Flight Safety Information July 25, 2012 - No. 151 In This Issue Airlines lose challenge to rule that full ticket price be shown IATA says Indian aviation sector 'in crisis' Pentagon eases flight restrictions on Air Force's F-22 Raptor jets British pilots decry proposed European Union flight scheduling rules Aviation safety crucial for African progress Probe after boy gets on aircraft unchecked at Manchester airport Famous instances of aircraft stowaways Inspector general faults FAA amnesty program ARGUS PROS Aviation Auditing No wreckage found in expedition to solve fate of Amelia Earhart Japan Expert Panel To Assess Safety Of US Military Aircraft NATA names veteran pilot, aviation manager as new CEO Pilot Proficiency Program Offered at AirVenture Pilot crashes helicopter through fence into parking lot Airlines lose challenge to rule that full ticket price be shown By Joan Lowy Southwest Airlines Co. and Spirit Airlines Inc. led the legal fight to overturn Department of Transportation regulations that force carriers to highlight the total on a ticket price. WASHINGTON (AP) - The government can require airlines to show consumers a total ticket price that includes taxes and fees in print and online ads, the US Court of Appeals said Tuesday, rejecting an industry challenge to a series of consumer protection regulations. The Department of Transportation, which issued the regulations last year, has the authority to regulate ''unfair and deceptive'' practices, the ruling said. It also covers two other regulations: a requirement that airlines allow consumers who purchase tickets more than a week in advance to cancel reservations without penalty within 24 hours after purchase, and a ban on airlines increasing the price of tickets or baggage fees after tickets have been bought. Spirit and Southwest airlines challenged the rules, with support form two major industry associations. Previously, airlines could advertise a base airfare and separately disclose taxes and fees. Airlines can still break down the price of a ticket to show taxes and fees, but the total must be displayed in the largest type size and be the most prominent price in the ad or on the Web page. Judge David Tatel wrote that there is nothing in the regulations that would force airlines to hide the taxes. On Spirit's website, he noted, taxes are clearly displayed under the heading: ''The government's cut.'' Judge Raymond Randolph wrote in a dissent that he disagreed with the portion of the regulation that requires a larger typeface for the total price. He said the regulation restricts airlines' political speech. Southwest and Spirit said they are already complying with the regulations. Misty Pinson, a Spirit spokeswoman, warned: ''American consumers are going to pay more for air travel and have less choice, as the [Transportation Department] continues to pile costly new rules onto an already overregulated and overtaxed industry.'' Jean Medina of the trade association Airlines for America said: ''We continue to believe that this rule enables the government to effectively hide the ball regarding how high airfare taxes are.'' Kevin Mitchell, chairman of the Business Travelers Coalition, which represents corporate travel managers, said the decision is ''really good news for consumers'' since it reaffirms the Transportation Department's authority to regulate the airline industry. ''Were it not for the Transportation Department, consumers would have no protections whatsoever - it would be consumer protection no man's land,'' Mitchell said. Another wave of regulations, scheduled for November, is expected to address whether airlines should be required to provide the global distribution systems used by travel agents with all of their ticket price and fee information. Consumers haven't been able to effectively comparison shop ticket prices since 2008, when airlines began charging fees for a wide range of services that were previously included in ticket prices, Mitchell said. Back to Top IATA says Indian aviation sector 'in crisis' New Delhi, July 25, 2012 (AFP) India's highly competitive aviation sector is in "crisis," crippled by high costs and exorbitant taxes, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said on Wednesday. India's major carriers, including state-owned Air India, lost around $2 billion in the last fiscal year to March and are carrying debts of some $20 billion. "India's aviation is in a multi-faceted crisis. Before the aviation sector can deliver greater benefits to the Indian economy, this crisis must be resolved," IATA director general Tony Tyler said. The global aviation industry is watching the Indian sector with concern, Tyler told a business audience in New Delhi, noting that of India's six main carriers only privately owned Indigo is making money. "The financial situation of Kingfisher (owned by liquor baron Vijay Mallya) is dire and (state-run) Air