Flight Safety Information SEPTEMBER 28, 2019 - No. 196 In This Issue Boeing assumptions on 737 MAX emergency response faulted -NTSB 'System is not broken' after 737 MAX crashes: review panel chair Incident: Airbus A3ST near Hawarden on Sep 27th 2019, cracked windshield Incident: Indigo A20N at Mumbai on Sep 27th 2019, engine problem Incident: Omni B772 near Baltimore on Sep 26th 2019, hydraulic failure Incident: Malta A320 at Malta on Sep 27th 2019, rejected takeoff due to bird strike Incident: ANA B789 near Novosibirsk on Sep 27th 2019, engine problem Airbus A220 PW1500G engine failures prompt inspection AD Air Malta warns passengers to expect delays as second aircraft is damaged Atlanta airport employee pinned against airplane, killed in incident on tarmac Cathay Pacific airlines terminates 2 employees who allegedly tampered with plane's oxygen canisters Two Former NTSB Experts Create the "Flight Safety Detectives" Podcast The Dangers of Delaying FAA Modernization National Flight Academy Hosts Girls in Aviation Day Event Oct. 5 I am among 5% of all the pilots in America - a woman SpaceX's Starship halves come together ahead of a big event GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY (1) GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY (2) MITRE - SMS Course - December 2019 Manager, Internal Evaluation Program Maintenance Safety Specialist Technical and Training Manager Human Factors in Accident Investigation from SCSI Aircraft Accident Investigation from SCSI Boeing assumptions on 737 MAX emergency response faulted -NTSB WASHINGTON, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Boeing Co failed to adequately consider how pilots respond to cockpit emergencies in its 737 MAX safety assessment and may need to make changes to flight deck alerts, pilot procedures and training, the National Transportation Safety Board said. The U.S. air accident investigator unveiled on Thursday several recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) following the fatal crashes of a Lion Air 737 MAX in Indonesia and an Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX five months apart that killed a total of 346 people. The crashes led to the plane's grounding and raised questions about the FAA's certification of the new aircraft. The crews in those crashes "did not react in the ways Boeing and the FAA assumed they would," said NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt, adding there was a "gap between the assumptions used to certify the MAX and the real-world experiences of these crews, where pilots were faced with multiple alarms and alerts at the same time." Boeing has said the feeding of erroneous Angle of Attack (AOA) data to a system called MCAS that pushed the planes lower was a common link in two wider chains of events leading to the crashes. MCAS stands for Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System. "We want FAA to ensure that Boeing takes a close look at all these different failure conditions that can activate MCAS and ensure that they have evaluated the pilots' response to that," Dana Schulze, director of the NTSB Office of Aviation Safety, told reporters. NTSB wants that assessment completed before the plane's grounding is lifted. Boeing's 737 MAX simulator tests with test pilots "did not look at all potential flight deck alerts and indications that pilots might face when this specific failure condition occurred in Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines," Schulze said, adding that Boeing did not evaluate the "actual scenario" of the two fatal crashes in the simulator. Boeing should "more clearly and concisely inform pilots of the highest priority actions when multiple flight deck alerts and indications are present," the NTSB said. U.S. House of Representatives Transportation Committee chairman Peter DeFazio said on Thursday that the NTSB report suggests Boeing "may not have made realistic assumptions about how pilots respond to multiple simultaneous and potentially confusing warnings in emergency situations." "Commercial airplanes should be able to be safely flown by an appropriately-trained pilot on his or her worst day," DeFazio added. The FAA said in a statement it "will carefully review these and all other recommendations as we continue our review of the proposed changes to the Boeing 737 MAX." Boeing, in a statement, said it is "committed to working with the FAA in reviewing the NTSB recommendations." 'WAKE-UP CALL' Robert Clifford, the lead lawyer for families of victims of the Ethiopian Airlines crash who are suing Boeing, said the recommendations should be "a wake-up call" for the FAA "to put these measures into effect as soon as possible." The NTSB said the FAA should address assumptions Boeing and other manufacturers make in designing software systems to react to emergencies, and whether the systems should be revised to account for varying pilot reactions to cockpit alarms and alerts. The safety board also said the FAA should develop "robust tools and methods" to validate assumptions about pilot response. Boeing is revising the 737 MAX software to require the MCAS system to receive input from both AOA sensors, and has added additional safeguards. The report came a day after Boeing's board said it had created a new permanent safety committee to oversee development, manufacturing and operation of its aircraft and services. The NTSB said it was not analyzing pilot actions in the two fatal crashes and that the recommendations were not a reflection on the pilots in those crashes. Boeing's 737 MAX safety system assessments assumed "immediate and appropriate pilot corrective actions in response to uncommanded flight control inputs, from systems such as MCAS," the NTSB said. It should take into account how other possible flight deck alerts and other factors could impact pilots' decision making and makes changes as warranted, the agency added. The NTSB said it wants the FAA to require the same assessment for all other airplane manufacturers and believes other international regulators that certify airplanes should consider making the same changes. It is not