Flight Safety Information April 17, 2017 - No. 077 Incident: SAS A343 near Goose Bay on Apr 16th 2017, loss of cabin pressure Incident: China Eastern A333 at Shanghai on Apr 15th 2017, burning odour and haze in cabin Airbus A320 Forced Emergency Landing Due to Engine Problems United Airlines plane makes emergency landing, no injuries McConnell aids in historic overnight F-35 fighter jet mission Passengers grateful Alaska Airlines jet landed safely in Modesto Couple crosses Atlantic Ocean in Chinese-made aircraft Saudi Academy of Civil Aviation wins membership of Global Aviation Training Office University of Tennessee gets $9.9 million in NASA funding for aviation research Kids Reach New Heights in STEM Education Through Aviation Three airlines change policies in wake of United's passenger dragging incident Fire breaks out in hangar at Chandler airport; one firefighter hurt Navy Banning E-Cigarettes from Ships And Aircraft Over Explosion Fears Jet Indian pilots' union says will not fly with expat pilots from May 1 Watch the Paint Melt Right Off a Virgin Australia Airplane Accident: Daily DHC6 at Orchid Island on Apr 13th 2017, runway excursion 2018 ISASI Military Air Safety Workshop Graduate Research Survey Request SAFE Encourages Pilot Input on GA Runway Incursions (Survey) Research Survey Incident: SAS A343 near Goose Bay on Apr 16th 2017, loss of cabin pressure A SAS Scandinavian Airlines Airbus A340-300, registration LN-RKP performing flight SK-944 (dep Apr 15th) from Chicago O'Hare,IL (USA) to Copenhagen (Denmark) with 196 people on board, was enroute at FL350 about 180nm northwest of Goose Bay,NL (Canada) when the crew initiated an emergency descent to 10,000 feet due to the loss of cabin pressure. The aircraft diverted to Goose Bay for a safe landing about 50 minutes later. The airline reported the aircraft diverted to Goose Bay due to the gradual loss of cabin pressure, the passenger oxygen masks did not need to be released. The passengers were taken to hotels. The causes of the pressure loss are being investigated. The aircraft is estimated to continue to Copenhagen around 22:00Z and is expected to arrive in Copenhagen on Monday morning. http://avherald.com/h?article=4a7b87c5&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: China Eastern A333 at Shanghai on Apr 15th 2017, burning odour and haze in cabin A China Eastern Airbus A330-300, registration B-6125 performing flight MU-721 from Shanghai Hongqiao to Hong Kong (China), was climbing out of Shanghai when passengers detected a burning odour and developing haze in the cabin prompting the crew to stop the climb at 5500 meters (FL181) and return to Shanghai Hongqiao for a safe landing about 45 minutes after departure. A replacement Airbus A330-300 registration B-6119 reached Hong Kong with a delay of 4.5 hours delay. The airline reported a technical fault prompted the return to Shanghai. http://avherald.com/h?article=4a7b85c2&opt=0 Back to Top Airbus A320 Forced Emergency Landing Due to Engine Problems Date: 15-APR-2017 Time: 23:05 LT Type: Airbus A320-271N Owner/operator: Hong Kong Express Airways Registration: B-LCN C/n / msn: 7512 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 194 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Minor Location: near Cape Ashizuri, Kochi prefecture - Japan Phase: En route Nature: International Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Kansai International Airport (KIX/RJBB), Japan Destination airport: Hong Kong International/ Chek Lap Kok Airport (HKG/VHHH), Hong Kong Narrative: An A320-271N of HK Express was forced emergency landings at Kansai/Osaka twice. Flight HKE/UO3898 from Hong Kong to Kansai made an emergency landing on runway 06L at 16:42 LT due to No.2 engine (PW1100G) problem. None of the time the incident happened, actual location and the number of occupants was reported in this first incident. The troubled engine was checked at Kansai Airport, and the succeeding flight HKE/UO1845 to Hong Kong departed with two hours of delay. The plane took off from runway 24L at 22:32 LT, however, the same engine as before had the same problem over Cape Ashizuri after a half hour from takeoff. The flight crew decided to return to Kansai, and a safe landing on runway 24R was carried out at 23:50 LT. No injuries were reported in both incidents. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=194844 Back to Top United Airlines plane makes emergency landing, no injuries SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)-A United Airlines flight this morning turned back to San Francisco International Airport because of a mechanical problem, an airport official said. United Airlines Flight 1721 was on its way to Kona International Airport in Hawaii when it turned around and made an emergency landing. Airlines spokeswoman Maggie Schmerin said the problem was a maintenance issue. The plane landed safely at about 10:30 a.m. and another plane was going to be used to take the passengers on their trip. That plane was expected to depart at 1 p.m. Pacific time, according to Schmerin. http://kron4.com/2017/04/16/united-airlines-plane-makes-emergency-landing-no-injuries/ Back to Top McConnell aids in historic overnight F-35 fighter jet mission Under cover of night, the United States Air Force moved about eight F-35A Lightning II fighter jets into Europe for the first time in history Saturday. Behind them - or more appropriately, above them - were two tankers from McConnell Air Force Base, providing necessary fuel. The jets, which came from Hill Air Force Base in Utah, required three rounds of in-air refueling to make the journey, and McConnell provided the first of those three rounds. The jets were traveling overseas for the F-35's first-ever training deployment in Europe. "We're really heavy out there," KC-135 pilot Capt. Ben Hessney advised over the communications system shortly after takeoff. The two KC-135s