India is on government life support," Tyler said. Tyler called for coordinated government and private sector policies to nurse the sector back to health. He said that the aviation sector was reeling from high costs, rising taxation and inadequate infrastructure. Tyler also urged the government to reduce charges at Indian airports. Regulatory authorities recently approved a 346 percent increase in charges at Delhi airport - adding more than $400 million in costs for airlines, Tyler noted. The government is considering allowing foreign airlines to take stakes in domestic carriers, a step that carriers such as debt-laden Kingfisher see as a potential lifeline. But if "critical domestic problems are not addressed, foreign investors will not be lining up to put their cash in Indian airlines," Tyler warned. "Under current circumstances, investors cannot see how they could ever see a return," he said Back to Top Pentagon eases flight restrictions on Air Force's F-22 Raptor jets Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has approved a plan to begin lifting flight restrictions that he placed on the Air Force's problem-plagued fleet of F-22 Raptor fighter jets. Since 2008, F-22 pilots have reported more than a dozen incidents in which they experienced hypoxia-like symptoms in the air. Hypoxia is a condition that can bring on nausea, headaches, fatigue or blackouts. In May, Panetta ordered that any flights in a F-22 "will remain within the proximity of potential landing locations to enable quick recovery and landing should the pilot encounter unanticipated physiological conditions during flight." But after more than a year studying the issue, the Air Force has made two changes to the plane to solve the hypoxia problem. These changes have prompted Panetta to gradually begin to lift the restrictions. The Air Force believes that the root cause of the events are pressurized vests that F-22 pilots wear to combat high gravitational forces on the body. When the vests expanded, they restricted pilots' breathing, Pentagon spokesman George Little said at a Tuesday media briefing. The Air Force found that a faulty valve "caused the vest to inflate and remain inflated under conditions where it was not designed to inflate, thereby causing breathing problems for some pilots," he said. "The garment has been suspended from flight since June." The Air Force also removed a high-efficiency particulate air filter consisting of activated carbon and charcoal. Tests proved the new filter negatively affected the breathing system. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) and Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), who have hounded the Air Force to get to the bottom of the F-22 saga, issued a combined statement that urged caution. "It makes sense to maintain a majority of Secretary Panetta's safety restrictions on the F-22 while the Air Force looks further into potential issues with a valve and a hose that connects to the survival gear worn by pilots," the statement said. "We certainly look forward to much more specific information about these problems and proposed solutions during our briefing with the Air Force, which has been scheduled for July 31st." F-22s will now resume long-duration flights for deployments. During the news conference, Little said that Panetta authorized deployment of a squadron of F-22 aircraft to Kadena Air Base in Japan. According to the Air Force, each F-22 costs $143 million. Counting upgrades and research and development, the U.S. Government Accountability Office estimates each F- 22 costs taxpayers $412 million. The F-22, made by Lockheed Martin Corp., is the world's most expensive fighter jet and has never been used in combat since entering service in 2005. http://www.latimes.com/ Back to Top British pilots decry proposed European Union flight scheduling rules A proposal by the European Union to reduce the number of pilots that are required for flights from London to the United States will reduce in higher risk to airline passengers, the union for British airline pilots argued Tuesday. The British Airline Pilots Association said a proposed EU shift from requiring that flights across the Atlantic Ocean that are longer than 14 hours to have only two pilots instead of three could cause more fatigue among pilots on international flights. 