Flight Safety Information April 20, 2016 - No. 077 In This Issue MH370 Searchers Find Lost 'Towfish' Scanner 12,000 Feet Under Ocean Bomb talk grounds plane at Albany International Airport Donald Trump's Jet, a Regular on the Campaign Trail, Isn't Registered to Fly Lawsuit: Allegiant Air pilot fired because he's too old Pilots challenge licence for Irish-based transatlantic carrier Birds, bumps and drones - Ireland's top air safety scares Drone safety a concern before London air collision Senate backs 'passenger friendly' bill that sets policy, funding for the FAA Thailand appoints CAAi to improve ICAO compliance Laser pointers 'do not damage the eyesight of aircraft pilots' Australian Society of Air Safety Investigators -...2016 ANZSASI SEMINAR CEO Mueller To Leave Malaysia Airlines In Third Quarter To Expand Pilot Ranks, JetBlue Pioneers Ab-Initio Class In U.S. PhD Research Request Graduate Research:...Pilot Laser Study MH370 Searchers Find Lost 'Towfish' Scanner 12,000 Feet Under Ocean Experts hunting for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 have recovered their underwater sonar "towfish" that was lost earlier this month thousands of feet below the surface of the southern Indian Ocean. The yellow torpedo-shaped device, which scans the seabed for debris, was found floating at a depth of more than 12,000 feet, officials in charge of the search said Wednesday in an update. It was lost on April 13 when a connector on the towing cable attached to one of the search ships failed - the second time in three months that scanning equipment was lost in the ocean. The "towfish" device was winched to the surface on Monday. Mel Proudlock / ATSB The SL Hydrospheric SLH-ProSAS-60, which was attached to an 1,800-pound weight to prevent it floating, was discovered with the help of a remotely-operated submersible, the Remora III. It was found Monday in "good condition" and was winched onto the deck of the Dong Hai Jiu 101, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said in a statement. The weight, which was found nose-down and partly buried in sediment, was recovered separately, it said. The "towfish" is one of three such devices being used to scan the ocean floor for the Boeing 777, which was carrying 239 passengers and crew when it disappeared from radar on Mar. 8, 2014, while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. In January, one of the devices was temporarily lost after it crashed into a 7,400-foot underwater volcano before being recovered around a week later. The enormous search operation has covered more than 80 percent of a planned 46,000-square-mile search area - but so far it has not located the wreckage site. The 1,800 pound "depressor" weight was found embedded in sediment on the seabed. Mel Proudlock / ATSB Separately, the ATSB said two further items of possible debris - one found in South Africa bearing the logo of engine manufacturer Rolls Royce, and another found by hotel guests on a Mauritian island - arrived at its laboratories on April 13 for forensic examination. "Investigators from the ATSB and the Malaysian Annex 13 investigation team are examining the pieces to determine if they originated from a Boeing 777, and in particular for any details which might link the debris with MH370," it said. On Tuesday, the ATSB gave details on how it concluded that two other pieces of debris found on the east coast of Africa were very likely parts of the doomed airliner 9M-MRO. Debris washing up in the region is consistent with computer models showing how ocean drift would carry wreckage across the seas, according to officials. The Australian Transportation Safety Bureau said last month that the two objects found in Mozambique in December and February were "almost certainly from MH370." On Tuesday, that authority gave more details to back up this assessment. Image: Likely MH370 piece Stenciling on a piece of likely MH370 debris found in December is compared with designs used by Boeing and Malaysia Airlines. ATSB It said the piece found in December by 18-year-old South African Liam Lötter was a part of a Boeing 777 "flap track fairing segment" - smooth pods under the wings housing the mechanisms that control wing flaps. Investigators found that "all measurable dimensions, materials, construction and other identifiable features" were consistent with a 777, according to the ATSB. A visible stencil on the part showing the serial number 676EB also matched the aircraft. Although the font and color was not the original from manufacture, the bureau added, they matched the design used by Malaysia Airlines for repainting. The second part, found in February by American lawyer and adventurer Blaine Alan Gibson, also matched all measurable dimensions and materials for a 777 tailplane, also known as a horizontal stabilizer, which is found on the tail sections of airliners. Both parts were "almost certainly" from MH370, the ATSB reiterated on Tuesday. Despite a two-year investigation, only one piece of debris has been confirmed as coming from the aircraft - a 6-foot-long wing flap that washed up on Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean. Investigators said they would analyze another possible