Flight Safety Information September 10, 2015 - No. 180 In This Issue 2015 ISASI Jerome F. Lederer Award Winner...Ladislav Mika Las Vegas jet fire engine is safe, maker says British Airways jet fire: Why did some risk lives to grab carry-ons before fleeing? NTSB Faults Pilots, Gulfstream FAA in G-IV Crash...By Roger Rapoport Shoreham air crash pilot to be interviewed by police and investigators Allegiant flight to Las Vegas diverts to airport in Utah New Passenger Bill of Rights would set minimum airplane seat size Pilot didn't have proper certification to fly jet Aviation safety: public protection vs. patient confidentiality Why Hong Kong's under-fire civil aviation chief should take off - now. FAA rescinds ADS-B notam after AOPA voices concerns North Texas Business Aviation Association (NTBAA) Safety Show-Down 23-24 Sep. PROS 2015 TRAINING Stay Current on Aviation Safety - Follow FSI on Twitter Boeing picks Mukilteo firm to supply equipment to assemble 777X wing Boeing Says Asia Needs More Pilots Singapore's air deals vital to aviation safety: Shanmugam Boeing plans to further speed up 767 aircraft production Aircraft engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney opens training centre in Hyderabad Oman Air to take 14 aircraft from Air Lease Corp iCRM - HF Training ERAU AVIATION SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS seminar Upcoming Events JOBS AVAILABLE (New Positions) 2015 ISASI Jerome F. Lederer Award Winner Ladislav Mika (Ladi) of the Czech RepublicMinistry of Transport has been awarded the prestigious 2015 Jerome F. Lederer Award by the International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI) at their annual international accident investigation and prevention conference which was held in Augsburg, Germany in August. The award is for "Outstanding contributions to technical excellence in accident investigation" and recognizes Mr. Mika's continuing achievement and devotion to aviation safety. The award was created to honor Mr. Lederer, bestowed as the "Father of Aviation Safety" by Congress in 1997. Mr. Lederer was hired in 1926 to oversee aircraft maintenance by the U.S. Post Office. In 1940 he was appointed director of the Civil Aeronautics Board's Safety Bureau, later resigning to become director of the Airlines War Training Institute in 1942, training airmen and mechanics for the Air Transport Command and safety consultant to the 2nd Air Force. In 1968 he was appointed director of the Office of Manned Space Flight Safety for the Apollo Program, becoming the Director for all of NASA in 1970. In 1965 he became, a member of the Society of Air Safety Investigators, forerunner to ISASI, and in 1969 he became the second president of the organization. In time, and in his honor, the Society established the Jerome F. Lederer Award. Jerry "Flew West" at age 101 on February 6, 2004 Mr. Mika stands out for his dedication, perseverance, energy, professionalism and leadership among the world's experts in aviation safety, particularly regarding accident/incident investigation and prevention. He received, in 2014, an ICAO Award of Certificate of Outstanding Achievement for thirty years activities and outstanding personal contribution to the sustainable development and safety of international civil aviation within the framework of the European Air Navigation Planning Group - EANPG ICAO. He has 44 years of experience in aviation, including seven years with the Czechoslovak Airlines and 37 years with the Czech Ministry of Transport where he currently holds the position of Senior Officer of Flight Operations and Safety Division. During his years with the Ministry, he was also a member of the Permanent State Commission for the Investigation of Aircraft Accidents. He was instrumental in the preparations to establish the Air Accident Investigation Institute in the Czech Republic in 2002, an independent aircraft accident investigation agency set up to meet the European Union requirements. He was founder of the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) in Czechoslovakia in 1987 and former President of the Association of the Air Rescue Services in Czech Republic. Since its founding, more than 200,000 people have been saved because of the HEMS. Mr Mika Ladi has improved aviation safety through accident/incident investigation and prevention in Central/Eastern Europe. His native Czech Republic has an excellent aviation safety record--no fatal accidents with transport category aircraft for more than 38 years. Prior Recipients of the ISASI Jerome F. Lederer Award have been: * 2014 - David King * 2013 - Frank S. Del Gandio and Myron P. "Pappy" Papadakis * 2012 - Curt Lewis * 2011 - Paul-Louis Arslanian * 2010 - Michael Poole * 2009 - Capt. Richard B. Stone * 2009 - Australian Transport Safety Bureau * 2008 - Don Bateman * 2007 - Tom McCarthy * 2006 - Richard H. Wood * 2005 - John D. Rawson * 2004 - Ron Chippindale (deceased 2/12/08) * 2003 - Caj Frostell * 2002 - Ronald L. Schleede * 2001 - John Purvis and The Transportation Safety Board of Canada * 2000 - Nora Marshal * 1999 - Capt. James McIntyre (deceased 11/19/01) * 1998 - A. Frank Taylor * 1997 - Gus Economy * 1996 - Burt Chesterfield * 1995 - Dr. John K. Lauber * 1994 - U.K. Aircraft Accidents Investigation Branch * 1993 - Capt. Victor Hewes * 1992 - Paul R. Powers * 1991 - Eddie J. Trimble * 1990 - Olof Fritsch * 1989 - Aage A. Roed (deceased 1/25/03) * 1988 - H. Vincent LaChapelle * 1987 - Dr. Carol A. Roberts * 1986 - Geoffrey C. Wilkinson * 1985 - Dr. John Kenyon Mason * 1984 - George B. Parker * 1983 - C.O. Miller (deceased 10/20/03) * 1982 - C.H. Prater Houge * 1981 - Dr. S. Harry Robertson * 1980 - John Gilbert Boulding * 1979 - Gerard M. Bruggink * 1978 - Allen R. McMahan * 1977 - Samuel M. Phillips www.isasi.org Congratulations Ladi ! Back to Top Las Vegas jet fire engine is safe, maker says British Airways plane sits on a runway surrounded by emergency vehicles at McCarran International Airport following a fire onboard on September 8, 2015 Los Angeles (AFP) - The manufacturer of the engine that burst into flames on a British Airways jet in Las Vegas said Wednesday that other aircraft powered by the GE90 engines were still safe to fly. The Boeing 777 was preparing to take off with 172 people on board Tuesday when the fire broke out in its left engine. The crew immediately aborted the takeoff and terrified passengers scrambled off the burning plane using emergency slides. The airline said Wednesday that a total of eight people had been taken to hospital. All were later released after receiving treatment. General Electric, maker of the GE90, said it was sending technical representatives to assist an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, but insisted its engine was safe. "Based on the engine fleet's service history, we are not aware of any operational issues that would hazard the continued safe flight of aircraft powered by these engines," it said. Boeing and British Airways, which sent letters of apology to passengers on flight BA2276, were also taking part in the probe. View galleryGE issued a statement saying the GE90 engine "has … GE issued a statement saying the GE90 engine "has compiled an outstanding safety and reliabilit ... - 'Catastrophic engine failure' - GE issued a statement saying the engine "has compiled an outstanding safety and reliability record since entering service in 1995." "The GE90 is among the world's most reliable engines, powering more than 900 Boeing 777 aircraft and accumulating more than 50 million flight hours." Richard Aboulaffia, an aeronautics expert, agreed that the Boeing 777 is one of the world's most reliable aircraft, telling AFP the Las Vegas incident should not affect either Boeing or GE. Boeing shares were up 0.82 percent to $134.92 at the opening of the stock market in New York Wednesday, as were GE's, which rose 0.42 percent to $25. The BA jet was preparing to leave for London when it experienced what its pilot later described as a "catastrophic engine failure." - 'Textbook evacuation' - Named in the British press as Chris Henkey, the pilot has four decades of experience. The Guardian quoted