Flight Safety Information December 20, 2017 - No. 252 In This Issue Incident: France B772 near Asuncion on Dec 19th 2017, electrical problem or suspected fuel leak Incident: United B752 near San Francisco on Dec 18th 2017, lavatory smoke indication EVAS - Cockpit Smoke Protection Incident: Taban MD83 at Tehran on Dec 17th 2017, engine shut down in flight Accident: Sun Country B737 near Minneapolis on Dec 18th 2017, crew received arm fracture in flight Thailand seeks air safety rating upgrade by U.S. aviation body 22 YEARS AGO TODAY: AA Flight 965, 20 DEC 1995, Cali, Colombia CFIT Accident The Brazilian airline MAP Linhas Aéreas passed the...IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) EASA issues recommendations to operators on carriage of large Personal Electronic Devices Laser pen offenders now face five years and unlimited fines (UK) Aircraft Report Laser Strikes Near Oakland International Airport Aviation Safety Authorities Warn Travellers About Li-Ion Batteries High crash rate: Armed forces have lost 35 aircraft, 14 pilots since 2014-2015 (India) No pilot required: Boeing unveils autonomous plane for refueling fighter jets in midair NASA will take images of its quiet supersonic jet's shockwaves ISRAELI AIR FORCE ENCOURAGES MORE WOMEN TO JOIN PILOTS COURSE EASA Proposes Parts Approval Revisions AIC RELEASES PRELIMINARY REPORT INTO AN AIRCRAFT LANDING ON A CLOSED RUNWAY AT GOROKA Preparing Together: Aviation Disaster Planning, Response, and Recovery Conference. Najeeb E. Halaby Graduate Student Fellowship ESASI Annual Seminar - Jurmala / Riga 2018 Bow Tie Method of Safety Risk Management - Course Incident: France B772 near Asuncion on Dec 19th 2017, electrical problem or suspected fuel leak An Air France Boeing 777-200, registration F-GSPI performing flight AF-229 from Buenos Aires Ezeiza,BA (Argentina) to Paris Charles de Gaulle (France) with 274 people on board, was enroute at FL330 about 270nm eastnortheast of Asuncion (Paraguay) in Brasilian Airspace when the crew decided to divert to Asuncion. The aircraft descended to FL150, dumped fuel on the way to Asuncion and landed safely on Asuncion's runway 02 about 50 minutes after leaving FL330. Airport Emergency services reported the aircraft diverted due to a fuel leak. Passengers on board of the aircraft reported the crew announced they were suffering from an electrical fault. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b28a760&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: United B752 near San Francisco on Dec 18th 2017, lavatory smoke indication A United Boeing 757-200, registration N13113 performing flight UA-779 from San Francisco,CA to Newark,NJ (USA) with 176 people on board, was climbing through FL270 out of San Francisco when the crew declared emergency reporting they had smoke in a lavatory in the back later clarifying it was a smoke indication and they couldn't verify whether there was smoke or not. The aircraft returned to San Francisco for a safe landing on runway 28R about 40 minutes after departure. A replacement Boeing 757-200 registration N12116 reached Newark with a delay of 5 hours. The occurrence aircraft returned to service about 16 hours after landing back. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/UAL779/history/20171218/2212Z/KSFO/KEWR http://avherald.com/h?article=4b289ec9&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top Incident: Taban MD83 at Tehran on Dec 17th 2017, engine shut down in flight A Taban Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-83, registration EP-TAQ performing flight I3-5680 from Tehran Mehrabad to Urmia (Iran), was in the initial climb out of Tehran when the crew stopped the climb at about 6000 feet reporting a problem with the #1 engine (JT8D, left hand). The aircraft returned to Tehran's Mehrabad Airport for a safe landing. A replacement MD-83 registration EP-TAS reached Urmia with a delay of 5.5 hours. The airline reported a malfunction of the #1 engine prompted the crew to shut the engine down. A replacement aircraft took the passengers to Urmia. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground about 49 hours after landing back. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b28969d&opt=0 Back to Top Accident: Sun Country B737 near Minneapolis on Dec 18th 2017, crew received arm fracture in flight A Sun Country Boeing 737-700, registration N714SY performing flight SY-658 from Denver,CO to Minneapolis,MN (USA), was enroute when a flight attendant received an arm fracture. The aircraft continued to Minneapolis for a safe landing. The FAA reported: "ONE FLIGHT CREW BROKE ARM" while enroute at 20:05Z but in the following table detailing flight crew, cabin crew, passengers and people on ground listed the serious injury for a cabin crew without providing further details. The occurrence was rated an accident. At 20:05Z the aircraft was enroute at FL290 about 400nm westsouthwest of Minneapolis according to FAA ASDI data. The aircraft had descended from FL310 to FL290 at 19:58Z. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/SCX658/history/20171218/1925Z/KDEN/KMSP http://avherald.com/h?article=4b286dc9&opt=0 Back to Top Thailand seeks air safety rating upgrade by U.S. aviation body BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand aims to get its air safety rating upgraded by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by March, the country's transport minister said on Wednesday, after the FAA downgraded the rating in December 2015. Don Muang International Airport is seen through the window of an aircraft in Bangkok, Thailand, November 15, 2016. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha Thailand's Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) was downgraded to Category 2 from 1 because it fell short of the FAA's standards. "We aim to be restored back to Category 1 by March," Transport Minister Arkom Termpittayapaisith told reporters. Arkom's comment came three months after the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) removed a red flag against Thailand over safety concerns in October. He said Thailand will speed up its inspection of pilot qualifications and aim to have more aviation personnel and qualified pilots to be considered for the safety ratings upgrade. Bangkok is a regional airline hub and Thailand targeted a record 33 million to 34 million tourist arrivals this year. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-aviation/thailand-seeks-air-safety-rating-upgrade-by- u-s-aviation-body-idUSKBN1EE0HE Back to Top 22 YEARS AGO TODAY: AA Flight 965, 20 DEC 1995, Cali, Colombia 22 Years ago today: On 20 December 1995 an American Airlines Boeing 757 crashed into a mountain while approaching Cali, Colombia; killing 160 out of 164 occupants Status: Final Date: Wednesday 20 December 1995 Time: 21:38 Type: Boeing 757-223 Operator: American Airlines Registration: N651AA C/n / msn: 24609/390 First flight: 1991-08-12 (4 years 4 months) Total airframe hrs: 13782 Cycles: 4922 Engines: 2 Rolls-Royce RB211-535E4B Crew: Fatalities: 8 / Occupants: 8 Passengers: Fatalities: 151 / Occupants: 155 Total: Fatalities: 159 / Occupants: 163 Airplane damage: Destroyed Airplane fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Buga ( Colombia) Crash site elevation: 2712 m (8898 feet) amsl Phase: Approach (APR) Nature: International Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Miami International Airport, FL (MIA/KMIA), United States of America Destination airport: Cali-Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airport (CLO/SKCL), Colombia Flightnumber: AA965 Narrative: At about 18:34 EST, American Airlines Flight 965 took off from Miami for a flight to Cali. At 21:34, while descending to FL200, the crew contacted Cali Approach. The aircraft was 63nm out of Cali VOR (which is 8nm South of the airport)) at the time. Cali cleared the flight for a direct Cali VOR approach and report at Tulua VOR. Followed one minute later by a clearance for a straight in VOR DME approach to runway 19 (the Rozo 1 arrival). The crew then tried to select the Rozo NDB (Non Directional Beacon) on the Flight Management Computer (FMC). Because their Jeppesen approach plates showed 'R' as the code for Rozo, the crew selected this option. But 'R' in the FMC database meant Romeo. Romeo is a navaid 150nm from Rozo, but has the same frequency. The aircraft had just passed Tulua VOR when it started a turn to the left (towards Romeo). This turn caused some confusion in the cockpit since Rozo 1 was to be a straight in approach. 87 Seconds after commencing the turn, the crew activated Heading Select (HDG SEL), which disengaged LNAV and started a right turn. The left turn brought the B757 over mountainous terrain, so a Ground Proximity (GPWS) warning sounded. With increased engine power and nose-up the crew tried to climb. The spoilers were still activated however. The stick shaker then activated and the aircraft crashed into a mountain at about 8900 feet (Cali field elevation being 3153 feet). Probable Cause: PROBABLE CAUSE: "Aeronautica Civil determines that the probable causes of this accident were: 1. The flight crew's failure to adequately plan and execute the approach to runway 19 at SKCL and their inadequate use of automation; 2. Failure of the flight crew to discontinue the approach into Cali, despite numerous cues alerting them of the inadvisability of continuing the approach; 3. The lack of situational awareness of the flight crew regarding vertical navigation, proximity to terrain, and the relative location of critical radio aids; 4. Failure of the flight crew to revert to basic radio navigation at the time when the FMS-assisted navigation became confusing and demanded an excessive workload in a critical phase of the flight. Contributing to the cause of the accident were: 1. The