Flight Safety Information October 27, 2016 - No. 212 In This Issue CHC to Host 2017 Safety & Quality Summit in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas SkyWest Airlines pilot, at helm of Delta flight, arrested for suspected drunkenness Cause of helicopter collision that killed 12 Marines off Hawaii revealed IA, Jet Airways ground pilots for failing pre-flight alcohol test NTSB Revisiting Alaska Aviation Safety at Nov. 5 Seminar China's aviation regulator announces complete ban on Galaxy Note 7 Dulles airport mobile lounge crashes; two hospitalized Iowa State spent $290,000 to upgrade airplane that was sold Controllers punished over near collision incident at Shanghai Airport, China Incident: ANA B789 near Everett on Oct 25th 2016, engine shut down on delivery flight AOPA To Host High School Aviation STEM Symposium In Seattle Bad Behavior Is Rising on Airplanes Why Did I Have to Turn My Phone Off on an Airplane? Woman convicted of posing as Germanwings crash relative Air Force offers bonuses up to $175,000 for drone pilots 2 Eritrean pilots defect to Ethiopia with jets 'Quiet' NBAA biz jet show? That's what analysts think GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY CHC to Host 2017 Safety & Quality Summit in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas DALLAS, TX--(Marketwired - October 26, 2016) - The 13th annual CHC Safety & Quality Summit will take place in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas from Sept. 27-29, 2017. Each year, CHC's Safety & Quality Summit attracts representatives from across the aviation and oil & gas industries to share knowledge and best practices aimed at developing and maintaining a robust safety environment. Since its inception in 2004, more than 7,000 delegates from over 25 countries have attended what has become one of the premier internationally recognized aviation safety events, dedicated to improving safety through excellence in human factors. "We are very excited about offering the event for the first time in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, home to our global Operations Centre," said Duncan Trapp, vice president of safety and quality for CHC. "Dallas- Fort Worth serves as a global aviation hub and is close to a number of key organizations and companies both in the aviation and oil & gas industries. Additionally, the local Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport provides convenient access to Summit delegates and speakers, both from close by and around the world. Vancouver proved a great location for the past 12 years. With Dallas, we have the same proven format and outstanding access to world-class speakers as well as an even more accessible location and a fantastic venue." The 2017 event will build upon the success from last year's Summit, which had more than 600 delegates in attendance. For 2017, the Summit will address the theme: "Can we truly manage all of the risk: what if the barriers are not as robust as we think?" Following the opening plenary speakers, the three day event will include approximately 100 workshops on various industry topics delivered by experts from across the aviation safety and human factors world. The 2017 Safety & Quality Summit will be held at the Gaylord Texan Resort Hotel & Convention Center. Information related to registration, as well as a formal call for papers, will be made available in the near future. About CHC CHC Helicopter is a leader in enabling customers to go further, do more and come home safely, including oil and gas companies, government search-and-rescue agencies and organizations requiring helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul services through the Heli-One segment. CONTACT INFORMATION Contact Information: SUMMIT AND PAPER SUBMISSION Irina Sakgaev Safety & Quality Applications Specialist CHC Helicopter +1.604.232.7302 summit@chc.ca MEDIA Cameron Meyer Communications Specialist +1.214.262.7391 Cameron.meyer@chc.ca http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/chc-to-host-2017-safety-quality-summit-in-dallas-fort-worth- texas-2170082.htm Back to Top SkyWest Airlines pilot, at helm of Delta flight, arrested for suspected drunkenness A 38-year-old pilot was arrested in South Dakota on Wednesday morning under suspicion of operating a flight under the influence of alcohol, local police say. Russel Duszak was taken into custody after TSA officers smelled alcohol on him and called local law enforcement, a Rapid City Police Department spokesperson told CBS News. After an investigation, police said it was determined the pilot was in violation of the statute that prohibits flying with a blood-alcohol content of over .04. They had to call in a replacement pilot, because our pilot was drunk. @Delta Duszak, from Salt Lake City, was operating Delta Connection 4574 flight to his home town. He is a pilot for SkyWest Airlines, a regional airline that was operating for Delta. Delta declined comment to CBS News, deferring to SkyWest. That airline said in a statement it is investigating and apologized for the delay, blaming it on a "crewmember issue." Barbara Larsen was on the flight, she spoke to CBS News transportation correspondent Kris Van Cleave. "I'll be pretty anxious now wondering where the copilot has been night before," she said. Duszak has been placed on administrative leave and removed from flying duties. Drunk pilot cases are rare, according to the FAA, 10 were arrested last year for having a blood alcohol concentration of .04 or greater, Van Cleave reported. In August two United pilots were busted, suspected of being intoxicated as they prepared to fly 141 passengers from Scotland to the U.S. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/skywest-airlines-pilot-russel-duszak-delta-flight-arrested-suspected- drunkeness/ Back to Top Cause of helicopter collision that killed 12 Marines off Hawaii revealed A CH-53E Super Stallion heavy lift assault helicopter hovers above the sea before it drops U.S. and Philippine marines during training as part of the annual joint Philippine-U.S. military exercises at the Philippine marine base in Ternate, Philippines, Sept. 20, 2013. NOEL CELIS/AFP/GETTY IMAGES HONOLULU - The cause of a collision between two helicopters off Hawaii that killed 12 Marines in January was revealed to be a combination of pilot error, poor training, and command problems, according to a new report. CBS Honolulu affiliate KFMB-TV reports the findings were first revealed by the University of California- Berkeley Investigative Reporting program, and show that the pilots in the night training exercise failed to maintain adequate distance when they went down off Oahu's North Shore. The incident happened around 11 p.m. on January 14 when two CH-53E helicopters carrying six crew members each failed to return to their base at Kaneohe Bay following a nighttime training mission. Hours later, a Coast Guard helicopter and C-130 airplane spotted debris 2 1/2 miles off of Oahu. "This loss of life was tragic and is felt deeply in the Marine Corps community," Marine Corps Pacific spokesman Lt. Col. Curtis L. Hill said, in a statement. "Our thoughts go out to the families of all those affected by this incident." The Honolulu Civil Beat publication obtained the official report on the crash, and they say it states that the trailing helicopter in the training exercise slammed into the lead vehicle, causing both to go down. There were no apparent mechanical problems with the helicopters. Civil Beat writes the official reports states that the "impact of the two Super Stallions resulted in a violent explosion with forces 'estimated at hundreds of times the force of gravity' and 'instantaneously' killed all aboard." The official report said the pilots' Kaneohe Marine Corps Base Hawaii squadron neglected to focus on basic aviation practices, leaving personnel ill prepared for the rigors of flying in formation and in the dark. The pilots had apparently not met minimum flying hour goals prior to the exercise. Additionally, officials believe the flight should have been cancelled because the unit commander had been fired days before the incident. The Marines who died in the accident were from various states and ranged in age from 21 to 41. The transport helicopters that crashed were part of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Known as Super Stallions, they are the U.S. military's largest helicopter, capable of carrying a light armored vehicle, 16 tons of cargo or a team of combat-equipped Marines, according to a Marine Corps website. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/hawaii-dual-helicopter-collision-12-marines-killed-pilot-error-poor- training/?ref=yfp Back to Top IA, Jet Airways ground pilots for failing pre-flight alcohol test The Air India pilot cannot fly for the next three years as his licence has been suspended for that period, while the Jet Airways pilot has been taken off the roster for three months. Image for representation. Two pilots -- one each from Air India and Jet Airways -- have landed in trouble after they failed a pre-flight alcohol test, officials said on Wednesday. The Air India pilot cannot fly for the next three years as his licence has been suspended for that period, while the Jet Airways pilot has been taken off the roster for three months. The quantum of punishment for the Air India pilot is more as he is a repeat offender while it was the first time for the Jet pilot. The Air India pilot was to fly the Birmingham-bound flight from Delhi, but was caught during the mandatory pre-flight checking, for the second time. A senior Air India official said the airline would take strict action against pilots who violate rules. The Jet Airways pilot was to fly a Mumbai-Paris flight. Government statistics showed that 122 pilots were caught during pre-flight examination between 2013 and 2016 till June 30. Jet Airways and its subsidiary JetLite together had the highest number of 38 pilots, who were caught between 2013 and April 2016. Air India accounted for 19 pilots during this period, while IndiGo had 25 such pilots. According to Aircraft Rules 1937, no person acting as pilot, commander, navigator, engineer, cabin crew or other operating member of the crew should have taken or used any alcoholic drink, sedative, narcotic or stimulant drug or preparation within 12 hours of commencement of the flight or take or use any such preparation in the course of the flight. The DGCA had even warned pilots and crew members that mouthwash or a tooth gel, which has alcohol content, could land them in trouble. "No crew member shall consume any drug/formulation or use any substance, mouthwash/tooth gel which has alcoholic content," the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) said. The regulator is of the view that alcohol present in body "even in small quantities" jeopardises flight safety on several counts and is likely to adversely affect an aviator well into the hangover period. http://www.deccanherald.com/content/577984/ia-jet-airways-ground-pilots.html Back to Top NTSB Revisiting Alaska Aviation Safety at Nov. 5 