Flight Safety Information September 15, 2016 - No. 182 In This Issue Missing AN-32 aircraft: IAF declares those on-board as presumed dead, families informed AirAsia X under safety crackdown Bayflite operator hit with $892,000 safety fine from FAA Air Safety: DGCA bans clicking pictures near aircraft (India) Medical helicopter pilots concerned about drones in the sky American Airlines raises pay for regional pilots NTSB: Pilot Turned Failing Jet to Desert Before Nellis Crash Boeing Is Having a Hard Time Selling Its 777 Jet Missing AN-32 aircraft: IAF declares those on-board as presumed dead, families informed On July 22, the ill-fated aircraft of the IAF, with 29 personnel on board, including four officers, had gone missing over the Bay of Bengal. AN 32, missing an 32, missing an 32 aircraft, indian air force, IAF missing aircraft, news, indian express news, The AN-32 aircraft went missing 22 July. The Indian Air Force on Thursday communicated to the kin of personnel on the missing AN-32 plane that those on-board have been presumed dead and search operations have ended. Multiple aircraft and ships of the IAF, Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard were scouring the waters in an area some 150 nautical miles east of Chennai, the last known location of the aircraft, braving high winds and choppy monsoon seas. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar was personally monitoring the situation and the search and rescue teams failed to obtain any leads. Families of the victims had repeatedly been contacting IAF officials hoping to get some information on the outcome of the searches. On July 22, the ill-fated aircraft of the IAF, with 29 personnel on board, including four officers, had gone missing over the Bay of Bengal on its way from Chennai to Port Blair, soon after taking off from Tambaram air base. The Indian Air Force claims it was in touch with the aircraft till about 9.30 am post which it could not establish contact. The ETA or expected time of arrival of the flight was 11.30 am. The Chennai ATC claimed it was in touch with the aircraft till 8.12 am. http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/missing-an-32-aircraft-iaf- declares-those-on-board-as-presumed-dead-families-informed/ Back to Top AirAsia X under safety crackdown AirAsia X, which operates a double daily Perth-to-Kuala Lumpur service, has been under heightened surveillance by the air safety regulator since one of its planes leaving Sydney was diverted to Melbourne after the crew, trying to correct an error, affected key systems. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has confirmed the Kuala Lumpur-based budget airline has been subject to increased checks since the captain inadvertently entered the wrong longitude in the flight navigation system in March last year. The error, outlined in an Australian Transport Safety Bureau report published last week, placed the Kuala Lumpur-bound plane 11,000km away from its actual location, prompting it to turn the wrong way after taking off and cross the departure path of an adjacent parallel runway. The crew did not detect the navigation problem until the plane was airborne. The plane was not fitted with an upgraded flight management system that would have prevented the data-entry error. Their attempts to fix the problem made matters worse by affecting key flight guidance and control systems. https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/wa/a/32598441/airasia-x-crackdown/#page1 Back to Top Bayflite operator hit with $892,000 safety fine from FAA FAA: Air Methods Corp. put patients in danger TAMPA - The report released Wednesday by the FAA alleges the Bayflite helicopter flew 51 times when it was not airworthy endangering lives and property. The Federal Aviation Administration said the helicopter with tail number N527BF was inspected on Nov. 4, 2014. During that inspection the Aviation Safety Inspector observed "both pitot tubes were severely corroded," the report stated. After Air Methods was notified of the problem the FAA alleges the company flew for an additional 8 days making "51 passenger -carrying flights." MORE: Air ambulance company charges big fees, hassles, then sues hundreds of former patients A helicopter pilot, not associated with the company, who did not want to be connected with the report, told ABC Action News reporter Michael Paluska the pitot tubes are a key component of the helicopter to measure an aircraft's speed and are critical to flight operations. "If it is corroded it might not give accurate speed and sometimes altitude," the pilot explained. "If that was my helicopter I would've been grounded immediately." According to the FAA, "operators are expected to respond appropriately when FAA inspectors alert them to airworthiness concerns. In this case, the FAA issued a civil fine of $892,000 because they did not do that in a timely manner. The report states that Air Methods was "in violation of its operations specifications; after it failed to correct a known defect in the aircraft; and in a careless or reckless manner that endangered lives and property." Since 2014, Air Methods Corp. has been hit with $2,952,000 in civil citations for safety violations from the FAA. In March of 2015 the company was issues their largest fine of $1.54 million for flying a medical helicopter over water, which according to the FAA didn't have flotation devices on board. Air Methods Spokesperson, Christina Ward, released this statement: Air Methods is further investigating these allegations, and the FAA has our full cooperation in the matter. What we know is the allegations included flights in an Airbus EC-135 helicopter and that the aircraft mentioned is in compliance. We take safety seriously, and the safe return of our crews and the patients we serve is and always will be our highest priority at Air Methods. In 2013, Air Methods became the first air medical provider and helicopter operator to achieve the highest level within the FAAs voluntary Safety Management System (SMS) program. We continue to raise the bar to ensure the safety of those who fly with us. http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local-news/bayflite-operator-hit-with-892000- safety-fine-from-faa Back to Top Air Safety: DGCA bans clicking pictures near aircraft (India) New Delhi: The Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGCA) via its latest circular on air safety has asked airlines to ensure that passengers do not indulge in photography while embarking or disembarking from aircraft. It has also barred the Air crew from indulging in photography during any phase of flight. Lately, a lot of complains have been recieved by the DGCA against passengers and crew including pilots on board for