'The proposed EU rule would mean that thousands of American passengers traveling on European airlines would be put at risk because flights like this need three pilots," BALPA General Secretary Jim McAuslan said in a statement. "The British government so far doesn't seem to be listening, but I wonder how American passengers will feel about these aircraft carrying their citizens and flying through their airspace," McAuslan continued. "An American airline will have three pilots when flying to Los Angeles and a European airline will be able to fly with just two pilots. Which airline would you choose?" McAuslan touted U.S. efforts to enact more stringent pilot fatigue rules after the 2009 Colgan Air crash in Buffalo, N.Y. "American regulations have tightened considerably since the fatal Colgan Air crash in 2009 and the United States can be proud of having the lowest fatal air accident rate in the world," he said. "We need Europe to be improving its standards, as the United States has done, not lowering down for the sake of harmonization with Europe." The European Union has separately been at odds with U.S. airlines over a proposal to increase carbon emission trading requirements on flights to airports within EU countries. http://thehill.com/blogs/ Back to Top Aviation safety crucial for African progress With Africa poised for an amazing decade of opportunity, adoption of Iata's operational safety audit mechanism can help align the continent's aviation safety with global standards By: TONY TYLER CONNECTIVITY is crucial for the global economy. Air does it the best, and nowhere is that more evident than in Africa. Aviation supports 6,7-million jobs in Africa, with a significant proportion of those in hi-tech and advanced skills work. The industry stimulates a $67,8bn contribution to Africa's gross domestic product. Aviation facilitates tourism and business services, while air freight is crucial for the success of African organic produce and supporting a growing manufacturing base. Air transport expansion reflects this increasing importance to the economy. The latest air traffic growth forecast for Africa is 4,2% this year, compared with 3,5% for the rest of the world. This is helping to facilitate growth in the African economy, which is also set to outpace the global average. African governments have much to gain from pursuing growth and connectivity. Improved safety is absolutely central to that goal. Despite the many improvements seen with African aviation safety in recent years, the two tragic accidents that occurred in Accra and Lagos last month are sobering reminders that we still have a lot of work to do. Statistics show that, on average last year, there was one accident for every 305000 flights on western-built jets in Africa. That is nine times the global average. That is unacceptable. It is time for governments and industry to implement a strategic plan to make flying in Africa as safe as anywhere else. African air transport accidents between 2006 and 2010 were characterised by runway excursions (that is, overruns or running off the sides of runways), controlled flight into terrain, and loss of control. Joint analysis of these accidents by the International Air Transport Association (Iata) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) identified insufficient regulatory oversight and the absence of safety management systems as major contributory factors. To address these, Iata, ICAO and many of the leading aviation stakeholders and regulatory organisations met in Johannesburg recently, where they committed to the Africa Strategic Improvement Action Plan to tackle safety deficiencies and improve regulatory oversight of civil aviation. This plan became part of the Abuja Declaration on Aviation Safety in Africa, which was endorsed by the African Union's ministerial meeting on aviation safety on Friday. The Abuja declaration has a target to bring the African accident rate in line with the global average by 2015, and an action plan to establish and strengthen civil aviation authorities with full autonomy and the resources to perform effective safety oversight; implement safety management systems for states and all service providers; certify all international aerodromes; and require all African airlines to obtain an Iata operational safety audit (IOSA), which includes implementation of flight data analysis. Global standards are the key. Governments must effectively regulate them. And airlines need to operate using them. Evidence already shows global standards can make a difference in African aviation. IOSA is a requirement for all Iata member airlines. It is an open programme, not an exclusive club. The safety performance of the African carriers on the IOSA registry was in line with the global IOSA average. Wider adoption of IOSA across Africa was a key part of the discussions in Abuja. In fact, requiring all African airlines to obtain IOSA is an effective "off-the-shelf" solution to enhance regulatory capability for resource-scarce governments. Over the years there have been many initiatives to improve African air safety. While progress has been made, the problem has not been solved. This time could be different. The eyes of the world are on the continent's economic expansion. It is a great opportunity to co-opt that into support - technical and financial - for connectivity that underpins economic ties. But that will happen only if there is a solid commitment on the