Flight Safety Information April 3, 2017 - No. 067 Accident: Eagle Air L410 at Yei on Apr 1st 2017, rejected takeoff, runway excursion Incident: Nelson DH8C near Tauranga on Apr 1st 2017, pilot incapacitated Air Force jet based at Offutt makes emergency landing in Indonesia Pilots' poor English risks 'serious accident' in UK skies, warns CAA 2 pilots found dead after witness reports mid-air collision in Edgewater Three planes narrowly avoid colliding with drones over Heathrow ICAO to Assist Nigeria Improve Air Safety Leopard briefly shuts down Nepal's international airport FBOs Lag In Safety-program Push Fourth MRJ test aircraft arrives in United States Boeing's largest Dreamliner jet takes first test flight Embraer delivers its 400th Phenom 300 jet SafeSkies Australia - 2017 Conference US astronaut breaks spacewalk record Research Survey 'POSITION:...INTERNAL EVALUATION PROGRAM (IEP) EVALUATOR Position Available:...Director Safety Assurance. Accident: Eagle Air L410 at Yei on Apr 1st 2017, rejected takeoff, runway excursion, nose gear collapse An Eagle Air Let L-410, registration 5X-EIV performing flight H7-360 from Yei (South Sudan) to Arua (Uganda) with 17 passengers and 3 crew, was accelerating for takeoff at about 10:30L (when the crew rejected takeoff at high speed, the aircraft went off the runway and came to a stop with the nose gear collapsed. There were a number of minor injuries, the aircraft received substantial damage. The pilot told local media that one of engine nozzles failed at high speed, when the he tried to reject takeoff and applied brakes the nose gear failed and they ended up in the bushes off the runway. Yei Airport, located at position N4.127386 E30.737818, offers a dirt runway of about 1300 meters/4200 feet length in approximate direction 10/28. No weather data are available for Yei Airport. http://avherald.com/h?article=4a7128d5&opt=0 ************* Status: Preliminary Date: Saturday 1 April 2017 Type: Let L-410UVP-E9 Operator: Eagle Air Registration: 5X-EIV C/n / msn: 962632 First flight: 1996-12-03 (20 years 4 months) Crew: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 17 Total: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 20 Airplane damage: Substantial Location: Yei Airport ( South Sudan) Phase: Takeoff (TOF) Nature: Domestic Non Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Yei Airport (HSYE), South Sudan Destination airport: Arua Airport (RUA/HUAR), Uganda Narrative: A Let L-410UVP-E9 suffered a runway excursion after failing to lift off during an attempted takeoff from the airstrip at Yei, South Sudan. Some passengers sustained minor injuries. The aircraft sustained damage to the nose and nose landing gear and came to rest in bushes. https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20170401-0 Back to Top Incident: Nelson DH8C near Tauranga on Apr 1st 2017, pilot incapacitated An Air Nelson de Havilland Dash 8-300 on behalf of Air New Zealand, registration ZK-NEK performing flight NZ-8807 from Tauranga to Christchurch (New Zealand), was climbing through FL140 out of Tauranga when one of the pilots became ill prompting the flight crew to return to Tauranga, where the aircraft landed safely about 30 minutes after departure. The flight was cancelled. The occurrence aircraft returned to service about 8 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4a70abb5&opt=0 Back to Top Air Force jet based at Offutt makes emergency landing in Indonesia An Offutt-based Air Force jet and crew were grounded in Indonesia for a week after the plane was forced to make an emergency landing there March 24, Air Force officials confirmed in a statement released late last week. The statement Thursday from the Pacific Air Forces command in Hawaii did not identify the aircraft. But photographs circulated by the Associated Press show that it is a WC-135 Constant Phoenix aircraft operated by Offutt Air Force Base's 55th Wing. The wing's two Constant Phoenix jets contain equipment capable of collecting atmospheric samples in order to detect and identify the fallout from nuclear explosions. Indonesian Air Force officials told the AP that the plane was carrying a crew of 20 and was en route from the island of Diego Garcia, in the Indian Ocean, to Kadena Air Base on Okinawa, Japan, when it developed problems with one of its four engines early in the afternoon of March 24. The crew declared an in-flight emergency and diverted to the nearest airport, Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, the Pacific Air Forces statement said. The plane was met by firetrucks and emergency vehicles, the AP reported. No crew members were injured. The incident happened in the early morning hours Omaha time. As of Friday, the crew was still in Indonesia. Air Force officials declined