Flight Safety Information December 14, 2015 - No. 249 In This Issue PROS 2015 TRAINING Southwest flight makes emergency landing in San Antonio Seventy workers at Paris's Charles De Gaulle and Orly airports have their security passes revoked No Sign Of 'Terrorist Act' In Russian Plane Crash, Egypt Investigator Says Why aren't there more female executives in the aviation industry? What Happens to Your Body on an Airplane Fire foam sprayed on wrong aircraft at Chinese airport Dazzling new airplane patent offers seats on top of aircraft Pilots in Europe Are Failing an Important Test EasyJet pilots abort landing attempt at Bristol Airport after 'losing situational awareness' Report finds 241 near-collisions between pilots, drones Plane overshoots runway; airport closed for 2 hours irst Commericial Airbus A350 Flight from the U.S. Aborted Takeoff from JFK Cranfield University's next...'Air Transport Engineering & Maintenance Operations' Course Upcoming Events JOBS AVAILABLE (New Positions) Southwest flight makes emergency landing in San Antonio The airline said flight 987 was coming from Harlingen headed to Austin SAN ANTONIO - A Southwest Airlines flight has made an emergency landing in San Antonio after a part on the wing appeared to be at an "irregular angle." The airline said flight 987 from Austin to Harlingen landed safely in San Antonio with no injuries to the 109 passengers and five crew members just before 5 p.m. Sunday. Lorenzo Hernandez was on the flight. Hernandez shared his experience on Facebook, calling the flight 'a near death experience.' He said, "I heard a few people to the side of me scream to the aircrew, a piece broke and flew off and a panel was hanging." Southwest says it has removed the aircraft from service for further inspection. Hernandez wrote, "I heard a few people to the side of me scream to the aircrew, a piece broke and flew off and a panel was hanging." The problem part is what is called a "flap track canoe fairing," which is a canoe shaped piece attached to the underside of the wing that reduces drag. Another aircraft was deployed to fly the passengers on to Harlingen about two hours late. http://www.ksat.com/news/southwest-flight-makes-emergency-landing-in-san-antonio Back to Top Seventy workers at Paris's Charles De Gaulle and Orly airports have their security passes revoked over extremism fears following terror attacks * Officials said passes had been revoked 'mainly for cases of radicalisation' * Employees worked within baggage handling, aircraft cleaning and supply * Heightened security checks after deadly terror attacks killed 130 in Paris Nearly 70 workers at two major airports in Paris have had their security passes revoked over extremism fears following the deadly terror attacks in the French capital which killed 130 people. Secure-zone clearance has been withdrawn for dozens of workers at both Charles de Gaulle Airport and Orly Airport over fears staff members could have been radicalised by Islamist extremists. Security agents confirmed the badges had been revoked 'mainly for cases of radicalisation' and said the contents of around 4,000 workers' lockers had been searched in a bid to highlight any issues. Secure-zone 'red-badge' clearance has been withdrawn for nearly 70 workers at both Charles de Gaulle Airport (above) and Orly Airport over fears staff members could have been radicalised by Islamist extremists The move comes in light of the deadly Paris attacks, in which 130 people were killed and 350 injured, and after the Russian passenger plane brought down over Egypt was linked to a bomb smuggled on board by an airport worker. Augustin de Romanet, chief executive officer of Aeroports de Paris, said the prefecture - the representative of the state - which issues the badges had carried out a screening after the Paris atrocities last month. 'Nearly 70 red badges were withdrawn after the attacks, mainly for cases of radicalisation,' he said in an interview with French media. He confirmed around 85,000 people had secure-zone clearance in the two airports, most of them working for airlines or for 'several hundred' sub-contractors. So-called red badges are issued to people employed within the secure zones of both airports, which includes areas of baggage handling, aircraft cleaning and working with suppliers. 'To be issued with a red badge, you have to be cleared by police, and if you work for a company that carries out security checks of in-flight luggage, you need three police checks,' De Romanet said. Security agents said the badges had been revoked 'mainly for cases of radicalisation' and said the contents of around 4,000 workers' lockers had been searched in a bid to highlight any issues. Pictured: Orly Airport, Paris He added that deployment of military personnel at the two airports had been boosted by half following the attacks. He also said passport officers were checking the IDs of all people leaving the country, 'including flights in the Schengen zone,' the European Union's border-free area. Air traffic was down five per cent compared with a year earlier, De Romanet said. 