Flight Safety Information September 21, 2016 - No. 186 In This Issue 1 dead, 1 hurt in California U-2 crash Air ambulance crash in Iran kills 1, injures several people Kenya overcomes final hurdles for US flights SeaPort Airlines to be liquidated, fleet grounded Weather Company Delivers AI-Based Services to Airline Cockpits ICAO stresses importance of civil aviation standards to safety Baines Simmons Wins BAE Systems Consultancy Contract Mayo Clinic's ProPilot...Program Joins USAIG's Performance Vector Safety Initiative 99% Nigerians cautious about air safety standard - Study Latest F-35 bang seat* mods will stop them breaking pilots' necks, beams US Air Force taking cautious approach to training its first enlisted pilots NASA collision avoidance system saves unconscious F-16 Pilot 1 dead, 1 hurt in California U-2 crash 1 killed in the crash, now under investigation The crash occurred in Sutter County north of Sacramento (CNN)One pilot died and another was injured Tuesday when an Air Force U-2 Dragon Lady crashed shortly after takeoff in northern California, the U.S. Air Force said. The crash occurred about 9:05 a.m. north of Sacramento in Sutter County; TV images showed a brush fire. The aircraft had been assigned to 1st Reconnaissance Squadron at Beale Air Force Base, east of Marysville, and was on a training mission. A Unites States Air Force U-2 Dragon Lady crashed shortly after takeoff at approximately 9:05 a.m. today. The pilots ejected from the aircraft. The incident is under investigation. CNN affiliate KCRA-TV said people told the station's Mike Luery they saw two parachutes carrying people and a third with equipment. The U-2 Dragon Lady "provides high-altitude, all-weather surveillance and reconnaissance, day or night, in direct support of U.S. and allied forces," according to an Air Force fact sheet. Beale is the home of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing and houses the U-2 Dragon Lady aircraft. U-2 history In 1996, a U-2 plane from Beale "crashed into the parking lot of the Oroville Mercury Register after declaring an inflight emergency 15 minutes after take off," KCRA reported. A pilot ejected before the crash and was found dead. A civilian also died. A U-2 spy plane was involved in one of the most dramatic incidents of the Cold War. In 1960, a U-2 was shot down over the Soviet Union during a reconnaissance mission. The American pilot, Francis Gary Powers, spent 21 months in a Moscow prison. He was returned to the United States in 1962 after a spy exchange. http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/20/politics/california-u-2-crash/index.html Back to Top Air ambulance crash in Iran kills 1, injures several people TEHRAN, Iran - Iran's semi-official ISNA news agency is reporting that one person has died and several other people were injured when an air ambulance crashed in the north of the country. The Wednesday report says the helicopter crashed after it collided with an electricity pole during landing, while on a mission to transport injured passengers to hospital in a mountainous area. It says rescue teams have been deployed to the site of the crash. Air accidents are not uncommon in Iran, and are often thought to be caused by aging aircraft and poor maintenance. Mountainous areas in northern Iran often experience high winds, heavy rainfall and low visibility. http://www.foxnews.com/world/2016/09/21/air-ambulance-crash-in-iran-kills-1-injures-several- people.html Back to Top Kenya overcomes final hurdles for US flights The New Terminal 1A of JKIA. The airport was named Best Improved in Africa 2015 by ASQ /FILE Kenya has finally met the threshold for a Category One Status which is required for direct flights to the United States, bringing the country closer to implementation of the anticipated service. A team of the US Federal Aviation Administration inspectors who were in the country last week cleared Kenya for the final audit, after being satisfied with measures put in place by the government. Kenya had been tasked to come up with a new Civil Aviation Law - which was achieved when President Uhuru Kenyatta signed into law the Civil Aviation (Amendment) Bill 2016 last Wednesday. The country has also set up a civil aviation tribunal which as per requirements. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority has also addressed three of the eight critical elements of safety oversight system which were pending as defined by the International Civil Aviation Organisation. "We have successfully satisfied FAA. We have achieved all they wanted us to do, so we are waiting for the final audit," KCAA director general Gilbert Kibe told the Star. "We are very pleased with the passing of the Civil Aviation Bill". He said the country has proposed a date mid next month for the final audit, as it seeks to be cleared before the US presidential elections in November. "We have given them two possible dates in mid October. We want it completed so that JKIA is upgraded to category one within this year," Kibe said. If FAA agrees for a mid October date, Kenya will know its fate on direct flights by December, considering that the audit results take up to 60 days for issuance. Kenya has implemented other recommendations by the US to enhance security, among them separation of passenger arrival and departure terminals, clearing the flight path and fencing off the airport. Kenya Airports Authority has spent nearly Sh9 billion to build Terminal 1 (previously Terminal 4) and fabricated Terminal 2. The government has also invested Sh1.3 billion in new security equipment. The country has to score 80 per cent in the IASA audit to qualify which now stands achievable after scoring 88 per cent in a security audit by ICAO, conducted between September 17 and 24, 2014. "We are ready for them (FAA). We believe we will make it," Kibe told the Star. The IASA program focuses on