Flight Safety Information March 14, 2016 - No. 051 In This Issue Germanwings pilot was using anti-depressants when he crashed jet into Alps Germanwings Crash Inquiry Urges Stricter Oversight of Pilots' Mental Health Bird hits passenger jet landing at Heathrow leaving a large bloody dent on its nose AIRPLANE PILOTS ASK FOR SUPPORT WITH DEPRESSION, ADDICTION US Air Force Faces 500 Fighter Pilot Shortfall Allegiant, after full-page ad on safety, endures another emergency landing AGM-114 Hellfire Missiles Heading to US Found in Air Serbia Aircraft in Belgrade Iron Maiden 747-400 badly damaged in tug collision Muslim women removed from flight for recording safety procedure ICAO begins safety oversight audit of Nigeria's aviation industry Boeing CTO to retire, airplane maker names new leaders ISASI Military Air Safety Workshop - 19-21APR (ISASI) Mid-Atlantic Regional Chapter (MARC) Meeting/Dinner - 05MAY Aviation Research Request Aviation Safety Specialist Available Immediately Germanwings pilot was using anti-depressants when he crashed jet into Alps Inhabitants pay tribute to the victims in front of a stele, a stone slab erected as a monument, set up in the area where a Germanwings aircraft crashed in the French Alps. (AP Photo) LE BOURGET, France (AP) - Aviation agencies around the world should draw up new rules requiring medical workers to warn authorities when a pilot's mental health could threaten public safety, French investigators recommended Sunday in their report on the Germanwings plane crash. Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz had been treated for depression in the past, and the investigation found that he had consulted dozens of doctors in the weeks before he deliberately crashed a jet into the French Alps on March 24, 2015, killing all 150 people on board. But the doctors didn't tell authorities of any concerns about Lubitz's mental health, France's BEA air accident investigation agency said, even though one even referred Lubitz to a psychiatric clinic just two weeks before the crash. "Experts found that the symptoms (two weeks before the crash) could be compatible with a psychotic episode," said Arnaud Desjardin, leader of the BEA investigation. This information "was not delivered to Germanwings." Because Lubitz didn't inform anyone of his doctors' warnings, the BEA said, "no action could have been taken by the authorities or his employer to prevent him from flying." Germanwings and parent company Lufthansa have strongly denied any wrongdoing in the crash, insisting that the 27-year-old was certified fit to fly. There was no immediate comment from Lufthansa on Sunday after the report was released. But relatives of those killed have pointed to a string of people they say could have raised the alarm and stopped Lubitz, going back to the days when he began training as a pilot in 2008. The BEA investigation is separate from a manslaughter investigation by French prosecutors seeking to determine eventual criminal responsibility for the crash of Flight 9525 from Barcelona to Duesseldorf. The focus of its report was recommendations to avoid such events in the future, notably about pilot mental health issues and better screening before a pilot gets certified. The agency found that the certification process failed to identify the risks presented by Lubitz. It said one factor leading to the crash might have been a "lack of clear guidelines in German regulations on when a threat to public safety outweighs" patient privacy. Germany's confidentiality laws prevent sensitive personal information from being widely shared, though doctors are allowed to suspend patient privacy if they believe there is a concrete danger to the person's safety or that of others. Desjardin described Germany's privacy rules as being especially strict, and said doctors fear losing their jobs if they unnecessarily report a problem to authorities. "That's why I think clearer rules are needed to preserve public security," he told reporters at a press conference in the French city of Le Bourget. The BEA recommendations also included peer support groups and other measures to remove the stigma and fear of losing a job that many pilots face for mental health issues. "The reluctance of pilots to declare their problems and seek medical assistance ... needs to be addressed," the BEA said. Doctors who treated Lubitz for depression and mental illness refused to speak with the BEA investigators, according to victims' family members who were briefed Saturday on the report. Half an hour into the Germanwings flight, Capt. Patrick Sondenheimer handed the controls to Lubitz and went to the restroom. When he returned, Sondenheimer found the cockpit locked from the inside. Lubitz, it seems, had disabled the safety code that would have allowed the pilot to open the door. Shortly afterward, the Airbus A320 hit the ground near the French village of Le Vernet. Lubitz had previously been treated for depression and suicidal tendencies, and documents seized by prosecutors