Flight Safety Information July 23, 2015 - No. 144 In This Issue Small plane crashes at Wisconsin air show; 6 injured Pilots avoid disaster after bird smashes through cockpit window FAA: Pilots Of 5 Planes Report Being Hit By Green Laser Beam Over NY, NJ United jet makes emergency landing at Grand Junction airport Russia's Empty Gesture on the Downed Malaysian Jet FAA Oversight of EU Repair Stations Subpar FAA Proposes $420,000 Civil Penalty Against Avion Research Inc. Unruly passenger forces flight diversion to Philly Man restrained with seltbelts and tape on Siberia Airlines flight PROS 2015 TRAINING CAN AOA INDICATORS CURB...LOSS OF CONTROL ACCIDENTS? FAA Approves Aspen Software-derived Angle-of-Attack Bag with NZ$1m goes missing at Hong Kong airport Why airlines hate squished bugs on airplane wings FAA gives Thailand 65 days to comply with safety measures ISASI 2015, Germany, August 24 - 27, 2015 Aircraft Crash Survival Investigation and Analysis - Course Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University MOOC To Investigate Aviation Accidents NTSB Course: "Managing Communications Following an Aircraft Accident or Incident" Upcoming Events JOBS AVAILABLE (New Positions) Small plane crashes at Wisconsin air show; 6 injured Experimental Aircraft Association crash Emergency personnel respond to a small plane crash July 22, 2015, at the Experimental Aircraft Association convention in Oshkosh, Wis. (Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, FlightGlobal via AP) Five people aboard a single-engine airplane are hurt after it crashed while landing at the Experimental Aircraft Association convention in eastern Wisconsin. EAA spokesman Dick Knapinski said a Piper Malibu went down on a runway at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh shortly before 8 a.m. Wednesday. Thick black smoke could be seen billowing from the runway. Oshkosh firefighters were at the scene. The airport was temporarily closed. WLUK-TV reported that all runways reopened by noon. Air show crash landing A single-engine plane crashed while landing at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wis., at about 8 a.m. on July 22, 2015. (Joe Sienkiewicz, AP) Theda Clark Medical Center spokeswoman Megan Mulholland told the station one person is in critical condition, one in serious condition and another in fair condition there. The two others aboard the plane were treated and released from another hospital, along with a bystander who suffered a minor injury trying to help the people on the plane. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-wisconsin-airshow-plane-crash-20150722-story.html **************** Date: 22-JUL-2015 Time: 07:45 Type: Piper PA-46-310P Malibu Owner/operator: DLM Holding Group LLC Registration: N4BP C/n / msn: 46-8408065 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 5 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH), Oshkosh, WI - United States of America Phase: Landing Nature: Unknown Departure airport: Destination airport: Wittman Rgnl (KOSH) Narrative: The aircraft impacted airport terrain while maneuvering during a landing attempt at Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH), Oshkosh, Wisconsin. A post impact fire ensued with the airplane sustaining substantial damage. The five occupants onboard the aircraft were injured, at least one seriously. One individual on the ground received undetermined injuries. www.aviation-safety.net Back to Top Pilots avoid disaster after bird smashes through cockpit window, covers interior with blood and glass The crew on a private jet in Brazil landed safely after a bird smashed through the windscreen of the plane, showing glass and blood through the interior. Vulture leave bloody mess after smashing through cockpit window Crew on a private plane in Brazil have landed safely after a vulture smashed through the windscreen. The small aircraft was flying from Marechal Cunha Machado Airport when the bird flew through the cockpit window, covering those on board in blood and feathers. The gruesome mess was captured on video by one of the passengers and posted online. Two pilots and two passengers received minor injuries from the accident, 9 News reports. https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/world/pilots-avoid-disaster-after-bird-smashes-through-cockpit-window-covers-interior-with-blood-and-glass- q02566 Back to Top FAA: Pilots Of 5 Planes Report Being Hit By Green Laser Beam Over NY, NJ NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - The FAA now says five pilots reported laser strikes over New York and New Jersey Tuesday night. Earlier they had said there were just four incidents. They happened between 9:25 p.m. and 12:10 a.m. Wednesday. As CBS2's Ilana Gold reports, the laser danger worries both passengers and pilots. American 1976 reported being illuminated by a laser around 9:25 p.m. when it was flying at 3,000 feet about 20 miles south of Newark Liberty International Airport, the FAA said. About 15 minutes later, Express Jet Flight 5887 also reported a laser strike about five miles west of Warwick. Both planes were flying at 7,000 feet, the FAA said. Around the same time, Shuttle America 3482 was heading to Newark when it was hit with a green laser beam about seven miles west of Warwick, New York, the FAA said. Then just after midnight, Spirit Airlines 710 reported seeing a laser when it was flying at 7,500 feet about 20 miles southwest of LaGuardia Airport, the FAA said. United Airlines 1933 reported seeing a laser at 3,000 feet 12 miles