Flight Safety Information July 9, 2019 - No. 137 In This Issue As 737 Max woes continue, Boeing loses $6 billion aircraft deal Incident: UTAir B738 near Kaunas on Jul 8th 2019, air conditioning system problem Incident: Southwest B738 near Baltimore on Jul 8th 2019, lightning strike Incident: Delta MD88 near Raleigh/Durham on Jul 8th 2019, engine problem Incident: Westjet B737 near Winnipeg on Jun 23rd 2019, odour and haze in cabin Incident: Envoy CRJ7 at Charleston on Jul 6th 2019, gear problem on departure Cessna 208 Caravan - Fire (Alaska) TSA agents nab 3D-printed handgun part at New York's LaGuardia Airport Swiss pilots grounded for not speaking English Are pilots Protected Against Retaliation for Disclosing Air Safety Issues? Key US Senate Democrat opposes FAA nominee Dickson EASA Approves Tamarack Fixes To Lift Atlas Emergency AD Indian Operator Achieves IS-BAH 3 Registration Summit Aviation Achieves IS-BAO Stage 2 Certification, Renews ARGUS Platinum Rating NTSB to take over probe of Bahamas helicopter crash Pilots union must stop interfering with Atlas Air operations, rules US court India Gearing Up to Launch 2nd Moon Mission This Weekend GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY(1) GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY(2) Position Available: Adviser - Investigations Manager Position Available: Airline Manager, Regulatory Compliance Position Available: Group Safety Manager - Operational Safety (Flight Data Development) Position Available: Group Safety Manager - Operational Safety (Flight Operations) Join us in Washington, D.C., on July 15-18 for ALPA's annual...Air Safety Forum As 737 Max woes continue, Boeing loses $6 billion aircraft deal A 737 Max 8 plane is seen parked at the Boeing manufacturing facility in Renton, Wash., on July 1, 2019. Saudi carrier Flyadeal has announced it is ordering Airbus planes in a deal that replaced an agreement it had to buy Boeing 737 Max jets. (David Ryder / Bloomberg) Boeing's campaign to restore the reputation of its best-selling plane after two deadly crashes suffered a blow with a Saudi airline canceling an order worth up to $5.9 billion in favor of a European rival of the U.S. manufacturer. Flyadeal, the budget airline arm of Saudi Arabian Airlines Corp., ordered 30 A320neo jets from Airbus and took options on 20 more, meaning that its entire fleet will consist of planes from that company. It's a potentially troubling sign for Boeing, which has not seen customers divert orders to Airbus en masse. A small number of airlines have threatened to cancel 737 Max orders since crashes off the coast of Indonesia and in Ethiopia killed 346 people. The Max has been grounded since March. Officials with Indonesia's Garuda said in March that they were canceling the remaining 49 of a 50-jet Max order. Published reports suggest the airline and Boeing are in talks, however, and Boeing still lists the last 49 Garuda orders on its website. Similarly, the owner of Lion Air - the Indonesia airline whose Max jet was involved in the first fatal crash in October - vowed to cancel. Boeing still lists the airline's 187 unfilled orders as active. Middle Eastern carriers Flydubai and Oman Air have threatened to switch to Airbus. Flyadeal did not mention Boeing in its weekend announcement and did not disclose financial terms of the Airbus order, although the list price of the planes is about $5.5 billion. Carriers rarely pay list prices. Flyadeal said the Airbus agreement emerged from last month's Paris Air Show. A Boeing spokesman said Monday that the company does not discuss customer decisions. Boeing got a boost at the Paris Air Show when the parent company of British Airways and Spain's Iberia said it intends to buy another 200 Max planes. The CEO of International Airlines Group, Willie Walsh, said he was confident the plane would make a successful return. Boeing disclosed in April that it has booked about $1 billion in charges related to fixing the plane. Analysts expect that to rise sharply. Dozens of lawsuits have been filed by families of those aboard the downed planes. Boeing will likely have to compensate airlines that already own Max planes - nearly 400 around the world - which are not expected to be allowed in back into the air any time soon. The company suspended deliveries of new planes in March but has kept the assembly line open at a reduced production rate. Though other planes have overcome passenger fears about safety, it is uncertain how passengers will feel about getting back on board a Max. Various surveys have indicated passenger reluctance. Preliminary investigations in Indonesia and Ethiopia point to new software that pushed down the nose of planes in response to faulty readings by a single sensor on each plane. Boeing is making the software less powerful and connecting it to a second sensor, but engineers have encountered setbacks. Pilots with the Federal Aviation Administration discovered a new flaw last month while testing updated software in a flight simulator, pushed back Boeing's timetable. It now hopes to submit a final application to the FAA in September. Boeing marketed the Max as an aircraft with more seats and lower operating costs than the Airbus neo. Boeing still has more than 4,500 unfilled orders for the Max. Customers, including three of the four largest U.S. airlines, have given no hint that they plan to nix orders from Boeing. Boeing announced in December - six weeks after the first crash - that Flyadeal had agreed to buy 30 planes with options for 20 more in a transaction valued at up to $5.9 billion. That figure did not include steep discounts typically given to carriers. On Monday, the Chicago company said that it is proud of its long partnership with Saudi Arabia's aviation industry. "We wish the flyadeal team well as it builds out its operations," Boeing said. "Our team continues to focus on safely returning the 737 Max to service and resuming deliveries of Max airplanes." Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg has apologized for the loss of lives and vowed to make the plane safer. Last week, Boeing announced an "initial investment" of $100 million over several years to help families and communities affected by the crashes. That fund is unrelated to any potential losses from lawsuits filed by the families of victims. Lawyers who are suing Boeing on behalf of passengers' families discounted the amount and said the $100 million won't stop them from demanding that Boeing provide details about how the plane and its flight-control software were developed. https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-boeing-737-max-saudi-carrier-airbus-20190708-2wjv6d35tndhvmuhhz6u2wt2ky-story.html Back to Top Incident: UTAir B738 near Kaunas on Jul 8th 2019, air conditioning system problem A UTAir Boeing 737-800, registration VQ-BDH performing flight UT-705 from Moscow Vnukovo (Russia) to Berlin Tegel (Germany), was enroute at FL360 about 20nm west of Kaunas (Lithuania) when the crew decided to descend the aircraft to FL310 and return to Moscow due to problems with the air conditioning systems. The aircraft landed safely back in Vnukovo about 75 minutes later. A replacement Boeing 737-800 registration VQ-BQR reached Berlin with a delay of about 5 