part of African governments at the highest levels. Everyone knows what needs to be done. Now we need tangible signs from African governments of a strong and comprehensive follow-up programme. The aviation industry is determined and eager to work with all governments and stakeholders in Africa to deliver the highest safety standards. Africa is poised for an amazing decade of growth and opportunity, with aviation at its core - let us be sure that this chance is not missed. * Tyler is the director-general of Iata. http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=176903 Back to Top Probe after boy gets on aircraft unchecked at Manchester airport An investigation has been launched after an 11 year old boy boarded a flight at Manchester airport without a passport, boarding pass or money. The child evaded five security checks to join the Jet2.com flight to Rome unaccompanied. The captain of the aircraft was only alerted to the extra passenger when holidaymakers became concerned as the flight headed to Italy yesterday afternoon. Hours earlier the youngster had run ran away from his mother while she was shopping at Wythenshawe Civic Centre and made his way to the airport, the Manchester Evening News reported. The boy is understood to have followed a family when he got to Terminal 1. Security staff scanned him but failed to realise he was on his own and had no boarding card. The aircraft landed at Fiumicino airport in Rome where the youngster was asked to remain on board. He stayed on the aircraft as it took off again on its return to Manchester airport. Ground staff have been suspended as the airport and airline try to find out how the boy was able to get onto the aircraft unchecked. An airport spokesman said: "There should have been checks. Those checks didn't happen and that is subject to a very serious investigation." A Jet2.com spokesman said: "We are fully investigating the incident as a matter of urgency and the staff involved have been suspended during this investigation." http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/ Back to Top Famous instances of aircraft stowaways An investigation has been launched at Manchester Airport after 11-year-old Liam Corcoran managed to fly to Rome on his own without a passport or a boarding pass. Here are some other instances of passengers who managed to sneak on board an aircraft unnoticed. Roberto Viza Egües managed to flee Cuba after hiding in an Air France cargo container 19-year-old American Clarence Terhune became perhaps the first aviation stowaway in 1928 after he hid himself on board the LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin airship, flying from the US to Germany. He was soon discovered, but was embraced by Germany. The Pittsburgh Press reported that "the daring of the boy's feat thrilled the Germans and gave them a good chuckle". He was even offered a job was a department store in Aachen while the airship was still over the Atlantic. Vienna to London inside the landing gear In June 2010, a 20-year-old Romanian man survived temperatures of -41C inside the landing gear of a Boeing 747 on a 97-minute flight from Vienna to Heathrow. He slipped under a perimeter fence at Vienna Airport before climbing into a wheel compartment on board the empty privately-owned aircraft. A police source said the plane would normally have flown at 37,000ft, but due to thunderstorms it stayed at an altitude of 25,000ft, just low enough for the man to survive. The man with 11 boarding passes A Nigerian man was able to board a Virgin Atlantic flight from New York to Los Angeles last year using an out-of-date boarding pass. Olajide Olwaseun Noibi was eventually taken into custody in LA after attempting to board a second flight using the same invalid boarding pass. Police found a further ten boarding passes in his possession, none of which bore his real name. The crafty cleaner In 2009, Habib Hussain, a 25-year-old member of staff at Medina Airport in Saudi Arabia, boarded a flight to Jaipur, India, on the pretence of cleaning it. He hid in the loo, and was only discovered after take off when another passenger attempted to use the facilities. Escape to Paris Roberto Viza Egües managed to flee Cuba on August 12, 2000, after hiding in an Air France cargo container at Havana Airport. He arrived in Paris the following day, suffering from exposure, but otherwise unharmed. His application for asylum was denied and his was eventually deported back to Cuba. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/9425815/Famous-instances-of-aircraft- stowaways.html Back to Top Inspector general faults FAA amnesty program Air traffic controllers who admit to falling asleep or playing video games when they should be directing airliners can escape punishment under a reporting system that the U.S. Transportation Department's inspector general says is seriously flawed. "The intent of the reporting program is to improve aviation safety, not to provide amnesty to controllers who like to watch movies or take a nap while on the job," said House Transportation Committee Chairman John L. Mica (R-Fla.). "Controllers must conduct themselves in a professional manner." The inspector general also found that controllers responsible for plane crashes can escape the Federal Aviation Administration's retribution if they own up to their mistakes. The inspector general's 28-page report came at the request of Mica and Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Tom Petri (R-WI) after a hearing they held in April to delve into the increasing number of reported controller errors. The report this week raises questions about whether the FAA's desire to collect the best possible data on mistakes has protected controllers from punishment for misdeeds such as sleeping on the job, which in a few high-profile cases lead to firings last year. It says controller mistakes are a "significant safety concern." The FAA and the controllers' union, which worked together to create the reporting system, defended that approach. "No other safety program has identified and fixed more local and systemic problems," said Steve Hansen, who chairs the National Air Traffic Controllers Association's safety committee. "The [FAA] now has more and better-detailed safety data than before. The high level of participation shows controllers see the program as a way to improve safety." The FAA, in a statement, defended the Air Traffic Safety Action Program, which renders controllers immune from punishment if they report their mistakes. "The FAA is improving the program based on recommendations the IG's office has made," the FAA statement said. In a written response to the inspector general, the FAA said it was taking action to comply with eight of the report's 10 recommendations. The major point of disagreement was over whether ATSAP should shield a pilot who admits to a mistake that may have caused a plane crash. The FAA said immunity is beneficial because controllers "might be more accurate and candid in an ATSAP report than they might be in interviews with either NTSB or FAA." The inspector general countered: "Aviation professionals should understand that it is their responsibility to be candid with a federal investigator after an accident." "FAA should take seriously the recommendations by the IG and make needed reforms to strengthen the program, and we will be working with the agency to ensure that this happens," Petri said. The overwhelming majority of mistakes made by controllers do not put passengers at risk, but even during the safest era in U.S. commercial aviation history, there have been numerous occasions when controller mistakes have allowed planes to come dangerously close to each other. There were 1,234 recorded operational errors in fiscal 2009. Although there were more than a million fewer flights in 2010, the number jumped to a record 1,887. Some near collisions came under review by the National Transportation Safety Board, including: a Boeing 737 nearly hit a helicopter while taking off from Houston; a Boeing 777 skimmed under a small plane on takeoff from San Francisco; a Boeing 737 nearly collided with a Cessna in Burbank, Calif.; an Airbus 319 passed 100 feet above the path of a Boeing 747 taking off in Anchorage; and an Embraer 135 taking off from Chicago took evasive action to avoid an in-bound twin-engine prop plane. http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/inspector-general-faults-faa- amnesty-program/2012/07/24/gJQA9KhU7W_story.html Back to Top Back to Top No wreckage found in expedition to solve fate of Amelia Earhart What is believed to be airplane wreckage is seen in this handout image courtesy of the International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (TIGHAR) taken in October 1939, in Nikumaroro, Republic of Kiribati. HONOLULU (Reuters) - A team trying to solve the mystery of Amelia Earhart's fate 75 years after she vanished over the Pacific has ended its expedition to a remote island without finding her plane, the group said. Researchers on July 3 set off on a $2.2 million expedition and travelled 1,800 miles (2,897 km) by ship from Honolulu to Nikumaroro in the Republic of Kiribati to search for clues to her disappearance in 1937. "We are returning from Nikumaroro with volumes of new sonar data and hours upon hours of high-definition video," The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery said in a statement on Monday. TIGHAR did not immediately release details about what the sonar data or video might show, and it did not say that any plane wreckage it had sought has been recovered. Earhart, along with her navigator Fred Noonan, set out to circumnavigate the globe along an equatorial route. Richard Gillespie, executive director of TIGHAR, has said that he believes Earhart