flight crew's ongoing efforts to expedite their approach and landing in order to avoid potential delays; 2. The flight crew's execution of the GPWS escape manoeuvre while the speed brakes remained deployed; 3. FMS logic that dropped all intermediate fixes from the display(s) in the event of execution of a direct routing; 4. FMS-generated navigational information that used a different naming convention from that published in navigational charts." https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19951220-1 Back to Top The Brazilian airline MAP Linhas Aéreas passed the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA). The airline was founded in Manaus, Brazil in 2011 and started operating domestic passenger services as of 2012. The airline currently operates a fleet of three ATR 42-300 aircraft, and two ATR 72-202's. The IOSA programme is an evaluation system designed to assess the operational management and control systems of an airline. IOSA uses internationally recognised quality audit principles and is designed to conduct audits in a standardised and consistent manner. It was created in 2003 by IATA. All IATA members are IOSA registered and must remain registered to maintain IATA membership. More information: * IATA Registry Back to Top EASA issues recommendations to operators on carriage of large Personal Electronic Devices FAA fire test of laptop battery thermal runaway with aerosol can in suitcase. On 5 April 2017, EASA published SIB 2017-04 to alert operators on the risks associated with the carriage of Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs) in the checked baggage, and to recommend mitigating actions when the carriage of large PEDs in the cabin is prohibited. PEDs containing lithium batteries carried by passengers should be carried in the passenger cabin, to enable the crew to react expeditiously in case an incident involving such a PED occurs. Recent testing performed by the FAA showed that if a thermal runaway event occurs to a large PED carried in a checked baggage together with flammable materials, such as hair spray, there is a poor chance that a Class D cargo compartment could contain the resulting fire, and a fair to poor chance that a Class C cargo compartment could contain it. Based on this, EASA now recommends operators to: * Inform passengers that large PEDs should be carried in the passenger cabin whenever possible; * Request passengers to ensure that any large PED that cannot be carried in the passenger cabin (e.g. due to its size), and therefore has to be carried in checked baggage, is: - Completely switched off and effectively protected from accidental activation. To ensure the device is never powered on during its transport, any application, alarm or pre-set configuration that may activate it shall be disabled or deactivated; - Protected from the risk of accidental damage by applying suitable packaging or casing or by being placed in a rigid bag protected by adequate cushioning (e.g. clothing); - Not carried in the same baggage together with flammable material (e.g. perfumes, aerosols, etc.); * Make the carriage of large PEDs in checked baggage in Class D cargo compartments subject to measures effectively mitigating the associated risks. Furthermore, where carry-on bags are put in the hold (e.g. due to the lack of space) operators are reminded to ensure that passengers are requested to remove from the bag any spare batteries or e-cigarettes. More info: * EASA SIB 2017-04R1 Back to Top Laser pen offenders now face five years and unlimited fines (UK) Shining laser pens at air, ground or sea vehicles to face more severe punishments under new laws put forward by transport department People who shine lasers at air, ground or sea vehicles could be jailed for up to five years or face unlimited fines as part of Department for Transport measures to boost safety. Commonly available laser pens can cause eye damage and in some cases render people temporarily blind. Existing legislation means someone found guilty of shining a laser at an aircraft faces a maximum fine of £2,500. The laser misuse (vehicles) bill, published on Wednesday, expands the types of transport that are covered to include trains, buses, boats and hovercraft. National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) lead for lasers, Commander Simon Bray, said shining a laser at an aircraft or another moving vehicle is "deeply irresponsible and dangerous". He said: "Laser attacks can lead to catastrophic incidents. These new and robust measures send a clear message to perpetrators: laser attacks are a crime and serious consequences will follow from committing this offence." The new laws will make it easier to prosecute offenders by removing the need to prove they intended to endanger a vehicle. It will be an offence to dazzle or distract the operator of a vehicle either deliberately or if reasonable precautions to avoid doing so are not taken. Aviation minister Liz Sugg warned that laser misuse can have "fatal consequences". She said: "The government is determined to protect pilots, captains, drivers and their passengers and take action against those who threaten their safety." Laser pens have been a growing concern in the aviation sector in recent years as pilots have been targeted by the beams. The first laser attack on an aircraft was reported in 2004 and since 2011 there have been around 1,500 incidents in the UK each year. Some 1,258 were reported in 2016, with attacks at Heathrow alone rising by a quarter year-on- year to 151. Brian Strutton, general secretary of pilots' union Balpa, said: "Balpa pilots and other transport workers have raised the growing threat of laser attacks for some time. "The government's announcement of a bill to tackle the misuse of lasers is therefore very welcome and we will work with DfT to ensure its effective and speedy implementation." The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is considering the findings of a call for evidence on updating regulations for selling laser pointers. Andrew Haines, chief executive at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: "Shining a laser at an aircraft in flight could pose a serious risk to flight safety. "We are concerned about the high number of laser attacks in recent years and therefore welcome new measures that would see tougher penalties for those who act recklessly by endangering the safety of aircraft." https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/dec/20/laser-pen-offenders-now-face-five-years-and- unlimited-fines Back to Top Aircraft Report Laser Strikes Near Oakland International Airport Another laser strike at an aircraft out of Oakland International Airport was reported Tuesday, a day after the airport received four reports of lasers being pointed at aircraft, according to the California Highway Patrol. "As airplanes were landing, someone was pointing a laser at the aircraft at the Oakland airport," CHP Officer Shaun Bouyey said. The CHP said the latest laser incident happened at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday. Aviation expert Mike McCarron said a laser beam remains tight and can come through a cockpit with intensity, temporarily blinding the pilot. "The pilots at that point have night vision," McCarrron said. "Their eyes are extremely sensitive to light; they haven't seen any bright lights for the entire length of the flight, basically. It's like walking from a dark room and getting a flashlight aimed at your face." McCarron said it can take 20 to 30 minutes for a pilot's eyes to readjust, putting the pilots and the passengers in jeopardy. The aircraft that reported having lasers pointed at them Monday night were either charter or private flights, not commercial flights, according to the airport. Two reports were called in around 5:51 p.m. while two more reports were received around 10 p.m. One of the reports indicated that a laser was coming from a location near 98th Avenue and Interstate 880. https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Aircraft-Report-Laser-Strikes-Oakland-International- Airport-465250043.html Back to Top Aviation Safety Authorities Warn Travellers About Li-Ion Batteries By now the potential dangers of lithium-ion batteries are pretty well-known, given that we have seen instances where damaged li-ion batteries can swell up, explode, and cause fires. Many probably have also not forgotten that the issue grew to epic proportions in 2016 when the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 had issues with its batteries. This resulted in many airlines and airports around the world banning the Note 7 from being brought on board planes. That being said while the Note 7 issue ha since been resolved, the European aviation safety authorities still want to remind passengers about the potential dangers behind li-ion batteries, and are urging airline companies to remind passengers about how to best transport electronics containing these batteries. Such reminders include how laptops should not be stored in hold baggage, and that devices that are too big to be brought on board the plane should be completely switched off, protected from accidental activation, and also packaged in a way to prevent them from being accidentally damaged while in transport (which could damage the batteries, causing them to swell and explode). Such reminders aren't exactly new, but with Christmas and New Year coming up, it probably wouldn't hurt to be extra careful given that there will probably be many who will be travelling back home or on holidays. http://www.ubergizmo.com/2017/12/aviation-safety-warn-travellers-li-ion-batteries/ Back to Top High crash rate: Armed forces have lost 35 aircraft, 14 pilots since 2014-2015 (India) * If figures from 2011 onwards are taken into account, the IAF, Army and Navy have recorded accidents of around 70 aircraft and helicopters, which have killed over 80 people * The two major reasons identified for the different crashes are "technical defects" and "human error" NEW DELHI: The Indian armed forces have lost as many as 35 aircraft, including 11 helicopters, and 14 pilots in crashes just since 2014-2015, the government told Parliament on Wednesday. If figures from 2011 onwards are taken into account, the IAF, Army and Navy have recorded accidents of around 70 aircraft and helicopters, which have killed over 80 people, reinforcing the unusually high crash rate. These include over 30 fighters, including at least five twin-engine Sukhoi- 30MKIs, the country's latest and the most potent jets. "Various preventive measures are being taken, including invigoration of the Aviation Safety Organization, streamlining of the accident reporting procedure, analytical studies and quality audits of the aircraft fleets to identify vulnerable areas to avoid accidents," said minister of state for defence Subhash Bhamre, in a written reply to Lok Sabha on Wednesday. "Accident prevention programmes have been given an added thrust to identify risk prone or hazardous areas specific to the aircraft fleets and operational environment to ensure safe practices and procedures," he added. The two major reasons identified for the different crashes are "technical defects" and "human error". In other words, ageing aircraft and poor maintenance, coupled with inadequate pilot training, contribute to the high crash rate. Though training of pilots is also regularly reviewed to stay abreast of the latest teaching techniques and utilization of state-of-art training aids, the lack of a concerted modernization drive to replace ageing aircraft remains a major problem. The armed forces, for instance, desperately require 484 light helicopters to replace their obsolete single-engine Cheetah/Chetak fleets, which were first inducted in the early-1970s and have been dogged by a high crash rate and serviceability problems for the last several years. Such helicopters are used for reconnaissance and servicing forward areas like the Siachen Glacier-Saltoro Ridge region. But the long-pending joint production of 200 Kamov-226T light-utility helicopters for around $1 billion (over Rs 6,500 crore) between India and Russia is yet to kick off. This much-delayed project for the light utility helicopters is considered crucial because India's endeavour to buy 197 such choppers from abroad has been scrapped three times over the last decade due to corruption allegations and technical deviations. Defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics is also yet to begin delivering the 187 similar light helicopters it was supposed to make "within 60 months" when the project was sanctioned by the Cabinet Committee on Security in February 2009. HAL says this indigenous three-tonne helicopter with a glass cockpit, whose design configuration is in the process of being frozen, will be capable of flying at 220 Kmph, with a service ceiling of 6.5 Km and a range of 350 Km with 400 kg payload. It will be deployed for reconnaissance and surveillance roles as well as serve as a light transport helicopter. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/high-crash-rate-armed-forces-have-lost-35-aircraft-14- pilots-since-2014-2015/articleshow/62180084.cms Back to Top No pilot required: Boeing unveils autonomous plane for refueling fighter jets in midair Boeing's unmanned refueling jet. (Boeing Photo) Boeing pulled back the curtain on an autonomous refueling plane designed to refuel U.S. Navy fighter jets in midair to extend their range. In October, the Navy issued a request for proposals seeking unmanned refueling capabilities for a variety of combat planes, such as the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, Boeing EA-18G Growler and Lockheed Martin F-35C fighters. Responses to this request, known as the MQ-25 competition, are due Jan. 3. Boeing's entry is in the midst of completing engine runs before heading to the flight ramp for "deck handling demonstrations" early next year. The winning entry will launch and land on aircraft carriers, so it will have to integrate with catapult and launch and recovery systems. "Boeing has been delivering carrier aircraft to the Navy for almost 90 years," Don 'BD' Gaddis, a retired admiral who leads the refueling system program for Boeing's Phantom Works technology organization, said in a statement. "Our expertise gives us confidence in our approach. We will be ready for flight testing when the engineering and manufacturing development contract is awarded." The MQ-25 Stringray aerial tanker will be able to deliver about 15,000 pounds of fuel 500 nautical miles out from an aircraft carrier. That should give fighters an additional 300 to 400 miles of flight range over what they have now. Boeing is competing with Lockheed Martin and General Atomics. Northrop Grumman was invited to submit a bid but dropped out of the competition in October. The Navy is expected to select the winning design by next September. https://www.geekwire.com/2017/no-pilot-required-boeing-reveals-autonomous-jet-refuels-fighter- planes-mid-air/ Back to Top NASA will take images of its quiet supersonic jet's shockwaves Once the jet exists, of course. NASA / Lockheed Martin When NASA begins testing its supersonic jet, you won't only hear about it -- you'll see cool images from the experiments, too. The agency has recently completed a series of flight tests proving that the imaging technique it developed is capable of capturing the shockwaves NASA's Low Boom Flight Demonstration (LBFD) aircraft will make when it starts flying faster than the speed of sound. The Federal Aviation Administration has placed restrictions on supersonic flights, because they tend to produce powerful shockwaves that people on the ground hear as very loud booms. In 2016, NASA began developing a quiet supersonic jet design with Lockheed Martin under the Quiet Supersonic Transport (QueSST) program. The agency will work with a contractor to bring that design to life as the LBFD jet and expects to start demonstrating what it can do by 2022. But before anybody can use that technology to create planes that cut current flight times in half, scientists will have to confirm that it can actually do what it was designed for. That's why the agency has been improving upon the "schlieren imaging" method used to visualize elements that are typically invisible, like air flow and shockwaves. NASA's technique is called Background Oriented Schlieren using Celestial Objects or BOSCO. It uses full-sized telescopes and cameras with special hydrogen alpha filter to capture images of shockwaves as a plane flies with the sun in the background. The technique produces images like this: The photo above was captured during NASA's latest round of tests wherein a US Air Force Test Pilot School T-38 aircraft traveled in supersonic speeds between the cameras and the sun at an altitude of 10,000 feet. When NASA first tested the technique in 2016, the aircraft flew at an altitude of 40,000 feet and traversed an area 300 feet in diameter. For the more recent tests, the smaller equipment NASA used had to be able to capture images while the plane was moving through an area only 100-foot-diameter in size. Why? Well, because to be able to capture clear images of the shockwaves produced by LBFD, a plane meant to fly 60,000 feet above the ground, NASA has to mount its equipment on a chaser plane flying 10,000 feet below it. The chaser only has a small window of opportunity to capture its shockwaves, as well. Now that NASA has proven that its technique will work (the image above wouldn't exist otherwise), it can focus on building LBFD and start putting it through some rigorous testing. https://www.engadget.com/2017/12/19/nasa-shockwave-images-quiet-supersonic-jet/ Back to Top ISRAELI AIR FORCE ENCOURAGES MORE WOMEN TO JOIN PILOTS COURSE * First female IAF pilot appointed deputy commander in combat squadron * World's largest aerial exercise this year takes to Israel's skies "A plane doesn't care if it's a woman or a man flying it. The Air Force wants the best of the best." Israeli female pilot A female air force pilot at the Hatzor base. (photo credit: REUTERS) Twenty-two years after 23-year old South African immigrant Alice Miller successfully sued the military for her right to enlist into Israel's Air Force, the IAF is trying to recruit more women for the prestigious pilots course. "A plane doesn't care if it's a woman or a man flying it. The Air Force wants the best of the best, and not enough women try out for the pilots course," said the Head of the Personnel Directorate Brig.-Gen Nathan Israeli on Tuesday at Haterzim Air Force Base outside Beersheba. Be the first to know - Join our Facebook page. "Our decision to encourage more women to join the course is from operational needs; they can improve the flight school and the entire corps. The Air Force needs the best and smartest people to fly on the most advanced platforms. There are no gender issues when flying," Israeli continued. Despite the Air Force encouraging women to enlist, only 48 have completed the course since the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Miller in 1995, which opened up the pilot's course to women. One more female pilot will join their ranks next week when the latest course will finish. For Capt. N, a helicopter pilot who graduated along with five other female pilots in 2011 - and flew several missions during Operation Protective Edge in 2014 - "there is a difference on the ground but not in the air." The IAF has therefore decided to take steps to encourage more women to apply for the pilots course, including reserving high-quality positions in operational and technological units for those who don't complete of the course. The Air Force will also continue to promote female officers to senior positions, such as Capt. Y, who in November became the first female pilot to be appointed deputy commander of a combat squadron. An F-15 navigator, she will serve in the Spearhead Squadron which flies the fighter jets out of Tel Nof airbase in central Israel. Despite IDF data showing a decrease in motivation to join combat units, according to Israeli, there is no decrease in motivation to become pilots. In the current class there are ultra-Orthodox soldiers as well as a member of the Ethiopian community. According to the IAF, of the approximately 600 cadets who passed the preliminary tests, about two thirds drop out in the first year of the three-year-long intensive course and only 30-40 of those who remain - about 6% of the original group - will graduate. "To pass the pilots course you need to have a spark in your eye. We are looking for the people who don't give up and are ready to give everything they have," said the commander of the IAF flight school, Col. Omer. "I won't force anyone to be a pilot, but I would suggest to everyone to come and give the course a try, especially women. There are not enough." In 1949, Israel's army became the first in the world to introduce mandatory military service for both men and women, and in 1951 Yael Rom became the first female graduate of the prestigious pilots course. Shortly after that, however, women were barred from combat positions, including becoming pilots. In 1998 Sheri Rahat graduated from the pilot's course and became a navigator for the F-16 fighter jet but not technically a pilot. It wasn't until 2000 when Lt. Roni Zuckerman, the granddaughter of two leaders of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, became the first woman to graduate as a combat fighter pilot. http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Israel-Air-Force-encourages-more-women-to-join-pilots-course- 518549 Back to Top EASA Proposes Parts Approval Revisions Aircraft parts approvals would be revised under an EASA notice of proposed amendment (NPA) that mandates that parts and appliances need to be accompanied by an EASA approval form, particularly so-called commercial parts not designed exclusively for aviation use. The NPA also proposes to assign a criticality level (CL) for each part based on the safety consequences should the part fail to meet its design standards. EASA Form 1 attests that parts were manufactured in accordance with ICAO Annex I Part 21. Also, this NPA proposes that only the design holder-for instance, the type certificate holder-can establish the CL for each part. In certain cases, the possibility to assign CLs is also given to EASA. Additionally, the NPA establishes minimum manufacturing criteria and certificate requirements based on industry standards, depending on the CL assigned to each part. Different marking requirements also apply for each part based on its assigned CL. Once the implementing rule is in place, manufacturing requirements for non-critical parts would be alleviated, decreasing manufacturing costs "without affecting the safety of air operations," according to the NPA. "The requirements proposed by this NPA may positively impact general aviation, since often certain parts of the aircraft have not been designed with an aviation intent and not manufactured under a production authorization approval." Comments on the NPA are due by March 14, 2018. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2017-12-19/easa-proposes-parts- approval-revisions Back to Top AIC RELEASES PRELIMINARY REPORT INTO AN AIRCRAFT LANDING ON A CLOSED RUNWAY AT GOROKA Back to Top Preparing Together: Aviation Disaster Planning, Response, and Recovery Conference As 2017 winds down and we begin to look to 2018, we wanted to inform you of a conference you might find of interest. Please see below for more information on the Preparing Together: Aviation Disaster Planning, Response, and Recovery Conference. What: A committee of local Indianapolis industry leaders, aviation crisis management experts, and Indiana state government officials have developed a conference focused on improving outcomes for those affected by an aviation disaster or critical incident. The Preparing Together: Aviation Disaster Planning, Response, and Recovery Conference is an educational forum exploring the intersection of federal regulations and local responsibilities following an aircraft disaster. This conference is being offered in conjunction with the 2018 Indiana Emergency Response Conference. The aviation conference will focus on: * Federal laws and guidance documents for aviation disaster response * Roles, processes, and response timelines of agencies involved * The interrelationship of responding agencies' roles * The Family Assistance Center, Passenger Gathering Area, and Friends and Relatives Center * Lessons learned from other major aircraft accidents and airport incidents * How the aviation disaster assistance model can apply to other critical incidents * How inter-agency cooperation is essential to recovery Where: Indianapolis, Indiana When: September 11- 12, 2018 Who: This conference is for individuals and organizations who would respond to a major aircraft accident and those who provide victim assistance, including airports (commercial, general aviation, military), commercial air carriers, business aviation operators, air medical transport, emergency response agencies (fire, EMS, law enforcement), local and state government, medical examiners/coroners, hospitals and healthcare organizations, American Red Cross, non-government disaster response agencies, mental health professionals, and other interested groups. For more information: http://www.createaresilientcommunity.com/ Registration for the conference will open in 2018. Accommodations: Discounted rate available at the Sheraton Indianapolis Hotel at Keystone Crossing. Hotel registration is now open. Book a room: http://bit.ly/hotelprepinav Sponsorship opportunities available. Contact: Jennifer Stansberry Miller - 317.371.7208, preparein@gmail.com Back to Top Najeeb E. Halaby Graduate Student Fellowship The Najeeb E. Halaby Graduate Student Fellowship was established by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) to shape the next generation of aviation researchers, honoring the late Najeeb Elias Halaby, an eminent aviator and administrator, for his vision and more than five decades of extraordinary contributions to aviation (https://ral.ucar.edu/opportunity/halaby-fellowship). The Fellowship The recipient of a Najeeb E. Halaby Graduate Student Fellowship will spend three months (in 2018 or early 2019) in residence with NCAR's Aviation Weather Research Program, which Mr. Halaby was instrumental in establishing in the 1980s. As the nation's leader in addressing aviation weather research, NCAR plays a unique role in meeting user needs by transferring research results to operations through its Research Application Laboratory (http://www.ral.ucar.edu/). The Fellow will conduct research broadly aimed at improving the integration of weather into decision support tools for enhanced mitigation of weather sensitivities (e.g., weather impact avoidance) and management of air traffic. The Fellowship will provide: * a monthly stipend for three months, including temporary living expenses * round-trip travel expenses to and from Boulder, CO * travel to a conference to present results * page charges for one publication of key results Eligibility and Application The Halaby Fellowship targets graduate students (late Masters or early PhD level) enrolled in an aviation-relevant department or program of a domestic or international university. Interested candidates should have advanced research skills, far-reaching vision, and dedication to get things accomplished. Consideration for this Fellowship will be given to candidates based on the following submitted material: * Curriculum vitae * Proposal (maximum five pages) presenting the research to be conducted at NCAR, the anticipated outcome of that, and how the proposed effort ties into the candidate's ongoing graduate research project(s) * Contact information for three references (one of which should be the student's primary advisor) NCAR will accept applications for the Halaby Fellowship each year. Email Applications by February 28, 2018 to halabyfellowship@ucar.edu Back to Top The European Society of Air Safety Investigators (ESASI) is pleased to announce that REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN for the next ESASI seminar which will be held in Riga, Latvia on the 23rd and 24th May 2018. Further details regarding the 2018 seminar and previous seminars, can be found at - www.ESASI.eu ESASI still welcomes proposals for presentations to be given during the 2018 seminar. The presentations should last a maximum of 20 minutes with a further 5 minutes for questions. Presentations should address issues relating to air safety investigations; particular areas of interest are: * challenges faced by air safety investigators; * the environment, and culture, that air safety investigators operate in; * practical experience of applying investigation techniques; * new techniques to aid the investigation, and * topical case studies. Details of proposed presentations should be sent to Brian McDermid, by the 6th February 2018, at presentations@esasi.eu. The ESASI committee will select the presentations in late February 2018. Steve - ESASI Secretary Steve Hull IEng FRAeS FISASI Aviation Director & Head of Training Annapolis, MD USA || San Francisco, CA USA || London, UK || Panama City, Panama RTI 34 Lime Street London EC3M 7AT Tel: +44 (0) 20 7481 2150 Mobile: +44 (0) 07800 608933 Steve.hull@rtiforensics.com www.rtiforensics.com Curt Lewis