show he partly hid his medical history from employers. Lubitz interrupted his Lufthansa training for several months due to psychological problems. He was allowed to return in 2009, having received the "all clear" from his doctors - though his aviation record now contained the note "SIC" meaning "specific regular examination." Lufthansa said after the crash that it was aware of Lubitz's depressive episode, but Germanwings, which he joined in 2013, said it had no knowledge of his illness. The French investigators determined that systematic, deep psychological tests every year for all pilots would be "neither effective nor beneficial," Desjardin said. Instead, the BEA recommended tougher monitoring of pilots who had mental health issues in the past. It also said that cockpit security rules shouldn't be changed because it was still very important to protect the cockpit from outside attackers. Current cockpits are equipped with a code system to prevent the kind of hijackings that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001, in the United States, where planes full of passengers were turned into weapons. "A lockage system cannot be created to prevent threats coming from (both) outside and inside the cockpit," Desjardin said. After the Germanwings crash, many airlines and aviation regulators began to require at least two people in the cockpit at any given time to prevent such crashes. Many of the relatives of the Germanwings victims were still upset after hearing about the report Saturday from BEA officials. "People were not happy at all with some of the explanations. Some of the family members felt as if these BEA representatives were Lubitz' lawyers - making excuses as to why Germanwings didn't take action knowing what they knew," Robert Tansill Oliver, whose son died in the crash, told The Associated Press. "How is it possible Germanwings would let a crazy guy fly a plane? He was mentally unbalanced, tremendously unbalanced," Oliver said. For many victims' families, the biggest hope of holding someone to account lies in taking Lufthansa to court. Their frustration is heightened by the fact that the company has offered little more than the standard compensation required under German law - 25,000 euros ($27,560) for each victim - plus 10,000 euros to each of the victims' immediate relatives. Since the crash, the airline has replaced its Germanwings brand with the name Eurowings. http://wkrn.com/2016/03/13/germanwings-pilot-was-using-anti-depressants-when-he- crashed-jet-into-alps/ Back to Top Germanwings Crash Inquiry Urges Stricter Oversight of Pilots' Mental Health Rescue workers at the site of the crash of Germanwings jetliner near Seyne-les-Alpes, France, on March 26, 2015. Credit Laurent Cipriani/Associated Press LE BOURGET, France - French aviation officials on Sunday called for stricter international monitoring of the mental health of pilots and for guidelines that could require doctors to report pilots whose psychological condition might imperil public safety. The recommendations were part of a report by French accident investigators into the deliberate crash last year of a Germanwings jetliner by its co-pilot, Andreas Lubitz. The inquiry found that doctors had prescribed Mr. Lubitz powerful antidepressants and sleeping pills in the month leading up to the disaster and that at least one had urged that he be hospitalized for a possible psychotic disorder. But none of those physicians alerted the German aviation authorities or the airline about Mr. Lubitz's condition or his treatment for fear of running afoul of Germany's strict privacy laws. Investigators said such warnings might have prevented Mr. Lubitz, 27, from getting behind the controls of an Airbus A320 and killing himself and 149 others. As a result, the final report on the March 24 crash by France's Bureau of Investigations and Analyses strongly recommended that international health agencies and air safety regulators redefine the conditions that would oblige doctors to warn the authorities when an airline pilot's mental health posed a potential risk to public safety - even without the patient's consent. The report also called for much closer monitoring of pilots who have a history of mental health trouble "of any sort," and urged European regulators to consider allowing some pilots to fly while taking certain antidepressant drugs under strict medical supervision. That is already the case in some countries, including the United States. The French report urged the German authorities to consider limiting the legal penalties for doctors who breach patient confidentiality in good faith and, in the case of airline pilots, to clearly define the types of health issues that can represent an "imminent danger" to the flying public. While the French bureau does not have the legal authority to compel the changes recommended in its report, the airline industry and its regulators traditionally act on investigators' proposals after air crashes. However, the Germanwings