piece found on a Mauritian island in March. The debris washing up on the East African coast is consistent with computer models showing how ocean drift would carry the wreckage across the seas, according to officials. MH370 vanished from radar on Mar. 8, 2014, while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 passengers and crew aboard. http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/missing-jet/mh370-searchers-find-lost-towfish-scanner-12-000-feet- under-n558996 Back to Top Bomb talk grounds plane at Albany International Airport A United commuter jet sits at the gate at Albany International Airport Wednesday morning after a passenger spoke of a bomb on the flight and the pilot ordered the plane evacuated. (Skip Dickstein / Times Union) A United commuter jet sits at the gate at Albany International Airport Wednesday morning after a passenger spoke of a bomb on the flight and the pilot ordered the plane evacuated. COLONIE - A plane at Albany International Airport was evacuated Wednesday morning after a passenger spoke about having a bomb, Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple said. As of 6:40 a.m., bomb dogs were on their way to the scene and the passengers and baggage were being removed, Apple said. The FBI anti-terrorism task force was on the way to the airport, a situation the sheriff described as routine for such an incident. The incident happened at about 6 a.m. on United Airlines flight 4941, which was bound for Newark, N.J. The flight was scheduled to depart at 6 a.m. and arrive in New Jersey at 7:14 a.m. "He uttered the words bomb to another passenger" who alerted the flight crew, the sheriff said. The pilot immediately ordered all passengers and the crew off of the plane. "The pilot did what he was trained to do," the sheriff said. "We don't think there is anything to it," Apple said, but all passengers and luggage will be re-screened. Apple said the passenger appeared to be suffering from some kind of mental health problem. Once removed from the plane, he was "acting somewhat irrational," "He wanted to get a rise out of everybody, which he did," Apple said. It was expected the man would be removed from the flight to undergo a mental health evaluation, the sheriff said. The flight was operated by CommutAir for United Airlines. The incident appeared to have no impact on other flights at the airport. Jets arrived and department as scheduled throughout the morning. http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Threat-of-bomb-evacuates-plane-at-Albany-7259295.php Back to Top Donald Trump's Jet, a Regular on the Campaign Trail, Isn't Registered to Fly Donald J. Trump exiting his Cessna jet on Jan. 24. Records kept with the Federal Aviation Administration show that the registration on the plane lapsed on Jan. 31. Credit Eric Thayer for The New York Times Over the past several months, Donald J. Trump has crisscrossed the country making dozens of campaign stops in places like Sioux City, Iowa, and Jackson, Miss., often in his sleek Cessna jet. There is just one hitch: The plane's registration is expired. Records kept with the Federal Aviation Administration show the aircraft's registration lapsed on Jan. 31. Laura J. Brown, a spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration, confirmed that the plane's registration was not in good standing and said the owner had not renewed it. With few exceptions, aircraft must be registered in order to fly. Mr. Trump's plane could be grounded for days, or even months, while the issue is sorted out. In the event of an accident, the company that insures the jet could cite the lapsed registration to decline any claims. The F.A.A. could also fine or assess other penalties against the owner, the operator or both; Mr. Trump owns the plane through a limited liability company. Though it is unlikely that the agency would seek the maximum penalty, flying with no registration could result in a civil penalty of up to $27,500, a criminal fine of up to $250,000 and imprisonment for up to three years, it said. Hope Hicks, a spokeswoman for the Trump campaign, declined to answer several questions about the plane's registration or use, saying only that the renewal process "is just about complete." As of late Tuesday, the F.A.A. had not received a registration renewal application for the Cessna, according to Ms. Brown, the agency spokeswoman. She declined to comment on any action the F.A.A. might take. Mr. Trump's Cessna jet could be grounded for several days, or even months, while the registration issue is sorted out. Credit Mark L. Pollio Although Mr. Trump has a sizable delegate lead in the Republican presidential primary race, his campaign has often had organizational issues, at times losing ground against better organized opponents, chiefly Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, as Mr. Trump has struggled to master the complicated rules governing the selection of delegates. Mr. Trump can still fly; most candidates typically charter a private plane. He also has four other registered aircraft: a Boeing 757 and three Sikorsky helicopters, a fleet that has become a critical part of the billionaire's image he has sought to