Seminar From 2011 through September 2016, NTSB investigated 76 general aviation accidents in Alaska involving loss of control in flight that resulted in 31 fatalities and 38 injuries. Earl Weener, a National Transportation Safety Board member, and also the chief of the agency's Alaska regional office, Clinton Johnson, are scheduled to speak at a Nov. 5 aviation safety seminar being held by the Alaskan Aviation Safety Foundation at the University of Alaska, Anchorage. The seminar, titled "Loss of Control: Lessons Learned," is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Alaska Standard Time. The seminar's agenda includes case studies, training solutions, and resources for preventing loss of control situations. "Safety is a cornerstone of aviation and aviation is a foundation of life in Alaska, and yet every year dozens of Alaskans and visitors are killed in aviation mishaps around the state," said Harry Kieling, chairman of the foundation. "The single biggest reason is loss of control. We know what causes loss of control, yet we seem unable to alert our pilots on how to avoid it. The Alaskan Aviation Safety Foundation and the National Transportation Safety Board are determined to educate Alaskan aviators on how to prevent loss of control." Preventing loss of control in flight in the general aviation community is on NTSB's Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements. The agency reports that an average of 100 aircraft accidents per year occurred in Alaska during the past decade, and about 80 percent of those involved general aviation or non-commercial flights. About 47 percent of all fatal, fixed-wing, general aviation accidents between 2008 and 2014 nationwide involved pilots losing control of their aircraft in flight, and those incidents resulted in more than 1,200 fatalities. From 2011 through September 2016, NTSB investigated 76 general aviation accidents in Alaska involving loss of control in flight that resulted in 31 fatalities and 38 injuries. For more information about the seminar, contact the foundation at aasfonline@gmail.com. https://ohsonline.com/articles/2016/10/26/ntsb-revisiting-alaska-aviation-safety.aspx Back to Top China's aviation regulator announces complete ban on Galaxy Note 7 Passengers line up beside a safety warning about the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphone at a checkin counter at the airport in Wuhan, in China's central Hubei province on October 2, 2016. Samsung says it will resume sales of new Galaxy Note 7 smartphones in South Korea this week, hoping to turn the page on the troubled device after an ongoing global recall prompted by battery explosions. CHINA'S civil aviation regulator yesterday announced to ban all Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Note 7 smartphone devices from air transportation from today after reports that they overheat and explode. The Civil Aviation Administration of China ordered Chinese passengers and airline crew to stop taking the device in their any of their luggage, carry-on or checked, to ensure flight safety. The phones are also banned being shipped as air cargo, the administration said on its official website. "Anyone violating the ban will be subject to serious punishment by the police and the administration according to Chinese laws," it noted. Airlines and ticket agents must inform their customers of the ban, the administration said. It was the second time that China's civil aviation regulator has acted on the Note 7 mobile phones. In a previous warning issued on September 14, the administration asked passengers not to use or charge them during flights or carry them in their checked luggage. The US Department of Transportation announced on October 14 that it is banning all Samsung Galaxy Note7 smartphone devices from air transportation to, from, or within the United States. The civil aviation authority of Hong Kong has also issued the overall banning on the devices for flights to or from Hong Kong. Samsung has announced to suspend the manufacture and sale of the Note7 device early this month. http://www.shanghaidaily.com/business/Chinas-aviation-regulator-announces-complete-ban-on-Galaxy- Note-7/shdaily.shtml Back to Top Dulles airport mobile lounge crashes; two hospitalized Two people were hospitalized after a "mobile lounge" people mover went into a construction trench Tuesday afternoon at Washington Dulles International Airport. The lounge was carrying 37 people when it encountered "uneven pavement" and got stuck, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Rob Yingling tells Today in the Sky. Two people were taken to a local hospital to be treated for "non-life-threatening injuries." The incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. ET as passengers were being transported to Customs and Border Patrol queues from an Avianca flight arriving from Bogota. The remaining 35 passengers eventually made it to the airport terminal by about 3:30 p.m., according to The Washington Post. But the mobile lounge remained stuck in the construction area as of Tuesday afternoon. A second mobile lounge was brought in to transport the Avianca passengers. Images from local TV reports showed the mobile lounge still stuck as of late Tuesday afternoon, with two of the its tires sitting over the edge of an area of "uneven pavement." It appeared that the lounge had run into a large construction area where a foot or two of concrete had been excavated from the surrounding pavement. The mobile lounges are a signature sight at Dulles International Airport. The