Flight Safety Information April 19, 2016 - No. 076 In This Issue Flight MH370 Update: Stenciled Codes On Mozambique Debris Unique To Malaysia Airlines Allegiant Air touts increased spending on safety C-130J crash that killed 14 caused by forgotten night-vision goggle case Drones threaten safety at Irish airports, say pilots Turkish Airlines Pilots To Fly With HAVELSAN Simulator Asia travel lacks pilots to cope with travel boom: Airbus CEO Volunteer pilots sought for Ecuador relief effort Here's the World's Largest Jet Engine PhD Research Request Flight MH370 Update: Stenciled Codes On Mozambique Debris Unique To Malaysia Airlines, Report Says Stenciled codes on two debris pieces found along the coast of the southeast African nation of Mozambique "almost certainly" prove they originated from missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), which is leading the search for the plane, said in a report Tuesday. Over the last few months, four pieces of debris possibly from the missing plane have been recovered, including one each from South Africa and Mauritius. The two items from Mozambique, which were found on Dec. 27, 2015, and Feb. 27, 2016, were sent to Australia for examination at the request of the Malaysian government. ATSB said Tuesday that one of the pieces - found in Mozambique in late December by a South African teenager holidaying with his family - is a "segment from a Boeing 777 flap track fairing." The second piece - found in late February by U.S. blogger and lawyer Blaine Gibs - is "a segment of a Boeing 777 RH horizontal stabilizer panel." Investigators revealed that the stenciling of the code "676EB" and the words "NO STEP" on the debris provided almost irrefutable evidence that the parts were from the missing Boeing 777. Flap fairing outer surface showing stencil location and comparison. PHOTO: AUSTRALIAN TRANSPORT SAFETY BUREAU "The 676EB stencil font and color was not original from manufacture, but instead conformed to that developed and used by MAB during painting operations," investigators said in the report. The stenciling of "NO STEP" was also "consistent with that developed and used by Malaysian Airlines." Stabiliser panel "NO STEP" stencil and fastener comparison. PHOTO: AUSTRALIAN TRANSPORT SAFETY BUREAU The two debris pieces will be sent to Malaysia this week for further examination, ATSB said in the report. Australian authorities also said that two other items - the South Africa piece with the Rolls Royce logo and the piece found on the Rodrigues Island in Mauritius - were brought to ATSB laboratories last week. "Investigators from the ATSB and the Malaysian authorities are currently examining those two pieces for details which would serve to identify them as coming from a Boeing 777, and in particular for any details which might serve to link the debris as coming from MH370," authorities said. The ongoing search for Flight MH370 - which went missing on March 8, 2014, with 239 people on board while on its way from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing - has not yielded any concrete clues about what happened to the jet. In July 2015, a flaperon belonging to Flight MH370 turned up on the French-controlled Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean. The underwater search in a remote part of the southern Indian Ocean has cost nearly $70 million, with four vessels still scouring the ocean floor to find the plane wreckage. The search operation, which has been headed by Australia, is expected to be called off in June. http://www.ibtimes.com/flight-mh370-update-stenciled-codes-mozambique-debris-unique-malaysia- airlines-report-2355828 Back to Top Allegiant Air touts increased spending on safety Allegiant, which has a fleet of about 80 aircraft, flies 95 percent of the passenger traffic at St. Pete- Clearwater International Airport, including flights from about 50 cities. Allegiant Air maintains that it has one of the best safety records in the industry and accuses some media of unfairly focusing on its maintenance problems when such incidents are routine in the industry. But in comments to reporters last week at Allegiant's Las Vegas headquarters, where the company held a "media day," the airline's chief operating officer touted efforts to improve operations as it spends more money on safety programs. The COO, Jude Bricker, said the airline's efforts have led to a lower rate of service interruptions such as aborted takeoffs and emergency landings, from 2.81 per 1,000 flights in April 2015 to 1.37 last month, according to Bloomberg news. Engine failures, the carrier said, are either steady or falling. "We're investing in everything we know to invest in," Bricker said. "Most of the indicators we watch are positive. Everything is moving in the right direction." The comments are the latest sign that Allegiant, which flies 95 percent of the passenger traffic at St. Pete- Clearwater International Airport, has been dealing with concrete operational and safety issues even as it blasts its critics. In January, Allegiant's leaders talked in a conference call with financial analysts about increasing the reliability of its fleet of roughly 80 aircraft and noted the airline's rapid growth has caused operational problems. And in January, Allegiant COO Steve Harfst unexpectedly resigned as Allegiant