Flight Safety Information October 5, 2016 - No. 196 In This Issue 'AMONG BEST' IN WORLD, INDIAN AIRPORTS FLUNK SAFETY TEST BVI Airways pilot cites challenge; promises safety Lightning strike sparks aircraft turnback Ryanair to add 50 aircraft in 2017 Viking completes acquisition of Bombardier's amphibious aircraft programme Indian airline IndiGo bans kids from airplane 'quiet zone' IATA calls for industry collaboration on safety management at October conference GE Aviation begins next generation helicopter engine testing GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Accident Investigation for Aviation Management Course - Cranfield University 'AMONG BEST' IN WORLD, INDIAN AIRPORTS FLUNK SAFETY TEST In a report that is certain to have rattled India's Civil Aviation authorities, global oversight body International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has given India significantly lower safety ranking than its neighbours such as Pakistan and Sri Lanka in its safety audit report of 2015. Surprisingly, while on the one hand Delhi's International Airport has been tagged as one of the "best airports" in the world, ICAO safety report reveals a different picture for Indian airports in terms of "Effective Implementation" (EI) in Legislation, Air Navigation, Accident Investigation, Licensing and Organisation. In terms of Accident Investigation, i.e. an aircraft sustaining damage or structural failure during flight operation, EI is 34.26 per cent in India whereas Sri Lanka and Pakistan have scored 90.72 per cent and 87.5 per cent respectively. Notably, Effective Implementation of Legislation in India stands at just 50 per cent, which is again very low as compared to China and other neighbouring countries. When asked about the basis on which this audit report was prepared, Anthony Philibin, Chief Communication Officer of the Secretary General, ICAO said that under its Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP), ICAO confirms a Significant Safety Concern (SSC) with respect to a country's oversight resources and procedures. When this occurs, the state in question is given a maximum of 15 days to undertake mitigating measures and implement a suitable Corrective Action Plan (CAP) to resolve the SSC and conform to required standards. India's Effective Implementation of Navigation Services as per ICAO standards is 68.75 per cent while that of Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and China is 75, 84.38 and 87.11 respectively far outstripping India's performance. In Effective implementation of Organisation and Accidental Investigation, India scored a relatively poor 63.64 and 45.74 percent, according the world body's safety audit. The replies that The Pioneer got from the aviation authorities - Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MCA) and even members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee concerned - suggested that they haven't studied the ICAO report. Meanwhile, on condition of anonymity, a senior official of the Civil Aviation Ministry told The Pioneer that ICAO's rating may be based on the kind of documents presented to them. "May be Pakistan and Sri Lanka prepared better documents and records than we did and gave a better presentation before ICAO compared to us," said the official. However, a Hyderabad-based aviation safety consultant and air safety expert Captain Mohan Ranganathan said ICAO has found India well below the world average on Aerodromes (For Licensing) and Accident Investigations. "There are several violations of ICAO Guidelines Annex 14, volume 1 Standards that are mandatory. Several runways do not have the mandatory Runway End Safety Areas (RESA) as well as the mandatory strip, runways which do not have the mandatory strip of 155m on either side have been permitted without operational restrictions," said Ranganathan, who also served as former instructor pilot of Boeing 737and specialised in wet runway operations training. He further said that several obstacles have also been permitted without adhering to the minimum safety standards. "The DGCA has been carrying out Surveillance Safety Audits (SSA) and blindly clearing the aerodromes for licensing without ensuring minimum standards," he said. While explaining Accident Investigation, Capt Ranganathan stated that several cases have been swept under the carpet. Accident Investigations have not been done conforming to the minimum standards laid down in ICAO Annex 13. "Procedures to be followed in investigation, minimum time frame for preliminary reports and final reports have not been complied with. India has also not kept ICAO informed of accidents," said Capt Rangananthan. According to a Parliamentary Standing Committee report of 2013 on Civil Aviation Authority of India, DGCA is responsible for formulation, implementation, enforcement and monitoring of stipulated standards and regulations of air transport services from and within India, air safety, airworthiness and coordination of regulatory functions with the ICAO. The standing committee report further stated that India, being signatory to the Chicago Convention 1944, is responsible for compliance of the Standards and Recommended Practices (SAPRs) in the annexure to the Chicago Convention, in aspects like training, licensing of personnel and airline operators and the primary responsibilities of DGCA are Safety oversight, regular audits and monitoring of operations of various entities. Many of these stipulated responsibilities appear to have been overlooked. http://www.dailypioneer.com/todays-newspaper/among-best-in-world-indian-airports- flunk-safety-test.html Back to Top BVI Airways pilot cites challenge; promises safety Bradley Goggin, who was hired recently as Director of Flight Operations