to estimate the cost or duration of the repairs. "We are working closely with our partners in Indonesia to ensure the well-being of our airmen as well as the safety of the aircraft," the Pacific Air Forces statement said. The four-engine jet, No. 62-3582, was delivered to the Air Force in 1964 and became an EC-135C "Looking Glass" aircraft, one of which remained continuously airborne during the Cold War in order to provide redundant communications for the president in case of a nuclear war. The EC-135C was converted for use with the Constant Phoenix program in 1998. A review of in-flight incidents from 2012 through 2016 shows no previous mechanical problems involving the aircraft's engines - although a compressor stall caused a 25-foot fireball to shoot from one engine during an aborted takeoff from Kadena on June 12, 2014. A compressor stall occurs when the flow of air through a turbine engine is disrupted. A report on the incident did not indicate the cause. The Air Force has maintained the WC-135s since the 1963 Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, which barred nuclear tests in the atmosphere. Officials don't often discuss their missions, but the Pentagon acknowledged deploying them at least twice last year after detecting underground nuclear explosions in North Korea. http://www.omaha.com/news/military/air-force-jet-based-at-offutt-makes-emergency-landing- in/article_997545c4-3a0e-5eca-9bff-f06321debcdb.html Back to Top Pilots' poor English risks 'serious accident' in UK skies, warns CAA The poor English of some pilots operating in the skies above the UK is increasing the risk of an air disaster, a study has found. The investigation carried out on behalf of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) found there were hundreds of incidents of miscommunication involving commercial aircraft in UK airspace over an 18-month period. In one incident, a pilot taxied on to a runway at a Midlands airport without permission. Another mid-air event involved confusion over left and right on an approach to Manchester Airport. The authority commissioned the independent review to assess whether there were any dangers from these incidents. It identified that there is a risk of "serious" accidents at home and abroad. A total of 267 incidents that required reporting, called mandatory occurrence reports (MOR), were based on language problems during the period under examination. The report said that cheating in exams, corruption and inadequate testing was partly to blame. It said: "For the safety of the UK travelling public, it is imperative that all pilots and controllers working in international aviation have the proficiency to communicate clearly and succinctly in all situations, routine and non-routine. "Language-related miscommunication, including lack of ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) proficiency standards, certainly has the potential to be the cause of serious incidents or even accidents. "Several MOR that reported language-related miscommunication had the potential to develop into serious incidents or accidents." To work in international civil aviation, pilots and controllers are required to gain a Level 4 qualification in English from the ICAO. But the report said it found there were enough non-UK pilots and controllers with below-standard English skills to give "grounds to suspect cheating on aviation English exams". In one country, candidates who started with no English skills received their certificates after 10 days' tuition - an "impossible" feat, according to one of the report's contributors. The report's author, consultant linguist Dr Barbara Clark, recommended increasing spot checks, improving the reporting of incidents where language was an issue and a crackdown on cheats. A CAA spokesman said it was discussing the findings with the UK's Department for Transport, adding: "We will be studying this research and will work with ICAO, other international regulators and the wider aviation industry on any actions that can help (to) enhance safety." http://www.heart.co.uk/news/uk-world/pilots-poor-english-risks-serious-accident-in/ Back to Top 2 pilots found dead after witness reports mid-air collision in Edgewater Crash happened near I-95 south, crews say EDGEWATER, Fla. - Two people are dead following a crash involving two planes in Edgewater Saturday morning, the Edgewater Fire Department said. Officials said a witness reported seeing two small planes collided near I-95 south and mile marker 244 around 8:45 a.m. Crews responded and found both planes in a wooded area west of I-95 south. Edgewater fire officials said two pilots were killed in the crash. No other injuries were reported. The Florida Highway Patrol said the incident did not cause any issues on I-95 