leaders emphasized the change was an opportunity to "refocus" on operational needs and areas of improvement. The Tampa Bay Times received no response Monday to a request for comment from Allegiant. The airline has stopped communicating with the Times because it has said the newspaper's reporting on a series of flight problems and other safety issues has been unfair. Allegiant now has flights from about 50 cities to St. Pete-Clearwater airport, making it one of the busiest destinations in its network. So the airline is particularly sensitive to publicity in the Florida market. That may be why Allegiant CEO Maurice Gallagher Jr. is scheduled to speak at a breakfast event hosted by state Sen. Jack Latvala on Thursday. A story Friday by Bloomberg reporter Mary Schlangenstein said Allegiant has hired an outside auditor to review its safety programs and regulatory compliance. In addition, the airline has invested in an "extensive safety database and risk assessment system" and has stepped up pilot training beyond what the Federal Aviation Administration requires. Also, Allegiant said it is encouraging its employees to report issues to the airline by, among other things, providing tablets to all pilots and flight attendants in order to send information electronically. Outside contractors who work on engines and other systems, Allegiant also noted, have been placed under increased oversight. Allegiant is one of the fastest-growing airlines in the United States. But with its spectacular growth has come a steady stream of highly publicized maintenance problems that have caused emergency landings or aborted takeoffs. The airline had five emergency landings the last week of 2015, for example, and had one aircraft that made four emergency landings in about six weeks. An Allegiant aircraft nearly crashed in August at Las Vegas after an elevator on its tail jammed, which would have made the aircraft uncontrollable. But pilots managed to abort the takeoff at 138 mph seconds before liftoff. http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/airlines/allegiant-air-touts-increased-spending-on- safety/2273772 Back to Top C-130J crash that killed 14 caused by forgotten night-vision goggle case The pilot of a C-130J jammed a control yoke in place by propping it up with a night-vision goggle case, but forgot it was there when he tried to take off again Oct. 2, causing the crew to lose control of the plane and crash, killing 14 service members, contractors, and allied troops, according to an Air Force Air Mobility Command accident report released Friday. When the crew landed at Jalalabad Airfield in eastern Afghanistan and began offloading cargo, the pilot "raised the elevators mounted to the horizontal stabilizer by pulling back on the yoke," according to the report. That "provided additional clearance to assist with offloading tall cargo." After holding the yoke by hand for a while, the pilot decided to keep it in place with a night vision goggle (NVG) "However, because the pilots were operating in darkened nighttime flying conditions and wearing NVGs, neither pilot recognized and removed the NVG case after loading operations were complete or during takeoff," the Air Force said in a statement. Once airborne, the aircraft started to pitch upward. The co-pilot thought the problem was a trim malfunction "resulting in improper recovery techniques," the service said. "The rapid increase in pitch angle resulted in a stall from which the pilots were unable to recover," according to the report. "The aircraft impacted approximately 28 seconds after liftoff, right of the runway, within the confines of Jalalabad Airfield." The crash killed all 11 people onboard the C-130J. The plane also hit a guard tower, which killed three Afghan troops working there. "Our hearts go out to the family members and friends of those killed in this accident," said Brig. Gen. Patrick Mordente, the head of the accident investigation board. In October, the Air Force identified the six airmen killed in the crash: Capt. Jordan B. Pierson, 28, the aircraft's pilot, and Capt. Jonathan J. Golden, 33, the co-pilot; as well as Staff Sgt. Ryan D. Hammond, 26, and Senior Airman Quinn L. Johnson-Harris, 21, the two loadmasters. All four were members of the 39th Airlift Squadron at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. Senior Airman Nathan C. Sartain, 29, and Airman 1st Class Kcey E. Ruiz, 21, of the 66th Security Forces Squadron at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., were also onboard as fly-away security team members to guard the aircraft, cargo, crew and passengers. The other five individuals killed aboard the plane were civilian contractors. The aircraft itself was from the 317th Airlift Group at Dyess, the Air Force said. While operating in Afghanistan, the airmen were assigned to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing. "We are all mourning the loss of these incredible young men, but no one more than those who lost their loved ones," said Col. Stephen Hodge, the 317th Airlift Group commander, in a statement shortly following the crash. "These airmen were our friends and our family, and the halls of the group and the skies overhead will never be the same without them. Though they are no longer with us, the memories of those whose lives