clear when Boeing will conduct a key certification test flight, a step needed before the FAA can return the plane to service. The company has said it hopes to resume flights early in the fourth quarter. The FAA said last week it will need a month after the test flight is completed before it could allow flights to resume. https://www.yahoo.com/news/1-boeing-did-not-adequately-185601071.html Back to Top 'System is not broken' after 737 MAX crashes: review panel chair A photo of Boeing 737 MAX airplanes parked on the tarmac at the Boeing Factory in Renton NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration process for certifying new airplanes is not broken but needs to be improved, the chair of an international panel of air-safety regulators, tasked to review Boeing Co's 737 Max, said on Friday. Speaking on the sidelines of an event at a New York City college, Christopher Hart, chair of the multi-agency panel, said there was no need to question the agency's overall way of certifying airplanes. "The U.S. aviation system each day transports millions of people safely, so it's not like we have to completely overhaul the entire system, it's not broken. But these incidents have shown us that there are ways to improve the existing system," Hart said, referring to fatal crashes of a Lion Air 737 MAX in Indonesia and an Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX five months apart that killed a total of 346 people. The MAX remains grounded and Boeing has not set when it will conduct a key certification test flight. Some in Congress and in aviation have criticized the FAA's longstanding practice of delegating certification tasks to manufacturers. Michael Perrone, who heads the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists union, said at a House hearing in July that external entities designated by the FAA "are now performing more than 90 percent of FAA's certification activities despite serious concerns that oversight is lacking." Hart, former chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and a licensed pilot, heads the Joint Authorities Technical Review, a panel including air-safety regulators from the United States, Canada, China, Indonesia, European Union and Brazil. Reuters reported on Sept. 17 the review's recommendations will include citing regulations that need to be harmonized internationally and where communications can be improved at the FAA and among international regulators, citing a person briefed on the matter. Hart on Friday said the panel would release its recommendations to the FAA "shortly," but declined to provide more details on the timeline. He said the panel's goal was not for all of its members to agree, but to provide a wide range of opinions and recommendations to the FAA. Hart spoke to students the Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology in Queens. Asked by a student whether passengers can be expected to fly again on a 737 MAX, Hart said he predicted people would "sooner or later forget" about the crashes and investigations. "This will be the safest airplane out there by the time it has to go through all the hoops and hurdles," he said. He also was optimistic when asked whether the deadly crashes would spell the end for Boeing's 737 MAX program. "It will be a cold day in hell before Southwest starts moving away from 737s because that's all they got," Hart said, referring to Southwest Airlines Co , which has canceled flights into January because of the MAX grounding. A Southwest Airlines spokesman declined to comment directly on Hart's comments but said the airline has "no plans to veer away from our all-737 fleet." https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/system-not-broken-737-max-212041166.html Back to Top Incident: Airbus A3ST near Hawarden on Sep 27th 2019, cracked windshield An Airbus Airbus A300-600 Beluga, registration F-GSTB performing flight BGA-134B from Hamburg Finkenwerder (Germany) to Hawarden,EN (UK), was descending towards Hawarden when the crew reported a cracked windshield. Emergency services took their stand by positions for the arrival. The aircraft landed safely on runway 22. The aircraft is still on the ground in Hawarden about 9 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4cd5642c&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Indigo A20N at Mumbai on Sep 27th 2019, engine problem An Indigo Airbus A320-200N, registration VT-IJC performing flight 6E-463 from Chandigarh to Mumbai (India) with 144 people on board, was on approach to Mumbai when the crew requested priority due to an abnormal indication for the left hand engine (PW1127G). The aircraft continued for a safe landing on Mumbai's runway 27 about 15 minutes later. The airline confirmed the captain received a warning for the left hand engine, worked the related standard operating procedures and requested priority for landing. No emergency and no inflight shutdown had occurred. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground about 12 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4cd56262&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Omni B772 near Baltimore on Sep 26th 2019, hydraulic failure An Omni Air Boeing 777-200, registration N828AX performing flight OY-382 from Baltimore,MD (USA) to Tokyo Yokota (Japan) with crew only, was enroute at FL370 about 220nm northeast of Baltimore when the crew decided to return to Baltimore due to a hydraulic fault. The aircraft landed safely back about 2:40 hours after departure. The aircraft was towed off the runway. The aircraft remained on the ground for about 18 hours, then departed again. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/OAE382/history/20190926/1915Z/KBWI/RJTY http://avherald.com/h?article=4cd55620&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: Malta A320 at Malta on Sep 27th 2019, rejected takeoff due to bird strike An Air Malta Airbus A320-200, registration 9H-AEP performing flight KM-662 from Malta (Malta) to Palermo (Italy), was accelerating for takeoff from Malta's runway 31 when the crew rejected takeoff at high speed due to an engine (CFM56) ingesting a bird. The aircraft slowed safely and returned to the apron. The airline reported the rotation to Palermo was cancelled. The engine received considerable damage. http://avherald.com/h?article=4cd55153&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: ANA B789 near Novosibirsk on Sep 27th 2019, engine problem An ANA All Nippon Airways Boeing 787-9, registration JA873A performing flight NH-206 (dep Sep 26th) from Vienna (Austria) to Tokyo Haneda (Japan) with 194 passengers and 12 crew, was enroute at FL350 about 460nm north of Novosibirsk (Russia) when the crew observed an oil pressure drop for the left hand engine (Trent 1000). The aircraft drifted down to FL250 but continued enroute for another about 2050nm. However, the aircraft needed to divert to Khabarovsk (Russia) for a safe landing about 4:40 hours after leaving FL350. A replacement Boeing 787-9 registration JA899A positioned to Khabarovsk, continued the flight and reached Tokyo with a delay of 15 hours. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Khabarovsk about 24 hours after landing. http://avherald.com/h?article=4cd54f0e&opt=0 Back to Top Airbus A220 PW1500G engine failures prompt inspection AD 27 September 2019 The FAA issued an airworthiness directive (AD), requiring initial and repetitive inspections on certain Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan engines following two recent incidents. The first inflight shutdown occurred on July 25, 2019 and the second occurred on September 16, 2019. In both cases, the aircraft involved was a Swiss International Air Lines Airbus A220-300 with Pratt & Whitney PW1524G-3 engines. These inflight shutdowns were due to failure of the low-pressure compressor (LPC) stage 1 rotor, which resulted in the rotor disk releasing from the LPC case and damaging the engine. To prevent recurrences, the FAA requires initial and repetitive borescope inspections of the LPC inlet guide vane (IGV) and the LPC stage 1 rotor and, depending on the results of the inspections, replacement of the LPC. Although these incidents occurred on PW1524G-3 model turbofan engines, the FAA is including PW1900 engines because similarities in type design make these engines susceptible to the same unsafe condition. The required inspections have to be performed within 50 flight cycles from September 26, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 50 flight cycles until the engine accumulates 300 flight cycles. The investigation into both incidents has been delegated to the NTSB. https://news.aviation-safety.net/2019/09/27/airbus-a220-pw1500g-engine-failures-prompt-inspection-ad/ Back to Top Air Malta warns passengers to expect delays as second aircraft is damaged Air Malta has warned its customers to expect delays after another of its aircraft was damaged. An Air Malta aircraft operating flight KM662 from Malta to Palermo this afternoon suffered a bird strike during take-off at Malta International Airport, the airline said. The captain rejected the take-off and the aircraft was taken back to its stand. Rejected take-offs are performed to maintain the highest level of safety in such situations. All passengers are safe and are being taken care of. KM662/3 Malta - Palermo - Malta has been cancelled and customers will be offered full refund or re-routings on other Air Malta flights. The aircraft, which sustained considerable damage to one engine, is currently being checked by engineers with a view to return it to normal operations as soon as possible, Air Malta said. "With two aircraft grounded, following also an incident sustained to another aircraft in London Gatwick two days ago, the airline's flight schedule looks challenging today and for this weekend. Delays are thus expected." On Thursday, Air Malta said one of its planes was damaged after it was hit by a jetty bridge at Gatwick. Air Malta customers are advised to check the airline's Website www.airmalta.com and Facebook page www.facebook.com/AirMalta/ for updated information. Customers can also call the airline's call center on +356 2166 2211. Safety for its customers and crew remains Air Malta's top priority. Air Malta apologised for this inconvenience due to circumstances beyond its control. https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2019-09-27/local-news/Air-Malta-warns-passengers-to-expect-delays-as-second-aircraft-is-damaged-6736214069 Back to Top Atlanta airport employee pinned against airplane, killed in incident on tarmac, police say The victim was operating as a spotter and got pinned between a vehicle and a plane. ATLANTA - Atlanta police say an employee at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport was killed this week in what appears to be a freak accident on the tarmac. The operator of a bag loader vehicle was backing the machine up to the opening of an airplane on Wednesday. Police say as he did, the victim, operating as a spotter, became caught between the vehicle and the airplane. Police said the victim was transported to Grady Hospital where he later died. No charges are expected, police say. https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/atlanta-airport-worker-killed/85-cbaafb36-8ef9-42cf-95ab-beb66f79dd7b Back to Top Cathay Pacific airlines terminates 2 employees who allegedly tampered with plane's oxygen canisters The Cathay Pacific Group has terminated two airline employees for allegedly tampering with a Cathay Dragon aircraft's oxygen canister prior to a flight. News of the partially emptied canister, which was discovered Sept. 21 on a flight bound for Hong Kong from Kuala Lumpur, comes amid investigations into several other instances of oxygen canisters being tampered with on Cathay Pacific flights. "Cathay Dragon immediately reported the case to the Hong Kong Police, who have launched a parallel investigation into the matter. The Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department (CAD) has been informed," the Cathay Pacific Group said in a statement obtained by the South China Morning Post. The partially emptied canister was reportedly found on a Cathay Dragon aircraft. "The airline is taking the issue very seriously," the