at BVI Airways, said some major challenges have been faced in starting the non-stop flight between the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and the United States. He did not specify the challenges. But the former Royal Air Force pilot, who will soon relocate to the BVI with his wife and toddler, expressed confidence in getting the job done. He also stated that he "feels very privileged" to be part of the BVI Airways which is receiving an investment of $7 million from the BVI government. "We are working hard to prepare our airline for an entirely new route directly linking the BVI to the US mainland, which has never been flown commercially before. This has presented some major challenges, and my colleagues and I at BVI Airways are working hard to establish a safe and reliable operation, while delivering this exciting new venture." "On a personal note, my young family and I are very much looking forward to moving to the BVI, settling into the local community, and making friends in our new home," Goggin further said. The BVI government has announced that the already delayed commencement of the flights is expected to start in November. But there are speculations that the said schedule may be missed as the necessary certification - especially from the United States authorities - may not be acquired in time. Premier Dr D Orlando Smith, late last month, told the House of Assembly that an application has been submitted to Air Safety Support International for approval, and one will later be submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States. Service to begin in 'next few months' Meanwhile, according to BVI Airways, the appointment of Goggin comes as it "prepares to begin non-stop service from Miami to the British Virgin Islands in the next few months". One of the planes acquired by BVI Airways recently Goggin will supervise BVI Airways' flight operations activity and personnel, added the airline. "With Captain Goggin's depth of knowledge and experience flying the royal family and other dignitaries, his commitment to safety and excellence will certainly add to the level of service that BVI Airways' passengers can expect," said Jerry Willoughby, president and chief executive officer of BVI Airways. He continued: "We are dedicated to providing unparalleled service to our passengers. And, with Goggin at the head of flight operations, I am certain that we will achieve this. We are all very pleased to have him on board." Pilot's qualification According to the airline, Goggin has more than 4000 hours as a captain, operating several aircraft. He has extensive experience in the British Aerospace Avro 146. Goggin was a member of the elite Royal Air Force Squadron, providing service to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, members of the Royal family, members of government, as well as other VIPs and dignitaries. In addition to serving as BVI Airways' chief pilot, Goggin will be responsible for oversight of flight operations policy and procedures, as well as training and certification of all BVI Airways' flight personnel. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Aerospace Systems Engineering from the University of Hertfordshire, as well as advanced certificates in Mathematics, Physics and Biology. http://bvinews.com/new/bvi-airways-pilot-cites-challenge-promises-safety/ Back to Top Lightning strike sparks aircraft turnback A Jetstar flight out of Melbourne abandoned its trip to Hobart when the aircraft was struck by lightning. The airline on Wednesday confirmed that a Tuesday evening service turned back as a precaution and passengers were transferred to another aircraft, arriving in the Tasmanian capital almost four hours late. "Our engineers have conducted an inspection on the aircraft and it has been cleared to return to service," a Jetstar statement read. http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/lightning-strike-sparks-aircraft- turnback/news-story/b3ccc0f8d25006033069d9e09d3f9bcb Back to Top Ryanair to add 50 aircraft in 2017 Irish budget carrier Ryanair has detailed its expansion plans for 2017, which will see it add 50 aircraft and create over 3,500 new jobs. The aircraft will be sourced from Ryanair's existing orders. "Ryanair announced that it will be hiring 2,000 new cabin crew, 1,000 pilots and 250 aircraft engineers, as well as promoting over 300 first officers on its command upgrade program across its 84-base European network. A range of new positions will also be created in IT, Sales & Marketing, Digital Experience, Finance and Commercial at Ryanair's Dublin office, and also at its Travel Labs Poland subsidiary in Wroclaw," Ryanair said. The growth forms part of Ryanair's plan to expand from 355 to over 500 aircraft over the next five years. http://atwonline.com/airframes/ryanair-add-50-aircraft-2017 Back to Top Viking completes acquisition of Bombardier's amphibious aircraft programme Viking Air has completed its acquisition of Bombardier's amphibious aircraft programme, including the transfer of the type certificates for the CL-215, CL-215T and CL-415 water bombers. The finalisation of the purchase on 3 October comes a little over 10 years since Victoria, British Columbia-based Viking acquired the rights from Bombardier to many of the legacy de Havilland Canada types, notably the DHC-6 Twin Otter utility aircraft, whichhas since been relaunched and rebranded as the Series 400. Viking has not ruled out restarting production of the CL-415, the final iteration of the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW123AF-powered turboprop, which Bombardier stopped making last year. Viking Aircraft "Our first priority is managing the transition of the business in a manner that is transparent to the customer," says