project on the campaign trail. The Boeing, which has Mr. Trump's surname emblazoned in big letters on the outside and gold-plated fixtures inside, has been used as a backdrop at a number of his rallies. But the aircraft weighs more than 100,000 pounds, and that creates limitations: It cannot land at many smaller airports. Mr. Trump has multiple aircraft, including a Boeing 757, which has been used as a backdrop at some of his rallies. Credit Mark Makela for The New York Times As a result, Mr. Trump often presses the 1997 Cessna 750 Citation X, which was designed to seat eight people, into action. It has made hundreds of flights since he announced his plan to seek the Republican nomination in June 2015, according to F.A.A. records reviewed by The New York Times. Dozens of those flights were made after Jan. 31, when the registration expired. The plane flew as recently as Monday, when it was used to transport Team Trump between La Guardia Airport and Buffalo for a campaign event on the eve of the New York primary. On Friday, it flew to Plattsburgh, N.Y., and to Hartford for rallies in those cities, according to radio transmissions broadcast by the plane that were archived on a flight data website and reviewed by The Times. The F.A.A. warned Mr. Trump that the Cessna's registration was set to expire, records show. On Dec. 1, DJT Operations CX L.L.C., the limited liability company owned by Mr. Trump that operates the Cessna, received a "final notice" from the F.A.A., according to records reviewed by The Times. Then, on March 1, DJT Operations CX was notified that the registration had expired. "The aircraft's registration and airworthiness certificates no longer support the aircraft's operation," the agency wrote. These notices, records show, were sent to National Registered Agents; it is not a company Mr. Trump owns. It is the Delaware firm that was listed as the "registered agent" when DJT Operations CX was incorporated in 2012, the year Mr. Trump bought the jet. In an F.A.A. filing in 2012, titled "Aircraft Registration Application," National Registered Agents, its address and its phone number were listed as the contact information for DJT Operations CX. The filing is one page, largely filled out by hand, and is signed by Mr. Trump. His title, initially listed as "president," was crossed out and replaced with "sole member." The registration for Mr. Trump's four other aircraft are current, records show. Flying privately is not cheap. The Trump campaign has paid a company that Mr. Trump owns more than $3 million for campaign-related travel since he announced his candidacy. Registering an aircraft, however, is cheap: It costs only $5, and the registration is valid for three years. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/20/nyregion/donald-trumps-jet-a-regular-on-the-campaign-trail-is-not- registered-to-fly.html?_r=0 Back to Top Lawsuit: Allegiant Air pilot fired because he's too old A passenger aircraft with Allegiant Air's fleet is parked on the tarmac at St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport. Allegiant's traffic accounts for 95 percent of customer traffic at the airport. A former pilot says he was fired by Allegiant because he is too old and the airline, which has had a number of high profile maintenance problems, wants younger, less-experienced pilots. [Times] An Allegiant Air pilot who was fired in 2014 accuses the airline of age discrimination, alleging in a lawsuit filed Monday that he was terminated to make way for younger pilots. Charles E. Roberts filed suit in Hillsborough Circuit Court, seeking unspecified punitive and compensatory damages for wrongful termination by the airline with headquarters in Las Vegas. The suit said the airline is engaged in a continuing pattern of age discrimination. Roberts, whose age and city of residence are not listed in the lawsuit, had worked as an Allegiant pilot for seven years. He could not be reached to comment. His attorney, Jennifer Birmingham of Winter Park, did not return a call Tuesday seeking comment. Officials at Allegiant, which flies 95 percent of the passengers out of St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, also did not respond to a request for comment. The airport flew a record 1.6 million passengers in 2015. The lawsuit said Roberts was subject to "unwarranted discipline" by the airline and ridicule by management, especially regarding his "upgrade training." That led to him being denied promotions and pay raises and "unsupported questioning of his professional integrity and, ultimately his termination." Roberts' suit said he was told by an Allegiant training scheduler that the airline was "riding him out the door" because it was "trying to get rid of the old ones." A supervisor told a simulator instructor to fail Roberts, according to the suit. "Such treatment was made for the purpose of replacing pilots over 40 years of age ... with significantly younger, less-experienced pilots," the suit said. "Although (Roberts) was informed he was doing well with ... training, (Allegiant's) actions toward (him) were targeted to achieve his discharge." The suit said the airline also gave him negative work evaluations and that other