lounges were phased out for most passengers at the airport after a new train system debuted in 2010. However, the lounges remain in use for arriving international passengers and for transit to certain parts of the airport. http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/todayinthesky/2016/10/25/dulles-airport-mobile-lounge- crashes-two-hospitalized/92736250/ Back to Top Iowa State spent $290,000 to upgrade airplane that was sold AMES, Iowa (AP) - Iowa State University is defending its decision to spend $290,000 upgrading an airplane that it sold one year later. The university disclosed Tuesday that it installed a new avionics system in its 1977 King Air 200 in January 2013. University spokeswoman Megan Landolt said the school determined a year later that it would be more cost-effective to sell that plane and buy a newer one. She says the sale price of $835,000 was "far higher" due to its avionics upgrades, saying the costs were recouped. The university then bought a newer King Air for $2.875 million and spent $327,000 installing a new avionics system. It spent an additional $130,000 for high-speed internet and in-flight video entertainment systems. The costs are under scrutiny amid an audit into President Steven Leath's flying. http://www.dailyprogress.com/iowa-state-spent-to-upgrade-airplane-that-was-sold/article_4e0d3300- 6898-5ac9-ac48-404a8830f717.html Back to Top Controllers punished over near collision incident at Shanghai Airport, China Hongqiao Airport and the incident aircraft routes Fifteen Chinese air traffic controllers were punished by authorities for their involvement in a serious runway incursion incident at Shanghai-Hongqiao Airport last week. On October 10, 2016 China Eastern Airlines flight MU5643, an Airbus A320, was involved in a serious runway incursion incident during takeoff from Shanghai-Hongqiao Airport, China. The aircraft was cleared for takeoff from runway 36L for a domestic flight to Tianjin. As it was accellerating down the runway, an Airbus A330 entered the active runway via taxiway B3. The China Eastern Airbus A330-343 had landed on runway 36R after a flight from Beijing (MU5106). The flight was then cleared to taxy to the terminal. It left the runway via B3, crossed taxiway Bravo and entered the active departure runway via taxiway H3. This crossing is located 2110 meters from the threshold of runway 36L and 2400 m from the point where the A320 commenced takeoff. The A320 was accellerating through 110 knots when the crew noted the A330 entering the runway. The crew selected TOGA thrust and continued their takeoff. The aircraft rotated at about 130 knots and climbed over the A330 with a separation of just 19 m. punishment The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) stated that air traffic controllers at Hongqiao Airport had issued clearances to both aircraft, causing the conflict. The licenses of the controllers manning the commanding and monitoring positions were revoked, in one of the cases for life. Thirteen officials with the East China Air Traffic Management Bureau as well as the bureau's air traffic control center and safety management department were either given Party warnings, serious warnings, had demerits recorded or faced losing their positions, the CAAC stated. The captain of the A320 on the other hand was granted a 'first-class merit,' along with other rewards. http://news.aviation-safety.net/2016/10/23/5512/ Back to Top Incident: ANA B789 near Everett on Oct 25th 2016, engine shut down on delivery flight An ANA All Nippon Airways Boeing 787-900, registration JA886A performing delivery flight NH-9397 from Everett,WA (USA) to Tokyo Haneda (Japan), was enroute at FL400 about 390nm northwest of Everett when the crew needed to shut the right hand engine (Trent 1000) down. The aircraft drifted down to FL250 and returned to Everett for a safe landing about 2:10 hours after departure. The aircraft is still on the ground in Everett 18.5 hours after departure. http://flightaware.com/live/flight/ANA9397/history/20161025/2310Z/KPAE/RJTT http://avherald.com/h?article=49fe24c8&opt=0 Back to Top AOPA To Host High School Aviation STEM Symposium In Seattle FREDERICK, MD - The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) will host the second annual AOPA High School Aviation STEM Symposium at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington, November 6 and 7. Nearly 200 aviation educators and administrators from around the country who are dedicated to building and strengthening aviation STEM programs in high schools will attend this year's symposium which will be focused on teaching practices, starting an aviation STEM program, and building partnerships. Additionally, the final session of the symposium will be a discussion of the recently announced partnership between AOPA and Purdue University to develop aviation STEM curricula for high schools. WHAT: AOPA High School Aviation STEM Symposium WHERE: Museum of Flight, 9404 East Marginal Way S., Seattle, WA 98108 WHEN: November 6-7, 2016 Visit AOPA's website to register and learn more. The High School Aviation STEM Symposium is part of AOPA's You Can Fly program. AOPA launched You Can Fly in January 2015 to build a vibrant, growing, and self-sustaining community of active pilots. You Can Fly is moving the needle when it comes to building and supporting the pilot population with programs to improve student completion rates, bring lapsed pilots back to the cockpit, introduce young people to aviation careers, and provide a cost effective way to fly and