they touched will remain forever." President Barack Obama said the crash was a reminder of the "sacrifice brave Americans and our Afghan partners make each and every day in the name of freedom and security." http://www.airforcetimes.com/story/military/2016/04/18/c-130j-crash-killed-14-caused-forgotten-night- vision-goggle-case/83182244/ Back to Top Drones threaten safety at Irish airports, say pilots Irish pilots are now warning that the rise of drone use here is creating a 'grey space' in aviation training where lives could be at risk. Photo: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire Drones are becoming a growing threat to airport safety in Ireland and have already caused two serious incidents, according to new figures from the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA). SHARE A day after a British Airways plane carrying 132 people was struck by a drone as it approached Heathrow Airport, the Irish air industry regulator revealed two safety incidents recently where drones affected aircraft or airport safety, as well as a further 13 unidentified runway incursions. Irish pilots are now warning that the rise of drone use here is creating a "grey space" in aviation training where lives could be at risk. "Incidents of near-misses are increasing on a weekly and monthly basis," said Mark Prendergast, an Aer Lingus pilot and spokesman for the Irish Airline Pilots Association (IALPA). He added: "Our training might be inadequate as we're now operating in a grey space." British police said that no one was injured in the British Airways drone collision, but the incident has reignited fears of hobbyists jeopardising passenger safety using consumer drones from high-street shops. "Hobbyists are just taking these drones out and flying them around without any real awareness of the regulations or adhering to them," said Mr Prendergast. "They have no formal training but they're interacting in airspace where manned aircraft are operating." The Irish Aviation Authority says that more than 4,000 drones have been registered in Ireland since December of last year, but declined to say how many drones are currently in operation here. Some estimates put the number of drones here at up to 10,000. The IAA also declined to give any further details on the safety incidents recorded or on the number of complaints it has received in relation to drones. A spokesman said it was IAA policy not to comment on individual cases. Irish law says drones cannot be used within 5km of an airport or in any 'controlled' airspace. Nor may they be used over groups of people or over 400ft in altitude. However, pilots say that those guidelines are being openly flouted by amateur drone users and are calling for new regulations. "They shouldn't operate above 400ft, but a lot of them do," said Mr Prendergast. "If we could mandate some form of training for the use of drones, there should be some form of it. We need to make the these drones accountable to some form of traffic management." http://www.independent.ie/business/technology/news/drones-threaten-safety-at-irish-airports-say-pilots- 34639444.html Back to Top Turkish Airlines Pilots To Fly With HAVELSAN Simulator In a First for Turkey's Airline Industry, Global Aviation Giant Turkish Airlines to Use a Level-D Pilot Training Simulator Produced by HAVELSAN, an In-Country Turkish Systems Manufacturer ORLANDO, Fla., April 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- (WATS 2016 Conference - Booth 133) - HAVELSAN, a prominent global software and systems provider based in Ankara, Turkey, has announced that it will manufacture the first domestic simulator to be used in pilot training for Boeing 737NG aircraft operated by Turkish Airlines. This device will provide both low-cost and safe training for pilots and also will be the first civil (non-military) airplane simulator to be provided by HAVELSAN. Combining its extensive past experience in design, manufacturing, integration and maintenance of military simulators with new technologies suitable for today's rapidly changing and growing commercial airline sector, HAVELSAN will produce a Full Flight Simulator with international EASA Level-D certification. This type of simulator will provide orientation, proficiency, and refresher training at lower cost than before, while delivering the near-reality experience that is essential to effective pilot training. Havelsan Flight Simulator After a competition and lengthy evaluation against major leading global simulator manufacturers lasting nearly a year, HAVELSAN has been awarded a contract to provide one of 4 new simulator types currently being purchased by Turkish Airlines. Currently Turkish Airlines operates 10 full-flight simulators at its Flight Training Center, and with the addition of these new simulators including the one manufactured by HAVELSAN the capacity will be raised to 14 simulators by the end of 2016. This project will result in several benefits to Turkish Airlines, its customers, and to HAVELSAN. First, by reducing costs without sacrificing training quality, Turkish Airlines will continue to improve its efficiency and competitive edge in the airline market. By reducing dependency on foreign suppliers, the airline will have greater control over uncertainties that affect operations. And not least, HAVELSAN