Flight Safety Information February 24, 2016 - No. 039 In This Issue PROS 2016 TRAINING Nepal Plane Crash Kills All 23 On Board, Police Say New details emerge about Germanwings co-pilot who deliberately crashed a plane Nobody hurt when tug pulling jet catches fire at LAX Mumbai: ATC, 2 Air India pilots suspended after plane hits light pole CAA investigating Originair operator Air Freight NZ over safety concerns (New Zealand) United Airlines May Park Its 747 for More Modern Planes The Guts and Skill That Make Jungle Pilots Such Fantastic Fliers Raytheon Enters Bidding for U.S. Air Force Jet Trainer Deal Embraer Phenom 300 is most-delivered business jet in the world for the third consecutive year Lithium Battery Overheating Flight Crew Guidance NASA's Breakthrough Laser Propulsion System Could Send Ships to Mars in Just Days Paris Forum dedicated to "Aviation and Space Weather" - 17 March 2016 SMS Industry Forum - 2016 Call for papers for ISASI 2016, Iceland, 17 to 20 October 2016 The 8th Triennial International Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research Conference Research Survey Request RESEARCH SURVEY...MENTAL HEALTH & FLYING SURVEY Nepal Plane Crash Kills All 23 On Board, Police Say This is the country's second air disaster in as many years. KATHMANDU (Reuters) - A small plane crashed in Nepal on Wednesday in bad weather, killing all 23 people on board, a police official said, the country's second air disaster in as many years. The Twin Otter aircraft, operated by private Tara Air, was on a flight from Pokhara, 125 km (80 miles) west of the capital, Kathmandu, to Jomsom when it lost contact with the control tower. "It has broken into pieces," police officer Bishwaraj Khadka told Reuters from Myagdi, the town nearest the crash site. "There are no survivors." A Chinese national and a Kuwaiti citizen were among the dead. Officials said thick fog had enveloped the Mustang area where Jomsom is located. Mustang is a popular hiking area on the Mount Annapurna trekking circuit. A similar aircraft crashed in west Nepal in 2014, killing 18 people. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/nepal-missing-plane_us_56cd4b95e4b0ec6725e472f2 **************** Status: Preliminary Date: Wednesday 24 February 2016 Time: ca 08:15 Type: Viking Air DHC-6 Twin Otter 400 Operator: Tara Air Registration: 9N-AHH C/n / msn: 926 First flight: 2015 Engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 Crew: Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 Passengers: Fatalities: 20 / Occupants: 20 Total: Fatalities: 23 / Occupants: 23 Airplane damage: Damaged beyond repair Location: Myagdi district ( Nepal) Phase: En route (ENR) Nature: Domestic Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Pokhara Airport (PKR/VNPK), Nepal Destination airport: Jomsom Airport (JMO/VNJS), Nepal Flightnumber: 193 Narrative: A Viking Air DHC-6 Twin Otter 400, operating Tara Air flight 193, was destroyed in an accident in the Myagdi district, Nepal. All 23 on board suffered fatal injuries. The aircraft departed at 07:50 hours local time from Pokhara Airport (PKR) on a domestic 20-minute flight to Jomsom Airport (JMO), Nepal. Weather at both origin and destination airports was favourable, according to a Tara Air statement. https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20160224-0 Back to Top New details emerge about Germanwings co-pilot who deliberately crashed a plane Andreas Lubitz, the pilot who deliberately crashed Germanwings Flight 9525 into a mountainside in France, killing 150. The co-pilot accused of downing Germanwings flight 9525 visited the crash site as a child Germany is soul-searching after the unfathomable Germanwings crash The Germanwings copilot reportedly sped up as he flew the plane into the French Alps The deliberate crash of Germanwings Flight 9525 on the morning of March 24, 2015 stunned the world. Now, a little less than a year later, GQ's Joshua Hammer has written an investigative article into the pilot behind the crash that killed 144 passengers and six crew members. The pilot, Andreas Lubitz - who had received psychiatric treatment for depression and allegedly hid the extent of his illness from his employer - wrote a note called "Decision Sunday," with the flight code for Barcelona - where the doomed flight had originated - on March 22, two days before the crash. The note, retrieved by investigators from a trash can in the Dusseldorf apartment shared by Lubitz and his girlfriend, listed three options: "[find the] inner will to work and continue to live," "[deal with] stress and sleeplessness," and "let myself go," Hammer reports. The Telegraph initially reported on the existence of the note on September 21, 2015, but didn't include the direct quotes. The crash was the culmination of a tough period in Lubitz's life. In early March 2015, Lubitz's search history indicated that he was considering suicide, and