Flight Safety Information March 18, 2014 - No. 057 In This Issue Indonesian fishermen 'saw' plane crash on Mar. 8 'So my plane just crashed': Philadelphia plane crash selfie goes viral Norfolk crash: Helicopter wreckage removed by investigators Plane crash leaves three dead in South Africa Map: 84 Planes That've Vanished PRISM SMS WWII planes visit El Paso, public gets a chance to fly Asia Pacific Aviation Safety Seminar, 21-22 May 2014, Bangkok, Thailand ERAU Research Survey Upcoming Events Indonesian fishermen 'saw' plane crash on Mar. 8 MANILA, Philippines - Fishermen claimed to have witnessed a plane crash into the waters in the Strait of Malacca off the North Sumatra provincial district of Pangkalan Susu in Indonesia. The locals suspect that what they saw could be the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. The authorities have yet to verify the fishermen's claim. "We saw an airplane crash around the Malacca Straits," Hendra, a fisherman, told state news agency Antara on Monday. "We could not go to the location where the aircraft was lost due to large waves, and the boat did not have enough fuel," he added. Hendra said that he and several other fishermen were trying to catch fish between the waters of Malay Peninsula and Sumatra last March 8. It was on the same day that the Boeing 777-200 jet carrying 239 people vanished from the radar en route to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur. About 25 countries are conducting a search and rescue operation for the aircraft. Hendra added that the group saw a white plane "crossing and circling" when smoke came out from the rear portion of the airliner. It then circled again before it tilted and crashed. "We suspect the plane crashed into the sea," Hendra added. Antara News said that the aircraft could be somewhere off Idi Village in East Aceh. Prime Minister Najib Razak on Saturday confirmed that Malaysian air force defense radar picked up traces of the plane turning back westward, crossing over Peninsular Malaysia into the northern stretches of the Strait of Malacca. Authorities previously had said this radar data could not be verified. Officials revealed a new timeline Monday suggesting the final voice transmission from the cockpit of the missing Malaysian plane may have occurred before any of its communications systems were disabled, adding more uncertainty about who aboard might have been to blame. The search for Flight 370 has now been expanded deep into the northern and southern hemispheres. - with Associated Press http://www.philstar.com/world/2014/03/18/1302295/indonesian-fishermen-saw-plane-crash-mar.-8 Back to Top 'So my plane just crashed': Philadelphia plane crash selfie goes viral Given the interest surrounding the missing Malaysian airlines flight MH370, it's no wonder a tweet about a plane crashing went viral. But when Twitter user "Skip" tweeted a picture of herself in front of a grounded aircraft with its nose faced downwards into the dirt, it was retweeted nearly 2,000 times in the first hour of being posted. First she tweeted a picture of the plane itself, writing "So my plane just crashed," before following her tweet up with a selfie showing the plane in the background, simply saying: "So yup". Hannah Udren tweeted the picture after the plane crashed Hannah Udren tweeted the picture after the plane crashed The selfie has now been retweeted more that 4,700 times and favourited 3,700 times. However, the tweet came in for some heavy criticism online. Ms Urden defended her actions, telling NBC10: 'I wanted to show my parents everyone running and just what was going on. 'Like I'm far enough away, I was one of the first people out of the plane." "Skip", whose real name is Hannah Udren, aged 18, was taking an internal American flight from Philadelphia to Florida. The US Airways flight crashed during take-off due to a blown tire and the passengers were evacuated from the aircraft, with two women taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for minor injuries and illness. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/so-my-plane-just-crashed-philadelphia-plane-crash- selfie-goes-viral-9195389.html Back to Top Norfolk crash: Helicopter wreckage removed by investigators Investigators have removed debris from the crashed helicopter that killed four people in Norfolk, including Northern Ireland peer Lord Ballyedmond. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) recovered the crash debris. The flight voice recorder of the helicopter has already been recovered for analysis. The Agusta Westland AW139 crashed in a field at Gillingham, near Beccles, at about 19:30 GMT on Thursday. The other victims were Declan Small, and pilots Carl Dickerson and Lee Hoyle. AAIB investigators plotted the distribution of the debris on the field before removing fuel from the helicopter to make it safe. Site workers spent Saturday removing the rotor blades and tail-section from the helicopter in readiness for its removal. It is not known what caused the crash, but witnesses reported fog in the area at the time and said the helicopter came down very soon after taking off from Lord Ballyedmond's estate. Prayers were said at All Saints, Kirby Cane, in their Sunday morning service, and four candles were lit in memory of the victims. The Reverend Julie Oddy-Bates said before the service: "It's a huge tragedy for the families of all four men that died and in a small community those things have a big