report is the first time that an air accident investigator has issued recommendations to the global medical community. Investigators also recommended that airlines promote confidential peer-support programs for pilots with mental health problems and called on the industry to find ways to mitigate the economic consequences for pilots who fear losing their livelihoods if they reveal a mental illness. Prosecutors in Germany and in France determined that Mr. Lubitz had a history of depression dating back to August 2008. The 109-page French report published Sunday indicated that Mr. Lubitz "had suicidal ideation" and had made several "no-suicide pacts" with his doctors at the time. These coincided with his withdrawal from an elite flight- training school operated by Lufthansa, the parent company of Germanwings, for nine months from January to October 2009. Lufthansa has acknowledged that Mr. Lubitz informed the company of his illness at the time, but said that the airline was unaware of its severity. He was eventually reinstated with the approval of Lufthansa flight doctors and subsequently hired as a pilot for Germanwings in 2013. The French report indicates that Mr. Lubitz's psychological problems resurfaced in late 2014, when he began complaining of vision problems, for which no medical cause could be found, and sleep disorders. Toxicological examination of Mr. Lubitz's remains found traces of the antidepressants mirtazapine and citalopram as well as zopiclone, an insomnia treatment, the report said. It indicated that on March 10, two weeks before the crash, an unidentified private physician referred Mr. Lubitz for inpatient treatment at a psychiatric hospital. "None of these health care providers reported any aeromedical concerns to authorities," the report said. "It is likely that breaching medical confidentiality was perceived by these doctors as presenting more risks, in particular for themselves, than not reporting the co- pilot to authorities." Rémi Jouty, the director of the Bureau of Investigations, expressed hope that the findings would lead to a broader discussion among medical and aviation regulators worldwide about the need to find the proper balance between privacy and public safety. Mr. Jouty acknowledged that attitudes about individual privacy varied widely among cultures, making it difficult to prescribe solutions that could be accepted universally. While countries like Germany have strict patient privacy laws that doctors can be prosecuted for violating, others, including Canada, Israel and Norway, require doctors to alert regulators about a pilot who may pose a safety risk, he said. Mr. Jouty said he was optimistic that the bureau's report would lead to concrete changes. "The fact that our recommendations are public means that the addressees can be questioned about what they are doing in response," he said. "It places pressure on them to act." The French bureau's investigation was limited to determining the facts of the case and to making recommendations to safety regulators to reduce the risk of similar episodes. A separate inquiry by a panel of three French judges, which aims to apportion legal responsibility for the crash, is continuing. The French criminal investigation is seeking to establish whether the airline, regulators or any specific individuals may be charged with involuntary homicide in the case. Such inquiries, similar to a grand jury investigation in the United States, often take several years. Any potential criminal case against Lufthansa would hinge on whether the investigating judges can prove that the group was negligent in its oversight of Mr. Lubitz. Lawyers representing the families of some of the crash victims say they are convinced that Lufthansa shares responsibility for the disaster because it allowed Mr. Lubitz to resume his flight training and ultimately hired him, despite knowledge of his extended treatment for depression. Victims' families from a half-dozen countries plan to file a civil suit this month against a Lufthansa-owned flight school near Phoenix, where Mr. Lubitz completed several months of training after he had informed the company of his illness. After the crash, European safety regulators made a separate list of recommendations last year aimed at strengthening the medical and psychological oversight of pilots. Several of those recommendations are expected to be put into effect this year and include requirements for more rigorous and frequent psychological screening of pilots throughout their careers as well as confidential peer-support programs for pilots. Pilots' unions continue to resist a proposal that would oblige pilots across the 28-member European Union to submit to random tests for alcohol and certain controlled substances, as in countries like the United States and Australia. Steps have also been taken to enhance cockpit security, with a mandate that two crew members be in the cockpit at all times during flight. The two-person rule, which became standard in the United States and other parts of the world after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, was not widely adopted in Europe before the Germanwings crash. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/14/world/europe/germanwings-crash-inquiry-urges- stricter-oversight-of-pilots-mental-health.html?_r=0 Back to Top Bird hits passenger jet landing at Heathrow leaving a large bloody dent on its nose The plane remained grounded for 21 hours until a replacement was found The plane was grounded for 21 hours before the nose was replaced Amir Hashim/Facebook A bird has struck a passenger jet leaving a large dent in its nose as it was coming in to land at Heathrow. The EgyptAir flight from Cairo was grounded for 21 hours after the incident before a replacement nose could be located. Pictures of the damage show a large exposed dent in the Boeing 737-800 complete with blood and feathers. The aircraft, which had 71 passengers on board, managed to safely land at the airport on Friday, reports the Aviation Herald. Amir Hashim, a Senior Procurement Specialist for Egyptair, posted these images on to Facebook. Mr Hashim wrote alongside the photographs:"SU-GDZ operating yesterday evening's MS779 arrival suffered a bird strike on approach. "The damage caused is clearly evident and SU-GDZ will be grounded until a new radome is fitted. Now, who has a spare?" http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/bird-hits-passenger-jet-landing-at- heathrow-leaving-a-large-bloody-dent-on-its-nose-a6928781.html Back to Top AIRPLANE PILOTS ASK FOR SUPPORT WITH DEPRESSION, ADDICTION A KLM pilot waving before takeoff (Photo: Maarten Visser/Wikimedia Commons) The association of Dutch pilots VNV is calling for peer-operated self-help groups to help pilots suffering from depression or battling with addiction, ANP reports. This follows a report by the French safety board regarding the Germanwings plane crash last year. Co-pilot Ernst Lubitz deliberately crashed the plane. According to the report, he showed sumptoms indicating psychotic depression for some time and previously visited several doctors, but none of them warned the aviation authorities. The French safety board therefore believes that international regulations are necessary in cases where the health of a patient could cause a risk for public safety. In the case of pilots, this would mean that medical confidentially will have to be breached. The Dutch pilots think that this is a bad idea. They fear that it will only result in pilots keeping their depression or addiction a secret, for fear of losing their jobs. When asked about psychological complaints, pilots will simply give socially desirable responses to keep their jobs. The VNV states that since the 70's they've had good experiences in helping members suffering from alcoholism and drug addiction through self help groups operated by their peers. In most cases they overcame their addiction. This same format can be used to help pilots struggling with psychological problems. "It is important for a pilot that he dares to seek help and may return to his job after a successful treatment", a spokesperson for the association said to the news wire. The VNV expects to soon reach an agreement on this with the airlines and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Environments. The VNV represents some 5 thousand Dutch pilots. http://www.nltimes.nl/2016/03/14/airplane-pilots-ask-for-support-with-depression- addiction/ Back to Top US Air Force Faces 500 Fighter Pilot Shortfall WASHINGTON - The US Air Force is about 500 fighter pilots short of the total requirement, a deficit that is expected to grow to more than 800 by 2022, top service officials warned Congress. Air Force officials blamed the shortage on recent reductions in active duty fighter and fighter training squadrons due to budget cuts, according to written testimony submitted to the Senate Armed Services subcommittee March 8. The service was forced to rebalance its fighter force structure in 2012 due to severe fiscal constraints, slashing the force by 100 aircraft, according to the statement. There are currently 54 squadrons in the Air Force, significantly less than the 134 fighter squadrons that existed during the Gulf War in the early 1990s. The remaining active component fighter squadrons do not produce enough experienced fighter pilots to meet all of the Air Force's requirements, officials wrote in the statement. "Without these fighter pilots, the Air Force will be very challenged to continue to provide the air supremacy upon which all our other forces depend," the statement reads. The Air Force is having trouble making up the shortfall because of competition from commercial airlines, Lt. Gen. John Raymond, deputy chief of staff, told the subcommittee during a Tuesday hearing. Airlines are hiring about 3,500 fighter pilots a year, he said. The Air Force will present lawmakers a concrete plan to bridge the fighter gap next year, Lt. Gen. Mike Holmes, deputy chief of staff