on March 20, he searched for details about the locking mechanism on an Airbus 320 cockpit door, according to Hammer. On March 18, Lubitz was placed on four days of sick-leave by a physician, who wrote a note saying that Lubitz suffered from "a persistent vision disorder with a thus far unknown origin," which could have been psychosomatic, according to The New York Times. http://www.businessinsider.com/new-details-emerge-about-germanwings-pilot-andreas-lubitz-2016-2 Back to Top Nobody hurt when tug pulling jet catches fire at LAX LOS ANGELES (AP) - Firefighters quickly doused a smoky fire that broke out in a tug pulling a Virgin America jet at Los Angeles International Airport. LAX police spokesman Rob Pedregon says one person was in the plane's cockpit and one person was on the tug when the flames were spotted Tuesday. Officials say fire was out in minutes and nobody was hurt. Pedregon says the fire likely started in the tug's engine. He says the plane didn't appear damage but it was towed to a gate for a safety inspection. http://bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/nobody-hurt-when-tug-pulling-jet-catches-fire-at-lax Back to Top Mumbai: ATC, 2 Air India pilots suspended after plane hits light pole According to airport sources, pilots accused the air traffic control (ATC) official on duty of assigning a smaller taxiway which caused the collision. (Vipin Kumar/ HT File) The directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) has suspended an air traffic controller and two pilots of Air India, who were operating a Boeing that hit a light pole at the Mumbai airport. Although the collision, that took place early on Tuesday, did not hurt anyone or cause any serious damage to the Boeing 777-300ER, the aviation safety regulator took serious note of the matter as the Newark- bound plane had 447 people on board. According to airport sources, pilots accused the air traffic control (ATC) official on duty of assigning a smaller taxiway which caused the collision. There are designated taxiways for single-aisle and twin-aisle planes. While narrow body type aircraft are assigned Taxiway Y, Taxiway H is reserved for the big birds. But the regulator said the pilots operating a jumbo should be versed with the right taxiing lanes. "Even if the ATC assigns a wrong taxiway, a seasoned pilot should stop the aircraft if he or she feels that taxi clearance is not available," a senior DGCA official requesting anonymity said. An AI spokesperson confirmed the incident. The incident delayed the flight by about two and a half hours, airport officials added. http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/mumbai-atc-2-air-india-pilots-suspended-after-plane-hits-light- pole/story-Qo8cClKXPuzExVC5lj05mI.html Back to Top CAA investigating Originair operator Air Freight NZ over safety concerns (New Zealand) An Originair Jetstream 31 on the ground outside the Originair hangar at Nelson Airport. Safety concerns have seen the grounding of Originair branded planes at Nelson Airport. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) corporate communications spokesperson Mike Richards said it was currently investigating Originair's operator Air Freight NZ after safety concerns were brought to its attention. Richards said the CAA had restricted the operating certificate of charter service Air Freight NZ Ltd Temporary conditions which restricted its ability to conduct flights for Originair had been placed on Air Freight NZ's aircraft operating certificate while those safety concerns were investigated. Richards declined to comment further on the nature of the safety concerns or when the temporary conditions limiting Air Freight's certificate were enacted. He said the CAA "do not disclose details about an active investigation [but] suffice to say that we had concerns that warranted the steps we took". Originair is operated by Air Freight NZ, which is in turn managed by Fieldair Engineering Ltd. Fieldair's general manager Mark Troughear said the safety concerns at issue were "very specific to the particular operation" of Origin, but declined to comment on their nature. "We're not at liberty to talk about that outside of the CAA," he said. An Airwork metroliner now being used by Originair at Nelson Airport. "The operation involves a whole lot of aspects. There's a number of things there that the CAA may look at." He did not believe the safety concerns were related to Originair planes, he said. He said the limits on Air Freight NZ's operating certificate did not affect any of its other commercial operations, which include an air ambulance. "There will be a small amount of costs that Air Freight will be absorbing while it can't operate," Troughear said, noting the inevitable cost of aeroplane fuel and airways. Richards, of the CAA, said Originair had contracted another operator, Airwork NZ Ltd, to conduct its flights while the CAA