Flight Safety Information October 17, 2016 - No. 204 In This Issue U.S. Puts Galaxy Note 7 on the No-Fly List AirAsia X facing multiple safety investigations in Australia No voice or data recorders on downed aircraft near Kelowna SIA A380 damaged in Zurich truck scrape Finnair launches Singapore to Helsinki route, claiming fastest way to get to Europe How the New FAA Certification Rules Could Make Things Better for Airplane Buyers FAA orders 737 operators to replace passenger service units Senators on Aviation Safety Drone idiots are still endangering real aircraft and breaking the rules (UK) Drones will be crashed into passenger jets in mid-air to test safety Air Safety: Catch 22 Jet Airways to deploy wide body aircraft on congested domestic routes (India) Tourists in Pyongyang offered ultralight aircraft tours for $150 Airbus to overtake Boeing on aircraft output rates by 2020: CEO tells paper Purdue helps pilot aviation-based high school curriculum Hong Kong crackdown on business jets could force operators to use mainland airports China Launches Its Longest Crewed Space Mission ESA Lander Prepares For Historic Mars Landing BOOK SIGNING:...The Crash Detectives Investigating GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY (1) GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY (1) GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY (2) Stop By and Visit At NBAA - BACE 2016 U.S. Puts Galaxy Note 7 on the No-Fly List A ban on carrying the Note 7 on aircraft took effect after U.S. deemed it a hazard A widespread ban on carrying Samsung Electronics Co. Galaxy Note 7 cellphones on aircraft went into force on Saturday, after U.S. air-safety officials deemed the device to be a potential fire hazard. The move was followed by airlines in Canada, Asia and other regions where the device had been sold. Carriers contacted by The Wall Street Journal didn't report any problems in its initial implementation. Airlines have updated advice to passengers on their websites and are required to advise passengers of the ban before and after boarding. A Samsung spokesperson said it was working with carriers to communicate the ban to passengers. U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said on Friday that passengers who try to carry the phones onto flights could have them confiscated and face fines of as much as $180,000, or possible prosecution, if they try to evade the emergency order by hiding them in checked luggage. Airlines in Asia, including Singapore Airlines Ltd. and Qantas Airways Ltd., followed the U.S. lead with their own complete bans, though Europe's main air-safety regulator left unchanged its guidance that phones could still be carried so long as they were off. "We believe that our current recommendation mitigates the risk given the very low number of Note 7s available in Europe," a spokesman for the European Aviation Safety Agency said on Saturday. British Airways, for example, warned passengers that the phones couldn't be taken on its flights to the U.S., Canada and Hong Kong. The phones join a list of items banned on U.S. flights ranging from fireworks to lighter fluid. It is unclear how many of the handsets remain in circulation after a widespread recall by Samsung, which has ceased production of the Note 7. Airlines were informed of the move on a conference call with safety officials and the Transportation Security Administration earlier on Friday, just days after aviation authorities said the troubled phones could still be carried in hand baggage so long as they were powered down. A handful of overseas airlines have already implemented a complete ban on carrying them, and one senior airline executive this week hinted he expected air-safety officials to go further than the ban on carrying powered-off devices that had previously been in place. "They are clearly dangerous items to carry on airplanes and the industry is moving to ensure that they are not allowed in the cabin, or the hold, " Emirates Airline President Tim Clark told The Wall Street Journal. The Federal Aviation Administration said its move toward a complete ban followed Thursday's official recall of the phone's fire-prone batteries by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The main U.S. flight attendants union welcomed the ban. Some airline officials said staff wouldn't be checking on what kind of devices passengers had on board and would rely in part on the ban being self-enforced. Airport X-ray machines can't identify individual phone types, officials have said. http://www.nasdaq.com/article/us-puts-galaxy-note-7-on-the-nofly-list--wsj-20161017-00051#ixzz4NLEqdOkN Back to Top AirAsia X facing multiple safety investigations in Australia AIRASIA X is facing its sixth investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau in 18-months, after another incident in southeast Queensland. Last Saturday, October 8, an AirAsia X A330 was diverted from the Gold Coast to Brisbane when its wing flaps failed to fully deploy. As wing flaps work to slow down an aircraft on landing, it was feared the aircraft would overshoot the runway at Coolangatta and plough into traffic. Instead flight D7-200 was diverted to Brisbane where fire trucks were placed on standby and other aircraft cleared from the runway ahead of the landing. AirAsia X confirmed the diversion "due to a minor technical issue". The ATSB was yesterday awaiting further information from the airline and Airservices Australia before deciding whether to investigate. The Malaysian based budget carrier is already the subject of four other active investigations and was forced to overhaul training procedures at the completion of another investigation into an incident in Sydney last year. On March 10, 2015, an AirAsia X plane turned the wrong way on departure from Sydney Airport after incorrect coordinates were entered into the flight computer. Flight crew were unable to correct the error and the A330 had to divert to Melbourne for landing with the assistance of Air Traffic Control. Other incidents under investigation include: * a "loss of separation" involving and AirAsia X A330 and a Jetstar plane over the Gold Coast in July; * an engine shutdown en route from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur, resulting in a diversion to Melbourne on August 16; * a taxiing incident in Melbourne last month, in which an AirAsia X aircraft began taxiing before the pushback tug and engine moved clear; * a descent below minimum safe altitude at Gold Coast Airport on September 11. Aviation expert, Neil Hansford said the problems were "a direct reflection of the quality of training, the quality of supervision and the quality of the checks being done". "All of those incidents are inexcusable. If it was one of the smaller Australian carriers, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority would ground them," Mr Hansford said. A CASA spokesman declined to discuss AirAsia X but indicated there was no extra attention being given to the budget airline. Mr Hansford asked if they were waiting for a plane crash. "CASA needs to say (to AirAsia X) "you lose your flight approval to come to Australia, until you raise standards"," he said. Despite its recent history, AirAsia X continues to grow in popularity with Australian travellers. Figures from the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics' International Airline Activity report, show AirAsia X recorded 46 per cent growth in the year to July, to claim a 4.1 per cent share of all overseas travellers in and out of Australia. An AirAsia Berhad spokesman said the airline would celebrate its tenth birthday next year, and was proud that its first route in 2007 was to the Gold Coast. "The safety of all guests and our crew is our utmost priority at all times," he said. "AirAsia remains committed to ensuring its compliance to all safety and security