Safety Harness Europe Sets Up Digital 'SWAT' Team for Aviation Cyber Threats FAA hiring changes endanger air safety Air India to hire over 534 specialized pilots as shortage hits operations Korean Air, Asiana struggle to retain pilots Air India to dry-lease up to 15 A320 aircraft Designing a More Accessible Airplane for People With Disabilities Graduate Research Survey Upcoming Events Jobs Available FAA orders checks on a handful of 777 engines Following an uncontained engine failure and fire as a Boeing-built British Airways 777 jet took off in Las Vegas last September, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is initially mandating inspections of just six specific engines of similar age, configuration and usage flying in the U.S. The FAA airworthiness directive, set to be published Tuesday in the Federal Register, requires an inspection of three metal disks in the innards of the six GE-90 engines, and replacement of the parts if any anomaly is found. GE spokesman Rick Kennedy said only one of the six engines listed by the FAA remains to be inspected and that one will be done this week. Kennedy said GE anticipates inspecting a second small set of engines once the first set of inspections is complete, and it expects another FAA airworthiness directive to make this mandatory. The required ultrasonic inspections are conducted without removing the engines from the wings of the jets. In the Sept. 8 incident, a metal disk in the high pressure compressor section of the engine core broke apart explosively on take-off, shooting out hot metal fragments that pierced the engine, the pod surrounding the engine and the wing of the airplane and igniting a serious engine fire. The pilot aborted the take-off, slammed on the brakes and ordered an evacuation. All 157 passengers and 13 crew on board were able to exit safely on emergency-escape slides from the right side of the aicraft as fire engulfed the left side. The engine involved in this first uncontained failure of any GE-90 was one of the first built for the initial 777s after 1995. About 400 engines of this early GE-90 type are now in service on 167 airplanes. More recently built 777s have a different configuration. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is in charge of the accident investigation, has not released any information on whether the initial inspections turned up any anomalies. A pre-publication copy of the FAA mandate states that the root cause of the initial crack in the disk that broke apart is still unknown but that once this is determined, "we might consider additional rulemaking." http://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/faa-orders-checks-on-a- handful-of-777-engines/ Back to Top Relatives of those killed in Sinai plane crash to sue aircraft owner All 224 people on board the aircraft were killed when the plane crashed in October, however officials are still in disagreement on whether it was brought down by a Daesh bomb. (Twitter)All 224 people on board the aircraft were killed when the plane crashed in October, however officials are still in disagreement on whether it was brought down by a Daesh bomb. (Twitter) Relatives of the victims who were killed in the Metrojet plane crash in the Sinai peninsula, Egypt, in October are suing the company which owned the plane, according to Sputnik News. The Airbus A321 aircraft was leased by Metrojet from a US company called International Lease Financial Corporation (ILFC). All 224 people were killed in the incident. Around 100 relatives of the victims will launch a lawsuit against ILFC, seeking between $300,000 and $1.5 million in damages, according to their lawyer, Igor Trunov. He reportedly said "We have prepared the materials to claim compensation for the victims' families from the owner of the aircraft - an American company ILFC." There is still disagreement among authorities on what exactly brought down the aircraft. Russian and Western intelligence agencies have maintained that a bomb, likely planted by Daesh or a Daesh-affiliated group, caused the plane to crash. The UK claimed in November that it had information to strongly suggest that this was the case.. In Egypt, however, authorities deny this version of events and claim that there is no evidence for an explosive device being planted. Following the crash, an alleged Daesh-linked audio recording claimed responsibility for the attack. http://www.albawaba.com/loop/relatives-those-killed-sinai-plane-crash-sue-aircraft- owner-791834 Back to Top Swedish Airports on High Alert After Traces of Explosives Found on Suitcase Bomb Squad handling suspicious bag belonging to elderly Swedish lady Swedish airports were on high alert on Sunday after security staff at Sweden's Stockholm-Skavsta airport detected traces of an explosive powder on a passenger's suitcase. The baggage and departure halls of the airport have been cordoned off and a bomb squad from Stockholm are at the scene, local police said. "The bag