Flight Safety Information August 25, 2016 - No. 167 In This Issue Would airliners be safer without pilots? No, says NTSB chairman Skidmore resigns as CASA CEO and director of aviation safety (Australia) FAA proposes $54K fine against GFS Tanzania: Precision Air to Hire Ten Pilots USAIG Launches Safety Program for Unmanned Aircraft Systems PHOTO OF THE DAY GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY (1) GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY (2) GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY (3) ISASI 2016, Reykjavik, Iceland...17 to 20 October, 2016 (ISASI) DFW Regional Chapter (DFRC) Summer Meeting, September 8, 2016 Would airliners be safer without pilots? No, says NTSB chairman Christopher Hart argues that 'human pilots are still crucial.' In aviation circles, there is a running debate about a proposal that sounds radical, but- beyond the public perception problems that would be associated with it-isn't so far- fetched: remove the pilots from the cockpit of airliners. After all, the thinking goes, pilot error is the leading cause of aircraft crashes. Take the humans off the flight deck and human error is no longer a factor. In any case, the argument for pilotless cockpits goes, computers are already flying the aircraft most of the time a modern airliner is in the air. US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) chairman Christopher Hart addressed the issue of pilotless commercial aircraft today in a very public way at the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) Air Safety Forum in Washington DC, a sign to me that-in the age of self-driving cars and with a looming pilot shortage getting a lot of attention-this is no longer a fringe debate. "The good news is there's automation" in aviation, Hart said in the opening of a luncheon address, before adding, "The bad news is there's automation." Hart argued that "human pilots are still crucial to the process," but he acknowledged that the level of automation in the modern cockpit creates challenges. A car, train or aircraft that is completely automated or completely manual is "unambiguous," he said. If it is all one or the other, "you know who's in charge," he explained. But it becomes more complicated when there is a combination of automation and manual control, which is the case in modern airliners. "The more the pilots become accustomed to automated safety, the more it takes to keep pilots engaged." Hart said. "In other words, there can be too much of a good thing." Could pilots become bored or even unprofessional if their workload is reduced to a minimum, Hart asked, citing the example of subway operators whose only job is to open and close doors on trains that are operated completely by automation. Engaged humans are needed in the cockpit because automation can fail, and it may fail in a way that seriously compromises safety, Hart stated. "On the one hand, the human operator is the least predictable part of the system," he said. "But the human also is the most adaptable part of the system." This ability to adapt on the fly can save lives, Hart said, citing the famous US Airways flight 1549 landing on the Hudson River in 2009. "The challenge is how to reap the benefits of the automation while minimizing its downsides," Hart said, adding, "Will airliners ever be completely automated? Accidents such as the landing on the Hudson are the reason why, in my view, we won't see complete automation in the airline industry for some time." http://atwonline.com/blog/would-airliners-be-safer-without-pilots-no-says-ntsb-chairman Back to Top Skidmore resigns as CASA CEO and director of aviation safety (Australia) CASA Director of Aviation Safety Mark Skidmore AM (CASA) Mark Skidmore AM (CASA) Mark Skidmore has resigned as the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) chief executive and director of aviation safety (DAS) after less than two years in the role. In an email to staff on Thursday, Skidmore said the decision to step down was made for personal reasons. "I have decided the time is right for me to make this move. I came on board at CASA to lead the organisation through a period of significant and difficult change and I am very proud of what we have achieved through the transformation program," Skidmore said in the email. "We have been able to reshape the way CASA operates and delivers its services in a positive way. "It is an appropriate time for me to hand over the leadership as CASA moves through the next phase of its improvement program." Skidmore, who has been in the job since January 2015, will stay on until October as CASA begins the search for a new director of aviation safety and chief executive. CASA said "interim acting arrangements" would be announced shortly, while the process to appoint a new chief executive and DAS was expected to take between six and nine months. During Skidmore's tenure as chief executive and DAS, he undertook an organisational overhaul of CASA's structure, forming three main groups - a stakeholder engagement group, an aviation group and a sustainability group - as part of the aviation safety regulator's response to he Aviation Safety Regulatory Review (ASRR). The retired RAAF Air Vice-Marshal has also sought to respond to the views of industry, including issuing a new timetable for regulatory changes, including those covering general operating rules, air transport operations, aerial work, continuing airworthiness and maintenance for small aircraft, small aircraft maintenance licensing, sport and recreational operations and unmanned aircraft. Despite all this, there remained parts of the aviation community that expressed frustration at the slow pace of change at CASA. CASA chairman Jeff Boyd thanked Skidmore, who was named a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) in September 2015, for his service. "Mark has made an enormous and valued contribution to CASA and to aviation safety in this country," Boyd said. "This has included a number of significant improvements including restructuring the organisation, the development and implementation of CASA's new regulatory philosophy and the implementation of just culture throughout the organisation. "This has contributed positively to the way aviation regulations are developed and implemented in consultation with the aviation industry." Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester also thanked Skidmore for his service and wished him "all the best for the future". "CASA has undergone significant change under the stewardship of Mr Skidmore as the organisation works through the recommendations required in response to the 2014 Aviation Safety Regulation Review," Chester said in a statement. "I remain focused on working with the board and staff of CASA, in partnership with industry, to maintain and enhance our safety record and, just as importantly to support a viable aviation industry." http://australianaviation.com.au/2016/08/skidmore-resigns-as-casa-ceo-and-director-of- aviation-safety/ Back to Top FAA proposes $54K fine against GFS WASHINGTON (WOOD) - The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed a $54,000 fine against Gordon Food Service for allegedly violating regulations involving hazardous materials. The FAA says that in August 2014 Gordon Food Service gave UPS a shipment of 30 four- ounce fryer boil-out foaming tablets to be flown from Florida to North Carolina. According to a release from the FAA, the tablets are made of corrosive sodium hydroxide and the inner boxes were labeled "DANGER: May Cause Burns." Employees at a UPS facility in Lakeland, Florida, discovered the shipment. The FAA says the package was not properly marked, labeled or accompanied by shipping papers about the type of hazardous material inside. They also allege that GFS did not provide required emergency response information with the shipment or made sure that its employees received the proper training. GFS has 30 days to respond to the FAA's letter. http://woodtv.com/2016/08/24/faa-proposes-54k-fine-against-gfs/ Back to Top Tanzania: Precision Air to Hire Ten Pilots Dar es Salaam - Precision Air (PW) wants to resume its Dar es Salaam-Comoro flights and intends to employ seven pilots and three first officers. The airline suspended its flights to Hahaya in the Comoros in 2014 when it was reviewing its strategy. But now it feels time is ripe to resume the flights on the route that is dominated by Air Tanzania Company Limited. Precision Air human resource director Ryenada Sikira said in a statement yesterday that the airline had increased its routes including Pemba and Musoma, necessitating an increase in personnel. According to her, Precision Air has employed 45 Tanzanian pilots. The airline will also employ about seven pilots and three first officers. The pilots should have a licence with a record of ATR42/7 and with a minimum rate of flying for not less than 5,000 hours where 1,000 hours should have been used to fly ATR42/72. Further she said the applicants should have at least a minimum experience of two years. Meanwhile she said that the qualifications required for first officers include experience of flying ATR42/72 as well as a licence to prove experience of flying passengers. They should have an experience of not less than six months in a flight managed by two pilots, and with record of flying for not less than 1000 hours. Precision Air last year in April invested Sh400 million on training Tanzanian pilots and employed 14 aviators. The airline flies to 12 destinations. http://allafrica.com/stories/201608240550.html Back to Top USAIG Launches Safety Program for Unmanned Aircraft Systems New York, NY (August 25, 2016)...USAIG proudly introduces Performance Vector Unmanned, created specifically for policyholders who insure unmanned aircraft systems. It serves to keep safety at the forefront, which is especially critical considering that UAS outnumber registered manned aircraft. The program's predecessor, Performance Vector, was established in 2011 to provide safety-supportive benefits to policyholders who insure turbine-powered manned aircraft. Likewise Performance Vector Unmanned integrates products and services specific to UAS operational safety and is made broadly available to holders of UAS policies. "We constantly seek new ways to help strengthen our clients' existing safety programs," says Paul Ratté, USAIG's director of aviation safety programs. "This new initiative addresses a vital need by including one remote pilot's ground school with any UAS policy. Another plus: discounted rates are available for additional trainees." The program's initial offering is the Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) Ground School Course, provided online by industry leader ARGUS Unmanned. The course sets a sturdy foundation of required aeronautical knowledge for remote pilots of UAS weighing less than 55 pounds. The curriculum addresses all pertinent aeronautical knowledge factors outlined by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the Unmanned Aircraft General (UAG) examination. It augments those with safety concepts and practices to develop well-informed and responsible remote pilots. Students who successfully complete the course receive a certificate of completion from ARGUS Unmanned. This prepares them to attain or recurrently sustain Remote Pilot-in-Command certification. "As a long-time service provider in the Performance Vector program, we have seen firsthand the commitment made by USAIG to invest in the continued enhancement of their policyholders' safety programs," says Joe Moeggenberg, ARGUS CEO and President. "We consider it a privilege to participate in the launch of the Performance Vector Unmanned program and agree with USAIG that a strong and sound aviation safety foundation begins with the pilot. Our sUAS ground school carries on that tradition." About USAIG United States Aircraft Insurance Group (USAIG) provides a full spectrum of coverage options for owners, operators, manufacturers and maintainers of corporate, private and commercial