'I hope we will return to a more normal level of traffic. It has been a heavy blow,' he added. Security has been heightened in airports across Europe following the atrocities in Paris, in which terrorists targeted four restaurants, the packed Bataclan concert hall and the Stade de France on November 13. Several Islamist militants connected with the terror attacks were killed in a police raid in a Paris suburb five days later, and it later emerged the extremists had been planning an attack on Charles de Gaulle, France's biggest international airport. Islamist militants connected with the Paris terror attacks on November 13 were killed in a police raid in a suburb in the city five days later. Pictured: Bodies are removed from the flat raided by police in Saint- Denis Airport security has also been raised since it emerged the Russian passenger plane brought down over Egypt was likely to have been the result of a homemade bomb planted on board the jet by an airport worker. The Metrojet airliner exploded over Egypt's Sinai desert in October, killing all 224 people onboard. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3358831/Seventy-workers-Paris-s-Charles-Gaulle-Orly-airports- security-passes-revoked-extremism-fears-following-terror-attacks.html#ixzz3uIDMnj9j Back to Top No Sign Of 'Terrorist Act' In Russian Plane Crash, Egypt Investigator Says * Russia has said an explosive device was placed onboard the Airbus 321-200. CAIRO (AP) - Egypt's chief investigator says a preliminary investigation into the October crash of a Russian passenger plane in Sinai has found no indication yet of any "illegal or terrorist act." A statement released Monday by the chief investigator, Ayman el-Muqadam, says that so far the investigation committee did not "receive any evidence" that indicates there was foul play in the downing of the plane. The vaguely worded statement implied this is not the final conclusion of the investigators. El-Muqadam's statement also says the committee is "continuing its work." The Oct. 31 crash killed all 224 people onboard. Russia has said an explosive device had been placed onboard the Airbus 321-200 and the Sinai branch of the Islamic State group has claimed responsibility. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/russian-plane-crash_566e8cefe4b011b83a6bb7bb Back to Top Why aren't there more female executives in the aviation industry? Women have no doubt been important to aviation history. Yet, the board rooms of airlines (not to mention the cockpit) have always been an old boy's club. And in 2015, we haven't seen much progress; there's still a lack of gender diversity in the industry's top levels that is frankly disappointing. While it's common to see women working check-in counters and airport lounges, it's less likely to see one giving an interview about airline stock and strategy. That's because women make up less than 5% of of the industry's CEO's worldwide, according to Skift. It's a serious problem, especially when it comes to hiring new blood. EasyJet's CEO Carolyn McCall (pictured above) told the International Air Transport Assocation (IATA): (A)viation needs to open up more to women, and particularly to retain women in the pipeline so we can see more women in senior leadership positions. That is what will make the most change as these are the women who will be able to adapt the culture of companies to ensure more women stay in the workplace. IATA's CEO and Director General, Tony Tyler, is planning to retire next year, and according to Skift has referred to his future replacement as a "he or she" - a good sign. Sort of. But Tyler also said that change across the board is complicated: The industry is made up, of course, of a number of a lot of different companies. Companies need to have policies that don't stop the best people getting the job. If everyone acts on that basis, we should see more women getting to more senior positions. Breaking that glass ceiling in the sky will obviously take some time - as it will in many other industries - but there are good examples of the winds changing in aviation, especially in Africa. South African Airways' former CEO Siza Mzimela has just launched her own airline, and there are also a handful of organizations across the continent helping women to become entrepreneurs and experts in the industry. http://roadwarriorvoices.com/2015/12/13/why-arent-there-more-female-executives-in-the-aviation- industry/ Back to Top What Happens to Your Body on an Airplane 'Tis the season for travel! Whether you're going to visit the fam in Kansas City or are off to the Cayman Islands for some R&R, you'll be joining the more than 5 million people traveling by air sometime during the holiday season. Now picture yourself there, at 40,000 feet, rocking out to Adele and playing Candy Crush on your iPad, trying to politely ignore your chatty seatmate. While everything might appear normal on the outside, there's some wacky stuff going on inside you as you're confined to a metal tube soaring above the clouds. Check this out, and you'll never look