Flight Safety Information January 27, 2016 - No. 019 In This Issue PROS 2016 TRAINING No one hurt when jet scheduled to pick up donor organ slides off runway in Wheeling Cirrus SR22T Stall/Spin Accident (Ohio) China Airlines 747 airplane gets stuck in mud at YVR Jet pilot distracted by laser beam while landing at Delhi airport Injuries from airplane turbulence on the rise Eye tracking monitors helicopter pilots flying blind Why Newark Airport still tops the nation in storm-canceled flights Thai Cabinet sets aside budget to raise quality of air safety inspectors 'How to prevent air, ground aircraft collision' Aviation Safety Program French Aircraft Maker Expects $9 Billion Rafale Deal to Be Signed Within a Month Iran wants to buy 500 planes and resume flights to U.S. Dublin determined to maintain its cutting edge in aircraft leasing Horizon Air switching from propellers to jets for comfort, competition Swiss Aviation Consulting expands into Asia FAA testing a concrete way to clear snow ISASI Kapustin Memorial Scholarship Applications Due in April Najeeb E. Halaby Graduate Student Fellowship PhD Research Request Professional Pilot EFB Usage GRADUATE THESIS SURVEY RESEARCH SURVEY No one hurt when jet scheduled to pick up donor organ slides off runway in Wheeling A jet slid off the runway early on Jan. 26, 2016, at Chicago Executive Airport in Wheeling. (WGN-TV) A small twin-engine jet that had arrived in the area to pick up a donor organ slid off a runway at Chicago Executive Airport in Wheeling early Tuesday morning, but no injuries were reported, officials said. The Falcon plane, which had taken off from Detroit, slid into crushable material at the end of the runway at about 4:30 a.m., according Federal Aviation Administration and airport officials. The FAA was investigating. No injuries were reported, according to the Prospect Heights Fire Department. The cargo plane was empty and had arrived to pick up a donor organ, airport spokesman Rob Mark said. The plane slid off the 5,000-foot-long runway into a field of what looks like cinder block that crushes upon impact, which was installed in November, Mark said. "When an aircraft hits them it slows them down and dissipates the energy," he said. "It was good timing--it did what it was designed to do ." There was minimal damage to the airplane, and the runway, which runs nearly north-south, was expected to re-open this afternoon. The Falcon was registered to Kalitta Equipment LLC in Ypsilanti, Mich., and flew out of Detroit's Willow Run Airport, he said. Chicago Executive Airport, formerly Palwaukee Airport, had about 5,500 landings and takeoffs last month. In 1996, the airport was the scene of an accident which killed four people when a corporate jet struggling to take off hit an embankment at the end of a runway. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-plane-slides-off-runway-in-wheeling-20160126-story.html ****************** Date: 26-JAN-2016 Time: 04:30 a.m. Type: Dassault Falcon 20 Owner/operator: Kalitta Equipment LLC Registration: N240CK C/n / msn: 24 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Minor Location: Chicago Executive Airport, IL (PWK) - United States of America Phase: Landing Nature: Cargo Departure airport: Willow Run (KYIP) Destination airport: Chicago Executive Airport, IL (PWK) Narrative: The plane suffered a runway excursion upon landing resulting in minor damage. There were no personal injuries. The aircraft came to rest in the EMAS (Engineered Material Arresting System (EMAS)) zone at the end of runway 16. http://www.aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=183945 Back to Top Cirrus SR22T Stall/Spin Accident (Ohio) Date: 26-JAN-2016 Time: 18:00 Type: Cirrus SR22T Owner/operator: Weaver Aircraft LLC Registration: N1703 C/n / msn: 0806 Fatalities: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Unknown Location: Greene County Regional Airport (I19), Dayton, OH - United States of America Phase: Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) Nature: Unknown Departure airport: Destination airport: Narrative: The aircraft apparently experienced a stall/spin and subsequent impact with airport terrain at Greene County Regional Airport (I19), southeast Dayton, located near Xenia, Ohio. The airplane received unreported damage. One fatal injury has been reported. http://www.aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=183953 Back to Top China Airlines 747 airplane gets stuck in mud at YVR The flight took a wide turn while taxiing on the runway and ended up in the grass China Airlines flight 32 took a wide turn on the tarmac and veered into the grass, shortly after landing at YVR on Tuesday evening. A China Airlines Boeing 747 took an unexpected turn into the mud at Vancouver International Airport on Tuesday night. China Airlines Flight 32, flying into Vancouver from Taipei, Taiwan, took a wide turn while taxiing on the runway after landing at around 6:10 p.m., causing the jet to drive into the soft, wet ground. A YVR media representative said there were no injuries in the incident, and that there was no effect to airport operations. All of the passengers were off-loaded safely, and were transported to the airport terminal by bus around 9:30 p.m. The plane was later towed back to the airport around 11:30 p.m. The returning flight has been delayed until Wednesday afternoon, with no impact to any other operations. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/china-airlines-747-airplane-gets-stuck-in-mud-at-yvr-1.3421549 Back to Top Jet pilot distracted by laser beam while landing at Delhi airport Hours after a Kathmandu-bound Jet Airways flight with 111 people on board was delayed due to a bomb hoax, the pilot of another Jet flight complained of being distracted by a laser beam during landing at the Delhi airport on Monday. (AFP) The pilot of Jet Airways flight 9W 643 (Lucknow to Delhi) said he was distracted by the laser beam while the plane was preparing to land on Runway 29, from the direction of National Highway 8, at the Indira Gandhi International Airport. A similar incident had taken place in October last year also when an Air Vistara pilot had complained of getting distracted by a laser beam just before landing. Read more: Air India flight to Milan returns to Delhi after smoke in cabin Airport officials said that laser beams were a major security threat for flights and the Delhi Police had been informed about Monday's incident. "The incident took place on Monday around 8.30 pm when the Jet Airways flight was approaching the airport and had been cleared to land on Runway 29. The pilot complained of some distraction and