his wife Marnie as saying: "He is safe and happy. I've had some messages from him. He did a bloody good job." Aviation expert Julian Bray said: "It was a textbook emergency evacuation under difficult conditions because that smoke was thick, black and acrid." A Guardian reporter who was on the plane tweeted that he was asleep when it came to a "crashing halt" on the runway, and the order was given to evacuate. "They opened the back door and slide went down and smoke started coming in plane, followed by mad dash to front. A lot of panic," said the reporter Jacob Steinberg. - Stunned passengers flee - A video shot by a passenger aboard a nearby plane and aired on CNN showed passengers using evacuation slides and running away on the tarmac as emergency vehicles rushed to douse the flames. There were 159 passengers and 13 crew on the flight, according to the FAA. The blaze was quickly put out by some 50 firefighters. The British Airline Pilots' Association praised the handling of the incident. "Having such a serious incident resulting in only a few minor injuries is a tribute to the professionalism of the pilots, the cabin crew and the emergency responders at Las Vegas," said Captain Brendan O'Neal, BALPA's chairman. http://news.yahoo.com/las-vegas-jet-fire-engine-safe-maker-says-171346812.html Back to Top British Airways jet fire: Why did some risk lives to grab carry-ons before fleeing? In this photo taken from the view of a plane window, smoke billows out from a plane that caught fire at McCarren International Airport, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2015, in Las Vegas. An engine on the British Airways plane caught fire before takeoff, forcing passengers to escape on emergency slides. (Eric Hays via AP) LOS ANGELES - Passengers on the British Airways jet whose engine caught fire just before takeoff in Las Vegas escaped with their lives - and some with their carry-ons, as well. While flight crews tell people to leave belongings behind in an evacuation, pilots say they seem increasingly inclined to grab whatever they brought on board. And sometimes even a selfie or two. "We're always shaking our head," said Chris Manno, a veteran pilot with a major US airline who took to social media Wednesday to slam those pictured on the Vegas tarmac with bulky cabin bags. "It doesn't matter what you say, people are going to do what they do." The engine on the London-bound Boeing 777-200 caught fire Tuesday as the plane was gathering speed. Though the evacuation was swift, officials said Wednesday that 27 of the 170 passengers or crew on board required hospital treatment for cuts, bruises or other minor injuries, mostly from the evacuation slides. "A deadly slalom" is how pilot Patrick Smith described baggage on an emergency slide in a blog post. Bags also could tear the inflatable slides, block exits on board and cause other injuries in the chaos of an evacuation. The chief of the Association of Flight Attendants union, which does not represent the British Airways crew, said she expects federal investigators will find that baggage slowed down the evacuation and caused some of the injuries. Manno noted that passengers also evacuated with belongings when a Delta Air Lines jet nearly skidded off the runway at New York's LaGuardia Airport in March and an Asiana Airlines jet caught fire after a hard landing in San Francisco in 2013. "We're seeing this more and more," said John Goglia, an aviation safety expert and former member of the National Transportation Safety Board. Goglia believes that because air safety advances have made accidents far more survivable and injuries often less severe, more people can - and do - bring bags as they evacuate. Passenger Karen Bravo, 60, of Las Vegas, said she happened to have her purse and some other passengers further back in coach had time to grab their carry-on luggage while waiting to evacuate. "It would be like if your whole house was on fire and you had to go out the door," she said. Guidance posted online by the Federal Aviation Administration advises passengers to leave bags on board during an evacuation - but does not mandate it. Airline crews may make that announcement during preflight safety demonstrations, and during an emergency, would typically tell people to leave bags behind. Passengers are required by law to follow all crew instructions, FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said. "Flight attendants are the first line of defense in emergencies," he said, declining to address whether the agency believed emergency-evacuations-with-bags were an increasing problem that merited any regulatory action or public education campaign. Airlines vary in whether their preflight briefings tell passengers to abandon belongings in an evacuation, according to Stephen Schembs, the flight attendant union's government affairs director. With the advent of checked bag fees, many passengers opt to bring important items on board rather than check them. The union said for years it has advocated fewer passenger items in the cabin and for full-scale evacuation demonstrations when an aircraft is redesigned, especially if passenger capacity is increased. The latter is to ensure that the plane can still evacuate safely within 90 seconds, as required by the FAA. Within five short minutes, the passengers on the British Airways flight were evacuated and the flames were out. http://www.nola.com/travel/index.ssf/2015/09/british_airways_jet_fire_why_d.html Back to Top NTSB Faults Pilots, Gulfstream FAA in G-IV Crash By Roger Rapoport WASHINGTON D.C - A devastating series of mistakes by a veteran flight crew led to the May 31, 2014, suburban Boston Gulfstream G-IV crash that took the lives of seven people. While Pilot Error was the primary cause of the accident, at Bedford's Hanscomb Field, the National Transportation Safety Board also faulted Gulfstream and the FAA. These findings, released Wednesday at a NTSB board hearing, completed a 15 month investigation into the fiery disaster that took the lives of Philadelphia Inquirer publisher Lewis Katz and six other people aboard. Katz, a philanthropist, had just come from a meeting at the home of historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. After offering squeamish members of the audience a chance to exit the meeting, NTSB staff showed a heartbreaking reenactment of the accident that cataloged pilot mistake after mistake by a crew with a combined 29,750 flight hours. The tragedy shown in slow motion and real time was triggered by the crew's stubborn refusal to follow a standard preflight checklist After analyzing the accident the NTSB has recommended that Gulfstream develop "a modification of the G-IV gust lock/throttle lever interlock requiring that the gust lock physically limit the operation of the airplane" and give pilots an "unmistakable warning at the start of takeoff." Crewed by pilots with a combined 29,750 flight hours, the takeoff reenacted at the NTSB hearing was roughly the equivalent of trying to drive with the parking brake on. As the pilots turned the plane onto the active runway a blue rudder limit advisory message illuminated indicating that the gust lock, designed to protect the plane from being blown around when parked, was still engaged. "With the gust lock engaged," reported the NTSB team, "the throttle levers should have been restricted from providing an engine pressure ratio capable of enabling the plane to reach takeoff speed." However in this case "the gust lock system did not limit the motion of the throttle sufficiently to reach an unsafe takeoff." Unlike the newer G-V, the pilots on this older model did not receive an aircraft misconfiguration message that could have helped them avoid the tragedy. Instead the auto throttles engaged and the jet proceeded down the runway. As the engine pressure ratio fell, the captain, who had not completed his preflight checklist, complained, according to the NTSB analysis, that he "couldn't get it manually any further. " This suggests that he realized throttle movement was restricted. Instead of canceling the flight the captain attempted to rotate and takeoff. Only after the copilot