effect. "During our prayer time we'll be praying for them and for their families in this time of grief. "It's always important to remember the lives of anyone who's been lost, particularly in a tragic situation like this." Tributes have been paid to Dr Edward Haughey, who became Lord Ballyedmond of Mourne when he was created a life peer in 2004. A leading industrialist, he owned veterinary pharmaceutical firm Norbrook Laboratories in Newry, County Down, and had a range of other business interests. As well as being a member of the House of Lords, he was a former member of the Irish senate. A spokesman for Agusta Westland said the company could not comment on possible defects with Lord Ballyedmond's helicopter, but said it was making checks internally and would support the ongoing investigation in any possible way. The findings of the AAIB investigation are expected in about 12 months time. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-26592307 Back to Top Plane crash leaves three dead in South Africa Three people have been killed after a small airplane crashed near an airport in the province of KwaZulu- Natal in South Africa, officials say. The three crewmembers were on board a four- or six-seater aircraft when it crashed near the airport's landing strip at Camperdown in the coastal province on Saturday, said the media liaison officer for private ambulance service Netcare 911 Santi Steinmann. The plane apparently burst into flames upon impact, with emergency services personnel unable to contain the blaze. "The plane is apparently burnt beyond recognition," Steinmann noted. Authorities pulled three bodies out of the wreck of the light aircraft, regional police spokesman Jay Naicker confirmed. Officials failed to ascertain what conditions played a role in the crash. The incident follows a series of transportation accidents which seem to be common in South Africa. Last month, three people died after a twin propeller airplane crash-landed at an airport just north of Johannesburg in South Africa. In March 2013, 24 churchgoers were killed when a double-decker bus crashed on a mountain pass near Cape Town. About 300 people were wounded in an incident in January when two passenger trains packed with school children and rush-hour commuters collided near the South African administrative capital, Pretoria. http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/03/17/355050/plane-crash-kills-three-in-south-africa/ Back to Top Map: 84 Planes That've Vanished MALAYSIA AIRLINES FLIGHT 370 IS THE 84TH PLANE TO GO MYSTERIOUSLY MISSING SINCE 1948. A NEW VISUALIZATION MAPS OUT THIS HISTORY OF LOST FLIGHTS. The disappearance of Malaysia Flight 370 hasn't gotten much less baffling since the news broke on March 8th. The investigators from 26 countries racing to solve what's been dubbed the biggest mystery in aviation history haven't ruled out hijacking, pilot suicide, mass murder, or sabotage. While it's shocking and strange, it's far from the first time an aircraft has seemed to vanish off the face of the earth: since 1948, some 83 aircraft have been declared "missing," according to data compiled by the Aviation Safety Network. That means no trace of bodies or debris from these flights capable of carrying 14 or more passengers has ever been found. A new map by Bloomberg Visual Data charts the disappearances and large aircraft searches from 1948 on. It leaves us with far more questions than answers--whether these vanished planes are miles deep on an ocean floor or stranded on enchanted islands a la Lost, we may never know. Conspiracy theories about Flight 370 abound, of course--promoted even by the likes of Rupert Murdoch. In the 1940s and '50s, when communication technology was still in its primitive stages, such disappearances were more common. But there's only one flight in recent history that disappeared without a trace for as long as Malaysia 370 has. In 2007, it took a team of 3,600 people 10 days to locate Adam Air Flight 574 after it crashed into the sea near Sulawesi Island in Indonesia, and it took even more time to figure out the cause of the crash (pilot error and a faulty navigation device). No discernible patterns emerge on this map, besides the fact that the most commonly disappeared plane model is the Douglas DC-3--19 of which have gone missing--and that five aircraft were swallowed up in or around the supposedly paranormal Bermuda Triangle. What does that teach us, other than that the paranoid should perhaps avoid flying on DC-3s over the Bermuda Triangle? The history of flight disappearances suggests that even if Flight 370 isn't located in the near future, it could resurface decades down the line. One Boeing 727 that took off in 1985 wasn't discovered until 2006, when a group of hikers found its wreckage in a glacier on Mount Illimani, Bolivia's second-highest peak. http://www.fastcodesign.com/3027794/infographic-of-the-day/infographic-84-planes-thatve-vanished-off- the-face-of-the-earth Back to Top Back to Top WWII planes visit El Paso, public gets a chance to fly Anyone can take a step back in time this weekend, March 22-23, by touring two World War II air crafts brought to El Paso by the Liberty Foundation's "Salute to Veterans" tour. B-17 bomber, Flying Fortress, the "Movie" Memphis Belle, flying museum ... the historic aircraft built during WWII has lots of names. Although the one visiting El Paso never served during combat, it has certainly served the U.S. and