immediately informed the Air Traffic Controller, who informed the manager on the ground," an airport official said. A senior Delhi Police officer said: "We are looking in to the incident and believe that someone from Vasant Kunj or around the area might have created this mischief. We are also in touch with the pilot-incommand". Delhi Police had earlier banned the use of laser lights around the airport after the Air Traffic Control reported numerous incidents of distraction of pilots by laser beam while they approached the runway to land. Such lights were regularly used at wedding venues around the airport. "It is not just a source of nuisance but also a major threat to the safety and security of passengers/crew and aircraft," the official added. http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/jet-pilot-distracted-by-laser-beam-while-landing-at-delhi-airport/story- 1nwrweospB3c9Dq8zQW30H.html Back to Top Injuries from airplane turbulence on the rise Airlines 'need to take it seriously,' says scientist who studies high-altitude bumps An ambulance departs St. John's International Airport on Jan. 24. Several passengers and crew were taken to hospital with unspecified injuries that occurred when their American Airlines flight heading to Milan from Miami encountered severe turbulence. (CP) Extreme turbulence of the kind that injured seven people on a flight diverted to Newfoundland on Sunday appears on the rise, and airlines need improved technologies to detect it, according to a British researcher. "We need to take it (air turbulence) seriously," said Paul Williams, an atmospheric scientist who has published papers arguing climate change is likely to increase the amount of high-altitude turbulence. "I think there is a compelling case that there's an increase in turbulence and for investment in improving the detection and prediction of clear air turbulence," he said in a telephone interview on Tuesday from his office at the University of Reading. In Sunday's incident, American Airlines flight 206 was diverted to St. John's, N.L. Passengers described a lasting bout of turbulence over the Atlantic that suddenly developed into dips so jarring that people were praying for their lives. The incident comes just weeks after air turbulence struck an Air Canada Boeing 777 flying from China to Toronto, resulting in 21 injuries to passengers and the launch of a Transportation Safety Board probe. Last year, 31 people were injured in air turbulence events, up sharply from the single incident in 2014 and the 15 cases in 2013, according to Transport Canada. Williams co-published a 2013 paper in Nature Climate Change that used a climate change model to compare a pre- industrial climate with one that contained double the amount of carbon dioxide, and make predictions on long-term increases in turbulence events over the North Atlantic. The scientist says carbon dioxide is causing a long-term trend towards temperature changes high in the atmosphere, including at the cruising heights of airliners, and that is changing wind patterns. "In scientific terms, there is a wind shear. Different layers of the atmosphere are meeting at different speeds and there is a kind of friction and that causes clear air turbulence to break out," said Williams. The paper predicts the average strength of trans-Atlantic turbulence at cruising altitudes could increase by between 10 per cent and 40 per cent, and the amount of airspace likely to contain significant turbulence by between 40 per cent and 170 per cent. "Our results suggest that climate change will lead to bumpier trans-Atlantic flights by the middle of this century," the paper said. Williams says many airplanes have technology that can detect turbulence in clouds, but are less capable of detecting turbulence in clear, higher skies. "We need to come up with better methods for predicting when and where clear air turbulence will strike ... We can by running computer models come up with areas where there will be turbulence, but they can be improved," he said. A spokesman for American Airlines confirmed Sunday's injuries came after the airplane hit clear air turbulence. Ross Feinstein, a spokesman for the airline, said the seatbelt sign was lit up and the airline is reviewing why the injuries occurred. "There are a lot of aircraft that cross the Atlantic and Pacific each and every day and it's very uncommon this occurs. ... I can't stress enough that if you're in the seat, fasten your seatbelt especially when the seatbelt sign is on," he said. Spokespeople for Air Canada and WestJet also both emphasized the importance of wearing seatbelts at all times. Robert Palmer, the spokesman for WestJet, says "like any meteorological event, the ability to forecast turbulence accurately 100 per cent of the time is not an exact science." However, Williams said new technologies are emerging that can give people extra time to get their seatbelts on. He says a consortium in Europe is using a laser that beams from the front of the plane and detects patterns of turbulence, allowing time to change course. Larry Vance, a consultant with Accident Investigation and Research Inc. in Ottawa, said that for the time being seatbelts are the key to injury prevention. "With technology the way it is now, there's no way that pilots are equipped to avoid clear air turbulence. It can't be seen so you fly into it, and you just have to be ready for it," he said. http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/1337405-injuries-from-airplane-turbulence-on-the-rise Back to Top Eye tracking monitors helicopter pilots flying blind The tests used pilots in a simulator with eye-tracking infra-red glasses From battle zones to oil rigs, helicopters often operate in some of the hairiest situations in which pilots are forced to rely solely on cockpit instruments. In an effort to improve safety, the non-profit helicopter safety organization HeliOffshore is using eye-tracking technology to gain a greater understanding of how pilots operate in such scenarios. "Flying blind" is more than just a figure of speech. It's another way of describing a common occurrence when pilots must rely completely on instruments when visibility fails. The problem is that operating a helicopter is tricky enough at the best of times. Throw in a heavy fog or a blizzard with the need to constantly consult the control panel and it's not something for the faint hearted. Working with Jarvis Bagshaw Ltd, HeliOffshore is conducting a program to optimize helicopter pilot training and standard operating procedures by using eye-tracking technology. "This is the focus of HeliOffshore's uniquely collaborative