share that experience with a community of fellow pilots. About AOPA Since 1939, AOPA has protected the freedom to fly by creating an environment that gives people of all ages the opportunity to enjoy aviation and all it has to offer. As the world's largest community of pilots and aviation enthusiasts with representatives based in Frederick, Md., Washington, D.C., Wichita, Kans., and seven regions across the United States, AOPA's events, initiatives, and services bring current and future pilots together and make aviation more accessible to everyone. To learn more, visit www.aopa.org. http://www.avweb.com/press-releases/1333.html Back to Top Bad Behavior Is Rising on Airplanes Passengers can get rude or even violent on a cramped flight, and the number of incidents of unruly fliers is climbing globally Airplanes are perhaps the only public place we sleep beside strangers, a closeness that can breed disrespect. Putting dirty feet on the furniture. Kicking the seat in front of you. Leaving nail clippings on the floor. Grabbing someone by the throat when they recline. A lot of things happen on airplanes that don't regularly occur at the mall, theater, ballpark or neighbor's house. The thin air and high stress, plus attitudes toward airlines and their employees, seem to foment rude, even violent behavior-not to mention all the disgusting things your mother told you never to do at home. Frequent traveler Nic Lesmeister thinks uncouth conduct happens more often on domestic flights, where travelers are more anxious, pushy and impatient. "Planes are more crowded, seats are smaller, connecting times are shorter and amenities are growing more rare," he says. The stress of fighting other travelers for scarce overhead bin space sets people on edge. "Then you sit in your seat with 28-inch legroom, squeezed next to some guy who thinks your tray table is his," says Mr. Lesmeister, a Dallas-area entrepreneur. Bare feet creep into shared spaces such as bulkhead walls or aisles. The International Air Transport Association, a Geneva-based airline trade association, says unruly passenger incidents are growing at a rapid clip world-wide. Airlines reported 10,854 unruly passenger incidents to IATA in 2015, up nearly 17% from the prior year. That's about 30 incidents a day. IATA says the majority of incidents involve verbal abuse, failure to follow crew instructions and other forms of antisocial behavior. Only 11% involved physical altercations or aircraft damage. Alcohol or drug intoxication was identified as a factor in nearly one-quarter of the incidents. "It does seem the issue is getting worse," says Chris Goater, IATA spokesman in Geneva. Academics have started to examine airborne behavior issues more closely. A new study published in September in the Social Science Journal found that imprudent behavior on planes relates, not surprisingly, to lack of self-control and is more likely to come from males, infrequent fliers or people who are more self- centered. The survey was given to 750 U.S. adults with a mean age of 40 who signed up for a consumer research polling service. The survey focused on specific airplane cabin behavior such as swearing at someone who repeatedly bumps your seat back, waiting to recline your seat until leveling off at cruising altitude, washing hands after using the bathroom and even passing gas on an airplane. Some of that behavior was chosen because it directly or indirectly has resulted in emergency landings or diversions, says study author Ryan Meldrum of Florida International University. Other questions measured attitudes on concern for other passengers, compliance and safety. Alcohol was a factor in 23% of the unruly passenger incidents recorded in 2015 by the International Air Transport Association. Dr. Meldrum usually studies whether personality traits can predict violent crime. When he saw a passenger on a flight slow up boarding because he insisted on getting to a bathroom before takeoff, he wondered if the same correlations he saw with criminals applied to travelers. The results confirmed his suspicions about the types of people who behave this way. "The overall findings were consistent with more serious forms of violence," he says. He suggests one issue that makes bad behavior more common on planes is the strains of air travel "may deplete self-control reservoirs" in people with limited self-control. Airlines have trained crews in techniques to de-escalate confrontations and to know when to stop serving passengers alcohol, IATA's Mr. Goater says. In many alcohol-related incidents, passengers have loaded up in airport bars or brought duty-free liquor onboard. IATA is currently trying to work with airports to better train bartenders to cut off passengers who have had too many. Asked whether air-travel conditions-high load factors, cramped seating, baggage fees and space shortages, delays and long lines-play a role, Mr. Goater of the IATA says airlines don't think there's evidence. "The vast, vast majority of people manage to rub along OK, find a way to share their armrest and not annoy each other," he says. Passengers turn seat-back pockets into garbage cans for trash, even banana peels. Traveler beware: The pockets rarely get a deep cleaning. IATA is pushing for countries around the world to update laws so that airlines can seek repayment for financial impact of flight diversions and countries where arrests are made can prosecute offenders. Historically the country where the flight originated had jurisdiction. The U.S., Canada and some countries in Europe have