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Moscow about 10.5 hours after landing. The airline reported the crew assessed the situation quickly and correctly and acted professinally in returning the aircraft to Moscow after problems with the air conditioning systems. http://avherald.com/h?article=4ca25513&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Southwest B738 near Baltimore on Jul 8th 2019, lightning strike A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration N8654B performing flight WN-2133 from Baltimore,MD (USA) to San Juan (Puerto Rico), was climbing out of Baltimore's runway 15R when the aircraft received a lightning strike. The crew continued the flight and was enroute at FL340 near Jacksonville,NC (USA) when the crew descended the aircraft to 16000 feet and decided to divert to Orlando,FL (USA) where the aircraft landed safely about 2:20 hours after departure. A replacement Being 737-800 registration N8539V reached San Juan with a delay of about 2.5 hours. The FAA reported the aircraft received a lightning strike near Baltimore and subsequently diverted to Orlando. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Orlando about 5.5 hours after landing. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/SWA2133/history/20190708/1340Z/KBWI/TJSJ http://avherald.com/h?article=4ca25380&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Delta MD88 near Raleigh/Durham on Jul 8th 2019, engine problem A Delta Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-88, registration N906DL performing flight DL-1425 from Atlanta,GA to Baltimore,MD (USA) with 154 people on board, was enroute at FL330 about 30nm northwest of Raleigh/Durham,NC (USA) when the crew decided to divert to Raleigh/Durham due to a problem with one of the engines (JT8D). The aircraft landed safely on runway 23R about 30 minutes later. The airline reported the crew received indication of a possible engine indication and diverted to Raleigh/Durham. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL1425/history/20190708/1614Z/KATL/KBWI http://avherald.com/h?article=4ca251ec&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Westjet B737 near Winnipeg on Jun 23rd 2019, odour and haze in cabin A Westjet Boeing 737-700, registration C-FWSK performing flight WS-662 from Calgary,AB to Toronto,ON (Canada) with 134 passengers and 5 crew, was enroute at FL390 about 40nm west of Winnipeg,MB (Canada) when an acrid odour developed in the cabin, haze was noticed. The flight crew worked the related smoke/fumes removal checklist and decided to divert to Winnipeg. The haze and odour dissipated after the checklist was completed. The aircraft landed safely in Winnipeg about 20 minutes later. The Canadian TSB reported maintenance determined a malfunctioning recirculation fan was the source of the odour and haze. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/WJA662/history/20190623/1640Z/CYYC/CYYZ http://avherald.com/h?article=4ca24fa9&opt=0 Back to Top Back to Top Incident: Envoy CRJ7 at Charleston on Jul 6th 2019, gear problem on departure An Envoy Canadair CRJ-700, registration N521AE performing flight MQ-5668/AA-5668 from Charleston,WV to Charlotte,NC (USA) with 60 people on board, was climbing out of Charleston's runway 23 when the crew stopped the climb at 3000 feet advising they needed to run a couple of checklists. The crew subsequently decided to divert to Columbus,OH but aborted the diversion and decided to return to Charleston advising of problems with the landing gear. The aircraft positioned for an approach to runway 23 and landed safely on the runway about 30 minutes after departure. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 4 hours, then departed again and reached Charlotte with a delay of 5.5 hours. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/JIA5668/history/20190706/1843Z/KCRW/KCLT http://avherald.com/h?article=4ca230cd&opt=0 Back to Top Cessna 208 Caravan - Fire (Alaska) Date: 08-JUL-2019 Time: 15:05 Type: Cessna 208 Caravan Owner/operator: Grant Aviation Registration: C/n / msn: Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 6 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Bethel Airport, Bethel, AK - United States of America Phase: Landing Nature: Passenger Departure airport: Destination airport: Bethel, AK Narrative: The aircraft was partially consumed by fire during a hot landing at Bethel Airport in Alaska. Three occupants onboard the airplane were taken to hospital with minor injuries. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/226952 Back to Top TSA agents nab 3D-printed handgun part at New York's LaGuardia Airport Transportation Security Administration stopped a man with 3D-printed handgun part in his carry-on baggage at LaGuardia Airport, CBS New York reported. The traveler from Kansas was stopped at a security checkpoint with the weapon July 3. The item included the trigger and body of the gun. It was confiscated and the traveler was allowed to catch his flight. Handguns and handgun parts are prohibited past airport security checkpoints, including 3D guns and gun parts. The TSA has provided more information on what you can and can not bring past security. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tsa-agents-nab-3d-printed-handgun-part-laguardia-airport-new-york-city/ Back to Top Swiss pilots grounded for not speaking English Around 130 pilots have been grounded at regional airports in Switzerland due to their inability to speak English. A new directive came into force on 20 June stating that all pilots taking off or landing at Swiss airports monitored by Skyguide must communicate to air traffic controllers exclusively in English, reports Swiss daily 20 Minutes. As a result, some 130 pilots at Sion airport have been unable to fly. Other regional airports including Les Ιplatures and La Chaux-de-Fonds have also been affected. However, according to the paper the airport of Neuchβtel and other regional airports in the canton of Ticino have been granted an exemption by the Swiss federal aviation authority. Exemptions can be given only if Skyguide is monitoring the airport on a behalf of a neighbouring country or it can delegate its services to a foreign company, or if the airport can prove that communicating in English compromises airport safety. The Swiss federal government approved the modification to the aviation law in August 2016 and it was passed in parliament the following year. In a press release at the time the Federal Council said imposing English as the only language in radio communications aimed to "eliminate the risk of misunderstandings". Speaking to 20 Minutes, lawyer Pierre Moreillon, president of honour of umbrella body Aerosuisse, advised pilots to challenge the new directive in court, suggesting that it contravenes the Swiss constitution's protection for national languages and also goes against international aviation law, which states pilots may use English and a local language. In May this year a parliamentary transport commission lodged a motion demanding that the new directive be revised. The directive does not apply to Geneva airport, reported 20 Minutes, since its cross-border location exempts it from Swiss federal law. Almost entirely owned by the Swiss