for strategic plans and requirements, told the subcommittee. The plan will include standing up two additional fighter training units to train students straight out of undergraduate pilot training (UPT), and increasing UPT production, he told lawmakers. In the short term, the Air Force is focused on retaining the existing fighter pilot force through bonuses and other tools, Holmes told lawmakers. The service is also going to work to absorb pilots who leave active duty into the Reserve or the Guard "so that we hold onto that expertise," he added. "We think if we do that we can start to address that gap, and next year we'll bring you a plan," Holmes said. "We're going to make it fit into our budget, but there'll be something else that falls out, and we'll bring you a plan next year to address it." But even with the planned changes to address the shortfall, in the current fiscal environment the Air Force will only be able to slow the decline in fighter pilot numbers, not stop it, officials wrote in the statement. The Air Force will need additional dollars to fully solve the problem, Holmes told reporters after the hearing. "It's a big problem for our Air Force in general to survive as an Air Force and to be able to continue to do our work, it's a priority problem for us to solve," Holmes said. "I think I know how to solve it, but I've got to get the money to do it. " http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/air-space/2016/03/09/us-air-force-facing- 500-fighter-pilot-shortfall/81530748/ Back to Top Allegiant, after full-page ad on safety, endures another emergency landing Las Vegas based Allegiant Air addresses recent safety convern in new ad campaign. Allegiant runs full page ad in Orlando Sentinel to discuss fleet safety Amid a few public black eyes for maintenance concerns and an ongoing war between pilots and corporate leaders, Allegiant Airlines recently took out full-page newspaper ads saying it puts safety first. Wednesday, 10 days later, a flight out of Orlando Sanford International Airport - where Allegiant has a maintenance hub - made an emergency landing in Jacksonville because of pressurization problems, the airline said in a statement. Passengers were refunded their fares and food at the gate, $200 vouchers for future travel and the option to change their flight within Allegiant's network. "There is nothing more important to us than the safety of our passengers, crew, families and friends," reads the ad, which ran in the Orlando Sentinel on Feb. 21. "Every day, with every plane, we know lives are in the balance." Dr. Blaise Waguespack, professor of marketing at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, said the airline's decision to run ads means it's aware of the public's perception of them. "(It) may not have reached the same level as SeaWorld and the Blackfish situation, but the ads show management is concerned and aware," Waguespack said in an email. The message, framed as a letter to "travelers, family and friends," is signed from "your friends at Allegiant." Below the letter are the names of 360 Allegiant employees part of the airline's maintenance crew. Click here to see the full Allegiant advertisement that ran in the Feb. 21 Orlando Sentinel. "We ran the ad because our maintenance team has borne the brunt of much of the negative attention," Allegiant said in a statement. "And we wanted to give the team a chance to express their pride and confidence in their work and in the company as a whole." Allegiant leaders said they decided to address the safety concerns publicly in markets that have maintenance bases. The ad ran in 10 other markets, including Fort Lauderdale, Asheville, N.C., and Honolulu. Daniel Wells, president of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 1224, said Allegiant mechanics are "encouraged to take shortcuts in an industry that cannot afford a single one." For more than a year Allegiant pilots have squared off with corporate leaders, saying the fleet they fly is old and unsafe. Airlines leaders said the publicity surrounding plane troubles is the union's way to avoiding mediated negotiations. "This is a tactic of the (International Brotherhood of Teamsters) to undermine not only the negotiations, but also the reputation of the company itself," reads Allegiant's statement. "Insinuating that we don't wake up every day thinking about the fact that we are responsible for human lives is insulting." In December, Allegiant had four flights that left Orlando Sanford International Airport require diverted landings for various problems. All were the result of various mechanical issues including an "indicator light," an abnormal smell in one plane, engine trouble and a problem with a de-icing system. Wednesday morning, Flight 758 to Indianapolis with 155 passengers and six crew members aboard added to the list. Waguespack said safety concerns for an airlines are serious business. "The firm is feeling the pressure as it grows and get bigger; the airline gets more