belongs to an elderly Swedish lady, who was traveling to Poland," police spokeswoman Anette Wilhelmsson said. The passenger remains at the airport and is being questioned by officers. Flights are still able to arrive at the airport, but departing flights have been halted until the bomb squad removes the suspicious bag. Stockholm-Skavsta Airport, around 100 kilometers south of Stockholm, is the fifth largest airport in Sweden and handles around 2 million passengers a year. http://www.wsj.com/articles/swedish-airports-on-high-alert-after-traces-of-explosives- found-on-suitcase-1452430959 Back to Top American Airlines Should Not Have Told Family They Couldn't Use FAA-Approved Safety Harness The CARES harness in use by children who are not related to this article. Consumerist reader John and his wife were traveling with their two-and-a-half-year-old daughter on an American Airlines flight from New York to San Diego, and they'd brought along a special device to help keep their toddler safe, a CARES (Child Aviation Safety Restraint System) harness. Despite the fact that it's approved by the Federal Aviation Administration, John says the flight's pilot refused to take off while his daughter was using it in her seat. John hadn't been expecting pushback: American Airlines' policy allows for approved car seats, and FAA rules say that airlines must allow parents to use approved child-restraint systems, including CARES harnesses. But he says flight attendants informed them that the pilot had said the harness couldn't be used during taxi and takeoff. "We informed the flight attendant that we had used the harness on 11 previous flight segments including five in the last two weeks and an earlier flight that day" on American flights from London to JFK, John wrote, as well as four different AA flight segments in October. "We also told the attendants that our toddler would not remain seated without the harness; she would release her seatbelt and squirm," John told Consumerist, adding that they explained to attendants that the device was FAA-approved and that they believed the pilot was incorrect. He says one flight attendant accused him of jumping down her throat, and another crew member told them the pilot wouldn't take off with the device strapped to the seat. "We had been in transit for over 20 hours, so in desperation my wife held our daughter during takeoff," John says. "It's the only way she'd stay secure without the strap." "We believe the flight attendants and pilot are poorly trained, poor in customer service, and endangered our child," John added. Consumerist asked the FAA if there were any restrictions on when the harnesses could be used, and a representative told us no, that travelers should be able to use them "during all phases of flight." When we reached out to American last week, we were told the company was "looking into" the situation, and directed our attention to the FAA's guidelines regarding child safety restraints, which says, again, that CARES safety harnesses are approved for all parts of a flight, including taxi and takeoff. Consumerist checked in again with American today to see if the airline had anything further to share regarding John and his family's experience. "We continue to review these allegations. However, a Child Aviation Safety Restraint System (CARES) may be used during all phases of flight," a spokesperson said by email, confirming what the FAA told us, adding that the device must have the below label, per the FAA - a label John says he showed to the flight attendants: So what should you do if you find yourself in a similar situation with a CARES harness? A spokeswoman for the FAA told Consumerist that parents should bring information from the agency's site with them when they travel. Despite that, John said he did provide FAA information to the flight crew. He has yet to hear anything back from American, even after he gave us permission to share his contact information with the airline's media relations team, which we did. He tells Consumerist he's filed complaints both on the AA.com website and through the FAA complaint website. http://consumerist.com/2016/01/11/american-airlines-should-not-have-told-family-they- couldnt-use-faa-approved-safety-harness/ Back to Top Europe Sets Up Digital 'SWAT' Team for Aviation Cyber Threats European aviation agency's team would identify and combat potential hacking attacks A Lufthansa Boeing 747 passenger plane taxis for takes off at Frankfurt am Main. By ANDY PASZTOR Europe's top air-safety official said he is hiring a group of high-level computer experts to identify and combat looming cyber threats to aviation. Intended to be a kind of digital SWAT team for hacking attacks, the initiative launched last month goes beyond U.S. efforts and is the most dramatic example of the European Aviation Safety Agency's increasingly aggressive approach to such risks. The aim is to quickly provide technical assistance to carriers or national regulators