confederation, Skyguide is regulated by Swiss aviation law. It employs nearly 2,000 people across 14 locations in Switzerland, handling air traffic control operations at Geneva and Zurich airports as well as several regional and military aerodromes. In 2018 it handled nearly 1.3 million flights across one of the most dense and complex airspaces in Europe. https://www.thelocal.com/20190709/swiss-pilots-grounded-for-not-speaking-english Back to Top Are pilots Protected Against Retaliation for Disclosing Air Safety Issues? Investigations of two Boeing 737 Max crashes that killed 346 people have revealed that whistleblowers notified the FAA of deficiencies in the 737 Max's anti-stall system as early as August 2018. And in testimony at a Congressional hearing, Captain Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger III concluded that "these accidents should never have happened" and that the "current system of aircraft design and certification has failed us." In particular, Captain Sullenberger found that the original version of the anti-stall software was fatally flawed and should not have been approved by the FAA. The tragic deaths of airline passengers underscore the importance of protecting whistleblowers in the airline industry from retaliation. Fortunately, there is a federal statute known as the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR21) that provides fairly robust protections for whistleblowers reporting concerns about air safety issues. This post summarizes key facets of the AIR21 whistleblower protection law. Who is protected under the AIR21 whistleblower protection law? The AIR21 whistleblower protection law prohibits retaliation against an employee of a U.S. air carrier, its contractor, or its subcontractor for blowing the whistle on a law or regulation related to air carrier safety. What whistleblowing is protected under the AIR21 Whistleblower Protection Law? AIR21 protects whistleblowers providing information relating to any violation or alleged violation of federal air carrier safety laws or FAA orders, regulations, or standards. Protected conduct includes: • Disclosing a violation of an airline safety regulation to their employer or a federal government entity; • Commencing a proceeding related to the violation of an airline safety regulation; or • Testifying, assisting, or participating in a proceeding related to the violation of an airline safety regulation. An AIR21 whistleblower need not prove an actual violation of a regulation, order, or standard relating to air carrier safety, as long as the whistleblower's concern about a potential violation is reasonable. Furland v. Am. Airlines, Inc., ARB No. 90-102, ALJ No. 2008-AIR-011, slip op. at 5 (ARB July 27, 2011). Also, the whistleblower need not convey the basis for their reasonable belief in order for it to be protected. See Newell v. Airgas, Inc., ARB No. 16-007, ALJ No. 2015-STA-6, slip op. at 11 (ARB Jan. 10, 2018). What type of retaliation is prohibited under AIR21's Whistleblower Protection Provision? AIR21 prohibits a wide range of retaliatory employment actions, including discharging, demoting, suspending, threatening, harassing, or in any other manner discriminating against a whistleblower in the terms and conditions of employment. What is the burden of proof for a whistleblower in an AIR21 whistleblower retaliation action? In an AIR21 retaliation case, the whistleblower prevails by proving that protected whistleblowing was a contributing factor in the unfavorable personnel action. The DOL ARB has emphasized that the standard is low and "broad and forgiving"; protected activity need only play some role, and even an "[in]significant" or "[in]substantial" role suffices. Palmer v. Canadian Nat'l R.R., ARB No. 16-035, ALJ No. 2014-FRS-154, at 53 (ARB Sept. 30, 2016). Examples of circumstantial evidence of causation include: temporal proximity; the falsity of an employer's explanation for the adverse action taken; inconsistent application of an employer's policies; an employer's shifting explanations for its actions; animus or antagonism toward the whistleblower's protected activity; and a change in the employer's attitude toward the whistleblower after they engage in protected activity. Once the whistleblower has proven that their whistleblowing was a contributing factor in the adverse actions taken against them, the employer can avoid liability only if it proves by clear and convincing evidence that it would have taken the same adverse actions in the absence of the employee engaging in protected conduct. Damages or Remedies for Pilots in AIR21 Whistleblower Retaliation Cases AIR21 authorizes several remedies to compensate whistleblowers, including: back pay (lost wages and benefits); emotional distress damages; damages for reputational harm; reinstatement or front pay in lieu thereof; and lost future earnings. How can an AIR21 whistleblower file a retaliation complaint? Within 90 days of being informed of an adverse action, an AIR21 whistleblower can file a retaliation complaint with OSHA. The complaint can be filed online using OSHA's Online Whistleblower Complaint Form, by facsimile, by mail, and even by phone. Does the FAA enforce the anti-retaliation provision of AIR21? OSHA investigates AIR21 retaliation claims, but pursuant to a Memorandum of Understanding, FAA investigates complaints related to air carrier safety and can take enforcement action as a result of disclosures made by AIR21 whistleblowers. FAA enforcement action may include air carrier and/or airman certificate suspension and/or revocation and/or the imposition of civil penalties. Additionally, the FAA may issue a civil penalty for a violation of the AIR21 whistleblower protection provision. Do non-disclosure or confidentiality agreements bar whistleblowers from reporting information to the FAA? In a guidance document titled Impact of Non-Disclosure and Confidentiality Covenants on Agency Investigations, the FAA clarifies that "[t]he use of non-disclosure and confidentiality covenants and related instructions to preclude the employee from engaging in confidential communication with the FAA runs afoul of well- established legal principles, recognized by Federal courts and regulatory agencies. Federal courts have held that confidentiality and non-disclosure covenants may inhibit an employee's ability to provide information to governmental agencies empowered to ensure compliance with federal mandates and impede an agency's lawful investigations of potential non-compliance." In other words, an airline's confidentiality agreement does not trump the right of whistleblowers to report safety concerns to the FAA. However, whistleblowers should be cautious when disclosing safety problems to the media and should be careful not to gather evidence of safety violations in an unlawful manner. https://www.natlawreview.com/article/are-pilots-protected-against-retaliation-disclosing-air-safety-issues Back to Top Key US Senate Democrat opposes FAA nominee Dickson The leading Democrat on the US senate panel considering Steve Dickson's nomination to head the FAA said she will vote against him when the Commerce Committee takes up his nomination July 10, citing a "lack of candor" regarding his involvement in a whistleblower