undertook the investigation. Originair stopped flying jetstream aircraft in its operating colours 10 days ago, instead using two unmarked Airwork NZ metroliners, owner Robert Inglis said. He and general manager Michael Curry said they were not aware of any issues with Air Freight's operating certificate. Inglis said "any issues between the CAA and Air Freight are between them". "The CAA wouldn't tell me about that because it's not my business." He said the decision to transfer its operation to Airwork, described by Curry as "like moving from Vodafone to Telecom", was primarily due to the operator's greater range of available aircraft. Inglis said the airline had considered changing operators in the new year and hoped to complete the transfer of its aircraft to Airwork in the next few days. He refuted any suggestion that the recent operator changeover was prompted by Air Freight's limited ability to conduct flights for the airline. http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/77196786/caa-investigating-originair-operator-air-freight-nz-over- safety-concerns.html Back to Top United Airlines May Park Its 747 for More Modern Planes A United Airlines 747 on the tarmac. United Airlines Despite stalled growth in China, Brazil and Russia, a wave of newly middle-class travelers from the BRICs and beyond will start visiting international destinations in the coming decades - dwarfing the numbers we've seen thus far. United Continental Holdings Inc. is considering parking its Boeing Co. 747 jumbo jetliner fleet ahead of schedule to make way for newer, more-efficient twin-engine aircraft on its longest routes. The carrier's 22 747-400s might be retired as early as 2018, according to a memo last week to the company's pilots from Howard Attarian, senior vice president of flight operations. That would be an accelerated timetable, as then-Chief Financial Officer John Rainey in April said United likely would keep its four-engine aircraft at least until expensive maintenance work set for 2020 requires a decision on their future. If United drops its biggest jet - its jumbos seat 374 passengers in standard configuration - the airline would accelerate deliveries of other long-haul aircraft, according to the memo. United spokesman Charlie Hobart confirmed the Chicago- based airline is considering the early retirement of the 747s but wouldn't discuss the memo itself. "As you know, this is an aging fleet that many operators are beginning to exit from service, and as this happens support for the aircraft, especially in our spokes, gets more difficult," Attarian said in the memo. Replacement Jets The third-largest U.S. carrier has ordered 35 of the largest jets in Airbus Group SE's A350 family, which seat 350 people. It could also add more Boeing 777-300ERs, with a capacity for 396 travelers, after ordering the first of the jets last year as a jumbo replacement. Boeing is eager to notch 777 sales to fill its order book for 2018 and 2019 as it begins transitioning to an upgraded model, said Richard Aboulafia, aerospace analyst with Teal Group. "You're going to get a very good deal on 777-300ERs at that point," he said. Nicknamed "Queen of the Skies," the 747 was the first wide- body aircraft and brought international travel to the mass consumer market with its 1970 debut. Carriers around the world have retired their jumbo fleets this decade and shifted to long- range twin-engine aircraft to save on fuel and maintenance costs. Delta Air Lines Inc. has been trimming its fleet in recent years and as of Dec. 31 had just nine left. United's 22 fly out of Chicago and San Francisco. United sees ending the jumbo's run in Chicago in February 2017, with the rest of the fleet based in San Francisco, according to the memo. The document doesn't make clear what jets would replace the aircraft. Brian Znotins, vice president of network, told investors in August that it would bring on Airbus Group SE A350s and variations of Boeing 777s and 787s as it retires the 747. https://skift.com/2016/02/23/united-airlines-may-park-its-747-for-more-modern-planes/ Back to Top The Guts and Skill That Make Jungle Pilots Such Fantastic Fliers It is not easy to land on a machete-cleared strip in the middle of nowhere, but someone's got to do it. For folks in the far reaches of the Democratic Republic of Congo or Papua, Indonesia, even the most basic interaction with the outside world can be a huge challenge. But where mountains, jungles, and rivers make roads difficult or impossible and entire villages are left isolated, the Mission Aviation Fellowship is devoted to bringing aid by plane, and the pilots who fly them are some of the gutsiest you can find. Flying small, single-engine planes through remote mountain ranges and valleys and then landing them on extremely short and makeshift airstrips takes a certain kind of disposition and a very specialized skill set, as Chief Training