anywhere in Europe in the event of a cyber attack, Patrick Ky, the agency's executive director, said in an interview. The move is also part of a broader campaign by the agency, which serves 32 member states, to expand its authority beyond traditional safety regulations. "We think the aviation system is quite vulnerable to cyber attacks," Mr. Ky said. Aviation authorities world-wide have said there hasn't been a verified instance of an individual or a group successfully hacking into a commercial airliner's power or flight- control systems while airborne. But, like many experts, Mr. Ky worries about growing potential threats as aircraft become more connected to ground-based computer networks, ranging from maintenance to navigation to cabin entertainment. Mr. Ky said he has started to recruit cyber experts with the aim of reassuring political leaders and passengers that "we are ready and we are going to help" if aviation computer systems are compromised. The team will be supplemented by staff loaned from various national regulators. He added that France, the U.K. and a number of Scandinavian countries have pledged to assist with the policy, and that he discussed the concept earlier this week with Peggy Gilligan, the top safety official at the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. Initially, the focus will be on cataloging and monitoring cyber-related hazards confronting commercial planes and other aircraft world-wide. But by late 2016, according to Mr. Ky, a core team of roughly a dozen troubleshooters should be ready to respond to specific incidents. He envisions 50 or 60 experts will eventually be dedicated to such work. Leaders of EASA and the FAA have previously talked about cooperating on more-stringent design standards to insulate flight-controls and other safety-critical systems from potential cyber attacks. Each agency has asked its own phalanx of industry officials and outside experts to come up with recommendations. But the U.S. and Europe are at odds over some principles, especially when it comes to the best way to safeguard smaller, private aircraft. Even if a joint approach emerges, sweeping regulations or legislation could take years to become final. Rather than simply wait for that process to end, Mr. Ky and EASA's policy-setting management board are intent on ensuring that timely, detailed technical assistance will be available to deter or minimize the impact of any computer breach. "The aircraft when it's flying, is quite immune" to such threats "at least for the time being," according to the EASA chief. But he said he is more worried about maintenance functions and other ground- based systems that can tap into onboard computers. "The risk is there," he said. Mr. Ky, who took over the agency more than two years ago, is now pushing to get certain security, operational oversight and aircraft-inspection responsibilities previously reserved for aviation regulators from individual countries. He has already shaken up the bureaucracy and clashed with some airline officials by moving into areas once considered strictly off-limits for the agency. His campaign to broaden the agency's purview will be debated by European legislators and politicians in coming months. Last year, the European Commission concluded that threats to "cyber security are increasing and may require new approaches to certification" of aircraft and major components. Precisely how EASA will proceed, and what additional resources it will have, are expected to be a big part of the impending debate. http://www.wsj.com/articles/europe-sets-up-digital-swat-team-for-aviation-cyber- threats-1452286626 Back to Top FAA hiring changes endanger air safety By Verne Latham A shortage of qualified air-traffic controllers caused by new Federal Aviation Administration hiring rules is creating dangerous conditions in American skies. Currently, about 11,000 fully certified air-traffic controllers keep watch over about 87,000 daily flights, according to the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. The number of controllers should be 4,000 higher, and the current qualifying practices make the problem worse. (According to the controllers association, 32 certified air traffic controllers work at Houston Intercontinental, 19 work at William P. Hobby and 71 at Houston TRACON, also known as Houston Air Traffic Control.) The FAA historically has preferred to hire military veterans or graduates from 36 schools certified to produce reliable air-traffic controllers. But about two years ago, the agency opened its application process to anyone off the street, provided they passed a new biographical assessment. The questions initially, though no longer, used to screen those who may guide the fate of your next flight included: "What sports did you play in high school?" and "What magazines do you read?" If the public knew, they'd do a lot more than review the emergency procedures in the seatback card. In a field with no room for