already adopted stiffer penalties for unruly passenger behavior and given themselves authority to prosecute. Tougher penalties have reduced the number of U.S. incidents. From 1997 through 2004, there were more than 200 unruly passenger incidents in the U.S. every year, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, peaking at 310 in 2004. As of Oct. 13, there have been only 60 incidents this year, a pace that would end the year with fewer than 80. But there have been some unbelievable episodes lately. In March, jurors found Lawrence Wells Jr., 54, of Richmond, Calif., guilty of misdemeanor assault for grabbing a woman by the neck after she reclined her seat soon after takeoff on a Southwest Airlines flight. The San Francisco-bound plane, which had sat on the tarmac more than two hours waiting to takeoff, returned to Los Angeles International Airport and Mr. Wells was given a citation to appear in court. Mr. Wells was acquitted of a more serious felony charge of causing bodily injury and sentenced to 200 hours of community service. His attorney, Alan Eisner, says Mr. Wells was under the stress of caring for a hospitalized sister in worsening condition and supporting a disabled brother, and takes anxiety medication when flying. During the delays on the ground he politely asked the woman in front of him to return her reclined seat upright, as FAA rules dictate, and she snapped at him verbally, Mr. Eisner says. A flight attendant told her to straighten her seat, then immediately after wheels up she moved the seat back, crunching Mr. Wells knees. "He reacted as he never had before in his life," says Mr. Eisner. Mr. Wells had no prior record. A 72-year-old Korean tourist who became violent on a flight from Honolulu to Tokyo pleaded guilty to interfering with a flight crew and was ordered to pay United Airlines $44,235 to cover the costs of turning around and going back to Hawaii. Hyong Tae Pae was also sentenced to time served in jail, which was 13 days. The lack of overhead bin space on planes creates tension and can even trigger disputes between passengers. Mr. Pae was doing yoga in the rear of the plane when flight attendants told him to return to his seat during meal service. Authorities said he went into a rage and two U.S. Marines onboard helped to restrain him. His attorney, J.T. Kim, says Mr. Pae "wasn't thinking properly" after being sleep-deprived and is making monthly payments to United through a probation office in Honolulu. http://www.wsj.com/articles/bad-behavior-is-rising-on-airplanes-1477498372 Back to Top Why Did I Have to Turn My Phone Off on an Airplane? I was flying from Nashville to Charlotte a few days ago when an announcement bled through my headphones. I ignored it, assuming it was the normal we're-making-a-descent speech, and went back to my episode of the Longform podcast. Then, a couple of minutes later, another announcement, and this time, with a tap on the arm from my neighbor. "You have to turn off your phone," she said. Apparently we were making a "special approach" into Charlotte that required us to power down completely, no airplane mode allowed. A few minutes later, an air hostess came by to check that we all complied. Cellular signals can mess up the flight's navigation system since the device is communicating with several towers at once. But I wondered why airplane mode-which is designed to isolate your phone from these signals, as well as GPS or Bluetooth activity-wasn't enough. What exactly was this "special approach" and why was it happening on a regular day? First, I reached out to to the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) to find out what could be going on. They said there are circumstances, usually during reduced visibility, where mobile signals can interfere with the aircraft's autopilot function, which is linked to the landing systems at the airport. "In such cases, it's important to make absolutely sure there is no possibility of interference with the airplane's navigation systems by telling passengers to turn off their electronic devices," the spokesperson told me. She also pointed me to a 2013 statement that expanded our ability to use devices while in flight. Part of the statement recognizes that "most commercial airplanes can tolerate radio interference signals" as well, so airplane mode means extra precaution. Unsatisfied with this response, I turned to an expert, Captain Ross Aimer, a former air force and commercial pilot who is now an aviation consultant with Aero Consultants. His first guess what that there was bad weather, or low visibility, which would potentially force a pilot to make a Category III (CAT III) landing. A CAT III landing means the pilot is no longer relying on autopilot, and has to use precision instruments to land without the usual visibility of the runway. The instrument landing system lets pilots uses radio signals to help the pilot determine a reference point for the landing if they can't see the runway. In this case, even the slightest cell phone signal could interfere with the little information pilots have to work with, which can happen pretty easily. "It actually happened to me one time I was flying the aircraft, it was a private jet. I had four passengers, all ladies, and the wifi was on. Maybe they were on Facebook," Aimer said. "And it did affect our navigation system." When I told Aimer that the weather was actually perfect-we saw a great sunset settling along clear blue skies as we coasted in-he had two other theories. Maybe, he said, one of the flight instruments was acting