Flight Safety Information October 31, 2017 - No. 216 In This Issue Peggy Gilligan Named Winner Of 2017 Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award Incident: Lingus A320 at Prague on Oct 29th 2017, lightning strike Incident: Arabia A320 at Coimbatore on Oct 29th 2017, bird strike Incident: Republic E175 at Minneapolis on Oct 29th 2017, bird strike Drone collides with Antares 20E glider in the Netherlands Jet Airways Flight Diverted After Frequent Flyer Planted 'Bomb Letter' In Toilet Most deadly opioid not among drugs to be added to random drug testing for airline pilots Dems demand answers from Trump's safety board nominee Door falls off plane mid-air, lands on house in Hyderabad Five important safety actions for helicopter pilots EASA revisits angle-of-attack upgrade on A330 computers Finnair starts weighing passengers at Helsinki Airport NBAA Advises Operators To Remain Alert for PBI TFRs FAA Bulletin Clarifies Runway Status Light Procedures FAA Seeks $3.7M Fine Against ADS-B Manufacturer Allegiant Confirms MD-80 Retirements Coptersafety introduces H145 level D simulator Demand for Pilots Sparks Instructor Shortage at Colleges' Flight Programs In a Stunning Move, This Famous Airline Is Dumping First Class Entirely to Squeeze in More Economy Seating United Is Phasing Out the Boeing 747 - Here's How You Can Buy a Piece of History New HFACS workshop in Beautiful Las Vegas December 12th & 13th PHD GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY REQUEST GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY REQUEST Peggy Gilligan Named Winner Of 2017 Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Foundation is pleased to announce that Margaret "Peggy" Gilligan, a long-time senior executive with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) who spent her career working to improve aviation safety, is the 2017 recipient of the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award. Gilligan's 37-year FAA career saw her serve in numerous key positions, including Associate Administrator of Aviation Safety for eight years until her retirement in March 2017. She spent two decades in the agency's Aviation Safety organization playing integral roles in innovative safety programs, including Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA), Aviation Safety Action Plans (ASAP), as well as the harmonization of FAA regulations with international standards. Among Gilligan's most lasting contributions to aviation safety are as a founder and leader of the Commercial Aviation Safety Team (CAST) and the Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing program (ASIAS)-two programs that continue to drive risk-reduction in aviation. "Peggy's life-long dedication, extraordinary vision, and substantial contributions to global aviation safety cemented her reputation as one of our industry's true luminaries," says Dick Healing, Vice Chair of the Award Board and former Board Member of the National Transportation Safety Board. "The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Foundation and Award Board are pleased to recognize Peggy with the 2017 Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award for her immeasurable contributions to our industry's exemplary safety record." Gilligan was presented with the award at a special presentation during the 70th Flight Safety Foundation International Air Safety Summit in Dublin, Ireland, on October 25, 2017, About the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Foundation and Award On April 14, 1945, after visiting family in Pittsburgh, Mrs. Laura Taber Barbour was aboard a Pennsylvania Central Airlines DC-3 when it crashed in to the rugged terrain of Cheat Mountain near Morgantown, West Virginia. All passengers and crew were killed. In 1956, her husband, Dr. Clifford E. Barbour and son, Cliff, established the Award in her honor. For more than 60 years, this long-distinguished award has recognized those responsible for crowning achievements in aviation safety worldwide. The Award was established through early association with the Flight Safety Foundation and from its founding has enjoyed a rich history of Award Board members, nominees and Award recipients. In 2013, the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Foundation was formed from members of the Award Board, the aviation community and the Barbour family. As the foundation plans to broaden the scope of its intent, with great purpose, the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award will continue to spotlight those champions who pioneer breakthroughs in flight safety. For more information on the foundation, the award, and past winners, visit http://LTBAward.org Back to Top Incident: Lingus A320 at Prague on Oct 29th 2017, lightning strike An Aer Lingus Airbus A320-200, registration EI-DVJ performing flight EI-644 from Dublin (Ireland) to Prague (Czech Republic), was on approach to Prague when the aircraft received a lightning strike. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on Prague's runway 30. The aircraft was unable to depart for the return flight. A replacement Airbus A320-200 registration EI-DVM was dispatched to Prague and performed the return flight EI-645 with a delay of 7.5 hours. A passenger waiting for the return flight reported they were told the scheduled aircraft had received a lightning strike and was unable to depart. A replacement aircraft was flown in. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground for 24 hours, then positioned to Dublin as flight EI-991 and resumed service. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b0616ae&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Arabia A320 at Coimbatore on Oct 29th 2017, bird strike An Air Arabia Airbus A320-200, registration A6-ANA performing flight G9-413 (dep Oct 28th) from Sharjah (United Arab Emirates) to Coimbatore (India) with 106 people on board, was on approach to Coimbatore's runway 23 when a bird impacted the aircraft. The crew continued for a safe landing on runway 23. Ground observers reported a peacock struck and penetrated the aircraft's left hand wing root fairing. The aircraft was unable to depart for the return flight G9-414 on schedule and remained on the ground for about 17 hours, then was able to depart for flight G9-414 and reached Sharjah with a delay of 16:20 hours. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b0612f5&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Republic E175 at Minneapolis on Oct 29th 2017, bird strike A Republic Airlines Embraer ERJ-175 on behalf of American Airlines, registration N416YX performing flight YX- 4678/AA-4678 from Miami,FL to Minneapolis,MN (USA), was on final approach to Minneapolis' runway 30L when a bird impacted the aircraft. The crew continued for a safe landing. The FAA reported the aircraft sustained minor damage when a bird impacted a wind screen wiper. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/RPA4678/history/20171029/2330Z/KMIA/KMSP http://avherald.com/h?article=4b05ea4f&opt=0 Back to Top Drone collides with Antares 20E glider in the Netherlands Date: 28-OCT-2017 Time: ca 14:20 UTC Type: Lange Antares 20E Owner/operator: Private Registration: D-KLEP C/n / msn: 53E45 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Minor Location: W of Hillegom, South Holland - Netherlands Phase: En route Nature: Private Departure airport: Langeveld Airstrip (NL-0033) Destination airport: Langeveld Airstrip (NL-0033) Narrative: The glider was soaring up and down the Dutch North Sea coast near Hillegom when the right-hand winglet was struck by a consumer drone. The drone was destroyed by the impact, the winglet sustained serious delamination. The glider safely returned to Langeveld Airstrip. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=200703 Back to Top Jet Airways Flight Diverted After Frequent Flyer Planted 'Bomb Letter' In Toilet * The pilot of the Boeing 737-900 plane alerted the Ahmedabad airport authorities about the threatening letter. * Jet Airways Flight Diverted After Frequent Flyer Planted 'Bomb Letter' In Toilet * Mumbai-Delhi Jet Airways flight 9W339 was diverted to Ahmedabad after an "onboard security threat" Passenger planted threatening note in toilet, setting off hijack alarm Earlier, he had carried a cockroach and pretended to find it in food Authorities suspect he has 'an old grouse' with the airline A frequent flyer traveling on the Jet Airways Mumbai-Delhi flight early on Monday has confessed to planting a threatening note in a toilet, which set off a hijack alarm, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said today. The passenger, a jeweler from Gujarat's Amreli now based in Mumbai, was believed to be obsessed with an air-hostess and wanted her attention. Sources say the last time he flew, he carried a cockroach and pretended to find it in his meal. He had also nursed a grudge against the airline for some time, but it is not yet clear why. The aviation minister identified the offender as Salla Birju. The businessman has been detained after investigators established that he was the only one to visit the toilet before the note was found by an air hostess. "A man Salla Birju has confessed that he had kept the threatening note to destabilise operations in the Jet Airways flight," said the minister, adding that he had advised Jet Airways to "put him on the no-fly list immediately apart from other criminal action". If the airline does so, he could be the first passenger to make it to the no-fly list after new rules were enforced in September to allow airlines to ban unruly passengers for periods ranging from three months to over two years. This morning, the Jet Airways flight 9W339 took off a little before 3 am from Mumbai and was soon diverted to Ahmedabad, where it landed 45 minutes later. The airline, in a statement, said the plane was diverted after the "declaration of an emergency as per established security procedures, due to the detection of an onboard security threat". What had set off the scare was a printed letter in the bathroom in Urdu and English, which suggested that there was a bomb in the cargo hold of the plane. It said that the flight "is covered by hijackers and aircraft should not be land and flown straight to POK." On reading the letter, the pilot of the Boeing 737-900 plane reportedly pressed the hijack button, alerting the Ahmedabad airport to a threat. After the plane, with 122 passengers including seven crew members, landed in Ahmedabad, everyone was screened and their bags checked. The passengers were photographed and questioned for hours on details like their last overseas visit, according to news agency PTI. The flight took off for Delhi six hours later, with Air marshals on board. https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/jet-airways-mumbai-delhi-flight-diverted-to-ahmedabad-after- possible-hijack-threat-1768783 Back to Top Most deadly opioid not among drugs to be added to random drug testing for airline pilots No plan in place to add fentanyl to drug testing list for airline pilots DETROIT - Airline pilots are randomly tested for safety reasons, but the Local 4 Defenders uncovered serious lapses in the testing program that could cause concern for flyers. Right now, pilots aren't being tested for some of the most addictive painkillers on the market, and while the federal government said it's working feverishly to fix that, pilots will not be tested for one of the biggest opioid killers, fentanyl, even though top safety officials said they should be. Planes take off from Detroit Metro Airport and other airports across the country about 75,000 times each day. Aircraft filled with passengers cross the country, and the pilots become responsible for many lives. But pilots aren't being tested for many popular opioids, and 64,000 people die every year from opioid overdoses. "The first reaction anyone has is, 'How could this possibly be bad?'" Dr. Michael Harbut, M.D. said. Doctors familiar with opioid abuse know the dangers of addiction. Those hooked on opioids have a terrible time getting clean, and addiction can happen to anyone, including airline pilots. Pilot Brian Halye, and his wife, Courtney Halye, recently died in an apparent overdose. Brian Halye, of Ohio, had been a pilot for nine years. He and his wife died from fentanyl. They were two of 20,000 fentanyl overdoses in 2016. Fentenyl claims more lives than any other type of opioid, and there is no plan in place to test for it in pilots anytime soon. That worries passengers, who had no idea pilots were not being tested. "With the epidemic that it is in society today, why wouldn't we?" asked Ryan Rezmierski, of Ann Arbor. Pilots are currently tested for alcohol and drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, meth and PCP. But some of the most popular prescription drugs aren't on the list. Government bureaucracy and battles with the unions increase the amount of time it takes to add new drugs to the testing list. It's been many years since the testing policy has been adjusted. Federal officials said they will soon add four opioid prescription medications -- hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxycodone and oxymorphone -- that would catch most of the popular painkillers. "If you're going to go looking for them, once you find them, you really need to know to be responsible to society and to the flying public on what to do next," Harbut said. While it's obvious flyers don't want pilots high on pills, doctors and union officials warned that testing for prescriptions is an imperfect science. Medications taken under a doctor's care are perfectly safe and should be