regulations." http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/airasia-x-facing-multiple-safety-investigations-in- australia/news-story/1ae907cc123b72d8d53e65d11a69e402 Back to Top No voice or data recorders on downed aircraft near Kelowna Some of the wreckage from a plane crash Thursday in Lake Country which killed four, including former Alberta premier, Jim Prentice. - Transportation Safety Board of Canada Investigators from Transportation Safety Board of Canada won't have the benefit of voice or data recordings in helping them determine the cause of a fatal plane crash Thursday evening north of Kelowna. The plane was not equipped with a cockpit voice recorder or a flight data recorder, and no distress signals were sent from the Cessna Citation, which crashed at approximately 9:40 p.m. in Lake Country, killing four men, including former Alberta premier Jim Prentice. Also killed were the aircraft's owner, Sheldon Reid, Royal Canadian Air Cadet squadron advisor Jim Kruk, and Calgary optometrist Kenneth Gellatly, whose son was married to Prentice's daughter. The men were flying home to Calgary following a late-season golf game in Kelowna. The following information regarding the investigation was released Saturday evening by Transportation Safety Board: * A Cessna Citation departed Kelowna, British Columbia (CYLW) at 21:32 (Pacific Daylight Time), destined for Calgary/Springbank Airport, (CYWB). * The aircraft struck terrain approximately 11 km north of Kelowna Airport at approximately 21:40 local time (Pacific Daylight) * At this time we believe there was one pilot and three passengers on board, all of whom sustained fatal injuries. * The aircraft was not equipped with, nor was it required to carry, a Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) or a Flight Data Recorder (FDR); however, the team will be reviewing any electronic components on the aircraft from which they can retrieve data to help understand the flight profile. * Initial examination suggests the aircraft was destroyed from high deceleration forces after a vertical descent. * There were no emergency or distress calls made. No emergency locator transmitter signal was received. The occurrence site is currently under the control of the BC Coroners Service. The TSB has been granted access to the site. There are currently five investigators on site. The RCMP is providing an unmanned aerial vehicle for site survey and documentation. This data will be provided to the BC Coroners Service and to the TSB. So far, the TSB investigators have: * Examined the site (preliminary walk-around) * Taken photographs of the wreckage * Been collaborating with the BC Coroners Service * Given Observer status to Transport Canada, the aircraft manufacturer, and the RCMP. The team will continue taking measurements and documenting the site into the evening. In the coming days, the team will also: * Examine, document and photograph the aircraft wreckage * Make arrangements to transfer relevant aircraft components to the TSB Laboratory in Ottawa for further analysis * Examine the occurrence site and surrounding terrain features * Gather additional information about weather conditions * Gather information on Air Traffic communications and radar information * Obtain aircraft maintenance records and pilot records * Interview witnesses and next-of-kin * Review operational policies * Examine the regulatory requirements http://www.kelownacapnews.com/news/397238671.html *************** Status: Preliminary - official Date: Thursday 13 October 2016 Time: 21:36 Type: Cessna 500 Citation I Operator: Norjet Registration: C-GTNG C/n / msn: 500-0169 First flight: 1974 Engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-1A Crew: Fatalities: / Occupants: Passengers: Fatalities: / Occupants: Total: Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4 Airplane damage: Destroyed Airplane fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: E of Winfield, BC ( Canada) Phase: Initial climb (ICL) Nature: Unknown Departure airport: Kelowna Airport, BC (YLW/CYLW), Canada Destination airport: Calgary/Springbank Airport, AB (CYBW), Canada Narrative: A Cessna 500 Citation I jet has impacted terrain shortly after takeoff from Kelowna Airport, Canada. All four occupants died in the crash. The aircraft took off from runway 34 and turned to a north-northeasterly heading until radar contact was lost while the aircraft was climbing through 8600 feet. The last data point recorded by flight tracking website Flightaware.com shows the aircraft at 4800 feet, descending at a rate of -2200 ft /min to the east of Winfield, BC. https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20161013-0 Back to Top SIA A380 damaged in Zurich truck scrape One of Singapore Airlines' Airbus A380s has been damaged by an impact from a ground vehicle at Zurich. The event occurred on 16 October as the jet - tentatively identified as 9V-SKD - was being prepared for the airline's daily service to Singapore Changi airport. "A truck hit the aircraft," says a spokesman for the Zurich airport operator. He says damage has been inflicted on the jet, but the "severity is yet unknown". No-one was injured during the event, he says. "For safety reasons the aircraft is grounded at Zurich airport, and the flight was cancelled," he adds. Images on social media purportedly showing the scene indicate that the event involved a truck, bearing the logo of facilities and services company Vebego, becoming wedged underneath the A380's fuselage. www.flightglobal.com Back to Top Finnair launches Singapore to Helsinki route, claiming fastest way to get to Europe Finnair, the government backed airline of Finland, will make its inaugural flight between Singapore and Helsinki Monday. With a flight time of just 11 hours and 30 minutes, it claims to be the fastest way to get between Singapore and Europe. The new route uses its new fleet of Airbus A350 XWBs, a widebody aircraft that claims to use 25-percent less fuel compared to its aluminum long-range competitors, like Boeing's B777. The aircraft, which first entered the market last year, offers passengers 18-inch wide seats as the standard in economy. Finnair is the first European airline to fly the aircraft between Europe and Asia. As part of its marketing strategy, Finnair is boasting that the route provides regional travelers with the shortest connection between Asia and Europe, with layovers as little as 35 minutes to major hubs including London, Paris and Amsterdam. The airline is also hoping to get passengers ready for an experience specific to Finland, including the aircraft design, on board menu, and a Northern Lights-inspired mood lighting. Finnair will have a total of 19 Airbus A350s in operation, making it the largest investment in the airline's history. The company aims to double its Asian traffic by 2020, from its 2010 baseline. The airline is hoping more passengers will be drawn to Helsinki. Earlier this year, it launched "Stopover Helsinki" which allows visitors to stay, as a layover, for anywhere between five hours to up to five days. IcelandAir has been offering a similar deal to passengers between the U.S. and Europe and in 2014 launched a new campaign, #MyStopover, hoping to capture more passengers and promote its own tourism around Reykjavik. http://www.cnbc.com/2016/10/17/finnair-launches-singapore-to-helsinki-route-claiming-fastest-way-to-get-to- europe.html Back to Top How the New FAA Certification Rules Could Make Things Better for Airplane Buyers Daher unveiled the TBM 930 in April after it had been certified Announced in 2013, the Pilatus PC-24 is expected to receive certification in 2017 The Pilatus PC-12 was in development for at least five years before the U.S. and European aviation administrations certified it Rules changes promise to streamline the FAA certification process for smaller aircraft, which should benefit buyers and owners, as well as the