lawsuit during his tenure as SVP-flight operations at Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines. Commerce Committee ranking member Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) said in a statement that she had been initially inclined to support Dickson's nomination "based on his experience and expertise" during his long career in the US Air Force and at Delta. "But at this time of unprecedented challenges involving aviation safety, we also need to be absolutely certain that the person chosen to lead the FAA has a clean record on safety, and the ability to restore the public's trust in the FAA," said the senator, adding that: "Unfortunately, information brought to our committee in recent weeks calls into question the safety culture that existed under Mr. Dickson that allowed a safety whistleblower to be retaliated against." The lawsuit in question was filed in June 2016 by a first officer who alleged the Atlanta-based carrier retaliated against her after she submitted a report detailing federal aviation safety violations at a January 2016 meeting where Dickson was present. Delta scheduled a psychiatric exam for the pilot after a human resources official became concerned about her mental health, according to the complaint. A doctor selected by the company diagnosed her with bipolar disorder in March 2016, effectively barring her from flying, although a panel of Mayo Clinic physicians unanimously determined in February 2017 that the pilot does not have bipolar disorder or any other personality disorder. Cantwell said she recently met with the plaintiff, who informed the senator she had "repeatedly raised concerns about the safety culture at Delta to a number of executives, including Dickson." Cantwell also said that the doctor selected by the airline to perform the compulsory psychological evaluation "has a record that includes serious red flags, which deepens my concern about this case." Dickson, in written responses to questions submitted by Cantwell and other Democratic members of the Commerce Committee, defended the decision to refer the pilot for a psychiatric evaluation as a "sound course of action...based on the information available at the time," adding that the referral was made based on statements the first officer made to company officials and "behavior she exhibited, which raised legitimate questions about her fitness to fly." Cantwell, however, said the written record produced by the pilot and her legal team "contradicts the picture Dickson has sought to paint of minimal involvement in the case," adding that "given the urgent need for stronger safety culture and transparency throughout the FAA, these incidents do not paint a picture of the type of leadership we need." It is not clear yet how many of Cantwell's Democratic colleagues plan to join her in opposing the nominee, but given the committee's Republican majority, Dickson could still advance through the panel were all its Democratic members to vote against him. No Republicans on the Committee have signaled opposition to the nominee, and Dickson has the strong backing of chairman Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), who has indicated that the whistleblower lawsuit would not be enough to derail his support. https://atwonline.com/government-affairs/key-us-senate-democrat-opposes-faa-nominee-dickson Back to Top EASA Approves Tamarack Fixes To Lift Atlas Emergency AD EASA is calling for implementation of fixes incorporated in a Tamarack service bulletin issue April 2018 and another earlier this year to resolve the emergency airworthiness directive. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has approved fixes incorporated in two previously issued Tamarack Aerospace service bulletins to resolve an emergency airworthiness directive that required deactivating Tamarack's active load-alleviation system (Atlas) on Cessna CitationJets, the company announced today. Unlike conventional winglets, Atlas uses active load-alleviation tabs-called Tamarack Active Camber Surfaces (TACS)-to counter increased aerodynamic loading on those surfaces. In restricting the use of the winglet system, the EASA emergency directive issued April 19 had cited "occurrences...in which Atlas appears to have malfunctioned, causing upset events where, in some cases, the pilots had difficulty to recover the airplane to safe flight." The fixes require that Atlas-equipped Model 525, 525A, and 525B aircraft operating in Europe comply with a new EASA service bulletin (SB1480) that encompasses two prior Tamarack SBs. Released in April 2018, SB1467 requires installation of a revised TACS control unit (TCU) to resolve instances of uncommanded TACS movement, while SB1475, issued earlier this year, calls for installation of aerodynamic centering strips to force those surfaces back in trail in the event of a TCU fault. "I offer my sincere thanks to our loyal and supportive customers. They have been our staunchest advocates despite the inconvenience and hardship of having the use of their aircraft restricted," said Tamarack founder and CEO Nicholas Guida. "The resolution of the [emergency AD] is great news for Tamarack and its European customers." An FAA airworthiness directive issued in late May remains in effect keeping Atlas-equipped jets grounded in the U.S., but company president Jacob Klinginsmith expressed confidence that agency would follow suit in approving the new SB. "EASA and the FAA have been meeting regularly and we anticipate that the FAA will offer a solution to the limitations very shortly, in the spirit of the bilateral agreement in place between the agencies," he said. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2019-07-08/easa-approves-tamarack-fixes-lift-atlas-emergency-ad Back to Top Indian Operator Achieves IS-BAH 3 Registration Delhi-based SRC Aviation, which became the first in the world to be awarded the International Standard for Business Aircraft Handlers (IS-BAH) 1 and among the first for IS-BAH 2, has now been awarded IS-BAH 3, becoming the only organization outside North America to earn the stringent registration. American Aero Fort Worth, an FBO at Meacham International Airport in Fort Worth, Texas, became the first FBO worldwide last year to earn the new Stage 3 safety and ground handling certificate of registration. IS-BAH, developed by the International Business Aviation Council in concert with the National Air Transportation Association, is a set of global industry best practices for business aviation ground handlers that features at its core a safety management system. SRC founder Bobby Chadha explained to AIN that the company underwent a rigorous audit of its best practices in safety management systems, emergency procedures, security and operating procedures, and training processes to achieve IS-BAH 3. "This also works like a self-check and keeps us from being complacent about delivering quality," Chadha added. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2019-07-08/indian-operator-achieves-bah-3-registration Back to Top Summit Aviation Achieves IS-BAO Stage 2 Certification, Renews ARGUS Platinum Rating BOZEMAN, Mont., July 08, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- When chartering an airplane, it is wise to ask your aircraft broker or operator about their safety record, certifications and standards. Summit Aviation (flysummit.net), based in Bozeman, Montana, is one such charter operator that goes above and beyond safety standards, and has recently achieved its IS-BAO Stage 2 certification and renewed its ARGUS Platinum rating. This is in addition to its status as a WYVERN Registered Operator. ARGUS, WYVERN and IS-BAO are independent safety audits which are conducted at the request of an aircraft operator, such as Summit Aviation. Each safety audit encompasses all aspects of the aviation operation, including pilot qualifications, aircraft maintenance, risk analysis reporting, mitigation processes, emergency response plans and the company's safety culture. The audit checks for past incidents, accidents and violations against the pilots and/or the company. "There's a widely held notion that pilots, aircraft and charter companies are all equal, and this is absolutely untrue," said Summit President and Owner Ben Walton. "While many operators hold ARGUS GOLD, this simply means they've completed the paperwork and checked the boxes. Achieving a GOLD+ or PLATINUM rating means an operator has welcomed an external auditor onsite to conduct interviews with the aviation staff, review documents and manuals, and ensure that an operator puts into practice safety requirements and mitigations to make air travel safer," Walton further explained. BUS While both ARGUS and Wyvern audits have their basic framework derived from the FAA standards, IS-BAO is based on International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) guidelines, meaning that it is a worldwide safety standard. It is considered much more stringent than its competitors, with advancement required from Stage 1 to Stage 2. The first stage of IS-BAO demonstrates that safety procedures and protocols have been developed for the entire company, while the second stage is proof of implementation. The Stage 2 level audit is a review of the prior two years, showing the growth and maturity of the safety program. It is intended to not only point out to the company its strengths, but also to show its weaknesses, so it has a focus for improvement. A client or passenger should never be afraid to ask if the operator has been audited by an IS-BAO or other certification professional-and not just that they hold a certification. Then clients can feel reassured, knowing that the operator is committed to their safety. About Summit Aviation The Rocky Mountain Northwest's premier aviation service company, Summit Aviation began, humbly, in 2001, with one pilot, one aircraft and one small hangar. Now, 18 years later, Summit boasts a fleet of state-of-the-art aircraft, a full staff of charter and corporate pilots, highly-qualified flight instructors and aircraft sales professionals. Its services include aircraft sales, flight training, on-demand private charter and aviation management. https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/19/07/n14043135/summit-aviation-achieves-is-bao-stage-2-certification-renews-argus-platinum-rating Back to Top NTSB to take over probe of Bahamas helicopter crash Seven full-time or part-time Palm Beach County residents, including billionaire Christopher Cline, died in the July 4 crash. JUNO BEACH - The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board has taken over the investigation of the July 4 helicopter crash in the Bahamas that killed billionaire Chris Cline and six other part- or full-time Palm Beach County residents. Authorities say the helicopter now is at a site in Florida, where an international team will take it apart to try to determine what went wrong. The Bahamas Air Accident Investigation Department said Monday it had "delegated the investigation" to the NTSB and "all questions or concerns are to be directed there." NTSB spokesman Eric Weiss said at midday Monday that the agency usually issues a preliminary report in about two weeks and a final "probable cause" in 12 to 24 months. Cranes pulled the 15-passenger Augusta s.p.a AW139 from the ocean over the weekend. After a delay forced by bad weather and rough seas, the barge left late Saturday night for Jacksonville, the Bahamas Air Accident Investigation Department said Monday in an update. It said the aircraft "will be laid out, documented and cataloged at the facility to verify all of the craft was recovered." Delvin Major, chief investigator for the Bahamas' Civil Aviation Department, told The Palm Beach Post on Monday his agency has contracts with private salvage and investigation firms and Jacksonville and in West Palm Beach, which is much closer but had a backload of work. Major would not give the location of the Jacksonville site, citing security. The investigating agency said it still "is too early to determine cause(s) or contributing factors in this accident." It also said the helicopter's flight and date recorders were recovered and were on their way to the National Transportation Safety Board in Washington. Under international compacts, agencies from countries with a stake in the crash are brought in to participate in the investigation. In this case, they'll include the NTSB and the Federal Aviation Administration, because the helicopter was registered in the U.S., as well as Italy, where it was built, and Canada, where the engine was made. Neither the FAA nor the NTSB would comment Monday to The Post about what, if any, involvement either has had. The Bahamas agency posted a photo of the 11-year-old helicopter in flight and one of it after the crash, lying on the salvage barge. Major said a cursory inspection showed some damage but that might have been the result of impact with the ocean or from the effort to pull the 7½ ton machine out of 16 feet of water. Major said his agency has a list of witnesses but would not say for now what any have told investigators. He did not specifically know if anyone saw the helicopter leave the helipad at Big Grand Cay, the private island Cline reportedly owns about 3 miles east of Grand Cay, an island with a population of about 400. The agency has said the aircraft is believed to have dropped into the water at about 2 a.m. about 1 mile off Grand Cay. Friends have said the party was flying to Fort Lauderdale because one of them had fallen ill. Investigators found the helicopter Thursday afternoon after relatives reported it had not arrived in Florida. Grand Cay is about 115 miles northeast of Palm Beach. Bahamian authorities Saturday identified all seven victims of the crash, including the previously undisclosed Geoffrey Painter, who was listed as the pilot. Painter, 52, and David Jude, 57, also killed in the crash, operated Cloud 9 Helicopters, based at the North Palm Beach County Airport in suburban Palm Beach Gardens, according to the company's web page and state corporate records. On Monday, no one answered the phone, and the company's offices and hangar were locked and dark. The other victims were Christopher Cline's daughter Kameron, 22; Brittney Searson, 21, her best friend and classmate both at The Benjamin School in Palm Beach Gardens and Louisiana State University, from which they graduated in May; Delaney Wykle, 23, a childhood friend of Kameron; and Jillian Clark, 