older employees were "targeted." Allegiant is one of the fastest-growing airlines in the United States and now connects the Pinellas County airport with about 50 cities. The airline, however, also has experienced a series of highly publicized maintenance events and emergency landings leading some to question Allegiant's safety. The airline says it is one of the safest in the industry. http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/airlines/lawsuit-allegiant-air-pilot-fired-because-hes-too- old/2273864 Back to Top Pilots challenge licence for Irish-based transatlantic carrier Washington to 'tentatively' approve Norwegian Air International's application for a foreign carrier's permit Pilots' unions on both sides of the Atlantic accuse Norwegian Air International of using Ireland as a flag of convenience to hire cheap labour European pilots have vowed to continue to challenge a US decision to grant an Irish-based airline a licence to fly there on the grounds that it will undermine aviation industry pay and conditions. Washington's department of transportation has decided to "tentatively" approve Irish-registered Norwegian Air International's application for a foreign carrier's permit, paving the way for it to offer low- cost flights between the EU and US, including a proposed Cork-Boston service. The move angered the European Cockpit Association (ECA), which represents pilots across the EU. Its president, Dirk Polloczek, said the organisation would work with European and US colleagues to prevent the approval being made permanent. Undermining Mr Polloczek accused the US and European Commission of undermining their own airline industries and "destroy decent jobs and the social rights of their own citizens" by allowing the airline fly between the US and EU. Pilots' unions on both sides of the Atlantic accuse the airline of using the Republic as a flag of convenience to hire cheap labour. The ECA said yesterday that the airline engages crew nominally based in Bangkok through a company in Singapore. However, the staff work on flights to and from Europe. This allows it to avoid EU employee protection legislation. Crew Norwegian Air International has always dismissed these claims. Bjorn Kjos, chief executive of its parent, Norwegian Air Shuttle, says that it employs crew under Irish law. The airline recently told the US department of transportation and the Irish Aviation Authority that only EU and US citizens would crew its transatlantic flights. The Scandinavian group registered its subsidiary in the Republic in order to get the benefit of agreements that allow airlines licensed in one EU country to fly from any member state to the US. Mr Kjos said it chose the Republic because it has a high standard of safety regulation and it is a centre for aircraft. www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/pilots-challenge-licence-for-irish-based-transatlantic- carrier-1.2616518 Back to Top Birds, bumps and drones - Ireland's top air safety scares There were over 200 near mid-air collision incidents involving Irish aircraft last year, new figures from the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) show. A minority of the incidents were classified as medium or high risk, according to the regulatory body. The IAA also recorded over 200 incidents of lasers being directed at aircraft, while birdstrikes accounted for 285 safety incidents in 2015. The most common safety issue logged with the IAA last year was a combination of system failures and malfunctions in aircraft, reported in 951 incidents. Air traffic management (575 incidents) was also one of the leading causes of safety occurrence reports being registered with the regulatory body, while a loss of control within planes was blamed on safety concerns in 243 separate incidents. Engine failure occurred 141 times, according to the IAA, while "security related" problems triggered safety concerns in 92 cases. In 224 safety cases logged, the IAA says it does not know what caused the problem. Incidents involving drones accounted for just two safety alerts, although the IAA says that it does not know the full extent of drone use in Ireland. However, a spokesman for Aer Lingus has told the Irish Independent that a number of recent incidents involving drones have been reported by its pilots. "Four sightings occurred in 2015 and two in 2016. Two sightings were close to Dublin Airport and the others occurred outside of Ireland. All sightings are reported to Air Traffic Control and to the Irish Aviation Authority." A spokesman for the IAA declined to comment on the claims. "It is IAA policy not to make public details of individual cases," said the spokesman. "Penalties for the illegal operation of small unmanned aircraft are entirely a matter for the judiciary following prosecution. Any unauthorised use may be referred to An Garda Siochana for investigation." A spokesman for An Garda Siochana was unable to say whether there has been any investigation or action taken against drone users in Ireland to date. The IAA spokesman said that the agency deals with cases involving drones outside public attention. "The IAA has engaged with those who have operated drones unsafely