Flight Safety Information January 25, 2016 - No. 017 In This Issue PROS 2016 TRAINING 7 hurt on American Airlines jet after severe turbulence Four Malaysian officials inspect suspected aircraft wreckage A jet slid off the runway at Chicago's O'Hare Airport after landing Alaska airliners describe regulations on drug/alcohol screenings for pilots Allegiant Air sees big changes after safety concerns Feds to end ultralight aircraft-led whooping crane migration ISASI Kapustin Memorial Scholarship Applications Due in April Professional Pilot EFB Usage CALL FOR PAPERS Military Aviation Safety Workshop GRADUATE THESIS SURVEY RESEARCH SURVEY Graduate Research Surveys. Graduate Research Survey 7 hurt on American Airlines jet after severe turbulence American Airlines passenger planes are seen on the tarmac at Miami International Airport in Miami, Florida, June 8, 2015. ST. JOHN'S, Newfoundland -- Seven people were taken to hospital after an American Airlines plane from Miami to Milan made an emergency landing in Newfoundland after the jet briefly encountered severe turbulence. The aircraft landed safely in the East Coast Canadian province late Sunday, where it was met by paramedics. American Airlines spokesman Ross Feinstein said three flight attendants and four passengers were transported to hospital for further evaluation. He said he didn't think any of the injuries were life threatening. "We are taking care of our passengers and crew, and we are working on next steps to get them safely to their destination," American Airlines said in a statement. The seat belt light was on when the Boeing 767 carrying 192 passengers and 11 crew members encountered turbulence. At least four ambulances and a fire truck were seen on the tarmac in St. John's, Newfoundland. Paramedics rushed toward the plane with stretchers and what appeared to be a backboard. An hour after the plane landed, one ambulance remained. Feinstein said they are working on next steps to get the uninjured passengers to Milan. Sara Norris, a spokeswoman for St. John's airport, said the plane will stay in St. John's overnight. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/7-hurt-on-american-airlines-jet-after-severe-turbulence/ Back to Top Four Malaysian officials inspect suspected aircraft wreckage Thai army soldier inspects a piece of suspected plane wreckage which has been found off the coast of southern Thailand in Nakhon Si Thammarat province. Reuters. BANGKOK: Four Malaysian officials believed to be from the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) arrived in Nakhon Si Thammarat here to examine the suspected aircraft wreckage found at the province's coast, according to Thai police. Pak Phanang district police chief Thanyapat Pattikongsan said the officers arrived about 10am local time Monday (11am Malaysian time) at the site of the wreckage and left about an hour later. "They (Malaysian officers) spent about an hour at the site, inspected the suspected wreckage and collected evidence before leaving the area. They did not provide any details on their work," he told Bernama. The Malaysian officials, he said, arrived at Nakhon Si Thammarat's airport Monday morning from Kuala Lumpur. Local villagers reported the discovery of a large metal object, measuring two metres wide and three metres long, suspected to originate from an aircraft at the Pa Thya beach. One of the Malaysian officials said the data and evidence collected from the debris would be sent to Kuala Lumpur for further analysis by experts. "The data and evidence will be further analysed," said the Malaysian official. Also present at the site were Thai DCA officials and security personnel. According to the Thai DCA, the debris will be flown to Bangkok to enable further analysis by experts. Its deputy director-general Amphawan Wannako told Bernama that pictures of it may be sent to Boeing or the US National Transportation Safety Board for clarification. The find off the shore of southern Thailand has prompted speculation the suspected plane wreckage could be that of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 which vanished from the radar during a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing two years ago. On Sunday, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai instructed DCA director-general Datuk Azharuddin Abdul Rahman to contact the Thai authorities over the discovery. There were 239 passengers and crew on board the doomed Boeing 777-200ER jetliner whose flight path ended in the southern Indian Ocean. - Bernama http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016/01/25/malaysian-officials-inspect-suspected-aircraft-wreckage/ Back to Top A jet slid off the runway at Chicago's O'Hare Airport after landing A United Airlines jet slid off the runway at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago on Friday, amid snowy conditions. CBS News reported that the jet was making a turn while taxiing to its arrival gate and lost traction. "[T]he Boeing 737 was carrying 179 passengers and six crew members from San Francisco to Chicago," ABC News