a country's ability, not the ability of individual air carriers, to adhere to international aviation safety standards and recommended practices. (+) IASA assessment determines compliance with the international standards by focusing on each critical element of an effective aviation safety oversight authority specified in ICAO Document 9734, Safety Oversight Manual. The elements include Primary aviation legislation,Specific operating regulations, State civil aviation system and safety oversight functions, Technical personnel qualification and training, Technical guidance, tools and the provision of safety critical information, Licensing, certification, authorization, and approval obligations, Surveillance obligations; and finally Resolution of safety concerns.The IASA program is administered by the FAA Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety (AVS), Flight Standards Service (AFS), International Programs and Policy Division (AFS-50). Direct flights will boost trade between the two countries giving Kenya an advantage to increase its exports to the US under the AGOA. The country's tourism sector will also reap big from the US which is the second leading market source for Kenya after UK. http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2016/09/21/kenya-overcomes-final-hurdles-for-us-flights_c1423575 Back to Top SeaPort Airlines to be liquidated, fleet grounded SeaPort Airlines, an 8-year-old commuter carrier that tried to carve a niche serving subsidized routes to small regional airports, will ground its flights Tuesday as it faces liquidation in bankruptcy. The airline's bid to reorganize collapsed this month after the airline learned it would lose a key contract and a line of credit helping keep it afloat. A judge on Tuesday ordered the airline's Chapter 11 bankruptcy to be converted to a Chapter 7 liquidation effective at noon on Wednesday. An attorney for the airline's creditors said its fleet would be grounded by 6 p.m. Tuesday. "This is certainly not the result hoped for by SeaPort's employees or its creditors who have patiently cooperated as the company has tried to reinvent itself," said Douglas Pahl, a partner at Perkins Coie LLP and attorney for the airline's unsecured creditors. "This is further evidence of the difficulties facing those attempting to service rural, underserved communities." Employees would be paid through Tuesday, Pahl said. In a statement posted on its Facebook page, the company said customers with tickets for future flights can apply for a refund through their credit card company. "This is a very sad day for our employees, shareholders, and the communities we serve," SeaPort President Tim Sieber said in the statement. I would like extend my heartfelt appreciation to the employee team that I have been honored to lead and who delivered industry leading operational performance. While we made great strides, a successful financial reorganization did not appear possible and we were forced to make the difficult decision to cease operations." SeaPort was founded in 2008 and was named for its flights between Portland and Seattle's Boeing Field. It later restructured its business around serving small airports from regional hubs. It most recently operated flights between Portland and Pendleton and it served several smaller airports from a hub in Memphis, Tennessee. The commuter airline previously said it planned to continue operating as it refocused its efforts around its hubs in Portland and Memphis. It also recently served North Bend from Portland International Airport, but stopped flights on that route in March. In a court filing, the airline said it would lose its contract to fly the federally-subsidized route between Portland and Pendleton to a competitor. It had planned to cease operations at Portland International Airport as it continued its reorganization, but it lost a key line of credit and was unable to find replacement financing to continue operations. The East Oregonian newspaper reported Pendleton had decided to replace SeaPort with Boutique Air, a San Francisco-based airline. The airline operated five leased aircraft, two of which were stationed in Portland and three of which were stationed in Memphis. It sought permission from the court to complete operations Tuesday so each plane would be at its home base when it entered Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings. The Federal Aviation Administration fined the airline $500,000 earlier this year for operating three planes that hadn't been inspected. The airline said then it wouldn't affect the reorganization effort. http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2016/09/seaport_airlines_to_be_liquida.html Back to Top Weather Company Delivers AI-Based Services to Airline Cockpits The company is writing algorithms to make recommendations for how airlines should respond to bad weather American Airlines Group Inc., one of Weather Company's biggest aviation customers, expects to expand its use of Weather Company analytics services to supplement its own meteorological and planning systems PHOTO: JOSHUA ROBERTS/REUTERS The Weather Company is stepping up its use of artificial intelligence, rolling out services it says will help the airline industry better predict and respond to weather systems, such as turbulence and lightning strikes, on individual flights. The company, whose digital assets International Business Machines bought in January, says its new AI- based services can be tailored to the business models of individual airline customers with prescriptions for flight changes, crew rescheduling, fueling plans and runway configurations. The goal is "to tie the probabilities to business outcomes," said Mary Glackin, senior vice president of public-private partnerships at Weather Company. As artificial intelligence technology has come down in price and gone up in power, companies across industries are building deep-learning capabilities in products and services, augmenting human expertise. Salesforce.com plans to embed AI-based technology into its software to help salespeople spot relevant information. Microsoft is building AI capabilities into office software. Nasdaq uses AI to root out rogue traders. Meanwhile AI startups are proliferating, including Bottlenose, which aims to lower the cost of AI by automating the work of data scientists. The possibilities stretch beyond automating mundane tasks to predicting customer and employee behavior and then suggesting possible responses. For airlines, the right data about weather can be a competitive advantage. Avoiding flight delays improves the customer experience and helps airlines keep down extra fuel and personnel expenses, which can amount to millions for any given year. 