will establish itself as a true world-class provider of training solutions to the airline industry. TRAINING WITH SIMULATORS Simulators are one of the most effective tools available today for enhancing the quality of pilot training. Typically pilots continue to receive training on simulators in the specific types of aircraft they will operate following their basic ground courses. They graduate to flying the real aircraft only after several hours of simulator training, which can be more or less depending on the airplane type and experience of the pilot. In addition, airline pilots are commonly required to fly on simulators as often as every 6 months to refresh and test their skills. During these sessions, pilots experience emergency scenarios under the worst weather and environmental conditions. Simulators allow pilots to practice dangerous situations, such as engine failure upon take-off, which would be too risky to practice in a real aircraft. And the skills gained are measured in the hundreds of lives potentially saved in each of the rare occasions when a pilot actually has to put those special skills to use. HAVELSAN TO TAKE A LEADERSHIP ROLE Equipped with decades of experience in simulation and training, best in class technology, and bolstered by this win with Turkish Airlines, HAVELSAN intends to assume a leadership role in the global market for civil aviation and airline pilot training. This Boeing 737NG full-flight simulator is an important first step, but is only the beginning to what the company believes will become a long-term and successful relationship with the commercial airline training market. About Turkish Airlines: Established in 1933 with a modest fleet of 5 airplanes, Turkish Airlines is today a Star Alliance member and holder of 4 stars flying to 285 destinations across the globe, 236 of which are international and 49 domestic, with its fleet of 308 passenger and cargo planes. According to Skytrax 2015 ratings, Turkish Airlines won the "Best Airline in Europe" award for the 5th straight time, and "Best Airline in Southern Europe" award for the 7th time. It has received the awards of "Best Economy Class In-flight Catering" in 2010 and "Best Business Class Catering" in 2013 and 2014. Turkish Airlines was awarded "Best Business Class Special Lounge Catering" and "Best Business Class Special Lounge" awards according to the 2015 Skytrax evaluations. Please visit www.turkishairlines.com for more information about Turkish Airlines. About HAVELSAN: HAVELSAN is a global systems and software company serving the information and defense market around the world. HAVELSAN specializes in the fields of Command Control and Combat Systems, Cyber Security and Information Technologies, Management Information Systems, and Simulation, Training and Test Systems. Focusing on analysis, design, development and integration of large systems with its expertise, capabilities, synergy, and team spirit, HAVELSAN has embraced a systematic approach to address the ever increasing client demands for large-scale solutions. Please visit www.havelsan.com for detailed information about HAVELSAN. HAVELSAN Press Contact Ms. Aylin EROKAY BILEKLI abilekli@havelsan.com.tr http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/turkish-airlines-pilots-to-fly-with-havelsan-simulator- 300252425.html Back to Top Asia travel lacks pilots to cope with travel boom: Airbus CEO Asia faces a severe shortage of well-trained pilots as the region's demand for air travel skyrockets, Airbus's chief executive told CNBC. "We believe that we will require close to 200,000 pilots for the region, whereas there are only 65,000 right now, in the next 20 years," Fabrice Bregier, president and CEO of the European planemaker, said on Tuesday. To meet that need, Airbus and Singapore Airlines launched a training center in Singapore this week, equipped with eight full-flight simulators and six cockpit training devices, and with the capacity to teach more than 10,000 trainees a year. "There is a shortage of good, trained pilots and this is due to the growth of the region. Instead of sending the pilots to France or America, it is much better and efficient for everybody to have a center in Asia," Bregier said of the center, in which his company holds a 55 percent stake. The Airbus Asia Training Centre (AATC) in Singapore will be Airbus' largest one yet; the company has similar facilities in Toulouse, Miami and Beijing. Twenty years of rapid economic development across Asia Pacific has bolstered income levels, creating a new wave of travel demand from middle-income households, while market liberalizations have enabled regional low-cost carriers (LCCS) to thrive. Even as China, the world's second-largest economy and a key catalyst for global tourism, experienced slower growth, aviation remained unaffected, Bregier said. Beijing reported a 1.1 percent increase in gross domestic product for the first three months of 2016 from the previous period, the lowest quarterly expansion on record since 2010. Mainland air traffic will grow by more than 10 percent a year for the next five years, according to Bregier, which will help many Asian countries achieve double-digit growth in their respective aviation markets. "The start of the year was slow, but we confirm that we have a book-to-bill above one [a