error - one mistake is catastrophic - passion counts. But the FAA's decision to throw its application process wide open is driving down the quality of applicants. Instead of those who are so dedicated that they devote years and thousands of dollars to a certified program, it now can be someone who is looking for a step up from checkout clerk. The 100-plus-question biographical assessment was intended to create greater equality in the entrance requirements to join the FAA. However, an October 2014 study by the FAA admitted that "the evidence for using these biodata items for controller selection is weak." Some of the best students in the air traffic management program at Arizona State University, where I'm a lecturer, have taken the test and not scored well. Some in our program have heard of working controllers who can't pass the test. Many who would have been snapped up before the changes have been shut out of the field. But it's not just affecting air-traffic hopefuls. It's also costing taxpayers. After being hired by the FAA, air-traffic controllers undergo two to three months of in- depth training at the FAA academy in Oklahoma City. After graduating from the academy, trainees have one to three years of on-the-job training at a tower or en route air-traffic facility at an annual cost in salary and benefits of about $93,000. About one-fifth of those who begin the training do not finish, according to an FAA report. Congress is calling for an investigation into the new hiring practices. The Air Traffic Controllers Hiring Act of 2015 has been introduced by U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren, R-Ill., and U.S. Rep. Matt Salmon, R-Ariz., among others, to reverse the changes. Hultgren's last bill, the Safe Towers Act, died in last year's Congress. Let us hope that it does not take a tragedy to rouse Congress to action. And action is needed soon: Large numbers of the FAA's 11,000 certified air-traffic controllers are either retiring or eligible to retire. Mandatory retirement is age 56. To be fully staffed, the FAA must hire, on average, 1,240 candidates a year. But it hasn't been keeping pace. Lower staff levels means demands will increase on air-traffic controllers, making it even more crucial that those jobs be filled with qualified, passionate professionals. In aviation there's no room for mistakes. Latham is a lecturer in air-traffic management at the Polytechnic School, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University. http://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outlook/article/Latham-FAA-hiring-changes- endanger-air-safety-6751773.php Back to Top Air India to hire over 534 specialized pilots as shortage hits operations NEW DELHI: In one of the largest-ever pilot recruitment drives, state-run Air India will hire over 500 type-rated pilots on contract basis for the carrier's narrow-body fleet, which is expected to grow to about 80 aircraft by March 2018. The present strength of the narrow-body fleet is 66. The fresh hiring of 534 Airbus A320 pilots is in line with Air India's aircraft induction plans and aimed at overcoming the shortage which has many times led to cancellation of its flights at the last minute, according to a source. At present Air India has 1,441 pilots, with 670 of them flying 66 A320 family aircraft. Besides, another 70 pilots are under training. Air India's pilots strength will cross 2,000 by May this year when the recruitment exercise gets completed, the source said. "We will be inducting 29 more A320s including 14 A320neos between April this year and March 2018. In line with this induction programme, we are recruiting 534 type-rated pilots as well on a contract basis," an Air India source told PTI. Type rating is a regulating agencies certification given to a pilot to fly a certain aircraft type that requires additional training, which involves huge cost, beyond the scope of the initial license and aircraft class training. The national carrier has added 66 A320 family aircraft in its fleet besides Boeing planes. It has already tied up with a Kuwaiti aircraft lessor to lease 14 A320neos, which are to be delivered by March 2017. In addition to this, Air India would soon float tenders for leasing of 15 A320s to augment capacity. "At the same time, we will also be phasing out some old classic A320s from the fleet. We expect our overall narrow body (A320 family) fleet to stand at around 75-80 aircraft by the end of March 2018," the source said. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Air-India-to-hire-over-534- specialized-pilots-as-shortage-hits-operations/articleshow/50525510.cms Back to Top Korean Air, Asiana struggle to retain pilots Korean Air and Asiana Airlines are struggling to retain their pilots who are being tempted by higher salaries and better incentives offered by Chinese rivals, officials said Monday. The increasing exodus of local pilots could pose a threat to aviation safety at the country's two flagship carriers, with a growing number of airplanes being flown by inexperienced aviators. Korean Air and Asiana Airlines say there isn't much they can do about the growing exodus because they are not in a position to improve working conditions for pilots amid worsening bottom lines. "China's aviation market has been expanding at a swift pace over the past few years," said an airline industry analyst, on condition of anonymity. "This means that Chinese carriers need more pilots capable of flying commercial jets, but there aren't many experienced aviators in the world's second-largest economy." The shortage of seasoned Chinese pilots has forced mainland carriers to recruit foreign pilots, and those flying with Korean Air and Asiana Airlines have become their main target. "A pilot with 15 years of flight experience at Korean Air receives about 150 million won a year. But many Chinese carriers reportedly offer twice as much, on top of free housing and education subsidies for their children," the analyst said. "Lured by fat paychecks and attractive benefits, an increasing number of Korean pilots have moved to China." Given that it normally takes many years to train a pilot, Chinese airlines will likely accelerate the recruiting of experienced Korean pilots in the coming years amid the mainland's rapidly expanding aviation market. In 2015, a total of 46 Korean Air pilots quit to work for Chinese carriers, up from two in 2014 and seven in 2013, according to airline industry data. The flagship carriers have also seen an increasing number of junior pilots move to low- cost carriers. "Pilots at budget carriers get paid less than those at flagship carriers, but they can become captains within four years while it takes about 10 years at Korean Air and Asiana Airlines," the analyst said. "When they become captains, they can move to foreign carriers and receive more pay. So to advance their careers more quickly, some junior pilots prefer to work at budget airlines." Desperate to fill the void Korean Air, headed by president Chi Chang-hoon, has been taking all possible measures to retain pilots but to no avail. To fill the void, the carrier has hired more foreign pilots, in addition to retired Air Force pilots and those graduating from training schools at home and abroad. The company recruited a total of 77 non-Korean aviators last year, up from 50 in 2014. "We are not the only carrier hit by the pilot exodus. All major carriers around the world are grappling with the same problem," a Korean Air spokesman said. "We are recruiting experienced and talented pilots through various channels to replace those who are leaving. We are doing everything we can to maintain an ample number of qualified aviators." Korean Air has been recruiting personnel who have completed the "Airline Pilot Program" at Korea Aerospace University in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. Asiana Airlines, headed by CEO Kim Soo-cheon, also said that to replace outgoing pilots, it has been hiring retired military pilots and aviators from other airlines. "We will mobilize more resources to nurture pilots in cooperation with training institutions," a company spokesman said. The carrier is running its own pilot training program, while it has been hiring from among those who complete the training course at Hanseo University in Taean, South Chungcheong Province, since 2009. http://www.koreatimesus.com/korean-air-asiana-struggle-to-retain-pilots/ Back to Top Air India to dry-lease up to 15 A320 aircraft Air India has entered the market to lease up to 15 Airbus A-320 aircraft. The Airbus A-320 family of aircraft has been the mainstay of the airline's domestic operations and the aircraft proposed to be leased will also be deployed on domestic routes. The airline has put out a tender for leasing up to 15 Airbus A-320 aircraft, which it plans to induct into its fleet during 2016-17, a senior airline official said. The decision to look at the leasing route was taken as global lessors have indicated to the state-owned airline that some airlines have either cancelled or postponed their plans of taking such aircraft, the official added. Air India plans to take the aircraft on "long lease" and will go in for dry lease, which means that the airline will get the Airbus A-320 planes without the cockpit operating crew. The airline's decision to follow the leasing route is also driven by the fact that aviation turbine prices are at a record low and there is a huge jump in passengers travelling on domestic sectors on most airlines. As a result, there has been a positive impact on its, and most domestic airlines', bottomlines. Air traffic In November last year, domestic airlines flew 73.22 lakh travellers, a 24.65 per cent increase over the 58.74 lakh passengers carried during the same period in the previous year. The Directorate-General of Civil Aviation, which collates and disseminates this data, is yet to release passenger numbers for December last