continues to by touring the nation thanks to the non profit Liberty Foundation. "It's about people getting the chance to experience what the 10 men on this aircraft would have done or World War II veterans in general," volunteer Keith Youngblood said. For 10 years the organization has been displaying and flying the fully restored B-17. This is the first year it has been in El Paso for public tours and flights. "A lot of times people come out wanna see what grandpa did or their father did during the war and this is the closest we can get to seeing their battlefield," Youngblood said about the experience. Ground tours inside the B-17 and a P-51 "Mustang" fighter are free. Liberty Foundation requests donations, if possible. For those who want to be a B-17 passenger, the cost is $450 a person. Since Liberty Foundation is a non profit and is run by volunteers, all the money from flights goes to maintaining the aircraft. "It really comes alive when you actually fly on the aircraft and see it fly versus just a hunk of aluminum sitting in a museum static," Youngblood said. Educating future generations is the main goal because in about 10 years no B-17 bomber pilots will still be alive, Youngblood said. Here's some quick facts provided to ABC-7 about B-17s: - About 12,730 were built. - The Boeing produced plane's first flight was in 1935. - Planes had over 10 years in production, models range from YB-17 to B-17G. - Each plane was loaded with 13 .50 caliber machine guns. - During wartime one weighed more than 65,500 pounds. Reservations are requested for those who wish to fly in the aircraft. The flights will generally be from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday at the El Paso International Airport, Atlantic Aviation FBO, 1751 Shuttle Columbia Drive. A B-17 flight experience lasts about 45 minutes, with 30 of those in flight. It costs nearly $5,500 per flight hour to operate a Flying Fortress. Call 918-340-0243 to make a reservation. You can also visit www.LibertyFoundation.org for more information. http://www.kvia.com/news/wwii-planes-visit-el-paso-public-gets-a-chance-to-fly/25026336 Back to Top Asia Pacific Aviation Safety Seminar, 21-22 May 2014, Bangkok, Thailand The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) is holding the next Asia Pacific Aviation Safety Seminar (APASS) on 21-22 May 2014 in Bangkok. The seminar, hosted by THAI Airways International, is organised by the AAPA Flight Operations & Safety Working Group. This seminar is designed to create a common meeting place for all airlines from the Asia Pacific region, airports, aircraft manufacturers, regulators, insurers, ground handlers, MROs, service providers and suppliers to discuss and to be updated on the latest developments in aviation safety. Why attend? * Excellent networking opportunities for all safety stakeholders to exchange ideas on the important fundamentals and applications of aviation safety best practices, in-service experience and lessons-learned with like-minded aviation safety experts. * Topic-specific workshops in Cabin Safety, Flight Operations Safety and Safety Performance Indicators will enable participants to exchange views and debate on the practical approaches in managing some of the leading safety issues facing the region. Click here to find out more >> http://bit.ly/APASS2014 Back to Top ERAU Research Survey Researchers with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide are requesting that Aircraft Maintenance Technicians and Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics participate in their research study titled "Prevention of Back Injuries in Technicians and Mechanics". The purpose of the study is to identify protective factors and risk factors associated with back pain and back injury. The ultimate goal is to identify factors that are protective so that they can be implemented within organizations to curtail back pain and back injuries and to identify factors that can be improved to enhance safety for aircraft maintenance technicians and airframe and powerplant mechanics. Participation in the study is strictly voluntary. You will briefly answer questions about your work activities, perceptions of your workplace and your health. This questionnaire takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. All responses are anonymous as no personally identifiable information is collected. To participate in this important study please access the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CT8G2LH Thank you, Todd. D. Smith, PhD, CSP, ARM Principal Researcher Program Chair - Master of Science in Occupational Safety Management Program todd.smith2@erau.edu Back to Top Upcoming Events: North Texas Business Aviation Safety Show-Down is set for April 3rd http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/11327425/north-texas-business-aviation-safety-show-down- is-set-for-april-3rd Middle East Air Cargo and Logistics Exhibition & Conference 2014 April 9-10, 2014 Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) http://cargomiddleeast.com Airport Show Dubai May 11-13, 2014 Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) www.theairportshow.com/portal/home.aspx National Safety Council Aviation Safety Committee Annual Conference Savanah, GA - May 14-15, 2014 Contact: tammy.washington@nsc.org http://cwp.marriott.com/savdt/artexmeeting/ Asia Pacific Aviation Safety Seminar 21-22 May 2014, Bangkok, Thailand http://bit.ly/APASS2014 Curt Lewis