allowed, so finding abuse isn't as easy as finding a drug in a blood or urine test. "The question is, does the value of the blood test or urine test alone have adequate significance to ground a pilot or clear a pilot?" Harbut said. Federal officials said, in the next few months, they will work out the details and insist on the testing, but even though the top boss at the National Transportation Safety Board is in favor of adding fentanyl to the list, it will not be. She said fentanyl wasn't the epidemic it is today when the board agreed on the new drugs to be tested. Passengers aren't feeling good about the politics of drug testing. "They have many lives they are responsible for," said Sally Schoenebeck, of Green Bay, Wisconsin. The testing policy isn't just for pilots flying planes. It's also for those who operate trains, big trucks and ships. While the NTSB admitted it can't keep up with changing abuse trends, it wants to remind the public that 99 percent of those tested pass the drug test. The plan to get the four proposed opioids on the testing list is way behind schedule. Insiders said bringing fentanyl into the argument would only lead to further delays. The government is likely to push forward on the current proposal and leave the fight to test for fentanyl to be fought somewhere down the road. https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/defenders/most-deadly-opioid-not-among-drugs-to-be- added-to-random-drug-testing-for-airline-pilots Back to Top Dems demand answers from Trump's safety board nominee Senate Democrats are demanding that President Trump's nominee to serve on a federal safety board clarify his position regarding flight safety rules. A group of lawmakers, lead by Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), have asked Bruce Landsberg to explain a string of critical statements that he made regarding the 1,500-hour training requirement for commercial airline pilots. Landsberg, who Trump nominated to be a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) member, is scheduled to testify in front of the Senate Commerce Committee on Tuesday. At issue is a law that requires co-pilots to have 1,500 hours of flight training experience under their belt before they can get a license to fly commercial passenger airliners. Congress implemented the rule after a deadly 2009 Colgan Air crash in New York, in which pilot error was to blame. But regional airlines have long been pushing back against the tougher training standards, which they say are fueling a pilot shortage. There has also been an effort in the Senate to ease the training requirements in a long-term aviation bill. Landsberg, who worked for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, wrote an article in 2012 suggesting that there are "better ways" to address the Colgan crash. He also called the flight training requirements a "non-issue." Senate Democrats are now asking him to clarify his position on the law. Lawmakers also want to know whether Landsberg is committed to upholding the training standards, if he is confirmed. "These comments are particularly concerning to us because they seem to suggest that you do not support the current law," the lawmakers wrote in a letter to Landsberg. "The United States traveling public deserve the highest integrity and objectivity when NTSB determines an accident's probable cause and then issues safety judgments and recommendations." "We plan to continue to hold NTSB accountable for delivering on this responsibility," they added. Supporters of the flight-training rule have been increasingly worried that the requirements could get scaled back under the Trump administration. The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee approved a report in September recommending that the Trump administration roll back or ease dozens of safety rules, including the 1,500-hour rule. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Transportation Committee, also included language in an FAA bill this year to allow pilots to receive training credit through alternative means, such as academic training as opposed to flight hours, as long as the FAA deemed it to be safe. The bill was approved by committee, but has not yet been scheduled for a floor vote. Lawmakers including Schumer have vowed to block the bill if it contains Thune's pilot training provision. Thune promised to work on compromise language with Democrats. So far, however, no deal has been made. http://thehill.com/policy/transportation/357841-dems-demand-answers-from-trumps-safety-board- nominee Back to Top Door falls off plane mid-air, lands on house in Hyderabad * The Director General of Civil Aviation has launched a probe into the accident. * The plane, flying at 2,500 feet, was owned by Telangana State Aviation Academy and had two pilots in the cockpit. HYDERABAD: A low-flying aircraft over the densely populated Lalapet in Secunderabad wobbled in the air before one of its metal doors fell off and crashed onto the empty terrace of a twostorey building. The plane, flying at 2,500 feet, was owned by Telangana State Aviation Academy (TSAA) and had two pilots in the cockpit. Nobody was hurt in the incident. A painter present on the roof had a miraculous escape as he had walked downstairs for lunch just minutes before the crash. The Director General of Civil Aviation has launched a probe into the accident. Ganesh Yadav, a local Congress member, was inside the two-storied house when he heard a thud. "It was like an explosion and we ran in panic. After we went out of the building, neighbours told us that something had fallen off the aircraft," he told TOI. Ganesh, along with other residents, rushed to the terrace of the building and saw the three-foot white door lying near the overhead water tank amid smashed glass pieces. Neighbours told Ganesh that before the door crashlanded, the tiny aircraft flew perilously close to the buildings in the area. Locals immediately alerted police and the door was seized by Lalaguda police. "We have made a general diary entry, but no case has been registered. Later, we identified that the aircraft belonged to Telangana State Aviation Academy," Lalaguda inspector R Karan Kumar Singh said. Talking to TOI, an air safety department official said they had launched an investigation. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/door-falls-off-plane-mid-air-lands-on-house-in- hyderabad/articleshow/61350189.cms Back to Top Five important safety actions for helicopter pilots After analysing dozens of helicopter accidents that resulted in fatalities for pilots and passengers, the US Helicopter Safety Team (USHST) has circulated what it says are the five vital action items for pilots that will improve safe operations. Focusing pilots on these solutions will allow them to make better choices before and during their flights, said USHST; the facts show that failure in these areas has resulted in lives being lost. The five actions recommended by the USHST are: 1. Take time for your walk around The pilot in command is responsible for determining the airworthiness of the aircraft he or she is operating. An adequate preflight inspection and final walk around is key to determining the condition of an aircraft prior to flight. In addition, post-flight inspection can help to identify issues prior to the next flight. The USHST believes that pilots would benefit from better guidance on how and why to conduct these inspections, as well as increased attention to their importance. 2. Communicate risk issues in the cockpit The flight environment is often dynamic and not every contingency can be anticipated or scripted in advance. The pilot-in-command is ultimately responsible for the safety of a flight - however, non- flying crew and passengers can and should work with the pilot to ensure safety. When unexpected changes are encountered, it is paramount that the pilot and crewmembers/passengers try to detect the elevation of risk, communicate it to each other, and collectively work through a reasonable resolution or mitigation. The USHST believes that effective practices are needed for each stage in the process - detection, communication and decision. 3. Get solid training for make and model transitions Transition training in the helicopter community is not uniformly applied, and this is leading to accidents because of unfamiliarity with airframe and/or equipment. The USHST believes that documentation related to helicopter transition training can be developed into a new, unified guide that would offer recommended practices and a 'toolkit' to support standardised use. 4. Understand the hazards of over-the-counter medications Because over-the-counter medications are readily available, pilots frequently underestimate the deleterious effects and the impairment caused by these sedating drugs. In spite of specific federal regulations and education efforts regarding flying while impaired, over-the-counter medication usage by pilots remains a factor in 10 to 13 per cent of aircraft accidents. The USHST believes that the helicopter community needs an increased awareness of the potentially disastrous results of operating an aircraft while taking these medications. 5. Make a safe attitude your overriding priority Safety in the aviation world can be defined in many ways. From the reactive point of view, safety essentially means a lack of accidents, an absence of injuries, and a general environment where things don't go wrong. From the proactive point of view, this environment doesn't exist for any consistent amount of time unless certain safety-related active principles are put in place and specific safety attitudes are fostered and strengthened. Whether we are strengthening a person's safety attitude, bolstering a team's safety convictions, or nurturing an entire safety culture, focusing every member of an aviation team at every level on clear and tangible convictions needs to be a central goal. The USHST said it believes that a more widespread culture of safety can be developed if the principles are straightforward and relatable to individuals. The Team added: "Your flight decisions need to be determined by safe actions. You need to take a proactive approach to solving safety issues. You must never carry out any unsafe actions or unprofessional behaviours. You should be continually looking for new safety knowledge and information. You need to find ways to invest in and use technology that improves safety." https://www.airmedandrescue.com/story/2540 Back to Top EASA revisits angle-of-attack upgrade on A330 computers Airbus A330 operators are to be instructed to update software on flight-control computers in order to reduce the risk of undetected blockage of angle-of-attack sensors. The proposed order from the European Aviation Safety Agency covers the A330-200 and -300 variants and follows the discovery that sensor blockage could, under certain circumstances, lead to unexpected activation of angle-of-attack protection. Although Airbus developed new software standards for enhanced angle-of-attack monitoring, EASA says - in some cases - blockages "were not detected" by this revised system. Airbus has since upgraded the software to improve further the detection capability, and has issued service bulletins to implement the modifications on the in-service A330 fleet. EASA is intending to order modification, within a year, of the three primary flight-control computers on the type. By the end of September Airbus had delivered 653 A330-200s - including 38 freighters - and 715 A330-300s. https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/easa-revisits-angle-of-attack-upgrade-on-a330- comput-442647/ Back to Top Finnair starts weighing passengers at Helsinki Airport Finnair on Monday confirmed it will begin weighing passengers on a voluntary basis at Helsinki Airport between late October and early November. The objective, it said, is to collect more accurate data on the average weight of passengers and their carry-on luggage. Finnair will begin collecting more data on the weight of its passengers and their carry-on luggage by launching voluntary weight checks at the departure gates of Helsinki Airport, reports Helsingin Sanomat. The majority state-owned airline points out that up-to-date passenger weight data is crucial for determining the need for jet fuel, for example. The scales will be placed close to the departure gates with the initial objective of weighing 100-150 passengers together with their carry-on luggage, according to Helsingin Sanomat. The reading on the scale will be seen only by the customer service agent conducting the weighing and entered into the database in an anonymous form. Sami Suokas, the manager of customer processes at Finnair, reveals to the newspaper that the state-owned airline, similarly to other airlines, uses the standard passenger and luggage weights devised by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in 2009. "We want to make sure we have the best possible data at our disposal also in this respect. That's why we're collecting data from our own network," Suokas explains to Helsingin Sanomat. The EASA's survey on the standard weights of passengers and baggage found that the average male passenger weighed 84.6 kilos and flew with a carry-on luggage of 6.7 kilos. The average female passenger, in turn, weighed 66.6 kilos and flew with a carry-on luggage of 5.9 kilos, while the average under-12-year-old passenger weighed 30.7 kilos and flew with a carry-on luggage of 2.0 kilos. Almost 23,000 passengers and 22,500 pieces of luggage were weighed for the survey. The values are lower than the mean weights in Finland, highlights Helsingin