22, another recent LSU graduate and a fellow sorority member of Kameron. No funeral details have been learned so far. Cline, worth nearly $2 billion, owned a oceanfront mansion in Seminole Landing, off U.S. 1 between PGA Boulevard and Donald Ross Road just south of Juno Beach. It is one of three clustered parcels that property records list with a combined market value of $21.5 million. Brian Glasser, Cline's attorney in West Virginia, did not return numerous calls made by The Post Friday and Monday. He also was a philanthropist who built orphanages in Haiti, donated $8.5 million to Marshall University and gave $5 million to West Virginia University. He also developed a sports center in his father's name in Beckley, the southern West Virginia city their family called home and where Chris Cline will be interred. https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/20190708/authorities-ntsb-to-take-over-probe-of-bahamas-helicopter-crash Back to Top Pilots union must stop interfering with Atlas Air operations, rules US court Amazon Air supplier Atlas Air has won a court ruling to prevent its pilots from interfering with its operations. The court appeal ruling prevents its pilots from taking part in strikes, sickouts or work slowdowns. The carrier provided evidence that the Teamsters Local 1224 union had encouraged a slowdown or pilots to call in sick at short notice, as a negotiating tactic. In a unanimous ruling, the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ordered they are not allowed to do this and the union must continue to take action to prevent, and refrain from, any form of interference with Atlas Air's operations. Bill Flynn, outgoing chief executive of Atlas, said he was "very satisfied" with the ruling. "It is unfortunate that we were compelled to take this extraordinary step, but we needed to do so to protect the best interests of our customers, our employees and our company. Together with our pilots, we remain focused on continuing to provide our customers the high level of service they have come to expect. "We value the hard work and dedication of our pilots, and look forward to continuing negotiations for a joint collective bargaining agreement in connection with our merger of Atlas Air and Southern Air. We are committed to negotiating an updated agreement that reflects the current market and the significant role our pilots play in the success of our company." However, the pilots are calling for a new hearing. Edward Gleason, the attorney representing Teamsters Local 1224, said: "We are both surprised and deeply disappointed by the court's decision. The court has affirmed a status quo injunction without ever identifying the status quo that the union is said to have violated. That is the same fundamental mistake that the district court made, and it is one that we believe warrants reconsideration and reversal by the court. "We therefore fully anticipate filing a petition for rehearing along with a petition for rehearing en banc." Last month, Atlas subsidiary Southern Air also won an arbitration over its pilots. The decision ordered the union to proceed with contractually required negotiations for a new joint collective bargaining agreement. While union leaders argued that the company had delayed negotiations, the decision noted: "We can conclude with some certainty, however, that there has been a delay inspired by the union's misapprehension of the contractual requirements and that they must now respond vigorously to the company's request to proceed." Meanwhile at ATSG, last month subsidiary ABX Air, which has a shortage of 767 crews, created a programme with Air Cargo Carriers whereby crew can progress at ABX. Air Cargo Carriers crew who serve as pilot-in-command for at least two years and who have at least 1,000 hours of flying time in this role, "can bypass the interview process and obtain a training class opportunity at ABX Air, contingent on their passing the required background checks", said the airlines in a joint statement. Air Cargo Carriers claims to be the largest commercial owner and operator of Shorts aircraft in the world. "The two airlines share a similar customer base and operate out of similar airports, including Cincinnati International Airport," the statement added. https://theloadstar.com/pilots-union-must-stop-interfering-with-atlas-air-operations-rules-us-court/ Back to Top India Gearing Up to Launch 2nd Moon Mission This Weekend The ambitious Chandrayaan-2 mission is scheduled to launch Sunday evening (July 14). An artist's illustration of India's Chandrayaan-2 lander, Vikram, and its Pragyan rover on the surface of the moon.An artist's illustration of India's Chandrayaan-2 lander, Vikram, and its Pragyan rover on the surface of the moon.(Image: © Indian Space Research Organisation) India is getting ready for another moon mission. The Indian Space Research Organization's (ISRO) ambitious Chandrayaan-2 lunar mission is scheduled to launch Sunday (July 14) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 5:21 p.m. EDT (2121 GMT; 2:51 a.m. July 15 local time). Chandrayaan-2 consists of an orbiter, a lander called Vikram and a rover known as Pragyan. If all goes according to plan, touchdown will occur Sept. 6 on a high plain between two craters, Manzinus C and Simpelius N, about 70 degrees south of the equator. The moon's polar regions are intriguing to scientists and exploration advocates because water ice is abundant there, on the floors of permanently shadowed craters. Such "lunar cold traps" contain a fossil record of the early solar system and also harbor a precious resource that could aid human exploration of Earth's nearest neighbor. Chandrayaan-2 will launch atop a three-stage GSLV Mk-III rocket, India's most powerful booster. The GSLV Mk-III is capable of lofting 4-ton satellites to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO), ISRO officials have said. India plans to launch its second moon mission, Chandrayaan-2, on July 14, 2019. Integrated module Chandrayaan-2 is an advanced version of India's successful Chandrayaan-1 mission, which launched in October 2008. Chandrayaan-1 delivered a probe to lunar orbit and sent an impactor barreling into the object's surface. The mission is best known for detecting evidence of water on the moon. Chandrayaan-2's orbiter and lander modules will be stacked together as an integrated module and accommodated inside the GSLV MK-III launch vehicle. The Pragyan rover is housed inside the lander. After launch into Earth orbit, the integrated module will reach the moon using an orbiter propulsion module. Subsequently, the lander will separate from the orbiter and touch down at the predetermined site close to the lunar south pole. Mission life The Chandrayaan-2 orbiter will be capable of communicating with the Indian Deep Space Network (IDSN) on Earth as well as the Vikram lander on the surface of the moon. The mission life of the orbiter is one year, and it will be placed in a 62-mile-high (100 kilometers) circular polar orbit. The lander is named after Vikram A. Sarabhai, the father of the Indian space program. It is designed to function for one lunar day, which is equivalent to about 14 Earth days. The six-wheeled Pragyan rover, whose name means "wisdom" in