in either direction. The Volusia County Sheriff's Office was at the scene to assist Edgewater police with the crash. Edgewater police said the investigation has been turned over to the National Transportation Safety Board. Edgewater fire officials said the investigation will be ongoing for several days, and that Edgewater police will be securing the scene as it continues. A woman who said she witnessed the crash shared what she saw on social media. "That was the scariest thing I have ever witnessed. Very bad," the woman wrote. The woman said she was driving on I-95 and saw multiple planes flying together when she saw two of the planes collide. "Watched two hit, debris flying everywhere, watch both go down right next to us," she wrote. A spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration provided News 6 with a statement following the crash. "A Cessna 170 aircraft and Grumman American AA5B aircraft collided about three miles north- northwest of Massey Airpark in New Smyrna Beach, FL, at 9 a.m. today," the spokeswoman wrote. She said the FAA is at the scene to begin the investigation, and the NTSB will determine probable cause. Officials with the NTSB held a press conference Sunday afternoon. During the conference, air safety investigator Tod Gunther said a witness reported seeing a formation flight pass over I-95 before the aircrafts collided. Two of the aircrafts collided, then landed in two separate locations, Gunther said. He said the formation consisted of multiple planes that all came from Spruce Creek Airport. Gunther said that as of right now, there is no indication that the aircrafts experienced powerplant failure, in-flight fire or explosion, control failure, or structural failure before the impact, but the incident remains under investigation. The NTSB will likely be at the scene investigating for one to five days, and once the wreckage is removed from the site, it will be taken to NTSB to undergo a two-dimensional reconstruction, during which time officials will look for witness marks and paint transfers, Gunther said. http://www.clickorlando.com/news/volusia-county-fire-rescue-at-scene-of-plane-crash-in-edgewater Back to Top Three planes narrowly avoid colliding with drones over Heathrow, air safety report finds There were 70 near-misses between objects identified as drones and aircraft in 2016 Three planes narrowly missed colliding with drones near London's Heathrow Airport in the space of three weeks last year, the latest report into air safety has revealed. In one incident, the pilots of an A320 passenger plane descending into Heathrow noticed a gadget with multiple arms and rotors passing below the plane's right wing at 10,000 feet (3,048 metres). The separation between drone and plane was just 100 feet (30 metres) vertically and 200 metres (656 feet) horizontally. UK police to use 24-hour drone unit to investigate crimes The pilot said there was no time to react, a report by the UK Airprox Board, which records air safety incidents, said. It gave details of three close calls that took place in quick succession in October and November. While actual collisions are rare, the number of near-misses has increased dramatically in recent years as the popularity of drones has grown. The incidents underscore increasing concerns about the devices being used near aircraft on approach to Britain's airports. . There were 70 near-misses between objects identified as drones and aircraft in 2016, compared to 29 in 2015 and six in 2014, the board said. The A320 incident was one of three near-misses involving planes near Heathrow. In the other two cases, the board said it was either good luck or divine providence that no serious accident had taken place. Drones must not be flown above 400 feet (120 metres) in Britain. Owners must be able to see them at all times and avoid planes, helicopters, airports and airfields. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/drone-heathrow-airport-planes-narrowly-avoid- colliding-airprox-report-a7661301.html Back to Top ICAO to Assist Nigeria Improve Air Safety The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has pledged to support Nigeria to improve safety standards in air transport and to consolidate on what the country has achieved so far in that area. The pledge was made by the President of ICAO Council, Dr. Bernard Olumuyiwa Aliu, when he visited heads of aviation parastatals in Lagos at the weekend and promised that the international body would support Nigeria in the certification of the two major airports in the country, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, which are already being prepared to meet global safety and security standards for the certification. Aliu, who held high level talks with all aviation parastatal chiefs