Flight Safety Information June 30, 2017 - No. 131 Incident: Blue B734 at Bucharest on Jun 29th 2017, engine shut down in flight Beginning pilots could swap classroom training for flying under Senate bill Horizon Air cutting hundreds of flights this summer due to pilot shortage Why English matters for China's military pilots in Hong Kong US aviation authorities notify Aeroflot of extra air-safety measures EASA Publishes Safety Info on Wake Vortex Aviation safety: One step closer to a safe ratio of 1 flight attendant for every 40 passengers Rolls-Royce secures 7,000 jobs as firm looks to double airplane engine production (UK). COLOMBIAN AIRLINE WANTS TO MAKE PASSENGERS STAND Bird strike sparks emergency on Inverness flight Amy Pritchett appointed head of Penn State Aerospace Engineering Incident: Blue B734 at Bucharest on Jun 29th 2017, engine shut down in flight A Blue Air Boeing 737-400, registration YR-BAO performing flight 0B-9247 from Bucharest Otopeni (Romania) to Palma Mallorca,SP (Spain) with 175 passengers and 6 crew, was climbing through about 1000 feet out of Otopeni's runway 08L when the left hand engine emitted a series of bangs and streaks of flame prompting the crew to stop the climb at 3000 feet, shut the engine down and decided to returned to Bucharest. The aircraft entered a hold while the crew was working checklists and burned off fuel. The aircraft landed safely on runway 08R about 40 minutes after departure. A replacement Boeing 737-400 registration YR-BAR reached Palma Mallorca with a delay of about 4.5 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4aafa563&opt=0 Back to Top Beginning pilots could swap classroom training for flying under Senate bill WASHINGTON - Beginning pilots could substitute "structured and disciplined" classroom training for flying experience in qualifying to work for airlines under legislation approved Thursday by a Senate panel. The provision would change minimum pilot training requirements the Federal Aviation Administration adopted after the last fatal crash of a U.S. passenger airline in 2009. Regional airlines, which contend there is a shortage of qualified pilots, have long sought to soften an FAA requirement after the crash that all pilots have at least 1,500 hours of flying experience. But critics said weakening the standard would mean writing new regulations in the "blood" of crash victims. Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., said the goal of his provision added to broader FAA legislation by a narrowly divided Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee is to provide better quality training rather than a quantity of flying hours. "The amendment would allow prospective pilots to receive credit toward flight-hour requirements if taking structured and disciplined training courses if completion of those training courses will enhance safety more than an unstructured accumulation of flight hours," Thune said. But Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., a former Army combat pilot, said watching videos in a hotel ballroom can't replace flying experience. She compared the 1,100 deaths from airline accidents from 1990 through 2009 to the lack of fatalities in passenger-airline accidents since the 1,500-rule was adopted. Co-pilots used to qualify with 250 hours of flight time, rather than the 1,500 hours required of captains. "If we vote for this, we will be writing future regulations in blood," Duckworth said. Duckworth tried to block the provision but lost on a 14-13 vote. The committee then adopted the provision by voice vote. Lawmakers agreed to try and negotiate a compromise before the legislation reaches the Senate floor because Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., has threatened to block the entire FAA bill if the provision is included. The training requirement sparks an emotional debate because relatives of the 50 victims of the last fatal crash - Colgan Air Flight 3407 in February 2009 near Buffalo - attend congressional hearings and voting sessions to fight for safety standards. Ten-year-old Summer West of Clarence, N.Y., whose father, Ernie, died in the Colgan crash, told lawmakers before a House vote Tuesday that they and the pilots commanding planes were supposed to protect passengers rather than weaken safety measures. "My daddy was funny, kind, smart and always protected me. But I couldn't protect him because I was only 2 years old when he was killed in a plane crash," Summer said. "But I can protect other daddies now, and make sure my daddy's death wasn't all for nothing." Scott Maurer of Bradenton, Fla., whose 30-year-old daughter, Lorin, died in the Colgan crash, said airlines shouldn't put profits before safety. "The system is not broken," Maurer said. "Short-changing safety is not the way to go." Investigators found Colgan pilots made mistakes that stalled their turboprop plane in a snowstorm. Regulators developed new rules for pilot qualifications, training and fatigue. In 2010 legislation, Congress required that airline co-pilots, also known as first officers, get the same 1,500 hours of flight time as captains. The Transportation Department regulations finalized in July 2013 made exceptions for military pilots who have flown at least 750 hours, graduates of four-year colleges who have flown at least 1,000 hours and graduates of two-year colleges who have flown 1,250 hours. Regional airlines, which provide about half the country's flights, have long argued that training requirements make it difficult to find qualified pilots. Flights to smaller cities are jeopardized if airlines can't find pilots to fly the planes. Thune said two-thirds of the country's airports are served exclusively by regional airlines, and the training requirement contributes to their difficulties hiring pilots. How pilots get to 1,500 hours is more important than simply reaching that figure, Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., said. "Fifteen-hundred hours is not necessarily magic, but however you get whatever training you get is important," Blunt said. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., said if regional airlines want to weaken safety standards, they shouldn't be able to fly with names of major airlines, whose more experienced pilots have more training, on the sides of their planes. "The American public needs to know that these carriers aren't meeting the same standards," Cantwell said. "I don't think anybody wants to get on a plane that says co-pilot not as qualified." The Air Line Pilots Association, a union representing 57,000 pilots, said regional airlines would have more pilot recruits if they paid more. The co-pilot of the Colgan flight earned $16,200 per year. "We will fight any attempt to weaken these air-safety measures," said Capt. Tim Canoll, the union president. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/06/29/beginning-pilots-could-swap-classroom-training-flying-under- senate-bill/439156001/ Back to Top Horizon Air cutting hundreds of flights this summer due to pilot shortage A Bombardier Q400 operated by Horizon Air, a unit of Alaska Airlines, takes off at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. (Ted S. Warren/AP) The pilot shortage became a crisis this past month when Horizon was forced to cancel more than 318 flights because it didn't have enough pilots to fly all its planes. Horizon Air - the regional airline that is part of Alaska Air Group, carrying passengers on shorter flights throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond - is cutting its flight schedule this summer because of a severe shortage of pilots for its Q400 turboprop planes. The shortage became a crisis this past month when Horizon was forced to cancel more than 318 flights because it didn't have enough pilots to fly all its planes. In response, the airline is now pre-emptively canceling flights later in the summer and is weighing if it needs to pare its schedules for the rest of the year. Example of cancellations Examples where one flight will be canceled on each of these routes: Seattle and Boise: Now with 8 daily flights Seattle and Spokane: Now with 15 daily flights Seattle and Portland: Now with 26 daily flights Redmond and Portland: Now with 5 daily flights Portland and Sacramento, Calif.: Now with 3 or 4 daily flights In an effort to reduce cancellations, it's also sending out managers who are qualified pilots to fly the planes and offering double pay to pilots who fly extra flights. On Thursday, Horizon Chief Executive Dave Campbell sent a memo to employees announcing that the airline is cutting multiple flights in August and is studying its fall and winter timetables "to ensure we have schedules that we can reliably operate." Campbell wrote that the pilot shortage, coupled with the airline's unprecedented growth as it has added aircraft, "created a perfect storm." "June will go down as our 'bump in the road' - our moment when things got too far off track, and now, we must decide how to recover," Campbell told employees. "We have established a war room to daily manage potential cancellations." About 17,000 passengers who have already booked flights between Aug. 4 and Sept. 3 that are now canceled will be automatically rebooked on Horizon or Alaska flights leaving either earlier or later that same day. Alaska Air spokeswoman Bobbie Egan said those passengers should already have received an email informing them of the flight change. She said Horizon has targeted cancellations for routes where the airline flies multiple times per day. "Horizon has been strategic in making sure wherever possible that we can rebook those guests with minimal impact," she said. The canceled flights represent 6.2 percent of all Horizon flights in August, Egan said. As examples, she said one flight will be canceled on each of these routes: * Seattle and Boise, now with 8 daily flights * Seattle and Spokane, now with 15 daily flights * Seattle and Portland, now with 26 daily flights * Redmond and Portland, now with 5 daily flights * Portland and Sacramento, California, now with 3 or 4 daily flights. Horizon employs almost 3,700 people and serves 45 cities in Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah and Washington, as well as Alberta and British Columbia. Egan said it's been hit by a pilot shortage that "the entire regional airline industry faces." When Indianapolis-based regional carrier Republic Airways declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy last year, it attributed its financial troubles largely to canceled flights caused by the shortage of qualified pilots. "Premium pay" offer To address the problem at Horizon, Campbell said in his memo that in addition to the schedule cuts, the airline is "offering 200 percent premium pay" to pilots who fly extra flights beyond their normal schedule. Horizon's flight-operations