were loaded with about 180,000 pounds of fuel, and Hessney's KC-135 offloaded about 79,000 pounds to the jets. The KC-135, a refueling tanker that was created during the Eisenhower era and is still being used for missions like this, can offload up to 200,000 pounds of fuel, according to an Air Force fact sheet. Soon the planes will be supplemented by new KC-46 refueling tankers, which have been plagued by multiple production delays since the Air Force announced that McConnell would be the first active duty-led base in the country to fly them. The next-generation F-35 fighter jet, which has also had difficulties in its production time line, arrived at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, on Saturday. The American F-35s will provide training opportunities for NATO allies in Europe, as part of an initiative being dubbed the European Reassurance Initiative. In addition to displaying support for Europe, the initiative, which has been ongoing since 2014, is intended to deter Russian aggression in the area, according to a news release from the U.S. Air Force last year. "As we and our joint F-35 partners bring this aircraft into our inventories, it's important that we train together to integrate into a seamless team capable of defending the sovereignty of allied nations," said Gen. Tod D. Wolters in a news release. Wolters is commander of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa. The F-35 mission has been discussed at least since December, when former Secretary of the Air Force Deborah James hinted at it in a speech in the Atlantic Council. "Now that the F-35 has been declared combat capable, we will deploy our newest fighter to Europe in the not too distant future," she said then, according to Defense News. "Matter of fact, if I were a betting woman, I wouldn't at all be surprised if the F-35 didn't make an appearance, perhaps, next summer. The unique combination of stealth, situational and sensor fusion will play an important role in reassuring allies and providing deterrence." The mission was reported by various national defense news outlets on Friday, landing a front-page spot on Defense News. As the McConnell crew was preparing to board the KC-135 late Friday evening, an airman pulled up the story on his phone. "Is this us?" he asked Hessney. "We'd better not mess it up then," he continued. The refueling operations were smooth on McConnell's end - boom operator Airman 1st Class Joseph Galeaz said the F-35 pilots were "clutch." "I didn't have a problem with any of those connections," Galeaz said afterward. "They were money." http://www.kansas.com/news/local/article144851669.html#storylink=cpy Back to Top Passengers grateful Alaska Airlines jet landed safely in Modesto Aaron Needles was preparing himself for the worst Sunday morning, when the flight crew announced his Alaska Airlines flight from Sacramento to San Diego would have to make an emergency landing at because of a malfunction on the plane. "Is this an airport landing or a ground landing?" Needles said he asked himself as flight attendants instructed passengers on how to brace for landing. "Basically this could be it. I didn't know if this was landing in a field somewhere." Needles first became aware the plane was being rerouted when he noticed the jet was turning. He realized by watching the sunrise along the horizon that the flight was now heading north. SO, I STARTED PRAYING. I PRAYED FOR EVERYONE. WE MAY NOT SURVIVE, THAT WAS THE FEELING I HAD. Aaron Needles, computer software consultant from Davis He didn't know what type of plane malfunction had occurred. For a short time, Needles went over some of the worst scenarios in his head. "So, I started praying. I prayed for everyone, the other people on the plane," said Needles, a computer software consultant from Davis. "We may not survive, that was the feeling I had." Shortly after, the Alaska Airlines pilot informed the 58 passengers onboard that their flight to San Diego was being diverted to the Modesto Airport. "Everyone clapped when the plane came to a stop," Needles said. Waiting for the plane on the runway were several fire engines and trucks, along with ambulances as a precaution. The commercial airliner landed safely at the Modesto Airport about 6:50 a.m. Sunday, and there were no injuries reported. On the plane were 62 people, including the flight crew and the passengers. Firefighters from Modesto, Ceres and the Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District were called to the airport at 6:38 a.m. on a report of an inbound plane with fire in its cargo area, according to the Modesto Fire Department. Five engines, two trucks and two airport crash rigs waited for the plane to land on the runway. FIRE ALARM The SkyWest flight operating as Alaska Airlines was forced to land in Modesto after a fire alarm was activated on the plane. No smoke or fire was visible on the outside of the plane when it landed, fire officials said. Firefighters checked the plane's interior with thermal imaging cameras and spotted a heat signal. Authorities inspected the plane's cargo area while the jet sat on the runway and found no apparent signs of a fire. The jet was then moved to the terminal, where all passengers got off the plane. "It was a safe landing," said Modesto Airport Manager Mark Germanowski. "Then, it became a customer service issue." He said a majority of the stranded passengers arranged their own road transportation back to Sacramento or continued on to San Diego. Some rented cars at the Modesto terminal. About a dozen of the passengers waited at the Modesto Airport for a chartered bus to drive them back to the Sacramento International Airport. The passengers waited patiently in the Modesto terminal, some of them making calls to arrange new travel plans. Germanowski said the Alaska Airlines pilot ordered sandwiches for the waiting passengers, and flight attendants provided drinks for them. The bus arrived in Modesto about 11 a.m. and took the remaining passengers back to Sacramento. NEW JET He said the Alaska Airlines flight crew chose to land in Modesto because it was the nearest airport that was large enough for a plane its size. It's a 76-seat Embraer E175 Regional Jet. The jet remained in Modesto until a maintenance crew from Fresno arrived and examined the plane. By Sunday afternoon, the jet had left the Modesto Airport. William Cabullo of Stockton was one of the passengers who boarded the bus back to Sacramento. He was still hopeful he wouldn't have to cancel his trip to Houston, where he's scheduled to take a board exam to become a licensed physical therapist. Cabullo had fallen asleep shortly after takeoff, and he woke up to the sound of flight attendants going over the safety precautions. "I didn't know what was happening until toward the end," he said. Needles said everyone on the plane, including the flight crew, handled themselves well and remained calm throughout. While waiting in Modesto, he had already booked a flight with another airline. His trip was far from over. After landing in San Diego, Needles was supposed to board a connecting flight to Boston. He was scheduled to attend a seminar there Monday morning. He was still planning on being on time for the seminar, but he would have to do it with little sleep overnight. http://www.modbee.com/news/article143633919.html#storylink=cpy Back to Top Couple crosses Atlantic Ocean in Chinese-made aircraft A couple with a penchant for adventure has successfully flown over the Atlantic Ocean in a Chinese-made plane. Zhang Xinyu (right) pilots a Y-12 aircraft across the Atlantic Ocean from Fortaleza, Brazil, to Playa, Cape Verde, along with Liang Hong, his wife. They wear oxygen masks to deal with altitude sickness. (Photo/China Daily) Manila Bulletin Zhang Xinyu, 40, and his wife Liang Hong, 38, took off from Fortaleza Airport in Brazil and successfully landed at Playa Airport in the Cape Verde Islands after nearly nine hours of flying on Sunday. The 2,700-kilometer flight was the longest nonstop leg for the couple, who began their 80,000-kilometer round-the-world journey in a Y-12 aircraft at the beginning of the year. "We had finished about one-third of the flight before arriving at Brazil," said Zhang, "and flying across the Atlantic is the greatest challenge of the whole trip." It seemed an impossible task for the Y-12, which has a normal range of 1,340 km, less than half of the required distance. "It means that the plane would probably fall into the ocean due to a fuel shortage or terrible weather," Zhang said. Before starting their round-the-world flight, the plane had been completely upgraded. The converter, exterior decoration and some internal objects had been replaced by two auxiliary fuel tanks with a capacity of 450 liters, which could increase its range from 1,340 km to about 2,000 km. After arriving in Brazil, the couple improved fuel carrying capacity by adding a sac in the front of the fuselage as well as four gasoline cans and 20 kilograms of luggage in the back to balance the weight. Furthermore, after repeatedly keeping an eye on climate data, they decided to set out last Saturday evening, when they believed they had the best conditions. At 5:50 pm, after checking more than 100 items, the Y-12 rose into the air and rapidly reached a height of 4,500 meters, causing the couple serious altitude sickness. Fortunately, the oxygen bottles they brought helped them ease the discomfort, and flying with the wind at their back increased their range by more than 800 kilometers. "All the endeavors were made to complete a flight that no Chinese had tried before," said Zhang. "It might be easy for a passenger aircraft to fly 3,000 kilometers across the Atlantic Ocean, but it is unprecedented for a Y-12." A decade ago, the couple had become billionaires thanks to their business, and decided to travel around the world for 10 years because of their interest in adventure. They have driven through war-torn Somalia and the radiation-racked Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, as well as sailing in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans. To prepare for the undertaking, the couple completed a six-month training session that taught them skills such as flying at night or in complex weather conditions, as well as plane maintenance. The adventure will end in China in June after several stops in Southeast Asia, the couple said. A show named On the Road, which recorded their flight, will be broadcast online and on TV at the end of April. "We hope the show can help more young people know about flying, and we also hope they can know more about the world," Zhang said. http://news.mb.com.ph/2017/04/17/couple-crosses-atlantic-ocean-in-chinese-made-aircraft/ Back to Top Saudi Academy of Civil Aviation wins membership of Global Aviation Training Office The academy's new achievement came after it was voted into the office by 40 out of the International Civil Aviation Organization's 91 members with voting rights. The Saudi Academy of Civil Aviation, a subsidiary of the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), has won membership of the Global Aviation Training Office. The academy's new achievement came after it was voted into the office by 40 out of the International Civil Aviation Organization's 91 members with voting rights. Naeem Al-Shabanah, assistant to the president of the Authority for Central Services, praised and congratulated the academy for its achievement. "We are proud of this unprecedented win of the academy's rightful place in the ICAO's Global Aviation Training Office," he said. "This victory is an acknowledgement of the Kingdom's contributions to aviation safety and its status in the global civil aviation arena in general, and of the world class level of the professionals who graduate from the academy." Al-Shabanah added that with this win the academy has achieved its strategic objective of gaining sustained global recognition. Fahd Al-Harbi, president of the academy, said: "I cannot describe how happy I am to see the academy succeed in making such remarkable achievements. "After having won no less than six international accreditations and partnerships, now we've secured membership of the ICAO's Global Aviation Training Office, which goes to show the level of confidence the organization and its member states have in our highly trained graduates. "Being among the 14 members of the office places upon us a great responsibility to uprate specialized training all over the world, which is the academy's way of claiming its stake in the world of aviation, thanks to the world-class capabilities and personnel." He also said the academy would not have gained such high status without the policies set by its management. He said that the academy's work under ICAO's umbrella will go a long way to achieving all of its strategic goals, especially at a time of multiple changes and huge expansion in the aviation sector. "I would like to thank the academy's entire staff of trainers, developers and administrators for their team spirit and relentless hard work that has garnered us these outstanding achievements," Al-Harbi added. The ICAO's Global Aviation Training Office, with 14 full-membership states, is a consultancy concerned with the long-term strategic development of the Advanced Aviation Training Program. It discusses and makes decisions on membership, and develops and circulates training portfolios among member states. http://www.arabnews.com/node/1085216/corporate-news Back to Top University of Tennessee gets $9.9 million in NASA funding for aviation research A team of researchers led by the University of Tennessee Knoxville is the recipient of a $9.9 million grant from NASA that will go toward the development of a more aerodynamically capable aircraft. The award, announced earlier this month, is part of an overall $50 million investment NASA is making in university research teams studying aviation innovation. The UT-led team will focus specifically on creating a more aerodynamic airplane wing with the goal of reducing energy use and leading to more efficient aircrafts, according to Jim Coder, the lead researcher on the project and an assistant professor in the department of mechanical, aerospace and biomechanical engineering at UT. "The impact of this research is that it has the potential to produce a much more efficient aircraft wing, with the goal being to have ultra-efficient commercial vehicles and reduce the carbon footprint of the aircraft fleet," Coder said. The research, estimated to take place over the next five years, could also change the way aircrafts look. Specifically, the team will explore whether a slotted wing can reduce drag, control shock waves at high speeds and give extra lift at low speeds. Other contributors to the team are Penn State University, Texas A&M University, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Old Dominion University, the University of Wyoming and two aviation companies - Boeing Corporation and PCC Airfoils. NASA did not specify the research topics or disciplines to be explored in the grant application, but rather universities were asked to create their own topics with the most compelling investigations, so long as that technical challenge addressed one of the agency's main aviation research goals. One of the main challenges in developing a new wing will be to make sure it works in balance with the rest of the aircraft, Coder said. If successful, the wing will be tested at high speeds in a wind tunnel, though it could be decades before the technology is implemented. "It's hugely gratifying to see the University of Tennessee recognized in this way," UT Knoxville Chancellor Beverly Davenport said in a statement. "This is a great example of how a public-private partnership and inter-institutional cooperation can result in solutions that address important challenges facing our world. We look forward to the success of this team and will point to it as an example of what corporate and university partners can accomplish when they join forces." http://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/education/2017/04/15/ut-gets-99-million-nasa-funding-aviation- research/100477578/ Back to Top Kids Reach New Heights in STEM Education Through Aviation Giving Kids Wings Academy shows students how they can apply what they learn in school to real-life situations. Emma Hall became the first solo female glider at the Giving Kids Wings Flight Academy in the summer of 2016 - not only breaking the glass ceiling but flying way above it. Hall discovered her love for aviation through a seminar offered in her Hawthorne, California, high school by the flight school where she learned about aerospace, test-fly simulators and eventually fly a glider. "Getting off the plane, I just could not stop smiling. It was the best experience of my life. It gave me a taste of what I could do and I was hooked!" says Hall, 16, a sophomore at Da Vinci Science High School. Jillian Morrow flies above the Pacific Ocean and Palos Verdes, Calif., during her first flight. Dan Mikkelsen founded Giving Kids Wings Flight Academy, a nonprofit organization based in Torrance, California, in December 2008, and has since taken more than 300 kids on their first aviation expeditions. Mikkelsen, a former social studies teacher, initiated this program because he wanted to teach his students in a more hands-on way and decided to combine his love for teaching and his experience as a flight instructor. "I didn't feel like there was enough tangible, hands on-learning going on within the schools. There is a lot math and science being taught without real firm context and I believe aviation could be a fantastic hands- on real world application for everything from algebra to earth science. It's one of the most diverse and inclusive scientific professions," Mikkelsen says. He teaches science, technology, engineering and math subjects through aviation, taking what students are already learning in other classes and making it more understandable and relevant to their everyday lives. Algebra, geometry, physics, chemistry and earth science are among the subjects he incorporates in his teaching. He gave U.S. News & World Report examples of questions that he gives students to show how he incorporates those subjects into his coursework. Algebra: You have 50 gallons of fuel on board, and only 48 of that is usable. You're burning 8.5 gallons/hour. Will you be able to make your destination with a half hour reserve of fuel? Geometry: You are trying to intercept the 135 degree radial from a navigational aid. What would your intercept heading need to be if you want to intercept that radial at an angle of 30 degrees? Chemistry: Where do storms get their energy and why are they so violent? Students use computer-based flight training devices to learn the basics of aircraft control, navigation and aeronautical decision-making as part of their classroom training. "It's an interesting and engaging class; you don't have to explain to students how you'll use it in the real world," says Steve Wallis, principal of Da Vinci Science High School. "The way it's taught really supports the curriculum they're using in their other classes." At Wallis' school, currently the only one affiliated with the program, students are taught to fly aircrafts on stimulators during the weekdays, alternating with their theoretical work in the classroom. Students fly in the air on weekends. Mikkelsen also brings in professionals from the field to talk to the students. Over the past three years, Giving Kids Wings has partnered with Santa Barbara Soaring, a gliding school in California, for kids as young as 14 to get flight training over the summer. These gliders are engine-less aircrafts that enable kids to get a feeling of what flying is like at a lower cost than what they would pay for a powered aircraft. At Santa Barbara, students take part in an immersive weeklong glider course that includes ground school and practice flights. At the end of the course, students receive their glider's license. After earning his private pilot glider license, Asa Cusick celebrated by taking his first passenger: his mother, Marie Cusick. "The kids will go from absolutely no flying experience at all to be able to fly a glider aircraft by themselves," says Bill Vrastil, owner of Santa Barbara Soaring. "Kids now have a lot more motor skills for flying than kids in the past, and that primarily has to do with games they have on their phones or laptops." Giving Kids Wings provides flight training to high school students, with a specific focus on increasing the role of minorities and women in aviation, according to its website. According to Mikkelsen, only 5 percent of working pilots are female and only 6 percent are minorities. His program is free to the students in his seminar at Da Vinci Science, and he also helps the kids fundraise for additional flying lessons. With this program, the first flying lesson is free but students are responsible for the costs of subsequent lessons. Giving Kids Wings also tries to provide student scholarships ranging from 10 to 50 percent of the total costs. If not for these scholarships and seminars, it would cost an average of $5,000 for the Santa Barbara Soaring course and $10,000 for the powered aircraft license, Mikkelsen says. "I really wanted to give kids an opportunity they wouldn't normally have. Here's how it works: [It's] a class you can take for free and scholarships that will help you down the road if you want to pursue this. This is a skilled asset that you can use to break the cycle of poverty," Mikkelsen says. Not all students of this program go on to become pilots but they do learn how to apply basic STEM subjects in their everyday lives. "It seemed like a great opportunity to give the kids some real-world experience that would translate to good jobs," Wallis says on why he's continued the program in his school for almost six years. As for Emma Hall, she is taking an advanced class with Mikkelsen at Da Vinci Science and says she's learning to fly cross-country flights through simulators this semester and sees flying as a possible career choice for her future. "Giving Kids Wings has given me the opportunity to pursue a subject area that I wouldn't necessarily have an interest in if I hadn't been given the opportunity. I learned a lot about the physics of flying, [an] atmosphere that I didn't know before," Hall says. https://www.usnews.com/news/stem-solutions/articles/2017-04-14/aviation-helps-bring-out-real-world- applications-of-stem-subjects Back to Top Three airlines change policies in wake of United's passenger dragging incident CHICAGO -- Three airlines have changed their company policies about bumping passengers in light of the outrage over an incident on a United Airlines plane. The changes were announced late Friday. United said it will no longer allow crew members to displace customers already on a plane. Delta is now willing to pay up to nearly $10,000 to get someone to give up a seat, and American promises it will never bump a passenger once the passenger is seated. The changes come after a passenger, Dr. David Dao, was dragged from a fully-booked United Express flight in Chicago because he refused to give up his seat to make room for crew members. Cellphone video of the incident sparked widespread outrage and created a public-relations nightmare for United. Under the change outlined in an internal United Airlines April 14 email, a crew member is required to make must-ride bookings at least 60 minutes prior to departure. Previously, crews could be booked until