at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) headquarters at Lagos airport, listened to briefings from the agency CEOs Other issues discussed at the meeting included the conclusion of the certification of MMIA and the Abuja airport at the end of September 2017. They also discussed issues concerning search and rescue summit coming up in Togo; cyber security, manpower, upgrade of equipment; succession plan among others. Aliu congratulated the new CEOs on their appointments and also promised to provide necessary assistance where possible. He arrived Lagos last Thursday night in company of the Director General of the NCAA, Capt. Muhtar Usman, from Accra, Ghana, where he had earlier attended a safety conference en route United Arab Emirates (UAE). According to him, he decided to stop over in Nigeria to acquaint himself with the new changes in the headship of aviation agencies in the sector. NCAA in a statement issued by its spokesman, Sam Adurogboye, said ICAO, through its numerous interventions, was already assisting Nigeria in several areas including the ongoing certification of Lagos and Abuja airports. https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2017/04/03/icao-to-assist-nigeria-improve-air-safety/ Back to Top Leopard briefly shuts down Nepal's international airport Nepal's only international airport was briefly shut down Monday after a leopard was spotted on the runway, officials said. Tribhuwan International Airport, located in Kathmandu, Nepal's capital, was closed Monday morning as soon as the animal was spotted on the runway, said airport official Prem Nath Thakur. Police and forest officers were immediately called and the storm drains where the leopard was believed to be hiding were blocked. Flights resumed after a shutdown that lasted about half an hour. The search for the animal was continuing. Both international and domestic flights were affected by the brief closure. The airport is inside the city but has some forested area on the northern edge. http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/leopard-briefly-shuts-nepals-international-airport- 46535517 Back to Top FBOs Lag In Safety-program Push Flight departments are sharpening their focus on improving safety throughout their operations, embracing programs such as corporate flight operations quality assurance (C-FOQA) and International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO). But one area remains overlooked: FBOs. "FBOs perceive little value in investing in additional safety and risk-reduction measures because it's not going to change the customers' behavior," said Mike France, NATA's managing director for safety and training. "Operators are not choosing FBOs for their safety performance." France bases his view, shared at the recent Air Charter Safety Symposium, on conversations with FBO personnel as part of NATA's training development efforts. While prospective customers grill FBOs about fuel prices and amenities, he noted that topics related to safety and training programs never come up. "If FBOs are not being asked about safety," France said, "they are going to focus on what they are being asked about." It is not as if business aviation is oblivious to the risks and costs of ground operations. If anything, the opposite is true. NBAA's Safety Committee listed ground collisions as one of its top issues in 2015 and last year, noting that they are "on the rise" and result in "significant costs." Insurer AirSure calculates the average cost of a business-aviation ground mishap at about $130,000. SELF-IMPOSED IMPROVEMENTS FBOs might not feel pressured to boost safety efforts, but some are doing so anyway. The number of locations with International Standard for Business Aircraft Handlers (IS-BAH) credentials reached 58 by the end of last year, climbing from just 13 at the start of the year. Another seven signed on in the first two months of this year. A set of best practices with a safety management system at its core, IS-BAH is built on the same principles as the popular IS-BAO program for business aircraft operators. "We are at a tipping point with IS-BAH," said B.J. Goodheart, AirSure's director of aviation safety and claims management. "I had maybe four phone calls last year to do an IS-BAH audit. I had four the first week of this year." IS-BAH's expansion is encouraging, France and Goodheart acknowledged, but they emphasized the onus is on operators to advocate for FBO safety. Among their suggestions: develop a set of questions for flight crews, dispatchers or flight planners to ask FBOs. While the questions can vary, two must-cover topics are training programs and measuring safety performance. "It's a really telling question," Goodheart said of the performance query. "'We haven't broken an airplane