Flight Safety Information September 18, 2014 - No. 192 In This Issue FAA proposes $425,000 fine for Gulfstream Airlines Cut 747s From Asia-Pacific Networks Mass. Man Detained After Cologne Sets Off Airport Explosive Detector TCC officially opens new Aviation Center at Alliance Airport FAA streamlines aircraft certification Czechs to Train Iraqi Helicopter Pilots PRISM TO HELP PREPARE FOR E-IOSA United Airlines added 50 76-seat Embraer 175 Boeing Sees Rising Demand for Pilots, Technicians in Asia Pacific. Feds Seek Forfeiture Of Business Jet In Pot Bust Involving Denver Man ICAEA-ANAC-CIPE Aviation English Workshop Graduate Survey Research Request AIRPORT WILDLIFE HAZARD MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP ISASI 2014 - Annual Seminar, October 13-16, 2014 - Early Bird Registration Deadline Upcoming Events FAA proposes $425,000 fine for Gulfstream The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed a $425,000 civil penalty against Savannah-based Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. for failing to comply with federal guidelines related to training aircraft mechanics. The FAA says an inspection determined that some Gulfstream mechanics did not complete required training within the time limits established in its FAA-approved training manual. Numerous training deadlines were missed, the FAA said. In a statement Wednesday, Gulfstream spokeswoman Heidi Fedak said safety was never compromised in the maintenance of the company's business jets. "Safety is our biggest priority," Fedak said. "These events, which happened several years ago, were largely administrative in nature. We assure our operators that there was no safety-of-flight issue surrounding these circumstances and all maintenance was performed properly. "Gulfstream continuously cooperates with the Federal Aviation Administration to further enhance our training and operational procedures." After reviewing employee training records, FAA inspectors could not determine whether some of the employees completed training or whether the records were inaccurate. The FAA also alleges that Gulfstream allowed mechanics to maintain aircraft when they had not completed the required training. The FAA said inspections in November 2009 and March 2010 initially identified the training discrepancies. During a June 2010 follow-up inspection, the agency determined that Gulfstream's corrective actions were insufficient to address systemic training and record-keeping issues. "Training is a critical component of a safe aviation system," FAA administrator Michael Huerta said in a press release. "Operators must ensure that mechanics meet all FAA training requirements before working on complex jet aircraft." The FAA alleges the violations compromised safety because mechanics maintained aircraft without receiving required recurrent training. Gulfstream has 30 days from the receipt of the FAA's Civil Penalty letter to respond to the agency. http://businessinsavannah.com/bis/2014-09-18/faa-proposes-425000-fine- gulfstream#.VBrWc_ldV8E Back to Top Airlines Cut 747s From Asia-Pacific Networks Boeing 747s face shrinking role on transpacific routes The long reign of the Boeing 747-400 on intercontinental routes is coming to an end, and nowhere is this more apparent than on transpacific flights. While Delta Air Lines is culling 747s from its Asian routes as part of a network overhaul, other carriers around the Pacific Rim are phasing out the aircraft entirely. The 747 is steadily being pushed out of long-haul passenger fleets in favor of newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft. The trend has been evident for years, but has recently been accelerating. At least three airlines-Cathay Pacific Airways, Philippine Airlines and Air New Zealand-have retired the last of their passenger 747s during the past few weeks. Delta is planning to retire three of its 16 747s by the end of this month, with a fourth to be parked. The cuts allow it to "down-gauge" routes between North American and Asian cities to smaller widebodies such as Boeing 777s, and the move is also linked to a broader rethink of its Asian strategy. "The 747 is a tough airplane [to operate], with its four engines and its large gauge," Delta Chief Financial Officer Paul Jacobson told investors at a recent Cowen & Co. conference. The carrier gained the 747s after its merger with Northwest Airlines in 2009. The introduction of smaller aircraft will allow Delta to reduce capacity on its Japanese network while still maintaining frequencies. Flights from Atlanta and Los Angeles to Tokyo Narita Airport will be downgauged from 747s to 777s around the end of September, and the same swap will occur on its New York John F. Kennedy International-Narita route in late