eye-tracking research, which started this month," says Gretchen Haskins, chief executive officer of HeliOffshore. "We are using state of the art techniques to understand more about how pilots monitor cockpit instruments during flight." For the first phase of the program, 26 pilots from Bond Offshore, Bristow and CHC Helicopter were placed in Airbus Helicopters UK's Aberdeen-based H225 helicopter cockpit simulator, where they were put through a series of instrument flight scenarios. During these scenarios, the pilots were being given different tasks that all need to be monitored. Without visual cues, the pilots must rely on their instrument readouts for data, the question is, what instruments are they looking at any one time and how efficient is their monitoring. To learn more about this, the pilots are wearing glasses equipped with infra-red tracking devices. These flash IR light into the pilot's eyse and uses the reflections to determine what they are looking at. "Some light disappears into the pupil and some of it bounces off the iris, cornea, eyelid or surrounding skin,"says Francois Lassale, HeliOffshore's operations director. "These areas reflect different levels of infrared light, which is picked up by the camera and then analyzed to reveal which instruments are monitored during which periods of flight." HeliOffshore will present its results at its annual conference in Prague in May. http://www.gizmag.com/helioffshore-helicopter-eye-tracking/41509/ Back to Top Why Newark Airport still tops the nation in storm-canceled flights United Airlines has brought in additional employees from around the country to Newark International Airport to help frustrated travelers still trying to reschedule their flights after this weekend major snowstorm. NEWARK - Three days after a storm dumped a record 28.1 inches of snow on its runways, Newark Liberty International Airport still tops in the nation in the number of canceled flights. More than 400 flights scheduled to land or take off from Newark Airport Tuesday were canceled, according to FlightAware, a flight tracking service. That includes more than 40 percent of the airport's scheduled departures for the day. Newark's cancellations are far more than other area airports impacted by the storm. As of noon Tuesday, LaGuardia Airport, which had nearly 28 inches, had 42 canceled flights. John F. Kennedy International Airport, which received 30.5 inches, had seven canceled flights and Philadelphia International Airport had six, according to FlightAware. Atlantic City International Airport reported no cancellations Tuesday. A few passengers are willing to pay to bypass the commercial airline hassle and use a private jet to escape the storm. Airline officials said Newark Airport has had trouble getting back on schedule partly because it is still having trouble clearing snow from runways and gates and finding a place for all of the snow that has already been cleared. "In Newark, we are focused on removing snow," said Jonathan Guerin, a spokesman for United Airlines, Newark's largest carrier. "We're working with the airport authority to remove all the snow and clear the gate areas." United flew in 128 additional employees from as far away as Hawaii and California Monday to help out at Newark Airport and Dulles International Airport, Guerin said. The employees will help prepare planes and gates for departures and staff desks to help customers who need to rebook. "They will be above the wing and below the wing," Guerin said. "They will help on the ramp and in the airports." The mass cancellations at Newark have frustrated travelers, including those who rescheduled flights for Monday and Tuesday, assuming the bad weather would be out of the area. Nationwide, there have been more than 5,800 cancellations at U.S. airports since the storm ended on Sunday, according to FlightAware. Most airlines continue to offer passengers a fee waiver so they can rebook their canceled flights for free. United is allowing passengers to reschedule flights through Feb. 2 without a charge if they use the same airports as their original ticket. It is unclear if Newark will continue to have mass cancellations Wednesday. As of noon, only 10 flights scheduled for Wednesday were scratched, according to FlightAware. http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/01/why_newark_has_more_cancelled_flights_today_than_a.html Back to Top Thai Cabinet sets aside budget to raise quality of air safety inspectors Cabinet sets aside budget to raise quality of air safety inspectors BANGKOK, 27 January 2016 (NNT) - The Cabinet has approved a budget of 271 million baht to enhance the quality and potential of aviation safety inspectors in hopes of raising the Thai civil aviation standard. Government Spokesperson Maj Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd made known that, in accordance with the proposal of Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, the Cabinet this week authorized the Command Center for Resolving Civil Aviation Issues (CRCA) to move forward with the development of personnel responsible for aviation safety evaluation. On this occasion, a budget of 271 million baht was granted to the agency for the task. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand and the Royal Thai Air Force were earlier instructed by the CRCA to come up with short-, medium- and long-term measures to develop Thai aviation and solve problems in the industry. The short- term measure stipulates that the potential of Thai safety inspectors is to be improved through intensive training and support from foreign counterparts. During the Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha emphasized that any aviation experts to be employed from abroad must be individuals trusted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The safety evaluation process must also be thorough and strictly adhere to ICAO's guideline. http://news.thaivisa.com/thailand/thai-cabinet-sets-aside-budget-to-raise-quality-of-air-safety-inspectors/129644/ Back to Top 'How to prevent air, ground aircraft collision' Global aviation bodies are worried over the percentage contribution of air accidents associated with runway operations. Amid calls for collaboration and introduction of safety initiatives, experts at a forum in Lagos last week set timelines for Nigeria to reduce runway incursion and related threats to air safety, KELVIN OSA OKUNBOR reports. There is growing concern over air safety across the globe, following recurring incidents and accidents associated with runway operations. According to the International Civil Aviation Organisation ( ICAO), about