reported. There were no reported injuries, but according to ABC News the aircraft was stuck in snow and being attended to by ground crews. http://www.businessinsider.com/a-jet-slid-off-the-runway-at-chicagos-ohare-airport-after-landing-2016-1 Back to Top Alaska airliners describe regulations on drug/alcohol screenings for pilots Former Alaska Airlines pilot accused of flying under the influence ANCHORAGE - A former Alaska Airlines captain has been charged with piloting a commercial plane while under the influence of alcohol. David Hans Arnston was arrested Wednesday in connection with two flights he piloted in June 2014, both of which had passengers on board, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. After the flights, Arnston was randomly selected for a drug and alcohol test which he failed. He was then immediately removed from duty, the airliner said in a statement Friday. Arnston is the third pilot to fail an Alaska Airlines drug or alcohol screening in the past 10 years, the company said. Regulations surrounding these screenings are overseen by the Federal Aviation Administration, but it's up to the airlines themselves to conduct the tests. "It's not just the case of us policing ourselves, we're actually very closely audited," said PenAir Director of Operations Matthew Macri. PenAir says it randomly tests about 40 percent of its 'safety sensitive' employees each year. Safety sensitive is a term defined by the federal government to include anyone with a hand in flight safety, including pilots, flight attendants, mechanics and operations agents. While the FAA oversees the enforcement of the regulations, it was not able to provide Channel 2 with an answer regarding the amount of drug and alcohol screenings an airliner is required to conduct. Alaska Airlines says each year it randomly selects about 35 percent of its safety sensitive employees for drug/alcohol screenings. Ravn Alaska says it selects about 25 percent. http://www.ktuu.com/news/news/former-alaska-airlines-pilot-accused-of-flying-under-the-influence/37587782 Back to Top Allegiant Air sees big changes after safety concerns An airline quickly growing its business in the Greater Cincinnati area has seen a shakeup in leadership following scrutiny regarding its safety record after a number of emergency landings and mechanical issues. After opening a base operation at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport just two weeks ago, the chief operating officer suddenly resigned on Jan. 17. Steve Harfts, 52, served in the position for about a year. Allegiant Air announced Friday that Jude Bricker, who has been with the company for six years, would be promoted from senior vice president of planning to COO. Chief Financial Officer Scott Sheldon will also take on more responsibilities. Company CEO Maurice Gallagher said in a statement that the roles of both Bricker and Sheldon are being enhanced. CVG is the fastest-growing non-vacation destination airport in Allegiant Air's history. The budget airline's strategy of focusing on vacationers instead of business travelers has proved incredibly popular since launching at CVG in February 2014. Allegiantair.com advertises 13 non-stop flights from CVG, including Las Vegas, home of the airline's headquarters. Between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day, at least four Allegiant Air flights performed emergency landings. All of those flights originated from Orlando, Florida. Faulty lights, deicing equipment problems, abnormal smells in the cabin and engine problem were cited as reasons for the landings. No one was injured in any of the emergency landings. "All three diversions were for very different and unrelated reasons," the airline said in a statement. "Our pilots are highly trained and Allegiant safety protocols emphasize putting the safety of passengers foremost in making any decision of this type." With the formation of the airline's base operation at CVG, three airplanes are now housed there overnight along with full-time maintenance workers. In addition to the emergency landings, other safety-related issues have brought negative attention to the airline in recent months. Allegiant Air pilots and dispatchers were ordered to take additional training after a plane had to land because it was low on fuel. The airline is also facing a lawsuit from a former pilot who claims he was fired after he ordered an emergency evacuation when he saw smoke was detected in a jet engine. Allegiant Air said in a statement that the leadership change will allow the airline to refocus on operational needs. http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2016/01/24/allegiant-air-sees-big-changes-after-safety-concerns/79281310/ Back to Top Feds to end ultralight aircraft-led whooping crane migration Whooping crane migration Operation Migration pilot Brooke Pennypacker leads whooping cranes higher as they leave a field near Somonauk, Ill., at sunrise Oct. 27, 2005. (Tom Sistak/ AP) The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said it will stop supporting the use of ultralight