Pilot Brian Shepson explains in this illuminating video by Smarter Every Day (skip to 1:25 to cut to the chase): Shepson's bits of piloting wisdom include fascinating tidbits like why you should always fly all the way to one side of a valley, and how you can brake as hard as you want on dirt even though you can't on asphalt. And you can tell-from his record and his demeanor-that's just a tiny taste of what this guy knows. So yes, high-tech fighter pilots are definitely awesome, but don't discount these little prop-powered suckers either, especially when they have such great and ballsy pilots behind the stick. Source: Smarter Every Day http://www.popularmechanics.com/flight/a19571/the-guts-and-skill-that-make-jungle-pilots-such- fantastic-fliers/ Back to Top Raytheon Enters Bidding for U.S. Air Force Jet Trainer Deal Raytheon, along with Finmeccania, Honeywell Aerospace, and CAE USA, will build a T-100 training solution in an attempt to win a U.S. Air Force contract for 350 training jets. (Image: Raytheon) Raytheon announced Monday that it is teaming up with Italian aircraft manufacturer Finmeccanica and two other companies in an effort to win a multi-billion dollar U.S. Air Force contract for training jets. The winner of the Air Force's Advanced Pilot Training competition will build 350 training planes in 2017 under a contract that has an estimated value between $8 and $10 billion, according to Reuters. Raytheon, the primary contractor for the effort, will work with Finmeccanica, Honeywell Aerospace, and simulation-based training system developer CAE USA to release a T-100 training solution. Finmeccanica will provide the foundational T-100 aircraft platform, a variant of the M-346 trainer aircraft built by Finmeccanica subsidiary Alenia Aermacchi. "The T-100 offers dynamic kinetic performance, while also delivering an embedded, tactical training system that immerses pilots in realistic mission scenarios," said Filippo Bagnato, managing director of Finmeccanica Aircraft Division. "The M-346, the basis for the T-100, is already operational and preparing pilots around the world for the challenges of today's complex fighter platforms." CAE USA will provide simulation-based training systems, while Honeywell Aerospace will build twinF F124 turbofan engines for the T-100. Carey Smith, president of Honeywell Aerospace's Defense and Space division, said the company's F124 is a good fit for the plane due to its power, low cost throughout its life-cycle, and maintainability. Gene Colabatistto, president of CAE's defense and security group, said that its simulation system will "prepare Air Force pilots to safely and efficiently fly the most advanced fighter aircraft." Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems President Rick Yuse said that the next pilot training system will determine the success of America's future pilots, and that the Raytheon-led group is "best positioned to bring the essential experience, capabilities and core competencies together to meet the United States Air Force's mission requirements." http://www.pddnet.com/news/2016/02/raytheon-enters-bidding-us-air-force-jet-trainer-deal Back to Top Embraer Phenom 300 is most-delivered business jet in the world for the third consecutive year SÃO JOSÉ DOS CAMPOS, Brazil, Feb. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Embraer Phenom 300 was the most- delivered business jet in the world in 2015 for the third consecutive year, with 70 aircraft received by customers around the globe. "We would like to thank our customers for their confidence and continuing relationship, which has enabled the Phenom 300 to enjoy successful acceptance worldwide since its launch," said Marco Tulio Pellegrini, President & CEO, Embraer Executive Jets. "The Phenom family's design was based on the highest industry requirements, combining the attributes of a best-in-class aircraft. To have the most-delivered business jet in the world for the third consecutive year is a true recognition that we have achieved our commitment to design game-changing products to meet operators' needs." Recognized as one of the most desirable light jets by fractional programs, charter services, corporate flight departments and owner-pilots, 320 Phenom 300s are in operation in 28 countries. To date, the fleet has accumulated close to 300,000 flight hours. The Phenom 300 also was the most-delivered business jet in 2013 and 2014. The General Aviation Manufacturers Association recently released its 2015 worldwide year-end aircraft shipment and billing report, which showed Embraer Executive Jets' market share had grown to 17% in terms of unit deliveries. In 2015, Embraer's executive aviation division delivered 120 aircraft, including jets in the Phenom, Legacy and Lineage families, the highest number in five years. About the Phenom 300 The Phenom 300 performs among the top light jets, with a high speed cruise of 