builders. Honda Aircraft had good reason to celebrate when the HondaJet received its Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification this past December. The event in Greensboro, N.C., where the company is headquartered, included more than 2,000 guests, who were showered with confetti when FAA Administrator Michael Huerta presented an oversize ceremonial certificate for the aircraft to Honda Aircraft Company president and CEO Michimasa Fujino. That act marked the conclusion of a very long saga. Honda, which conceived the personal jet as early as 1986 and first flew it in 2003, initiated the certification process in 2006, expecting to complete it by 2009, or 2010 at the latest. Problems with the original engine caused delays, but even after the FAA approved the new engine, it still took two years for the company to secure the aircraft's certificate. Along the way, Honda Aircraft conducted more than 3,000 hours of test flights. The HondaJet experience is extreme, in part because it was a new manufacturer with a completely new design, but it illustrates how complicated and long the FAA certification process can be. An aviation journalist once described the journey from concept to certification as "one of the most frustrating, time-consuming, bureaucratically convoluted, mind-bogglingly expensive yet ultimately rewarding business ventures of all." The process is about to become simpler and shorter and, according to at least one aviation-industry expert, more rewarding-for aircraft buyers and owners. The changes will lead to more choices when you're looking to acquire an aircraft, and if you already have a plane, the new process will make it easier to upgrade the technology. "All the big manufacturers are supporting this," says Gregory Bowles, a policy analyst at the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, an international industry trade group. The FAA already has allowed the owners of small aircraft to install angle-of-attack indicators without making them jump through bureaucratic hoops, which usually happens when you try to add new equipment to the cockpit. The indicator is a simple device that helps pilots maintain better control in flight. The FAA also made the process easier for manufacturers, who were able to keep costs low and bring the indicators to the market faster. The next step, which the FAA is expected to take by the end of this year or early next, will be to revise Part 23, the set of rules the administration has long used to certify newly introduced smaller aircraft. The revisions will simplify the certification process for manufacturers, reducing their costs at the outset. The result, according to Bowles, will be more choices and lower prices for buyers. Also, with the revamped process in place, aircraft manufacturers may find it easier to introduce radically new technology, such as electric and hybrid engines, which aren't covered under the current rules because they weren't considered viable when those rules were written. "I think we'll see some really strong utility hybrid aircraft enter the market over the next few years, that can do things that airplanes haven't done before," says Bowles. The new rules also could help advance "simplified vehicle operations"-or increased autonomy-which NASA and university research teams in the United States and Europe are developing. "This technology enables the airplane to do a lot more of the basic flying itself, so the pilot can concentrate on the bigger picture," says Bowles. The big question was whether the new standards would compromise safety. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) cited this concern during the FAA's official period for hearing comments on the proposed changes. But John DeLisi, the director of the NTSB Office of Aviation Safety, later issued a statement saying the board is hopeful the new rules will have a positive impact. "We see great potential for the proposed rule to allow manufacturers to more rapidly introduce safety improvements into the fleet, as compared against the current pace associated with the FAA approval processes," DeLisi wrote. "By streamlining these processes, the proposed rule will help change the introduction of innovative new safety technologies from something that is nearly impossible to something that is encouraged and sought after." Another advantage for buyers would be the further development of a global marketplace for the aircraft in question, says Bowles. Currently, manufacturers in Europe must first have their airplanes approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and then get a second approval from the FAA. Likewise, U.S. manufacturers first have to pass muster with the FAA and then submit to a review by the EASA. Large manufacturers such as Textron and Daher can manage this process, but it prevents many smaller companies from reaching international markets. Now the European Union is working on its own rewrite of the certification rules, switching to standards similar to those that the FAA is going to adopt. If that happens, says Bowles, the global marketplace could become more accessible for more aircraft builders, leading to more choices for aircraft buyers. Officials at the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the largest pilot group in the United States, also are excited about the coming changes. "They will streamline the FAA's certification and approval of new aircraft and clear the path for more innovative and safer product designs," says Justin Barkowski, who oversees regulatory affairs for the group. "AOPA anticipates manufacturers passing along those benefits to consumers faster and at more affordable prices." Bowles says the new rules are under review in the federal government, a complex and slow process that is finally nearing the finish line. "We've all got our shoulders behind it," he said. "It's a global effort." http://robbreport.com/aviation/how-new-faa-certification-rules-could-make-things-better-airplane-buyers Back to Top FAA orders 737 operators to replace passenger service units A proposed FAA directive would require airlines to replace the passenger service units in 1,087 Boeing 737 aircraft. Such units sit above passenger seats and house light switches, air conditioning vents and oxygen masks, among other items. The directive, published Thursday in the Federal Register, came after the FAA reviewed several reports of the units becoming detached from the supporting airplane structure, the FAA said. "These incidents resulted in injuries to passengers' faces and heads, which may have occurred when the [passenger service units] became dislodged and encroached into the passengers' occupiable space," the Federal Register notice says. The FAA estimates that the repairs would cost U.S. airlines nearly $27 million. Southwest and Alaska Airlines exclusively fly 737s, and American and United operate hundreds of 737s. In an email, Boeing spokesman Tom Kim noted that the company issued a service bulletin regarding the passenger service unit problems to its customers in 2015. "Our recommendations, however, are not binding. Only a regulatory agency has the authority to require them. That is what the FAA's rule does," Kim wrote. "Boeing works closely with the FAA to monitor the fleet and take appropriate actions." The FAA is accepting public comments on the proposed directive until Nov. 28. http://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/FAA-orders-737-operators-to-replace-passenger-service- units Back to Top Senators on Aviation Safety SENATORS GILLIBRAND AND FEINSTEIN LEAD EFFORT URGING THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION TO REJECT PROPOSALS THAT WOULD WEAKEN AIRLINE PASSENGER SAFETY Senators: Extremely alarming that FAA would consider weakening requirements to protect passenger safety Industry proposal would reduce the amount of flight training hours required