airline group said of the tampering incidents, which now total seven. "Safety and security are always our greatest priority." The portable canisters are designed to be used by the flight crew in the case of a depressurization event, as the bottles allow cabin crew to be able to remain mobile on the aircraft. The motive of the accused Cathay Pacific employees was not immediately clear; however, the news comes after the airline group, under new CEO Augustus Tang Kin, reportedly laid off "scores" of staffers over their alleged support for the protests in Hong Kong, the South China Morning Post reported. Staffers have also reportedly been warned not to take part in the protests. "The airline is taking the issue very seriously," the airline group added of the tampering incidents, which now total seven. "Safety and security are always our greatest priority." "The airline is taking the issue very seriously," the airline group added of the tampering incidents, which now total seven. "Safety and security are always our greatest priority." (iStock) Cabin crews are now being instructed to thoroughly inspect certain plane compartments, as well as the oxygen canisters, ahead of flights. News of the Cathay Pacific firings comes shortly after an American Airlines mechanic was accused of trying to sabotage a plane in July, by attempting to disable instruments used to gather in-flight data. Upon arrest, he claimed to be unhappy over negotiations between the airline and its mechanics union; prosecutors later accused him of previously displaying sympathies for ISIS. https://www.foxnews.com/travel/cathay-pacific-airlines-terminates-employees-tampered-oxygen-canisters Back to Top Two Former NTSB Experts Create the "Flight Safety Detectives" Podcast The new show will dig into all aspects of aviation. John Goglia and Gregory Feith Goglia and Feith want to tell stories that can't be told in 30-second soundbites.RDC Communications John Goglia and Gregory Feith, two well-known and outspoken aviation safety insiders, this week released episode three of their new podcast the "Flight Safety Detectives." The show looks in depth at aircraft accidents, aircraft technology and the big business of aviation around the world. The hosts will also provide important "backstories" to the flying public and the industry, especially those that can't be explained in a typical TV 30-second soundbite. The pair of safety experts will also discuss the politics and policies behind many issues that can mean life or death in the skies, while informing listeners about industry technologies and improvements that make aviation the safest form of transportation today. A number of episodes are currently available that include discussions about topics like the October 2018 crash of Lion Air Flight 610, the Boeing 737MAX 8 jet, and the second 737MAX 8 jet crash involving Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 in March 2019. Goglia spent nearly a decade as an NTSB Board member and remains the only airframe and powerplant mechanic to ever receive that presidential appointment. His experience in the industry has made him a highly sought-after consultant, expert, speaker and writer. He is a frequent contributor to Forbes and the author of "Torqued," a monthly column appearing in AINOnline. Goglia is chairman of the Professional Aviation Maintenance Association (PAMA). Feith is a former NTSB Senior Air Safety Investigator and "Go-Team" captain with more than 40 years of experience under his belt, including more than two decades with the NTSB serving as the Investigator-In-Charge or U.S. Accredited Representative for numerous high-profile aircraft accidents. Some of those were the crash of Valujet in the Florida Everglades, American Eagle ATR-72 in Roselawn, a Korean Air Boeing 747 in Guam and others. https://www.flyingmag.com/flight-safety-detectives-podcast/ Back to Top The Dangers of Delaying FAA Modernization Opinion: Grounded by mid-20th-century technology, air traffic controllers cannot handle the ongoing demands of commercial airlines and drones. Last month, during his swearing-in remarks as the new administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, Stephen Dickson promised to "ensure our aviation system maintains its proper place leading the world in both safety and operational performance." The Honorable Tidal W. (Ty) McCoy is the former acting secretary and senior assistant secretary of the Air Force and a board member of the Cyber, Space, & Intelligence Association. That's a noble charge, and one we can all support. But to hold firm to his pledge, Dickson and Congress are both going to have to ensure that proper investments are made to address glaring, costly, and dangerous technological deficiencies in our air traffic control system to move this critical piece of infrastructure into the 21st century. As the former acting secretary of the Air Force I know a thing or two about the challenges facing our national airspace. Many of our air traffic controllers are relying on 50 year-old radar installations and antiquated equipment to safely guide passengers through our increasingly crowded skies. "There's no resiliency and redundancy in the system so if something went wrong, there wouldn't be backup," William Ris, a member of the US Department of Transportation's Management Advisory Council, told Transportation Today. Commercial airliners now carry 26 percent more passengers than they did just a decade ago, and flew over 1 trillion passenger miles for the first time ever in 2018. And the advent of new technologies is dramatically changing the makeup of our skies. The number of drones registered with the FAA tripled over the last three years, to 1.3 million. Local governments, law enforcement, and farmers are increasingly utilizing them to patrol neighborhoods and monitor crops and livestock. This tremendous growth in traffic will add even more complexity to a system that is already stretched thin. Tech companies such as Amazon and logistics giants UPS and FedEx have already made significant investments in drone delivery, and the technology has made real strides. But