Sanomat. Finnish men weighed an average of 85.5 kilos and women an average of 70.4 kilos in 2012, according to the national health study Finrisk. Finns, however, are naturally not the only people flying with Finnair. http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/15110-finnair-starts-weighing- passengers-at-helsinki-airport.html Back to Top NBAA Advises Operators To Remain Alert for PBI TFRs NBAA is reminding operators to be on the lookout for temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) in the Southeast during the winter months when President Trump is anticipated to increase visits to his Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Florida. At least a half-dozen presidential TFRs were implemented in the Palm Beach area over the winter and early spring this past year, shuttering Palm Beach Park Airport (LNA) in Lantana and making operations at Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) much more difficult during a peak season. When in effect, the presidential TFRs around the Palm Beach area comprise a 10-nm inner circle and a 30-nm outer circle up to 17,999 feet agl. The TFR incorporates a "buffer zone" permitting modified departures from PBI's Runway 10L that require an immediate turn away from Mar-A-Lago. Most business and general aviation operations are prohibited within the inner ring, with exceptions including approved law enforcement, air ambulance and firefighting. Aircraft must be screened before departing PBI, and aircraft cleared through a designated gateway airport are permitted to fly into PBI. The designated airports-New York's Westchester County Airport (HPN), Teterboro Airport (TEB) in New Jersey and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD); and Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) in Florida-will be available for screening on Saturdays and Sundays when the presidential TFR is in effect. NBAA said more gateways might be made available. Following last winter, industry groups evaluated the experiences with the Mar-A-Lago TFRs to find areas where improvements might be made and have maintained discussions with government security chiefs on areas such as designated gateways and availability of increased screening hours. NBAA further plans to discuss the presidential TFRs with FAA and TSA representatives at the upcoming NBAA Regional Forum at PBI on January 24, the association said. "NBAA continues to work with the FAA, TSA and U.S. Secret Service, as well as other local, state and federal agencies, to implement a more workable, permanent solution for business aviation access into these TFRs," said NBAA senior manager of security and facilitation Sarah Wolf. "In the meantime, all pilots operating into or out of the Southeast Florida must check Notams before each flight." https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2017-10-30/nbaa-advises-operators- remain-alert-pbi-tfrs Back to Top FAA Bulletin Clarifies Runway Status Light Procedures The FAA has issued Safety Alert for Pilots (SAFO) 17011 to ensure pilots and airport personnel are aware of the correct procedures concerning runway status lights (RWSLs), a fully automated system intended to prevent runway collisions. It cited several instances in which pilots have ignored the illuminated red in-pavement lights when issued a clearance to cross or take off from that runway. Installed at nearly 20 of the nation's busiest airports, RWSLs integrate airport lighting equipment with approach and surface surveillance radar systems to provide aircraft crews and vehicle drivers a visual signal indicating when it is unsafe to enter or cross a runway and begin or continue a takeoff. Illuminated RWSLs mean aircraft or vehicles must stop or remain stopped and their operators should contact ATC for further direction. The RWSL system operates independently of ATC and "controllers do not have any indication of when the...lights are illuminated." According to the pilot reference guide for RWSLs, whenever a pilot observes the red lights of the runway entrance lights, that pilot should stop at the hold line or along the taxiway path and remain stopped. The pilot should then contact ATC for resolution if the clearance is in conflict with the lights. Under no circumstances should pilots proceed without both an ATC clearance and visual confirmation that runway status lights are not illuminated. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2017-10-30/faa-bulletin-clarifies- runway-status-light-procedures Back to Top FAA Seeks $3.7M Fine Against ADS-B Manufacturer The FAA is proposing a $3.685 million civil penalty against NavWorx of Rowlett, Texas, for allegedly producing and selling automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) units containing a GPS chip that did not meet FAA requirements, and misrepresenting the products to customers. On its website, NavWorx said it has ceased operations. In March 2015, the FAA notified the aviation industry it had tightened System Integrity Level standards for GPS chips used in ADS-B navigation units that meet the Jan. 1, 2020, mandatory deadline for operators to equip aircraft with the transmitters. Rather than replace the chips, however, the FAA alleges that NavWorx altered the unit's internal software to transmit a code that indicated they met the standard. The FAA also alleges the company then refused to comply with the FAA's direction to modify the software to transmit an accurate code-and that it inaccurately advertised that the equipment met the FAA's tighter standards. In November 2016, the FAA issued an emergency order suspending NavWorx' authority to manufacture the components after the company repeatedly refused to allow the FAA to inspect its records and manufacturing operations. Once the company allowed the FAA to do the inspections, the agency reinstated the manufacturing authorization. The FAA is working with customers to ensure the safety of the affected products, it said. In June, it issued a final Airworthiness Directive requiring owners to remove or disable the units or modify them by linking them with a GPS unit containing the proper chip. "NavWorx has been in communication with the FAA about the case," the agency said. On its website, NavWorx said that its ADS600-b Gen 2.0 product uses a GPS module from a third- party vendor. The vendor represented its module as meeting the FAA requirements, although the FAA has determined that it does not, the company said. "We are unable to sell the ADS600-B or provide AD updates, for either certified or experimental aircraft," the company's website said. "Therefore, we are not currently conducting any business and have ceased operations. We will provide updates if they become available." www.aviationweek.com Back to Top Allegiant Confirms MD-80 Retirements Allegiant Travel Co., parent of ultra-LCC Allegiant Air, posted third-quarter 2017 net income of $22.3 million, a 51% drop from $45.5 million in net profit during the year-ago quarter, as a result of September's Hurricane Irma and the Oct. 1 Las Vegas mass shooting. The airline canceled 444 flights when Hurricane Irma struck the Caribbean, Florida and southeast U.S. in September, or approximately 2% of Allegiant's scheduled capacity for the quarter. Cancellations accounted for nearly 2% of the company's 3Q expenses. Nonetheless, the airline's unit revenues for the quarter was up 0.7% to 10.61 cents. Operating revenue was $348.8 million for the quarter, up 4.6% year-over year (YOY). Expenses rose significantly, up 19.2% to $305.9 million, on rising labor, fuel, depreciation or amortization, and sales or marketing costs. The LCC's operating income for the quarter came to $42.9 million, down 44.1% YOY. In the company's third-quarter results statement, CEO Maurice Gallagher confirmed the airline's intent to remove its MD-80s from service. "We now plan to retire our last MD by the end of 2018 ... one year earlier than was previously expected," Gallagher said. "[Thanks] goes out to the members of our fleet team, who ... were able to source enough [Airbus] A320 aircraft to make this happen." Allegiant retired five MD-80s and added five A320s and one A319 into revenue service during the quarter. As of Sept. 30, Allegiant's fleet comprised 40 MD-80s, two Boeing 757s, 21 A319s and 26 A320s, for a total fleet of 89 aircraft. By year-end 2018, Allegiant will operate an all-Airbus fleet of 50 A320s and 32 A319s. The company is expecting residual fourth-quarter effects from Irma and the mass shooting incident in Las Vegas, and projects its 4Q 2017 unit revenues to decline to between negative 3% to negative 0.5%. The LCC said it is seeing, so far, a decrease in demand for the fourth quarter and noted that approximately 80% of its 4Q capacity traditionally touches Las Vegas or Florida. The airline revised its full-year 2017 capital expenditure guidance to $604 million, versus its prior guidance of $525 million, based on the company's expected commitment for five additional A320s in the fourth quarter. Additionally, the company revised its full-year 2017 unit costs ex-fuel guidance to show an increase between 11% and 12%, as well as its maintenance and repair expenses for the full year, which Allegiant now expects to be $105,000-110,000 per in-service aircraft per month. Allegiant's total system traffic rose 1% YOY during the quarter to 2.7 billion revenue passenger miles on 3.2$ capacity growth to 3.2 billion available seat-miles, producing an 83% passenger load factor for the quarter, down 1.7 points YOY. www.aviationweek.com Back to Top Coptersafety introduces H145 level D simulator On Oct. 30, 2017, Coptersafety, a fast-growing flight training service provider, is taking one of the world's first H145 level D full flight helicopter simulators into commercial use. The Finnish Civil Aviation Authority has granted the simulator the EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) level D certification. Level D is the highest level of full flight simulator qualifications available. Airbus Helicopters H145 pilots can now improve their safety performance in a level D full flight simulator. Coptersafety's H145 simulator in Helsinki, Finland, has received EASA certification - within the originally planned schedule. Coptersafety PhotoAirbus Helicopters H145 pilots can now improve their safety performance in a level D full flight simulator. Coptersafety's H145 simulator in Helsinki, Finland, has received EASA certification - within the originally planned schedule. Coptersafety Photo "This is the first major milestone on Coptersafety's journey of becoming the world's leading training service provider. This is where our true training capabilities really can start. I am pleased to inaugurate the world's most advanced H145 simulator, predictably on schedule, and to invite all H145 helicopter operators to improve the safety performance of their operations," said Mikko Dahlman, chief executive officer of Coptersafety. "More precisely, I am proud to offer my fellow H145 pilots the best available training and bringing the entire industry's safety development to a whole new level," Dahlman, also a H145 pilot, continued. Precision and punctuality are at the core of safety The H145 simulator is delivered by TRU Simulation + Training, a subsidiary of Textron Inc. The Airbus Helicopters' H145 is currently one of the best-selling light-twin rotorcraft models. It is being widely operated in emergency medical services (HEMS), but also in passenger and corporate transport, and search-and-rescue (SAR) roles. However, there has been a lack of H145 level D simulators in the industry, so far. TRU was selected to deliver the simulator, as they convinced Coptersafety to be capable of delivering it on time. The installation started In July 2017, and lasted for roughly three months, as originally planned. "Staying on schedule and delivering as promised is a matter of honor to us. Precision is at the core of our service, especially since our mission is to improve aviation safety. Finns are known for their punctuality and incorruptibility, so being rooted in Finland has many advantages," said Dahlman. Babcock Scandinavian AirAmbulance among their first clients One of Coptersafety's first H145 simulator clients is Babcock Scandinavian AirAmbulance. "Babcock SAA is committed to improving the safety of its HEMS operations, without forgetting training efficiency. The certification of Coptersafety's H145 full flight simulator brings a new, unique [and] high-quality option to the flight training community. We are excited for this opportunity and will benefit from the one-to-one supplemental equipment onboard, along with operational areas that include detailed hospital helipads," said Eetu Peuraniemi, deputy crew training manager at Babcock Scandinavian AirAmbulance. The H145 simulator is now available for training purposes in Coptersafety's modern training center, adjacent to the Helsinki International Airport in Finland. https://www.verticalmag.com/press-releases/coptersafety-introduces-h145-level-d-simulator/ Back to Top Demand for Pilots Sparks Instructor Shortage at Colleges' Flight Programs A student and an instructor approach a runway at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical U.'s campus in Daytona Beach, Fla. A shortage of commercial pilots at regional airlines has triggered a shortage of instructors at flight programs like the one at Embry-Riddle. Increasing demand for commercial pilots has increased enrollment in many flight programs and schools across the United States, including those at colleges. And while the programs are adding class sections and planes to their fleets to accommodate the influx of students, they're also losing a key to their business: flight instructors. The combination of a growing airline industry, a coming wave of retirements of major-airline pilots, and a demand for regional flights has left airlines scrambling to fill their cockpits - and quick to poach flight instructors because of their experience. The shortage is being felt nationwide, said Elizabeth Bjerke, associate dean in the aviation department at the University of North Dakota. Patrick Smith, a career pilot and founder of the Ask the Pilot blog, said there's never been a better time to pursue a career in aviation. The only problem is that newly trained pilots typically start their careers at regional carriers. Those airlines have historically offered low wages, demanded long hours, and, as a result, suffered a high turnover rate. Meet some devoted faculty members who might spark your interest in taking risks and trying new things in class. In an attempt to meet the demand and retain pilots, regional airlines have raised their pay, lathered on bonuses, and extended alliances to flight schools. Plenty of schools have partnerships with major airlines and their regional counterparts, but an unintended consequence of enticing new pilots with job placements, bonuses, and a decent work schedule is the shortage of flight instructors. The situation is similar a problem plaguing nursing schools for more than a decade: With nurses able to earn more working as nurses than teaching nurses, the schools have suffered a shortage of instructors. Students commonly work as flight instructors before being hired as pilots. The job, often their first in the industry, helps them achieve enough flying hours to be hired by regional airlines. It provides students with the invaluable experience of teaching others to fly. The instructor shortage is something the department chair for aeronautical science at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's Florida campus, Mike Wiggins, believes needs more attention. "If somebody's goal is to become an airline pilot, no amount of money you pay them to be a regular flight instructor will keep them here any longer because their goal is to go become an airline pilot," Mr. Wiggins said. "I don't know that there's an easy, quick solution. Every time we try to take a look at something, there's another issue that pops up." Flying Incentives Only a small number of people with flight-instructor certificates work as instructors, he said. Students typically use the flight-instructor job as a steppingstone, but even with increases in enrollment, they aren't choosing to stay as instructors. Mr. Wiggins has noted an increase in enrollment at Embry-Riddle, which registered 1,338 students this fall in the aeronautical-science program in Daytona Beach, Fla. The freshman class alone saw an influx of more than 100 students. The school has added four Cessna airplanes to its 70-craft fleet, with about 180 flight instructors. Manoj Patankar, head of the Aviation and Transportation Technology School at Purdue Polytechnic, in Indiana, has also seen a rise in enrollment and new carriers approaching the school for partnerships and pipeline agreements. But where students would typically spend a year and a half or two years as instructors, many of them are shortening that time to as little as a year, he said. It's not that Mr. Patankar doesn't want students to become pilots; he just wants them to stay a little longer at school so that they can train new students. The school has developed incentives and retention programs to help those students stay longer, he said. Over all, a pilot shortage is a good problem to have, North Dakota's Ms. Bjerke said, because it means graduates are being hired. But it also means flight programs are forever trying to catch up by producing new flight instructors as quickly as they're taking jobs. A pay raise could help retain instructors, but those costs would be passed on to students. The more costly the program, the less likely students will be able to foot the bill. Ms. Bjerke said she had been collaborating with other universities and the aviation industry to devise a model to forecast pilot supply. The model predicts that young people will want to enter the aviation industry when they notice a flood of job opportunities. As flight-school costs climb, the model predicts students will be discouraged from attending. While major airline carriers usually require pilots to hold a four-year degree, many regional airlines don't. But the upside to attending a university's flight program is access to federal student loans, something not typically available at stand-alone flight schools because they are not accredited to receive such financial aid. To help open the doors for would-be pilots, Bob Rockmaker, president of the Flight School Association of North America, said his group is working to form an accrediting body that would allow federal loans to flow to students at some 50 to 100 freestanding schools. Flight schools not connected to higher-education institutions could then offer their students funding options. The process will take another year or so, he said. http://www.chronicle.com/article/Demand-for-Pilots-Sparks/241615 Back to Top In a Stunning Move, This Famous Airline Is Dumping First Class Entirely to Squeeze in More Economy Seats Who would have ever thought this? Can you imagine 615 people in that thing? CREDIT: Getty Images Absurdly Driven looks at the world of business with a skeptical eye and a firmly rooted tongue in cheek. I've just endured a peaceful, but arduous 20-hour journey. So when I heard about this, I thought my jet lag was a little more severe than usual. But, no. It seems that an airline executive has suddenly thought to themselves: "Hmm, I wonder if we can make more even more money by taking away those fancy First Class seats?" And so it is that Emirates is experimenting with removing all of First Class, in favor of as many Economy Class seats as it can squeeze into some of its Airbus A380 planes. As Routes Online reports, on some flights between London and Dubai, Emirates is going to shove 615 seats onto the planes. I've been to theaters that big. In its planes that enjoy First Class -- you've surely enjoyed those warm in-flight showers at least once -- there are only 489 seats. Please imagine, then, the effect of the big squeeze. And the downcast faces of First Class fliers who suddenly have to slum it in Business Class. It seems these specific flights cater to Brits desperate to leave the miserable winter weather for the sunnier climes of Dubai. Some, though, might worry whether this will adversely effect Emirates' image as, well, the one Jennifer Aniston prefers to fly. After all, when you've presented yourself as fancy, it can be hard to see you wearing the soiled sweatpants in which you waft about the house. I contacted the airline to ask what its motivation for this stunning descent might have been. I will update, should it send down word. To see Emirates joining in with the process so deftly known in the airline industry as densification, is to see yet one more example of a drift toward the basement. United is the latest to manhandle ten seats across the Economy Class of its 777-200 planes. Some say fares are inexorably going down. Some don't think this will be so. The mere thought, however, that some passengers won't be able to indulge in frightful excesses up front -- while others suffer in the rear -- might engender the odd smile or two among the Economy dwellers. Everyone's looking for a little more equality, aren't they? https://www.inc.com/chris-matyszczyk/in-a-stunning-move-this-famous-airline-is-dumping-first- class-entirely-to-shove-in-more-economy-seats.html Back to Top United Is Phasing Out the Boeing 747 - Here's How You Can Buy a Piece of History Courtesy of United Airlines Pieces of the soon-to-be-retired Boeing 747 could be yours. The days of the Boeing 747 are numbered - but some travelers can take home a piece of this historic airplane. Known lovingly as the "Queen of the Skies," and widely acknowledged as the world's first "jumbo jet," the aging model is being phased out by many airlines. United Airlines is the most recent carrier to transition to other models, with their 747 fleet making a last international journey on October 29, and a final 1970s-themed domestic flight on November 7. To celebrate the retirement of this world-changing airplane - which set the standard for size and passenger volume for decades - the airline is hosting an online auction exclusively for members of its MileagePlus rewards program. To send the 747 off in style, frequent fliers can use their miles to buy fixtures, furniture, electronics and more from the United fleet. The airline has nine remaining 747 aircraft. The auction kicked off with a number of fixed-price items; livery panels (priced at 80,000 miles) and iconic airplane windows (50,000 miles) - both from a plane that flew almost 100,000 hours over 26 years - have already sold out. 747 fans in need of new living-room furniture can still purchase a double- or triple-passenger row seat (275,000 and 250,000 miles, respectively) - though no guarantees about how comfortable they will be. As part of the countdown to the last 747 flight on November 7, "bid-now" items will be rolled out over the next few weeks. Those include various measurement devices, like an airspeed indicator, cut-outs from the plane's aluminum body, and more. According to the website, profits from the auction will be donated to Air Camp, a STEM program that works with elementary and middle school children to teach leadership and academics through aviation education. To buy or bid, go to the online auction or sign up for the MileagePlus program to be eligible. http://www.travelandleisure.com/airlines-airports/united-airlines/united-airlines-airplane-parts- auction Back to Top New HFACS workshop Las Vegas, NV December 12th & 13th, 2017 HFACS, Inc. offers professional development training on our innovative HFACS/HFIX methodologies. Our intensive, two-day workshops teach updated cutting-edge techniques to help your organization identify the causes of errors and develop preventative measures to lower your risk and improve performance. You have been included in our new email database as we begin using this important tool for communication on upcoming workshops as well as being the first to hear about any special offers. Please forward this to any interested co-workers so they may also stay How to register: To register visit hfacs.com or call 800-320-0833 or email dnlmccnn@gmail.com or info@hfacs.com Attendees of the workshop will learn how to: * Integrate human factors and system safety concepts into the root cause analysis (RCA) process * Utilize the Human Factors Analysis & Classification System (HFACS®) to identify systemic causes of human error during accidents, incidents, and/or near misses. * Integrate HFACS into traditional RCA tools like the fishbone diagram, fault trees, and link analysis using HFACS * Implement the Human Factors Intervention matriX (HFIX®) to develop innovative corrective action programs Develop a human error database and tracking system for monitoring and evaluating performance improvement efforts All attendees of the workshop will receive: * HFACS-RCA Handbook (including HFACS Interview Guide & HFACS/HFIX Checklists) * Complimentary Associate HFACS Professional (AHP) Certification * Opportunity to join the largest Listserv catering to human factors accident investigation and error management Already attended a 2-day workshop? Don't miss out on our special offers! * Our workshops have been updated to feature the newest information * If you have already attended our 2-day HFACS course, don't miss out on the opportunity to attend another workshop as a "refresher" for a discounted rate of $200 * Or bring a full-paying customer with you and receive free refresher course registration * For any additional questions and information, contact info@hfacs.com or call 800-320-0833 PHD GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY REQUEST International airline pilot and 38-year veteran of flying, Karlene Petitt, has instructed pilots on Boeing aircraft for over 21 years, and holds type ratings on A330, B747-400, B747-200, B767, B757, B737, and B727. She is working on her PHD in Aviation with a focus on safety at Embry- Riddle Aeronautical University. Petitt is researching the impact of training, aircraft understanding, safety culture, aviation passion, and manual flight tendencies, to better understand the impact on performance. If the pilot is always blamed for errors, the underlying factors may never be identified. The survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes and is anonymous. If you fly for a commercial operation, with a two (or more) person crew (corporate, charter, or airline) please visit http://petittaviationresearch.com to learn more and access the link to the survey that can be found at the bottom of the page. Thank you!!! Karlene Petitt MBA. MHS. Doctoral Candidate Aviation ERAU Typed: A330, B747-400, B747-200, B767, B757, B737, B727 http://karlenepetitt.blogspot.com Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY REQUEST I am a student of Air Transport Management at City University of London. I am in the final stage of writing my dissertation on Human Machine Interaction. However, I am looking for some data in order to have a better understanding of the real issues among pilots. I would like to kindly ask, if you could complete my survey attached: https://it.surveymonkey.com/r/JBZG6FJ Thank you. Kind Regards, Yari Franciosa Curt Lewis