warned that the " steer lock was on," did he try to abort the flight and hit the brakes. The plane crashed through a fence, went down a gully and exploded. At the hearing the agency highlighted the G-IV's failure to "limit the operation of the throttle levers with the gustlock engaged. This "failure to provide an unmistakable warning at the start of takeoff, as was originally intended when the airplane was certified" does not, according to the NTSB, comply with Federal Code. The agency also concluded that merely using a G-IV drawing review "to show compliance with ...federal regulations led to a gust lock system that did not comply with the regulation." The FAA was also faulted for "missed opportunities to detect the inadequate design of the gust lock system" during the aircraft's certification because that agency "relied solely on a review of engineering drawings to determine if the system met certification requirements." The NTSB recommended developing improved FAA review procedures to insure compliance with certification regulations. Investigators took special note of the veteran flight crew's history of refusing to perform the standard preflight checklist on 98 percent of the G-IV's previous 175 takeoffs. The agency recommended that the International Business Aviation Council amend its auditing standards to "verify that operators are complying with best practices for checklist execution, including the use of the challenge-verification-response format." It also recommended that the National Business Aviation Association work with manufacturers "to analyze existing data for noncompliance with manufacturer required routine flight control checks before takeoff and provide the results of this analysis to your members." In addition to its recommendations to Gulfstream and the FAA, the NTSB recommended replacing nonfrangible fittings of any objects along the "runway centerline up to the perimeter fence with frangible fittings" that would break away on impact. This change could reduce aircraft damage in the event of runway overruns into fences, lights and other obstacles.. Roger Rapoport, a frequent contributor to Flight Safety Information, is the author of The Rio-Paris Crash: Air France 447 and producer of the feature film Pilot Error. www.fsinfo.org Back to Top Shoreham air crash pilot to be interviewed by police and investigators Sussex police say they and AAIB hope to talk to Andy Hill as soon as possible, as he emerges from a medically-induced coma Andy Hill, 51, a former RAF instructor and British Airways captain. Photograph: uknewsinpictures The pilot of the vintage jet that crashed at the Shoreham airshow, killing 11 people, is to be questioned by police and investigators. Andy Hill, 51, a former RAF instructor and British Airways captain, was flying a 1950s Hawker Hunter when it failed to pull out of a loop-the-loop manoeuvre and crashed on to the A27 in West Sussex and burst into a ball of flames. Hill was placed in a medically-induced coma in the immediate aftermath of the incident, but has reportedly been released from an undisclosed specialist hospital. A Sussex police spokeswoman said: "The pilot's condition is improving. Police and investigators from the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB), who are conducting parallel investigations, are looking to interview the pilot as soon as possible." An interim AAIB report published on Friday said two cockpit video cameras had been recovered, giving a partial view of the pilot and the instrument panel, which appeared to show that the aircraft was working normally. Coroner Penny Schofield opened and adjourned an inquest into the deaths of the 11 people last week. The victims were: wedding chauffeur Maurice Abrahams 76, from Brighton; retired engineer James Graham Mallinson, 72, from Newick, near Lewes; window cleaner and builder Mark Trussler, 54, from Worthing; cycling friends Dylan Archer, 42, from Brighton, and Richard Smith, 26, from Hove; NHS manager Tony Brightwell, 53, from Hove; grandfather Mark Reeves, 53, from Seaford; Worthing United footballers Matthew Grimstone and Jacob Schilt, both 23; personal trainer Matt Jones, 24; and Daniele Polito, 23, from Worthing. Hill works as an aerobatic stunt pilot and is part of the the RV8tors flying duo, which performs close formation aerobatic displays at speeds of up to 230mph. Hill and his fellow display pilot Alister Kay perform at events, private functions and weddings in RV-8 aircraft - small two-seat, home-built planes. He also works as a pilot offering flight experiences to the public for the company Ultimate High, according to its website. He has years of flying experience, having worked as a light aircraft test pilot, an RAF Harrier GR7 instructor, a commercial pilot captaining Airbus planes and a stunt and aerobatic display pilot. According to Ultimate High, he began his career flying Bulldogs in a university air squadron and, after excelling in fast-jet training, he was picked to go straight into instructing on the BAC Jet Provost, a jet-powered trainer aircraft used by the RAF. He then operated the Harrier GR5 and GR7 jets in Germany and has flown Airbus A340 and Boeing 757 and 767 airliners. http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/sep/10/shoreham-air-crash-pilot-to-be- interviewed-by-police-and-investigators Back to Top Allegiant flight to Las Vegas diverts to airport in Utah LAS VEGAS (AP) - An Allegiant Air flight from Bismarck, North Dakota, made an unscheduled stop about 120 miles short of its Las Vegas destination, diverting to an airport in southern Utah for what the airline described on Tuesday as a possible maintenance issue. Crew members reported a faulty fuel gauge, an airport official at St. George Regional Airport said. No emergency was declared, but the interrupted flight became the latest incident involving the low-cost carrier that caters to vacation travelers. An Allegiant flight aborted takeoff three weeks ago when the nose lifted prematurely while the aircraft hurtled down a Las Vegas runway, and another Allegiant flight made an emergency landing July 23 at a closed airport in Fargo, North Dakota, after company executives piloting the aircraft reported they were nearly out of fuel. Flight 487 landed safely in Monday at 7:12 p.m. MDT in St. George, a statement from the Las Vegas-based airline said. The MD-83 jet had 141 passengers and six crew members aboard. Brad Kitchen, airport operations supervisor in St. George, said he arranged for about 35 passengers to take a shuttle bus to Las Vegas. Other passengers waited in the terminal for another aircraft to arrive to fly them the short 30-minute flight to McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, Kitchen said. Allegiant said the flight arrived at 12:03 a.m., and baggage was being brought Tuesday to Las Vegas. Passengers were offered $100 vouchers for future travel, the airline said. A Federal Aviation Administration official said he had no information about Monday's landing. The FAA is investigating the aborted Aug. 17 takeoff at McCarran of an MD-83 bound for Peoria, Illinois. The aircraft returned safely to the gate, and no injuries were reported. An initial probe found that a nut fell off a crucial component, causing a control surface to jam in the up position, the FAA said. That raised the nose as the aircraft accelerated down the runway. In July, two Allegiant executives with pilot licenses were flying the Allegiant MD-80 jet that made the emergency landing at Hector International Airport in Fargo. The air field had been closed for an air show. The airline said 144 passengers departed late from Las Vegas because a passenger had a medical emergency and had to be taken to a hospital. The Las Vegas-based airline, a unit of Allegiant Travel Co., said it was cooperating with FAA investigators. http://cnsnews.com/news/article/allegiant-flight-las-vegas-diverts-airport-utah Back to Top New Passenger Bill of Rights would set minimum airplane seat size The people have spoken, and they're calling for a new version of the Passenger Bill of Rights. So far, more than 30,000 people have signed a petition from FlyersRights.org (including online signatures) asking congress to set a legal minimum airplane seat size, to establish laws requiring more transparency regarding fees, and to make a new rule that would cut the max tarmac wait time to three hours. The Los Angeles Times reports the petition was sent to the Federal Aviation Administration last month. A spokesperson for the FAA confirmed to Road Warrior Voices that the agency had received the petition and was reviewing it, but was unable to comment further. FlyersRights has yet to respond for comment. FlyersRights, which bills itself as the largest non-profit airline consumer organization, is responsible for getting the Department of Transportation to expand passengers' rights in 2011 from virtually nothing to a set of rights that includes financial compensation for bumped passengers and a ban on tarmac delays of more than four hours. This is the first time the organization is making a demand related to seat size, and it's doing so in the name of health. "[Public law] must also protect passenger safety by mandating minimum seat pitch standards to preclude ingress/egress and health issues," it reads. Not everyone is on board with the seat-size standard, though. A spokesperson for Airlines for America told Road Warrior Voices: The DOT's Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection just decided to not make a recommendation on seat sizes, and we also believe that government should not regulate this, but instead market forces and competition should determine what is offered. Those offerings are one component of what drives competition and product differentiation among airlines. The petition doesn't mention minimum size for airplane bathrooms, though, and that might actually be another thing we need to be concerned about. http://www.wtsp.com/story/travel/2015/09/09/new-passenger-bill-rights-would-set- minimum-airplane-seat-size/71969614/ Back to Top Pilot didn't have proper certification to fly jet NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - An F-16 pilot killed when he crashed into the Gulf of Mexico during training did not go through the proper training to begin flying the jets again after a nearly 20-year hiatus, the Air Force says. Matthew J. LaCourse of Panama City Beach, Florida, became disoriented while attempting to intercept another jet that was playing the role of an approaching drone, leading to the crash, according to the report released Tuesday by Air Combat Command at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. LaCourse, 58, graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1978 and retired from the Air Force in 2000 as a lieutenant colonel. In 2006, he took a job as a contractor with the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida, where he previously served before his retirement. The squadron is a mix of highly experienced civilian and military personnel. LaCourse became a civil service pilot for the squadron in 2010 and flew a wide variety of aircraft for the Air Force. But the report says LaCourse hadn't flown the F-16 since 1994 when he was recertified to fly it in 2014. The report says LaCourse should have been required to attend F-16 centrifuge retraining before he was qualified to fly the jet again. That didn't happen, the report says, because his squadron's leadership misapplied Air Force guidance, inappropriately giving him credit for flying the F-4 Phantom. "For this reason, the (pilot) was not current or qualified in the F-16," the report says. During a senior officer course to transition to flying the F-16 the summer before the crash, the squadron's leaders also rated LaCourse's flight performance as "slightly below average." Of the nearly 102 hoursLaCourse had spent flying an F-16 in his career, 82 of those came before 1994. He spent less than nine hours flying the F-16 during seven different flights in the 90 days prior to the crash, the report says. The maneuver LaCourse performed during the training mission caused him to incorrectly perceive the angle of his bank and his general position, leaving him disoriented, the Air Force says. The report says LaCourse was nearly incapacitated and notes he didn't attempt any maneuvers during one 10-second period. He also lost sight of the other jet, which contributed to the crash, the report said. The pilot was in fair health at the time of the crash with no conditions or illnesses that would limit his performance. He did not try to eject but did try to pull up in the final 12 seconds before crashing about 85 miles south of Tyndall Air Force Base, the report said. http://wsls.com/2015/09/09/pilot-didnt-have-proper-certification-to-fly-jet/ Back to Top Aviation safety: public protection vs. patient confidentiality Since Germanwings pilot Andreas Lubitz deliberately crashed Flight 4U9525 into the French Alps on March 24, 2015, killing himself and all 149 others on board, a spotlight has been cast on the world of mental health screening for pilots, triggering debate over whether privacy laws regarding medical records should be less strict when it comes to professions that carry special responsibilities. Prior to the tragic accident, Mr. Lubitz had been treated for psychiatric illness. Regulatory agencies around the world require pilots to undergo regular physical testing, but they often expect pilots to self-report mental illnesses such as depression. No global consistency exists across the aviation industry for dealing with pilot health certification. In light of the recent airline catastrophes involving Germanwings Flight 4U9525 and Malaysian Airline Flight MH370, many experts are now criticizing aviation regulators' screening processes, arguing that they fall short for a profession burdened with the paramount responsibility of so many lives. Some lawmakers are even calling for airlines to have access to the medical records of all pilots, causing many to question whether the risk of a repeat of the Germanwings crash is high enough to justify a change in medical confidentiality for airline transport pilots. Medical confidentiality in the United States is largely controlled by federal law: the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). HIPAA prohibits healthcare providers from disclosing a patient's personal health information without the individual's written authorization, or under limited circumstances expressly permitted or required by HIPAA. However, even HIPAA's protections are outweighed by healthcare providers' ethical obligations to disclose information when the provider has a credible basis for believing the patient poses a serious and imminent threat of harm to the public. Absent such "red flags," a patient's medical history remains confidential. The American Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires every airline transport pilot to obtain a first-class medical certificate, which must be renewed every year if the pilot is under 40 years old, and every six months if the pilot is 40 or older. Issuance of this certificate involves a physical examination and self-reporting in an online medical questionnaire, but it does not require specific psychological testing. Concerned doctors can order pilots to undergo testing for "emotional stability and mental state." Yet, only when pilots are found to have mental health problems are they sent to psychiatrists or psychologists for evaluation or treatment. Current FAA regulations do not create a general exception to HIPAA's confidentiality protections of a pilot's medical history, but they do require a pilot to provide authorization for access to his or her records in circumstances where the Aeromedical Administrator deems them necessary in determining whether the medical standards required to hold a medical certificate are met. The 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) estimates that approximately one in five Americans meets the diagnosis for mental disorders as defined in DSM-IV. The current FAA medical certification system largely relies on pilots to self- declare their conditions, trusting pilots to volunteer information about mental illnesses that the illnesses themselves can cause the pilots to hide. The