team is also increasing from 19 to 34 the number of supervising pilots - known as "check airmen." This should speed up the introduction of new pilots, who must have such a supervisor alongside them in the flight deck as they embark on flying a new aircraft type. And the airline has boosted its recruiting staff from two to six and is working with aviation schools on recruitment, Campbell said. The offer of double pay for the overtime flights has created a surprising conflict with the pilots union, Teamsters Local 1224. Horizon's management and the Teamsters agreed in April on a new contract that specifies that overtime should be paid at 150 percent, not 200 percent. In a letter to Horizon pilots last week, the union leadership - counterintuitively - objected to the company paying more than the contract stipulates and urged the pilots not to accept what it called a "200 percent bribe" to fly extra flights. Greg Unterseher, director of representation for Teamsters Local 1224, said in an interview that the union objects to the company unilaterally amending the terms of the contract. It doesn't want management paying a handsome bonus now just to get through the crisis, then taking it away later. "It's not going to solve the issue," said Unterseher. "They messed up on their staffing. They still don't have the people to fly the airplanes." He said one exacerbating factor for Horizon is that young pilots coming into the industry want to further their careers by flying jets rather than turboprop planes like the Q400s that make up the vast majority of Horizon's fleet. Unterseher said he had a positive meeting Thursday with Campbell and that "we're trying to figure out ways to move forward." In an interview Thursday, Joe Sprague, Alaska Air's senior vice president of external affairs, rejected criticism in the union letter that management has not been proactive in addressing the pilot shortage. He said the new contract with the Teamsters includes provisions aimed squarely at increasing recruitment. Pilot bonuses The airline is offering hiring bonuses of up to $20,000 for Q400 pilots to join the company - $15,000 at completion of two months of training and $5,000 more after a year of service. And starting pay has been increased from $30 an hour to $40 an hour, from the first day of training. Sprague said an encouraging sign is that Horizon's new-hire pilot classes - which provide training on the planes they'll fly - are full for June and July, with 30 trainees passing through each of those months. But he said it will take time for the new recruitment efforts included in the newly ratified pilot contract to bear fruit. So the selective cancellations now planned are temporary, he said, "while we build the staffing back up to where we think it needs to be." Though Campbell's memo makes clear that June was a bad month for cancellations and lays out the plan for August, it only glancingly addresses what's ahead in July, a very busy holiday month. It's clear that cancellations will mount in the month ahead and Campbell asks employees to deal kindly with affected passengers. "As we move into July, let's stick to what we do best," Campbell told employees. "Kindness to our guests and to each other will always make us shine." http://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/horizon-air-cutting-hundreds-of-flights-this-summer-due- to-pilot-shortage/ Back to Top Why English matters for China's military pilots in Hong Kong Speaking English is essential for communicating with air traffic control, driving pilots to memorise words and listen to recordings as part of their daily routine Practising English is part of the daily routine of Hong Kong-based PLA pilots, as they need to be able to speak fluent English when they are on duty. Zheng Jiazhong, a pilot with PLA's Hong Kong garrison, said English is the working language for communicating with city aviation control when on board, according to a report on People.cn, the website of People's Daily. Zheng and other pilots strive to improve their English by memorising words and listening to tapes. On June 1, Zheng captained a manoeuvre conducted over the New Territories. Since Hong Kong has heavy air traffic, pilots need to stay in contact with the civil aviation department's control tower to give reports related to flights. Simon Li Tin-Chui, director-general of the Hong Kong civil aviation department, was quoted by People's Daily as saying that the pilots in Zheng's group have built good communication with civil aviation and praised their professionalism. PLA carrier sets off for drills and a port call in Hong Kong Besides the language barrier, taking off from Hong Kong, which is surrounded by skyscrapers, also is tough. Zheng and his fellow soldiers said they adapt to local conditions through hours of daily training. The report said training hours had tripled since the group was first sent to the city. Helicopter pilot Hu Ping said he never had a chance to look at the city's landmarks apart from watching them from the sky. The Hong Kong Garrison of the People's Liberation Army. Photo: SCMP Pictures The helicopters from PLA Hong Kong garrison seldom fly over Victoria Harbour and he could only view the famous night scenery of the city from afar. "Victoria Harbour has the best scenery in Asia, but I could only enjoy the view from the sky when I am on duty," Hu said in a video released by PLA's video website, 81 