Sanskrit, is solar-powered and capable of traveling up to 1,640 feet (500 meters) on the lunar surface. It can communicate only with the Vikram lander. Experiments Chandrayaan-2 carries a total of 13 Indian payloads - eight on the orbiter, three on the lander and two on the rover. In addition, the Vikram lander will tote one passive experiment from NASA called the Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA) for Lunar Landers. This LRA is the same design as the one carried aboard Israel's Beresheet moon lander, which crashed during its touchdown attempt in April. The LRA is a mirrored device that reflects laser signals to help mission team members pinpoint where a lander is as well as precisely calculate the moon's distance from Earth. https://www.space.com/india-chandrayaan-2-moon-mission-launch-weekend.html Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY(1) I am a retired pilot and I am finishing my PhD in business. My dissertation is on the different leadership styles pilots have and how they influence safety. I do feel there is a massive lack of research in aviation on how important the different leadership styles are and their influence on safety. Although multiple industries are studying the outcomes of different leadership styles in different aspects of business, aviation is not. Therefore, I feel my research will truly help the industry. Any assistance here would be a huge contribution to aviation. Below is the link to my research survey for your review: https://ncu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9BomOpXQJw5tKL3 Regards, Carlos Guillem 469-688-3174 CarlosGuillem@yahoo.com C.Guillem6197@0365.ncu.edu Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY(2) Dear Pilots, My name is Lakshmi Vempati. I am a doctoral candidate in the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University PhD in Aviation program, and I am working on my dissertation under the guidance of Dr. Scott Winter. We are interested in understanding pilot perspectives for operating in unmanned aircraft system (UAS) integrated airspace and airports. You can help this research by participating in this electronic questionnaire. The study is anticipated to take approximately 15 minutes to complete. In order to participate, you must be 18 years of age, and a current civilian pilot with any rating, and experience level who has flown within the last six months. Participants will have an opportunity to participate in the drawing to win a DJI Tello Quadcopter Drone. If you have any questions regarding the study, or the questionnaire in particular, please contact the researcher, Lakshmi Vempati, at vempatil@my.erau.edu or the dissertation committee chair, Dr. Scott Winter, at winte25e@erau.edu. Please find the electronic questionnaire at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LVPilotSurvey Please feel free to forward the link to other pilots who you think might be interested in participating. Sincerely, Lakshmi Vempati, Doctoral Candidate ERAU PhD in Aviation Back to Top Back to Top Title: Airline Manager, Regulatory Compliance POSITION PURPOSE Manages one or more safety areas such as the Company's Internal Evaluation Program (IEP) or Safety Management System (SMS). Provides independent and objective assessments of operational divisions to ensure adherence to federal regulations, company policies and procedures, code-share partner internal evaluations, IOSA and DOD Standards. ESSENTIAL DUTIES To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. • Oversees the development and ongoing safety risk management processes for all operational divisions • Develops and maintains safety manuals and required training. • Participates in regular meetings that review safety related information that impact each department. • Validates regulatory correspondence status; and prepares weekly reports for Senior Management. • Participates in Codeshare Aircraft Ground Damage investigations. Conducts investigations of all Company inducted aircraft ground damages. Coordinates with the finance department to recover damage costs from vendor and reports aircraft ground damage statistics. • Participates in regulatory update meetings with the Company and the Federal Aviation Administration. • Interfaces with Codeshare partners in safety meetings. • Manages the Internal Evaluation Program including evaluations of all operational divisions and Internal IOSA audits. Develops and maintains a schedule of audits and evaluations. • Updates the safety implementation plans, training plans and details gap analysis for the company. • Attends safety related conferences to provide input on best practices for safety for the company. • Develops and maintains an annual budget for the Internal Evaluation Program and the Safety Management System areas. • Fosters the Company's core values and culture throughout the work environment. • Screens, interviews and hires potential associates. Coaches and provides leadership, direction, motivation and supervision of direct reports. Appraises performance, provides performance feedback, takes corrective actions and oversees training and development of staff. • Performs various other duties as required. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability necessary to perform this job. EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: • Bachelor's degree or equivalent with at least 3 years of previous Internal Evaluation, Quality Assurance, or Safety Management System experience. • Knowledge of the Code of Federal Regulations, specifically Titles 14 and 49 and associated regulatory material. • Knowledge in aviation safety programs including, but not limited to: Safety Management System (SMS), System Safety, ATOS and IOSA. • Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications is a must. PREFERRED EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE • Bachelor's degree in Aviation or related field with at least 5 years of previous experience. • Previous supervisory experience. • Airframe and Powerplant, Dispatcher License and/or Pilot Certificate. • Auditor Certification and Training; CQA, ISO, CASE and IOSA Auditor. LANGUAGE SKILLS Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors. REASONING/PROBLEM SOLVING ABILITY Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables. DECISION MAKING Makes decisions daily on use of resources, performance and budgets. Decisions could require additional expenditure of resources if not sound decisions. PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Able to move about the work environment. Frequently required to stand, walk, sit, talk and hear. WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an associate encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Typically not exposed to extreme environmental conditions. TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS Ability to travel up to 25% of the time, including overnight and weekend travel. APPLY HERE Back to Top Position: Group Safety Manager - Operational Safety (Flight Data Development) Reports to: Group Safety Manager - Operational Safety (Flight Data) Department: Group Safety and Operational Risk Management Understudy and support Group Safety Manager - Operational Safety (Flight Data) to manage