FAA attaches fines up to $250,000 for omitting or providing false information concealing health issues that could affect fitness to fly. Yet, in order to disclose concerns of mental illness, a pilot may need to overcome symptoms of a disease that cause him not to disclose it, the stigma that still clings to mental illness, and the prospects of losing his job as a pilot. Stigma led the FAA to revise its policies in 2010. Now, the FAA considers special issuance of medical certificates for pilots taking certain medications for mild to moderate depression. Prior to the 2010 revision, disclosed use of medications prescribed to treat these conditions by law grounded pilots altogether. Such prohibitions, in turn, meant requiring pilots not to take medications to treat a mental condition that could affect public safety; or, alternatively, unlawfully to fail to disclose the consumption of a prohibited medication. The authorization of a special issuance of medical certificate is evaluated on a case-by- case basis, and is only available to pilots taking one of four specific selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs): Fluoxetine (Prozac); Sertraline (Zoloft); Citalopram (Celexa); and Escialopram (Lexapro). Eligible applicants must have been clinically stable as well as on a stable dose of medication for a period of more than six (6) months, without any aeromedically significant side effects and/or an increase in symptoms. Aeromedical decision-making includes an analysis of the underlying condition and the treatment prescribed. The 2010 policy move by the FAA attempts to change the culture and stigma attached to mental illness, and urge pilots to seek necessary treatment, thereby making the skies safer. In the aftermath of the Germanwings tragedy, questions loom large: Would the recent call for relaxed legal restrictions on disclosing mental health conditions actually prevent deaths caused by mentally ill pilots via mandated disclosure of medical information? Or would it encourage pilots to conceal information from their doctors and employers, leaving the world with some pilots determined never to seek treatment for a potential mental illness for fear of disclosure and resulting circumstances, such as losing a job? According to some commentators, such a system would give pilots an incentive to cheat themselves out of quality healthcare, which in turn could pose danger to the flying public. These issues likely will be debated for quite some time. Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice LLC - Suzanne E. Billam Back to Top Why Hong Kong's under-fire civil aviation chief should take off - now Albert Cheng says the department has become a bad joke, with some dubious decisions under its director-general, whose replacement is long overdue Concern has been raised about the new air traffic control system for Hong Kong. Photo: Nora Tam Under the command of its director-general Norman Lo Shung-man, the Civil Aviation Department has degenerated into an embarrassing bad apple within the government bureaucracy. Lo has been at the helm for over a decade. Born in 1959, he is a qualified helicopter and commercial airlines pilot. He started his career in the department as a student air traffic controller in 1977 and was promoted to his current position in 2004. His budget currently stands at HK$1.36 billion, and he has over 750 staff at his disposal. Yet, instead of enhancing Hong Kong's status as an aviation hub, Lo and his department have become a constant source of bad press. Last year, he made a public apology after the Director of Audit found multiple violations to the original plan for the new department headquarters approved by the Legislative Council. During the past three months, there has been no notable improvement or progress in this important area It was assigned a net operational floor area of 22,775 square metres for the new headquarters at Chek Lap Kok. The audit report revealed that an extra 1,500 square meters was built without notifying the Architectural Services Department and Legco. Shower facilities in Lo's office and restrooms for accident investigators - both not in the original floor plan - were installed. After an inquiry, the Public Accounts Committee condemned Lo in "the strongest terms possible" over his failure to follow proper procedures while building the premises. Its report said that "as the head of the user department of the new CAD headquarters project, [Lo] had willfully neglected his responsibility and duties to provide complete, accurate and not misleading information to Legco for funding approval". Lo conceded he needed to bear "part of the responsibility." Yet, he has emerged unscathed. And that is not the end of the story. Last June, the Public Accounts Committee also denounced Lo for having purchased an expensive air traffic control system that apparently failed to perform. The committee recommended that an independent expert be hired to re-evaluate the contractor's capability to deliver a safe and reliable system for the first stage of the project. During the past three months, there has been no notable improvement or progress in this important area and the department is back in the headlines this week, coming under fire for continuously delaying the start date for its HK$570 million Autotrac 3 air traffic management system, designed by US defence company Raytheon. According to Ming Pao, the system's safety was questioned in reports compiled by the Air Traffic Management Standards Office, the division in charge of safety assessments. The office doubted the ability of the new system to locate planes accurately in bad weather and concluded that the system has low reliability during crises. It has been reported that the new system's data processor failed to recognise some commands and operators needed to communicate manually, by voice. This also involved time-consuming filling in of forms by hand. The system has so far only been installed in two other places - Dubai and India. India has subsequently abandoned it. Those in the front line at the Civil Aviation Department regard Autotrac 3 as having inherent safety problems and considered it vital to initiate a further 31-day test run before it could be commissioned. The management, led by Lo, brushed aside the problems. Lo insisted that the issues had been fixed and the new system should be approved. Lo is due to retire early next year and seems eager to make his mark before he bows out. However, he, and the rest of the management, should be held to account over whether the proper procedures were carried out in this case, and whether public safety has been compromised. It would be best for all if Lo were to be replaced as soon as possible, with a more capable hand, to get the department back on track without delay. Albert Cheng King-hon is a political commentator. taipan@albertcheng.hk http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1856952/why-hong-kongs- under-fire-civil-aviation-chief-should-take Back to Top FAA rescinds ADS-B notam after AOPA voices concerns The FAA has rescinded a sweeping notam regarding the reliability of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) surveillance and TCAS after AOPA raised concerns about the ambiguous language, short notice, and month-long duration. The FAA also has issued new notams that provide greater detail about the affected locations and time frames, shortening the time periods of concern from a month to a matter of hours in some cases. The new notams also provide clearer language regarding the nature of the potential reliability issues and which systems could be affected. "We appreciate the FAA's willingness to step back from the original notam, which was causing considerable alarm for pilots, and work with us to provide more accurate and useful data to the aviation community," said Rune Duke, AOPA director of air traffic and airspace. "We're optimistic that, since similar activities held over the past decade have not caused problems for civil aviation, there will be no interference. But pilots should still be extra vigilant and report any anomalies with their ADS-B or TCAS systems to