to become commercial co-pilot Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) today led a letter with five other senators urging the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to reject proposals that would weaken airline passenger safety. It has recently been reported that the FAA is considering a proposal by the airline industry that would reduce the amount of flight hours required for commercial first officer training to as low as 500 hours for individuals with military experience in an effort to increase pilot employment rates. "On February 12, 2009, Colgan Air Flight 3407 crashed into a house in Clarence Center, New York, killing all 49 passengers and crew on board, and one person on the ground," the Senators wrote in the letter. "Investigations surrounding the crash concluded that it occurred as a result of pilot error, and alerted the entire nation to the shortfalls of our country's aviation system. First officers, also known as co-pilots, were only required to have a commercial pilot certificate and 250 hours of flight training. The tragedy of Flight 3407 could have been prevented, and following that crash Congress mandated new training hour requirements that would ensure that the families of those killed in the crash, along with all Americans, have the strongest possible safety regulations. We are extremely concerned that the FAA could now consider rescinding these same regulations that are essential to passenger safety and preventing future tragedies." The new proposal would allow certain pilots with as little as 500 hours of flying experience to become commercial co-pilots. Today, pilots are required to have at least 750 to 1,500 hours of flying experience to become a commercial co-pilot. The full text of the letter is included below: October 13, 2016 The Honorable Michael P. Huerta Administrator Federal Aviation Administration 800 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20591 Dear Administrator Huerta, We write to you today to express our concerns regarding a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) industry working group proposal that would reportedly reduce the amount of flight hours required for commercial first officer training to as low as 500 hours. We find the news that the FAA would consider weakening requirements that exist to protect passenger safety extremely alarming, and write to strongly urge you to consider alternative methods to increasing pilot employment rates in a manner that does not endanger the lives of American citizens. On February 12, 2009, Colgan Air Flight 3407 crashed into a house in Clarence Center, New York, killing all 49 passengers and crew on board, and one person on the ground. Investigations surrounding the crash concluded that it occurred as a result of pilot error, and alerted the entire nation to the shortfalls of our country's aviation system. First officers, also known as co-pilots, were only required to have a commercial pilot certificate and 250 hours of flight training. The tragedy of Flight 3407 could have been prevented, and following that crash Congress mandated new training hour requirements that would ensure that the families of those killed in the crash, along with all Americans, have the strongest possible safety regulations. In 2010, Congress mandated the FAA to adopt a final rule setting the co- pilot training requirement at 1500 hours, which the FAA did not adopt until 2013. We are extremely concerned that the FAA could now consider rescinding these same regulations that are essential to passenger safety and preventing future tragedies. The current flight hour requirements help guarantee that our nation's pilots have the best set of skills and knowledge before they enter the cockpit of a commercial aircraft. The families of the victims of the Colgan Flight 3407 fought to ensure that other families would not have to suffer as they did, and these requirements keep passengers safe. Again, we strongly urge your agency to develop alternative solutions that do not undermine current training requirements, which would put the safety of the flying public at risk. Thank you for your attention to this important matter. Sincerely, Kirsten Gillibrand United States Senator Dianne Feinstein United States Senator Barbra Boxer United States Senator Richard Blumenthal United States Senator Cory A. Booker United States Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr. United States Senator Robert Menendez United States Senator http://hudsonvalleynewsnetwork.com/2016/10/14/senators-urge-aviation-safety/ Back to Top Drone idiots are still endangering real aircraft and breaking the rules (UK) Four airprox* reports made in just five days Artist's impression of a drone narrowly missing an airliner. Pic: Shutterstock Drones are still presenting a haphazard hazard to British pilots, with four near-miss reports being made during a five-day period in June alone. Two near-misses occurred on 23 June, with the aircraft involved being a Boeing 747 and a light aircraft. In the case of the 747, its pilot reported seeing "a drone" while flying at 200kts and 4,000ft over Wokingham, a few miles south-east of Reading. The pilot of the light aircraft, a privately operated Jabiru J340, about the size and shape of a typical Cessna, was at 1,400ft in the circuit at Welshpool Airport (about 48km /30 miles west of Birmingham) when he saw "a white drone in the left 11 o'clock position, about 50m below him, which moved quickly in front of his aircraft and climbed to the 2 o'clock position, about 100ft above, at which point he lost sight of it." Senior figures from the Civil Aviation Authority have publicly expressed doubts as to whether all reported drone airproxes are, in fact, drones, and some have suggested that overzealous pilots are reporting items such as plastic bags caught by the wind as drones. However, other reports made that week were more credible. A Cessna Citation business jet flying over Grays, south Essex, had a near miss on 25 June with what its pilot reported as "a day-glo orange drone with four rotors and an under-slung camera housing with a 'fisheye' lens bubble, estimated to be about 1 cubic ft. It could have been hovering, although it looked to be slowly drawing to the right." He assessed the risk of collision as "high", while the UK Airprox Board said the drone's operator could not be traced. Most startlingly, an Airbus A340 pilot flying at 9,000ft and passing just south of the Metropolitan Police's helicopter base at Lippitts Hill in Essex saw a "multi-copter type" drone "just below and to the right of the nose of the aircraft" at a distance of between 100ft and 200ft. Despite the operator's evident proximity to the police, the operator could not be traced. The European Union is planning to introduce heavy regulation for private drones, with bloc-wide aerospace regulator EASA having published a set of draft regulations some weeks ago. These regulations would effectively ban the use of home-made drones weighing more than 250g. ® *Air proximity hazard http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/10/17/drone_idiots_still_endangering_proper_aircraft_airprox_reports/ Back to Top Drones will be crashed into passenger jets in mid-air to test safety after string of near misses near airports * Minister have ordered tests after series of near misses near major airports * Pilots warn it is only a matter of time before there is a collision * Police launched inquiry this week after two drone sightings near Heathrow * Tests are in response to growing concerns from pilots that drones will pierce windshields Drones will be deliberately smashed into passenger jets as part of a radical testing programme triggered by fears of a catastrophe in British skies. Ministers ordered the tests after a series of near misses, some near major airports. They have committed more than £250,000 to pay for a