up with interference, and the pilot didn't want to take chances. There's also the possibility that the pilot was doing a practice CAT III landing. "We do that often when the weather is good," the captain said. So the good news is, there's a reason we have airplane mode, and it allows us to use our devices most of the time. The bad news is I had to wait 30 minutes to finish my riveting podcast episode so that a pilot could make sure he knew how to save lives in the future. Meanwhile, my friend revealed to me later that he left his phone on the whole time. http://motherboard.vice.com/read/why-did-i-have-to-turn-my-phone-off-on-an-airplane Back to Top Woman convicted of posing as Germanwings crash relative Fraudster handed a year's suspended jail sentence for posing as cousin of victim of last year's plane crash and taking free flights The Germanwings disaster claimed the lives of 150 people. Photograph: Patrik Stollarz/AFP/Getty A woman has been given a year's suspended jail sentence for posing as the cousin of a victim in last year's Germanwings plane crash and obtaining compensation offered by the airline. The woman pretended to be a relative of a teacher who was killed in the 24 March disaster in the French Alps. She travelled to France on two occasions - including once with her two children and a friend - at the expense of Lufthansa, the parent company of Germanwings. The trips, which included several nights' stay at a luxury hotel in Marseille, were worth more than €15,000 (£13,000). Investigators found she had no links to the teacher at a school in the west German town of Haltern am See, from which 16 students and two teachers were killed in the crash. The court in Cologne issued its ruling on Wednesday after hearing from the prosecutors, but it can still be overturned because the accused did not appear on medical grounds. If she rejects the verdict, she can request a new hearing, the court has said. The disaster claimed the lives of 150 people, including that of the suicidal co-pilot Andreas Lubitz, who deliberately slammed the plane into the French mountainside. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/26/germanwings-crash-relative-german-court Back to Top Air Force offers bonuses up to $175,000 for drone pilots Some airmen who fly remotely piloted aircraft can now receive an expanded retention bonus worth up to $175,000. The critical skills retention bonus provides some RPA pilots $35,000 per year -- for a total of $175,000 -- if they agree to a five-year active-duty service commitment, or $35,000 for an additional year of commitment if they're already receiving a similar CSRB or aviation retention pay bonus. The Air Force said in a Friday release that the bonuses are now officially authorized, and airmen can search for information on eligibility and application processes on the myPers website. To be eligible, drone pilots must be in the 18X RPA pilots, 11U pilots who started on manned aircraft and permanently transitioned to RPAs, 11X pilot, 12U RPA combat systems officers, or 13U RPA air battle manager career fields, and their undergraduate RPA or flying training commitments must be expiring in fiscal 2016 or 2017. The Air Force said the program will be retroactive for airmen whose commitment expired in 2016, and that applications for them must be submitted to the Air Force Personnel Center by Jan. 31, 2017. Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James announced her plans to up the annual retention bonus for drone pilots from $25,000 during her State of the Air Force press conference in August. The larger bonus was mandated as part of the fiscal 2016 National Defense Authorization Act signed by President Obama in November 2015. But the nine-year, $25,000 per-year bonus that used to net some RPA airmen as much as $225,000 is no longer an option under the new bonus system. And RPA pilots will not be able to receive a lump sum payment of 50 percent of the total value of their bonus up front, as some other pilots can receive. https://www.airforcetimes.com/articles/air-force-offers-bonuses-up-to-175-000-for-drone-pilots Back to Top 2 Eritrean pilots defect to Ethiopia with jets: Opposition ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) - An Eritrean opposition group says that two Eritrean pilots have defected with their fighter jets to neighboring Ethiopia in a dramatic exit from one of the world's most closed-off states. Nasredin Ahmed Ali, spokesman for the Red Sea Afar Democratic Organization based in Ethiopia, told The Associated Press on Thursday that the pilots flew to the northern Ethiopia city of Mekelle on Wednesday morning. The spokesman named the pilots as Afeworki Fisehaye and Mebrahtu Tesfamariam and described them as very experienced with the Eritrean Air Force. He said they were accompanied by Ethiopian fighter jets upon their entry into Ethiopian air space. An Eritrean official based in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, said he was not aware of the defections. Ethiopia's government spokesman, Getachew Reda, declined to comment. http://www.seattletimes.com/news/2-eritrean-pilots-defect-to-ethiopia-with-jets-opposition/ Back to Top 'Quiet' NBAA biz jet show? That's what analysts think People line up to see Textron Aviation's Cessna Citation Latitude business jet at its 2015 National Business Aviation Association Convention & Exhibition debut in Las Vegas. Jerry Siebenmark File photo There may be a decidedly different vibe around the world's largest business aviation gathering this year. The National