Flight Safety Information November 16, 2019 - No. 237 In This Issue U.S. FAA regulator head tells team to 'take whatever time needed' on 737 MAX Incident: Frontier A320 at Green Bay on Nov 14th 2019, bird strike Incident: British Airways B744 over Hudson Strait on Nov 12th 2019, airspeed indication problem Cessna 550 Citation II crashed on landing at resort airstrip in Brazil, killing one Private jet crashes into parked plane on runway at San Antonio airport Report: Pilots faced shifting winds before fatal crash Plane at Jackson airport evacuated due to smoke The TSA is planning to shoot down drones near airports EASA Proposes Tighter Flight, Cockpit Recorder Measures Seven IAF pilots sent to Russia for India's first manned mission to space CABIN CREW FATIGUE RESEARCH PROJECT Position Available:...Aircraft Accident Investigator BlazeTech Aircraft Fire Hazards, Protection and Investigation Course - May 26- 28, 2020 in Woburn MA, USA U.S. FAA regulator head tells team to 'take whatever time needed' on 737 MAX WASHINGTON/SEATTLE, Nov 15 (Reuters) - The head of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has told his team to "take whatever time is needed" in their review of Boeing Co's 737 MAX, according to a Nov. 14 memo and video message reviewed by Reuters. The comments came days after Boeing said it expected the FAA to certify the 737 MAX, issue an airworthiness directive and unground the plane in mid-December. That timetable sent the planemaker's stock price soaring on Monday, even as it acknowledged that it would not win approval for changes to pilot training until January. U.S. officials have privately said this week that Boeing's timetable was aggressive - if not unrealistic - and was not cleared in advance by regulators. On Friday, FAA Administrator Steve Dickson sent a clear message that the agency would make the decision on its own timetable on whether to unground the plane that was involved in two fatal crashes in five months, killing 346 people in Indonesia and Ethiopia. "This effort is not guided by a calendar or schedule," Dickson wrote in the memo sent to Ali Bahrami, a top FAA safety official. Dickson offered his unequivocal support for a "data-driven methodical analysis, review and validation of the modified flight control systems and pilot training required to safely return the MAX to commercial service." Boeing still must complete an audit of its software documentation before it can schedule a key certification test flight and faces other hurdles. In a video message posted on YouTube on Friday, Dickson said: "I am not going to sign off on this aircraft until I fly it myself and I am satisfied that I would put my own family on it without a second thought." "I know there is a lot of pressure to return this aircraft to service quickly. But I want you to know, that I want you to take the time you need and focus solely on safety. I've got your back," Dickson said. "The FAA fully controls the approval process." Boeing said on Friday it was working closely with the FAA and other regulatory authorities. "With the rigorous scrutiny being applied, we are confident the MAX will be one of the safest airplanes ever to fly," the company added, noting the "FAA and other regulatory authorities will determine the timing of certification and return to commercial service." The three U.S. airlines that operate the 737 MAX - Southwest Airlines Co, American Airlines Group Inc and United Airlines Holdings Inc - are scheduling flights without the aircraft until early March 2020, nearly a year since the grounding. Separately, Representative Peter DeFazio, who heads the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said on Friday he had sent a series of follow-up questions to Boeing Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg about the decisions that were made before, during, and after the rollout of the 737 MAX. Muilenburg testified before the committee on Oct. 30, and was repeatedly hammered by lawmakers over his compensation and key mistakes in the development of the MAX. https://www.yahoo.com/news/3-u-faa-regulator-head-185844664.html Back to Top Incident: Frontier A320 at Green Bay on Nov 14th 2019, bird strike A Frontier Airlines Airbus A320-200, registration N201FR performing flight F9-1230 from Orlando,FL to Green Bay,WI (USA), landed on Green Bay's Austin Straubel Airport's runway 36. A post flight inspection revealed the aircraft had sustained a bird strike disabling it to depart for the inaugural flight F9-1231 from Green Bay to Orlando. The flight needed to be postponed to the next day. The airline reported uncontrollable circumstances prevented the inaugural flight, a bird hit the engine. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/FFT1230/history/20191114/1155Z/KMCO/KGRB http://avherald.com/h?article=4cf4f942&opt=0 Back to Top Incident: British Airways B744 over Hudson Strait on Nov 12th 2019, airspeed indication problem A British Airways Boeing 747-400, registration G-CIVP performing flight BA-273 from London Heathrow,EN (UK) to San Diego,CA (USA), was enroute at FL360 over the Hudson Strait about 70nm westsouthwest of Kimmirut Lake Harbor Airport,NU (Canada) when the crew declared emergency reporting a problem with their speed indications. The aircraft deviated from the assigned flight level up to FL368 and returned to FL360. About 11 minutes later the crew advised, they had been able to resolve the issue, and cancelled the emergency. The aircraft continued for a safe landing in San Diego about 5:10 hours later. The Canadian TSB reported the crew declared emergency reporting problems with their speed indicators and cancelled the emergency 11 minutes later advising the situation has been resolved. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/BAW273/history/20191112/1330Z/EGLL/KSAN http://avherald.com/h?article=4cf4e9df&opt=0 Back to Top Cessna 550 Citation II crashed on landing at resort airstrip in Brazil, killing one Date: Thursday 14 November 2019 Time: ca 14:00 Type: Cessna 550 Citation II Operator: José João Abdalla Filho Registration: PT-LTJ C/n / msn: 550-0225 First flight: 1981 Crew: Fatalities: / Occupants: Passengers: Fatalities: / Occupants: Total: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 10 Aircraft damage: Destroyed Aircraft fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Maraú-Barra Grande Airport, BA ( Brazil) Phase: Landing (LDG) Nature: Domestic Non Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Jundiaí Airport, SP (QDV/SDJD), Brazil Destination airport: Maraú-Barra Grande Airport, BA (SIRI), Brazil Narrative: A Cessna 550 Citation II corporate jet crashed on landing at an airstrip at the Kiaroa Eco-Luxury Resort at Barra Grande, Maraú, Brazil. The aircraft burst into flames. One occupant was killed. https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20191114-0 Back to Top Private jet crashes into parked plane on runway at San Antonio airport No commercial air traffic was impacted SAN ANTONIO - A private jet in taxi accidentally crashed into a parked plane at the San Antonio International Airport Friday afternoon. No one was injured in the wreck that occurred before 4 p.m., according to Joe Arrington, a spokesperson with the San Antonio Fire Department. Aerial footage from Sky 12 showed one twin-jet plane partially parked on top of another twin-jet plane. Marktplatz building a 'total loss' after fire at Wurstfest grounds in New Braunfels, official says Airport spokesperson Rich Stinson said a Cessna Citation CJ3 accidentally thrusted during taxi and collided with a parked Cessna Citation Encore. The CJ3 was carrying a pilot, mechanic and two passengers, Stinson said. Both planes were on the tarmac at the time of impact. No commercial air traffic was impacted, but the crash did cause a 300-gallon fuel spill, Arrington said. Explosions at food truck park in San Marcos caused by propane leak, investigation finds The Federal Aviation Administration was on scene to investigate the crash. The CJ3 left a San Jose, Calif. airport at 12:23 p.m., according to Flightaware.com, a website that tracks flight activity. The Encore had been parked on the runway since Nov. 5, according to Flightaware.com. It arrived from New Orleans that day. https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2019/11/15/emergency-crews-respond-to-san- antonio-airport-after-plane-crash/ Back to Top Report: Pilots faced shifting winds before fatal crash JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - A report on the fatal crash of a commuter plane in a remote Alaska community indicates the flight crew abandoned an initial attempt to land and faced stronger winds on their second attempt, when the plane went off the runway. One person died and others were injured in the October crash in Unalaska. The investigative update from the National Transportation Safety Board says the plane sustained damage including a hole in the main body. A propeller blade was found inside. Cockpit voice recorder data indicated winds during the first approach were reported at 10 knots. During the second approach, they were reported at 24 knots. The report says the flight crew abandoned an initial attempt to land because they weren't stabilized. https://www.ktva.com/story/41329553/report-pilots-faced-shifting-winds-before-fatal- crash Back to Top Plane at Jackson airport evacuated due to smoke Flight grounded due to smoke JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - A plane was grounded at Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers Airport on Friday. Jackson Municipal Airport Authority said the United Airlines flight was kept on the ground due to smoke in the cockpit. The plane was about 30 feet from the jet bridge when the crew noticed the smoke. Passengers also said they smelled smoke in the back of the plane. "A number of people smelled the smoke; I have a cold so I couldn't smell it. But I could see in the cockpit, I saw something hazy in there," passenger Dr. randy Easterling said. "And that's when the plane stopped and that's when