died a castaway in searing hot Nikumaroro, which is 400 miles (644 km) southeast of the Howland Island destination that Earhart and Noonan had been aiming for when they disappeared. Before radio contact was lost, Earhart had said from the air that her plane was short on fuel. Gillespie has said evidence found on Nikumaroro in previous expeditions included what appeared to be a bottle of 1930s anti-freckle cream, bits of clothing and human bone fragments, which have led some to believe Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan may have been marooned on the island. TIGHAR said on its website that researchers are on their way back to Honolulu after cutting short the expedition due to equipment malfunctions. They spent five days on site, but had planned to be there for 10 days. had said they believed Earhart's Lockheed Electra plane could rest in waters off Nikumaroro, where they suspect she survived for weeks or months. During the five days they spent searching, the crew of expedition ship Niku VII was challenged by the undersea environment, in the form of a craggy reef slope with vertical cliffs stretching down for between 110 feet (34 meters) and 250 feet (76 meters), the group said on its website. On July 19, the expedition's blog questioned whether an aircraft that sank 75 years ago could even be found. Not only is the area filled with nooks, crannies and caves, but it is possible the aircraft might have floated away, the group said. Pat Thrasher, president of TIGHAR, said the Niku VII expedition crew will arrive in Honolulu at the end of this month, at which point Gillespie, who was on the expedition, will be available to answer questions. Once the crew returns to land, the TIGHAR team will review and analyze the new material. The search for answers to Earhart's disappearance was documented for a Discovery Channel television special set to air on August 19. Back to Top Japan Expert Panel To Assess Safety Of US Military Aircraft (RTTNews) - Japan has set up a panel of experts to make its own assessment on the safety of the U.S. military's Osprey transport aircraft brought to the country on Monday. Defense Minister Satoshi Morimoto presided over the first meeting of the panel, headed by Defense Ministry's Deputy Director-General for Policy Tetsuro Kuroe, on Wednesday. Other members include a Self-Defense Force helicopter pilot, an aircraft accident investigator from the Transport Ministry, and an expert in aeronautical engineering. The team plans to visit the United States sometime over the next few weeks to interview U.S. military officials about the cause of the recent Osprey accidents and measures to prevent a recurrence. They will also observe emergency training for Osprey pilots. A series of accidents involving Osprey, including one in Morocco in April and another in the U.S. state of Florida in June, has triggered concerns in Japan over the planned deployment of the aircraft at the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma air station in Okinawa prefecture. Morimoto said he hoped the experts would carefully investigate the accidents and provide an objective view so that people's apprehension about the aircraft's safety could be removed, Japanese media reported. A fleet of 12 MV-22 Ospreys arrived on Monday at the U.S. Marine Corps Iwakuni air station in Yamaguchi prefecture, despite objections from local residents. The Marines plan to conduct test flights near the base next month and begin full operations of the aircraft at the Futenma air station in Ginown, Okinawa prefecture, in early October. Officials of 14 prefectures hosting U.S. bases have asked the Foreign Ministry details on the training flights over Japan which is having about 50,000 American soldiers on its soil as part of a bilateral military pact. http://www.rttnews.com/ Back to Top NATA names veteran pilot, aviation manager as new CEO A retired fighter pilot who is also a veteran of many key policy discussions has been chosen as the new leader of the National Air Transportation Association. Tom Hendricks, a retired Air Force colonel who also taught at the U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School, worked in the airline industry following military retirement, and joined the trade group Airlines for America (A4A) in 2010, where he served most recently as a senior vice president. He has participated in several important policy discussions, including service as co-chairman of the ADS-B-In Aviation Rulemaking Committee and the Working Subcommittee of the NextGen Advisory Committee, an advisory group composed of FAA and industry officials (of which AOPA President Craig Fuller is also a member). "We have tremendous respect for Tom Hendricks, who has worked closely with many of us in the general aviation community. His knowledge of aviation, public policy, and business make him an excellent choice for president of