year. http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/logistics/air-india-to-drylease-up-to-15- a320-aircraft/article8093181.ece Back to Top Designing a More Accessible Airplane for People With Disabilities The Department of Transportation is exploring changes to airplane designs and airline policies The Department of Transportation is calling for changes that could create more accessible airplanes for disabled passengers. Chief among these: accessible bathrooms on new single aisle aircraft. That could mean significant changes for airlines. Airplanes models with handicap-accessible features do already exist but they are not the standard ones used in most airlines. Naturally, concerns about costs arise when it comes to any major changes. The Department of Transportation's statement also suggest non- design-related changes like equally accessible in-flight entertainment and a consistent definition of service animals. Last year, a disabled man made headlines for his negative experience with United Airlines. According to CNN, the airline told D'Arcee Neal to wait while they found a wheelchair for him after a mix-up. He needed to use the restroom and after waiting for other passengers to disembark-and with no signs of a wheelchair-Neal ended up crawling to the bathroom while employees watched him. Situations like this one call for not only a look at policies but also design. Even if passengers get to the airplane bathroom in a comfortable manner, the reduced space makes the experience challenging. This initial announcement marks just the beginning of the process. As CityLab points out, the road to approval for any regulations involves conversations with airlines, manufacturers, advocates and more. For now, passengers with disabilities will need to continue alerting airlines so that they can be accommodated appropriately. To make sure airlines meet passengers' needs, The Department of Transportation also suggests annual reports that track requests and how quickly wheelchair assistance is provided. http://www.psfk.com/2016/01/designing-a-more-accessible-airplane-for-people-with- disabilities.html Back to Top Graduate Research Survey I am currently pursuing a career in Aviation Safety. I will be completing a MSc. in Aviation Safety with this final research project. The scope of the research is: 'Evaluating the perception of stress among air traffic controllers in the United Arab Emirates as a safety risk to operational performance'. I am interested in the views of ATC operators from around the world to help establish a baseline for the research and gain further insight into the ramifications of stress in this sector on a global scale. The link to the survey is as follows: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/InternationalATCStress I look forward to the feedback. Kind Regards, Gary Peck MSc Aviation Safety Emirates Aviation University Back to Top Upcoming Events: Embry-Riddle A³IRCON January 14-17, 2016 Phoenix, AZ http://commons.erau.edu/aircon/2016/ Fundamentals of IS-BAO February 10, 2016 Phoenix, AZ USA https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1730209 IS-BAO Auditing February 11, 2016 Phoenix, AZ USA https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1730222 6th European Business Aviation Safety Conference 2016 February 23-24, 2016 Frankfurt, Germany www.ebascon.eu Fundamentals of IS-BAO March 2, 2016 Long Beach, CA USA https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1740682 IS-BAO Auditing March 3, 2016 Long Beach, CA USA https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1740683 Fundamentals of IS-BAO March 3, 2016 HAI HeliExpo - Louisville, KY USA https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1770508 IS-BAO Auditing March 4, 2016 HAI HeliExpo - Louisville, KY USA https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1770509 2016 Air Charter Safety Symposium | Safety: A Small Investment for a Rich Future March 8-9, 2016 | NTSB Training Center | Ashburn, VA http://www.acsf.aero/events/acsf-symposium/ 50th Annual SMU Air Law Symposium March 31 - April 1, Dallas, TX http://smulawreview.law.smu.edu/Symposia/Air-Law.aspx CHC Safety & Quality Summit | Back to Basics: Prioritizing Safety in a Challenging Economy April 4-6, 2016 Vancouver, BC www.chcsafetyqualitysummit.com BARS Auditor Training Washington, DC Tuesday-Thursday 5-7 April http://flightsafety.org/bars/auditor-training IATA OPS Conference April 18-20, 2016 Copenhagen, Denmark http://www.iata.org/events/Pages/ops-conference.aspx 3rd International Accident Investigation Forum 19-21 April 2016, Singapore Aviation Academy http://www.saa.com.sg/iaif2016/ ICAEA Workshop: Aviation English Training for Operational Personnel April 29-30, 2016 Santa Maria Island, The Azores, Portugal www.icaea.aero Back to Top Jobs Available: Deputy Director of Flight Operations & Technical Services Helicopter Association International https://www.rotor.org/AboutHAI/Employment.aspx Curt Lewis