air traffic control." The original notam issued Sept. 1 announced that, beginning Sept. 2 through Oct. 1, both ADS-B surveillance and TCAS could be unreliable in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, as well as in airspace extending approximately 200 nautical miles off shore as a result of military exercises in the area. The wording of the original notam led many general aviation pilots to believe that ADS- B-based traffic information might not be available to them. But a new notam valid on Sept. 5 and 6 made it clear that during the affected hours, ADS-B might be "less sensitive" than usual and that only 1090-MHz ADS-B systems would be affected. No interference is expected for 978-MHz ADS-B systems, which are most commonly used by light GA aircraft. The FAA also issued a notam valid for a few hours on Sept. 9 that provided a specific radius and altitudes of concern, all in areas off the coast of South Carolina. According to the new notams, the military activity will not generate false TCAS targets and pilots should treat any traffic or resolution advisories as valid. "This is the kind of solid information pilots need to make informed decisions when they're planning and conducting flights," said Duke, who worked closely with the FAA on the new notams. While the FAA has said it may issue additional notams for related activities between now and the beginning of October, it has not indicated when or where they might be needed. http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2015/September/09/FAA-rescinds- notam-after-AOPA-concerns Back to Top North Texas Business Aviation Association (NTBAA) Safety Show-Down 23-24 Sep 3RD ANNUAL SAFETY SHOW-DOWN AND GOLF OUTING SEPTEMBER 23 & 24, 2015 NBAA CAM Approved! ***Early Bird Registration Now Open*** Dr. Mark Maier, Ph.D. - Keynote Speaker "Leading with Integrity...Creating a Climate for Open Communication." Additional breakout sessions from industry leading presenters covering... "Maintaining Your Composure When You Want to Strangle Someone" "Renegade Cowboys or Important Skills for Professional Pilots" "Strategic Alignment: Balancing Service and Risk Management" "Maintaining Your Professionalism with the FAA" "Decision Making Under High Stress" "Leadership for Professional Aviators" "NTSB Most Wanted List" Sponsorshipsavailable! Static Display Featuring the Falcon 2000LX, Embraer Legacy 450, Gulfstream G150 and G280 Show-Down 2015 Details!! On behalf of the flight operations personnel represented on the North Texas Business Aviation Association Board of Directors, we want to personally invite you and your department to the 3rd Annual NTBAA Safety Show-Down and Golf Outing on September 23-24, 2015. "You can learn about dealing with the FAA...keeping your temper and your certificate." -Kent Jackson, Aviation Attorney and 2015 NTBAA Show-Down Session Presenter The NTBAA Safety Show-Down is an information packed, safety focused event that brings some of the best subject matter experts presenting on topics exclusively for pilots, flight attendants, schedulers, maintenance technicians, and flight operations personnel. This NBAA CAM Certified event will be located at the Addison Texas Conference Centre (across the street from Addison Airport) on September 23rd and will feature 8 different breakout sessions to choose from throughout the day, including a keynote presentation by internationally renowned writer and producer, Mark Maier, Ph.D. His presentation, "A Major Malfunction..." The Story Behind the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster, has been adopted by over 800 institutions in 23 countries, including many of the nation's leading aerospace firms and Fortune 500 companies. "All of us have the responsibility to lead and make a difference whenever and wherever you can." -Mark Maier, Ph.D. Chapman University and 2015 NTBAA Show-Down Session Presenter In addition to the educational sessions, the Safety Show-Down will also include an aircraft static display, a fire simulator/trainer, and numerous vendor booths. Many flight departments from North Texas and surrounding areas will be in attendance, making this a great opportunity for networking and connecting with others in the aviation community. Various giveaways will occur throughout the day and breakfast, lunch, and snacks are all included! "Do you know how aware you are of your thoughts and behaviors, and of the intentions and actions of others during those times of stress or fatigue?" -Dr. Shari Frisinger, Behavior Analyst and 2015 NTBAA Show-Down Session Presenter Lastly, don't miss out on the NTBAA Golf Outing held at the Cowboys Golf Club in Grapevine TX on September 24th. The Cowboys Golf Club is the premier resort-style golf course in Texas. As the world's first NFL themed golf course, this is the ultimate NTBAA Golf Outing to unwind after the Safety Show-Down. Special "Early Bird" registration discounts and package deals are available for the Safety Show-Down and Golf Outing, visit: www.ntbaaonline.com to register. Back to Top Back to Top Stay Current on Aviation Safety Follow Flight Safety Information on Twitter https://twitter.com/curtllewis01 Back To Top Boeing picks Mukilteo firm to supply equipment to assemble 777X wing Mukilteo-based engineering firm Electroimpact has won a big contract to supply Boeing with the equipment that will assemble the giant wing of the forthcoming 777X jet. Electroimpact Vice President John Hartmann said more than 70 engineers are already designing the fixtures and the automation equipment that will make up the wing- assembly system, and the effort is set to expand beyond 100 engineers. "It's an anchor project for us," he said. Hartmann said Boeing won't allow the contract's value to be disclosed. A big wing- assembly system Electroimpact installed for Airbus in the early 2000s was worth about $200 million. Electroimpact was tapped a year ago to supply the robotic fiber-placement machines that will fabricate the 777X wing parts made from carbon-fiber composite plastic. About 50 engineers are working on that contract. Boeing will fabricate those wing parts inside a vast facility - the composite-wing center - under construction behind the main assembly building in Everett. Electroimpact robots will lay down the carbon fiber and form it into wing skins, spars and stringers, which will then be baked to hardness in 120-foot-long pressure ovens called autoclaves. Those finished components will be brought to the main assembly building, where mechanics will form them into finished wings using the assembly system that Electroimpact will design and install. Electroimpact made its name by designing sophisticated wing-assembly systems for Airbus in Wales. The latest was the system for the A350 wing, which is made from carbon-fiber composites like the 777X wing. Electroimpact also designed the wing-assembly system for Bombardier's smaller CSeries jet. And its radical revamp of Boeing's 737 wing-assembly system in Renton has allowed Boeing to step up production there, with plans to reach 52 of the single-aisle jets a month by 2018. Hartmann said the 777X system will be similar to the A350 and 737 work, only bigger. The system will consist of fixtures large enough to accommodate the 777X wing, which is more than 100 feet long. The jet is scheduled to enter service in 2020. Electroimpact has about 750 employees worldwide, about 560 of them engineers. About 620 of the employees are in the U.S., including about 440 engineers. http://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/mukilteo-firm-wins-boeing- 777x-jet-wing-assembly-equipment-contract/ Back to Top Boeing Says Asia Needs More Pilots Boeing Co., the world's biggest planemaker, expects the Asia-Pacific region will need almost half a million new pilots and technicians over the next 20 years as economic growth enables more people to travel by air. The region will probably need 226,000 pilots and 238,000 technicians by 2034, Boeing said. China alone will account for 45 percent of that number, the planemaker said on a conference call Thursday. "There's a great demand for training," Boeing Flight Services Vice President Sherry