Business Aviation Association Convention & Exhibition opens Tuesday at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. This year's show is expected to attract more than 27,000 people and feature more than 1,100 exhibitors and 100 airplanes. Clouded by lowered business jet delivery predictions this year, job cuts at jet manufacturers - including Wichita's Textron Aviation, Bombardier Business Aircraft, Embraer and Gulfstream - industry experts think the mood of the three-day show will be in contrast to last year. In 2015, the outlook going into the show was a little brighter, and news about new airplanes - at least Wichita-built ones - was more robust. "My expectations are subdued," said business aviation forecaster Rolland Vincent. Subdued in the sense that Vincent and others think this year's show will lack the bang of new product announcements, specifically those for new planes. "I haven't heard or seen any smoke signals suggesting anything earth-shattering," said Brian Foley, an independent business aviation analyst. "I think it will be kind of a quiet NBAA." That's largely because a number of manufacturers have already announced new jets and are still developing them, close to delivering them or beginning to deliver them. That includes Dassault's FalconJet 8X, Gulfstream's G500 and Textron Aviation's Cessna Citation Longitude - in flight test now - and the large-cabin Hemisphere, slated for first flight in 2019. "The pipeline is pretty full right now," Vincent said. "What we see now is a lot of product development. "I think the OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) are appropriately throttling their programs." But Vincent doesn't rule out the possibility of aircraft order announcements, even a big one. "If we see announcements, it's going to be on the sales side," he said. That said, there will be some buzz generated by airplane manufacturers as they provide updates on new jet programs. Specifically, Textron Aviation is expected to talk about the super-midsize Longitude, which made its first flight on Oct. 8 , as well as its progress on the Hemisphere, Cessna's biggest jet yet and an aircraft that will extend the Citation line into the large-cabin category. Scott Donnelly, president and CEO of Textron Aviation's parent company, Textron Inc., said on the company's third-quarter 2016 conference call with financial analysts last week that the NBAA show also provides a place for it to complete sales of aircraft. "We expect to see a number of closings come out of that," Donnelly said on the call. Bombardier's focus will likely be on its Global 7000, the biggest and longest-range business jet it has ever made and an airplane the company hopes to get in the air for first flight as early as next month. The Global 7000 will undergo the bulk of its flight test program at the Bombardier Flight Test Center in Wichita. And Gulfstream is expected to provide updates on its two new jets, the G500 and G600. The show is important to a lot of other Wichita-area companies as well. About 31 companies and organizations from Andover, Augusta, Derby and Wichita are exhibiting at the show. Some of those companies are exhibiting in their own booths, while about 20 of them are sharing one organized by the Greater Wichita Partnership, whose theme will be 100 years of aviation manufacturing in Wichita. Jeff Fluhr, president of the partnership, said in a news release this week that this year's delegation is its largest to ever attend the show. One of those companies is general contractor Hutton Construction. Chairman and CEO Ben Hutton said this is the first time his company has participated in the NBAA. And while it has done building projects for companies such as Cessna, Learjet and Lee Aerospace, finding new business is secondary to the primary reason his company is attending. "I am passionate about the future of our city," Hutton said. "The aircraft and general aviation industry is a huge part of that. "I want to do everything I can to support its growth, the manufacturers and suppliers, and also help sell our city. "We have some amazing capabilities here, and when the partnership asked if we were interested in going, I said, 'Yes.' " http://www.kansas.com/news/business/aviation/article110678797.html#storylink=cpy Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY SURVEY FOR UNIVERSITY PROJECT My name is Eleonora Orlandi, I spent the past 12 years in the sky initially as an airline pilot and then as a corporate pilot. At the moment I am working on the final project for completing a Msc in Aviation Safety Management with City University of London. The provisional title for my project is "RISK MITIGATION MANAGEMENT IN THE AVIATION INDUSTRY AND THE ANIMAL KINGDOM". As we all know Risk management is a substantial factor in aviation safety and various variants of risk management models exist. The risk model proposed by the university during the course of my study has been developedwithout using observations from animal behavior related torisk and risk mitigation. Can this model be complemented byunderstanding how certain animals manage risk? And if yeshow and to what extend? As part of the research I have developed a very short survey (it takes max 2 minutes). I would love to hear opinions of professional pilots from everywhere in world. If you have been flying as an airline, corporate or cargo pilot for more than one year, can you please spare two minutes of your time and complete the following survey https://it.surveymonkey.com/r/YZY375S Thank you for your help! Curt Lewis