the National Air Transport Association," said Fuller, who called to congratulate Hendricks upon learning the news. "AOPA and NATA have long had a strong relationship and we look forward to continuing to partner on issues of significance to members of both organizations." NATA, with more than 2,000 member companies, represents a broad cross-section of aviation firms, including operators and manufacturers. The organization works closely with AOPA and other groups, and recently supported a petition by AOPA and EAA to allow private pilots to fly under certain circumstances without holding a third-class medical certificate. http://www.aopa.org/ Back to Top Pilot Proficiency Program Offered at AirVenture The Learn to Fly Center in the center of the EAA AirVenture campus is hosting a new initiative offered by the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE) and the National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) called the Pilot Proficiency Program. The center offers instructional forums and simulator training sessions to help pilots evaluate and increase their level of proficiency. A Redbird FMX simulator is used for the simulator sessions, which can be scheduled between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. each day of the show. SAFE instructors spend about one hour with each student, pre-briefing, flying and post-briefing scenarios designed by Redbird's general manager of flight operations, Roger Sharp. Pilots can choose three out of 11 challenging flight scenarios ranging from a gradual engine failure, a high-density altitude canyon departure, a severe crosswind landing and a few different IFR scenarios. Monday's and Tuesday's schedules were full and the program has been "very well received," according to SAFE Chairman Mark Adams. The sessions qualify the attendees for FAA Wings credit. Shy pilots may want to think twice before getting into the sim, however. A large TV monitor outside the simulator displays the flight, which means that anyone can evaluate the performance of the pilot inside the simulator. During times when simulator sessions are not scheduled, kids are welcome to try their hand at flying the Redbird FMX. The forums are conducted adjacent to the simulator from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. SAFE and NAFI instructors offer educational presentations featuring a wide variety of topics such as how to deal with emergency situations, single pilot IFR considerations and how to properly prepare for a checkride. Any pilot, regardless of his or her level of proficiency, is likely to learn something by stepping into the 2012 version of the Learn to Fly Center. http://www.flyingmag.com/news/pilot-proficiency-program-offered-airventure Back to Top Pilot crashes helicopter through fence into parking lot LEALMAN, Florida - Emergency crews and witnesses say it's hard to believe the pilot of a Hughes 300 Helicopter walked away with only scratches after his aircraft fell out of the sky Tuesday in the middle of a neighborhood off 46th Avenue North in Lealman. "His story is, he was working on the helicopter lifting it off the ground to rotate it," said Captain Jim Millican of the Lealman Fire District. "Somehow he lost his tail rotor and when he lost the tail rotor it crashed into the fence." Witnesses a block away say they were surprised to see a helicopter taking off from the area, and were even more shocked when it started crashing down. "It was going up, started hovering, started twisting and turning and was almost sideways when it was coming down," said mechanic Joe Milano, who was with customers when he saw the copter in trouble. "I was on the phone running down there, just seeing if I could help," he added. "He probably should play the lottery," said Bob Hooks, who works nearby and came to take pictures of the crashed copter. "Definitely a crash landing. I mean, it's completely broken apart. They were just looking for parts across the street, so obviously he hit pretty hard." By the time Lealman Fire Rescue and Pinellas deputies arrived, the pilot, 60-year-old Wayne Parker, was already out. "I would say by looking at the damage, I would have expected someone to be injured," said Capt. Millican. "I think it's very fortunate to walk out of it." The FAA is on scene investigating what went wrong, as the helicopter pilot seems eager to clean up the mess and avoid embarrassment. As quick as the aircraft went down, co- workers helped Parker put the fence back up. Fire crews and deputies say, to their knowledge, no laws were broken and this appears to be an unfortunate accident on private property, an accident that could have been much worse. http://www.wtsp.com/news/topstories/article/265337/250/FAA-investigating-helicopter- crash-in-Lealman Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP, FRAeS, FISASI CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC