Flight Safety Information May 19, 2017 - No. 101 Incident: Delta A333 near Amsterdam on May 18th 2017, engine problem Incident: Urumqi B738 at Zhengzhou on May 16th 2017, dropped wheel on landing Incident: Mesa E175 near Louisville on May 18th 2017, hydraulic failure, all main tyres burst Boeing 737-8HX (WL)...taxiing through wet concrete after landing (Ukraine) 2 injured in separate incidents on Southwest flight at Hobby Airport 7 FAA employee groups warn against privatizing air traffic control FAA PUBLISHES CLEARANCE DELIVERY PHONE NUMBERS EBACE: Business aviation manufacturers face another difficult year Singapore Airlines to phase out 4 Airbus A380s PPG, Vision Systems to Develop Aircraft Window Shading Applications Dutch King Willem-Alexander reveals secret flights as co-pilot Purdue Aviation Strikes Deal For Commercial Pilot Training Program Crash course: Pilots, safety reps learn accident training at Grand Forks airport BAHAMAS WELCOMES BASICMED PILOTS InFlight Labs New "Smart GADSS" Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award Nominations Invited Research Survey Graduate Research Survey Incident: Delta A333 near Amsterdam on May 18th 2017, engine problem A Delta Airlines Airbus A330-300, registration N816NW performing flight DL-71 from Amsterdam (Netherlands) to Atlanta,GA (USA), was climbing out of Amsterdam when the crew stopped the climb at FL240 due a problem with an engine (PW4168) and returned to Amsterdam for a safe landing on runway 36C about 45 minutes after departure. The flight was cancelled, the passengers were rebooked onto other flights. The engine is going to be replaced. http://avherald.com/h?article=4a926f83&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Urumqi B738 at Zhengzhou on May 16th 2017, dropped wheel on landing An Urumqi Air Boeing 737-800, registration B-1569 performing flight UQ-2537 from Urumqi to Zhengzhou (China), had landed in Zhengzhou and was about to vacate the landing runway when the outboard left main wheel separated from the aircraft. The aircraft continued taxi to the gate where ground staff spotted the wheel was missing. The wheel was subsequently recovered from the taxiway off the runway. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground for about 50 hours, then returned to Urumqi. The aircraft at the gate: http://avherald.com/h?article=4a92648c&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Mesa E175 near Louisville on May 18th 2017, hydraulic failure, all main tyres burst on landing A Mesa Airlines Embraer ERJ-175 on behalf of United, registration N88325 performing flight YV-6073/UA-6073 from Toronto,ON (Canada) to Houston Intercontinental,TX (USA) with 77 people on board, was enroute at FL340 about 100nm northwest of Louisville,KY (USA) when the crew received indication of a hydraulic failure. The aircraft diverted to Louisville and landed on runway 17R about 30 minutes after leaving FL340, however, all four main tyres deflated during roll out and the aircraft was disabled on the runway. The runway needed to be closed until the aircraft could be removed from the runway. The aircraft seen on the runway: Back to Top Boeing 737-8HX (WL) taxiing through wet concrete after landing (Ukraine) Date: 18-MAY-2017 Time: Type: Boeing 737-8HX (WL) Owner/operator: Ukraine International Airlines Registration: UR-PSB C/n / msn: 29654/3018 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Unknown Location: Zaporizhia Airport (OZH/UKDE) - Ukraine Phase: Taxi Nature: Domestic Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Kiev-Borispol Airport (KBP/UKBB) Destination airport: Zaporizhia Airport (OZH/UKDE) Narrative: Ukraine International Airlines flight PS85 from Kiev to Zaporizhia, Ukraine, sustained damage to its undercarriage after taxiing through wet concrete after landing on runway 20. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=195478 Back to Top 2 injured in separate incidents on Southwest flight at Hobby Airport The Houston Fire Department confirms two people required medical treatment after two separate incidents on an arriving Southwest flight at Hobby Airport. HOUSTON - The Houston Fire Department confirms two people required medical treatment after two separate incidents on an arriving Southwest flight at Hobby Airport. Flight 2233 landed in Houston shortly before 8 a.m. as HFD personnel surrounded the aircraft. HFD said a 24-year-old woman suffered a head injury while a 70-year-old man experienced cardiac arrest. The flight originated out of Raleigh, N.C. According Southwest Airlines, the female passenger was injured when she stood up too fast while she was in the lavatory and hit her head. She was treated in Raleigh and thought to be fine. She declined any further assistance once they arrived at Hobby. The male passenger had passed out on the flight, and the crew administered first aid before they could land, airline officials said. They also called for an ambulance ahead of time to help once they arrived. The passenger was transported to a local hospital. His condition has not been