Carbary said on the call. "We delivered a record number of training last year for both pilots and technicians across our network and we are on track to do even more so this year." Asian air travel growth is lifting orders for planemakers Boeing and Airbus Group SE, with China forecast to surpass the U.S. as the world's largest aircraft market within the next two decades. That's creating a need for pilots and other trained personnel as budget airlines and startups across Asia buy new planes to expand their fleets. Airlines across the globe will need to hire 558,000 new pilots over the next two decades to keep pace with surging travel demand and a $5.6 trillion jet shopping spree, Boeing forecast in July. That works out to about 28,000 new aviators a year, Carbary said then. China will need 100,000 new pilots over the next 20 years, while Southeast Asia will need 57,000 pilots and South Asia 40,000, Boeing said. China will require another 106,000 technicians, Southeast Asia 60,000 technicians and South Asia 37,000. More schools are needed where airlines are based because not enough people are being trained to meet demand, Carbary said. Encouraging women to join the industry could help address the shortage, she said. "We're not moving fast enough and we need to continue to focus on that in Asia Pacific," Carbary said. "We need to ensure that the schools are locally based and have the quality standards that are essential to ensure we're developing safe and confident pilots." http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-09-10/boeing-says-more-pilots-needed- in-asia-pacific-to-support-travel Back to Top Singapore's air deals vital to aviation safety: Shanmugam Singapore's Law and Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam. Law and Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam said agreements negotiated by Singapore are vital to regional air safety and the interests of the countries involved, after the Indonesian government said it is looking to take over control of the airspace above Riau and Riau Islands provinces from Singapore. Mr Shanmugam said that the current set of regulations was put in place with the approval of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Indonesian President Joko Widodo ordered officials on Tuesday to start working on improving their personnel and equipment, so that the country could take over management of the airspace, according to a report by The Jakarta Post. "The President instructed us to prepare better equipment and human resources so that, in three or four years, we can manage our own airspace," Indonesian Transport Minister Ignasius Jonan told a press conference after a Cabinet meeting, adding that Indonesia would hold talks with Singapore, as well as Malaysia, about the issue. He said Singapore had been in control of flights in the airspace above some areas in Riau - such as Batam, Tanjung Pinang, Bintan and the Natuna islands - since 1946. The Indonesian Air Force recently complained about Singapore's military activities in the airspace above Riau Islands, particularly over Bintan. Lieutenant-Colonel I. Ketut Wahyu Wijaya, commander of the Indonesian Air Force base in Tanjung Pinang, said a bilateral military pact that allows such activities expired in 2001 and has never been renewed due to objections by Indonesian lawmakers and concerns over national sovereignty, reported The Jakarta Globe. Speaking yesterday at the end of the Nee Soon GRC People's Action Party press conference, Mr Shanmugam acknowledged that Singapore's air traffic controllers are responsible for looking after the area. "Today, under an agreement with the Indonesian government, our air traffic controllers handle the flight information region beyond our borders and over Sumatra, but the fees collected for that are handed over to the Indonesian government. This is something that is sanctioned by the ICAO by looking at the variety of issues." He noted that tens of thousands of jobs are dependent on Singapore's position as a regional aviation hub, and any change in the current arrangements would have implications. "Under a series of agreements that we had negotiated in the best interest of Singapore and our neighbours, including Indonesia, we have been able to structure these sorts of arrangements which I think most Singaporeans are not aware of but which are vital to regional air safety, which are vital in the interest of the countries involved, and which are vital to our own aviation jobs. Any change in that can have potential consequences for all of this," said Mr Shanmugam. http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/singapores-air-deals-vital-to-aviation-safety- shanmugam Back to Top Boeing plans to further speed up 767 aircraft production The Boeing logo is seen at their headquarters in Chicago NEW YORK (Reuters) - Boeing Co said on Wednesday that it will push production of its 767 aircraft up by 25 percent in 2017 to help fill a historic order for 50 planes from FedEx Corp . Boeing said it would lift the production rate to 2.5 a month from two a month starting in the fourth quarter of 2017. The company makes 1.5 a month currently and is due to reach two a month in the first quarter of 2016. "We are confident the market will support a long-term future for the 767," Brad Zaback, vice president and general manager, said in an internal memo seen by Reuters. The backlog of 767 orders reaches into the mid-2020s, he said, and will result in a small increase in employees in 2017. The rate increase was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. Boeing also is ramping up output of 787 and 737 jets but reducing production of its bigger 747 jetliner, which has suffered from slow sales. Some analysts have said Boeing will need to temporarily cut production of the twin-aisle 777 as it switches to a new version later in the decade, but Boeing has said it has no current plans to cut that rate. The 767, which first flew in 1981, is a twin-aisle plane that holds up to 290 passengers and is also a popular freighter. A modified version is being developed as a military refueling tanker. Boeing is due to supply the first 18 tankers to the U.S. Air Force by August 2017. Boeing said last month the first flight of the tanker was delayed about a month. The FedEx order for 50 767 freighters was the largest single order for the aircraft in its history, Boeing said. http://www.businessinsider.com/r-boeing-plans-to-further-speed-up-767-aircraft- production-2015-9#ixzz3lKTB7lFG Back to Top Aircraft engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney opens training centre in Hyderabad HYDERABAD: Pratt & Whitney, a leader in aircraft engine manufacturing, opened its India training centre here on Thursday. Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapati Raju inaugurated the facility at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. This is the third training centre of the company after the US and China. The facility will train Pratt & Whitney employees, staff of its customers and students. It comprises 31,000 sq.ft training area and 5,000 sq.ft engine facility. Palash Roy Chowdhury, country manager, India, Mary Ellen Jones, vice president, commercial engines sales, Asia/Pacific and China, and Andrew Tanner, vice president, customer service, commercial engines and aftermarket attended the event. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/aircraft- engine-manufacturer-pratt-whitney-opens-training-centrein- hyderabad/articleshow/48897396.cms Back to Top Oman Air to take 14 aircraft from Air Lease Corp. Oman Air is to take 11 new aircraft-three Boeing 737-800s, seven 737-8 MAXs and one 787-9-as well as three used Boeing 737s on long-term lease from Air Lease Corp. The aircraft will be used for fleet renewal and growth, with deliveries scheduled to run from 2015 until 2019. The used aircraft comprise one 737-700 (MSN 33103) and two Boeing 737-800s (MSNs 33104 and 34242). "Our expansion plan will see Oman Air's fleet expand to 57 aircraft by 2018 and to 70 aircraft by 2020. This agreement represents a significant step towards achieving our strategic aims," Oman Air CFO Japeen Shah said. Oman Air currently operates 39 aircraft to over 48 destinations across the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Africa. Over recent months, Oman Air has added new routes to Manila, Jakarta, Goa and Singapore. "Further new services will be announced closer to the time of their launch, and are expected to include, amongst others, destinations in Bangladesh and China," Oman Air said. http://atwonline.com/lessors/oman-air-take-14-aircraft-air-lease-corp Back to Top United Airlines' former CEO will get $4.9 million cash and free flights as severance - but he may have to give it all back United Airlines CEO Jeff Smisek resigned on Tuesday amid a federal corruption investigation. At the same time, United informed the Securities and Exchange Commission that Smisek would be receiving $4.9 million in cash and more than 60,000 shares of stock in his severance package. But there's a catch. The separation agreement also includes a "clawback" clause that if triggered will require Smisek to return much of his severance benefits. According to United Airlines' SEC filing, the clause will take effect if Smisek is found to have done anything illegal while running the airline. It's unclear whether Smisek will be able to walk away from United with a clean slate. The New York Times reported that he stepped down as a result of a federal investigation into whether the airline tried to influence officials at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. According to Business Insider's Hunter Walker, the federal investigation is focused on United Airlines' relationship with David Samson, the former chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The Port Authority operates Newark Liberty International Airport - United's largest hub on the East Coast. Investigators are trying to determine whether United provided Samson and other high- ranking officials with expensive dinners and even a special plane route to make it easier for Samson to fly to his South Carolina vacation home. United was making a bid to lower fees at Newark Airport, Walker reported. Samson stepped down from his role at the Port Authority in 2014. Before joining United, Smisek was the CEO of Continental Airlines when it merged with United in 2010. Smisek is credited with engineering the $3 billion merger that created one of the world's largest airlines. Though some have criticized Smisek for United's slow return to profitability, investors seem to have regained confidence in his leadership after initially concluding that the merger failed to live up to expectations. In addition to relinquishing his CEO role, Smisek, 61, will step down from his jobs as chairman and president, and as a director, all effective immediately, according to the company. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, United Airlines outlined the terms of Smisek's departure from the company. Here's what Smisek will get: A lump sum cash separation payment of $4.875 million. 60,746 shares of United Airlines (UAL) common stock. An annual performance bonus prorated to the date of separation. Long-term performance bonus. The title to his current company car. Flight benefits for life. Free parking for life at predesignated parking locations. Company health benefits until he is eligible for medicare. United will help Smisek find a new job through outplacement services. Here's what United will no longer pay for: Gym membership. Accounting services. Legal services. Disability insurance. According to the clawback clause, Smisek must repay or return the $4.875 million separation payment, his prorated annual bonus, 60,746 shares of United stock, and outplacement services if he: Is convicted of or pleads guilty or no contest to any felony or ... Is convicted of or pleads guilty or no contest to any crime of "moral turpitude," or ... Failed to cooperate with the company on legal proceeding or investigations stemming from events while Smisek was employed by United. If the clawback clause is triggered, Smisek will have no more than 10 days after the receipt of a written request to repay or return the above benefits. In addition, Smisek also signed a two-year noncompete, as well as a confidentiality agreement. According to Fortune, Smisek made $11.3 million in total compensation in 2014. United Airlines said in a press release that it was conducting its own internal investigation of the matter and that the company was continuing to cooperate with the government on the ongoing federal investigation. United ex-CEO Jeff Smisek's severance agreement http://finance.yahoo.com/news/united-airlines-former-ceo-4-165631892.html Back to Top Legal Skills for Accident Investigators Back to Top Fundamentals of material failures for accident investigators Back to Top iCRM - HF Training Back to Top AVIATION SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS SEMINAR Aviation SMS: Application and Implementation This three-day Embry-Riddle course provides participants with an expanded background in intermediate and advanced Safety Management Systems (SMS) concepts, and supports both implementation and continuous improvement of an active SMS within their organization. Through a focus on practical strategies for maturing safety management practices, attendees will come to develop tools to implement the theory and principles of SMS as well as an understanding of current FAA guidance and requirements for operators and organizations. Participants will receive a copy of Implementing Safety Management Systems in Aviation, authored in part by Dr. A. Stolzer, Department Chair at ERAU. Key Topics: * SMS Structure and Components * Safety Policy and Objectives * Safety Risk Management â€" Moving to Proactive and Predictive Methods * SMS Common Issues and Road-Blocks * Safety Assurance, Promotion, and Culture * Human Factors in SMS * Safety Performance Indicators and Targets * Safety Performance Monitoring and Operational Data * SMS Implementation Guidance NOVEMBER 17-19, 2015 REGISTER TODAY Embry-Riddle Increases Its Commitment to Continuing Education " Embry-Riddle is a premier university for aviation training and education; join us for your professional development needs. " Aviation SMS: Application and Implementation Course Dates: November 17-19, 2015 Course Location: Daytona Beach Campus, FL Course Fee: Early Bird Fee: $1,300 (Prior to Sept. 16, 2015) Standard Fee: $1,400 (includes all learning materials, textbook and copies of presentations) ERAU Point of Contact: Director: Sarah Ochs Email: case@erau.edu Phone: (386) 226-6928 www.erau.edu/sms Back to Top Upcoming Events: Fundamentals of IS-BAO September 15, 2015 St. Louis, Missouri USA https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1660854 IS-BAO Auditing September 16, 2015 St. Louis, Missouri USA https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1660878 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 Southern California Aviation Association "Safety Standdown" September 14, 2015 Carlsbad, CA http://tinyurl.com/pg2yh4g 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/ Safeskies 2015 Aviation Safety Conference 22 to 24 September 2015 Realm Hotel, Canberra www.SafeskiesAustralia.org BARS Auditor Training October 6-8, 2015 Dubai, United Arab Emirates http://flightsafety.org/bars/auditor-training OSHA & Aviation Ground Safety Training Course (ERAU) Oct. 19-23, 2015 Daytona Beach, FL www.erau.edu/cmas Aviation Safety Program Management Training Course (ERAU) Oct. 26-30, 2015 Daytona Beach, FL www.erau.edu/cmas Aircraft Accident Investigation Training Course (ERAU) Nov. 2-6, 2015 Daytona Beach, FL www.erau.edu/cmas Aviation Safety Management Systems (SMS) Seminar (ERAU) Nov. 17-19, 2015 Daytona Beach, FL www.erau.edu/sms Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Seminar (ERAU) Dec. 8-10, 2015 Daytona Beach, FL www.erau.edu/uas New HFACS workshop Las Vegas December 15 & 16 www.hfacs.com 'DTI QA & SMS Workshops are Back in Town!' (Toronto, Winnipeg, Vancouver, Melbourne FL, and YOUR town just contact us) www.dtitraining.com Back to Top JOBS AVAILABLE: Staff Engineer ALPA https://jobs-alpa.icims.com/jobs/1193/staff-engineer/job Curt Lewis