they announced that there was smoke in the cockpit and we would have to return." Everyone was able to get off the plane safely. United Airlines is working to get passengers on different flights. It's unclear what caused the smoke to appear. https://www.wlbt.com/2019/11/15/plane-jackson-airport-evacuated-due-smoke/ Back to Top Back to Top The TSA is planning to shoot down drones near airports. GOP congressmen say that's dangerous and probably illegal. Passengers wait to check in at Gatwick Airport near London in December 2018 after drones halted flights there. (Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP) The TSA wants to give air marshals the power to use Defense Department equipment to shoot down drones near airports, two congressmen said Friday, seeking to tackle the small automated aircraft that can harass much larger planes and leave flights grounded. But in a letter to the Department of Homeland Security that summarizes the plan, the top Republicans on the House Transportation and Homeland Security committees said the idea goes far beyond what they envisioned when they gave the federal government new powers to counter drones last year. Reps. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) said only the Federal Aviation Administration has the expertise to manage the nation's skies. "Nobody wants drones to cause disruptions at our airports, but to hastily hand over authority to shoot down drones to an agency that doesn't have the critical knowledge or experience of how our airspace system functions is irresponsible and dangerous," the congressmen said in a statement. Trump administration seeks authority to intercept drone communications to thwart domestic attacks DHS began working with other government departments to develop an emergency plan this summer, after a drone grounded traffic at London's busy Gatwick Airport shortly before Christmas, an incident that was first reported in Politico. The plans were finalized last month. British police arrested two people after repeated drone sightings near Gatwick led to 150 flights being canceled, disrupting the travel plans of 120,000 people. In January, authorities briefly stopped traffic at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey after two drones were spotted. The incidents vividly demonstrated a risk posed by drones that authorities have long warned about. The small aircraft run the risk of colliding with planes and helicopters, especially when they're taking off, and could even be converted into flying bombs. In response to the threat, Congress at the Trump administration's urging last year gave DHS new authority to tackle drones, including the power to destroy them, if they posed a danger to the security of sensitive locations, like Customs and Border Protection facilities and Secret Service offices. But in their letter, Graves and Rogers said Congress did not contemplate airports being covered in the new law. The congressmen also said the specifics of the DHS plan were ill-conceived, calling the department's experience using counter-drone technology "sorely lacking" and saying that the air marshals had a "complete absence of any experience in such matters." DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the plan, and it's not clear what kind of weapons it envisions using to tackle the drones. At this year's United Nations General Assembly in New York, the Secret Service and Coast Guard tested counter-drone technology, saying it planned to detect radio signals and potentially locate pilots to discuss what they're up to. If that didn't work, the authorities planned to use "technology to mitigate the threat by disrupting or disabling" the drones, according to a public disclosure. The FAA, which regulates drones, has been working on safety rules that would allow them to be remotely identified. But even as the government has sought new ways to counter the risks posed by drones, the FAA is increasingly embracing the technology, working with start-ups and established businesses alike to unlock its commercial potential. In recent weeks, an offshoot of Google and UPS have both begun the first regular commercial deliveries using drones. https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2019/11/15/tsa-is-planning-shoot- down-drones-near-airports-gop-congressmen-say-thats-dangerous-probably-illegal/ Back to Top EASA Proposes Tighter Flight, Cockpit Recorder Measures A notice of proposed amendment (NPA) from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) aims to improve the performance flight data recorders (FDR) and cockpit voice recorders (CVR) on large airplanes (CS-25) and large rotorcraft (CS-29) by addressing the following subjects: datalink recording; the serviceability of flight recorders; and the quality of recording of CVRs. The proposed changes to CS-25 and CS-29 are expected to "increase safety by addressing previously issued recommendations, contributing to facilitating investigations of accidents and incidents, and to ease the certification process