'If you have better information about what the state of the atmosphere is going to be, you will operate more efficiently than the other guy.' -Matt Fronzak, weather portfolio advisor and lead aviation systems engineer at Mitre Corp. American Airlines Group Inc., one of Weather Company's biggest aviation customers, expects to expand its use of Weather Company analytics services to supplement its own meteorological and planning systems. In one project, the airline in November plans to run Wi-Fi into its cockpits, allowing pilots to receive Weather Company images and graphics showing weather patterns and what-if scenarios, in a system called PilotBrief. Most American Airlines pilots now get weather briefings in text format. The new setup will let pilots use Apple iPads to see maps of coming storms, winds and turbulence, as well as the expected routes of other aircraft, said Desmond Keany, manager of flight planning and weather support at American Airlines. To change flight plans to avoid these obstacles, a pilot can drag a finger across the screen, creating a new route that is sent to dispatchers and air traffic control centers for approval. "Visualization of weather is way more useful than text," Mr. Keany said. Interactive: Using PilotBrief, an Airlines 'Flight Planning Guide' for the iPad Direct costs from delays amounted to $65 per minute for the airline industry last year, according to Airlines for America, a lobbying group. That's about 16% better than the $78 per minute in costs in 2014. One reason for the improvement is better decisions made in the moment, said Matt Fronzak, weather portfolio advisor and lead aviation systems engineer at Mitre Corp., a nonprofit researcher. Weather data is critical for nearly every aspect of airline operations, yet weather is a moving target, Mr. Fronzak said. "Runway length doesn't change. Measurements of the aircraft don't change. Your proficiency as a pilot doesn't change. But the environment itself is changing," he said. "If you have better information about what the state of the atmosphere is going to be, you will operate more efficiently than the other guy." Weather Company plans to infuse its product line, including PilotBrief, with increasing levels of artificial intelligence. The company is writing proprietary algorithms that weigh hundreds of variables to produce "probabilistic forecasts" of weather's impact on a given airline's schedule. The software will then recommend ways to lessen disruptions or save money and time if delays are inevitable, Ms. Glackin said. Airlines use different formulas for profitability for different flights at different airports, she said. Proprietary algorithms could weigh these variables to show the business outcomes of various decisions, she said. "We think there is opportunity in that." For example, in a ranking of probable scenarios associated with an approaching storm, Weather Company might find that a low cloud ceiling, plus dangerous wind shear, in a thunderstorm over Chicago is likely to result in a 45-minute delay. Planes may have to idle on the runway, requiring more fuel than first allotted. With this information, an airline could decide to add fuel. Yet doing so makes a plane heavier, which may then necessitate unloading cargo. Removing cargo costs money in labor, time and rerouting. Rerouting must consider the type of aircraft in the air. An Airbus A380, for example, requires more separation between planes in the air and on the groundthan, say, a Boeing 777. That means dispatchers and flight planners must create a bigger time and space buffer between A380 jets, another factor in Weather Company calculations. Initial tests are due to begin in 2017, she said. IBM bought Weather Company's digital assets, including website, data, mobile app and other intellectual property, for an undisclosed sum. IBM plans to feed Weather Company data into its Watson machine- learning supercomputer, along with social media chatter and historical transportation data, to make faster, more accurate predictions and better suggestions, said Mark Miller, senior vice president of aviation at Weather Company. One part of the collaboration will be to make predictions earlier than they do now, Mr. Miller said, perhaps by several hours. That gives airlines more time to revise plans and possibly avoid missing on-time departures - a much-watched industry metric. One airline customer had 9,000 flights that missed scheduled departure times by just one minute in 2015, he said. "Minutes do truly matter." http://blogs.wsj.com/cio/2016/09/20/weather-company-delivers-ai-based-services-to-airline-cockpits/ Back to Top ICAO stresses importance of civil aviation standards to safety 39th General Assembly of the International Standards Organization The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)'s development and implementation of global standards has fostered the development of safe and sustainable aviation since the UN agency was created, declared Dr. Fang Liu, ICAO's Secretary General, at the