and come to our attention, with each case dealt with on an individual basis and evaluated for its potential impact on safety," he said. Britain's equivalent to the IAA, the UK Civil Aviation Authority, has issued more detailed guidance on the risk provided by drones to aircraft and passenger safety. It has published figures showing 23 incidents involving drones within the last six months, with over half amounting to serious "near miss" scenarios. Last weekend, a drone struck a British Airways plane at 1,700ft as it approached Heathrow Airport. The Boeing 727 was carrying 132 people. http://www .independent.ie/business/irish/birds-bumps-and-drones-irelands-top-air-safety-scares-34642772.html Back to Top Drone safety a concern before London air collision Angry Afghan villagers stone a crashed Predator drone. This story was delivered to BI Intelligence IoT Industry Insider subscribers. To learn more and subscribe, please click here. Police in London are investigating reports that a drone collided with a British Airways plane as it was approaching Heathrow Airport on Sunday. The airplane landed safely after being struck in the front of the aircraft by the drone, according to The Telegraph. If confirmed, this would be the first time that a drone has collided with a manned aircraft, although there have been close calls before. In August 2015, a drone flew within 20 feet of a plane near JFK Airport in New York City. Airspace regulators all over the world have been increasingly worried about the potential of collisions between drones and manned aircraft. The FAA reported earlier this year that there were 583 encounters between drones and manned aircraft from the end of August 2015 through January 2016. Most of these incidents occurred near airports where drones are restricted from flying because of the risk of a collision with planes taking off or landing. Regulators and drone manufacturers are both implementing measures to prevent these encounters. Several of the top drone manufacturers now include geo-fencing technology in their products that prevents drones from flying into pre-designated areas including restricted airspace. The FAA also launched its drone registry earlier this year to help law enforcement identify the owners of drones that violate restricted airspace around airports. However, if more collisions occur between drones and manned aircraft, regulators may look at other means to stop drones from flying near airports. One option would include deploying anti-drone weapons at airports to ground any drones that fly too close. These types of hiccups are expected as drone usage starts to become more common. Drones turned the corner in 2015 to become a popular consumer device, while a framework for regulation that legitimizes drones in the US began to take shape. Technological and regulatory barriers still exist to further drone adoption. Drone manufacturers and software providers are quickly developing technologies like geo-fencing and collision avoidance that will make flying drones safer. The accelerating pace of drone adoption is also pushing governments to create new regulations that balance safety and innovation. Safer technology and better regulation will open up new applications for drones in the commercial sector, including drone delivery programs like Amazon's Prime Air and Google's Project Wing initiatives. Jonathan Camhi, research analyst for BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service, has compiled a detailed drones report that forecasts sales revenues for consumer, enterprise, and military drones. It also projects the growth of drone shipments for consumers and enterprises. The report details several of world's major drone suppliers and examines trends in drone adoption among several leading industries. Finally, it examines the regulatory landscape in several markets and explains how technologies like obstacle avoidance and drone-to-drone communications will impact drone adoption. Drones Report CoverBI Intelligence Here are some of the key takeaways from the report: We project revenues from drones sales to top $12 billion in 2021, up from just over $8 billion last year. Shipments of consumer drones will more than quadruple over the next five years, fueled by increasing price competition and new technologies that make flying drones easier for beginners. Growth in the enterprise sector will outpace the consumer sector in both shipments and revenues as regulations open up new use cases in the US and EU, the two biggest potential markets for enterprise drones. Technologies like geo-fencing and collision avoidance will make flying drones safer and make regulators feel more comfortable with larger numbers of drones taking to the skies. Right now FAA regulations have limited commercial drones to a select few industries and applications like aerial surveying in the agriculture, mining, and oil and gas sectors. The military sector will continue to lead all other sectors in drone spending during our forecast period thanks to the high cost of military http://www.businessinsider.com/drone-reportedly-collides-with-airplane-in-london-2016-4 Back to Top Senate backs 'passenger friendly' bill that sets policy, funding for the FAA Passengers pull their luggage at Newark Liberty Airport in 2015. Legislation that would increase airport security, require airlines to refund baggage fees when luggage is delayed and speed the regulation of drones won approval in the Senate on Tuesday. The bipartisan bill setting policy and funding for the Federal Aviation Administration is the second major transportation bill approved by the Senate within five months, coming after a six-year surface- transportation bill that passed both houses in November. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune (R-S.D.) called the bill "one of the most passenger- friendly FAA reauthorization bills we've seen, literally, in a generation." "This bill is the most pro-passenger, pro-security FAA reauthorization in recent history," Thune said. "Travelers are frustrated, and this bill contains common-sense reforms." But the Senate resisted the wishes of members who wanted to restrict airlines from further shrinking the seat size and space between rows on commercial airlines. The bill moves on to the House, which voted in committee last month to defeat the seat-size proposal. The aviation bill approved by the U.S. Senate on Tuesday would boost airport security, including doubling the number of the Transportation Security Administration's bomb-sniffing dogs. Here, a specially trained dog stands at a security checkpoint at Lambert St. Louis International Airport on April 12. (Jeff Roberson/AP) [Shrinking seats: Senate beats back effort to regulate airline seat size] A House version of the bill, approved in committee but yet to get attention on the House floor, would radically restructure the FAA by spinning off 14,000 air-traffic controllers and about 24,000 other FAA employees into a federally chartered, private nonprofit corporation. House leaders are faced with a decision over whether to proceed with that controversial provision or amend the bill on the House floor to bring it closer to the Senate measure. The relatively short duration of the Senate bill - it would expire after about 18 months, at the end of fiscal 2017 - will give the Republicans who support shifting the FAA employees another opportunity to press for it in the near term. "We've given them a good bipartisan blueprint to follow and one that they ought to pass easily," said Sen. Bill Nelson (Fla.), the ranking Democrat on the Commerce Committee. "If they don't, by adding controversial or partisan measures, such as privatizing our air traffic control system, something the U.S. Department of Defense is unalterably opposed to, if that path is taken in the House, it's going to be a big loss for consumers." The $7.1 billion Senate bill would also require airlines to state more clearly the fees they charge for things such as prime seat selection, checked baggage, changes and cancellations so passengers are better able to see the bottom line when they shop for the best ticket price. Airlines would be required to refund baggage fees if the bags arrive more than six hours after a domestic flight has landed or more than 12 hours after an international flight. Airlines also would be required to tell parents at the time they buy tickets whether it is feasible for them to sit with their child. In reaction to last month's terrorist bombings at the Brussels airport, the Senate bill increases the vetting of airport workers, expands the number of Transportation Security Administration viper teams that sweep through airports unannounced to stop and search suspicious people, and doubles the number of the TSA's bomb-sniffing dogs. The bill also would require the FAA to take measures to prevent hackers from tapping into jetliner control systems through entertainment devices brought aboard by passengers. In addition, it would require that people who buy drones take an online test on their knowledge of restrictions and proper handling of their aircraft. Success with the test would produce a printed verification that the pilot could carry. The FAA already requires registration of drones. "Drone safety is an increasingly important issue in our economy," said Thune, who shepherded the bill through committee with Nelson's help. Thune said the key was having "the right rules of the air" in place, and he cited an incident Sunday when a drone apparently collided with a British Airways flight on final approach to London's Heathrow Airport. [Drone collision with jet highlights growing aviation danger] The bill also mandates that the FAA comply with an international ban on the shipment of lithium-ion batteries aboard airplanes, a practice blamed for bringing down two jetliners when the batteries burst into flames. The FAA already has endorsed a global ban by the International Civil Aviation Organization on their shipment. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/senate-backs-passenger-friendly-bill-that- sets-policy-funding-for-the-faa/2016/04/19/a01814b6-0599-11e6-b283-e79d81c63c1b_story.html Back to Top Thailand appoints CAAi to improve ICAO compliance Bangkok, Thailand. 