until the FAA is able to in turn adopt technologies that allow it to solve ongoing problems such as identifying drones and managing unmanned aircraft traffic, innovation in this space is likely to suffer. Private air taxis, meanwhile, could be in flying as soon as 2023. While that date may seem like stretch, transporting humans in small aircrafts will still need to be monitored by the FAA, adding another new group of vehicles to the system in the next decade. The burgeoning private spaceflight industry could also be hampered by delayed air traffic control modernization. No less than six private companies are competing to launch humans into space, bringing us ever closer the dawn of space tourism. The FAA needs to plan for this reality. Taking into account all of these emerging flight technologies makes it clear that a more robust air traffic control system is urgently needed to keep order in the skies and maintain the forward momentum of America's aerospace and tech innovators. Yet in spite of this increased flying demand, funding uncertainty has plagued the FAA for years. Since 2007, Congress has passed 27 short-term funding extensions for the Agency, making it difficult to engage in long-term planning. This jeopardizes not only our safety, but also directly impacts the ability to bring these new technologies to market. The FAA has been working, since 2003, to update to the Next Generation Air Transportation System, which promises to make flying safer, more efficient, and more predictable, and has made some progress. Current ground-based radar technology limits the amount of usable airspace, exacerbates flight delays, and reduces flexibility in flight scheduling. But NextGen has stalled in recent years. Some NextGen features are already in effect, others have been delayed to 2030. Much more can be done with additional funding. Technologies such as enhanced digital communications will allow pilots to receive immediate, digital flight plans, and incorporate data into their flight to make real-time adjustments. Other collaborative surface tools will allow controllers to safely decrease the distance between airplanes, adding much needed additional capacity in America's most congested flying areas. Despite the promises NextGen holds for enhanced air travel, in February Congress cut the FAA's 2019 budget by $549 million. What little money the FAA has in its accounts has been put toward modernization, but it is not nearly enough. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao recently announced millions of dollars in airport infrastructure grants, but as much as $14.8 billion is still needed to fully implement the NextGen system. While that seems like a lot of money, consider the alternative. Travel delays cost passengers, airlines, and airports $28 billion in 2018 alone. That does not even take into account the economic losses from delaying innovation in America's emerging aerospace tech industries. With just a fraction of that money we could finish modernizing our nation's airspace for the travelers of today and tomorrow. The FAA itself estimates that NextGen alone could bring $160 billion in benefits over the next 15 years, if it's fully implemented. Putting off these upgrades now merely will lead to greater costs down the road. America's airspace is vital to our economy and innovation, and these investments need to be made now. https://www.wired.com/story/the-dangers-of-delaying-faa-modernization/ Back to Top National Flight Academy Hosts Girls in Aviation Day Event Oct. 5 The National Flight Academy (NAS Pensacola, FL) will be hosting a Girls in Aviation Day event on Saturday, Oct.5, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. This event is open to students in 3rd - 12th grade, but seating is limited to the first 100 registrants. The cost is $30 per person, with lunch included. Girls will rotate through four different educational spaces in the National Flight Academy to learn about the forces of flight, participate in hands-on activities, such as building their own hovercraft, and team up for aviation-themed scavenger hunts. Finally, they will fly simulators in pilot and copilot teams. The event will conclude with a graduation ceremony and guest speaker. The Girls In Aviation Day guest speaker is Major Kristin "Tally" Hollrith. She is a member of the 301st Fighter Squadron "Kats" and flies T-38s as an Adversary Air Instructor Pilot, supporting the F-22 Formal Training Unit. She is a 2006 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and has over 2000 hours flying the T-6, F-16 and T-38, both in training and combat. One of her most notable flying experiences was while she was a part of the 77th Fighter Squadron where she deployed in support of combat operations during Operation Inherent Resolve. Kristin is married to a fellow fighter pilot, Major Paul "TONE" Hollrith, they have two children and two dogs. All registrants will receive a pink Girls in Aviation Day drawstring backpack, "Aviation for Girls" magazine and other National Flight Academy giveaways. All Girls Scouts will receive a free GIAD Girl Scout Patch. Girls in Aviation Day is a worldwide event with activities planned by Women in Aviation International chapters in the United States and around the globe. Now in its fifth year, Girls in Aviation Day is designed to introduce and educate girls 8 to 17 years of age on the many career choices and lifestyle possibilities offered by the aviation/aerospace industry. To view the 2018 National Flight Academy Girls in Aviation Day event video, visit http://youtube.com/watch?v=j53xzcKdOv4. The online registration deadline for this event is September 30 at 5 p.m. A $30 advanced registration fee is required, limited to the first 100 registrants. https://www.ultracamp.com/info/sessiondetail.aspx?idCamp=604&campCode=nfa&idSession=230545 https://weartv.com/features/community-calendar/national-flight-academy-hosts-girls-in-aviation-day-event Back to Top I am among 5% of all the pilots in America - a woman Kimberly Perkins is a Seattle-based female captain with almost two decades of flying experience. She has piloted