at an airplane the same way again. Nose The humidity level in an airplane dips below 20 percent (compared to the average home humidity level of above 30 percent). That desert-like atmosphere can do more than simply leave you reaching for your L'Occitane. The low humidity "dries out the mucous membranes in your nose, sinuses, and throat, leaving you susceptible to infection," Sanford Vieder, DO, medical director and founder of Lakes Urgent Care clinics in Michigan, tells Yahoo Health. Mucous plays a key role in your immune system - it's basically a bouncer that blocks microbes from entering the body. And if yours is dried out, viruses can squeeze on by and gain easy access. The remedy? Guzzle water to keep your mucous membranes moist and up for the job. Ears Ever wonder what causes that uncomfortable ear popping during takeoff and landing? Your Eustachian tube (the canal that connects your ears to your nasal cavity and throat) is responsible for regulating pressure in your eardrums. "When there's a rapid drop in pressure, like in a plane, it can be difficult for your Eustachian tube to process the change, which is why you experience ear pain and headaches," Vieder explains. "A good way to unclog your ears is to drink water, because swallowing naturally uses the same muscular mechanism involved in opening the tube." That popping sensation can be downright dangerous if you have a cold or virus. "When you have an infection, the Eustachian tube swells and can't open wide enough to equalize the pressure," Vieder says. "As a result, your ear drum could rupture, causing hearing loss and chronic ear infections." Yikes! Even if you're not under the weather, the noise level inside the cabin of a plane (which ranges from about 75 to 90 decibels - similar to a freight train or garbage disposal) can trigger temporary hearing loss. Making matters worse, people tend to jack up the volume on their headphones when listening to music to counteract the commotion. "Instead, use noise-canceling headphones to protect your ears," suggests Marc Leavey, MD, primary care specialist at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. It can also help to book a seat toward the front of the plane - it's quieter than the rear, where the engine is located. Tongue If that Kind bar you grabbed preflight isn't as yummy as usual, blame it on the Boeing - it turns out flying can dull your taste buds. What happens is that the decreased humidity levels on the plane dry out your nasopharynx (the chamber that leads from your nostrils to your olfactory bulb), compromising your sense of smell and, as a result, taste. "The plate on your nasal passageways is part and parcel of your taste sensation," Leavey tells Yahoo Health. The effect is similar to eating while holding your nose - try it and you'll find your lunch lacking flavor. Teeth If you've got a cavity, you might want to steer clear of the runway. "The depressurization in an aircraft can bring on a severe toothache," Leavey says. "Decaying teeth have a chamber of pus at the root. In order to equalize the pressure, the air in that hole will expand, leading to pain." Skin You know all that dry air we've been talking about? It can also mess with your skin. "The water in your skin's outer layers evaporates into the air through a process called transepidermal water loss, which can exacerbate conditions like psoriasis or eczema," says Janet Prystowsky, MD, a dermatologist in New York City. One early sign you're in for a flare-up is itchiness - come armed with a (3-ounce or less!) stash of thick cream. Oh, and make sure it includes SPF. "UV light passes through windows, and since you're above cloud coverage when flying, your risk of skin damage is magnified," L.A.-based dermatologist Tsippora Shainhouse, MD, tells Yahoo Health. "In fact, a study showed that, for pilots, exposure to UV rays during a one-hour flight was equivalent to lying in a tanning bed for 20 minutes." Intestines When you fly, the atmospheric pressure in the cabin plunges below sea level. "As a result, any air you have in your stomach expands so as to normalize the pressure, which can trigger gas and discomfort," Leavey says. Plus, many of our airport habits - scarfing down a rushed preflight meal, noshing on fried food, guzzling a soda from the beverage service cart - stress out our digestive systems. Leavey recommends leaning forward in your seat to try to, ahem, push the gas through your system. (Sorry in advance to your future seatmates!) Bowels In addition, peristalsis (the internal contractions that move food through the digestive tract) slows to a snail's pace as you ascend to higher altitudes. "That, added to dehydration and poor nutrition while traveling, leads to constipation," Vieder points out. To keep things moving, stroll down the aisle occasionally, drink plenty of fluids, and pack fiber-rich snacks like pears and apples. Legs Being cramped in a 17-inch seat for hours on end in reduced cabin pressure can lead to swelling as fluid settles in your legs and feet. "This causes increased water retention in your