metric indicating that demand is outpacing supply] this year again. So the market is doing well, the traffic is growing," he said, adding that China's economic slowdown hadn't yet hit a pace that would be damaging to Airbus. Airbus' main rival, Boeing, projects more than 100 million new passengers to enter the Asia aviation market annually for the foreseeable future. Last year, the Chicago-headquarted firm also warned of soaring pilot demand, estimating that 226,000 new pilots would be needed over the next 20 years, the biggest requirement of any region. Bregier said scaling up operations was key for Airbus going forward. "Operationally, the ramp up of our production is clearly the biggest challenge," he said, noting that demand for its 350 and the A320Neo was particularly strong. Meanwhile, Bregier wasn't fazed by the recent oil price volatility. Cheaper fuel prices are generally considered a boon for the aviation market and Airbus would take advantage of the low-cost environment to improve and upgrade airlines' fleets, Bregier said. http://www.cnbc.com/2016/04/18/asia-travel-lacks-pilots-to-cope-with-travel-boom-airbus-ceo-bregier- says.html Back to Top Volunteer pilots sought for Ecuador relief effort In the wake of the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Ecuador April 16, the nonprofit organization Aerobridge, which helps coordinate disaster relief flights, is seeking volunteer pilots in the country who can provide aerial support. "We are looking for needs assessment as well as private pilots that can fly out of Guayaquil or other surrounding airports," Aerobridge President Marianne Stevenson wrote to AOPA. The group is seeking pilots who are located in or near Ecuador and can easily fly in and out of airports in the country. Those in other countries can donate money to provide fuel for a Piper PA-34 Seneca that the group is currently using to fly missions in Ecuador. "General aviation is a key link in providing disaster relief when much of a country's infrastructure and road system has been destroyed," said Craig Spence, AOPA vice president of operations and international affairs. "We hope our members who fly in the country are able to help provide much-needed support with their aircraft." Aerobridge formed in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, and has since helped match aircraft, pilots, and humanitarian organizations to coordinate disaster relief flights across the United States and in Bangladesh, the Philippines, Kenya, Uganda, India, South Africa, and Sri Lanka. Aviation organizations including AOPA, the National Business Aviation Association, Pilatus Owners and Pilots Association, JetNet, Jeppesen, the Experimental Aircraft Association, and Universal Weather and Aviation Inc. have partnered with Aerobridge. http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2016/April/18/Volunteer-pilots-sought-for-Ecuador-relief- effort Back to Top Here's the World's Largest Jet Engine Between the two huge chunks of concrete in the moody dusk photo above is the world largest jet engine, which was recently assembled by General Electric engineers. It's the first working prototype of the GE9X turbofan engine, which GE is putting through the paces at the company's test range near Peebles, Ohio. You might be wondering just how huge the world's largest engine is. According to GE, "Shaquille O'Neil would fit inside it with Kobe Bryant sitting on his shoulders." Key facts about this monster: Its front fan is 11 feet in diameter (3.35 meters), which is a world record. The engine has 3D printed fuel nozzles. The combustor and the turbine are made of lightweight and ultra heat-resistant materials called ceramic matrix composites (CMCs). CMCs can operate at temperatures of up to 2,400 degrees Fahrenheit. The engine includes 16 fourth-generation carbon-fiber fan blades. The GE9X can generate 100,000 pounds of thrust. Shaquille O'Neil would fit inside with Kobe Bryant on his shoulders http://gizmodo.com/heres-the-worlds-hugest-jet-engine-1771602332 Back to Top PhD Research Request Fellow Helicopter Crewmember, This is a request for you to participate in a research study for my doctoral degree. The purpose is to study the relationship between safety management systems, incidents and accidents, and company performance for small helicopter companies with less than 5 aircraft and in the last 10 years. This research is in conjunction with safety efforts by the US Helicopter Safety Team and the Helicopter Association International. There are series of questions regarding safety management systems, incidents and accidents, and company performance. To participate, you must be between age 21 to 60, had some aircrew experience with a small civil helicopter organization (less than 5 aircraft) and in the United States in last 10 years. Current helicopter student pilots can participate. Please follow the link below and fill but if you start, please finish the survey. It will only take about 12 minutes to complete. The survey does not include any identifiable data about the crewmember, places of employment, or OEM. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5VPCZZ5 Thank you very much for your participation! Principal Investigator Scott Burgess Doctoral student at Northcentral University S.Burgess4793@email.ncu.edu Curt Lewis