jet aircraft on six continents. (Photo Courtesy of Kimberly Perkins) Picture a pilot. Is that pilot a man? If so, you're probably right. Men make up 95% of all the pilots in America. Five decades of recruiting efforts have raised the percentage of female pilots from 3.5% in the 1960s to 5% today. I'm one of the them. Organizations have been formed to recruit, train and mentor women in this field, but despite these efforts the numbers remain dismal. The past five decades shows us that the industry trajectory for gender parity is centuries away. If moralistic reasons weren't enough to jump aboard the gender-parity train, perhaps fiscal motivations can compel you. Despite the future-is-female campaigns and Rosie the Riveter posters, women have not gravitated toward piloting at any substantial rate. As an industry, women make up nearly 30% of non-pilot jobs. But, a woman in aviation is twice as likely to be an aerospace engineer than a pilot and five times as likely to be an air traffic controller. Female pilots make up 12% of the student-pilot population. As they progress in their career, that percentage dips to 6% at an intermediate level (commercial-pilot license) and dwindles to just 4% at the highest rung of the career ladder. Even when the recruitment does attract women through the flight-deck door, something within the industry turns them away. As a Seattle-based female captain with almost two decades of flying experience, I have watched women leave the industry at varying stages of their career, but almost always for the same reasons: the industry has poor quality-of-life policies and is not family-friendly. While family care should not be a gendered-role, women, worldwide, are responsible for 75 percent of the unpaid labor (care and domestic work), which helps explains why women are missing from the flight deck. The aviation-industry structure disproportionately favors men, not maliciously, but because it was built by men for men years ago. That status quo worked for decades, but it is failing us now. The pilot shortage is real. Airlines are parking planes and canceling flights due to a lack of crew. Boeing's CEO estimates that the pilot shortage is one of the industry's biggest challenges and predicts a need of 800,000 new pilots within the next two decades. Aside from the moral obligations to advocate for gender parity, we now have financial reasons to recruit more women. But recruiting alone is not enough. It is time for the aviation industry to restructure through an inclusive lens. Paid family leave, child-care allowances, tuition reimbursement and schedule-predictability policies should become the industry norm. Such initiatives will retain both women and men while also recruiting more aviators into the pilot pipeline. The industry already has a lot to offer, such as unique schedules, salaries above $100,000 after a few years, and, of course, the opportunity to see the world with a pretty amazing office view. If the industry would adopt more quality-of-life initiatives as standard practice, it would not have to hard-sell new recruits. Simple solutions and revolutionary restructuring are obtainable, but it will take all of us to challenge the status quo. Airlines could offer more day-trip-only schedules and industry agencies could advocate for unconscious bias training to be included in crew resource management training. Committees within the industry must focus on diversity and inclusivity initiatives. Such a restructure may seem controversial, but the industry already has gone through a major transformation. There is precedence that the industry can adapt to restructure and thrive. Modernity has transformed not only the airplanes themselves, but the meaning of what defines a "good" pilot and the skills necessary for the job. Technological advancements have yielded nearly self-sufficient flying computers, yet they lack the human social skills necessary to function in a collaborative, crew environment. The ability to rationalize, empathize and evaluate qualitatively are the "soft skills" necessary to work in a fast-paced, multi-crew environment. Airlines know the importance of these soft skills, which is why they include them in their hiring criteria along with piloting experience and education. One's emotional intelligence is no longer a trait only for managers, but a metric used to determine if a potential new-hire is a good fit with the company's culture. The skills needed to aviate have been weighted by a modern scale. So, what does this mean for women? It means that women are missing from the flight deck because of socially constructed barriers. The good news: We can fix this. We've seen technological advancements transform aircraft and improve the very definition of what makes for a "good" pilot. Now, it is the industry's responsibility to transform policy so we can recruit and retain more pilots and reverse the pilot shortage. The overhaul of the industry must include re-evaluating the structure through a more inclusive lens with family-friendly and quality-of-life initiatives. The heyday of the industry doesn't have to be the glory days of Pan Am. The best of the industry is still ahead of us, but we can't get there without all becoming advocates for gender parity. https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/i-am-among-5-of-all-the-pilots-in-america-a-woman/ Back to Top SpaceX's Starship halves come together ahead of a big event Meanwhile, NASA's administrator noted commercial crew program delays. SpaceX Ten days after we got a peek at the construction of SpaceX's first Starship in Texas, CEO Elon Musk tweeted out a picture of the craft's two halves coming together. It's a timely post, as Musk is planning a press conference Saturday evening with updates on the company's programs, including its Starships. Last year Musk revealed that Japanese billionaire will be the first lunar space tourist, so who knows what's in store now. This 10-story-high Mk1 will provide a perfect backdrop for his comments, but that's not all. It's also fitted with three of SpaceX's Raptor engines, that should be enough to power a test flight soon. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said he's looking forward to the event, but also noted that Commercial Crew efforts are behind schedule. https://www.engadget.com/2019/09/27/spacex-starship-mk1/ Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY (1) Dear Participants, You are being asked to participate in a research study to assess a pilot's trust in air traffic controllers. This study is expected to take approximately 5 minutes of your time. In order to participate, you must be a resident of the United States, at least 18 years old, and a certified pilot. Participation in this study is voluntary, and you may choose to opt out of the study at any time. If you choose to opt out, your data will be immediately destroyed. We appreciate your consideration and time to complete our study. Please click on or copy and paste the URL below: https://forms.gle/JmvoYiUBb3BfJbgY9 For more information, please contact: Brad Baugh, Ph.D. in Aviation Candidate baughfd0@my.erau.edu We appreciate your interest and participation! Back to Top GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY (2) Dear Fellow Aviators, I kindly invite you to take part in a short online survey concerning the Psychological Assessment of Pilots in Commercial Airline Operations. This is part of my dissertation towards the award of a master's degree in Air Safety Management from the City University of London, U.K. I am currently an Instructor and Training Captain for a leading international airline, flying the Boeing 777 and 787. The survey is specifically meant for Commercial Airline or Business/ Corporate pilots. The survey is an important element of the project as it ascertains Airline Pilot views and opinions about Mental Health. It has been four years since the Germanwings crash and there has been very little done in terms of testing and support of mental health issues of aviators. The survey is available at the following link and will take less than 20 minutes to complete. All responses are completely anonymous and no data including IP addresses are collected. https://forms.gle/jWBYaV5AGArhEVtC7 More information on the survey is included in the Introduction section. Thank you in advance for your invaluable time and insights. I can be contacted on sanjay.rao@city.ac.uk for any further clarifications. Blue skies and safe flights, Capt. Sanjay Sakaram Rao Back to Top Back to Top Manager, Internal Evaluation Program Internal Evaluation is an essential component of Safety Management Systems (SMS). This role will partner with the SMS Director to help department heads implement best practices and measure their success against established metrics. Responsible for developing and executing the internal audit process to evaluate NetJets Aviation's operational policies and procedures. Design audit standards that will objectively examine internal processes for conformity to accepted best practices and compliance with regulatory standards. Report findings to the responsible department heads and assist in developing corrective action plans. The position will also coordinate third-party audits performed on NetJets Aviation and may serve as a Point of Contact for audit vendors. 30%: Develop and maintain internal audit processes, procedures, and documentation to analyze NetJets Aviation flight operations, training, and maintenance policies. 30%: Conduct internal audits on a schedule to be adjusted annually; report findings and observations to affected managers. 20%: Conduct all federal and other relevant regulatory compliance analysis related to flight and maintenance operations as assigned. 10%: Coordinate audits performed on NetJets by third-party vendors and prepare departments for external audits. 10%: Support SMS change-management initiatives as a subject matter expert or team leader as required. Education Level: Bachelor's Degree Course of Study/Major: Aviation / Business or related field, or equivalent combination of training and experience. Type of Credentials/Licenses: FAA Commercial Pilot, Aircraft Dispatcher, or Maintenance Technician Related Work Experience: 6-8 years • 2+ years in an aviation management position (dispatch, maintenance, scheduling, in-flight), or as a line pilot, with a certified air carrier (91K, 135, or 121). • In-depth knowledge of SMS concepts and the carrier's regulatory environment. • Working knowledge of auditing principles, standards, and practices. • Experience with root-cause analysis and process development. • Excellent written and oral communication skills. • Demonstrated leadership skills and ability to manage multiple projects and/or working groups. • Outstanding analytical and problem-solving abilities. To apply, please visit www.netjets.com/careers Back to Top Maintenance Safety Specialist The Maintenance Safety Specialist position assists the Director, Maintenance Safety in the execution of the comprehensive NetJets Safety Program. This includes reviewing, evaluating and processing safety reports, analyzing data, assessing risks and making recommendations on how to minimize the risks involved in NetJets flight and maintenance operations. Assist the Director, Maintenance Safety in development and execution of the NJA safety programs through: 50%: Evaluate, analyze and process safety reports submitted to any of the NJA administered Aviation Safety Action Programs (ASAP) including but not limited to: • Investigating the issues raised in each safety report • Make recommendations to management regarding changes to policy, procedures and practices to enhance safety • Collection and analysis of policy, maintenance records, and fatigue assessments to determine if safety enhancements are available or warranted. • Provide opinion and interpretation of collected materials to the ASAP ERC. • Act and speak on behalf of NJA as the ASAP Event Review Committee (ERC) representative on a rotating basis. • Administer corrective actions in response to ASAP ERC findings. 