lower leg tissue, which puts strain on the overlying skin - kind of like overfilling a water balloon," says Prystowsky. "For most of us, this is an annoyance that makes our shoes feel too tight. But if you're prone to lower leg swelling to begin with, the effect will be intensified, and you might break out in a red, itchy rash called stasis dermatitis." That's not the only risk: Blood clots - known as deep vein thrombosis, or DVP - are also a possibility. "When you're sitting immobile on a plane, your blood isn't circulating efficiently," Vieder says. Although anyone can experience one, you're at a heightened risk if you smoke, take the birth control pill, or have a family history of blood clots. Aim to stroll down the aisle at least once per hour, jiggle your legs while sitting, and drink plenty of H2O to prevent your blood from thickening up. https://www.yahoo.com/health/what-happens-to-your-body-1317664455827510.html Back to Top Fire foam sprayed on wrong aircraft at Chinese airport 'caused 120m yuan in damage to engines' Twin engines of Fujian Airlines 737 will need to be replaced in costly operation that will take plane out of service for at least one week Fire trucks at Fuzhou Changle International Airport mistakenly dowse a Fujian Airlines 737 in fire foam on Thursday. The apparently malfunctioning aircraft, which reported sparks coming from its engine, belonged to China Airlines. Photo: Thepaper.cn Fuzhou Airlines confirmed on Saturday that foam mistakenly sprayed on one of its Boeing 737-800 passenger liners on Thursday damaged both its engines and would cost about 120 million yuan (HK$144 million) to replace them, The Paper.cn, a news portal based in Shanghai, reported. The airlines said on Saturday on its Weibo account that the fire-retardant foam had entered crucial parts of the engine, requiring both engines to be replaced in an operation that would take a week or more to complete and return the aircraft to service. Staff from the airline told mainland media that it had launched its claims procedures, but they did not disclose who claim was against and how much compensation would be sought. On Thursday, eight fire trucks at Fuzhou Changle International Airport mistakenly sprayed the Fuzhou Airlines jet to "cool down" its before they discovered out that it was another plane operated by Air China that was reported to have sparks coming out of its engines. The airport later explained that when the firemen arrived, the Air China aircraft had already shut down its engines, which led to the erroneous spraying of the Fuzhou Airlines plane. The incident shut down the airport's runways for an hour and 40 minutes and delayed 24 outbound flights. http://www.scmp.com/news/china/economy/article/1890903/fire-foam-sprayed-wrong-aircraft-chinese- airport-caused-120m-yuan Back to Top Dazzling new airplane patent offers seats on top of aircraft Airplane patent puts seats on top of aircraft (CNN)At last, a new airplane seating patent that doesn't try to squeeze more humans into a smaller space. Instead, this concept aims to give passengers an even better view of the skies than the pilot's by seating them on top of the plane, inside a transparent bubble-style canopy. U.S. aerospace technology company Windspeed says its SkyDeck design can be installed on a variety of aircraft, from private jets to wide-bodied commercial planes. Passengers access the seats, either via an elevator or staircase. Once inside they can rotate the twin or single seats through 360-degrees, enjoying incredible sky vistas. "Current inflight entertainment offerings have not changed much over the decades," Windspeed says. "We wanted to come up with a product that would provide a higher level of entertainment to reduce the boredom of long flights." Pay per view The company says the seats could "create the next exciting experiential inflight entertainment for VIP aircraft" or could be used to create revenue on commercial flights through a pay-per-view basis. While the SkyDeck patent is still pending and has yet to be subjected to practical testing, Windspeed says its design is viable and won't interfere with an aircraft's handling. It says the canopy would be made of materials used in supersonic fighter jets -- strong enough to withstand birdstrikes and other stress factors. An aerodynamic "teardrop" shape will help reduce the drag factor. Anti-condensation film will be applied to stop it fogging up and a UV-protection coating will stop passengers being frazzled by the sun. No timescale yet on when -- if it gets approval -- the SkyDeck might begin punching its way through an airplane fuselage near you. Until then, we can only stare glumly at the seat-back in front of us and dream. http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/14/aviation/windspeed-skydeck-seats-on-top-of-aircraft/index.html Back to Top Pilots in Europe Are Failing an Important Test Airspace officials call it "concerning." A Eurocontrol aviation expert points to aviation traffic in the south of Europe on a screen in the operation room of the Eurocontrol building in