one-third of aviation accidents are associated with runway operations. Sequel to the development, ICAO introduced safety initiatives aimed at reducing runway-related accidents. The initiatives were endorsed last year by ICAO partners, including Flight Safety Foundation at the first meeting of the ICAO Global Runway Safety Symposium in Montreal, Canada. The global civil aviation regulator, ICAO, has called for compilation and further development of best practices and greater sharing of information among member states. One of the first requirements, it said, will be the development of common definitions, metrics and methods of analysis to enable more complete information sharing, as well as the improved reporting of operational hazards. ICAO data showed that over the past five years, one-third of all aviation accidents have been linked to runway operations. Last week, five aviation agencies namely, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency ( NAMA) , Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN ), Accident Investigation Bureau ( AIB) and Nigerian Meteorological Agency ( NIMET) in collaborating with ICAO, Airport Council International (ACI) and International Air Transport Association (IATA), organised a forum in Lagos to address runway incursion and its attendant effects on air safety Speaking at the forum, NAMA Managing Director, Ibrahim Adbulsalam, said the establishment of Runway Safety Teams at the four major airports of Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt and the training on the use of Runway Safety Tool Kits, as well as the development and implementation of Runway Safety Action Plan, would further enhance safety of air navigation in the country. He said NAMA has concluded plans to install surface movement radar systems at Lagos and Abuja airports for the effective surveillance and control of aircraft, vehicle and personnel on ground at these airports. He said the system would ensure that aircraft and vehicles operating within the airside are equipped with transponders for effective detection by radar or automated data surveillance broadcast ( ADS- B ) systems. He said runway safety remains the most critical aspect of air safety, not only because the most critical phases of flight operations occur within the runway strip, but because of the multiplicity of sensitive activities that take place within the airside. These activities include, take-off and landing of aircraft, surface movement of aircraft, movement of operational vehicles, security personnel, Jet A1 vehicles and construction vehicles. He listed others to include, airfield lighting maintenance personnel, navigational aids maintenance personnel, aerodrome rescue and fire fighting vehicles, ATC vehicles on runway inspection. Others are wildlife, vegetation and bird control, search and rescue vehicles, as well as various other stakeholders operating therein. Abdulsalam explained that it is in view of the multiplicity of operations associated with the runway that the ICAO initiated a multi-disciplinary runway safety programme that requires collaboration among aviation stakeholders. Abdulsalam identified runway safety as consisting of three key components: runway incursion, excursion and confusion. Runway incursion, he defined, is the unauthorised presence of an aircraft, vehicle, person, animal or object on a runway or associated runway strip that constitutes a hazard to aircraft landing, taking off or taxiing within the movement area of an aerodrome. He said :" Runway excursion is the unintentional presence of an aircraft outside the runway as a result of overshooting, undershooting or running off the runway during take-off or landing roll. "These occurrences can be attributed to severe weather, technical failures, human errors, loss of situational awareness, inadequate, or lack of appropriate approach and landing or visual aids. Runway confusion is the misidentification of a runway by flight crew as a result of poor visibility, loss of situational awareness, inadequate visual aids, inadequate approach and landing aids, and parallel or near parallel runways. " He highlighted some of the steps the organisation had taken to prevent runway incidents. He said the agency in 2013 introduced surface movement and ground control services in Lagos and Abuja on May 6, 2015. The Director-General of NCAA, Capt. Mukhtar Usman, represented by the Director of Operations and Training, Capt. Sidi Abdullahi, lamented that runway incidents have been on the increase and hoped that the workshop would go a long way in mitigating runway incidents. He noted that the large number of people working on the runway particularly exposes it to danger. The Managing Director of FAAN, Saleh Dunoma described runway safety as a significant challenge to airport operators. "It presents some of the greatest problems in the aviation sector," Dunoma warned. Represented by the agency's Director of Operations, Capt. Henry Omoegwu, he said the authority had made runway safety its top priority by, among other measures, forming a runway safety team to advise on the prevailing condition on the runways, issues of concerns and confusion, and training airside personnel. According to Richie Takunde from the ACI, "Safety on the runway is very important to aerodrome operators who want to avoid or mitigate accidents or incidents. "Though Africa has the least record of flights operation compared to other continents, especially Europe, the continent is also notorious for runway incidents and accidents, according to ICAO statistics. Also speaking, the ICAO Regional Officer Air Traffic Management , Mr Albert Aidoo Taylor said: "The problems with the runways are not critical issues that cannot be addressed and Nigeria has the capacity to do that. We will be going to the airports to see things critically to see what needs to be done." Investigations revealed that aircraft ground collision has become a recurring decimal in Nigerian airports, especially at some of the busy international airports in the country. The problem even took a more worrisome dimension in 2015 following the spate of ground collision involving many airlines. The first major incident of ground collision was in 2012 when an Arik Air aircraft collided with another aircraft on ground in Jos. On Monday July 6, 2015, at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos, a Dubai-bound Emirates aircraft Boeing 777-200R also collided with a stationary Boeing 737 aircraft belonging to HaK Air at the airport's apron, leading to a substantial damage on the parked plane. This happened when the Emirates aircraft was taxing for take-off. Twelve days after, also at the same MMA in Lagos, another tragedy was averted when two Airbus A319 airplanes belonging to the First Nation Airways, a domestic carrier, collided at the apron of the MMA2 private terminal. Incidents like ground collision and other associated incidents on the runway, according to experts, elicit safety concerns in the nation's aviation industry. Though Nigeria is not the only country said to be deficient in terms of putting in place appropriate safety measures on the runways, statistics have shown that the problem is more prevalent in the African continent, despite its low rate of flights. http://thenationonlineng.net/how-to-prevent-air-ground-aircraft-collision/ Back to Top Aviation Safety Program Brian Roggow, Aviation Safety Program Manager One of the fundamental components for safe flight operations is the need for open and free-flowing communications. The university commitment to safety statement, signed and supported by interim president Dr. John Watret, states, "I encourage open participation and sharing of information, knowledge, intelligence, wisdom, and whatever other resources are at our disposal to make our workplace safer for all." To support this key component of our safety culture, ERAU has implemented a tool named W.B.A.T. - web-based aviation technology - available at [https://eraupcsafety.wbat.org/]. This tool provides a means to confidentially report both observed and perceived hazards, as well as safety concerns. Employees and students may also use WBAT to report hazards and events for inclusion in the aviation safety action program (ASAP). (Anticipate an article on the ASAP in February 2016). Every report is reviewed by an aviation safety office investigator and recommendations for risk mitigation are developed. The purpose of this system is to reveal deficiencies or operational trends that would otherwise be unnoticeable until a critical and potentially life-threatening incident or accident were to occur. Therefore, the reporting program's strength relies upon each participant's willingness to share information. It is important to remember that no disciplinary action will be taken against any person reporting a hazard or concern, with some exceptions. The exceptions are events which involve: 1) intentional violation of regulations and/or a willful disregard for safety, 2) alcohol use, 3) use of controlled substances, 4) substance abuse, 5) criminal activity, and 6) intentional falsification of records. To encourage participation, individuals making significant contributions will be rewarded for their efforts. Another key component of our safety program is the analysis of flight data, referred to as flight data monitoring (FDM). Since this program's inception in 2011, over 100,000 hours of flight data have been analyzed. The data is downloaded from each aircraft on a regular cycle. ERAU's software analyzes each flight for about eighty different event types. Such events include excessively slow or fast approaches, excessive positive or negative g-loads, excessively high taxi speeds, and excessively high RPM settings, to name a few. If a significant event is detected, safety office personnel may interview the crewmembers to determine the cause of the event. The data collected from the aircraft is handled in the same confidential manner as that from the hazard reporting system. A resource that is likely new for many readers is the website [www.faasafety.gov]. I highly encourage all of our pilots to create an account with FAA Safety. While registering with FAA Safety, you can select the type of notifications you would like to receive. These notices include upcoming NOTAMs and TFRs, FAA safety seminars, safety bulletins, and general publications. Once you have completed the registration process, you will have access to many more areas of the website. A great resource is the "activities, courses, and seminars" tab found on the homepage. To view free seminars that you can attend in-person, select "seminars." You can explore upcoming seminars by topic or geographic location, I recommend the latter. If you prefer an online and often interactive experience, check out the "courses" tab. Under "courses," select "show WINGS courses." Many of these courses provide a great interactive experience that challenges you to think critically and apply the knowledge you have gained from FAA handbooks. Most of the courses also provide WINGS credits that can be used toward the completion of a phase of the WINGS pilot proficiency program. For more information about our aviation safety program or the FAA's safety program, please contact the aviation safety office in-person or by email, [prfltsft@erau.edu]. I encourage everyone to continue to enhance their commitment to our safety culture. I challenge you all to keep your senses alerted and to report any hazards you believe are a threat to our safety. http://erau-news.com/news/2016/01/26/aviation-safety-program-2/#sthash.cYYan1Xh.dpuf Back to Top French Aircraft Maker Expects $9 Billion Rafale Deal to Be Signed Within a Month Dassault Aviation says that it is quickly "moving towards a Rafale contract with India." French aircraft maker Dassault Aviation expects a final contract for the purchase of 36 fourth generation multirole fighter jets for the Indian Air Force to be signed within the next four weeks, according to a recent company press release. "During French President François Hollande's visit to India, French and Indian government authorities signed an intergovernmental agreement paving the way for the conclusion of a contract for the sale of 36 Rafale fighters to India," the press release notes. "Dassault Aviation is very pleased with this progress, and is actively supporting French authorities in their efforts to finalize a complete agreement within the next four weeks." As I reported yesterday, a delegation from the aircraft maker is scheduled to meet with senior officials of the Indian Navy to pitch the naval version of the Dassault Rafale fighter jet on January 29. Yesterday, French President Francois Hollande and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed a memorandum of understanding on the inter-governmental agreement detailing the technical aspects of the deal, which have be a major stumbling block in negotiations over the last couple of months. The Indian Air Force wanted a customized version of the aircraft including modifications and reconfigurations to allow the installation of Indian-made and commercial-off-the-shelf systems and weapons. Dassault Aviation could also not confirm that it would be able to meet an early 2016-2017 delivery schedule