private study of what would happen if a drone struck a window or the fuselage of a plane. A radical testing programme will see drones deliberately crashed into passenger jets, amid fears from pilots that it is only a matter of time before one of them collides with a plane Pilots warn it is only a matter of time before there is a collision and at one stage a close call was being reported every week. Just this week (October 10), police launched an inquiry after two sightings of a drone being flown recklessly close to Heathrow Airport. Senior officers branded the move 'dangerous and illegal' but despite an intensive search were unable to identify the culprit. The secretive tests were ordered by the Department for Transport, in conjunction with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Ministry of Defence. They are being carried out by Qinetiq, whose experts have the run of 5,000 square miles of restricted airspace in Snowdonia, Wales. The move is in response to growing concerns from pilots that drones, which contain heavy lithium batteries, could pierce a plane windscreen. It comes as the Department for Transport prepares to finally publish a long-awaited consultation on the future of drones. The number in the skies has spiralled in recent years amid a growing clamour for their use in industry as well as leisure and photography. Drones, like the one above, are being used by police for surveillance, but the number of people with them has increased in recent years Parcel delivery firms, including Royal Mail and Amazon, are investigating whether they could be used to reduce the burden on the roads. Drones are already being used by police and immigration authorities for surveillance, to monitor remote wildlife and even deliver emergency supplies. They could also become a common feature of safety inspections from thousands of miles of rail network to industrial chimneys, gas flare stacks and wind farms. Dr Peter Downer, of the Ministry of Defence, revealed that the tests have been given the green light at a recent meeting of leading industry figures. 'We are conducting mid-air collision studies for the CAA to look at impact of aircraft with unmanned vehicles,' he said. 'There is a series of trials about the security risks and we need to continue this with a commercial study. There will be further studies of mid-air collisions of drone impact with fuselage and windows.' The aviation expert, who is leading the Government's work on drones, highlighted that much more work needs to be done to highlight the dangers they pose. According to the National Air Traffic Service, more than two million drones are now in circulation in Britain. Good quality models can be purchased off the shelf for as little as £500 and several have been involved in high- profile incidents. Twenty-three near-misses between aircraft and drones were investigated in just one six month period. Of these 12 were given the most serious rating of risk. Over the summer there were a number of serious incidents including a near-miss between one and a flight carrying 62 people arriving at Newquay Airport. A drone was also reported flying just 100ft from a Boeing 757 jet during a 'critical phase of flight' near Manchester Airport. Another close call was near Stansted in Essex. Rules warn drone operators not to fly higher than 400ft (122m) and state that they should be kept away from aircraft and airports. Aviation experts, including airport owners, are lobbying the Government for tougher regulation and stricter penalties for those who misuse the devices. A Department for Transport spokesman said it is 'leading efforts to develop a regulatory framework' that matches the development of drone technology. A Civil Aviation Authority spokesman said drone users must act responsibly and observe 'all the relevant rules and regulations'. 'It is totally unacceptable to fly drones close to airports and other aircraft and anyone flouting the rules can face severe penalties including imprisonment,' he said. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3842316/Drones-crashed-passenger-jets-mid-air-test-safety-string-near- misses-near-airports.html#ixzz4NLD400KH Back to Top Air Safety: Catch 22 Husch Blackwell LLP Alan B. Hoffman On March 5, 2015 Delta Flight 1086, an MD-80 en route from Atlanta to New York, skidded off Runway 13 at LaGuardia airport, coming to rest on a dike alongside the runway with its nose hanging over the waters of Flushing Bay. 29 of the 127 passengers and crew on board sustained minor injuries and the aircraft was substantially damaged. Both cockpit crew were highly experienced MD-80 pilots with thousands of hours logged in the aircraft, and the captain had made many landings at LaGuardia under winter conditions. How did this accident happen? The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) accident report[1] states that the crew was concerned about the available landing distance given the conditions at LaGuardia and spent considerable time en route analyzing the aircraft's stopping performance, consulted the aircraft's operating manual and requested braking action reports starting 45 minutes before landing, but none were available at the time. They determined that they could not land unless braking was reported as "good." This and uncertainty about the runway condition, which was closed for snow removal, added to their status. After the runway re-opened, two aircraft landed and reported that braking action was good. Reported weather conditions were ¼ mile visibility in snow and freezing fog, indefinite ceiling 900 feet, with an 11 knot left crosswind. The runways were wet and had been de-iced with chemicals. When the plane emerged from the overcast on final approach the runway appeared snow covered, contrary to what the crew expected. The NTSB stated, "The snowier-than-expected runway, along with its relatively short length and the presence of Flushing Bay directly off the departure end of the runway, most likely increased the captain's concerns about his ability to stop the airplane within the available runway distance, which exacerbated his situational stress." One second after touching down the captain used "relatively aggressive reverse thrust." The aircraft began sliding to the left, the captain ceased reverse thrust, and attempted to steer to the right with rudder, nose wheel and braking, but the aircraft departed the runway. It continued to slide, its left wing stuck the dike at the water's edge, and it came to rest with its nose over the water. Because the engines of the MD-80 series aircraft are rear-mounted, near the tail and rudder, the hot, turbulent exhaust gases created by reverse thrust reduce the rudder's steering ability ("rudder blanking"). As a result, the manufacturer's maximum recommended reverse thrust value is 1.3 EPR[2] on "contaminated" (wet or snowy) runways. The NTSB stated, "Both pilots were aware that 1.3 EPR was the target setting for contaminated runways." It found that Flight 1086's maximum reverse thrust exceeded 2.0 EPR on the left engine and 1.9 on the right, and that these high values caused rudder blanking and loss of directional control. The NTSB concluded that the probable cause of the accident was "the captain's inability to maintain directional control of the airplane due to his application of excessive reverse thrust, which degraded the effectiveness of the rudder in controlling the airplane's heading." NTSB Board member Robert Sumwalt added a statement to the accident report that the crew was aware of the challenges they faced, carefully assessed landing distances and alternatives, and that the captain initiated reverse thrust promptly and aggressively "presumably because of his concern for stopping on this relatively short, snow- covered runway. He went on to say, "As a former airline pilot for over 20 years, I'm confident that having to limit reverse