453 knots and a six- occupant range of 1,971 nautical miles (3,650 km) with NBAA IFR reserves. With the best climb and field performance in its class, the Phenom 300 costs less to operate and maintain than its peers. The aircraft is capable of flying at 45,000 feet (13,716 meters), powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW535E engines with 3,200 pounds of thrust each. The Phenom 300 offers a spacious cabin, designed in partnership with BMW Designworks USA, and the largest baggage compartment in its category. The largest windows in the class deliver abundant natural lighting in the cabin as well as in the private lavatory in the back of the aircraft. The comfort of the seats, with recline and full movement capability, is enhanced by the best pressurization among light jets (6,600 ft. maximum cabin altitude). The Phenom 300 features distinct temperature zones for pilots and passengers, a wardrobe and refreshment centre, voice and data communications options, and an entertainment system. The pilot-friendly cockpit enables single-pilot operation and offers the advanced Prodigy Touch Flight Deck. The features it carries from a class above include single-point refueling, externally serviced lavatory, and an air stair. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/embraer-phenom-300-is-most-delivered-business-jet-in-the- world-for-the-third-consecutive-year-300225073.html Back to Top Lithium Battery Overheating Flight Crew Guidance Back to Top NASA's Breakthrough Laser Propulsion System Could Send Ships to Mars in Just Days It might sound like science fiction, but we already know how to make objects move at near light speed. Physicists do it all the time inside particle accelerators, where they accelerate particles to relativistic speeds just a small fraction below the speed of light (about 186,000 miles per second). But when we try to reach these speeds on a macro scale, we run into all kinds of problems. Things like spacecraft are really heavy, especially when they're loaded down with fuel for long trips, and it's difficult to accelerate them to really fast speeds. Artist's concept of a laser spacecraftSource: UCSB Experimental Cosmology Group Now researchers are saying a new kind of laser-based propulsion would eliminate the need for fuel and could accelerate spacecraft up to 26% of the speed of light. At that blistering pace, a tiny space probe could get to Mars in just 30 minutes. And it could travel four light years to our nearest star, Alpha Centauri, in just 15 years. Researchers say eventually, with a scaled up version of laser propulsion, a full-sized, 100-kilogram spacecraft could get to Mars in just a few days. For comparison, right now it takes around four to eight months to get to Mars with our current technology. It took 35 years for the Voyager 1 spacecraft to reach the edge of our solar system. It's only traveling at about 0.006% of the speed of light, according to Popular Science. If we ever want to become interstellar travelers, that sluggish speed simply won't cut it. "As remarkable as this [is,] we will never reach even the nearest stars with our current propulsion technology in even 10 millennium," Philip Lubin, a cosmologist at the University of California Santa Barbara, writes in a paper titled "A Roadmap to Interstellar Flight." So Lubin has proposed a laser system called photonic propulsion, in which spacecraft equipped with giant laser sails could be pushed along to increasing speeds with a powerful laser. But instead of relying on one giant, ultra-powerful laser like the one on the Death Star, which are too impractical to build, Lubin is proposing a series of laser amplifiers that can sync up multiple lasers and combine them into one powerful beam. The good news, Lubin notes, is that all of this technology already exists. We just need to start testing and developing it. "There is no known reason why we cannot do this," Lubin says in a video explanation of laser propulsion. Right now we have laser amplifiers about the size of a textbook, but Lubin thinks a 6-square-mile array of lasers and amplifiers floating out in Earth orbit would be powerful enough to beam a gram-sized spacecraft to Alpha Centauri in 15 years. But it would still take 2,200 years to send a full-sized and fully loaded space shuttle that far, so we'd eventually need an even larger laser array, according to Popular Science. Luckily, Lubin says the design is easily scalable. This all sounds incredible, but the researchers have a really big problem to solve first: braking. Currently there's no way to slow down one of these spacecraft once it approaches relativistic speeds. So for now if we sent a laser-propelled probe to a distant world, it could only snap a few photos and take some preliminary data measurements as it goes flying by. But interstellar travel isn't the only thing this laser array could do. Lubin says it might