of the fighter jets due to pre-existing contracts with Egypt, Quatar and the French Air Force. These issues have apparently been resolved now according to a joint statement issued after Hollande-Modi meeting on January 25: "The two leaders welcomed the conclusion of the IGA [inter-governmental agreement] on the acquisition of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft in flyaway condition, except for some financial issues relating to the IGA which they agreed must be resolved as soon as possible." French President Francois Hollande added that "[S]ome financial issues remain that will be sorted out in the next coming days." As I reported previously: The current contract under negotiation includes an offset clause which stipulated that France will have to invest 50 percent of the contract value as offsets in India. The costs for the 36 Rafale fighters - excluding the maintenance contract and the weapons suite - are estimated at around $4.5 billion. Last April, India had announced that it would only purchase 36 French-made Rafale fighter jets instead of the original 126 under the now-scrapped $20 billion MMRCA (medium multi-role combat aircraft) project. http://thediplomat.com/2016/01/french-aircraft-maker-expects-9-billion-rafale-deal-to-be-signed-within-a-month/ Back to Top Iran wants to buy 500 planes and resume flights to U.S. Iran's plan to rebuild its airline industry Iran will need hundreds of new aircraft as it rejoins global aviation networks, a move that could include direct flights to the U.S. for the first time in 36 years. Years of sanctions have left Iran's airlines with outdated and unsafe aircraft. With those restrictions now lifted, Iran is looking to spend heavily with Boeing (BA) and Airbus (EADSF), Iranian transport minister Abbas Akhondi told CNN. "We think [we need] about 100 short range fleet for our local flights. And for international flights about 400 fleet, who can do the middle and long range flights," Akhondi told CNN at an aviation conference. "Iran will compete in 5 to 7 years with all the major regional airlines." Airbus and Iran have reportedly agreed in principle to a deal for 114 aircraft. An Airbus spokesman told CNN: "We do not comment [on] any of our talks with existing or potential new customers." Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is in Europe this week and a deal with Airbus could be confirmed when he visits Paris on Thursday. Iran is already discussing the resumption of flights to the U.S., which were suspended in the wake of the Islamic Revolution in 1979 when the country's western-backed monarchy was overthrown. "Iran Civil Aviation Organization is conducting talks on direct flight between Iran and the U.S.," state news agency IRNA quoted Iran Air chairman Farhad Parvaresh as saying. "Daily flights to New York used to take place before the Islamic Revolution, and they will hopefully get resumed in the near future." With many sanctions being lifted after a deal to curtail its nuclear activities, Iran is hosting numerous business leaders looking to take advantage of an expected boom in the country's economy. Related: Why U.S. businesses could lose big in Iran Iran is also keen on boosting tourism as soon as possible, given its return to world oil markets won't be as lucrative as it may have hoped due to the price crash. "The price of oil has a big effect on our economy. But 90% of our investment in tourism is done by the private sector. And the private sector started investing even during the sanctions," Akhondi told CNN. British Airways could be one of the first western airlines back in. "We are very interested in flying to Tehran and we are hopeful that it will form part of BA's network in the very near future," Willie Walsh, the CEO of BA parent IAG, said at a conference in Dublin. http://money.cnn.com/2016/01/25/news/iran-planes-tourism-us-flights/ Back to Top Dublin determined to maintain its cutting edge in aircraft leasing An ATR 72-600 passenger aircraft, operated by Aer Lingus Group Plc, passes other Aer Lingus aircraft as it taxis on the tarmac at Dublin Airport, operated by Dublin Airport Authority, in Dublin, Ireland, on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015. Aer Lingus Group's chief executive officer-designate Stephen Kavanagh said a bid approach from IAG SA comes at a time when the Irish carrier has been mulling the need for a partnership and presents a "fast-track" growth opportunity. The late Irish businessman Tony Ryan is most associated these days with the creation of Ryanair, which he co- founded and which has become one of the world's biggest airlines. But as the man who laid the foundations for Ireland's leading role in the global aircraft leasing industry, he left another enduring legacy. FirstFT is our new essential daily email briefing of the best stories from across the web Mr Ryan, who died in 2007, was the founder and driving force behind GPA, which pioneered the aircraft leasing industry from its base at Shannon airport, in the west of Ireland. GPA no longer exists - after a failed stock market listing nearly a quarter of a century ago, its assets were acquired by GE Capital. The industry has since moved to Dublin. But as a hothouse for talent, GPA alumni have gone on to dominate the leasing business worldwide. A fifth of the planes that fly around the world today are owned by aircraft leasing companies operating out of Ireland. Airlines lease about 40 per cent of their combined global fleet, and half the world's leased aircraft are supplied to airlines by those Irish companies. As the Irish government states in its national aviation policy, outlined in August 2015: "Ireland is considered the birthplace of aircraft leasing and today it is one of the main industries in which Ireland is a global leader." The GPA legacy is not the only reason the aircraft leasing industry has made Dublin its home. There are fiscal reasons to do with the way the Irish tax system treats depreciation, as well as the country's 12.5 per cent corporate tax rate, one of the lowest in Europe. It has an expertise in technical services to the airline industry and a nexus of professional services in law and accounting that has grown up around the leasing sector. Ireland also has two key advantages that arguably cement its position as the global hub for the industry. There is competition from Singapore, but I don't think that Ireland's position is being eroded Tweet this quote It was one of the first countries to sign and ratify the Cape Town Convention, the international treaty governing moveable property. As an acknowledgment of Irish pre-eminence in the sector, the