20 April 2016 - The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has appointed CAA International (CAAi), the advisory arm of the UK Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA), to help strengthen CAAT's aviation safety oversight and compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The CAAi project will involve a team of around ten experts from the UK CAA to work collaboratively with CAAT to recertify Thai registered AOCs, to address the Significant Safety Concern (SSC) raised by ICAO in 2015. CAAi will also conduct on-the-job flight operations training to CAAT Inspectors, to help increase their core inspectorate competencies in accordance with international standards. The final work stream includes full-scale ICVM preparation assistance. This activity will cover all of ICAO's eight critical elements of a safety oversight system ahead of Thailand's impending ICVM safety audit by ICAO. The partnership was signed by Mr. Chartchai Tipsunave, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Transport, Acting Director CAAT and Mrs Maria Rueda, Managing Director for CAAi, at a special ceremony held at the Thai Ministry of Transport Headquarters. The ceremony was also attended by the UK Deputy Ambassador to Thailand and representatives from the EU and ICAO. After the ceremony, Mrs. Rueda said, "With almost 600,000 passengers flying to Thailand from the UK alone in 2014 [Civil Aviation Authority, 2015], we are fully committed to assisting CAAT raise its level of effective implementation and meet the international safety standards set by ICAO. Working together, we are confident we can help lift the SSC and strengthen Thailand's aviation safety oversight." The project is expected to commence in May 2016. For more information, please contact: matthew.margesson@caainternational.com CAA International (CAAi) is a globally recognised aviation consultancy and is a wholly owned subsidiary of the UK Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA). CAAi offers advisory services, professional training and aviation examination services to help clients deliver and promote best practice in aviation safety, security, economic regulation and consumer protection, helping to create a flying world fit for the 21st Century http://www.caainternational.com/ Back to Top Laser pointers 'do not damage the eyesight of aircraft pilots' While pointing a laser beam at airplane cockpits can distract pilots, putting the crew and passengers at risk of harm, there is no evidence to suggest the beams can damage their eyesight. This is the conclusion of an editorial recently published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology. Laser pointers may not damage the eyesight of pilots, but they can distract them. A laser pointer is a battery-powered, hand-held device - commonly in the form of a pen or key chain - that emits a low-powered laser beam. In the US, the Food And Drug Administration (FDA) require that manufacturers limit the energy of laser pointers to 5 milliwatts (mW) or less. While there are no specific laws for laser pointers in the UK, the country's Health Protection Agency recommend that the energy of laser pointers sold to the general public should be no more than 1 mW. Directing a laser pointer at an aircraft is illegal in both the US and UK, but it seems this does not deter some individuals from doing so. According to the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), between January 1st and February 13th, 2016, there were 971 reports of laser pointers being directed at aircrafts - representing a 64% increase on 2015 figures for the same period. And in the past 12 months, there have been more than 1,500 reports of laser pointers being directed at aircrafts in the UK. But how are pilots affected by laser pointers? Prof. John Marshall, of the Institute of Ophthalmology at University College London, UK, and colleagues outline the possible risks in a new editorial. Aircraft height makes laser pointers 'incapable' of harming pilots' eyes It is common knowledge that a laser pointer should not be directed into a person's eye; the radiation from the laser beam can cause damage to the retina, particularly if the beam is focused for prolonged periods. However, in their editorial, Prof. Marshall and colleagues say that such damage can only occur at short range, noting that a laser beam shone from a long range - such as from the ground to an aircraft that is hundreds to thousands of meters in the sky - is "incapable" of causing irreversible harm to a pilot's eyesight. They explain that the beam from a laser pointer has to pass through the atmosphere, as well as the pilot's windshield, in order to make direct contact with the eye. The authors note that there has only been one reported case of retinal damage to a pilot as a result of a laser pointer being directed at an aircraft. The case referred to was reported in the journal Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance earlier this year, detailing how a male pilot suffered retinal laser burn after a blue laser beam was directed at his aircraft, which was around 1,300 ft (396 m) in the air. However, Prof. Marshall and colleagues brand the case as "suspect," primarily due to how far away the aircraft was from the ground, which they say would significantly reduce the