released. http://www.khou.com/news/local/injuries-reported-on-incoming-flight-at-hobby-airport/440749477 Back to Top 7 FAA employee groups warn against privatizing air traffic control The privatization of the Federal Aviation Administration's air traffic control system jeopardizes the nation's Next Generation Air Transportation System, the deficit and national defense, according to a joint statement from groups representing FAA employees and managers. Seven organizations have united to express to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee that they oppose privatization of any of the functions or services within the FAA. Federal Times Trump reportedly supports privatizing air traffic control In a press statement, the representatives state, "Quite simply, overhauling the entire aviation system by removing air traffic control from federal oversight and funding will be a serious setback for its development and growth. Our air traffic control system is a national public asset and we strongly believe it should remain in the public trust." They cite progress and economic activity that would be lost if there were disruptions to the NextGen systems researchers and engineers at the William J. Hughes Technical Center outside Atlantic City, N.J. They also mention the potential for great risks to the flying public if the National Airspace System is not properly replaced. Federal Times Transportation: A Nation in Motion According to the letter, both the Congressional Budget Office and Department of Defense have expressed concerns about the impact privatization would have on the economy and military operations. The seven groups cosigning the letter include the American Federation of Government Employees; American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees; FAA Managers Association; National Association of Government Employees; National Federation of Federal Employees; Professional Association of Aeronautical Center Employees; and Professional Aviation Safety Specialists. http://www.federaltimes.com/articles/7-faa-employee-groups-warn-against-privatizing-air-traffic-control Back to Top FAA PUBLISHES CLEARANCE DELIVERY PHONE NUMBERS Pilots will have a new option for receiving IFR clearances directly from some FAA air traffic facilities with the publication of clearance delivery phone numbers in the April 27 edition of the chart supplement (formerly the airport/facility directory). The Federal Aviation Administration is one of the many government agencies that have influence over general aviation. Photo by David Tulis. The phone numbers for 30 terminal facilities that serve about 650 airports were published as part of an FAA flight service modernization initiative. One quote doesn Giving pilots another way to receive their clearances directly from air traffic control-in addition to published radio frequencies-is intended to increase efficiency by eliminating the need for the clearance to be relayed to a pilot by flight service. The streamlined process also reduces the risk of error, the FAA said in a notice provided to AOPA. The established process of receiving clearances over published clearance delivery radio frequencies is not affected by the availability of the phone numbers. "The phone number is just an option, and at some airports the only option, to contact ATC," said Rune Duke, AOPA director of airspace and air traffic. Pilots should check airport listings in the chart supplement to determine if a clearance delivery phone number has been added to an airport's listing and communications capabilities information. An example of a newly published clearance delivery phone number appears in the chart supplement entry for Virginia's Leesburg Executive Airport: "COMM/NAV/WEATHER REMARKS: For Clnc Del ctc Potomac Apch at 866-709-4993." The FAA said 12 ATC facilities also will eventually offer a separate phone line for pilots to call and cancel IFR flight plans. The phone numbers will be published as they are installed. "With the exception of Alaska, other facilities may also provide direct lines for IFR clearances and cancellations under a future agreement to refine the delivery of flight services," the FAA said. https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2017/may/09/faa-publishes-clearance-delivery-phone- numbers Back to Top EBACE: Business aviation manufacturers face another difficult year says Flight Ascend Consultancy Business aircraft manufacturers are enduring another torrid year, with deliveries likely to fall again, backlogs tighter than in the wake of the global financial crisis, and continuing fierce competition as an increasing number of aircraft types vie for sales. That is the troubling picture painted by Flight Ascend Consultancy, which delivered its outlook for the industry in a 16 May webinar just ahead of EBACE. Ascend predicts that deliveries will decline by 3.7% to just under 650 units in 2017, and that a surfeit of models on the market is causing a softening of prices and putting several types on notice. "It appears that in 2017, the word 'oversupply' will be commonly used as the market continues to pressure OEMs