October. Airbus A330s will also replace 747s on flights from Detroit to Nagoya toward the end of next month. Delta's strategy is to shift its Asian route network away from its dependence on "fifth- freedom" flights-the right of an international airline to pick up and deliver at intermediate points along a route-beyond its hub at Narita, which it inherited from Northwest. As part of this plan, Delta will cut back on flights from Narita to beach destinations in Asia by 17% and pare its intra-Asia schedule by 10%, Jacobson says. The Narita fifth-freedom hub, once a prize fought over by U.S. carriers, has lost its luster recently as the Japanese economy has cooled, and as changes in aircraft technology make it possible to fly nonstop to most points in Asia directly from the U.S. However, the Tokyo catchment area remains one of the world's largest-and most affluent-population centers, so its value as an origin and destination market remains undiminished. Instead, Delta will build its network from its growing transpacific gateway at Seattle- Tacoma International Airport. "We will leverage the Seattle gateway, but with more efficient aircraft than the 747," Jacobson says. Delta currently operates 10 daily widebody flights to Asia from Seattle. Using this airport allows the carrier to fly to more nonstop destinations in Asia with smaller aircraft, including the Boeing 767, than is possible from most other parts of the West Coast. Many international airlines have already phased out the 747 from their passenger fleets, including the two major Japanese carriers. Japan Airlines retired its remaining 747 fleet in 2011 as part of its cost-cutting and restructuring effort, and All Nippon Airways phased out its last 747-used on domestic routes-in March. Other carriers are following suit. Cathay Pacific operated the final flight of its sole remaining 747-400 on Aug. 31, on its San Francisco-Hong Kong route. All of the flights on the carrier's seven North American routes are now operated by Boeing 777-300ERs. Cathay does have new 747-8 freighters in its cargo fleet. Philippine Airlines (PAL) retired its last 747-400 on Sept. 1. The carrier had been using them for its flights to Los Angeles and San Francisco, and due to the FAA's downgrade of Philippine's safety rating it could not change aircraft type on these routes. The FAA restored the safety rating in April, enabling PAL to begin phasing out its 747s in May. The carrier has replaced the 747s on these routes with 777-300ERs. It expects to save as much as $120 million a year in fuel and maintenance by using the 777s instead of 747s on its 18 weekly flights to the U.S. Air New Zealand, meanwhile, flew its last 747 flight on Sept. 10, on its San Francisco- Auckland route. The carrier at one time had eight 747-400s, but had more recently reduced the fleet to two aircraft. The second-to-last 747 exited the fleet in July. Air New Zealand now flies 777-300ERs in its North American markets. Some carriers will continue to use 747s on transpacific routes. While Qantas is accelerating retirement of its older 747s, it will still be using this model on flights to the U.S. "for the foreseeable future," an airline spokesman says. Qantas currently operates 13 747s, and has plans to phase out four by early 2016 as part of a broader cost-cutting program. The carrier says the remainder are "mid-life" aircraft that have been refurbished with the same cabin product as its Airbus A380 fleet. The older aircraft being retired are primarily serving Asian destinations. Unlike its rival Delta, United Airlines does not plan to retire any of its 23 747s this year. However, it has been shuffling the aircraft around its network. The carrier primarily based the 747s in San Francisco for scheduling purposes while it worked on the aircraft to improve their maintenance reliability. After the conclusion of these efforts earlier this year, it deployed the 747s back onto routes such as Chicago to Shanghai, Tokyo and Frankfurt. In a strategy similar to Delta's, United executives say the airline is "restructuring our Asia flying to leverage our West Coast hubs," meaning more direct flights from the West Coast to secondary Asian markets. It has recently introduced routes from San Francisco to Taipei and Chengdu, using 787s and 777-200s, respectively. http://aviationweek.com/mro/airlines-cut-747s-asia-pacific-networks Back to Top Mass. Man Detained After Cologne Sets Off Airport Explosive Detector BOSTON (CBS) - A Massachusetts man says the end to his vacation was anything but pleasant when TSA agents targeted him because of his cologne. Jean Marie Occean, his wife, and young daughter were in the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport ready to fly back to Boston. Occean said the TSA pulled him into a separate room for additional screening when he tested positive for explosive chemicals. He said agents eventually told him it was likely something very common that set off the sensors. "It could be cologne. I had never heard that," said Occean. His cologne that was bought at a local department store could have set off the TSA's bomb detection system. "My wife wore cologne from France, and she didn't get tested," said Occean. In a statement the TSA said in part: "TSA's Explosives Trace Detection (ETD) technology must be sensitive enough to detect even the slightest presence of explosives on a passenger or piece of luggage. Due to this sensitivity, on occasion, commonly used items can render a false positive alarm during screening. All ETD alarms generated from a passenger's hands are resolved by conducting additional screening of the passenger and their accessible property. ETD technology as part of its layered approach to security to protect the nation's transportation networks. TSA has used ETD technology at security checkpoints around the country to screen carry-on and checked baggage as well as passengers for explosives. Since ETD is used on a random basis, passengers should not expect to see the same thing at every airport or each time they travel." Occean grew-up in Haiti and became a U.S. citizen last month. He rarely flies and doesn't know when or if he'll do it again. http://boston.cbslocal.com/2014/09/16/mass-man-detained-after-cologne-sets-off- airport-explosive-detector/ Back to Top TCC officially opens new Aviation Center at Alliance Airport TCC'S new Aviation Center FORT WORTH - Tarrant County College officials were joined by business and civic leaders on Wednesday to herald the opening of the college's $20 million aviation learning center at Alliance Airport as a facility that will fill regional workforce needs for many years to come. Elva LeBlanc, president of TCC's Northwest Campus, called the newly-renovated three- story, 163,500-square-foot facility "a beautiful learning environment." At a ribbon-cutting Wednesday, LeBlanc said the TCC Northwest Campus Center of Excellence for Aviation, Transportation and Logistics "is strategically positioned to satisfy workforce requirements, is dedicated to the education and advancement of students in the North Texas region, and will play an important role in the economic development of the region." TCC has been talking about expanding its aviation programs to Alliance Airport for well over a decade. In 2008, the college district spent about $5.2 million to buy 20 acres at Alliance Airport. It has had an aviation maintenance program since 1967 at its Northwest Campus and at Fort Worth's Meacham Airport. Enrollment in the program reached 935 this fall, the school said. The new facility, at 2301 Horizon Dr., opened in August at the start of the fall semester after receiving Federal Aviation Administration certification, LeBlanc said. The building has direct access to an airport runway and includes two airplane hangars. In July 2013, TCC bought Bell Helicopter's military programs facility at Alliance Airport as the helicopter manufacturer consolidated operations at its renovated headquarters campus in east Fort Worth. The much larger facilities gave the college the opportunity to expand its programs, including adding commercial airplane and helicopter pilot training. That program already has about 240 enrolled students. TCC Chancellor Erma Johnson Hadley called the facility "absolutely phenomenal," and said she's glad the college waited until it had the money to acquire the right facility. "We just didn't have the money to invest in order to do it the way we wanted," Hadley said. "Along comes the opportunity to buy this facility from Bell Helicopter. It was an option we could not afford to pass up. We are very pleased to present this facility to the people of Tarrant County. We have indeed built for the future." Tom Harris, Hillwood's president of Alliance Airport, said the center will help Hillwood and AllianceTexas attract employers. Currently, Hillwood is helping Fort Worth find a tenant for the American Airlines maintenance facility at Alliance that was vacated as part of its bankruptcy reorganization and merger with US Airways. "Having people graduate from programs here at this college, to those prospects that we talk to everyday that will ultimately fill those facilities at the maintenance base, in the hangar and the associated facilities, is incredibly important to that conversation," Harris said. The aviation industry has a $40 billion economic impact on North Texas and annual payroll of about $11 billion, according to figures from the North Texas Council of Governments. By 2020, jobs for pilots and aerospace engineers are expected to increase by about 21 percent each, and more than 11 percent for aircraft mechanics. http://www.star-telegram.com/2014/09/17/6128800/tcc-officially-opens-new- aviation.html#storylink=cpy Back to Top FAA streamlines aircraft certification The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is to streamline the aircraft certification process to help the industry get products to market faster and retain competitiveness. The FAA is replacing project sequencing with a new process to prioritize all US aircraft certification projects as part of ongoing efforts to improve its responsiveness to the US aviation industry as it certificates new products and operators. While the new process continues to use a projects safety benefit and complexity to prioritize and allocate resources, the FAA said it will offer applicants increased predictability and a commitment to a response time for the review of the applicants compliance data. The time it takes for certification depends on the complexity of the project and the experience of the company. Once an application package has been accepted, applicants will be able to initiate projects without delay; particularly if they have an Organization Designation Authorization or are using FAA approved individual delegated engineering representatives. This new process responds to the recommendations from the Aircraft Certification Process Review and Reform Aviation Rulemaking Committee formed in accordance with Section 312 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012. Due to limited resources, the FAA began sequencing certification projects in 2005 which meant the agency was unable to tell applicants when a project would start which often resulted in long project delays until resources became available. Last year, the FAA certificated approximately 10,000 aviation products. There is currently no backlog or queue for certification projects. The FAA's Aircraft Certification Services 1,300 engineers, scientists, inspectors, test pilots and other experts are responsible for the design and production approval, airworthiness certification, and continued airworthiness programs of all US civil aviation products. http://www.airtrafficmanagement.net/2014/09/faa-streamlines-aircraft-certification- process/ Back to Top Czechs to Train Iraqi Helicopter Pilots PRAGUE -The Czech Defense Ministry says it has signed a deal with Iraq to provide training to 31 helicopter pilots from the Iraqi air force. The ministry says the training in the Czech city of Pardubice will take 12 months and is scheduled to start early next year. Iraqi is facing a militant uprising and needs international military help. The ministry has already agreed to sell to Iraq 15 Czech-made L-159 light combat planes, and the Czech government has approved a plan to provide the Kurdish military with 500 metric tons of ammunition to fight Islamic State militants. The delivery of the ammunition begins Thursday. Next week, the Czech Interior ministry is expected to announce details of another plan to send Czech officers to Iraq to rain Kurdish police. http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/czechs-train-iraqi-helicopter-pilots- 25562717 Back to Top Back to Top United Airlines added 50 76-seat Embraer 175 aircraft to operate under the United Express brand through an amended agreement with regional carrier Shuttle America, United announced Tuesday. United earlier this year began delivery of 70 of the aircraft, which have 12 first-class seats, 16 premium-economy seats and 48 standard economy seats. The additional 50 aircraft will be delivered beginning in July 2015 through the summer of 2017, according to United. Shuttle America parent company Republic Airways Holdings will decide which regional carriers operate the new aircraft as a replacement to larger turboprop planes and other less-efficient models. http://www.businesstravelnews.com/More-News/United-Airlines-added-50-76-seat- Embraer-175-aircraft-to-operate-under-the-United-Express-brand/?ib=Airlines&a=proc Back to Top Boeing Sees Rising Demand for Pilots, Technicians in Asia Pacific SINGAPORE--Boeing Co. ( BA ) expects Asia Pacific to need 440,000 pilots and technical staff over the next 20 years, as airlines buy more planes. The latest forecast by the Seattle-based aircraft maker is for 216,000 new pilots and 224,000 technicians needed through 2033, Bob Bellitto, the director of customer group at Boeing Flight Services told reporters on Thursday. The number of pilots is 12% more than the company's forecast last year and the number of technicians projected is 4% higher, he said. China will absorb 98,000 pilots and 101,000 technicians over the period, followed by Southeast Asia that is projected to need 55,000 pilots and an equal number of technicians. Boeing expects airlines in Asia Pacific to take deliveries of 13,460 new airplanes valued at over $2 trillion over the next 20 years. To address the rising demand for flying crew, Boeing has announced a program under which flight schools certified by the company will train pilots for partner airlines. Boeing aims to train about 500 pilots each year under the Boeing Pilot Development Program and expects the first announcement by an airline partner before the end of the year, said Mr. Bellitto. http://www.nasdaq.com/article/boeing-sees-rising-demand-for-pilots-technicians-in- asia-pacific-20140918-00001#ixzz3DfTZ49o9 Back to Top Feds Seek Forfeiture Of Business Jet In Pot Bust Involving Denver Man WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - Federal prosecutors are seeking the forfeiture of a business jet after the pilot was arrested in July at a Kansas airport and accused of possessing more than 50 kilograms of marijuana with the intent to sell it. U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom says 58-year-old Kenneth Weaver of Denver also is accused of conspiracy and interstate travel in furtherance of drug trafficking. Prosecutors say Weaver was arrested on July 11 after agents executed a search warrant on the plane at the airport in Iola and seized a load of marijuana. The superseding indictment seeks the forfeiture of a 1979 Israel Aircraft Industries jet, a 2007 Bentley Continental GT-C automobile and more than $450,000 in cash seized Aug. 8 in Sylmar, Calif. Weaver's attorney didn't immediately return a call Tuesday seeking comment. http://denver.cbslocal.com/2014/09/16/feds-seek-forfeiture-of-business-jet-in-pot-bust- involving-denver-man/ Back to Top ICAEA-ANAC-CIPE Aviation English Workshop Buenos Aires, Argentina. International Civil Aviation English Association Workshop, hosted by Argentina ANAC and CIPE. "Skills and competencies needed in aviation communications: The Latin American Challenge." Open to anyone interested in aviation English. Nov. 20-21, 2014. www.icaea.aero Back to Top Graduate Survey Research Request Dear fellow pilots/Dear Colleagues: Apart from still very actively flying airplanes like all of us, in my case the Airbus, I'm also about to write a thesis with the University of Applied Sciences in Zurich, Switzerland, on the topic of culture and Crew Resource Management. Part of my research consists of a questionnaire for pilots, which takes about 10 minutes to fill in and is completely anonymous. Not even the IP-address is logged or traced, absolutely nothing. It would be great if you could take a few minutes to answer the survey which can be accessed using this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/UNI-HWZ Every additional reply is of great help. So, please feel free to answer my questions. For any feedback, comment or expression of doubt, just drop me a line. Many thanks and very kind regards, Thomas Thomas Häderli Captain Hadlaubstrasse 39 8044 Zürich Switzerland Cell +41 79 638 48 38 tom.h@me.com skype: thaederli Back to Top Back to Top INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF AIR SAFETY INVESTIGATORS ISASI 2014 45TH ANNUAL SEMINAR "Investigations and Safety Management Systems" This year's seminar will take place at the Stamford Hotel in Glenelg, near Adelaide, Australia, from 13 -16 October, 2014. All current information regarding seminar registration, hotel reservations and speakers can be found on the official seminar website at www.asasi.org. Please note the deadline for Early Bird Registration and the discounted rate at the hotel is midnight September 4. Questions can be directed to: Mr. Lindsay Naylor ISASI 2014 Seminar Chair lindsaynaylor77@gmail.com or Ms.Barbara Dunn International Seminar Chair - ISASI avsafe@shaw.ca Back to Top Upcoming Events: IFA - Maintaining Airworthiness Standards and Investing in the Most Important Asset 'The Human Element' 17 - 18 September, 2014 Emirates Eng Facility, Dubai www.ifairworthy.com ISASI 2014 - Annual Seminar October 13-16, 2014 Adelaide, Australia www.isasi.org IASS 2014 Abu Dhabi, UAE November 11-13, 2014 http://flightsafety.org/meeting/iass-2014 ICAEA-ANAC-CIPE Aviation English Workshop. Buenos Aires, Argentina. International Civil Aviation English Association Workshop, hosted by Argentina ANAC and CIPE. "Skills and competencies needed in aviation communications: The Latin American Challenge." Open to anyone interested in aviation English. Nov. 20-21, 2014. www.icaea.aero ERAU UAS FUNDAMENTALS COURSE December 9 - 11, 2014 ERAU Daytona Beach Campus, FL www.daytonabeach.erau.edu/uas FAA Helicopter Safety Effort three-day safety forum April 21-23, 2015 Hurst, Texas eugene.trainor@faa.gov www.faahelisafety.org Curt Lewis