aircraft to help young whooping cranes migrate from Wisconsin to Florida each fall. Officials announced Friday that this season's ultralight-guided flights to the birds' winter home will be the last, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported (http://bit.ly/1PsNoOg). Operation Migration, the Canadian-based nonprofit group that has led the migrations for 15 years, has opposed the end of ultralights, saying the program has helped cranes survive. But Fish and Wildlife officials the birds haven't been successful in producing chicks and raising them in the wild. The effort has spent more than $20 million to establish the flock that's distinct from a larger flock of whooping cranes migrating between the Texas Gulf Coast and northern Canada. The final decision to end the public-private effort was made in Baraboo during a meeting of the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership, according to Pete Fasbender, a Minnesota-based field office supervisor of the Fish and Wildlife Service. "The real short answer is that we felt that this was in the best interest of the birds," Fasbender said. Nearly 250 whooping cranes have been released in Wisconsin since 2001. Fish and Wildlife officials say about 93 are currently alive, but only 10 chicks have survived to fledge. Cranes create a Great Plains spectacle Experts in crane biology have concluded that the use of aircraft and other human interaction are having a negative impact. Since 2005, the chicks that fledged and were born in the wild came from only five pairs of adults, the Fish and Wildlife Service said. "Why aren't the others getting it?" asked Fasbender. "The common thread is this lack of parenting skills." The partnership includes Operation Migration and staff from the Baraboo-based International Crane Foundation, the largest crane conservation organization in the world. Barry Hartup, director of veterinary service, said the crane foundation agrees with the changes, which include limiting human interaction with chicks and minimizing a practice where costumed humans help care for chicks. "We have to find ways to reduce the element of artificiality," Hartup said. The decision is a setback for Operation Migration, which has staff in northern Florida, just short of the final destination of St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. The ultralight migration this year has lasted more than 100 days. Joe Duff, chief executive officer of Operation Migration, posted a comment Saturday on the group's website that said: "It is sad to see the end of aircraft led migration. There will be many people who will be disappointed, and even a few who will celebrate. But those reactions are all about people and our mantra has always been, it's about the birds." http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-whooping-crane-migration-20160124-story.html Back to Top ISASI Kapustin Memorial Scholarship Applications Due in April Applications for the 2016 ISASI Rudolph Kapustin Memorial Scholarship must be submitted on or before April 15, 2016, says ISASI Secretary Chad Balentine, who serves as Scholarship Committee Chairman. Balentine noted that this worthy program is designed to encourage and assist college-level students interested in the field of aviation safety and aircraft occurrence investigation. ISASI funds the Rudolf Kapustin Memorial Scholarship through donations and will provide an annual allocation of funds for the scholarship if funds are available. Applicants must be enrolled as full time students in an ISASI recognized education program, which includes courses in aircraft engineering and/or operations, aviation psychology, aviation safety and/or aircraft occurrence investigation, etc. Applicants must have major or minor subjects that focus on aviation safety/investigation. A student who has received the annual ISASI Rudolf Kapustin Memorial Scholarship will not be eligible to apply for it again. Students who wish to apply should go to http://www.isasi.org/Documents/Forms/ISASI Rudolf Kapustin Memorial Scholarship Form.pdf for guidelines and the application form. Please Note: The 2016 Scholarship Application Form provides updated candidate requirements. Forty students received the ISASI scholarship since its inception in 2002. Back to Top Professional Pilot EFB Usage Survey https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TYWYKKJ Attention colleagues, my name is Tyler Babb and I am an assistant professor with the Middle Tennessee State University Aerospace Department. I am conducting research on the use of EFBs in the United States professional pilot industry. Active commercial pilots in the United States (except for flight instructors) are encouraged to participate, even if they do not currently use EFBs. Apologies to current MTSU students, this data is intended to be gathered by alumni. The survey is fairly short and should not take more than 15 minutes to complete. Your name will not be collected, but your company name (operator) will be collected. The company name will in no way be linked to any other data on