yet,' is always good to hear, but safety is about much more than preventing major mishaps." http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2017-03-13/fbos-lag-safety-program-push Back to Top Fourth MRJ test aircraft arrives in United States Mitsubishi Aircraft has added a fourth aircraft to its MRJ test fleet at Moses Lake, Washington. The aircraft, FTA-3, arrived at Moses Lake in the evening of 1 April after a 19-day journey from Nagoya, that included stops at Guam, the Marshall Islands, Honolulu and San Jose. The aircraft would have arrived sooner, but Mitsubishi says an "anomaly" in one of FTA-3's three hydraulic systems was detected after the jet took off from Honolulu on 16 March. "FTA-3 then returned safely to Honolulu where we investigated what had happened and exchanged hydraulic parts (made by MHI) involved," says the company. Subsequent to testing, the aircraft departed Honolulu. Mitsubishi says the issue was specific to FTA-3. FTA-3 joins FTA-1, FTA-2 and FTA-4 in the United States. FTA-3 was originally supposed to fly to the USA at the end of 2016. When asked about the delay in the ferry flight, MRJ had this to say: "We decided to conduct the ferry flight to the United States at this timing after making comprehensive considerations including weather and aircraft conditions. We didn't undertake extra work on FTA-3 prior to the ferry flight." The aircraft's successful ferry flight comes as Mitsubishi works to redesign the location of the avionics bay and wiring looms, which caused the first customer delivery to be pushed back two years to mid-2020. The company hopes to achieve type certification in 2019. https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/pictures-fourth-mrj-test-aircraft-arrives-in-unite-435793/ Back to Top Boeing's largest Dreamliner jet takes first test flight Boeing's 787-10 took its first test flight. It's the largest of Boeing's three Dreamliner jets. The 787-8, 787- 9, and now the 787-10 are all built from carbon fiber composite materials. This is just the start of a series of test flights that the 787-10 needs to have before going to market. Boeing released its biggest Dreamliner in a climate where airlines are slowing down purchases of large airplanes. The newest Dreamliner will sell at a $312.8 million list price. http://mb.ntd.tv/2017/03/31/boeings-largest-dreamliner-jet-takes-first-test-flight/ Back to Top Embraer delivers its 400th Phenom 300 jet Embraer Executive Jets, headquartered at the Orlando Melbourne International Airport, hits milestone with delivery of its Phenom 300 jet. MELBOURNE - It was good timing for Dan Randolph, founder and chief executive officer of the new Naples- based EliteJets.com. He wanted to bolster his fledgling fleet with Embraer business jets and the Phenom 300 delivered to him on Friday was the jet manufacturer's 400th delivery. Embrader Executive Jets is headquartered at the Orlando Melbourne International Airport. The delivery meant a celebration with accolades and Champagne toasts. And with the Air Force's Thunderbirds zooming over the Emnbraer headquarters for the upcoming Melbourne Air & Space Show added a nice ambiance to the event.. "The aircraft went beyond all expectations," said Randolph, a former Chicago-area businessman who saw a need for a high-end, highly personalized business jet company. "I don't if it's possible to be in love with an aircraft," Randolph said. "But I am." This was EliteJets.com fourth Phenom 300. It's also adding a larger Legacy 500 aircraft to its growing fleet. The Legacy also will be assembled soon in Melbourne as Embraer continues its expansion locally. "We are honored by EliteJets.com's selection of Embraer aircraft and services to build their brand new fleet," said Michael Amalfitano, the president and chief executive officer of Embraer Executive Jets. "We are confident that their customers will fully enjoy these aircraft and that the aircraft will, in turn, deliver solid business performance to EliteJets.com." http://www.floridatoday.com/story/money/2017/03/31/embraer-delivers-its-400th-phenom-300- jet/99880978/ Back to Top 2017 Conference To register for the Conference click on the link: https://conlog.eventsair.com/safeskies-2017/online-rego Safeskies 2017 Conference will be held Wednesday 4th and Thursday 5th October 2017 at the National Convention Centre Canberra. The Sir Reginald Ansett Memorial Lecture/Dinner will be held Tuesday 3rd October 2017 at Parliament House Canberra. The Safeskies Conference has been held biennially since 1993, in Canberra, and is one of the most highly regarded aviation safety conferences in the world. It is preceded by the Sir Reginald Ansett Memorial Lecture and the Conference Dinner, held in the magnificent Australian Parliament House. One of