be able to protect us from asteroids and space debris. For now the researchers don't have plans to build any of the giant arrays that would be capable of beaming a spacecraft to Mars in a few days. They'll be testing the system on a smaller scale, and hopefully we'll be able to start sending teeny-tiny space probes out to explore the universe around us. You can hear Lubin describe photonic propulsion in the video below: http://mic.com/articles/135954/nasa-laser-propulsion-system-could-send-ships-to-mars-in-just- days#.rQBAfhnSE Back to Top Paris Forum dedicated to "Aviation and Space Weather" - 17 March 2016 Si ce message ne s'affiche pas correctement, cliquez ici SMS Industry Forum - 2016 Greetings everyone! With the release and implementation of 14 CFR Part 5, American Airlines Corporate SMS team will be hosting the Safety Management System (SMS) Industry Forum. This event will include speakers from the FAA and industry partners and provide interactive SMS learning workshops, tips and tools. The SMS Industry Forum is scheduled for May 10-11, 2016, (travel days May 9 and May 12), in Fort Worth, Texas. The meeting will begin on Tuesday, May 10th at 8:00 a.m. Meeting location and lodging information is listed below. There is no official room block for this event. Attached is a registration form. If you plan to attend, please fill out the form and return it to safety.assurance@aa.com at your earliest convenience. If you have additional folks coming, please have them fill out the registration form as well. Please feel free to contact me with any questions. We look forward to seeing you in May! Thank you, Shelley Corzo Corporate SMS, American Airlines 817-967-1010 **************** Back to Top Call for papers for ISASI 2016, Iceland, 17 to 20 October 2016 The International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI) will hold their 47th annual seminar at the Grand Hotel Reykjavik, Iceland, from the 17 to 20 October 2016. The seminar theme is: "Every link is important" Papers are invited to address this theme in conjunction with other contemporary matters on aviation safety investigation, including recent case studies, new investigation methods and aviation safety trends or developments. For those interested in presenting a paper, submissions of abstracts are due by 15 April 2016. Abstracts should include a title and up to 300-word summary of the main points of the proposed paper. Please also include your name(s), affiliation, position, and a brief resume. Submissions, or any inquiries regarding submissions, are to be sent to: papers-ISASI2016@ESASI.EU. The panel reviewing the submitted abstracts will consider criteria such as the quality of the paper and the relevance to the seminar theme and air safety investigation. The panel will also endeavour to ensure that a broad range of topics are covered during the seminar. Decisions on the selected abstracts will be made by the 1 June 2016 and details on the required format of the papers and presentations will be issued at that time. Presenters will be required to submit their papers by 1 August 2016. Further information on ISASI16 is available at www.esasi.eu/isasi-2016. Back to Top The 8th Triennial International Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research Conference will be held at the Tropicana Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA, October 24-27, 2016. The conference aims to inform the international aviation community about recent, ongoing, and planned research in transport category airplane fire and cabin safety. The conference is jointly sponsored by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS). The Cabin Safety Evacuation and Operational Issues sessions of the conference will comprise studies related to in-flight safety, and crash/post-crash survivability. Traditionally, research topics have included exit and escape slide performance, aircraft interior arrangements, water survival equipment standards, cabin crew procedures, passenger education, and evacuation computer modelling, presented by researchers from around the world. The crash dynamics sessions will include studies focusing on aircraft-level crash impact performance, as well as studies that address new and emerging occupant injury criteria. These sessions will also include studies regarding the use of analytical modeling in various aspects of occupant protection, particularly where gathering statistically meaningful empirical data is difficult. Previous conference sessions have addressed ditching behavior, energy absorption characteristics of nonmetallic materials, and human tolerance to high levels of lateral loading, among many others. The fire safety sessions will include presentations on research in lithium battery fire hazards and mitigation, engine/powerplant fire protection, cabin/cockpit fires, magnesium use in aircraft cabins, fire test method development (interior materials), cargo fire protection, and advanced fire research. Previous conference sessions have addressed battery fires, development of new test methods for Appendix F, fire research projects in Europe, full scale lithium battery testing, fire research materials and characterization. 