the time of departure. United spokeswoman Maggie Schmerin said in an email Sunday that the change is an initial step in a review of policies and is meant to ensure that situations like Dao's never happen again. United Airlines (UAL) will likely face a lawsuit from Dao. "Will there be a lawsuit? Probably," said Thomas Demetrio, one of the two aviation lawyers representing Dao. He hinted there could be multiple defendants, saying "just because United is responsible, doesn't mean the city of Chicago isn't responsible." In a statement last week, United apologized to Dao and detailed changes it was making, including no longer using law enforcement officers to take passengers off a flight and reviewing policies and training programs. "We continue to express our sincerest apology to Dr. Dao. We cannot stress enough that we remain steadfast in our commitment to make this right," the statement said, in part. "This horrible situation has provided a harsh learning experience from which we will take immediate, concrete action. We have committed to our customers and our employees that we are going to fix what's broken so this never happens again." http://www.cbsnews.com/news/united-airlines-new-policy-david-dao-video-pulled-off-flight/ Back to Top Fire breaks out in hangar at Chandler airport; one firefighter hurt CHANDLER, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) - A fire broke out at the Chandler Municipal Airport on Saturday afternoon. Fire crews were able to contain the fire to two hangars. At least one plane appeared to be charred, and the roof of one hangar showed heavy damage. There was also a big mess of foam left behind in the wake of the fire. One firefighter suffered a minor injury to his arm and was transported to Chandler Regional Medical Center. Chandler Municipal is one of the nation's 50 busiest general aviation airports. It serves as a base for charter, transport and sightseeing excursions, and is home to training institutions. http://www.azfamily.com/story/35159231/fire-breaks-out-in-hangar-at-chandler-airport-one-firefighter- hurt Back to Top Navy Banning E-Cigarettes from Ships And Aircraft Over Explosion Fears Man smoking an e-cigarette. (HAZEMMKAMAL/Getty Images) NORFOLK -- The Navy is banning electronic cigarettes and vaporizers from its aircraft, ships and submarines after receiving multiple reports of the devices' batteries exploding, catching fire and injuring sailors, it announced Friday. The malfunctioning devices have forced at least one aircraft to land, started fires on ships and left sailors with second-degree burns and disfigured faces. The injuries have occurred when the devices were being used, charged or replaced, or when they came into inadvertent contact with metal objects, according to the Navy. The directive by U.S. Fleet Forces Command and U.S. Pacific Fleet will take effect May 14 and comes as the e-cigarette industry faces increasing scrutiny over the safety of its products. The U.S. Department of Transportation last year prohibited airline passengers and crew members from carrying battery-powered portable electronic smoking devices in checked baggage, and from using or charging the devices aboard aircraft. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will hold a workshop next week specifically to address battery safety concerns with devices known broadly as electronic nicotine delivery systems. The FDA's Center for Tobacco Products identified 137 reported incidents of e-cigarette overheating, fires and explosions from 2009 to 2015. The FDA received 20 reports of e-cigarette overheating, fires and explosions in 2016. "Based on the experience of other FDA-regulated products, it is important to note that adverse experience reporting received is an underestimate of actual events," FDA spokesman Michael Felberbaum said in an email. The Navy's ban prohibits uniformed personnel and civilians from using, possessing, storing and charging the devices. It will remain in effect while the Navy conducts a more thorough analysis on the devices, although Fleet Forces spokeswoman Lt. Cmdr. Stephanie Turo said there is no timeline for any permanent decision. The American Vaping Association, which touts the benefits of vapor products for public health, criticized the Navy's move. "When used and charged properly, vapor products pose no more of a fire risk than any other product that is powered by lithium-ion batteries, like cellphones or laptops," Gregory Conley, president of the association, said in an email to The Virginian-Pilot. "It is a shame that the Navy made this move without consulting active duty personnel or consumer advocates, as there are many ways this issue could have been addressed without resorting to a blanket prohibition that will only serve to discourage current tobacco users from quitting." The Navy reported 15 incidents between October 2015 and June 2016 where fires were started or personnel were injured because of the devices, according to the Naval Safety Center. It's unclear if the FDA figures include statistics from the Navy. The FDA is encouraging those who experience a problem with the devices to report it through its online safety reporting portal. The Naval Safety Center said it had no reports of problems before 2015, but it noted in a September message to the fleet that the devices were growing in popularity among civilians and in the Navy. From 2011 to 2015, e-cigarette use rose from 1.5 percent to 16 percent among high school students, according to the FDA. In 2014, the aircraft carrier USS George Washington became one of the first ships to embrace the use of e-cigarettes by its crew by designating a smoking area specifically for the devices, away from traditional smokers. Some people use e-cigarettes as part of an effort to wean themselves off cigarettes. Among adults who used e-cigarettes in 2015, 58.8 percent also were current cigarette