20%: Participate in, or conduct research into irregular events occurring during NJA maintenance flight operations 10%: Research and analyze trend data in the NetJets Safety Program and other industry data. 10%: Track ASAP related safety recommendations and corrective actions to ensure that follow-up actions have been taken that are effective. Determine if the actions have been effective and if not, make recommendations for additional changes or corrective action. 5%: Contribute to the production of the NetJets Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) quarterly newsletters. 5%: Acts as an information conduit to bring safety of flight issues to the attention of management and to deliver safety information to NJA employees. Education Level: High School Graduate Type of Credentials/Licenses: Maintenance Technician Certificate, A&P License Related Work Experience: 2 years or equivalent experience Required: • Must be able to work independently and use independent discretion and judgment. • Exposure to responding to irregular events as well as identifying, evaluating and writing risk assessments for said events. • Familiarity with safety analysis, trending and risk assessment. • Ability to use sound judgment in analyzing reports, assessing risks and making recommendations. • Must possess a demonstrated high degree of personal and professional integrity with the ability to maintain confidentiality. • Detail oriented characteristics with an ability to prioritize multiple objectives in a dynamic environment with constantly shifting priorities. • Strong verbal and written communication with the ability to write effective reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals. • Technical computer expertise and proficient knowledge in commercial off-the-shelf applications, such as Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint). • Must be effective working both individually as well as in a team environment with the ability to interact in a tactful manner. • Able to read and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures and governmental regulations with a working knowledge of applicable Federal Aviation Regulations. • Demonstrated ability to interact with people at varying levels of authority. Desired: • Operational Experience within Aviation Safety, Flight Operations, Maintenance, or equivalent transportation industry. • Professional training and/or education in safety or investigation fundamentals. • Experience or training in Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP). • Professional experience and/or education in aviation safety investigations with particular experience or training in Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP). • Professional experience and/or education in aviation safety. • Demonstrated public speaking and presentation skills with the ability to effectively present on both the individual level and to large audiences, including NetJets employees, industry professionals and federal agencies. To apply, please visit www.netjets.com/careers Back to Top Technical and Training Manager Flight Safety Foundation l BARS Melbourne, Australia An exciting role for a high-performing aviation expert as Technical and Training Manager with Flight Safety Foundation. Flight Safety Foundation is a non-profit organization staffed and managed by a small group of specialists in aviation safety and aviation communications. Operations are overseen by a board of governors, with primary guidance by a foundation governance council. The board is composed of executives from all segments of the global aviation industry to provide as broad a view of issues as possible. In addition, several standing advisory committees and ad hoc study groups provide focused, detailed direction and assistance in identifying and addressing opportunities for the continual improvement of aviation safety worldwide. Founded in 1947, today, membership includes more than 1,000 organizations and individuals in 150 countries. The Foundation is based in Alexandria, Virginia, USA and has a regional office in Melbourne, Australia. The predominant purpose of the Melbourne office of FSF is to run the BARS Program. The BARS Program is made up of a suite of risk-based aviation industry Standards with supporting Implementation Guidelines. There are dedicated Standards for Contracted Aviation Operations, Offshore Helicopter Operations, Aerial Mustering and Remotely Piloted Aerial Systems. The role of Technical and Training Manager has been created to support the Managing Director in the delivery of the BARS Program objectives and support the Technical team in the function of the Audit Program delivery and quality control. We are seeking to appoint a candidate with the following credentials: - Relevant tertiary qualifications in Business and/or Engineering, • Extensive experience (10-15+ years) in either flight operations (pilot or flight engineer) roles or a maintenance & engineering role. • Aviation background and knowledge-based leadership (through aviation technical expertise) is critical to the success of the role • The ability to lead and coach the Technical team by developing and educating them in areas of aviation safety. • Deep understanding of Safety Management Systems (SMS) (ICAO Annex 19 and Doc 9859) and Quality principles (ISO 9001:2016 or ISO 9000). • Experience in delivering training in a classroom environment. • Excellent written skills to undertake data analysis and prepare reports. • Excellent communications skills and the ability to confidently present at Public Speaking events • Strong analytical skills to interpret complex data • Strong organisational and project management skills • Competent with Microsoft Office - Word, Excel PowerPoint and Outlook • Tableau or Power BI would be an advantage • Prepared to travel domestically and internationally regularly (unrestricted passport) • Pilots - Accident free record This role will be based in Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia For a confidential discussion about this role or to receive a copy of a detailed Position Description, please contact Jennifer Galvin-Rowley on +61 410 477 235 or email jen@galvinrowley.com.au Applications should be made online by visiting www.galvinrowley.com.au Curt Lewis