2013 conference proceedings are available at http://www.fire.tc.faa.gov/2013Conference/proceedings.asp. Conference registration is free and is open to anyone with an interest in aircraft fire and cabin safety research. Past attendees have included aviation safety professionals in the areas of engineering, design, operations, maintenance, and research. Attendance at this year's conference is expected to reach 600- 700. Conference registration and hotel reservation details are available at http://www.fire.tc.faa.gov/2016Conference/conference.asp. Conference presenter bios and presentation abstracts will be available on this website a few months prior to the conference date. Please contact April Horner, CMP, Conference Manager, with any questions at april.ctr.horner@faa.gov. Back to Top Research Survey Request For my Research on future cockpit layouts, I kindly request 10 minutes of your time to answer the attached survey. The topic Gamification might surprise some, but it is a growing discussion for modern workplaces and its often fatiguing conditions. http://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/PilotInteractionInModernCockpits/ Thank you, Capt. Tilmann Gabriel MBA FRAeS ISO/IEC 17024 Certified Global Aviation Expert Assistant Professor Programme Director MSc Air Transport/Aircraft Maintenance Management City University of London Back to Top RESEARCH SURVEY MENTAL HEALTH & FLYING SURVEY Hi, my name is Daniel Danczyk. I am soliciting participation in my survey on mental health and flying. If you are involved in seeing pilots with mental health or substance abuse issues, or are involved in their cases, please complete my anonymous survey (link below). On average, completion takes no more than 5- 7 minutes. You do not need to be a clinician to participate; I am looking for anyone that is involved in the medical treatment or certification of pilots, whether they are doctors, airline employees assisting with monitoring, private consultants, HIMS participants, government, or other experts. Below the survey link is a more detailed description of my study including consent and contact information. Thank you so much for your time! Daniel Danczyk, MD Fellow in Aerospace Medicine AME/Flight Surgeon/Pilot/Psychiatrist Mental Health and Flying Survey https://src.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_0xLGAkp4CAtv36d STUDY/CONSENT INFORMATION IRB #: 15-008911 Mayo Clinic: Office for Human Research Protection Protocol Title: Airline transport pilots and mental health: A Comparison of the medical certification process between the U.S. and various European countries. Principal Investigator: Lawrence Steinkraus, MD You are being asked to participate in a research study about pilots and their mental health. The purpose of this research is to study how mental health medical certification is processed for pilots in their respective country. You are being invited to participate because you are involved in some aspect of their aeromedical- mental health certification. If you agree to participate you will be asked to complete an online anonymous survey questionnaire. This will take no more than 10-15 minutes of your time. No information will be recorded about you other than your country of origin. Confidentiality will be maintained by NOT being able to trace back your responses to you. In other words, your survey response will be assigned a random number for tracking/statistical purposes but cannot be traced back to you. You will receive no payment for your participation. There are no known risks to you from taking part in this research study. You may refuse to answer any question(s) that you do not wish to answer. The benefits which may reasonably be expected to result from this research study are to improve the process for mental health medical certification of pilots in your country. Please understand your participation is voluntary and you have the right to withdraw your consent or discontinue participation at any time without penalty. Your submission of the survey questionnaire signifies your consent to participate. Moreover, your current or future medical care at the Mayo Clinic will not be jeopardized if you choose not to participate. If you have any questions about this research study you can contact my co-investigator, Dr. Daniel Danczyk, at danczyk.daniel@mayo.edu. If you have any concerns, complaints, or general questions about research or your rights as a participant, please contact the Mayo Institutional Review Board (IRB) to speak to someone independent of the research team at 507-266-4000 or toll free at 866-273-4681. Curt Lewis