General Assembly of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Over 12,000 Standards and Recommended Practices have now been appended to the 19 annexes of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, upon which ICAO is founded. All of these have been developed and adopted on the basis of intensive cooperation and consensus amongst ICAO's member States, of which there are currently 191. They cover every international aspect of the industry: capacity and efficiency, security and facilitation, economic development, environmental impact, and of course safety, which is always the first priority in aviation. "Air transport today carries more than 3.5 billion passengers and 51 million tonnes of freight annually," Dr. Liu remarked. "Our global sector experienced fewer than 2.8 major accidents per million departures in 2015. If you compare that to almost any other safety measure in the world, in any domain, it's clearly apparent that international standards for civil aviation are very effective." Underscoring that compliance with ICAO Standards is key to international air connectivity, Dr. Liu described the standardization dynamic that has resulted from the Organization's focus on safety as a "win- win." ICAO compliance drives sustainable development both directly, through the encouragement of investment in the modernization of infrastructure and human resources, and indirectly, through the fostering of increased air traffic flows which consequently encourage local industries. The Secretary General highlighted that these contributions to socio-economic development will be critical to the achievement of the United Nation's Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), noting that 13 of the 17 SDGs are directly supported by ICAO's Strategic Objectives. Dr. Liu stressed the importance of cooperation and consensus as the foundation of ICAO's successful development and implementation of these Standards. "Given our positioning at the heart of a global network of world governments, private sector airlines and airports, and many other air transport stakeholders, cooperation and consensus are absolutely essential to our work," she said. "Another very important aspect of successful standardization, in a context made up of very diversely resourced States and operators, is the work ICAO does to monitor compliance and coordinate targeted assistance to ensure effective Standards implementation. We have reprioritized our Organization, under our ongoing 'No Country Left Behind' initiative, to ensure that all States and Regions have the assistance and, ultimately, the resources and partners they need to effectively set out and adhere to ICAO's provisions." http://www.traveldailymedia.com/241401/icao-stresses-importance-of-civil-aviation-standards-to-safety/ Back to Top Baines Simmons Wins BAE Systems Consultancy Contract LONDON, September 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Air Partner's aviation safety consultancy division Baines Simmons has been awarded a contract to provide Integrated Operational Support (IOS) consultancy services to BAE Systems (the "Company"), with a specific focus on Typhoon aircraft. As a result of the continuous drive for air forces to increase the efficiency of their fleets, there is a growing demand for IOS programmes. The programmes integrate numerous support services, improving safety performance and continuing airworthiness. This ultimately increases efficiencies and improves aircraft availability. As part of its new contract, which became effective on 5 September 2016, Baines Simmons will support BAE Systems' strategic aim to become the leading global IOS provider by 2021. This will enable BAE Systems to reduce costs for customers, improve efficiencies and improve aircraft availability. BAE Systems recently announced a 10-year arrangement with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to support the UK Typhoon fleet, working with the Royal Air Force (RAF). Commenting on the contract, Justin Scarborough, Managing Director of Baines Simmons, said: "It is testament to the experience and expertise of the Baines Simmons team to have been chosen to consult on such an important initiative for one of the world's leading defence contractors. A world-leading IOS system should place the customer first in all decision-making activity, and we are very much looking forward to supporting BAE Systems on making the necessary cultural and organisational step-changes to make this goal a reality." Martin Blaze, Director of Aircraft Maintenance at BAE Systems, said: "At BAE Systems, our customers are our first priority and we are committed to reducing costs and maximising efficiency wherever possible. This project will be a strategic focus for us going forward and we are confident that the Baines Simmons team are the right people to guide us on the journey to becoming a world leading global IOS provider." Baines Simmons, which was acquired by Air Partner in August 2015, has a long history of working with international military and government organisations, including the UK Military Aviation Authority (MAA), the Royal Navy and the Ministry of Defence (MoD). Air Partner, which was founded in 1961 and has 20 offices worldwide, has a proud history of working with heads of state and governments, including six of the G7 group of governments. About Air Partner: Founded in 1961, Air Partner is a global aviation services group that provides worldwide solutions to industry, commerce, governments and private individuals. The Group has two divisions: (a) Broking division, comprising air charter broking and remarketing through the Air Partner and Cabot brands respectively; and (b) Training & Consulting division, via the aviation safety consultancy Baines Simmons. For reporting purposes, the Group is structured into four divisions: Commercial Jets, Private Jets, Freight (Broking) and Baines Simmons (Training & Consultancy). The Commercial Jet division charters large airliners to move groups of any size. Cabot Aviation, which is formed within the Commercial Jet division, provides comprehensive remarketing programmes for all types of commercial and corporate aircraft to a wide range of international clients. Private Jets offers the company's unique pre-paid JetCard scheme and on-demand charter. Air Partner Freight charters aircraft of every size to fly almost any cargo anywhere, at any time. Baines Simmons is a world leader in Aviation Safety Consulting which specialises in aviation regulation, compliance and safety management. Air Partner is headquartered alongside Gatwick airport in the UK. Air Partner operates 24/7 year-round and has 20 offices globally. Air Partner is listed on the London Stock Exchange (AIR) and is also ISO 9001:2008 compliant for commercial airline and private jet solutions worldwide. www.airpartner.com About Baines Simmons: Founded in 2001, Baines Simmons is a world leader in aviation safety consulting, specialising in aviation regulation, compliance and safety management. It is a trusted advisor to more than 750 aviation organisations and more than 40 Aviation Authorities. Baines Simmons helps to advance best practice, shape safety thinking and drive continuous improvement to safety performance. This is achieved through its three service offerings: consulting, training and outsourced services. Through these services, Baines Simmons has helped develop the skills and expertise of more than 120,000 aviation professionals across multiple facets of the aviation industry. Clients include: KLM, SAS, Thomas Cook, Thomson, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, The Isle of Man Government, BAE Systems, MoD, Rolls Royce, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, Airbus, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and UK Military Aviation Authority (MAA). www.bainessimmons.com http://finance.yahoo.com/news/baines-simmons-wins-bae-systems-073000315.html Back to Top Mayo Clinic's ProPilot™ Program Joins USAIG's Performance Vector Safety Initiative New York, NY (Sept. 21, 2016)...Mayo Clinic's ProPilot program has joined USAIG's industry-leading Performance Vector safety initiative. Eligible policyholders now have the option to select ProPilot as their Performance Vector benefit. The program combines Mayo Clinic's world-class comprehensive, customized health-care approach with a supportive team of medical professionals who fully understand the FAA medical certification process and the unique stresses pilots face. "Mayo Clinic represents the very pinnacle in advanced health care and has a long and distinguished history in aviation and aerospace medicine," said Dave McKay, USAIG Chairman and CEO. "We are proud and honored to form this relationship with Mayo, knowing it will advance wellness and help our policyholders' pilots sustain long, productive flying careers - factors vital to aviation safety." When a policyholder selects ProPilot, USAIG covers the annual program fee for that organization's pilots (up to 10). The ProPilot program manager interviews the appropriate flight department manager to understand the organization's needs and culture. Together, they determine an appointment schedule for high-quality medical certification examinations and codify program details and options. Each participating pilot receives a unique identifier and member card, and visits Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN for an annual aeromedical physical examination. (Note: travel costs are the responsibility of the policyholder.) ProPilot functions as the flight department's out-of-house medical director, working supportively and proactively to sustain pilots' medical certification and fitness for flight duties. If a condition threatening a pilot's medical certification emerges, the program brings its substantial expertise to bear, maximizing the opportunity to resolve the issue favorably. The annual enrollment covers: * Preventive health screening for pilots upon enrollment * Annual, comprehensive flight physical examination at Mayo Clinic * Prescheduling and nurse interviews prior to arrival * Comprehensive review of health history and medical records management * Referrals for additional screenings or tests recommended for proactive health management * Rapid access to specialized medical care if a medical condition arises while a ProPilot member * Resources that help promote health and wellness, resolve or prevent injuries or chronic conditions, and cultivate resilience over the course of an aviation career * Discrete, de-identified reports to flight department managers to facilitate efficiently sustaining fitness for duty among all pilots * Trusted advice and assistance with FAA waivers, Special Issuance applications, and emerging pilot health concerns "Most of our flight physicians are pilots themselves or have been active in military service," said Clayton T. Cowl, MD, MS, Chair of Mayo Clinic's Division of Preventive, Occupational & Aerospace Medicine. "As physicians who 'speak airplane', we understand that it's critical to always have a backup plan for our participants if a medical condition occurs between flight physicals or is identified during screening.We know how to work with the FAA to expedite medical waivers and our goal is to minimize risk of a career-altering medical condition from ever occurring." Performance Vector programs align with aviation regulatory requirements, accreditation protocols and industry recommended standards such as FAA, IS-BAO, NBAA's Certified Aviation Manager program, and ICAO. Policyholders that insure one or more turbine-powered aircraft, or place multiple aviation policies with USAIG, can select one Performance Vector option each year, and eligibility for an additional election refreshes each policy renewal. For more information, please refer to the website: https://www.usau.com/caf_safety_performance_vector.php 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 -WorldWar 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 Mayo Clinic Mayo Clinic's mission is to inspire hope and contribute to health and well-being by providing the best care to every patient through integrated clinical practice, education and research. Part of the Division of Preventive, Occupational and Aerospace Medicine, Mayo Clinic's ProPilot program is run by a team of Aviation Medical Examiners and support staff dedicated to providing the highest level of care and expertise to pilots. Corporations that send their pilots to the program do so because they count them among their most valued human resources, and share the ProPilot program's goal of keeping pilots healthy and able to enjoy long aviation careers. Eligible policyholders can use their annual Performance Vector benefit to have USAIG cover theannual ProPilot program enrollment fee. Please visit their website at: http://www.mayoclinic.org/propilot Back to Top 99% Nigerians cautious about air safety standard - Study Forsa Institute for Social Research and Statistics Analysis in its 2015 Aviation Trends has reported that 99 per cent of Nigerian air travellers are cautious about the safety standard of airlines when booking a mid or long haul flight. The study was commissioned for the German company by one of the foreign airlines operating into Nigeria, Turkish Airlines.A statement by the media consultant of the airline in Nigeria also indicated that first-class support- before, during and after the flight is essential for the success of any airline. The statement hinted that out of people surveyed for travel behaviour in Nigeria, 42 per cent had not travelled by plane at all in the last two years while 21 per cent others had taken one or two flights within the same period. The study findings showed that 19 per cent of those surveyed had travelled by plane three to four times in recent time, adding that 17 per cent had taken flights more frequently. Also, 61 per cent of those surveyed indicated that they had travelled short-haul in the past two years while another 21 per cent had taken medium-haul flights, and 32 per cent chose a long-haul flight. Besides, the study further revealed that 25 per cent of those surveyed were not affected by boarding delay in the past two years while only 12 per cent of affected travellers were very satisfied or satisfied and additional 65 per centwere less satisfied or dissatisfied with passengers'services within the nation's airports. The survey further showed that 46 per cent of the airline customers would feel very safe with a two person rule in the cockpit, 35 per cent would like a member of the police or security personnel on board of the aircraft, while 65 per cent would appreciate the possibility for air traffic controllers on the ground to intervene with what is happening in the cockpit. https://www.today.ng/news/nigeria/184876/99-nigerians-cautious-air-safety-standard-study Back to Top Latest F-35 bang seat* mods will stop them breaking pilots' necks, beams US One problem nearly fixed, only several hundred to go The American F-35 Joint Project Office says ejection seat and helmet modifications will stop emergency ejections from breaking petite pilots' necks. Pilots who weigh less than 62kg (9¾ stone, 136lb) are currently banned from flying the state-of-the-art F- 35 fighter jet because an emergency ejection using the currently fitted Martin-Baker US16E seat could cause potentially fatal neck and spine injuries. F-35 pilots wear a heavier helmet than pilots of other types of craft - it contains more targeting electronics than previous jets - which weighs about 2.25kg, or 5lbs. US F-35 Joint Project Office (JPO) director Todd Mellon told US website Defense News: "We're three to four weeks away from having all of the data done so that we can finalize the technical assessment, put that into a risk assessment, and then ultimately make a recommendation." Lieutenant General Chris Bogdan, the Americans' F-35 Program Executive Officer, told Martin-Baker in July: "We believe the current Martin-Baker US-16E ejection seat with proposed fixes will meet all F-35 requirements." Martin-Baker is keen to keep the F-35 ejection seat contract. As problems caused by the current seat and helmet combination have rumbled on over the past year, the US has threatened to award the contract for F-35 "bang seats" to rival manufacturer United Technologies, though informed sources believe this is an empty threat just to keep Martin-Baker on its toes. Three key modifications are taking place, according to Defense News. A weight-activated switch in the seat will delay parachute deployment if a smaller pilot is sat in the seat, letting it slow down slightly and thus putting less force on the pilot; a head support panel has been fitted to stop the pilot's neck from "over- flexing backwards"; and helmet manufacturers Rockwell Collins are trying to cut down the helmet's weight. Military.com affiliate Defense Tech reported in August that, if successful, the modifications would be incorporated into new-build F-35As by 2017 and retrofitted to all existing F-35A aircraft. A Ministry of Defence spokesman told The Register: "There are no UK F-35 pilots affected by this issue and we do not anticipate any impact on national flying operations while this seat development issue is resolved. The safety of our personnel remains of paramount importance." It's anyone's guess as to whether the RAF and Royal Navy's F-35Bs will be equipped with the modified seats and helmets - though it would be very strange if they weren't. The UK is planning full inter-operation with the US Marine Corps' F-35Bs and so keeping two sets of spares aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth would be a needless duplication. British fast jet pilots flying the Hawk two-seat trainer, used in advanced fast jet training, must weigh a minimum of 8.9 stone (56.5kg), which suggests quite a few serving British aircrew may be ineligible to fly the F-35 once the aircraft gets into squadron service in seven years' time. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/09/20/f35_ejection_seat_modifications_nearly_done/ Back to Top Air Force taking cautious approach to training its first enlisted pilots The Air Force is set to begin training some of its enlisted members to fly aircraft next month - the first time it's done so since it became a separate military service in 1947. The first group of non-commissioned officers, which the Air Force is using as one of its answers to an overworked, understaffed cadre of unmanned aircraft pilots, will be brought in under a slow, cautious approach. The initial class will be made up of just four students, all of whom have experience as sensor operators or with some other aspect of the unarmed RQ-4 Global Hawk, the only platform the Air Force is allowing enlisted pilots to fly. Two more groups of four airmen each will begin the training in the following months, for a total of 12 enlisted pilots in the Enlisted Pilot Initial Class (EPIC) program. Lt. Gen. Darryl Roberson, the commander of Air Education and Training Command, said Monday that at least at the outset, the training would be identical to what its officer pilots in the remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) community receive 6-7 months of instruction at Joint Base San Antonio followed by 4-5 months at a formal training unit. "Following the beta test of this initial class, we'll make any adjustments that we see are necessary before we start the real, full-up RPA program for our enlisted force," he told reporters at the Air Force Association's annual conference in National Harbor, Maryland. "All four of our very first class are already very familiar with RPA operations. But by the time we get to the 12th airman in these classes, we are bringing in someone who has never been exposed to this so we can see the full gamut of folks - from those who are already highly propensed to RPAs all the way to somebody who has no clue, to see how each of them do. At the end of these three classes, we'll do an assessment of what we saw and whether changes need to be made." As another part of the Air Force's "get well" plan for its community of unmanned aircraft pilots, its secretary and chief of staff also ordered Roberson's command to double the number of officers it trains each year. AETC officials said Monday they'd succeeded in doing that, having grown the pipeline from 192 pilots per year to 384 in 2016. The Air Force also said last month that it would offer retention bonuses of $35,000 to entice its existing drone pilots to stay in the military. With regard to the Air Force's shortage of qualified fighter jet pilots - a problem Gen. David Goldfein, its chief of staff, called a "crisis" last month - AETC officials said they had begun to take several steps to train new pilots to replace those the Air Force is losing to the commercial airline industry. For example, two former F-16 squadrons at Hill Air Force Base that had been scheduled to be farmed out to various active and reserve commands will instead be dedicated to AETC as training units. "But this is a multi-tiered effort," said Brig. Gen. Andrew Croft, AETC's director of plans, programs, resources and requirements. "We're increasing our pilot production to 1,375 pilots a year - that's about a 15 to 20 percent increase. We're also increasing the number of pilots we put through the T-38 track, which allows us to make them fighter pilots or, in the future, pull them back into the fighter community. And at fighter formal training units, we're going to increase the percentage of fighter pilot production between 10- 20 percent, right away, across the board. That's all happening right now and it's going to scale up over time." http://federalnewsradio.com/air-force/2016/09/air-force-taking-cautious-approach-training-first-enlisted- pilots/ Back to Top NASA collision avoidance system saves unconscious F-16 Pilot The U.S. Air Force's F-16D Automatic Collision Avoidance Technology, or ACAT, aircraft was used by NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center and the Air Force Research Laboratory to develop and test collision avoidance technologies. Two pilots who credit a NASA-supported technology with saving one of their lives during a May training exercise mishap paid a visit to NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, to meet with some of the very engineers responsible for its development. A United States Air Force Major and F-16 flight instructor, and a foreign Air Force pilot student, spent an afternoon at the NASA center, as guests during the center's 2016 NASA Honor Awards. The pilots spent the day with NASA Armstrong center director David McBride, project manager Mark Skoog, and several other engineers and managers responsible for developing and advancing the Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System, or Auto-GCAS. Both pilots say that without the system, developed in part by NASA, one of them would not be alive today. Auto-GCAS is an aircraft software system that activates upon detecting a collision course with the ground. It warns the pilot, and if imminent collision with the ground is determined, it locks the pilot controls and performs an automatic recovery maneuver, returning full control back to the pilot once the aircraft has cleared the terrain. "There have been numerous accident reports over the years where it's been pilot error," explained the flight instructor, who graduated from pilot training in 2007 and now teaches young pilots how to fly F-16s. "That's one of the things that frames my discussion with a lot of the young students that I teach, is that your chances of dying in combat are up there, it's a dangerous thing. But most F-16 pilots over the years die in training accidents." The Tucson Guard had been conducting a standard training scenario, known as basic fighter maneuvers, or BFM, in F-16s. For the student, it was his first high-aspect BFM flight. In essence, the scenario was designed for the student to fly a head-on pass with the instructor, with both aircraft flying directly at each other initially. Then, once they pass, or "merge," each pilot tries to out-maneuver the other. The exercise is meant to train pilots in maneuvers necessary for aerial combat, and requires three dimensional maneuvering under high g. Following the pass, the student banked his F-16 and began maneuvering, pulling more than 8 g. It was at this time that he experienced what's known as a g-induced loss of consciousness, or G-LOC, and fell unconscious. The aircraft, meanwhile, continued to bank, rolling to approximately 135 degrees, allowing the nose to start slicing and causing a steep dive toward the ground. The situation was especially perilous since the student, having intended to maneuver with high gravitational force, had advanced his throttle to "full afterburner" and significantly increased his aircraft's thrust. Continuing to accelerate, the aircraft began to plummet toward the ground, eventually reaching supersonic speed at Mach 1.12. Meanwhile the instructor had noticed the anomaly, and began calling for his student to "recover, recover." With no response, it was clear that the pilot was in a G-LOC situation. The instructor maneuvered to fly behind the distressed aircraft. However, the student's F-16, flying at supersonic speed, pulled away and beyond visual line of sight. "By the final 'recover' call, I'm basically just hoping that he recovers, because I'd lost sight of him at that point," the instructor said. "I was really hoping I wasn't going to see any sort of impact with the ground." Just as the instructor made his third and final "recover" call, the Auto-GCAS in the student's aircraft activated, rolling the aircraft to a safe, upright position, and performed an automatic, stabilizing pull-up. The pilot regained consciousness and promptly pulled back his throttle to "idle" speed. "My memory is that I started the fight and then I could see my instructor and the next thing I remember is just waking up," the pilot recalled. "It feels weird because I think I'm waking up from my bed. In my helmet, I can hear him screaming 'recover, recover' at me and when I open my eyes I just see my legs and the whole cockpit. It doesn't really make sense. "I got up over the horizon pretty fast again. It's all thanks to the Auto-GCAS system, which got me out of the roll and started the recovery for me." Ultimately, the aircraft recovered at approximately 3,000 feet above the ground. This is high for where Auto-GCAS would have normally performed the recovery, but the system, assuming the throttle would remain at its current position with full afterburner, and that the pilot would remain unconscious, calculated an increase in the amount of altitude required for recovery. "About maybe 30 seconds to a minute after I had gotten everything under control again," remembered the student. "The first thing I thought about was my girlfriend, and then my family, and then my friends back home, and the thought of them basically getting a call (that I had perished)." Following the potentially tragic incident, the student followed specific instructions from his instructor, was able to land his aircraft safely, and was promptly attended to by medical personnel. The development of Auto-GCAS goes back over 30 years, first flying at Edwards Air Force Base as a collaboration between NASA, the Air Force Research Lab, AFRL, and Lockheed Martin. The program was originally included as a test safety system to allow for other requested testing to take place. Testers quickly took note of the potential of Auto-GCAS, and agreed that it may hold broader-reaching ramifications than the primary test systems. However, Skoog, who has worked with autonomous systems since the beginning of his career, says that the system was met with initial opposition including from the fighter pilot community. "There were some instances where we saw families of pilots who'd been lost in mishaps and we knew that it could be prevented," Skoog said. "It was very challenging. There's a personal burden and a clear moral responsibility to get the message out to the decision makers so that they can properly administrate funds to bring this kind of potential life-saving technology forward." Auto-GCAS was eventually incorporated into the Fighter Risk Reduction program and was subsequently fielded on the F-16 in September of 2014. Since then, the system has prevented at least four confirmed aircraft situations that could have resulted in loss of life. "After having gone through so much initial resistance from the pilot community, to now, where just weeks after its implementation there was a complete reversal in pilot opinion," Skoog said. "They are finally seeing what we in the test community saw for a long time." For the student, the system, he says, made all the difference in his life. "This was an isolated incident for me, but, from the bottom of my heart, I just want to say thank you to everyone who has been a part of developing the Auto-GCAS system," he said. "It's everyone, not just engineers, but politicians and people just trying to get the ball rolling on having the Air Force use it. They are the reason that I am able to stand here today and talk about it. I'm able to continue to fly the F-16, and I'm able to go home and see my family again. So thank you, so much." http://www.spacedaily.com/ Curt Lewis