the major attractions of the Safeskies Conference is the bringing together of operational people from airlines, Defence, Government, training organisations, charter operators, Air Traffic Managers, suppliers and Regulators, both local and international. As a non partisan, independent not for profit body, Safeskies can facilitate exchange of information and opinions between agencies and organisations involved in aviation safety. Safeskies can also provide independent commentary and advice on safety matters. Thank you to all our supporters, or as we like to describe them, investors in aviation safety because we rely on assistance both financial and in kind from many organisations in military, government and industry. www.safeskiesaustralia.org Back to Top US astronaut breaks spacewalk record This NASA TV video grab shows US astronaut Peggy Whitson(L) and Shane Kimbrough outside the International Space Staion on March 30, 2017. Credit: NASA American astronaut Peggy Whitson has made history by floating outside the International Space Station last Thursday, breaking the record for the most spacewalks by a woman. Whitson, 57, is making her eighth career spacewalk, surpassing the record of seven previously held by American Suni Williams. The spacewalk formally began at 7:29 am (1129 GMT) when Whitson and her NASA colleague Shane Kimbrough switched their spacesuits to battery power before venturing outside the airlock and into the vacuum of space. "Be safe and enjoy your time out," said French astronaut Thomas Pesquet as the hatch opened. "I will be waiting for you." The goal of the six-and-a-half hour spacewalk is to continue upgrading the International Space Station for the arrival of commercial spaceships in the years to come. Thursday's walkabout is the second in a series of three spacewalks to outfit the exterior of the orbiting outpost with parking spots for a new generation of space taxis ferrying astronauts to the station. SpaceX and Boeing are currently designing crew vehicles that will begin flying people to the ISS as early as next year. - Whitson's space cred - Whitson earned a doctorate in biochemistry and served as the first female space station commander in 2008. She is a native of Iowa and is known for her quick wit, sense of humor and ease in communicating complicated science topics to a lay audience. Earlier this month, she said in an interview on NASA television that she has spent her time at the orbiting lab growing stem cells for a science experiment on cell therapies for cancer. She is also taking part in experiments to test how fire acts in microgravity to better understand how it spreads in space, and growing seedlings called Arabidopsis to study how plants grow in orbit. Now on her third long-duration spaceflight, Whitson is the oldest woman to ever fly in space. She arrived at the space station in November, after previously serving on two six month missions at the orbiting outpost in 2002 and 2008. On April 24, she will break another record -- this time for the most cumulative days in space by an American -- when she passes 534 in orbit, longer than current title holder Jeff Williams. Active on her Twitter account, @AstroPeggy, Whitson often writes about how research at the space station relates to every day life, and how she travels the world as part of her astronaut training. "I traveled to Russia eight times in the last 1.5 year training flow, two times to Japan and one time to Cologne," she wrote in a recent blog post. Next week, she and Pesquet, 39, will perform another spacewalk to continue the space station upgrades and maintenance needed for future spaceships. For part of the outing, Pesquet is scheduled to ride the robotic arm from part of the football field-sized lab to another. "We call that officially the yee-haw ride," she told NASA television last week. Whitson is married to fellow NASA biochemist Clarence Sams. According to her NASA bio, her hobbies include weightlifting, biking, basketball and water skiing. http://technology.iafrica.com/news/space/1047333.html Back to Top Research Survey Dear Aviation Colleague, my name is Arjun Rao. I am research associate at the Center for Aviation Studies at the Ohio State University. My colleagues and I would greatly appreciate your response to a short survey to better understand pilots's use of weather information products during flight. Participation in this survey is voluntary. All answers reported in the analysis will not bear any connection to you or any response that you might provide. Thank you very much in advance for your participation on this survey. Your responses are greatly appreciated and will help our efforts to improve GA safety. The link to the survey is : https://osu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3yJ3oNLMYh4lO17 