into further production rate cuts," says senior valuations analyst Dan Hall. "Despite being a closely guarded secret, it is now understood that most manufacturer backlogs are at near record lows - even lower than during the aftermath of 2008." Hall notes that with almost 40 models on offer in the market from 10 manufacturers, "intense competition remains". Ascend suggests that seven models - three light jets, two medium-sized types and two heavy aircraft - are "twilighting or phasing out altogether". It highlights the example of the Cessna Citation Mustang very light jet, which ended production in the past few weeks. Although Ascend foresees a slight uptick in deliveries to just under 700 in 2018 and to just over 700 the following year, it has revised down its 10-year forecast by 7.3% to fewer than 8,000 jets. But it is not all gloom. The light jet market continues to prosper with shipments up 8% in 2016 - a bigger increase than from 2014 to 2015 - thanks in part, says Ascend, to new models such as Honda Aircraft's HondaJet and Textron Aviation's Citation Latitude. With sales of close to 330 units last year, the segment is now responsible for half of all aircraft delivered. On the other hand, the highest-value portion of the market, the large-cabin sector - not so long ago the industry darling as new customers from the likes of the Middle East, China and Russia jumped straight into top-end types - remains "very soft", Ascend states. Deliveries of large jets up to airliner-sized types have fallen by almost 32% since 2014. Despite a slight revival last year in deliveries of medium and midsize jets, shipments fell again in 2016 to 157, just under the 2014 level of 161. Competition in this space "has reached new heights", says Ascend, with the Cessna Longitude joining an already crowded segment later this year. "Manufacturers have battled to retain market share, competing - in many ways by price - for limited new buyer interest," says Ascend. Although deliveries of new business aircraft in the first quarter are up on the first three months of 2016, Ascend warns: "We wouldn't pop the champagne just yet", forecasting a challenging rest of the year. "The market is likely to remain soft with no clear indicators of any immediate pick-up," it says. "Indeed, OEM guidance has never been clearer; perhaps the strongest affirmation that a much more realistic take on the market prevails. The largest market, the USA, still has uncertainty with the new administration yet to boost corporate confidence or make any legislative changes to favour business aviation." Despite 2017 being what it calls a "transition year" with three new models - the Pilatus PC-24, Longitude and Gulfstream G500 - due to enter service late in the year, any boost to the market will only be reflected in 2018 delivery figures, says Ascend. However, despite the competition in the midsize and ultra-long-range segments, Ascend says "there are still opportunities", with a "relative dearth in new products available for a buyer willing to spend $30 million to $40 million... at least until the Cessna Hemisphere comes along". In terms of market values, Ascend notes that in January there had been an 11.6% decline year-on-year across the more than 100 types and variants it assesses - although it adds that values have been stable so far in 2017 and that anecdotal feedback in the industry has been positive. The large and ultra-large segment - fought over by Bombardier with its Global family, Dassault's 7X and 8X and the Gulfstream G450, G550 and G650 - remains "soft" and "on watch", says Ascend. The midsize sector is "on very close watch", it adds, as rivalry for new aircraft sales is mirrored in the used market. It says five types have seen market values fall by more than 20% - the Bombardier Challenger 605, Dassault Falcon 2000 (classic and EX), Gulfstream G200, Bombardier Learjet 75 and Embraer Legacy 650. In fact, in Q1 2017 compared with Q1 2016, market values for most major types fell by more than in previous 12-month periods, says Ascend. A notable exception was the Gulfstream GV, whose market value held steady. The Falcon 2000EX, by contrast, saw its market value drop an average of 35%. https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/ebace-business-aviation-manufacturers-face-another-437270/ Back to Top Singapore Airlines to phase out 4 Airbus A380s SINGAPORE--Singapore Airlines Ltd. (C6L.SG) will surrender the lease on four of its oldest Airbus A380 superjumbo jets, confirming that the first airline to operate the biggest passenger jets doesn't want to keep the earliest delivered planes of the model on its fleet. Singapore Airlines, however, will take delivery of three A380 jets by March 2018 as it seeks to operate a young fleet of planes that require less maintenance. The flag carrier also said it will take delivery of 10 Airbus A350 planes during its current fiscal year that runs through March 2018. The decision to phase out the oldest A380 jets was expected. The planes are on lease and will be 10-years old by the time they leave Singapore Airlines' fleet. The jets will test the second-hand market for the plane, which can seat 540 passengers in a typical cabin layout and over 700 passengers in an all-economy configuration. Airlines have struggled to find dense-enough routes to fly the A380s, though the double-deck jets are extremely popular with passengers. Malaysia Airlines, another A380 operator, has decided to reconfigure its planes into all-economy class and place them in a new airline that would seek to tap the Muslim religious tourism market. Singapore Airlines also said it will spend 29.3 billion Singapore dollars (US$21 billion) to buy new planes over the next five years. That includes S$5.3 billion in the current fiscal year that started April 1. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/singapore-airlines-to-phase-out-4-airbus-a380s-2017-05-19 Back to Top PPG, Vision Systems to Develop Aircraft Window Shading Applications PPG (NYSE:PPG) and Vision Systems have reached a commercial agreement to work together on developing new applications utilizing Vision Systems' electronically dimmable window shading product for aircraft. SYLMAR, Calif. & BRIGNAIS, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PPG (NYSE:PPG) and Vision Systems have reached a commercial agreement to work together on developing new applications utilizing Vision Systems' electronically dimmable window shading solutions for aircraft. The agreement provides a framework for PPG and Vision Systems to pursue opportunities in commercial, regional, military and general aviation applications that capitalize on each company's expertise. PPG and Vision Systems to develop aircraft window shading applications Tweet this Both companies already have considerable experience supplying electronically dimmable window shading systems. PPG has supplied electrochromic window shading systems for commercial aircraft and ground vehicles since 2007. Vision Systems, based near Lyon, France, is an established supplier of aircraft shading systems and associated electronics. According to Brent Wright, PPG global business director for aerospace transparencies, PPG's ability to provide its customers with innovative solutions for managing window light and heat transmission is enhanced with Vision Systems' product. "PPG is excited to work with Vision Systems to create new applications for a product that provides unique performance characteristics," Wright said. "As a pioneer in the electrochromic window segment, PPG recognized the added value offered by Vision Systems to the standard dimmable film technology, especially with the interface that makes its system work." Vision Systems' dimmable window solutions offer instant response time for changing light transmittance and have no size limitations relative to aircraft transparency applications. The dimmable windows can be controlled individually by a seatside wired or wireless interface or cabinwide through the aircraft cabin window management system. "As a result, we can develop applications for larger transparencies with flat or curved shapes as well as retrofit installations including with add-on panels," Wright said. "We are very pleased about this agreement with PPG, internationally renowned for ALTEOS® interactive window systems and OPTICOR™ advanced transparency material, which, when combined with the NUANCE™ V2 product by Vision Systems, will offer aircraft manufacturers and operators exciting new shading options," said Catherine Robin, Vision Systems group managing director. "This agreement is fully in line with our commitment to continuous innovation and customer satisfaction. Furthermore, this constructive collaboration will allow Vision Systems to strengthen its presence throughout the world." Vision Systems developed its latest-generation Nuance V2 dimmable window through its Smart Lite division devoted to the design, production and sales of new electronically dimmable solutions. It is based on suspended particle device film technology licensed from Research Frontiers and an innovative Vision Systems interlayer that offers unprecedented optical quality with 2.5 percent haze, 100 percent clarity and 99.6 percent blockage of visible light with the ultra-dark version of the Nuance product. Note to editors: This video about Vision Systems' electronically dimmable windows may be included in news coverage https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mljo9bG9eyI. PPG's global aerospace business offers coatings, sealants, transparencies, packaging and application systems, and transparent armor, as well as chemical management and other services. For more information, visit www.ppgaerospace.com. About Vision Systems Headquartered near Lyon, France, with a production and sales unit in Florida, USA, and a trade office in Singapore and Dubai, Vision Systems is a tier-one system supplier in the aeronautic, land transport and marine industries, designing and producing bespoke solutions for specific market segments in complex environments. The company's genuine expertise in solar protection places it today as the world leader in this area, and the development of customized entertainment and connectivity solutions allows it to rank as a competitive challenger in embedded systems. Vision Systems combines complementary skills in electronics, mechanics and composite to provide ever more innovative solutions for cost reduction, heightened safety and improved comfort. For further information: www.visionsystems.fr. PPG: WE PROTECT AND BEAUTIFY THE WORLD™ At PPG (NYSE:PPG), we work every day to develop and deliver the paints, coatings and materials that our customers have trusted for more than 130 years. Through dedication and creativity, we solve our customers' biggest challenges, collaborating closely to find the right path forward. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, we operate and innovate in more than 70 countries and reported net sales of $14.8 billion in 2016. We serve customers in construction, consumer products, industrial and transportation markets and aftermarkets. To learn more, visit www.ppg.com. http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170519005124/en/PPG-Vision-Systems-Develop-Aircraft- Window-Shading Back to Top Dutch King Willem-Alexander reveals secret flights as co-pilot King Willem-Alexander on King's Day on April 27 2017 King Willem-Alexander came to the Dutch throne in 2013, when Queen Beatrix abdicated For 21 years, the king of the Netherlands has flown twice a month as co-pilot while his passengers were in the dark, he has told a Dutch newspaper. Willem-Alexander acceded to the throne in 2013 but his other role, in the cockpit, has continued. "I find flying simply fantastic," he told De Telegraaf newspaper. He intends to carry on as co-pilot but will spend the coming months learning how to fly Boeing 737s. Until now Willem-Alexander has worked behind the joystick of a Fokker and it was already known that he had appeared as a "guest pilot" before being crowned king, in order to maintain his pilot's licence. What was not clear was that he was co-piloting passenger flights incognito, twice a month as king, often with KLM Captain Maarten Putman. The Dutch government said last month that he had flown Fokker 70 aircraft for both the government and KLM Cityhopper service, and that the plane was being replaced this year with a 737. Cityhopper flights are aimed mainly at business travellers in dozens of European destinations, particularly in the UK, Germany and Norway. Rarely recognised on board Willem-Alexander once said that if he had not been born in a palace, his dream would have been to fly a big passenger plane such as a Boeing 747, so it is no surprise that he intends to retrain for the updated plane. A KLM Fokker 70 For several years Willem-Alexander has flown Fokker 70 aircraft but they are being phased out He told De Telegraaf that he never used his name when addressing passengers and was rarely recognised in uniform and wearing his KLM cap. However, he admitted that some passengers had recognised his voice. "The advantage is that I can always say that I warmly welcome passengers on behalf of the captain and crew," he said. "Then I don't have to give my name." Passengers were more likely to realise they were being flown by royalty before the 11 September attacks on the US in 2001 as the cockpit door was unlocked. But there was now less contact with the cabin, he said. Not the only flying royal The Dutch king's appetite for flying was apparently encouraged by his mother, Beatrix, who abdicated as queen in 2013. And he is on a long list of royal pilots: * The Sultan of Brunei is known to fly his own Boeing 747 * Prince Charles is a qualified pilot as are both his sons * Prince William gives up his role as RAF air ambulance helicopter pilot this year * Prince Harry served in Afghanistan as an Apache helicopter co-pilot * Jordan's King Abdullah is a trained pilot Prince William piloting an air ambulance In his interview, King Willem-Alexander appeared enthusiastic about his future prospects as a co-pilot. "It also seemed nice to fly to other destinations one day, with more passengers and bigger distances. That was the real motive for training on the 737," he said. The king explained that the most important thing for him was to have a hobby he could fully concentrate on and that flying was his biggest way of relaxing. "You have a plane, passengers and crew and you are responsible for them. You can't take your problems with you off the ground. You can completely switch off for a while and focus on something else." http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39946532 Back to Top Purdue Aviation Strikes Deal For Commercial Pilot Training Program The flight school has signed an agreement with PSA Airlines to create a fast-track program for aspiring pilots. The program would be separate from Purdue University's regular curriculum, but operate out of the Purdue Airport. Purdue Aviation has entered a deal with a regional commercial airline to start training pilots. Students in the PSA Airlines Cadet Program would spend a year taking classes and accruing hours of flight time through Purdue Aviation, which is separate from Purdue University's teaching core. At the end of the program, pilots would receive certifications. Purdue Aviation President Jeff Pittard says it's a fast track to becoming a commercial pilot. He says PSA has an agreement for pilots to eventually fly for American Airlines. "The real exciting thing for the young pilot is how quickly they can move up within the regional airline PSA and then on to American Airlines with the flow through," he says. Pittard says the majority of the training will come from Purdue, while PSA will assist with some aviation procedures. He says they're now trying to hammer out a provision that could guarantee students employment after completion. "I think some of it is they want to see the quality of the student and make sure that what we're telling them is what they're getting," he says. "And at that point, they'll probably come on and say, 'Bring them right through.'" Pittard says no agreement has been reached yet. He says even if a student who completes their educational and flight time requirements doesn't get hired at PSA, students will still be fully qualified to work for other airlines. Pittard says this opens the door for other airlines to partner with Purdue Aviation, and adds the school is having conversations with other carriers. http://wbaa.org/post/purdue-aviation-strikes-deal-commercial-pilot-training-program#stream/0 Back to Top Crash course: Pilots, safety reps learn accident training at Grand Forks airport GRAND FORKS - Easternwings Airlines Flight 576 departed recently from Sioux Falls, S.D., much as it always has, bound for Grand Forks International Airport. It didn't make it-not in one piece, anyway. The plane is very real, but the flight is a work of fiction. Even the airline is fake, a dreamed-up carrier that only operates a route from Sioux Falls to Grand Forks. The plane is a former FedEx cargo hauler, a Boeing 727 donated by the shipping company to the Grand Forks airport in 2007. It's now used on a fairly regular basis for a variety of training exercises and "crashes" twice a year as part of the aircraft accident investigation course taught by the Air Line Pilots Association, International, the largest union of pilots in the world, and hosted by the airport authority in conjunction with University of North Dakota Flight Operations. Flight 576 hit yet another unfortunate end Monday, May 15, after it slid off the runway in a spell of nasty weather, just in time for a class of about 35 pilots and other airline industry members. Dana Siewert, UND's flight operations director of safety, said the partnership with ALPA and the airport has been ongoing since 2002. "It's a one-of-a-kind course," Siewert said. "There's lots accident investigation courses, but you'll find the majority of those are theoretical courses, classroom courses. ... In this course, you're actually out at an airplane, touching parts and going inside the airplane. Steve Demko, ALPA's chief accident investigator, was overseeing this week's course, which ended Thursday, May 18. Demko said the students who attend the multiday session aren't actually training to be investigators, but are rather learning how to more effectively cooperate with them in the event of a crash. Though most of the students in any given course are usually pilots, Demko said the course sees a number of different airline employees with an interest in safety. The course enjoys a broad reach. Demko says he's seen pilots from as far away as South Africa and Finland take part in the exercises in Grand Forks. Crash creation On a blustery Wednesday afternoon, Demko pointed out the details needed to recast an old cargo plane as a passenger jet. He and other ALPA representatives get to the scene a few days early to set up a convincing crash site, a task they manage by scattering parts around the plane and installing gauges and other instruments in the cockpit. "We have literal black boxes that we put in," Demko said, standing before a row of airplane seats that have seen better days. "When the students come in, they can actually hold it, remove it and touch it." He and other course leaders also rig up an emergency slide, though the one they have is actually wrecked. Demko said the crash story always has some detail to explain why the bright yellow rubber slide is deflated, hanging like a tongue beneath an open hatch. The Flight 576 facade goes deeper than hardware. With the help of UND, Demko says course leaders offer the students fuel samples to test for any contaminants that might have helped bring down the plane. Similar courses are available elsewhere, but Demko said the one in Grand Forks is distinguished by its mix of hands-on work and theoretical learning. Aside from the plane, the course includes classroom modules where students decipher mock cockpit recordings and witness interviews, and connect documentation to actual conditions simulated by instructors. Vanya Voskresensky, a recent UND aviation graduate now working in the safety department of a major airline, huddled against the wind as he sat on the rear steps of the eternally ill-fated Flight 576, holding the end of a long measuring tape pulled by a classmate along an imitation wreckage path. Voskresensky described his job as a "forward-looking" role and said he typically uses data to avoid real-life versions of the scene in Grand Forks. Still, he said the proactive approach is only one part of airline safety. For him, the course presents an opportunity for a safe setting to explore reactive methods he describes as a more "traditional" way to prevent crashes. Seeing how to reverse-engineer a crash helps to make sure it never happens in the first place, Voskresensky said. "This is intense," he said. He'd considered other courses, but had found them to be technical to the point of focusing on data-points such as the tensile strength of metals. He said the course in Grand Forks was a little more dramatic. "This is what you see in the movie 'Sully,' this is what you see on TV with all the documenting-this is hands-on with all the things that are happening at a crash." http://www.wdaz.com/news/4269578-crash-course-pilots-safety-reps-learn-accident-training-grand-forks- airport Back to Top BAHAMAS WELCOMES BASICMED PILOTS BasicMed pilots, break out your bathing suits, we are going to the Bahamas! Responding to a request from AOPA President Mark Baker, the Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority announced that pilots can fly under the new FAA medical certification known as BasicMed. This announcement makes the Bahamas the first international destination to welcome BasicMed pilots. World "This is a huge win for the thousands of BasicMed pilots and we can't thank the Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority enough for their work and leadership," said Baker. Just 56 nautical miles off the coast of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the Bahamas remains one of the most popular international destinations for pilots-representing more than 30 percent of all international general aviation flights per year. The Bahamas already permits sport pilots, and the acceptance of BasicMed will allow thousands more aviators the opportunity to venture to the balmy getaway. Ready to file that flight plan? Visit AOPA's guide to the Bahamas. If you'd like to head to the Islands this weekend, the second annual Grand Bahama Island Air Show will be held at Taino Beach in Freeport. Under BasicMed, compliant pilots conducting noncommercial flights in aircraft with a maximum certificated takeoff weight of no more than 6,000 pounds, with no more than five passengers can act as pilot in command without a third class medical certificate. At least once every four years, participating pilots must visit a state-licensed physician, and every two years participating pilots must take the free AOPA Medical Self-Assessment Course available online. For more information about BasicMed, visit AOPA's Fit to Fly resources page. If you still have questions, call the AOPA Pilot Information Center at 888/462-3976 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time, or click here to contact us. AOPA will continue to work with Canada and Mexico to also allow BasicMed pilots authorization to fly in their airspace. https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2017/may/18/bahamas-welcomes-basicmed-pilots Back to Top InFlight Labs New "Smart GADSS" Is The First Technology Capable of Tracking Any Distressed Aircraft With "One Touch" From ATC Command... InFlight Labs, LLC has developed Smart GADSS™the FIRST Autonomous Distressed Aircraft Tracking System that communicates via a "Satellite-to-Aircraft" link that is activated by ATC Ground Command when there is a loss of either radio or transponder communication with an aircraft, or when a pilot squawks a 7700 emergency message, or the pilot broadcasts a "May Day Distress Call." The Smart GADSS™ systemcontinuously tracks the aircraft through all phases of flight via the GNSS (global navigation satellite system) and the Search and Rescue satellite constellation anywhere in the world... The "tamper-proof" Smart GADSS™ is a game changer for tracking aircraft that may be in a distressed situation or for an aircraft that is no longer in communication with ATC and are presumed missing. The unique feature of Smart GADSS™ is the fact that itcan be activated or reset while an aircraft is in flight; thus making it the first GADSS to offer this functionality. Further, had this technology been installed on Malaysian Air Flight 370, the aircraft would have been tracked through all phases of the flight, including its unpowered descent into the South Indian Ocean. Smart GADSS™ was developed so that another incident like Malaysian Air Flight 370 never happens again" says company spokesman Joseph Bekanich. The Smart GADSS,™ tracks the distressed aircraft utilizing GPS-based technology as well as the global search and rescue satellite constellation (COSPAS-SAT). The autonomous Smart GADSS™ enables both GPS and ground-based stations to continually track the aircraft's location in pre-determined (1 minute or less) time increments. Also, Smart GADSS™ will