of recorders for EASA state authorities and design organizations, thereby bringing an economic benefit for these stakeholders." According to EASA, one of the key factors leading to the NPA was the issue reported after some accidents on large airplanes in which the end of the recording was missing from the FDR due to the loss of normal electrical power. Consequently, the proposal mandates an alternate power source as a solution. Other objectives of the proposal include providing certification specifications to support compliance with the operational rules requiring the recording of datalink communications and improve the audio quality of CVR recordings. There are no specific compliance dates mentioned in the NPR other than a reminder that the proposed CVR datalink mandate would apply to the minimum 25 hour-recording time that will be required for airplanes with an mtow starting at 60,000 pounds manufactured on or after Jan 1. 2021, and two hours for all other airplanes. Comments on the NPA are due on Feb. 13, 2020. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2019-11-15/easa- proposes-tighter-flight-cockpit-recorder-measures Back to Top Seven IAF pilots sent to Russia for India's first manned mission to space Gaganyaan is India's manned space mission which the ISRO aims to launch by December 2021. Initially the cut-off age for the project was 30 but as the IAF pilots of that age group could not clear the test, the age bar was raised to 41. The Indian Air Force has shortlisted 12 potential astronauts for India's first manned space mission, the Gaganyaan project. Of them, seven pilots have been sent to Russia for training, the PTI quoted an IAF officer as saying. The officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, told PTI that the rest of the selected people would be sent once the batch of seven returns from Russia. "As many as 12 have been selected for the Gaganyaan project in the first level. This is a screening process. Of these, four will be finally selected," the officer said. "At the time of the launch of the project, one or two 'Gagan Yatris' will be selected for the Mission," he added. Gaganyaan is India's manned space mission which the ISRO aims to launch by December 2021. The project aims at sending the astronautsto a lower orbit of the earth and the spacecraft will have a capsule with adequate supply of oxygen and other essential material and facilities for the Gagan Yatris, the officer explained. The space agency is working in tandem with the IAF for the mission. According to the officer, initially the cut-off age for the project was 30 but as the IAF pilots of that age group could not clear the test, the age bar was raised to 41. Butola said the aero medical consultancy of crew module design, life support system, onboard health monitoring system and flight support system are yet to be accomplished. "Some of the most advanced countries in the world have attempted human space programme and in the face of challenges they had to abandon it because they could not succeed," he explained. The ambitious Gaganyaan mission was announced by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day speech in 2018. Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal R K S Bhadauria, on Thursday said the screening process for the selection of crew for ISRO's proposed humanspace flight programme- Gaganyaan-is being done professionally. "The screening process is well underway and I thinkit is being done very professionally. And increasingly, the interaction with ISRO is leading to greater understanding of the screening itself," he said. The Air Chief Marshal was speaking at the inaugural session of the three-day 58th Indian annual conference of the Indian Society for Aerospace Medicine (ISAM) here. Speaking about the role of IAF, Bhadauria said theteam coordinating with the Indian Space Research Organisation can look into the design aspect of the spacecraft such as the life support system, thedesign of the capsule and the contribution of this aviationmedicine division to make sure ISRO achieves the challenge it has taken up. Addressing the gathering, Air Marshal M S Butola, director-general medical services (Air), said "The first level of the Gagan Yatri (astronauts) selection process and selection of IAF crew to undergo final astronaut selection and training in Russia is completed." He said the task assigned to them has been completed well in time. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/seven-iaf-pilots-sent-to-russia-for- indias-first-space-manned-mission/articleshow/72067483.cms Back to Top CABIN CREW FATIGUE RESEARCH PROJECT Fatigue is a pervasive issue that affects all airline cabin crew. Fatigue may impede cabin crews' ability to consistently and effectively manage passengers from safety, security and service perspectives. As part of our undergraduate research project at Swinburne University of Technology (Melbourne, Australia), we are conducting a survey of international cabin crew primarily engaged in long-haul (LH) and ultra long-haul (ULH) flight operations. This survey asks cabin crew for their views on various issues associated with work- related fatigue and stress. We also seek your views on the availability and effectiveness of various fatigue countermeasures. If you are working as LH or ULH cabin crew, you are invited to participate in this study. You will be asked to complete an online questionnaire, which also includes a consent form. The study takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. To access the study, please go to the following website: https://swinuw.