aircraft protocol of the convention placed the registry of aircraft equipment in Ireland, and decreed that legal disputes are heard in the Irish High Court. The Irish government is also planning to adopt the Alternative A insolvency, which sets out the rules for dealing with the insolvency of entities that lease aircraft, including airlines. It is modelled on Chapter 11 of the US insolvency code. As the official aviation policy document notes, doing so "will improve Ireland's attractiveness as a jurisdiction for aviation finance". Kate Curneen, a senior associate in the aviation finance group at Dillon Eustace, a Dublin law firm, says locating the Cape Town Convention registry in Ireland, and having the Irish courts as the mediation mechanism, are key elements of the package the country offers the industry. The other advantage is a web of at least 70 double taxation agreements with other countries, including those in Asia where the demand for leased aircraft is especially strong. Asia is also where competition for Ireland as the global hub for aircraft leasing is strongest: Singapore is a notable base for the industry in the Asian market. "There is competition from Singapore, but I don't think that Ireland's position is being eroded in any significant way," Ms Curneen says. "The Irish government is not being complacent about it." The industry is now starting to think about how to keep growing. In November, the Financial Times reported the UCD Smurfit Business School in Dublin is preparing an MSc in Aviation Finance course with the first students expected next September. Ciaran Ó hÓgartaigh, dean of the school, told the FT: "The industry is thinking, and we are thinking, about where the next generation of industry leaders is going to come from." Given the global nature of the industry, it is hardly surprising that some 40 per cent of the students enrolled for the first year are international. Subjects will include the analysis of leasing agreement, taxation and law, risk assessment, aircraft valuation and insurance. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ded0eebc-a405-11e5-873f-68411a84f346.html#axzz3yRmOA4Ym Back to Top Horizon Air switching from propellers to jets for comfort, competition Perhaps to the relief of regional air passengers who don't like narrow planes powered by noisy propellers, Horizon Air is shifting back to jets. The company, a sister airline to larger Alaska Airlines, plans to order 30 regional jets in the first quarter of 2016, according to executives speaking during the fourth-quarter conference call Jan. 21. Alaska Airlines already partners with SkyWest Airlines, which operates 76-seat Embraer 175 jets. Horizon's intent is to offer a better passenger experience, while also keeping operational costs down. The new 76-passenger jets will replace some of the Bombardier Q400 Dash 8 turboprops that Horizon now exclusively operates, although it's unclear how many of the 52 Dash 8s, a twin-engine propeller-driven aircraft that carries 76 passengers, also will be retained. Alaska Air Group Chief Financial Officer Brandon Pedersen said during the call that regional jets offer some advantages in the market. "One is they have increased reach versus the Q400," he said. Also, "(the jet) delivers a better passenger experience, especially on those longer-length missions, than the Q400. Our competition, frankly, is using those in many of our markets, and I think we want to make sure that we are staying on par or better with the customer experience side." Pedersen's at least partly referring to competitor Delta Air Lines. In late 2015, Delta started operating 110-passenger Boeing 717s, out of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. If Horizon brings in newer jets to compete against Delta's older regional jets that Boeing no longer builds, it would fuel the battle for market share between Alaska Air Group and Delta. While none of the Alaska executives named a particular model of jet they'll order, the mention of 76 seats suggests an order of Brazilian-built Embraer 175s, said Air Insight partner Addison Schonland, in a recent post. Alaska Airlines already is familiar with the jets through its partnership with SkyWest Airlines, which operates Embraer 175s on some routes for Alaska. "Airlines appreciate its efficiency," Schonland wrote of the Embraer 175. "But passengers love the cabin - big windows and a layout that feels much larger than the typical regional jet." The planned Horizon jet purchase will be a pivot from years past, when the company decided on an all-turboprop fleet to cut fuel costs. But since then jet engine technology has greatly improved, said Steve Danishek, a Seattle-based air travel analyst, and president of TMA Inc. "What they're determining is that the operating costs are comparable for new regional jets," Danishek said. "The old (regional jets) were pigs, they were fuel hogs." In addition, the replacement jets will be faster, and better able to fly above bad weather, he said. "If they can go around weather and over weather and are faster, it also means they can get more flights a day from each plane," Danishek said. "They can produce more revenue in the same time period." http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2016/01/26/horizon-air-switches-from-propellers-to-jets-for.html Back to Top Swiss Aviation Consulting expands into Asia Swiss Aviation Consulting is setting up an affiliate in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. Swiss AeroConsultant (Asia) Sdn. Bhd. was officially incorporated in December 2015. The company selected Malaysia for its central location in the Southeast Asian market and for the availability of qualified staff who, in addition to English and the local Bahasa, speaks the languages of Swiss Aviation Consulting's clients in China, India and Indonesia. "To set up an office in Asia was an absolute imperative for Swiss Aviation Consulting." Daniel Lütolf, managing director and chairman said: "To set up an office in Asia was an absolute imperative for Swiss Aviation Consulting." "Southeast Asia is a hot market. Both the airline and executive aviation sector have an increasing requirement of aircraft, their financing and related services. With the added presence in Malaysia we pursue our strategy to follow our clients' business needs geographically as well as with respect to high quality services," added Lütolf. http://corporatejetinvestor.com/articles/swiss-aviation-consulting-expands-into-asia-256/ Back to Top FAA testing a concrete way to clear snow The FAA is interested in potentially using the technology at airports Anyone who's dealing with the current snowstorm in the US will know that clearing snow is hard work and futile if there's another dump. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Chris Tuan may have put an end to the need to shovel snow, however. His conductive concrete simply melts any snow that lands. The special concrete has added steel shavings and carbon particles that make up around 20 percent of the mixture. This is enough to allow the solidified material to conduct electricity, thereby giving off heat and melting any snow and ice that has settled on it. Despite this, it remains safe to the touch. Tuan, a professor of civil engineering, and his research team are working with the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) to test the concrete. According to Tuan, the FAA is interested in potentially using the technology at airports. "To my surprise, they don't want to use it for the runways," says Tuan. "What they need is the tarmac around the gated areas cleared, because they have so many carts to unload - luggage service, food service, trash service, fuel service - that all need to get into those areas. They said that if we can heat that kind of tarmac, then there would be far fewer weather-related delays." Airports wouldn't be the first application of Tuan's conductive concrete. A form of the material was on a bridge as far back in 2002 and is said to have been successfully de-icing its surface ever since. While he says it's not cost effective to lay entire roads using conductive concrete, Tuan says that it is well suited to targeted locations like this, with other suitable locations including intersections, exit ramps, driveways and sidewalks. In a similar use of technology, Tuan has also shown that concrete with the mineral magnetite mixed into it can be used to block electromagnetic waves. Such a material could be used for protecting against cell-phone triggered attacks or espionage. The conductive concrete is being tested with the FAA until March this year. http://www.gizmag.com/university-nebraska-lincoln-chris-tuan-conductive-concrete/41495/ 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 Najeeb E. Halaby Graduate Student Fellowship The Najeeb E. Halaby Graduate Student Fellowship was established by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) to shape the next generation of researchers in aviation weather, honoring the late Najeeb Elias Halaby, an eminent aviator and administrator, for his vision and more than five decades of extraordinary contributions to aviation (http://www.ral.ucar.edu/halabyfellowship.pdf). The Fellowship The recipient of a Najeeb E. Halaby Graduate Student Fellowship will spend three months (in 2016 or early 2017) in residence with NCAR's Aviation Weather Research Program, which Mr. Halaby was instrumental in establishing in the 1980s. As the nation's leader in addressing aviation weather research, NCAR plays a unique role in meeting user needs by transferring research results to operations through its Research Application Laboratory (http://www.ral.ucar.edu/). The Fellow will conduct research broadly aimed at improving the integration of weather into decision support tools for improved weather avoidance and air traffic management. The Fellowship will provide: * a monthly stipend for three months, including temporary living expenses * round-trip travel expenses to and from Boulder, CO * travel to a conference to present results * page charges for one publication of key results Eligibility and Application The Halaby Fellowship targets graduate students (late Masters or early PhD level) enrolled in an aviation-relevant department or program of a domestic or international university. Interested candidates should have advanced research skills, far-reaching vision, and dedication to get things accomplished. Consideration for this Fellowship will be given to candidates based on the following submitted material: * Curriculum vitae * Proposal (maximum five pages) presenting the research to be conducted at NCAR, the anticipated outcome of that, and how the proposed effort ties into the candidate's ongoing graduate research project(s) * Contact information for three references (one of which should be the student's primary advisor) NCAR will accept applications for the Halaby Fellowship each year. Email Applications by February 28, 2016 to halabyfellowship@ucar.edu Back to Top PhD Research Request Dear Fractional Jet Pilot, Fractional jet pilots have achieved an amazing safety record over the last 25 years. Research shows that your pilot group has achieved significantly better safety results when compared with similar jet pilot groups. This research investigates why are fractional jet pilots better than these other pilot groups? Is it due to training/skills, safety culture, union or company leadership? Safety culture has been studied for over a decade at the commercial airline level, and has consistently demonstrated a predictive capability. In recent years, safety culture has been concluded to predict safety performance. Safety culture is an important factor to investigate. My name is Kevin O'Leary and I am a Ph.D. candidate at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. I am completing my dissertation by researching the safety culture of fractional jet pilots. This research has the potential to begin the understanding of why fractional pilots have a superior safety record. Due to the nature of this research, the survey respondents have been required to be pre-qualified to participate in this survey. Please follow the link below and fill out the pre-qualification form so that your pilot status can be verified. After verification, an untraceable survey link will be emailed to your email address. This link will be completely separate and remain separate from your pilot verification data. Your identity will never be disclosed and is not connected with the survey answers you provide. The research survey you will receive after completing the pre-qualification form will not include any identifiable data about the pilot, pilot's place of employment or the aircraft primarily flown. The research survey will take about 11 minutes. Please note that these responses will generate a donation to the Corporate Angel Network and potentially improve general aviation safety. https://www.research.net/r/Curt-Lewis-PreQual Thank you very much for your help! Principal Researcher Kevin O'Leary Ph.D. Candidate Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University 617-600-6868 Olearyk1@my.erau.edu 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 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 Curt Lewis