thrust on a relatively short, slippery runway is counter-intuitive: When you need it the most, you have to use it the least." In other words, MD-80 pilots landing on short, slippery runways face a Catch-22 dilemma: risk overrunning the runway, or risk losing control of the aircraft. Mr. Sumwalt further noted that the NTSB reviewed 80 Delta MD-80 landings and found that all of them exceeded the maximum recommended reverse thrust on wet runways-i.e., that the actions of Flight 1086's captain were far from exceptional. And he pointed out that Delta's procedures referred to the reverse thrust figure as a "target" value, rather than a maximum, saying that sometimes a target is met and sometimes it isn't, but a maximum value "is one pilots know not to exceed." The Sumwalt statement was signed by the NTSB Chairman and the other participating Board members. http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=a4b219d8-2903-46d2-8dce-17cf0095c885 Back to Top Jet Airways to deploy wide body aircraft on congested domestic routes (India) NEW DELHI: Jet Airways will use wide body aircraft for some domestic flights on congested domestic routes. Aviation minister Jayant Sinha had on last Friday told TOI that the ministry was keen on airlines using bigger equipment on India's busiest route: Delhi-Mumbai, due to serious congestion at Mumbai airport. "Jet Airways is set to introduce wide-body services on the busiest domestic routes. Beginning October 30, Jet will expand its wide body wings with 9W 346/362 on the Mumbai-Delhi-Mumbai and with 9W 907/946 on the Delhi- Kolkata-Delhi routes, which will significantly boost its capacity on these key sectors. In fact, introducing the A330 will nearly double Jet Airways' current capacity on the fast growing Delhi - Kolkata - Delhi route," a statement from Jet Airways said. "Departing from Mumbai for Delhi at 7.30 am, flight 9W 346 will offer comfortable same day returns for guests on its return leg from Delhi as 9W 362, at 5.45 pm," it added. Jet's chief commercial officer Jayaraj Shanmugam said: "The Indian domestic sector is witnessing breakneck growth in demand. Our fleet mix comprising both wide body and narrow body aircraft is our strength and enables us to respond to market conditions and provide enhanced travel options to our guests. The new flights and additional frequencies in our winter schedule further strengthen our robust domestic network, and offer our guests additional choice and flexibility to plan their travel. Deployment of wide body in domestic sectors provides us additional capacity on these key routes. The winter schedule will also see Jet Airways introduce a fifth daily frequency between Delhi and Kolkata, in addition to the wide body A330 service, while further enhancing its early morning connections by commencing a third daily service from Bengaluru to Kolkata. The new frequency, together with the wide-body service between Delhi and Kolkata will cater to corporate and business traffic allowing busy executives convenient, same day returns while traveling between these cities," the Jet statement said. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Jet-Airways-to-deploy-wide-body-aircraft-on- congested-domestic-routes/articleshow/54893277.cms Back to Top Tourists in Pyongyang offered ultralight aircraft tours for $150 PYONGYANG - Until a few months ago, if you wanted a bird's eye view of North Korea's capital, there was basically only one option: a 150-meter-tall tower across the river from Kim Il Sung Square. Now, if you have the cash, you can climb into the back seat of an ultralight aircraft. With the support of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who has vowed to give North Koreans more modern and "cultured" ways to spend their leisure time, and with foreign tourism companies looking to entice visitors with unique things to do besides visit war museums and political monuments, a Pyongyang flying club has started offering short flights over some of the capital's major sights. The tours, which began in late July, are operated by the Mirim flying club out of a fancy new facility on an old airfield adjacent to another of Kim's signature modernization projects: a sprawling equestrian club and horse racetrack. Officials say more than 4,000 North Koreans have gone up in the ultralight fleet since, along with "hundreds of foreigners" from 12 countries. The flights go directly over some of Pyongyang's most iconic spots, including the gargantuan May Day stadium, the torch-tipped Juche Tower and Kim Il Sung Square area, and the Munsu Water Park, yet another of Kim's leisure spot "gifts" to the city. Flights start off over a typically rural setting, with a mixture of farmland and small hamlets. But that quickly transforms into what one would expect from a city of about 2.5 million: block after block of densely concentrated high-rise residential buildings, some in the drab gray color of concrete but many painted over in pink, beige or blue pastels. Toward the center of the city, spaces open up once again with large public plazas and the parks that surround Pyongyang's many monuments to its leaders and war memorials. Considerations of places best not subjected to flyovers were almost certainly a factor before the tours could get off the ground. And, just to be safe, photographs taken from the air are screened by club officials after each flight. But seeing the city from a height of 2,000 meters or less while slowly puttering through the skies provides quite a different perspective from anything tourists, and even most Pyongyang residents, had ever been able to get before. The flights aren't cheap - a 25-minute ride from the airstrip on the outskirts of the city to Kim Il Sung Square and the Juche Tower, which had previously been the best place to get an urban panorama, goes for around $150. Shorter flights are offered at cheaper prices, starting from about $65, but those only fly around the immediate vicinity of the flight club. Prices for North Koreans are much cheaper, though club officials wouldn't say exactly how much. Officials say the ultralight aircraft used for the flights were made in North Korea. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/10/17/asia-pacific/offbeat-asia-pacific/tourists-pyongyang-offered- ultralight-aircraft-tours-150/#.WAS7X_krKUk Back to Top Airbus to overtake Boeing on aircraft output rates by 2020: CEO tells paper A visitor looks at Airbus's A380 flight model during Japan Aerospace 2016 air show in Tokyo, Japan, October 12, 2016. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo European aircraft maker Airbus (AIR.PA) aims to overtake arch rival Boeing (BA.N) in terms of annual plane deliveries by 2020, having fallen behind in recent years, Chief Executive Fabrice Bregier said in a German newspaper interview published on Monday. "In 2020 we will deliver more planes than Boeing again," Fabrice told the Welt daily newspaper. While Airbus has been leading in terms of new orders for years, its American rival has been ahead since 2012 in terms of deliveries. Bregier said Airbus would particularly focus on its A320 neo narrowbody and A350 widebody planes. He said that Airbus was hopeful it would deliver 50 A350 aircraft this year, although deliveries by the end of September stood at only 26. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-airbus-deliveries-idUSKBN12H07Z Back to Top Purdue helps pilot aviation-based high school curriculum WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - An aviation-related curriculum may be making its way into high school classrooms in the near future. Purdue and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association are teaming up to create a program like no other - curriculum based on all things aviation. After writing a proposal, Purdue was selected by the AOPA to assist with program development. Julius Keller is a post doctoral researcher at Purdue helping with the process. "An aviation curriculum in high school can potentially inspire [and] motivate individuals to learn, grow and participate as next-generation aviation professionals," Keller said. Purdue will receive an initial grant of about $175,000. The university hopes to receive more funding down the road. The program will offer a four-year aviation-based curriculum, coinciding with math and science requirements. Associate professor Bernard Wulle said he and others in Purdue's School of Aviation and Transportation Technology are excited to help start the program. "We're taking kind of the lead," Wulle said. "We're going to be kind of the ... collective point of getting this information, creating this curriculum and then disseminating so any high school anywhere in the country - if they want to - can adapt and make it part of their curriculum." Keller said he's had a passion for aviation his entire life and is excited to help through the program's startup. "This program potentially can have a great impact," Keller said. "[It could help] people who are interested in aviation for the long term or even just to be able to motivate themselves to do well in high school." Wulle said he knows of just a handful of schools that have tied aviation into their curriculum, but he hopes to see the program grow. "To have Purdue again take the lead in something that can be used nationally is really just very satisfying," said Wulle. A high school aviation seminar will be held in Seattle next month. High schools that already have an aviation program or are looking to establish one are invited to come. http://wlfi.com/2016/10/15/purdue-helps-pilot-aviation-based-high-school-curriculum/ Back to Top Hong Kong crackdown on business jets could force operators to use mainland airports Some industry insiders warn that inflexibilities in the system may force operators to base their jets overseas, including in mainland China Aviation authorities have moved to crack down on business jets misusing take-off and landing slots by tightening access for operators flying in and out of Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA). But some industry insiders warn that inflexibilities in the system may force operators to fly more to other airports, including in mainland China. Private jet booking system for Hong Kong airport leads to slots going to waste In the latest effort to stop slots going unused or being hoarded or traded illegally, aircraft must have a runway slot booked in combination with a parking space and airport ground handling. If either one is not confirmed, a flight booking will be rejected, potentially wasting an unused slot. Stiffer regulations were implemented after Transport and Housing Secretary Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung pledged to lawmakers over the summer to tackle the abuse of slots while supporting the business aviation industry, which he acknowledged had a "positive" impact on the city. The move by the authorities is aimed at highlighting "genuine demand" for business jet flights, according to the Civil Aviation Department. But it has split the industry, with some raising concern that the misuse and abuse of runway slot rules were having a real impact on business. "The present restrictive slot system at HKIA unfortunately detracts from the principle of business aviation 'to be able to plan your trip at short notice and provide a flexibility of timing in your schedule once confirmed'," Asian Business Aviation Association chairman Charlie Mularski said. The changes, which came into effect late last month, are the fruit of months of negotiations between the government and the industry led by the association. The authorities will monitor the system for violations which could lead to operators losing the right to book flights to and from Hong Kong. On the bright side, operators can now book flights up to 14 days in advance - double the previous time - to enhance flexibility, but if cancellations are made less than 72 hours before departure, it counts as a violation. Other breaches include flights operating without a runway slot and flying more than two hours after the scheduled time. Some business jets are being moved to overseas bases, according to industry insiders. Photo: SCMP Pictures Operators acknowledge that runway slots are potentially being wasted by "flying empty" to Hong Kong to pick up clients, while more Hong Kong-based aircraft are parked in the Philippines, Vietnam or at mainland airports. Official figures show the number of private jet movements has fallen by 13 per cent in the year to August, compared with the same period last year. They are down from an average 24 jets a day to 21. Earlier this year, the Post revealed that unscrupulous players in the private jet industry were hacking the booking system and selling take-off and landing slots for profit. An industry insider, who was not authorised to comment publically, said there would be more diversions to the mainland. "If the authorities don't become flexible, Hong Kong will be on its knees to [mainland] China within five to 10 years," the insider said. "Shenzhen airport is loving this. They're gaining so much business because of Hong Kong's mismanagement." The source warned that business jet management companies were "struggling." The Civil Aviation Department and the Airport Authority, which runs HKIA, said in a joint statement they were "monitoring and assessing" the "efficiency and effectiveness" to meet demand from all aircraft operators and ensure runway slots were fully used. Mularski acknowledged it was "not a perfect system" but said the industry was committed to tweaking it after reviewing the changes over a longer period of time. http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2028536/hong-kong-aviation-authorities-crack-down- abuse-business-jet Back to Top China Launches Its Longest Crewed Space Mission Yet BEIJING - Two Chinese astronauts began the country's longest crewed space mission yet on Monday, blasting off on a spacecraft for a 30-day stay on an experimental space station as China steadfastly navigates its way to becoming a space superpower. Ahead of the launch, one astronaut shouted: "We are ready! Please give instructions!" in front of dozens of people dressed in colorful dress representing China's ethnic minorities, in footage shown prominently on Chinese TV. The commander-in-chief of the manned space program, Gen. Zhang Youxia, replied: "Proceed!" followed by blaring marching music as the astronauts boarded a bus to take them to the launch pad. China, Russia and the United States are the only countries that have independently launched humans into space, and while the others have more experience in manned space travel, China's military-backed program has made methodical progress in comparatively short time. The launch is China's sixth manned mission, the previous longest being about two weeks. For this mission, the astronauts will dock their spacecraft with the Tiangong 2 station within two days, conduct experiments in medicine and space-related technologies, and test systems and processes in preparation for the launching of the station's core module in 2018. A fully functioning space station is on course to begin operating six years from now and slated to run for at least a decade. The Shenzhou 11 space capsule blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on the edge of the Gobi Desert in northern China at 7:30 a.m. (2330 GMT) aboard a Long March-2F carrier rocket. Zhang declared the launch a success 16 minutes later. Defense Minister Fan Changlong then read a congratulatory message from President Xi Jinping calling for China's astronauts to explore space "more deeply and more broadly." Since China conducted its first crewed space mission in 2003, it has staged a spacewalk and landed its Yutu rover on