indulging in selfie-culture on flight. The DGCA was recently made aware about the matter especially clicking of selfies in the cockpit by an RTI applicant. The aviation regulator issued a circular on August 29 in which it said that taking photography during flight is source of distraction, which may lead to error and resultant reduction in safety. http://zeenews.india.com/business/news/economy/air-safety-dgca-bans-clicking-pictures- near-aircraft_1929471.html Back to Top Medical helicopter pilots concerned about drones in the sky CBS -- Medical helicopter pilots are concerned about drones getting in the way of transporting the sick and injured to the hospital. New regulations from the FAA are helping make sure all aircraft stay safely in the sky, and while one La Crosse pilot hasn't seen any drones on his flights, he and others are worried about the safety of their aircraft. "Worst case scenario it would take us out of the sky," said Heath Folkedahl, a metro aviation pilot with Gundersen Health System. "They're so small that we wouldn't see them until they're right in front of us, and any kind of collision even with something that small can be catastrophic," said Terri Wenthold, chief flight nurse with Medlink Air. The FAA released their commercial drone regulations a few weeks ago. Drone operators must always keep their drone in sight, and they can't fly higher than 400 feet or faster than 100 miles per hour. http://www.wsaw.com/content/news/Medical-helicopter-pilots-concerned-about-drones- in-the-sky--393484561.html Back to Top American Airlines raises pay for regional pilots Two of American Airlines' regional carriers are boosting pay for pilots. (File Photo/Nathan Hunsinger) Two of American Airlines' regional airlines are increasing pay and bonuses for their pilots in an effort to step up recruitment as the industry grapples with a looming pilot shortage. Irving-based Envoy Air and Dayton, Ohio-based PSA Airlines, both wholly owned subsidiaries of American Airlines Group, announced Wednesday they're raising starting pay for new hires by as much as 50 percent, as well as expanding a bonus program worth as much as $35,000 put in place earlier this year. "Our ability to attract and retain the most talented pilots has been critical to our success," Ric Wilson, Envoy's vice president of flight operations, said in a statement. "Hiring more new pilots allows us to compete for additional flying." At PSA Airlines, the pay rate for a first-year pilot will increase from $24.62 per hour to $38.50 per hour, with additional signing and retention bonuses worth up to $35,000 over several years. Envoy is raising its base from $25.84 per hour to $37.90, a 47 percent increase, with the chance for additional bonuses. Both airlines said first-year pilots can make about $58,000, which they described as the highest rates in the regional industry. Together, the two airlines employee about 2,800 pilots. Regional airlines play a key role in the U.S. aviation system, flying routes between smaller cities to funnel passengers to major carriers at airport hubs like DFW International Airport. Envoy and PSA, for example, both fly under the American Eagle brand. But conditions can be grueling for pilots starting out their careers with regional airlines with a combination of high training costs, lower pay and irregular schedules. It can be years of shuttling between small destinations on regional jets before these pilots get a shot at a more lucrative job with mainline carriers like American, where salaries can easily reach into the six figures. Getting pilots onto the career path has been a challenge for regional airlines, with one, Republic Airways, blaming a shortage of qualified pilots in its February bankruptcy filing. Regional airlines have been boosting pay and incentives in an attempt to entice more people onto the pilot career path. A study by the University of North Dakota estimated that without changes there will be a deficit of 15,000 pilots by 2026. Although the shortage hasn't been felt by mainline carriers yet, regional carriers are a key pipeline for hiring, with Envoy and PSA both offering direct paths to employment with American. http://www.dallasnews.com/business/airline-industry/20160914-american-airlines-raises- pay-for-regional-pilots.ece Back to Top NTSB: Pilot Turned Failing Jet to Desert Before Nellis Crash An F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 64th Aggressor Squadron takes off for a training flight Aug. 13, 2013, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Joshua Kleinholz) LAS VEGAS - Investigators say a civilian contractor pilot who ejected from a Vietnam War- era military jet near Nellis Air Force Base last month steered the failing aircraft toward the desert before it crashed. The National Transportation Safety Board said the pilot reported the Douglas A-4K Skyhawk lost power approaching a runway before he parachuted safely away Aug. 18. Officials said he wasn't seriously injured. The pilot wasn't identified by the military or his employer, Draken International of Lakeland, Florida. Company chief executive Sean Gustafson declined Tuesday to comment. The NTSB preliminary report says the aircraft crashed and burned about a mile north of Nellis. No one on the ground was injured. The pilot was returning after portraying enemy aircraft in an air combat role-playing exercise over the Nevada Test and Training Range. http://www.military.com/daily-news/2016/09/14/ntsb-pilot-turned-jet-desert-nellis- crash.html Back to Top Boeing Is Having a Hard Time Selling Its 777 Jet CEO says output could be cut again. Boeing's BA -0.85% production of 777 jets may be cut further than projected if sales lag this year, the company's chief executive said on Wednesday. Cutting production of 777s would "add pressure" to Boeing's goal of hitting its profit- margin target, but would not change the target, Boeing chief executive officer Dennis Muilenburg said at an investor conference hosted by Morgan Stanley. Boeing makes 8.3 of its 777s per month, and had already announced plans to cut output to seven per month next year as it shifts to a new model, the 777X, which enters production in 2018. The shift will mean deliveries of the 777 fall to about 5.5 a month in 2018, Muilenburg said. But the company has sold just eight 777s this year, far short of its target of 40 to 50 sales needed to sustain production at those levels. "So, obviously, pressure there," Muilenburg said, noting numerous 777 sales campaigns are underway. "We need to be successful on some of those campaigns over the next two to three months to hold that seven-a-month rate structure," he said. "If we don't, we'll have to adjust." http://fortune.com/2016/09/14/boeing-777-jet-production/ Curt Lewis