the survey. Collection of the names of the operators is necessary to ensure a sufficient data sample from the industry. Electronic Flight Bags have become a common tool for pilots. These devices provide charts, weather data, performance data, and other pertinent flight-related information. As collegeiate aviation educators, our faculty and students could benefit from surveying the current usage of EFBs in the industry. This survey aims to collect data on the following: * the prevalence of EFBs in the professional pilot industry * trends in EFB usage * common devices and software * potential drawbacks and/or limitations With this data, aviation students around the country could see the current status of EFB usage. This research could better prepare them to enter the industry. Thank you for your participation in this survey. This information will empower students and educators alike to better prepare our future pilots for a flying career. Back to Top CALL FOR PAPERS Military Aviation Safety Workshop "Sharing Safety Lessons to Preserve Military Readiness" April 19 - 21, 2016 Albuquerque, New Mexico USA Hosted by the Rocky Mountain Regional Chapter of the International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI) Representatives of military forces, associated contractors, educators, and researchers of all nationalities are invited to participate in a three-day ISASI Military Aviation Safety Workshop. The workshop will include presentations of selected technical papers on military aviation safety topics along with tutorials targeting unique military aspects of aviation safety such as ejection system investigations and Unmanned Aerial System investigations. Presentations are solicited related to safety management, human factors, proactive detection of hazards, accident prevention, and safety culture, in addition to more traditional accident investigation case studies. The 2016 MASW is open to all interested participants and will be particularly valuable for military air safety investigators, manufacturers of military aircraft and equipment, support contractors engaged in military operations, safety program managers and safety educators. If you are interested in presenting a paper at the 2016 Military Air Safety Workshop, please submit a summary abstract (150 - 300 words) to MilitaryAirSafety@gmail.com before February 8, 2016. Back to Top GRADUATE THESIS SURVEY My name is Mark Roth and I'm presently doing my Master Thesis with a Risk Management study on multi-national aircrew. A quantitative analysis will be used for a primary data collection. This is undertaken with a survey and I hope to be able to collect a minimum of 100 data sets/responds. Working alongside such international arrangements as a Training Captain on the A380, this study is intended to highlight challenges and opportunities for operators and regulators. I would be grateful, if you would kindly publish the link of this survey on your platform. I have attached my approved project proposal for your reference. A group of subject matter expert has validated it, therefore the questions stated in the proposal have been altered. Here is the link to my survey: Survey, PG Student Mark Roth THIS SURVEY IS INTENDED FOR ACTIVE AIRLINE CABIN AND COCKPIT CREW MEMBERS ONLY. Back to Top RESEARCH SURVEY My name is Tabitha Black. I am a student at Eastern Washington University conducting research on the current state of Crew Resource Management (CRM). The focus of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of the mandated curriculum outlined in FARs and pilots' opinions of the training. Obtaining data from commercial pilots is particularly difficult considering the population of pilots is limited. I invite you to participate in this completely anonymous research project. Your help is greatly appreciated. SURVEY: https://qtrial2015q4az1.az1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_9zrGMmfd6x27rSt&Q_CHL=email&Preview=Survey Back to Top Graduate Research Surveys Barbara Schaffner is - since 11 years - a ground-facilities inspector at the Federal Office of Civil Aviation, Switzerland. As an expert in Ground Handling she is taking part in the ISAGO GOC. She co-chaired the ECAST Ground Safety Work Group and participated in the development and promotion of the RRM Syllabus (Ramp Resource Management). She is currently writing her Msc Thesis in Aviation Safety Management at City University, London. For her thesis "An Effective and Efficient Oversight of the Non-Commercial Complex Domain" - she would greatly appreciate your support by taking part in this Survey. Please note that "Survey 1 - NCC_NAA" (see below) is for National Aviation Authorities experts and "Survey 2 - NCC_Operation" (see below) is for all operational-specialists in the NCC domain (aircraft owners, flight crews, management-companies of NCC Aircraft). Thank you for your support! Survey 1 - NCC_NAA https://de.surveymonkey.com/r/Survey_NCC_NAA Survey 2 - NCC_Operation https://de.surveymonkey.com/r/Survey_NCC_Operation 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 Curt Lewis