Viking president and chief executive Dave Curtis. "Over the next 60 to 90 days, Viking will introduce itself to the owners and operators of CL-215 and CL-415 aircraft. At the end of that process, we will have a better understanding of where our near-term priorities need to be focused and whether there is an interest in continuing production. A decision on whether to restart production would likely be made in early 2017." Viking's main objective is tosupport the 170 CL-series water bombers in service globally. "Aerial firefighting capability is becoming increasingly important, and with our leadership in supporting utility aircraft, we look forward to working with operators to ensure these vital aircraft remain ready to perform to their full potential," says Curtis. https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/viking-completes-acquisition-of-bombardiers- amphibi-430038/ Back to Top Indian airline IndiGo bans kids from airplane 'quiet zone' Kid-free airplane cabins have caused a lot of controversy over the years, and now it seems the idea is gaining traction once again. This week, Indian budget carrier IndiGo adopted a "quiet zone" policy for premium seats. It's a euphemistic way of saying kids below 12 years of age aren't welcome in certain parts of the plane, which usually includes seats in the front and over the wings with extra leg room. The controversial idea is popular with frequent flyers - and anyone who has been locked in a cabin beside a screaming infant or naughty youngster - but it's sparked ire among families. "The policy is discriminatory," a disgruntled customer told the Hindustan Times. The issue stirred up a hornet's nest of parental indignation in 2013, when Malaysian Airlines, Thai Airways, AirAsia and Singapore-based Scoot all introduced reserved seating. "No offence to our young guests or those travelling with them - you still have the rest of the aircraft," Scoot CEO Campbell Wilson said at the time. According to Jeff Edwards of Flyer Talk, the idea of adult-only cabins seemed ready to take the industry by storm, but it caused a logistic nightmare for airlines faced with policing seats in cases of delay, cancellation and changed bookings. He described the idea as "more of a passing fad than a revolution in air travel". It's no secret most people hate travelling next to children. In a study commissioned by British booking company LateDeals.co.uk in 2014, almost 70 per cent of respondents said they'd like to see child-free areas on planes. About a quarter said kid-free zones should be compulsory on long-haul flights, and nearly a third said quiet rows were necessary to ensure stress-free travels for non-parenting passengers. Thirty-five per cent said they'd pay more to travel on an entirely child-free flight. Parents were incensed. "How would people feel if an airline touted special sections excluding people for similarly arbitrary reasons?" parent Matt Villano wrote for Parenting.com in 2012. "I can almost envision the day JetBlue reserves four rows for people with less than two per cent body-fat ... suck it up! We family travelers have every right to fly with our kids, and we'll be damned if we let [you] take that away from us." The other side fired back. "It's not that they don't like kids. They just don't like bad parents," Keli Goff wrote on the topic for the Huffington Post in 2013. "If someone is willing to pay for extra legroom for a more comfortable seat, and that same someone is also willing to pay for a child-free cabin to increase the likelihood of enjoying a quieter seat, but your superior opinion is that your kids are adorable and every person should be forced to see them as adorable too, and therefore should have to sit near your kids whether a person wants to or not, that would make you ... what's the word? Could it be 'intolerant'?" Debate continues to rage on social media. Surely, there's a happy medium. "Is it really necessary to take a tiny baby on a long flight?" journalist and parent Kelly Rose Bradford asked on ITV's This Morning in August last year. "I think there's an element of selfishness from parents who insist on not changing their lifestyle once they have their children because there are some things that just aren't practical." She said since there's already business and first class, it makes sense to have a family section. "Surely that would be better for everybody? You've got miserable, many people like me who do not want your delightful children wailing in my ear for my flight." Budget airlines charge for all optional extras, including exit row seats, baggage and meals. Maybe more carriers will start rolling out other types of quiet zones. http://www.emirates247.com/news/indian-airline-indigo-bans-kids-from-airplane-quiet- zone-2016-10-05-1.641510 Back to Top IATA calls for industry collaboration on safety management at October conference The conference, under the theme "A Decade in Review and the Vision Forward," will be hosted by the United Arab Emirates General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and Etihad Airways, and will take place in Abu Dhabi, October 25-27. GENEVA - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is organizing a conference for aviation safety experts to advance safety management by sharing knowledge accumulated over the decade since the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) safety management standards and recommended practices were introduced. While Safety Management provisions have a ten-year history, 2013 saw a major change as these provisions were consolidated into the newly-created Annex 19 of the Chicago Convention. In March of this year, Safety Management standards and recommended practices were strengthened with the first amendment to