smokers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Navy is encouraging sailors to use tobacco-cessation programs that it offers, although vaping advocates fear the Navy is taking away a useful tool. "By banning ENDS products it forces sailors to maintain their harmful smoking habit, which causes greater harm, destruction, and death when compared to the rare battery incident," Will Cohen, executive director of the non-profit Vape A Vet Project, said in a statement to The Virginian-Pilot. "We are more than happy to provide any and all assistance necessary to allow our sailors to continue using this far safer alternative to smoking deadly cigarettes, improve their lives, health and combat readiness, and save the government time and money." Ships already deployed will be able to request extensions on removing the devices until their next port visits, according to Fleet Forces. Their sailors won't be required to throw away their devices, but they will have to remove their batteries and properly store them. Sailors on shore still will be allowed to use the devices on Navy bases, but only in designated smoking areas. Eight of the incidents recorded by the Naval Safety Center occurred aboard ships or aircraft, and in one incident an aircraft had to return to base because e-cigarette batteries were creating smoke in the cargo section. In one case, a battery melted through the pocket of a sailor in a submarine and ignited after it hit the deck of the torpedo room where he was working, according to a Naval Safety Center narrative of the incident. In four cases, the failures occurred when a service member was actively using one of the devices, and on two of those occasions the explosion occurred while it was in the user's mouth. The malfunctioning devices have caught sailors' clothing on fire, inflicting first- and second-degree burns. Those who had devices in their mouths have suffered facial, bodily and dental injuries requiring continued treatment. In one case, an e-cigarette device exploded while the user was attempting to remove its batteries, burning his hands and fingers. He was hospitalized for two days and spent 14 days on convalescent leave, according to the Naval Safety Center. http://www.military.com/daily-news/2017/04/14/navy-banning-e-cigarettes-ships-and-aircraft-explosion- fears.html Back to Top Jet Indian pilots' union says will not fly with expat pilots from May 1 * NAG referred to some alleged cases of wrong behaviour by expat pilots towards Indian pilots and passengers * Jet has about 100 expat and 860 Indian commanders for its mixed fleet of Boeing 737, 777; Airbus 330 and ATRs NEW DELHI: In the first revolt of its kind here, the Indian pilots of Jet Airways have been asked by their union not to fly with the expat pilots in the airline from next month. National Aviators' Guild (NAG), union of Jet's pilots, on Saturday issued a directive to its members saying they are not to fly with the expats from May 1. Referring to some alleged cases of wrong behaviour by expat pilots+ towards Indian pilots and passengers, NAG directive said: "The safety of our passengers and pilots is of prime importance and these kind of issues cannot be tolerated at all. The expats are also a huge drain on the company's and the nation's finances." Recommended By Colombia Jet has about 100 expat and 860 Indians commanders for its mixed fleet of Boeing 737, 777; Airbus 330 and ATRs. In all, the airline has over 1,700 pilots (co-pilots and commanders). In a statement, Jet said: "Jet Airways is an equal opportunities employer. It employs human capital which is diverse in race, gender, caste, creed or religion. We today, employ a multi-cultural workforce of over 15000 people across the globe and are regarded as an employer of choice in the aviation sector. As an Indian airline operating internationally, Jet Airways has always focused on recruiting the brightest talent and today, has best-in-class cockpit crew from around the world, including a limited (marginal) percentage of expatriate pilots. Jet Airways is committed to offer equal opportunities to all pilots and follows a structured plan for their recruitment based on business outlook." The NAG directive said: "India has no dearth of talent when it comes to aviation. There are enough and many CPL (commercial pilot licence) holders sitting idle, waiting endlessly, for years on end at times, to get a decent job. While we understand the requirement to hire expats when a new aircraft type is inducted into the company, it has been over 15 years since Jet Airways hired its first expat and we still retain a significant number." "We feel the management has had more than enough time to replace the expats with Indian national pilots. We therefore demand that all expats be released immediately. We trust the management will understand the angst of our members in this matter and join us in ensuring that we can take pride in being a nationally conscious company. Keeping the safety of our passengers and members in mind, NAG committee hereby issues a directive to all trainers not to conduct training/checking any expats effective April 16, 2017, and line pilots not to fly with expats from May 1, 2017, onwards," it added. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/jet-indian-pilots-union-says-will-not-fly-with- expat-pilots-from-may-1/articleshow/58193098.cms Back to Top Watch the Paint Melt Right Off a Virgin Australia Airplane This is all part of the process it takes to repaint an airplane. If there's one thing we don't think about very often, it's the paint that covers an airplane. How did it get there? Very carefully. How do they get it off? That's another process (one that's pretty mesmerizing to watch). This video above from Virgin Australia is relatively dated, but watching the paint literally melt off an airplane is a truly timeless activity. When you think about it, repainting an airplane is no simple task. While you'd be quick to notice an unsightly cabin smell or a dusty armrest, you'll likely never see a spot of paint out of place on the shell of a plane - and keeping those windows paint-free can't be an easy task. The biggest part of repainting an airplane is applying massive amounts of paint thinner and leaving it to set. But set up a camera to catch all of the things you can't get close enough to see (because: fumes), and you're in for a treat. Check it out above, along with a lot of other scenes digging into the work that goes into giving an airplane a makeover. http://www.travelandleisure.com/airlines-airports/airplane-paint-melting-video Back to Top Graduate Research Survey Dear colleagues, The flight crew of an airliner is expected to exhibit very high levels of decision making, all the time. Disasters are often attributed to poor decision making skills that are rigorously scrutinised after the event but a good decision never faces similar depth of review. I am doing a research on this very topic and need your help with a short anonymous survey. The primary objectives of this survey are to evaluate: 1. How pilots make decisions in a time and safety critical situation. 2. Whether there are any comparisons with other professionals facing similar time and safety pressures. The survey can be completed here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/7TKJ66K Can you spare a few moments to take my survey? www.surveymonkey.co.uk Please take the survey titled "Anonymous Survey- Decision making in a time and safety critical environment.City University of London naveed.kapadia@city.ac.uk". Your feedback is important! Thank you for your help and support with this research. Naveed MSc student at City University of London Back to Top Graduate Research Survey Request My name is Mohamed Sheryenna. I'm a student at the University of South wales (UK), MSc. Aircraft Maintenance System. I'm conducting this research about Importance of Implementation SMS to Aircraft Maintenance: For reducing accidents. This study would look to understand the approaches and benefits of implementation SMS in Aircraft maintenance organization to reduce risk of accidents or at least mitigate it by identify and manage risks in predictive phase. Moreover, the study sought to determine the influence of the organizational culture and its effective on maintenance. In addition, to assess some tools used by SMS to support maintenance and engineering to obtain optimal aircraft maintenance. Ultimately, the effectiveness of an SMS implementation means the organization can manage the complexity of these mechanisms to defend against risk incubation. All the information will be treated confidentially and reported in the aggregate. The resultant data will be analyzed as part of my master degree's thesis. I will strictly respect the confidentiality of all participants' input. If you are a participant, and if you desire, I will provide you with a copy of the outcomes of my study. Please return the survey with your business card or contact information to indicate your interest in receiving a copy of the results. I would greatly appreciate your input to my survey. I realize that you are very busy; and completion of the survey should require not more than 10 minutes of your time. These questionnaires are intended to explore SMS in Aircraft maintenance and are purely for academic purpose. Your participation in this research will be highly appreciated. please click the link below to go through the survey http://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/8YYUA/ Thank you very much for your cooperation. Sincerely yours, Mohamed Sheryenna 15050033@students.southwales.ac.uk Tel. 00447459876975 Back to Top SAFE Encourages Pilot Input on GA Runway Incursions (Survey) Active general aviation (GA) pilots are being asked to help an ongoing study of GA runway incursions by completing a new online questionnaire. The FAA has said that runway incursions - a vehicle or aircraft on the ground endangering aircraft landing or taking off - average three per day and are a "serious safety concern." GA pilots are involved in about 80 percent of runway incursions. "The question is, what are GA pilots doing, or not doing, that results in so many runway incursions?" said Professor Donna F. Wilt of the Florida Institute of Technology College of Aeronautics. "By analyzing such occurrences we can help mitigate those dangerous situations." The study is being conducted by the FIT College of Aeronautics, Hampton University Department of Aviation and Purdue University Department of Aviation Technology. It is funded through the Partnership to Enhance General Aviation Safety, Accessibility and Sustainability (PEGASAS), and the FAA Center of Excellence for GA. SAFE is a partner of PEGASAS. The questionnaire will be available from April 1 through April 30, 2017. To take the new questionnaire, click here or click on or copy and past the URL below. The questionnaire is also available on the SAFE web site at www.SAFEPilots.org and will be available at the SAFE booth at Sun 'n Fun. SAFE is encouraging its members to participate in the project. Direct Link URL: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeiJFFh52kh_afnEN7qoBRoliQvqLSUhksMQAGDGbO- EcDweg/viewform?usp=sf_link For more information, contact the project's Principal Investigator, Dr. Scott Winter. SAFE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and promoting aviation education at all levels of learning. SAFE is a recognized leader in pilot training reform, safety education, and the mentoring of aviation educators. For information on free resource materials and membership, go to www.safepilots.org. Scott Winter Assistant Professor of Aviation Science College of Aeronautics, Florida Institute of Technology 321-674-7639 (Office) 218-269-9376 (Cell) 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/ Curt Lewis