the moon. The Tiangong, or "Heavenly Palace," space stations are considered stepping stones to a mission to send a rover to Mars by the end of the decade. Administrators suggest a crewed landing on the moon may also be in the program's future. The Shenzhou 11 astronauts are Jing Haipeng, who is flying his third mission, and 37-year-old Chen Dong. "It is any astronaut's dream and pursuit to be able to perform many space missions," Jing, who turns 50 during his time in space, told a briefing Sunday. China was excluded from the International Space Station mainly due to U.S. concerns over the Chinese space program's strongly military character. Chinese officials are now looking to internationalize their own program by offering to help finance other countries' missions to Tiangong 2, which, at 60 tons when completed, would still be considerably smaller than the 420-ton ISS. China's space program also opened a fourth spacecraft launch site at Wenchang on the island province of Hainan in June. It was inaugurated with the launch of the newly developed Long March 7 rocket that was hailed as a breakthrough in the use of safer, more environmentally friendly fuels. China is developing the Long March 5 heavy-lift rocket needed to launch the Tiangong 2's additional components and other massive payloads. A source of enormous national pride, China's space program plans a total of 20 missions this year at a time when the U.S. and other countries' programs are seeking new roles. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/10/17/world/asia/ap-as-china-space.html?_r=0 Back to Top ESA Lander Prepares For Historic Mars Landing Europe's first Mars rover will search for traces of life on the planet. FRANKFURT - A Mars lander is due to leave its mothership on Sunday and head toward the red planet's surface to test technologies for Europe's planned first Mars rover, which will search for signs of past and present life. After a seven-month journey from Earth as part of the European-Russian ExoMars program, the Schiaparelli lander is expected to separate from spacecraft Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) at 10:42 a.m. EDT and start a three-day descent to the surface. Schiaparelli represents only the second European attempt to land a craft on Mars, after a failed mission by the British landing craft Beagle 2 in 2003. Landing on Mars, Earth's neighbor some 35 million miles (56 million km) away, is a notoriously difficult task that has bedevilled most Russian efforts and given NASA trouble as well. The United States currently has two operational rovers on Mars, Curiosity and Opportunity. But a seemingly hostile environment has not detracted from the allure of Mars, with U.S. President Barack Obama recently highlighting his pledge to send people to the planet by the 2030s. Elon Musk's SpaceX is developing a massive rocket and capsule to transport large numbers of people and cargo to Mars with the ultimate goal of colonizing the planet, with Musk saying he would like to launch the first crew as early as 2024. The primary goal of ExoMars is to find out whether life has ever existed on Mars. The current spacecraft carries an atmospheric probe to study trace gases such as methane, around the planet. Scientists believe that methane, a chemical that on Earth is strongly tied to life, could stem from micro-organisms that either became extinct millions of years ago and left gas frozen below the planet's surface, or that some methane-producing organisms still survive. The second part of the ExoMars mission, delayed to 2020 from 2018, will deliver a European rover to the surface of Mars. It will be the first with the ability to both move across the planet's surface and drill into the ground to collect and analyze samples. The ExoMars 2016 mission is led by the European Space Agency (ESA), with Russia's Roscosmos supplying the launcher and two of the four scientific instruments on the trace gas orbiter. The prime contractor is Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales and Finmeccanica. The cost of the ExoMars mission to ESA, including the second part due in 2020, is expected to be about 1.3 billion euros ($1.4 billion). Russia's contribution comes on top of that. In 2018, NASA also plans to launch a Mars spacecraft, a satellite known as InSight and designed to study the deep interior of Mars. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/esa-mars-lander_us_5802e8fce4b0e8c198a88f1a?section=& Back to Top BOOK SIGNING: The Crash Detectives Investigating the World's Most Mysterious Air Disasters Book signing and general aviation-safety-geek mingle after the Wednesday (19OCT) presentations at the ISASI conference in the lobby bar of the Grand Hotel Reykjavik SIGTÚN 38, 105 REYKJAVÍK, ICELAND European and Asian attendees, this will be your first opportunity to get The Crash Detectives as it does not go on sale in Europe until March 2017. Christine Negroni author of The Crash Detectives Investigating the World's Most Mysterious Air Disasters Published by Penguin Books Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY (1) Dear MRO colleagues: My name is Kole Osaretin Uhuegho, and l am conducting a doctoral study on Safety Climate in MRO's in the USA at the Florida Institute of Technology Melbourne. As part of my research l have developed the Aviation Maintenance Safety Climate Survey (AMSCS) that consist of two sections followed by a set of demographic questions. It will take about 20 minutes to complete the survey. To participate in this study, you are required to be a maintenance personnel at all levels within an MRO working in the USA. Please note that all responses will be anonymous and no identifying information about the respondent will be reported The Study Link: http://fluidsurveys.com/surveys/cgr/kole-s-amscs/ Thank you in advance for your kind support, if you need any additional information, you may reach me at kuhuegho2014@my.fit.edu or Professor Micheal.A Gallo at gallo@fit.edu Kind regards Kole Osaretin Uhuegho PhD Candidate Aviation Science College of Aeronautics Florida Institute of Technology Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY (2) 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 GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY (3) Dear colleague in the aircraft ground handling industry My name is Mario Pierobon and I am conducting a doctoral study on aircraft ground handling safety at Cranfield University. As part of my research I have developed a survey that requires you to consider the degree of implementation of the IATA Ground Operations Manual (IGOM) chapter 4 ramp safety provisions and various management practices in place in your organisation to ensure that safety provisions are implemented. The survey will take approximately 13 minutes to complete. In order to participate to this survey you are required to have a management role in the aircraft ground handling industry and be familiar with IGOM chapter 4 ramp safety provisions. The survey may be accessed at the following link https://cranfielduniversity.eu.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_8c5FmAf0bLFJ39P Earlier in the summer I sent out another survey concerning the categorisation of 40 different hazards that are peculiar to the aircraft ground handling environment. If you have not filled in this survey may I kindly ask you to please do so and go to the other following link https://cranfielduniversity.eu.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_3abRtXF0f6D7oEJ Thank you in advance for your kind support, if you need any additional information you may reach me at m.pierobon@cranfield.ac.uk. Kind regards Mario Pierobon PhD Candidate (air safety), Cranfield University Back to Top Stop By and Visit At NBAA - BACE 2016 DATE November 1-3, 2016 LOCATION Booth 1482 Orange County Convention Center Orlando Executive Airport Orlando, FL Curt Lewis