TV. Hong Kong's PLA garrison no longer just symbolic, top brass say The Shek Kong barrack has opened its gates to visitors once a year since 1997. State media has been rolling out footage and reports about PLA Hong Kong garrison as part of its publicity campaign in the run-up to President Xi Jinping's visit for the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's handover. http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2100288/chinese-armys-pilots-hone-their-english- language-skills Back to Top US aviation authorities notify Aeroflot of extra air-safety measures Currently, Aeroflot is the only air carrier performing flights to the United States that flies directly from Russia to the US MOSCOW, June 29. /TASS/. The US Transportation Security Administration has notified Russia's top airline Aeroflot on additional air-safety measures, a source in the company's press service told TASS, adding that the actions concern all foreign carriers flying to the United States. "The Transportation Security Administration of the United States has notified Aeroflot on imposing additional measures of aviation security," the source said. "A preparation period has been provided to airlines for introducing additional security measures," he said without specifying the measures. "As of now the notification is being analyzed for making further related arrangements," the source added. Currently, Aeroflot is the only air carrier performing flights to the United States that flies directly from Russia to the US. Earlier the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a set of security measures for all commercial flights to the United States, including enhanced screening of passengers and electronic devices as well as heightened security standards for aircraft and airports. The measures concern 280 airports in 105 countries. The list includes "enhancing overall passenger screening," "conducting heightened screening of personal electronic devices," "increasing security protocols around aircraft and in passenger areas," and "deploying advanced technology, expanding canine screening, and establishing additional preclearance locations," DHS said. http://tass.com/economy/953872 Back to Top EASA Publishes Safety Info on Wake Vortex The European Aviation Safety Agency has published safety information bulletin SIB 2017-10 to remind pilots and air traffic controllers about the risks associated with wake turbulence encounters at high altitude and applicable precautionary measures. "With the increase in overall volume of air traffic and enhanced navigation precision, wake turbulence encounters in the en route phase of flight have progressively become more frequent in the last few years," the bulletin said. The document comes just six months after a Bombardier Challenger 604 at FL340 was severely damaged and its occupants injured when it encountered wake turbulence 12 nm from an Airbus 380 that had passed overhead in the opposite direction at FL350. As the bulletin noted, the so-called "heavy" and "super heavy" aircraft-such as the Airbus 340 and 380 and Boeing 747-are more prone to generate stronger vortices, although there is also potential from other large aircraft types. Considering the high operating airspeeds in cruise and the standard 1,000-foot vertical separation in RVSM airspace, EASA said that wake can be encountered up to 25 nm behind the generating airplane, but "the most significant encounters are reported within a distance of 15 nm." The bulletin concludes with illustrations that show various scenarios of wake turbulence encounters and recommended avoidance techniques. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2017-06-29/easa-publishes-safety-info-wake-vortex Back to Top Aviation safety: One step closer to a safe ratio of 1 flight attendant for every 40 passengers (Canada) OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - June 27, 2017) - CUPE welcomes the recent recommendation of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities that the federal government review the current flight attendant ratio of 1 flight attendant for every 50 passengers. CUPE expects the government to move quickly on this issue. The committee's report is a follow-up to hearings held from April to June 2017 on the safety of Canada's civil aviation system. CUPE is pleased to note that committee members echoed our recommendations, which were presented at the hearing on April 6. During the federal election, the Liberal Party criticized the Conservative government's decisions on aviation safety. The Liberals committed to "make informed decisions based on evidence and data," and promised to keep the safety of all Canadians as a top priority." CUPE expects the government to respond positively to the report and support its adoption in the House, so that the ratio can quickly be revised, restoring a proper level of air safety for passengers and crew. "We are confident the Liberal government will make the safety of all Canadians a priority by quickly starting the process of revising the ratio, and delivering on its promise to hold appropriate consultations with stakeholders and experts," said Mark Brancelj, President of CUPE's AirlineDivision. CUPE represents more than 10,000 flight attendants employed by nine airlines. CUPE explained to parliamentarians that the change in the ratio of flight attendants to passengers exposes air carriers and passengers to much greater risk, all to cut costs. At the hearings, Jordan Bray-Stone, chair of the Health and Safety Committee of CUPE's Airline Division, said that when emergency exits are left unattended because there aren't enough flight attendants, passengers have to assume the responsibility. These passengers are not mentally prepared, and they lack the training to deal with an emergency exit. This constitutes an unnecessary and unacceptable risk for passengers and crew members. CUPE would like to acknowledge the work of the New Democratic Party, which, in a companion report, took a strong stand in favour of re-establishing the 1:40 ratio for flight attendants. The NDP rightly concluded that the current ratio "is clearly insufficient to ensure passengers' complete safety in the event of turbulence, cabin decompression, an on- board fire or an emergency evacuation." "Given the existing studies, we hope that the government will reinstate the one in 40 ratio as soon as possible. It's a ratio that's been demonstrated to be safe," said Brancelj. http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/-2223987.htm Back to Top Rolls-Royce secures 7,000 jobs as firm looks to double airplane engine production 9UK) * £1.5 million to be spent on a new test facility in England * Rolls-Royce claims move will safeguard 7,000 jobs * Engine maker seeking to double production for Airbus, Boeing An employee fits the nose cone to a Trent 700 aircraft engine on the production line at the Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc factory in Derby, U.K., The aerospace engine maker, Rolls-Royce, said Thursday it has saved 7,000 jobs following a decision to upgrade testing facilities at its plant in Derby. The U.K. firm is to spend £150 million ($192.8 million) on new and existing facilities as it looks to double its engine production and delivery. "We are doubling the production of new engines at the same time as introducing three new engines to the market. "With this investment, we are creating the capacity and flexibility to deliver on our goals, while committing to sustain employment in the U.K. and I would like to thank the unions for their support in delivering this important package of investment," said Eric Schulz, Rolls-Royce President of Civil Aerospace in a statement. Rolls-Royce said the investment in Derby would help to sustain more than 7,000 company jobs in the region. Unite Union negotiator Simon Hemmings described it as a good news story for both staff and Rolls-Royce. "The agreement we've reached shows how companies and trade unions can work together differently to deliver the investment and productivity improvements needed to secure the success of a business for the next generation," said Hemmings. The new test facility will be used on the Trent XWB, which powers the Airbus A350 XWB, and is the world's fastest selling civil large engine, with more than 1,600 currently on the manufacturer's order books. Other engines under construction include the Trent XWB-97, which will power the Airbus A350-1000; the Trent 1000 TEN, which will be fixed to all variants of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner family; and the Trent 7000 which will power the Airbus A330neo. http://www.cnbc.com/2017/06/29/rolls-royce-secures-7000-jobs-as-firm-looks-to-double-airplane-engine- production.html Back to Top COLOMBIAN AIRLINE WANTS TO MAKE PASSENGERS STAND Italian company Aviointeriors created a prototype standing seat in 2010 / AFP/Getty Images Food, baggage, boarding pass and now seats now cost extra Budget airline VivaColombia is considering plans to remove all seats from its planes and make passengers stand. They hope the move will drive down fares by allowing them to squeeze more passengers into each flight, opening up air travel to working class Colombians and budget holidaymakers. The no-frills carrier announced this week that it is adding 50 new Airbus 320s to its fleet to capitalise on the country's growing tourist market. The new planes will have more seats and lower running costs with the first one going into service at the start of 2018. VivaColombia's founder and CEO William Shaw told the Miami Herald the airline was looking into vertical travel options. He said: "There are people out there right now researching whether you can fly standing up - we're very interested in anything that makes travel less expensive." He added: "Who cares if you don't have an inflight entertainment system for a one-hour flight? Who cares that there aren't marble floors... or that you don't get free peanuts?" The concept is not new and airlines have been toying with the idea of standing sections on flights for years. In 2003 Airbus came up with an idea of allowing passengers to be braced in a vertical "seat". Ryanair also proposed standing areas on its fleet in 2010. At the time boss Michael O'Leary described the standing seats as "bar stools with seatbelts" and expressed doubts that seatbelts were even necessary. "A plane is "just a b--- -- bus with wings", he said, "If there ever was a crash on an aircraft, God forbid, a seatbelt won't save you. You don't need a seatbelt on the London Underground. You don't need a seatbelt on trains which are travelling at 120mph." Civil Aviation Authorities disagree however, and vertical seats have not been approved by regulators in any country so far. This may also prove to be the case in Colombia. Civil Aviation Director Alfredo Bocanegra told RCN radio that he does not approve. "People have to travel like human beings," he said. "Anyone who had ridden on public mass transport knows that it's not the best when you're standing." http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/vivacolombia-passenger-stand-airlines-budget-airbus-320- fleet-no-seats-a7816086.html Back to Top Bird strike sparks emergency on Inverness flight From the section Highlands & Islands These are external links and will open in a new window Share this with Facebook Share this with Twitter Share this with Messenger Share this with Email Share An emergency was declared on an aircraft flying from Inverness to Gatwick following a bird strike. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said an engine on the Easyjet flight had struck a bird. On its website, Easyjet apologised to passengers for its flight returning to its airport of departure "due to birds hitting your plane". The aircraft has landed at Inverness with fire crews on standby as a precaution. The crew was forced to turn the aircraft back to the Highlands airport shortly after taking off. 'Passenger safety' An Easyjet spokesman said: "The pilot returned to Inverness in line with our procedures and as a precaution only. "All passengers disembarked normally and Easyjet is positioning in a replacement aircraft to fly passengers to Gatwick. Passengers are being provided with information and refreshment vouchers in the terminal. "We would like to apologise for any inconvenience as a result of the delay. "The safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew is Easyjet's highest priority." http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-40447258 Back to Top Amy Pritchett appointed head of Penn State Aerospace Engineering UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Amy R. Pritchett has been named head of the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Penn State, effective Aug. 15. Currently, Pritchett is the David S. Lewis Professor in the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). She is also the director of Georgia Tech's Cognitive Engineering Center and is a joint professor in the Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering. "Amy won over our community with her unique approach of technical rigor and sense of community," said Amr Elnashai, Harold and Inge Marcus Dean of Engineering. "Her leadership style will undoubtedly propel the department to new levels of accomplishment while maintaining and even enhancing its technical and social fabric." Pritchett will take over departmental duties from Philip J. Morris, Boeing/A.D. Welliver Professor of Aerospace Engineering, who has been serving as interim department head since the departure of George Lesieutre. Lesieutre accepted a position as associate dean for research in the College of Engineering in August 2016. Morris will remain as a professor within the department. "I've found the faculty to be energizing with their new ideas and sheer love of aerospace engineering, and I'm excited to be joining in with so many noted experts spanning fields important to the future of aerospace," said Pritchett. "Both aviation and spaceflight are on the cusp of new breakthroughs, and I hope to take the insights and knowledge that our department has been generating here at Penn State and help disseminate them broadly - not just to the research community, but also to the decision makers in industry and government who need to know what we can contribute. Exciting things are happening in the department!" Pritchett served a two-year term as the director of NASA's Aviation Safety Program from 2008 to 2009, and served as a senior research fellow at Delft University of Technology in 2002. Prior to joining Georgia Tech in 1997, she was a doctoral student and researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She is a Fellow of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society and an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). She chartered the Aviation Safety Assurance Research Planning team in 2011, for which she received a NASA Group Achievement Award. She also received the National Aeronautic Association 2008 Robert J. Collier Trophy as part of the Commercial Aviation Safety Team; the AIAA Lawrence Sperry Award in 2007; and the Georgia Tech Center for Enhancement of Teaching and Learning Curriculum Innovation Award in 2014. In 2009, the AIAA Digital Avionics Technical Committee created the Dr. Amy R. Pritchett Digital Avionics Scholarship to recognize technical and service contributions by college students in the field of avionics. Pritchett's research interests include examining the intersection of automated and intelligent technologies, expert human performance and safety-critical operations. This framing particularly applies to modern commercial aviation, but also extends to other areas such as long-duration spaceflight missions. "To have a department head who is concurrently a top researcher is a great feature of Amy's appointment," added Elnashai. "She will not only lead the academic programs in the department, but she will also play a pivotal role in its research enterprise." Pritchett earned her bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in aeronautics and astronautics from MIT. http://news.psu.edu/story/473460/2017/06/28/academics/amy-pritchett-appointed-head-penn-state-aerospace- engineering Curt Lewis