aircraft. In 1928, our founders -World War I pilots and businessmen David Beebe and Reed Chambers - saw the need for an insurance company that truly understood aviation. We remain a world aviation insurance leader delivering innovative, custom-tailored insurance products and services, including Performance Vector safety programs and Performance Vector PLUS good experience returns. United States Aviation Underwriters, Inc. manages USAIG, maintaining the industry's largest network of underwriting and field claims offices. USAU's wholly owned subsidiary, Toronto-based Canadian Aviation Insurance Managers manages the Canadian Aircraft Insurance Group insurance pool. USAIG is a subsidiary of General Re Corporation, a Berkshire Hathaway company. Follow us on Twitter @USAIG_CAIG, Facebook & LinkedIn. Please visit our website at: www.usaig.com About ARGUS Unmanned Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Cincinnati OH, ARGUS International, Inc. (ARGUS) is a specialized aviation services company whose mission is to provide the aviation marketplace with data and information necessary to make informed decisions and manage risk through world-class aviation software, business management solutions and expert aviation consulting. In 2016, the company established ARGUS Unmanned to leverage its global aviation safety expertise in the airline, business aviation and rotary wing industry segments to assist operators in the burgeoning Unmanned Aircraft Systems sector to achieve the highest levels of safety and regulatory compliance possible. www.argus.aero The course teaches what human factors contribute to errors and violations and how they may cause UAS accidents. Perhaps equally important, it teaches the ethical and legal requirements of being a responsible remote pilot and explores a professional career in unmanned aviation. "ARGUS is a world-class leader in guiding aviation risk management, so we are especially pleased that the cornerstone program in our new UAS safety initiative is an ARGUS Unmanned course," says David McKay, USAIG CEO. "The UAS sector has shown significant growth and is poised to expand and mature even more as new regulations governing commercial use become effective. Performance Vector Unmanned will help our policyholders become and remain the safety leaders in UAS operations." While Performance Vector Unmanned kicks off with the ARGUS Unmanned sUAS Ground School Course, offerings will evolve in step with the needs of the dynamic UAS industry. For more information and the latest program offerings, please refer to www.usaig.com > Safety tab > Performance Vector Unmanned (direct link: https://www.usau.com/caf_safety_performance_vector_unmanned.php) or email safety@usaig.com. Back to Top PHOTO OF THE DAY Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY (1) Dear Colleagues, I am a university student completing my master degree at the University of South Wales in the UK and I'm conducting a research for my dissertation on aircraft maintenance cost reduction. I would appreciate it if you could complete my survey below: survey link http://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/837F5/ Thank you, Ali khlifa Abushhiwa Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY (2) Dear Colleagues, My name is Hamed Aljahwari, and I am a student from City University London. I would like to take few minutes of your time to answer the following questions. The survey is addressing helicopter Engineers and helicopter Operators in the Middle East. This survey is approved by the Ethics Committee of City University London and is only intended to support my research. Please follow the link below to complete the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/72GN8RM The impacts of operating helicopters in harsh environment Survey www.surveymonkey.com Thank you, Hamed Aljahwari Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY (3) Manual Flying Skills Online Survey Dear fellow Aviators, I kindly ask you to take part in a short online survey concerning the topics of automation and manual flying skills. Besides flying Boeing 737s in Europe, I am enrolled in the MSc Air Safety Management part-time programme at City University London. At the moment, I am working on my thesis - topic: 'Manual Flying Skills - Airline Procedures and their Effect on Pilot Proficiency' - required for the award of the MSc degree next year. By means of this thesis, I intend to investigate the effects different policies or procedures regarding automation (and the resulting manual flying opportunities) can have on pilots' manual flying skills. Recent incidents and accidents involving manual flying deficiencies have brought this issue to wider attention, especially regarding loss of control in-flight (LOC-I) accidents. The survey displays a core element of my work as I would like to combine pilots' subjective views and experiences with current literature and scientific research. It addresses all pilots flying in a commercial environment world-wide and can be found at: https://de.surveymonkey.com/r/manualflyingskills It would be great if you could spare roughly 8-10 minutes of your valued time for this survey. Moreover, it would help me considerably if you could share the survey with friends flying around the world - in order to represent a wide range of different procedural environments in my research. Thank you very much in advance, highly appreciated! Moritz Hanusch Back to Top The International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI) will hold their 47th annual seminar at the Grand Hotel Reykjavik, Iceland, from October 17- 20, 2016 Up to date program details, links to the registration program and the hotel can be found at www.esasi.eu/isasi-2016 or www.isasi.org Dates to Remember Cut off date for the seminar rate at the hotel is September 10, 2016. Reservations made after that date will not be guaranteed the seminar rate. Cut off date for the early registration fee is September 25, 2016. We look forward to seeing you in Iceland Curt Lewis