Brussels. Pilots in European airspace are not responding correctly to midair-collision alarms at a concerning rate, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. The report cites a study by Eurocontrol, the EU agency that coordinates air-traffic control for all of Europe. The study found that roughly 25% of pilots "failed to take the correct evasive action" after receiving computer-generated warnings. That rate rose to 36% for follow-up alarms, according to the report. None of these incidents, which were pulled from a sample of more than 800 flights, actually led to accidents. But Tzvetomir Blajev, the Eurocontrol official who ran the study told the Journal that "the number of improper responses is concerning." While air travel is generally very safe by any standards, accidents do happen. In 2002, a DHL cargo plane collided with a Russian-built charter plane over European airspace, leading to 71 fatalities. According to the Journal, findings on pilot error rates in other regions, like the United States, have not been released, making it impossible to compare these findings to other regions. http://fortune.com/2015/12/11/pilot-error-rate-europe/ Back to Top EasyJet pilots abort landing attempt at Bristol Airport after 'losing situational awareness' and flying off course * The Airbus A319 was flying from Glasgow to Bristol on the night of May 13 * A report said the pilots 'became disorientated' and flew across a ridgeline * They realised they had flown off course after seeing the position of masts * The plane landed safely at Bristol Airport after performing a go-around * EasyJet has made three safety recommendations after an investigation EasyJet pilots 'lost situational awareness' and flew off course over a ridgeline in Somerset earlier this year, forcing them to abort a landing attempt, it has been revealed. A report into the incident found the Airbus A319 was forced into a go-around on approach to Bristol Airport and at one point was just 500 above ground level. The pilots 'became disorientated' and flew across the Dundry hills, south of Bristol, before realising they had lost 'positional awareness' and aborted the landing attempt, according to a report filed with the Air Accidents Investigation Branch. A report into the incident found the Airbus A319 was forced to make a go-around near Bristol (file photo) Investigators said the flight left Glasgow on the night of May 13 and was approaching Bristol Airport in good weather conditions with 99 passengers and six crew on board. The report said the flight crew - on their fourth flight of the day and second into Bristol - switched runways because the wind direction had changed and disconnected the autopilot, but did not approach on the required path. There appeared to be a lack of communication in the cockpit, with the co-pilot unaware of how the captain intended to fly the approach due to a late change. The co-pilot became concerned about the tracking of the flight path and soon realised they had turned too early, but believed the 56-year-old captain, who had 11,500 hours of flying experience, still had situational awareness. The co-pilot then spotted communication masts next to the village of Dundry at the 1-2 o'clock position instead of the normal 3 o'clock position. Although they were well clear of the masts, their position confirmed the aircraft was off course. After stopping the descent and looking for outside reference points, the captain started to execute a go- around just north of Dundry as the co-pilot instructed him to perform the manoeuvre. The pilots 'became disorientated' and flew across the Dundry hills on approach to Bristol Airport (file photo) The report said: 'Both crew members then lost situational awareness, but neither communicated this to the other until the co-pilot called for a go-around. 'The fact the go-around altitude was not set until the go-around had commenced indicates either the landing checklist had not been completed or that it had not been completed satisfactorily.' The plane landed safely on its second approach. EasyJet investigated and made three safety recommendations to its internal procedures. The airline said in a statement: 'The pilots on flight EZY408 performed a go-around after they realised they were off course. This action was a controlled response by the captain, in line with the airline's procedures, and the flight landed safely. 'The action was taken by the pilot before the aircraft's or ATC's automatic warning systems were activated thereby demonstrating his control of the situation. 'EasyJet immediately launched a safety investigation to understand what happened and ensure that the airline could learn any lessons from the incident. 