noticed," he said. "If you never flew the airline and go looking for news via social media, these stories and their continuous repeating keep coming up." Wells said Allegiant leaders need to focus on fleet maintenance, instead of a new marketing campaign. "Allegiant executives should do what's in the best interest of passengers, pilots, mechanics and shareholders," said Wells. "Invest in the airline's operation, including fleet maintenance and the team of people who keep the airline running." http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/os-allegiant-full-page-ad-20160302- story.html Back to Top AGM-114 Hellfire Missiles Heading to US Found in Air Serbia Aircraft in Belgrade BELGRADE - Serbian authorities have started an investigation into reports that two air-to- surface missiles, presumably destined for the US, were found in a passenger aircraft. According to Serbian news agency Tanjug, Air Serbia, the largest air Serbian carrier, has confirmed that an undisclosed "package" was discovered by a sniffer dog aboard a passenger aircraft, "thanks to the strict measures of security control". "We confirm that a package that headed towards a remote destination was found earlier this day in Belgrade airport, thanks to the strict measures of security control... The air carried assists investigation, security and reliability - are Air Serbia's top priorities," Tanjug cites. Earlier in the day, Serbian media reported two combat missiles, each 1.5m long were discovered aboard the aircraft in Belgrade Nikola Tesla airport. The missiles were reportedly packaged in a wooden case and provided with documents that listed Portland, Oregon as its destination. The missiles are presumably AGM-114 Hellfire, a universal precision missile that can be fired from ground, maritime or air platform, including predator strike drones. Each missile costs $110,000 and is capable of covering up to 8 kilometers at a speed of 1.3 Mach. http://inserbia.info/today/2016/03/agm-114-hellfire-missiles-heading-to-us-found-in-air- serbia-aircraft-in-belgrade/ Back to Top Iron Maiden 747-400 badly damaged in tug collision Rock band Iron Maiden's newly-customised Boeing 747-400 has been extensively damaged in a ground-towing accident in Santiago that injured two tractor operators. The aircraft has been transporting the group's members and its equipment for an extensive tour, which was covering Latin American cities in March. It had arrived at Santiago for a concert on 11 March but the band states that, on 12 March, it was hitched to a tug to be towed for refuelling. "On moving, the steering pin that is part of the mechanism that connects the ground tug to the aircraft seemingly fell out," it says. Steering failed during a turn and the aircraft collided with the tractor, it adds, badly damaging the nacelles and inlet cowls of both left-hand General Electric CF6 powerplants, as well as its undercarriage. Two operators of the tractor were hospitalised as a result of the accident. None of the band members or their crew was on board and the tour equipment, some 20t in weight, had not been loaded. The band states that the powerplants have suffered "large damage" and might have to be replaced - in any case, it says, they will need an "extended period of maintenance". The 13-year old aircraft, serial number 32868, is part of the Air Atlanta Icelandic fleet and was previously operated by Air France. Air Atlanta Icelandic acquired the aircraft only late last year, according to Flightglobal's Fleets Analyzer database. It underwent reconfiguration, painting and customisation at the Volga-Dnepr Gulf facility in Sharjah during 9 January to 17 February. Volga-Dnepr Gulf says it worked "meticulously" on the transforming the jet from its Air France colour scheme to the Iron Maiden tour livery. Iron Maiden had been due to take the aircraft from the Chilean capital to Cordoba in Argentina for a concert on 13 March. It says contingency plans are being put in place - including the sourcing of another aircraft - and it does not expect the accident to affect its schedule. https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/pictures-iron-maiden-747-400-badly- damaged-in-tug-c-423056/ Back to Top Muslim women removed from flight for recording safety procedure Controversy over incident in which Muslim women were removed from a flight in LA, after allegedly 'staring' at a crew member. Two Muslim women were removed from a plane in Las Angeles, after a member of the cabin crew reportedly saw them filming in-flight safety procedures, sparking controversy. Video from the flight showed the two women being escorted off the plane, though the precise circumstances surrounding the incident appear to be disputed. Another passenger on the Jet Blue flight from Boston to LA who witnessed the incident, Sharon Kessler, claimed the two were removed after a flight attendant "casually relayed to a coworker that she didn't appreciate being stared at - she did not seem rattled or scared - just smug," according