send a detailed burst message to "select" aviation and government authorities, providing them with pertinent information regarding geographic position, altitude, and airspeed, among other things, within moments of a triggering event. In addition, Smart GADSS™ incorporates a ULB (Underwater Locator Beacon) system which activates concurrently with a Smart GADSS™ triggering event so that the aircraft can be tracked should it land in the water. InFlight Labs Smart GADSS™ has developed a compliment of "Smart"products such as Smart ELT™ (which can trigger the existing ELT during an inflight crisis either by pre-programmed parameters or by ground- based command, i.e. ATC) and Smart ADS-B. The Smart technology is also configurable to be activated by other avionics such as a Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR), Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B), Terrain Awareness Warning System (TAWS), or the aircraft Transponder. The Smart technology monitors select avionics to detect an anomaly or power interruption, thus automatically triggering the Smart GADSS and/or Smart ELT. "The self-powered Smart GADSS™ weighing less than 2 lbs., and is designed to "Plug and Play" into the existing aircraft's electrical/avionics systems architecture without any modification to the existing avionics interface or wire configuration; thus minimizing the cost of fleet deployment. "Smart GADSS™ is a powerful asset that will offer real-time assistance to track missing or distressed aircraft on a world-wide basis" says company spokesman Joseph Bekanich. "InFlight Labs, LLC Smart Avionics will fill the void for global aircraft tracking, addressing avionics anomalies, power interruptions, and device tampering concerns," states Bekanich. About In Flight Labs, LLC InFlight Labs, LLC, with corporate offices in Washington, DC, offers industry-leading solutions for real-time distressed aircraft tracking that supports the Global Aircraft Tracking initiatives and meets or exceeds the world-wide ICAO mandates for ELT and GADSS. The unique technologies developed by InFlight Labs, LLC, are setting the standard for next generation inflight emergency management and real-time distressed aircraft tracking and search and rescue efforts for crew/passenger survival. The In Flight Labs team works closely with special committees such as; ICAO, FAA, NTSB, RTCA and EUROCAE as well as leading industry manufacturers to develop for the upside benefit of today's and tomorrow's world-wide aviation industry. www.Inflightlabs.com www.SmartGADSS.com Back to Top Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award Nominations Invited The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Foundation and Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) are accepting nominations for the 2017 Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award. Presented since 1956, the honor recognizes notable achievement in method, design, invention, study or other improvement in aviation safety. The award's recipient is selected for a "significant individual or group effort contributing to improving aviation safety, with emphasis on original contributions," and a "significant individual or group effort performed above and beyond normal responsibilities." www.ltbaward.com Nominations, which should include a one- to two-page narrative, can be submitted via the Laura Taber Barbour Foundation website. Nominations will be accepted through June 14. http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2017-05-11/laura-taber-barbour-air-safety- award-nominations-invited Back to Top Research Survey Dear Participants, You are being requested to participate in a research study on risk. This study is expected to take approximately 5 minutes of your time. In order to participate, you must be at least 18 years old and a pilot. Participation in this study is voluntary, and you may choose to opt out of the study at any time. If you choose to opt out before study completion, your data will be destroyed immediately. We appreciate your consideration and time to complete our study. Please click on or copy and paste the URL below: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeYQv1wQ7ti8p8uE6rjWsAsoTvRe23hvVCR4LSvJheUNMt72Q/viewform?usp=sf_link For more information, please contact: Dr. Stephen Rice Stephen.rice2@erau.edu We appreciate your interest and participation! Dr. Stephen Rice, Associate Professor, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Back to Top Graduate Research Survey I am a pilot who is working on my master's degree at Embry-Riddle. To complete it I need to finish my research project. If you are a FAA Part 121 air carrier pilot will you please take five minutes to complete this survey. It only has six questions and you will be helping a fellow pilot. The survey asks four very basic questions about fatigue and sleep. This survey has no relationship with any airline or with this group. I will not know who took it, it is completely anonymous. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FXRXFZ7 Thank You Kevin Kilpatrick Curt Lewis