'EasyJet's specialist team conducted a thorough safety investigation, in consultation with the AAIB, and as a result it made three recommendations to its internal procedures. The safety of its passengers and crew is always easyJet's highest priority.' http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3358328/EasyJet-pilots-abort-landing-attempt- Bristol-Airport-losing-situational-awareness-flying-course.html#ixzz3uIMsjGUb Back to Top Report finds 241 near-collisions between pilots, drones A drone is demonstrated in Brigham City, Utah. Researchers say there have been at least 241 reports of close encounters between drones and manned aircraft that meet the government's definition of a near midair collision, including 28 in which pilots maneuvered to get out of the way. A report released Friday by Bard College's Center for the Study of the Drone in New York says 90 of the close encounters involved drones and commercial jets, the majority of which had the capacity to carry 50 people or more. The analysis by Bard College's Center for the Study of the Drone found that 90 of the close drone encounters involved commercial jets. WASHINGTON - There has yet to be a confirmed U.S. collision between a drone and a manned aircraft, but there's a growing number of close calls as drones fly where they least belong - near airports. A report released Friday counted at least 241 reports of close encounters between drones and manned aircraft that meet the Federal Aviation Administration's definition of a near-collision, including 28 incidents in which pilots had to veer out of the way. The analysis by Bard College's Center for the Study of the Drone found that 90 of the close drone encounters involved commercial jets. The FAA defines a near-collision as two aircraft flying within 500 feet of each other. In 51 of the incidents studied, the drone-to-aircraft clearance was 50 feet or less, the report said. Most of the sightings occurred within 5 miles of an airport and at altitudes higher than 400 feet. Those are spaces in which the FAA prohibits drones from flying, raising questions about the effectiveness of the rules. The cities with the most incidents were New York/Newark, New Jersey, 86; Los Angeles, 39; Miami, 24; Chicago, 20; Boston, 20; San Jose, California, 19; Washington, 19; Atlanta, 17; Seattle, 17; San Diego, 14; Orlando, Florida, 13; Houston, 12; Portland, Oregon, 12; Dallas/Fort Worth, 11; and Denver, 10. The report is based on an analysis of government records detailing 921 incidents involving drones and manned aircraft between Dec. 17, 2013, and Sept. 12, 2015. Researchers cautioned that it's hard for pilots to judge their distance from another object when flying at high speeds. The majority of the incidents, 64 percent, were sightings of drones in the vicinity of other aircraft with no immediate threat of collision. The FAA has previously released data on reports of drone sightings, but the Bard report is the first comprehensive analysis of the sightings by researchers outside the aviation community. Its findings are likely to fuel more debate over how much of a threat drones are to manned aircraft as the government struggles with how to reap the benefits of unmanned aircraft without undermining safety. Reports of drones flying where they aren't supposed to have increased dramatically. In May 2014, 10 incidents were reported to the FAA; in May of this year, there were 100 incidents. The FAA confirmed to the report's authors that the trend has continued, with 127 incidents in September and 137 incidents in October. "It's hard to say if or when there might be a drone crash, but certainly we've seen an increase in the number of reports and an increase in the number of close counters," said Dan Gettinger, co-director of the drone center. Government and industry officials have expressed concern that if a drone - much like a bird - is sucked into an aircraft engine, smashes a cockpit windshield or damages a critical aircraft surface area, it could cause an air crash. "With sufficient speed, bird strikes have been known to penetrate the cockpit," the report said. "It's entirely possible, then, that a drone could also break through into a cockpit, potentially causing serious harm to the pilots or other occupants." Helicopter blades are considered especially vulnerable. Thirty-eight of the near collisions identified by researchers involved helicopters. Aircraft engine manufacturers currently test the ability of engines to withstand bird strikes by firing dead birds at the engines at high velocities. The FAA hasn't yet said when it will require engine makers to conduct tests with drones, but officials have unofficially acknowledged they are working on the issue, the report said. The report cited research by engineers at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia, that used data on bird strikes to create computer simulations of drones striking planes in order to identify the riskiest impact locations. They concluded that hobby drones weighing between 2 and 6 pounds "can potentially cause critical damage." The FAA is in the process of finalizing rules for the use of commercial drones weighing less than 55 pounds. The agency is also expected to shortly issue rules requiring the registration of small drones, including those used by hobbyists, in an effort to help create a "culture of responsibility" among drone operators. The agency is trying to get the registration rules