to the Daily Mail. "Then - after we landed - she announced that the authorities would be boarding the plane and to remain in our seats with seat belts." "It was a terrible moment - honestly - these women sat quietly, watched movies - it felt like overkill from this flight attendant." But in a statement, JetBlue insisted the women had been removed due to genuine security concerns, raised by the fact that they were recording the in-flight safety procedure. "More than 35 million customers from many cultures and backgrounds travel on JetBlue without incident each year," the company said in a statement. "Our crewmembers' first priority is the safe and secure operation of our flights, and as a security precaution, are asked to be aware of anyone who may be filming or taking photographs of inflight procedures or the flight deck area. "If a crewmember believes a customer may be filming safety procedures, the crewmember may report it for further review. "In this instance, our crewmembers acted in accordance with security procedures. We appreciate our customers' patience and cooperation, and apologize for the inconvenience." http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/209227 Back to Top ICAO begins safety oversight audit of Nigeria's aviation industry The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) on Monday began the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) of Nigeria's aviation industry. Mr Jean-Claude Waffo, who is the leader of the ICAO four-man team, made this known while briefing newsmen in Lagos. He said the team was selected by ICAO to conduct the audit of the country towards ensuring that it was in compliance with international aviation standards. Waffo explained that the first audit took place in 2006; this year's audit was to reflect the changes that may have happened in the civil aviation system. According to him, the purpose of the audit is to assess Nigeria's capability to provide a robust safety oversight system. "The audit is to ensure that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) oversees its own aviation system to regulate it and to enforce compliance with the regulation, which normally marks the international regulations. "I wish to thank the NCAA and we are asking for their cooperation to assist us during the preparation phase, which is an important phase. "This is because it is at the preparation phase that we will collect all the possible evidence and we will know the additional questions we are going to raise when we are on site. "We will also use all the data that are provided for the online framework to ensure that the audit is conducted smoothly. "We will keep on monitoring the state based on the information that is provided and the analysis that we do.'' According to him, the audit will be a continuous exercise in ensuring that Nigeria effectively and consistently implements the critical elements of a safety oversight system. Responding, the Director-General of the NCAA, Capt. Muhtar Usman, said the ultimate goal of USOAP was to promote global aviation safety through regular audit of safety oversight systems in all ICAO member states. Usman said it was aimed at determining the state's level of implementation of ICAO's safety-related Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) with associated procedures and guidance material. He said: "I wish to state unequivocally that Nigeria is absolutely ready for the exercise. The NCAA has left no stone unturned and all hands are put on deck to ensure adequate preparation. "There has been a very encouraging cooperation and working relationship between all the relevant agencies and the regulatory authority towards a successful outing.'' The director-general expressed optimism that the audit would be a success like similar past exercises. Nigeria had scored over 90 per cent in the counterpart ICAO Security Audit in June 2015. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the audit is expected to end on March 25, where there will be a debriefing and presentation of the draft audit result. ICAO is a specialised agency of the UN. It codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth. Its headquarters is located in Montreal, Canada and it has seven regional offices worldwide. ICAO's regional office in Western and Central Africa is in Dakar, Senegal. The organisation elected a Nigerian, Dr Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, by acclamation, as its Council President in 2013 and his three-year tenure would expire on Dec. 31, 2016. The ICAO Council adopts standards and recommended practices concerning air navigation, its mandate includes flight inspection, prevention of unlawful interference, and facilitation of border-crossing procedures for international civil aviation. ICAO defines the protocols for air accident investigation followed by transport safety authorities in countries signatory to the Convention on International Civil Aviation.