Please let me know if you have any questions/would like me to provide additional information. Once again, we appreciate your help. Regards, Arjun ************************************************** Arjun H. Rao, Ph.D. Research Specialist The Ohio State University Center for Aviation Studies Room 125, 140 West 19th Ave., Columbus, OH 43210 614-688-2634 rao.119@osu.edu https://aviation.osu.edu/ Back to Top Compass Airlines, LLC 7500 Airline Drive, Suite 130 Minneapolis, MN 55450 compassairline.com 612-713-6880 Manager of Safety Programs Compass Airlines is seeking a Manager of Safety Programs to join our team at our Minneapolis, Minnesota - Headquarters location. We are looking for an innovative and technical individual, with exceptional business judgment, as well as the initiative and competence to make a significant contribution to the Compass organization. Job Purpose: The Manager of Safety Programs reports to and assists the Director of Safety (DOS) in managing daily operations of the Compass Airlines Safety Department to ensure the highest level of safety and regulatory compliance at Compass. The position represents senior management in the accident investigation process and supports the Director of Safety in the performance of critical safety, emergency, instructional and analytical functions required by FAA, NTSB, DOD, OSHA, EPA, and corporate policies. Job Qualifications: Required: Bachelor's degree (BA or BS) or equivalent in Aviation Safety, Engineering, Management or in a similar program whose major emphasis is safety and systems analysis applicable to the major aviation technical areas; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Airline experience is required, reflecting extensive operational experience in aviation and a broad knowledge of Federal Aviation Regulations. Normally this experience will be gained through a combination of formal education and experience gained through service in either an operational position requiring FAA certification, i.e. as a flight deck crewmember, aviation mechanic, dispatcher, safety investigator, or an airline position(s) providing equivalent exposure and experience. The ability to lead large and small groups with assurance and clarity. The ability to take the initiative in sometimes intellectually and emotionally trying situations. The ability to speak for the Company and in professional and public forums relating to aviation safety and regulatory activities. Advanced mathematical and analysis competency. Experience with advanced database, root cause analysis, and aviation control, scheduling and tracking software systems. Experience with business software including: MS Word, Excel, Outlook, and Powerpoint. Preferred: Experience with Safety Management Systems and 14CFR Part 5 Computer programming experience. Experience with aviation safety programs such as Flight Operational Quality Assurance (FOQA), Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP), Internal Evaluation Program (IEP). Experience with investigations of accidents and incidents to include root cause analysis. Experience conducting risk assessments. Physical Demands: The position involves prolonged periods during which individuals are either working with their computer while seated at a desk or standing in front of a group of people teaching and/or leading discussions. The position involves occasional travel to conduct investigation and audit duties in airline terminals, aircraft hangars, airport ramps, and incident/accident sites that may require stamina and dexterity for their successful accomplishment. Job Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities: Overall Knowledge of Aviation Safety : Flight Operations Safety Ground Operations Safety Maintenance Operations Safety OSHA Regulations and Safety Recommendations FAA Regulations with regard to Aviation Safety and Safety Management Systems Fatigue and Fatigue Risk Mitigation Familiarity with the NTSB investigative process and ICAO Annex 13 on Accident Investigations Communication Skills Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills are required. Organizational and Leadership Skills Must have effective interpersonal and organizational skills. Must display advanced leadership skills appropriate to all organization levels, inside and outside the company. Must have above average skills in the planning and organization of analyses and investigations and similar level skills regarding attention to timetable and detail in the performance of such activities. Problem Solving/Analytical/Reasoning Ability Must have ability to apply knowledge and common sense in understanding and dealing with employees and customers. Must deal with all situations diplomatically and professionally. Must possess above average