Annex 19, which will need to be implemented by November 2019. The IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), a condition for IATA membership, includes Safety Management Systems (SMS) as part of its standards and recommended practices (ISARPs). IOSA will be updated by November 2019 to reflect the Annex 19 amendments. "Safety is the number one priority for all involved in aviation. A commitment to global standards - such as SMS and IOSA - has contributed to making flying the safest form of long distance transportation the world has even known, and we are committed to making it ever safer. The biggest lesson from our first decade of Safety Management experience is that the greatest benefits will be derived when all stakeholders collaborate and align their efforts in implementation and ongoing operation of their respective programs. This conference, therefore, is a unique opportunity to facilitate the sharing of experiences from the first decade of Safety Management - successes and challenges. That will allow us to collectively develop programs and strategies to maximize the benefits of Safety Management today and into the future," said Gilberto Lopez Meyer, IATA's Senior Vice President for Safety and Flight Operations. The conference, under the theme "A Decade in Review and the Vision Forward," will be hosted by the United Arab Emirates General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and Etihad Airways, and will take place in Abu Dhabi, October 25-27. Highlights This important event will allow -for the first time- all safety management stakeholders to meet and collaborate for the improvement of both SMS and State Safety Program (SSP) implementation. Featured speakers include: Ismaeil Mohammed Al Blooshi, Assistant Director, General Aviation Safety Affairs Sector, UAE General Civil Aviation Authority and Vice-Chairman of ICAO Safety Management Panel Captain Richard Hill, Chief Operating Officer, Etihad Airways Catalin Radu, Deputy Director, Aviation Safety, Air Navigation Bureau, ICAO Ricardo Genova Galvan, Flight Standards Director, European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) John Duncan, Director, Flight Standards Service, FAA Dr. Hazel Courteney, former Head of Strategy & Safety Assurance, CAA UK, and Chairman of ICAO Safety Management Panel Dr. Jonathan Aleck, General Manager, Legal Affairs, Regulatory Policy and International Strategy, CASA, Australia Jeff Poole, Director General, CANSO The forum will feature discussions on: Safety data and safety information protection and sharing Emerging risk assessment strategies, including behavioral, statistical and predictive modelling Safety culture and human factors Performance-based approach to safety management "This conference will bring together safety experts from airlines, regulators, airports, aircraft manufacturers, air navigation service providers, ground handlers and others to share experiences, best practices and lessons learned in the implementation of SSP and SMS programs. Through a unified industry-wide approach, we can work together to shape the next decade of aviation safety management," said Lopez Meyer. http://www.traveldailynews.com/post/iata-calls-for-industry-collaboration-on-safety- management-at-october-conference Back to Top GE Aviation begins next generation helicopter engine testing GE Aviation begins next generation helicopter engine testing photo GE Aviation began testing a next generation helicopter engine for the U.S. Army, calling it the most "technologically advanced" in the world, according to a company spokesman. GE Aviation began testing a next generation helicopter engine for the U.S. Army, calling it the most "technologically advanced" in the world, according to a company spokesman. GE Aviation manufacturing facilities in this region created 3-D printed parts for the Future Affordable Turbine Engine (FATE) program, according to the spokesman. The targeted goals for the engine would reduce fuel consumption by more than a third, reduce production and maintenance costs by nearly half,and and provide an 80 percent boost in power to weight ratio, GE said. The testing is taking place at GE facilities in Lynn, Mass. http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/news/ge-aviation-begins-next-generation- helicopter-engi/nskJH/ Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY Dear Airline colleagues, I would be very grateful if airline staff among you accept this invite to complete my short online survey on "exploring the influence of emotionally intelligent leadership on airline safety culture". https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/EI-INTEL The survey is an element of my final project which explores how safety leadership who utilize or exhibit emotional intelligence leadership qualities can influence the organisations safety culture. Safety leadership in this context is taken as all management and supervisory staff who act as, or should act as safety leaders in their teams. I am researching to see if the leadership qualities of each individual safety leader can impact safety culture. Emotional intelligence markers are embedded in 10 of the survey questions. The survey contains an introduction and explanatory page, followed by 14 questions and should only take 8 to 10 minutes. If you would like to make any comments on the project, or have any questions, please contact me at Patrick.Morris.1@city.ac.uk. Thank you in advance and best regards. Pat Morris. MSc Student, City University of London. Back to Top Accident Investigation for Aviation Management Course 31 Oct - 11 Nov 2016 https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/Courses/Short/Transport-Systems/Accident- Investigation-for-Aviation-Management Curt Lewis