in place before Christmas. http://www.dailyastorian.com/Free/20151214/report-finds-241-near-collisions-between-pilots-drones Back to Top Plane overshoots runway; airport closed for 2 hours Officials said plane overshot runway due to poor visibility A plane went off the runway Friday morning at Westchester County Airport, prompting a two-hour suspension of flights, officials said.. Officials said the plane, a small Gulfstream jet, ran off the end of the main runway into a grassy area due to poor visibility as it landed just after 8:30 a.m. No one was injured. Airport flights were suspended so the plane could be towed. Flights resumed around 10:45 a.m., officials said. Some incoming flights were diverted to other New York area airports; officials did not know exactly how many. http://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/2015/12/11/plane-off-runway-westchester-county- airport/77144948/ Back to Top First Commericial Airbus A350 Flight from the U.S. Aborted Takeoff from JFK The inaugural U.S. flight of one of Airbus's newest aircraft models was supposed to be a big deal, showcasing the impressive new jumbo jet on its very first trip from New York's John F. Kennedy Airport. Instead, it was spectacularly terrifying and embarrassing fail. The high tech jet's computer system aborted it's own takeoff - because it deemed the runway too short. Journalists and staff were among the passengers on the Airbus A350 for the chartered Qatar Airways flight that was supposed to travel 12 hours to Hamad International Airport. The airplane even had screens on each seatback via which the passengers could watch the taxi and takeoff as it happened. Unfortunately, rather than watching the plane soar to 30,000 feet, it taxed, picked up speed - and then came to a startling and screeching halt. According to The Points Guy Editor in Chief, Zach Honig, who was one 36 journalists and staff members on the charter flight, "About 18 seconds after we began rolling down JFK's runway 22R, the aircraft self- aborted, bringing us from more than 100 mph to a loud, screeching halt in roughly 15 seconds. "For a plane of this size and weight, stopping that quickly required a lot of force." Though no one was injured, passengers on the flight were confused, and some were scared and upset and wanted to get off. The flight crew told passengers to remains seated. They also told them to turn off their cameras and Honig was also asked to stop tweeting updates for his 9,600 followers, according to the Daily Mail. Eventually the highest-ranking executive on the Airbus explained to the travlers there was no reason to fear for their safety. "For some reason the A350 decided that our 11,000-foot runway was too short to support the takeoff, and the plane applied the brakes at full force - all on its own," writes Honig. The New York based flight, which had arrived earlier from Doha, was meant to give Qatar Airways the ability to boast the first flight Airbus 350 flight to and out of the U.S., "a significant milestone in what's quickly becoming one of Qatar's fastest-growing markets," says Honig. It also gave the airline the chance to one-up Delta on its home turf - the airline will be launching flights on the Airbus 350 in 2017 - and to show the goods off to journalists. After the failed takeoff, and after a nearly two-hour delay, (and more than a few drinks for the passengers) the Qatar Airways Airbus 350 did takeoff and fly to Doha. The Airbus 350 is set to begin service on from the U.S. on Qatar Airways on Jan. 1, 2016. https://www.yahoo.com/travel/fail-first-us-flight-of-fancy-new-airbus-jet-171400857.html Back to Top Cranfield University's next 'Air Transport Engineering & Maintenance Operations' Course will be delivered in Cranfield (Bedford, United Kingdom) during the week of 22-26 February 2016. More info can be found at the following link. https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/Courses/training/Air-Transport-Engineering-Maintenance-Operations Back to Top Upcoming Events: New HFACS workshop Las Vegas December 15 & 16 www.hfacs.com 2016 DTI SMS/QA Symposium January 3, 4, & 5 2016 Disney World, FL 1-866-870-5490 www.dtiatlanta.com 6th European Business Aviation Safety Conference 2016 February 23-24, 2016 Frankfurt, Germany www.ebascon.eu 2016 Air Charter Safety Symposium | Safety: A Small Investment for a Rich Future March 8-9, 2016 | NTSB Training Center | Ashburn, VA http://www.acsf.aero/events/acsf-symposium/ CHC Safety & Quality Summit | Back to Basics: Prioritizing Safety in a Challenging Economy April 4-6, 2016 Vancouver, BC www.chcsafetyqualitysummit.com BARS Auditor Training Washington, DC Tuesday-Thursday 5-7 April http://flightsafety.org/bars/auditor-training Back to Top JOBS AVAILABLE: Deputy Director of Flight Operations & Technical Services Helicopter Association International https://www.rotor.org/AboutHAI/Employment.aspx Position Available: Airline Safety Manager - Investigation (Engineering) Cathay Pacific https://career10.successfactors.com/career?_s.crb=Q%252ffWkAOt5SsrsXlBnG3GK%252bmGYsU%253d Curt Lewis