southwest of Newark at 11:28 p.m. In an air traffic control recording archived on the website LiveATC.net, the tower can be heard warning pilots about the strikes. "A laser illumination event 2-0 miles south of Newark, green in color, 3,000 - use caution," the air traffic controller said. Pointing a laser at a plane is a federal crime, punishable by thousands of dollars in fines or even prison time. The glaring, green lights could potentially leave a pilot at the plane's controls temporarily blind. "It's dangerous and we are going to have an accident," said aviation expert JP Tristani. No one was hurt in Tuesday's incidents, but local air travelers Wednesday were concerned. "That's horrifying," Alyson Fortner from Crown Heights told CBS2's Ilana Gold. "Why would you want to put someone in danger like that?" "If I think about it, yeah I get worried," said Marine Park resident Magdy Poutros. "I hope we don't die, I hope we don't crash," said passenger Charlie Thomas. Federal authorities have been looking into 12 other laser strikes from last Wednesday where green lasers were pointed at commercial planes over New York and New Jersey. It's unclear if all the incidents are related. The FAA says the number of laser strikes across the country rose by 121 this week alone. As of July 10, more than 2,800 have been reported nationwide this year. http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2015/07/22/ny-nj-planes-hit-by-lasers/ Back to Top United jet makes emergency landing at Grand Junction airport Grand Junction Regional Airport responders and city fire crews evacuated a United Airbus that landed at the airport. 9NEWS at 4 p.m. 07/21/15. KUSA GRAND JUNCTION - Grand Junction Regional Airport responders and city fire crews evacuated a United Airbus that landed at the airport. The plane, which was going to Los Angeles, made an emergency landing due to a passenger feeling ill. Airbus A320, flight 447, had 159 passengers and six crew members on it. Jennifer Dohm, a spokeswoman for United Airlines, gave this statement: "Due to a medical issue onboard, the flight diverted to Grand Junction and landed there safely shortly after takeoff from Denver. Medical personnel met the flight upon arrival, and we'll fly our passengers on a new aircraft to Los Angeles." Earlier reports of smoke turned out to be from the deployment of oxygen masks, which can cause dust and powder from storage to get in the air. According to the Grand Junction Fire Department, the masks were deployed after "one medical event caused a chain reaction. http://www.9news.com/story/news/local/2015/07/22/emergency-landing-grand-junction/30515029/ Back to Top Russia's Empty Gesture on the Downed Malaysian Jet By THE EDITORIAL BOARD A year after Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people aboard, Russia has asked the United Nations Security Council and the International Civil Aviation Organization to take a more active role in investigating the incident and bringing those responsible to justice. On the face of it, that looks like an accommodating gesture from the government that is backing the Ukrainian separatists believed to have fired the fatal missile on July 17, 2014, and that probably supplied it to them. It's not. The real goal of the draft resolution Russia proposed on Monday at the Security Council is to thwart a Dutch-led criminal investigation of what happened and a Western call for a United Nations-backed tribunal. The Netherlands, Malaysia, Australia, Belgium and Ukraine are expected to allege that the plane was shot down by a Russian surface-to-air missile fired by Russian-backed separatists or Russian soldiers, and they have asked the Security Council to set up a tribunal to prosecute those responsible. Separatists in eastern Ukraine rode by a memorial to the victims of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 last week. Credit Mstyslav Chernov/Associated Press From the outset, Russia has denied any role in the incident, concocting various alternative accounts that put the blame on Ukraine and the West. By pushing for a greater role for the United Nations in the investigation, Russia hopes to be better positioned to interfere with the inquiry. As for the tribunal, Russia's ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, has described it as an attempt to set up a "grandiose, political show." The diversionary tactic is typical for the way Russia has behaved in Ukraine from the time Russian soldiers without insignia appeared in Crimea, before Moscow's annexation of the territory in March 2014, to the bloody and inconclusive fighting that continues to this day in separatist-held regions of eastern Ukraine. Throughout it all, President Vladimir Putin has baldly denied the obvious fact that Russian forces are fully engaged in the fighting inside Ukraine. He has blamed Ukrainian "fascists" manipulated by the United States and its allies for all the troubles in Ukraine. Nobody outside Russia believes this, and the Russians themselves make little effort to conceal their extensive military support for the separatists. The bloodshed continues, giving Ukraine no chance to start rebuilding its economy or reform its corruption-riddled government. That may be just what Mr. Putin wants - to ensure that Ukraine remains a broken mess. The relatives of the people who died on the Malaysian airliner, most of whom were Dutch, deserve answers and justice. There is little question that Russia will block any tribunal. But the Security Council should not be fooled into believing that the Russian counterproposals are an honorable alternative, any more than anyone should be fooled by any of Mr. Putin's lies about Russia's military interference in Ukraine. Russia played an important and respected role, along with the United States and other major powers, in reaching a nuclear agreement with Iran. At the same time, Mr. Putin seems content to draw the world's sanctions and disdain with his destructive actions in Ukraine. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/23/opinion/russias-empty-gesture-on-the-downed-malaysian-jet.html?_r=0 Back to Top FAA Oversight of EU Repair Stations Subpar Currently, more than 400 FAA-certified repair stations in Europe perform work on U.S.-registered aircraft and components. To avoid duplicative oversight, the U.S. and the European Union (EU) signed an aviation safety agreement on May 1, 2011, to permit foreign authority safety inspectors to inspect EU repair stations on the behalf of the FAA. While FAA met the agreement's deadline to transfer its oversight responsibilities to foreign aviation authorities, it did so without ensuring that the authorities were fully prepared to accept their new roles, according to a report issued by the U.S. DOT Office of the Inspector General. In addition, the watchdog agency noted, the FAA did not follow its processes to assess foreign authority capabilities or ensure that these authorities completed their initial training on the agreement before the transfer. Training, procedural and data weaknesses further hinder the FAA's ability to monitor EU repair stations. The FAA did not train its inspectors on how to conduct inspections on foreign authorities or provide them with written guidance on how to complete new inspection forms, leading to inaccurate reporting and insufficient information needed to ensure that FAA standards are being met. Sarah MacLeod, executive director of the Aeronautical Repair Station Association, told AIN, "The OIG [Office of Inspector General] and the Government Accountability Office [GAO] have both commented on inspector training issues; indeed, the CRI ARC [Consistency of Regulatory Interpretation Aviation Rulemaking Committee] referenced the same problem. The fact that the OIG points it out again as a basis for its conclusion that the assessments and the oversight are inadequate is rather ironic. This is not the first time the OIG provided incomplete information to the public. The whole point of the bilateral [agreement] is to accept the oversight of the foreign government and focus attention on the differences between the regulatory requirements of cooperating countries. All regulatory authorities have issues with oversight capabilities. The OIG has brought lack of assessment, training and resource issues to the FAA's attention multiple times; it is not surprising that the OIG found those issues with foreign authorities." http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2015-07-21/watchdog-faa-oversight-eu-repair-stations-subpar Back to Top FAA Proposes $420,000 Civil Penalty Against Avion Research Inc. SEATTLE - The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes a $420,000 civil penalty against Avion Research Inc. of Cupertino, Calif., for allegedly producing and advertising articles that weren't authorized for installation on certificated aircraft. The FAA alleges that Avion manufactured 63 glare shields that did not comply with federal aviation regulations for producing replacement or modification articles for FAA type-certificated aircraft. The FAA further alleges Avion knew the shields were reasonably likely to be installed on type- certificated aircraft. The FAA issues type certificates for aircraft that are manufactured according to an approved design that ensures compliance with airworthiness requirements. Additionally, the FAA alleges that Avion advertised products on its website that were not authorized for installation on type-certificated aircraft. These products consisted of panels for certain Cessna 170 models and control wheels for certain Piper PA24 models. The FAA alleges Avion made a fraudulent or intentionally false statement that the products were acceptable for installation on such aircraft. "Whether it's an aircraft manufacturer or a parts fabricator, everyone plays a critical role in aviation safety," said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. "We expect everyone to comply with federal aviation regulations." Avion has 30 days from the receipt of the FAA's enforcement letter to respond to the agency. http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12095016/faa-proposes-420000-civil-penalty-against-avion-research-inc Back to Top Unruly passenger forces flight diversion to Philly An American Airlines passenger allegedly tried to smash plane's window while in flight An American Airlines flight travelling from Charlotte to London was rerouted to Philadelphia after an unruly passenger needed to be physically restrained by flight crew and passengers. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania filed a criminal complaint against Sarah Elizabeth Buffett, of Charlotte, for allegedly assaulting and intimidating crew members and interfering with their performance duties. Flight 732, which departed Charlotte at 11:17 p.m. Tuesday, was diverted to Philadelphia International Airport, landing Wednesday at 4:36 a.m. The flight on Airbus A330, carrying 267 passengers and being operated by U.S. Airways, was cancelled due to crew restrictions. "We apologize to our customers, and have re-accommodated them on alternate flights," American Airlines said in a statement. Buffett, seated in first class, allegedly became physically aggressive and was damaging her seat, according to a criminal complaint filed Wednesday. She allegedly tried to smash the aircraft window with an entertainment system remote before getting out of her seat and acting in a menacing manner in front of the cockpit door. Flight attendants were unable to restrain Buffett and needed assistance from passengers to place Buffett in plastic restraints, according to the complaint. Buffett allegedly removed the restraints twice before she was held down by a passenger and had tape wrapped around her lower legs. Buffett told investigators that she drank at least three glasses of wine and took a Zaleplon pill prescribed for her insomnia, the complaint said. She said she did not remember anything after requesting not to be served dinner. Her next memory, she told investigators, came after being physically restrained by an unknown male and learning of the flight's diversion to Philadelphia. Buffett was removed from the aircraft by several law enforcement officers and transported to the Tinicum Township Police Department for investigation. http://www.phillyvoice.com/unruly-passenger-forces-flight-diversion-philly/ Back to Top Man restrained with seltbelts and tape on Siberia Airlines flight Fellow fliers showed little patience with an allegedly drunk and unruly man on a flight to Vladivostok Man restrained with seltbelts and tape on Siberia Airlines flight The incident ended with one man very tightly restrained An unruly passenger appears to have taken air rage to new heights, if these photos are anything to go by. An incident on board Siberia Airlines Flight 546 from Hong Kong to Vladivostok on Monday ended with him restrained in the aisle using a combination of seatbelts and tape. Man restrained with seltbelts and tape on Siberia Airlines flight Unruly fliers are dealt with quickly and severely in Russia The man was allegedly drunk and abusive to other passengers, according to Vostok Media, prompting several others on board to take fairly forceful action. As a YouTube video of the incident shows, he was shoved to the floor by a fellow flier before a handful of others appeared to kick and punch him. The video has been viewed more than 445,000 times since it was uploaded on July 20. The man was detained by local police upon arrival in Vladivostock, the report adds. The Civil Aviation Authority recently warned that air rage was a growing problem, with the number of incidents on British airlines rising from 114 last year - up from 85 in 2013 and 47 in 2012. It called on airport bars and duty free shops to limit the sale of alcohol in a bid to tackle the issue. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/11757486/Man-restrained-with-seltbelts-and-tape-on-Siberia-Airlines-flight.html Back to Top Back to Top CAN AOA INDICATORS CURB LOSS OF CONTROL ACCIDENTS? By Roger Rapoport AOA Indicator OSHKOSH, Wisconsin - While accident rates for the airlines, business and instructional flying are down significantly in recent years, general aviation remains a perplexing and troubling area nationwide. Speaking hours before a Piper Malibu accident at Whitman Field here that sent three men to the hospital, one in critical condition, National Transportation Safety Board member Earl Weener made a powerful case for adding angle of attack indicators to all aircraft. Honorable Earl F. Weener, PhD, Member One airport observer of Wednesday's accident saw the plane make a slow base leg turn and then try to recover with a heavy stab of power right at impact. The crash, which closed the busy field here for several hours during EAA Air Venture, is now under investigation by the NTSB. "The problem," said the NTSB's Weener, "is that more than 40 percent of fixed wing accidents are loss of control events." Lack of recurrent training, poor situational awareness and entering situations where wings lose energy and stall all contribute to this alarming situation. Among the dramatic examples cited by the NTSB are an August, 2013 Rockwell International 690B flight that entered an aerodynamic stall/spin, crashed into a house and killed two children. Similarly in December 2012 a Lancair IV-P stalled and made seven 360 degree revolutions before crashing near Lakeside, California with three fatalities. Loss of control accidents are the top general aviation item on the NTSB's "most wanted list" for transportation safety improvements. Often they are triggered by several errors including bad turns on final approach, failure to recognize the warning signs of an impending stall and not knowing how to apply appropriate recovery techniques. "For about $1,000 most general aviation pilots can add the kind of angle of attack indicator traditionally used by the Navy for carrier landings," says Weener. "Watching airspeed indication is not enough to avoid a stall. For example if you change weight it changes the stall speed." Weener points out that an AOA indicator can improve situational awareness during critical and high-workload phases of flight. Endorsed by experts at the FAA, the AOPA and EAA, addition of this readily available and on the shelf instrument can prevent accidents. "With an AOA indicator," says Weener, "a significant portion of these loss of control events could be prevented." Ultimately, he says, it's the responsibility of the pilot to reduce these risks through continuing education, flight currency and better situational awareness. But all of these steps tie into taking advantage of a proven technology that works well for the Navy on tricky carrier landings. Long advocated by many commercial pilots, and strongly recommended by the French BEA team investigating the Air France 447 accident, AOA indicators help avoid cockpit confusion that can contribute to an aerodynamic stall. "Adding AOA indicators can make a major difference and help reverse a disturbing trend in loss of control accidents," says Weener. "There's real value in getting every pilot to use this valuable air safety tool." Roger Rapoport is the author of The Rio-Paris Crash: Air France 447. He is the producer of the feature film Pilot Error now playing in theaters and available on DVD. Pilot-Errormovie.com Back to Top FAA Approves Aspen Software-derived Angle-of-Attack Just four months after introducing its new software-derived angle-of-attack (AOA) indicator, Aspen Avionics received FAA certification for the system. The Aspen AOA requires no hardware or wiring changes to the airplane and is a simple software update to the Aspen Evolution flight and multifunction displays. Delivery of the new software update with the AOA indicator begins immediately, and pricing for the upgrade is set at $1,995. The Aspen AOA indicator provides stall margin awareness for both flaps up and down configurations; the indicator shows both states at the same time with two separate indicator needles, and this allows the pilot to instantly determine how changing the flap setting will affect the available lift. Installation of the AOA upgrade must be done by an Aspen dealer and requires a short calibration flight. For aircraft owners considering buying an Aspen Evolution display, Aspen introduced the Evolution Pro Plus safety package this week at EAA AirVenture 2015. The package combines the Evolution PFD with synthetic vision and AOA, all for $13,995, a $1,695 savings. The safety package can also be added to an existing Evolution PFD for $3,295, also a savings of $1,695 compared with buying the two products separately. ADS-B OPTIONS Aspen president and CEO John Uczekaj said that earlier this year at the Sun 'n' Fun show most visitors were asking questions about the basics of ADS- B. At AirVenture, people seem more interested in finding out what ADS-B solution will fit the particular equipment installed in their airplanes. "Customers want choice," he said. To offer that choice, Aspen has partnered with L-3 Aviation Products to offer Aspen displays coupled with L-3's Lynx NGT-9000 MultiLink Surveillance System ADS-B OUT and IN transceiver. Buyers can opt for Aspen's EFD1000 Pro Plus (with synthetic vision and AOA) and the NGT-9000 for $20,795. The Evolution 1500, which adds the MFD 500 multifunction display to the above package, is priced at $24,655. The advantage of combining the L-3 and Aspen products is that the pilot can elect to display traffic on one system and weather on the other, which helps the pilot get a clearer picture of potential hazards. The NGT-9000 includes a mode-S transponder, integrated touchscreen display, internal ADS-B-compliant GPS and Wi-Fi connectivity to mobile devices. The above three packages are available in the NextGen GA Fund's new Jumpstart GA-IN program, which provides a $2,000 labor installation credit when the operator secures a loan through the GA Fund. The labor credit offer is for a limited time, and the work must be done by an FAA-certified repair station. Aspen Avionics recently purchased GPS manufacturer Accord Technology, and this opens up new markets for Aspen to serve avionics manufacturers with precise and compact GPS receivers. Aspen's remote sensor module provides a GPS signal for the Evolution displays, but only for emergency use. Now, Uczekaj said, "We'll probably upgrade [the module] with a certified GPS." As for what the next avionics product from Aspen will look like, he said, "We're looking at all potential products." https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/general-aviation/2015-07-22/faa-approves-aspen-software-derived-angle-attack Back to Top Bag with NZ$1m goes missing at Hong Kong airport In this picture taken on August 10, 2014, a Cathay Pacific passenger plane prepares to land at Hong Kong's international airport. The money was being transported by Cathay Pacific to the Bank of China A bag carrying NZ$1m (£425,000) is missing after it fell while being moved at Hong Kong International Airport. The bag was one of 13, holding a total NZ$10m, being sent to the Bank of China in Hong Kong from New Zealand, Chinese media said. Three bags reportedly fell off after being unloaded from a Cathay Pacific flight on Friday. Airport staff who went to retrieve them found only two. The airline said police were investigating. Reports in China said surveillance footage broadcast in China showed the three unfastened bags falling from a trailer as it turned a corner. When staff realised the bags were missing 10 minutes later, they returned, the website said. Chinese media said police were treating the disappearance of the bag as theft. A statement by the airline said: "Cathay Pacific transported a valuable cargo shipment last Friday night to Hong Kong. "Upon arrival, it was transferred to the cargo terminal where part of the shipment was found missing. As the case is under police investigation, we are unable to provide further details." G4S International Logistics, that was transporting the money to the Bank of China, said the money was safe until it entered the controlled airside section of the airport - a section to which their staff have no access. The money was insured, the company said. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-33632618 Back to Top Why airlines hate squished bugs on airplane wings Bugs are a drag for the airlines. For most of us, bugs are annoying, itchy, yucky summer pests. For airlines, they are quite literally a drag - a fuel-wasting, money-eating drag. Scientists from NASA and leading plane manufacturer Boeing are pooling their collective genius to tackle the dilemma of keeping bug guts from sticking to airplane wings. Experimental flights above the insect-rich swamps of Louisiana are testing the value of non-stick coatings and new wing extensions. The incentive for pest control is nothing to swat at. The U.S. Department of Transportation says the airline industry spent $48 billion on fuel last year for passenger and cargo planes. Wing improvements that carry planes more smoothly through the air could save the industry as much as $2.4 billion a year - with bugs counting as a slice of that pie. Fayette Collier, director of NASA's Environmentally Responsible Aviation program, says giving bugs the brush off could shave 0.5% off fuel costs, or $240 million in savings. "It is huge," Collier said of overall wing improvements. "The carrot is so huge, you can't ignore it." Tiny critters pose huge problems. No matter how clean a plane is on the ground, taking off through a cloud of bugs roughens the wing's leading edge. Bumpy wings from that momentary encounter increase drag and require the plane to burn slightly more fuel during hours of the entire flight. The goal of wing research is to keep air flowing as smoothly as possible for as long as possible across the wing. NASA and Boeing are each eager to find solutions, which will be shared with the rest of the industry, to save fuel and reduce pollution. "When you burn less fuel, the engines require less maintenance. We produce less emissions. There's less carbon dioxide," said Mike Sinnett, Boeing's vice president for product development. "Across the board, burning less gas is a good thing." NASA has been looking to give bugs the brush off for at least 30 years. Decades ago, efforts included spraying a substance on the wing with anti-icing fluid, like buttering a skillet, so bugs would slip off, or attaching paper that peeled away after takeoff like a used napkin. But each had their own costs and environmental concerns. "You really don't want to have littering in the sky," said Mia Siochi, a senior materials researcher at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va. Early experiments used a gun to fire bugs - first crickets and then fruit flies - at the wings of planes to replicate the 150 mph speed of a jet taking off, she said. But it was tricky in the lab to match the sticky impact of bugs hitting a wing during takeoff. "The insect, not knowing that it's been catastrophically hit, is actually trying to heal, like blood coagulating to heal the wound," Siochi said. "It's getting stickier." Recent efforts to reduce fuel consumption, pollution and noise are now the province of NASA's Environmentally Responsible Aviation program or ERA. Since 2009, ERA has spent about $420 million to identify and test eight strategies to improve jet performance and efficiency, Collier said. About $2 million to $3 million went toward bug research, with private partners such as Boeing also contributing, he said. Boeing and NASA scientists flew a Boeing 757, nicknamed the ecoDemonstrator, over the swamps around Shreveport, La., from April 27 to May 15 to test a couple of options - a coating like Teflon and a wing extension that shields the wing from bugs during takeoff. "We don't have the answers yet," Sinnett said. "That literally is what caused us to go out and find a plague of locusts." NASA developed five experimental surfaces, which were attached to the 757's right wing in 2-foot-by-3-foot plates. Researchers counted 100 to 200 bug splatters on a regular metal section of wing, but as much as a 40% reduction in splats on the best experimental panel. "It was visible as you walked up to the wing," Siochi said. The best surface was inspired by the lotus leaf, she said. Tiny ridges that aren't visible to the naked eye let bug gunk run off like water rolling off a leaf. "It looks like mountains," Siochi said. Another option that looked promising in the Louisiana swamp was a wing extension that provides extra lift at takeoff, but then retracts to fit snugly beneath the wing at cruising altitude. The unexpected benefit is that, like a glove, the so-called Krueger flaps also shielded the wing of the ecoDemonstrator from bugs. "That gives us an unintended capability to block the leading edge of the wing from bugs because the bugs smack into the Krueger first," Sinnett said. "Then that Krueger folds away when you get up at cruise." While the flaps are installed on newer versions of the Boeing 747, they wouldn't necessarily work for all planes because of the shape and design of the rest of the wing, Sinnett said. Special coatings like the ones NASA is exploring could work on other planes. Now researchers are huddling to gauge the results. Airlines must weigh the costs and benefits of the adding the technology to the fleet, and whether the technology can withstand tens of thousands of flights. If the analysis looks promising, researchers say the gleaming result could appear routinely outside airliner windows in the mid-2020s. "We're looking into the future," Collier said. "The wing is the next thing." http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/2015/07/22/airplane-bugs-nasa-boeing-research/30428657/ Back to Top FAA gives Thailand 65 days to comply with safety measures FAA has given Thai aviation authorities until mid-October to take "corrective measures" over critical omissions in its commercial aviation safety standards. If these measures are not taken in time, Thai carriers could face a flight ban to the US. Thai Transport Minister Prajin Juntong said that if further inspections do not meet FAA requirements, Thailand's aviation sector could be downgraded to a Category 2. He said this could "affect the industry's flights into the USA." FAA undertook a week-long inspection of Thai aviation oversight procedures following the application of an ICAO "red flag" status to Thai carriers in June. The ICAO red flag was applied over issues with standard procedures and safety adherence. The FAA examination looked at inspection procedures at key Thai carriers including Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways. The initial report detailed three key areas of concern: lack of qualified inspection staff; some staff being "inappropriately assigned to aircraft types," and lack of compliance with some standardized operations checklists-for both aircraft and ground operations. The Thai government has already committed to shake up its safety and oversight procedures through the Thai Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) governing body. It has replaced previous DCA CEO Somchai Phiphutthawat with the DCA's inspector-general Parichart Khotcharat, and has also promised to introduce new oversight bodies to promote safety. FAA expects to release its full report by late August, after which Thai authorities will have 65 days to address any safety and compliance issues. http://atwonline.com/safety/faa-gives-thailand-65-days-comply-safety-measures Back to Top ISASI 2015, Germany, August 24 - 27, 2015 "Independence does not mean isolation". The International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI) will hold their 46th annual seminar at the Kongress am Park, Augsburg, Germany, from August 24 - 27, 2015. For all current information including the link to the registration and hotel pages please go to www.esasi.eu/isasi-2015 Note: Cut off dates for hotel reservations are June 23rd for the Dorint & July 23rd for the Ibis & the Intercity For questions regarding Sponsorship please contact Ron Schleede - ronschleede@aol.com or Steve Hull - steve.hull@rtiforensics.com Exhibitors should contact Steve Hull or Ann Schull - isasi@erols.com Back to Top Aircraft Crash Survival Investigation and Analysis * When: Sept. 21-25, 2015 * Where: Embry-Riddle Prescott, AZ Campus, Robertson Aviation Safety Center I * Early Bird Fee (Before August 1, 2015): U.S. $1,750 * Standard Course Fee: U.S. $2,000 * CEUs: 2 * Register Online: http://proed.erau.edu/programs/aviation-safety-accident-investigation/aircraft-crash-survival-investigation-and- analysis/index.html This exciting 5-day course entails a detailed analysis of the aircraft accident environment with particular emphasis on survivability factors. It explores factors and forces that cause injury and examines the injury-role played by impact forces and occupiable space compromises. The students will examine crashworthiness and delethalization technologies and concepts with a focus on the best ways to protect occupants during a crash. Selected aircraft accidents will be used as case studies, including use of the nation's largest full-scale investigation laboratory, the Robertson Aircraft Accident Investigation Lab. An in-depth review of basic kinematics and development of injury-related information will be completed. Back to Top Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University MOOC To Investigate Aviation Accidents Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide will be delivering a massive open online course (MOOC) on aircraft accident investigation at the end of the summer. Students will have the chance to try out their data collection skills in a virtual crash laboratory hosted by the Daytona Beach, FL-based institution. The new course will cover various aspects of the aircraft accident investigation process, from initial field investigation to publication of the final accident report. The university said an emphasis will be placed on the study of human factors and survival investigative techniques and the application of accident investigation findings in industry and research. The class will analyze aircraft accidents and evaluate causal factors. Participants in Embry-Riddle's aircraft accident investigation MOOC will be given the chance to practice data collection skills in Worldwide's Virtual Crash Laboratory. Participants will be given the chance to practice data collection skills in Worldwide's Virtual Crash Laboratory. Launched in May 2014, the lab introduces students to an animated crash using a short video. They then choose a male or female avatar to be the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator who walks through the crash site. They'll collect and export data that satisfies accident investigation criteria: survival factors, human factors, aircraft structures, aircraft systems, operations and maintenance. The MOOC, which is limited to 2,500 students, runs August 17 to September 13, 2015 and is hosted on the Canvas Network. It's expected to take between four and eight hours of work per week. All study materials will be provided within the course, and students who complete all four modules will receive a certificate of completion. There are no pre-requisites. http://campustechnology.com/articles/2015/07/20/embry-riddle-aeronautical-u-mooc-to-investigate-aviation-accidents.aspx Back to Top Title Managing Communications Following an Aircraft Accident or Incident Co-sponsor Airports Council International - North America (ACI-NA) Description The course will teach participants what to expect in the days immediately following an aviation accident or incident and how they can prepare for their role with the media. ID Code PA302 Dates, Tuition and Fee October 22-23, 2015 $1034 early registration, by September 19, 2015 $1134 late registration, between September 20 and October 19, 2015 $100 processing fee will be added to tuitions for all offline applications. A tuition invoice can be ordered for a $25 processing fee. Note: payment must be made at time of registration. Times Day 1: 8:30am - 5pm Day 2: 9am - 3pm Location NTSB Training Center * 45065 Riverside Parkway * Ashburn, Virginia 20147 Status OPEN. Applications are now being accepted. Apply to Attend SIGN UP FOR THIS COURSE HERE CEUs 1.3 Overview * How the National Transportation Safety Board organizes an accident site and what can be expected in the days after an aviation disaster from the NTSB, FAA, other federal agencies, airline, airport, media and local community * Strategies for airline and airport staff to proactively manage the communication process throughout the on-scene phase of the investigation * How the NTSB public affairs officers coordinate press conferences and release of accident information and what information the spokespersons from the airport and airline will be responsible to provide to the media * Making provisions for and communicating with family members of those involved in the accident * Questions and requests likely encountered from the airlines, airport staff, family members, disaster relief agencies, local officials and others > Comments from course participants > See the 219 organizations from 28 countries that have sent staff to attend this course Performance Results Upon completion of this course the participant will be able to: * Be better prepared to respond to a major aviation disaster involving a flight departing from or destined for participant's airport * Demonstrate greater confidence in fielding on-scene questions about the many aspects of the investigation and its participants, including what types of specific information may be requested * Identify the appropriate Public Affairs roles for the various organizations involved in an accident investigation. * Be more productive in the first few hours after an aviation disaster by understanding which tasks are most important and why * Perform job responsibilities more professionally and with greater confidence given the knowledge and tools to manage the airport communications aspect of a major aviation disaster Who May Attend This course is targeted to who, in the event of an aviation disaster, will need to provide a steady flow of accurate information to media outlets and/or other airport, federal or local authorities. Accommodations Area hotels and restaurants Airports Washington Dulles International (IAD): 10 miles Washington Ronald Reagan National (DCA): 30 miles Baltimore/Washington International (BWI): 60 miles More Information Email TrainingCenter@ntsb.gov or call (571) 223-3900 Courses, forums and symposia are added to the schedule throughout the year. Subscribe to the e- newsletter to learn about upcoming events and new programs:http://app.ntsb.gov/trainingcenter/list/list_mw020207.htm Back To Top Upcoming Events: EAA AirVenture Schedule July 19-26, 2015 Oshkosh, WI http://www.eaa.org/en/airventure/eaa-airventure-schedule-of-events Fundamentals of IS-BAO August 19, 2015 Madrid, Spain https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1659089 IS-BAO Auditing August 20, 2015 Madrid, Spain https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1659096 Safety Management Systems Training & Workshop Course offered by ATC Vantage Inc. Tampa, FL August 6-7, 2015 www.atcvantage.com/training Fundamentals of IS-BAO August 25, 2015 Denver, CO USA https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1737105 IS-BAO Auditing August 26, 2015 Denver, CO USA https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1737126 Fundamentals of IS-BAO August 30, 2015 Casablanca, Morocco https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1725994 IS-BAO Auditing August 31, 2015 Casablanca, Morocco https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1725997 Aircraft Fire Hazards, Protection & Investigation Course 9-11 Sept. 2015 Hotel Ibis Nanterre La Defense (near Paris) France http://blazetech.com/resources/pro_services/FireCourse-France_2015.pdf Regulatory Affairs Training Course September 15 & 16 Fort Worth, TX http://jdasolutions.aero/services/regulatory-affairs.php Suspected Unapproved Parts (SUPS) Training Course September 15 & 16 Fort Worth, TX http://jdasolutions.aero/ Back to Top JOBS AVAILABLE: Manager Airline Safety Cathay Pacific http://www.cathaypacific.com/careers Airline Safety Manager - SMS (ASM-SMS) Cathay Pacific http://www.cathaypacific.com/careers Director, ICAO Liaison International Business Aviation Council DILpost@ibac.org Auditor Quality Assurance JetBlue https://careers.peopleclick.com/careerscp/client_jetblue/external_general/gateway.do?functionName=viewFromLink&jobPostId=5760&localeCode=en- us Curt Lewis