all aspects of the Group's FDC operations relating to the acquisition, processing and analysis of flight data. The incumbent will succeed the role of GSM-OS (FD) in mid-2020. Key Responsibilities • Understudy and deputise Group Safety Manager - Operational Safety (Flight Data Analysis) as per GSMOS-FD's terms of reference. • Oversee the FDA supporting activities pertinent to the introduction (EIS) of the new aircraft types across CX/KA/LD. • Support CFEA AMS project. • Provide support to Maintenance Control to minimise operational disruption. • Manage the review of daily detection of significant events and coordinate the callbacks and the maintenance follow up with Maintenance Control. • Ensure the materials, such as data, plots and videos, provided to requesters are accurate and in the standard in accordance with PPM. • Monitor the serviceability of the flight data recording and downloading system and liaise with IT and OEM for any anomaly. • Use of CEFA FAS and Insight Animation to build sophisticated videos for investigations and trainings. • Manage the daily activities of the Flight Data Monitoring Program (FDMP) in accordance with the published agreements. • Conduct Flight Data analysis in support of Air Safety Reports (ASRs) & Mandatory Occurrence Reports (MORs) and prepare summaries for the company Safety Database. • Conduct Flight Data analysis in support of accident and incident investigations. • Contribute to the FDAP and Flight Data Analysis Review Committee process. • Continually develop and maintain the Flight Data Animation Systems. • Maintain and develop Flight Analysis Profile (FAP) and logical frame layouts (LFL) in cope with the requirements. • Undertake Flight Data related projects as directed by HGSS/GSM-OS (FD). • Member of the CX/KA Flight Data Analysis Review Committee (FDARC). • Alternate Chairman of the Air Hong Kong Flight Data Analysis Review Committee (FDARC-LD). • Alternate CX Representative and Member of the Proprietary Operational Data (POD) Group. Requirements Skills • Broad operational knowledge and experience in the functions of the organization (e.g. training management, aircraft operations, air traffic management, aerodrome operations, and maintenance organization management) • Sound knowledge of safety management principles and practices • Team-leading • Good written and verbal communication skills • Well-developed interpersonal skills • Computer literacy • Ability to relate to all levels, both inside and outside the organization • Ability to work unsupervised • Good analytical skills Knowledge • Relevant aviation, engineering or technical undergraduate degree • Good understanding of flight and engineering operations • Possession of SMS Qualification is desirable • Good understanding of statistics and data mining technique • Good understanding on Information Technology Experience • Minimum 5 years relevant work experience in airline or related industry. • Minimum 3 years in management role. Key Competencies • Setting Direction • • Leading and Engaging Teams • • Driving Business Performance and Change • • Developing and Recognising Others APPLY HERE Back to Top Position: Group Safety Manager - Operational Safety (Flight Operations) Reports to: Head of Group Safety and Security Department: Group Safety and Operational Risk Management Key Responsibilities • Act as the primary point of reference (GSORM) on matters relating to Operational Safety (Flight Operations [FOP] / Engineering [ENG] / Ground [GRD] - ASD/CSD). • Maintain close liaison with the FOP/ENG/GRD SMS coordinators. • Participate in CX and KA Operational Safety Committees. • Run the HKCAD OPS MOR meeting (CX). • In conjunction with GSM-Risk & OHS, produce risk profiles of common operational events (FOP/ENG/GRD). • Conduct proactive analysis of other operator's incidents and investigation reports (i.e. Industry Watch), including recommendations to ensure that the Group has appropriate defences and systems in place to avoid similar events. • Conduct and facilitate the operational risk assessment (SIRA) as per the engagement level as defined. • Conduct routine review (including assessment review and closure) of safety reports (ASR, GSR) submitted to GSORM. • Track the safety actions arising from investigations / routine safety assessments and ensure they are implemented / closed in a timely and satisfactory manner. • Maintain the GSORM Operational Team / Accident Reaction Kits in a high state of readiness to support any ad-hoc investigation and event follow-up. • In HGSS's absence or delegation, lead the Group's Company Accident Investigation Team (CAIT) in the event of an accident or serious incident, in accordance with the GSORM Accident Investigation procedures. • Manage the investigation of incidents, serious incidents and accidents, and other selected occurrences within the Group. • Represent the Group Airlines as an Accredited Representative, or as part of the accredited representative team, in any accident investigation conducted by a regulatory authority, into an accident or serious incident involving a Group or LD aircraft. • Contribute to the safety promotion program (in conjunction with GSORM Resilience Excellence Team) and provide continuous input to the safety publications. • Facilitate safety-training programs and briefings as required. • Liaise with regulatory agencies as required on matters pertaining to operational safety. • Ensure the services delivered by the section, stipulated in the Operational Services Agreement (OSA) with Cathay Dragon (KA) and Air Hong Kong (LD), are provided. • Standardize / coordinate of operational safety activities within the section. • Update the Operational Safety Team's related sections in the Group Safety Management Policy and Procedures manual. • Coach and develop Assistant Manager Group Operational Safety - FOP. • Undertake safety duties or projects as directed by GMGSORM or HGSS. Requirements Skills • Strong knowledge and experience in flight operations. • Broad operational knowledge and experience in the functions of the organization (e.g. training management and quality assurance). • Strong analytical skills with a solid background in data analysis. • Strong leadership orientation, cross-section team-working, planning and communication skills. • Excellent command of English (both spoken and written). • Good command of Chinese (both spoken and written) is desirable. • Strong computer literacy. • Ability to work unsupervised. Knowledge • Tertiary qualification in safety related field. • SMS, Aviation Accident Investigation and Quality Assurance Qualification. • Sound knowledge of safety & risk management principles and practices. • Experience in safety, auditing and compliance. • Good knowledge in operational environment and standards related to safety is desirable. Experience • Flight crew experience is a must. • Minimum 7-10 years relevant work experience in airline industry or related industry. • Minimum of 5 years in a managerial role in safety. Key Competencies • Setting Direction • • Leading and Engaging Teams • • Driving Business Performance and Change • • Developing and Recognising Others APPLY HERE Back to Top Join us in Washington, D.C., on July 15-18 for ALPA's annual Air Safety Forum Curt Lewis