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8qBLCKgmpWlraxT Participants who complete the study will be eligible to enter a draw to win the latest iPad (6th Generation). This research project is being supervised by Peter Renshaw at the Department of Aviation, Swinburne University of Technology. If you have any questions, please contact Peter at prenshaw@swin.edu.au Back to Top Position Available: Aircraft Accident Investigator The position is for a very seasoned person in the field of aircraft accident investigation, fixed wing and helicopter. The requirements include previous experience in some/all of the following areas: Piloting, Aircraft Maintenance, Federal Aviation Regulations, Engineering (Aeronautical, Mechanical, Aerospace, Forensic, Design), Aerodynamics, Aircraft Design, Human Factors, Accident Reconstruction, Impact Kinematics, Manufacturing, Aviation Weather, Technical Report Writing, Piston and Turbine engine operation and failure, Fire Investigation, Material Science. The position requires a minimum of a 4-year degree from an accredited college or university. Post graduate education and degrees are preferred. The position will involve some level of very short- term travel on a bi-weekly to monthly basis. Previous expert witness deposition and trial testimony experience is preferred although not required as long as credentials will qualify the applicant in an expert capacity. Physical capabilities to travel to primarily US destinations for aircraft wreckage and crash site inspections will be necessary. Compensation will be based on experience and industry marketability directly proportional to industry billing rates and standards. The listing company has been in the business of investigating aircraft accidents for over 40 years. The company has consistently and is currently one of the industry leaders in forensic aircraft accident investigation and has been recognized for exemplary performance by countless State and Federal Courts as well as Law Journals, The American Bar Association and the American Association for Justice. The company offers longstanding excellence in the field of Aircraft Accident Investigation and is looking for new and motivated staff members to help assist its rapidly expanding client base. Please contact us at aeroinvestigator@gmail.com Back to Top Aircraft Fire Hazards, Protection and Investigation Course presented by N. Albert Moussa, PhD, PE May 26 to 28, 2020 BlazeTech Corporation 29 B Montvale Ave, Woburn MA 01801 USA. Dear Colleague, While commercial air transport is very safe, the advent of new technologies poses fire safety challenges that will be treated in this course. This offering draws upon Dr. Moussa's work in this area since 1971 as well as related courses that BlazeTech has been teaching since 1998. Lectures will include an update on Li and Li-ion battery fires, flammability of carbon fiber and glass fiber composites, emerging aviation fluids, engine fires, fuel tank fire/explosion, fire extinguishment methods, protection methods, aircraft accident investigation, and fire/explosion pattern recognition. Recent requirements and accidents are continuously added to the course. For each type of fire, this course will provide a cohesive integrated presentation of fundamentals, small- and large-scale testing, computer modeling, standards and specifications, and real accident investigation - as outlined in the course brochure. This integrated approach will enable you to address safety issues related to current and new systems and circumstances, and to investigate one of a kind fire and explosion accidents. The course will benefit professionals who are responsible for commercial aircraft, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles including design, equipment selection, test, operation, maintenance, safety management system, hazard/risk assessment, and accident investigation. View Brochure for course content and registration form (also embedded below). View Testmonials of previous attendees and their Companies. View some of the technical references discussed in this course. We also offer this course at the client site as well as customized courses on fire and explosion in other areas. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. Albert Moussa, Ph.D., P.E. BlazeTech Corporation 29B Montvale Ave. Woburn, MA 01801-7021 781-759-0700 x200 781-759-0703 fax www.blazetech.com firecourse@blazetech.com LinkedIn Curt Lewis