analytical and organizational skills. APPLY HERE Back to Top Position Available: Director Safety Assurance Job Title: Director Safety Assurance Location: Seattle Role Summary The Director Safety Assurance leads the safety risk management (SRM), employee injury prevention, OSHA compliance program, Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP), and supports the overall implementation and sustainability of Alaska Air Group's Safety Management System (SMS). This Director drives safety process innovation to ensure the system for capturing safety risk is proactive and robust to avoid negative outcomes. Scope & Complexity * This position supports highly complex safety and risk management activities for Alaska Air Group (AAG) and its subsidiaries. Key Duties * Directs the sustainability and improvement of AAG's Safety Management System (SMS) and the Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP). o Leads and facilitates cross-divisional safety risk management (SRM) reviews. o Advises and supports cross-divisional safety management system (SMS) executive safety review boards (ESRB), safety review boards (SRB), and division analysis groups (DAG) with key enterprise safety performance metrics. o Maintains a strong and transparent relationship with the FAA on SMS performance. o Supports and consults with the Internal Evaluation Program on safety risks through regular updates with Audit Program leadership. o Prepares and presents safety risk analysis reports to Board Safety Committee and management. o Provides analysis and updates to periodic (e.g., daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc.) executive safety performance reports. o Serves as the primary AAG liaison to industry and regulatory bodies on SMS. * Leads the safety analysis program through the application of sound risk management principles and sustainable mitigation strategies. o Develop risk-based tools and techniques to strengthen operational programs, processes, and controls. o Directs and coordinates cross-divisional safety investigations and ensures adequate evidence to support root-cause analysis/findings. o Creates a system for the robust analysis of safety performance and ensures transparency of mitigation efforts. o Supports safety communication and promotion efforts to ensure all employees are aware of company safety campaigns, initiatives, and programs. * Directs all code-share safety monitoring of AAG's foreign and domestic partner airlines to ensure a single level of safety across the alliance network. * Coordinates and supports external reviews of company operating divisions, including the biennial Department of Defense (DOD) and IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) evaluations. * Manages the safety Performance Based Pay (PBP) system. * Team Management & Development o Cultivates and motivates direct/indirect reports through coaching, mentoring, and by providing regular and meaningful feedback. o Identifies and provides career development opportunities through developmental assignments and formal/informal training. * Performs special analyses and reviews, including system implementations and/or safety and compliance investigations. Job-Specific Skills * Required o A minimum of 6 years of applicable experience in aviation, airline operations, aviation safety, or managing a Safety Management System (SMS). o Proven ability to quickly understand complex airline operational processes. o Proven experience directing and implementing change management initiatives. o Experience leading high-performance teams. o Experience leading safety and compliance investigations. o Demonstrated ability to quickly scope situations, develop an accurate understanding of risks, and develop plans responsive to those risks. o Ability to engage with and establish credibility with business partners at the most senior/executive level. o Minimum age of 18. o Must be authorized to work in the U.S. * Preferred o Lean or Six Sigma certification is preferred. o Safety or Auditor Certification is preferred (e.g., Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), etc.) o FAA Airmen Certification is preferred. Job-Specific Leadership Expectations * Embody our values to own safety, do the right thing, be kind-hearted, deliver performance, and be remarkable. o Strong communication (e.g., verbal, written, presentation) and interpersonal skills, with the ability to create collaborative relationships that drive outcomes in the best interest of the company, with others in the organization, and with key external business partners. Education * High school diploma or equivalent is required. * A Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree is required. * A Master of Arts or a Master of Science degree is preferred. Curt Lewis