(NAN) http://naija247news.com/2016/03/icao-begins-safety-oversight-audit-of-nigerias- aviation-industry/ Back to Top Boeing CTO to retire, airplane maker names new leaders Boeing Co. BA, +1.37% Chief Technology Officer and vice president of engineering John Tracy will retire this summer, the airplane maker said late Friday. Tracy will begin transitioning his duties next month to newly designated executives who will report directly to Boeing's Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg, the company said. Effective April 4, Chief Information Officer Ted Colbert will also be senior vice president of information and analytics; Scott Fancher, Greg Hyslop, and Pat Shanahan are appointed senior vice presidents of, respectively, program management and integration, engineering and technology, and supplies and operations, the company said. Shares of Boeing fell 0.2% in late trading after ending the regular session up 1.4%. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/boeing-cto-to-retire-airplane-maker-names-new- leaders-2016-03-11 Back to Top Back to Top The International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI) Mid-Atlantic Regional Chapter (MARC) Cordially invites you to attendour spring 2016 Dinner/Meeting Location: Crowne Plaza Dulles Airport Hotel Herndon, Virginia, 20170. Date/Time: Thursday, May 5, 2016, 6:00 - 9:30 pm Guest Speaker Honorable T. Bella Dinh-Zarr, Vice Chair, National Transportation Safety Board To: ISASI Members, Associates, and Guests: Please plan to attend this important annual event. We anticipate a large turnout for this event because our distinguished guest speaker. Please make your reservations early; as space will be limited and I must confirm the dinner numbers with the hotel by Thursday, April 21st. Don't forget that companions and other guests are most welcome. From: Ron Schleede President, MARC; Vice President, ISASI (H) 1-703-455-3766; (Cell) 571-212-4255; Email: RonSchleede@aol.com Date: Thursday, May 5, 2016 Times: 6:00 pm-Reception with cash bar 7:00 to 8:00 pm-Full buffet dinner ********************************************************** RESERVATION FORM The International Society of Air Safety Investigators Mid-Atlantic Regional Chapter (MARC) Spring 2016 Dinner/Meeting Thursday, May 5, 2016, 6:00 pm Crowne Plaza Dulles Airport Hotel There will be a "networking" cash bar beginning at 6:00 pm, followed by a full buffet dinner beginning at 7:00 pm. The program will begin about 8:00 pm. Adjournment anticipated about 9:30 pm. Yes, I will be attending: Name__________________________ Telephone___________________ Email Yes, I will be bringing a guest (s): Name__________________________Telephone____________________ Email Name__________________________Telephone____________________ Email Payment Method: Check, or Credit Card. Badge Name Company Name______________________________________ If paying by check, please make checks payable to ISASI-MARC, in the amount of $50.00 per person, if paid before April 21, 2016. The cost after April 21, 2016, will be $55.00, if space is available. This includes dinner, taxes, gratuity, and routine function expenses. Please mail checks to: Ms. Ann Schull, ISASI International Office, 107 E. Holly Avenue, Suite 11, Sterling, VA, 20164. (Telephone: 703-430-9668; FAX: 703-430-4970) If paying by credit card, please provide your reservation information, along with the following credit card information directly to Ms. Ann Schull by telephone, FAX, email, or regular mail. Back to Top Aviation Research Request I am Mohamed Hassan Elmugamer Taha, having many years of experience in aviation safety. I would like to request your participation in my Survey Questionnaire (Linke Attached) regarding the imposing of ban on re-registration of aging aircraft for commercial/ public transport category as part of my degree in: MSc Aviation Safety BY Emirates Aviation University Dubai UAE. Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/L5SCDF6 Once again thank you for your kind assistance. Mohamed Hassan Elmagamer Taha Msc Aviation Safety Emirates Aviation University Back to Top Aviation Safety Specialist Available Immediately - Captain Samir (Sam) Kohli Over 30 years of senior management experience in the aviation industry. Extensive exposure to airport and airline management. In-depth operational experience: · 21 years of military service as a pilot; · Aviation safety manager; and · Air accident investigator. Upper Management Experience bestows an ability to · Focus on core issues · Take correct decisions balancing the needs to safety and continuity of operations with the financial aspects of aviation businesses, delivering high value to investors and shareholders safely. Experience in various business cultures, including: · Asia, · Middle East, · Africa, · Europe and · South America. Proven ability to negotiate with unions and politicians make him the ideal executive to manage a high-value and high-risk operation. Available immediately. Please click here to view detailed CV: http://1drv.ms/1USoisM Curt Lewis