laser's impact on the eye. Directing laser pointers at aircrafts 'totally unacceptable' While the researchers claim there is no evidence to suggest laser pointers directed at aircrafts can damage a pilot's eyesight, they stress that the practice is "totally unacceptable." They note that the beam from a laser pointer is normally "pitted" or "scratched" once it reaches an aircraft's windshield, which can generate secondary and tertiary beams. Explaining the danger this may cause, the authors say: "In these situations, pilots tend to self-focus on a sudden bright light in the cockpit environment and may be dazzled resulting in an after-image and almost certainly will be distracted. Obviously, if such a distraction occurs at a critical time such as during landing then the result could be devastating." The following video, produced by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), highlights the dangers of directing laser pointers at aircrafts: Prof. Marshall and colleagues believe the current safety limits for laser pointers do not need to be changed, which is contrary to views that have been expressed in the media. Instead, they say there needs to be more focus on educating the public on the potential risks associated with laser pointers. The authors also note that there are some unscrupulous laser pointer manufacturers that are selling devices that emit energy of up to 1,000 mW, which greatly exceeds safety limits. The European Commission have asked the relevant bodies to set specific standards of consumer laser products, which the authors say should enable unsafe products to be removed from sale. "However, compliance by manufacturers will remain an issue," they add, "as will direct imports by the public purchasing unsafe laser products over the Internet." In 2014, Medical News Today reported on a study that found aircraft pilots and cabin crew are at higher risk for melanoma skin cancer than the general population. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/309240.php Back to Top Australian Society of Air Safety Investigators - 2016 ANZSASI SEMINAR ANZSASI 2016 - NOVOTEL BRISBANE 3 - 5 JUN NOTE: EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION CLOSES AT THE END OF THIS MONTH The cut-off date for the discounted 'early-bird' registration is FAST approaching so complete your Seminar registration and book in your travel and accommodation requirements for ANZSASI 2016 NOW! OVERVIEW We believe that the annual ANZSASI Seminar is without doubt the best value for money Aviation safety Seminar held in Australia. * This year the Seminar will be held in Brisbane at the Novotel Hotel, Creek Street, from Friday to Sunday June 3-5 (2016). The Novotel Brisbane, in Creek Street, is ideally suited being centrally located, and adjacent to public transport. It is a short walk from Central Station allowing easy access from the airport and the Brisbane rail network. The registration fee includes a welcome cocktail reception on the Friday evening and delegate's dinner on the Saturday night. The Seminar also includes two full days of presentations on Saturday and Sunday. * On the Saturday morning Mr Martin Dolan (ATSB Chief Commissioner) will open the Seminar as our Keynote speaker. Our program also includes presentations from Prof Geoff Dell (CQU), Prof Graham Braithwaite (Cranfield University, UK), and representatives from the ATSB, TAIC (NZ), DSTA, Safety Wise Solutions, UNSW and a number of other key speakers from industry. A wide range of subjects will be covered at the Seminar including: * Human Factors, UAV, Rotary wing, Underwater recovery, Aircraft tracking, Cabin air quality, Noise cancelling systems, Safety auditing, Airline training, Weather, Investigative challenges, Runway excursions, Runway misalignment and, Investigating parachute accidents. SEMINAR REGISTRATION AND HOTEL RESERVATIONS The draft Seminar program will be available shortly. Information on the Seminar, Seminar registration and accommodation at the Novotel Brisbane are available on the ASASI website, just follow the following link: www.asasi.org * Note: Once you open the link, you will see the internal links to the Seminar on the right hand side of the ASASI home page. Click on the separate links for the registration details and the hotel bookings. * You can register now for the Seminar with 'early bird' rates running up to 01 May. So if you register now you can receive a significant discount. * The Novotel is also offering discounted accommodation rates to Seminar attendees. (Be sure to include the applicable discount code when making bookings). ANZSASI 2016 WILL PROVIDE AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO LEARN FROM EXPERTS AND LEADERS IN THE FIELD OF AVIATION SAFETY AND SAFETY INVESTIGATION Back to Top CEO Mueller To Leave Malaysia Airlines In Third Quarter Malaysia Airlines has granted CEO Christoph Mueller permission to terminate his three-year contract early and to leave the airline in September. Mueller is stepping down due to "changing personal circumstances," the carrier stated. "We fully understand his reasons and respect his need to do this," Malaysia Airlines added. The company did not provide further details. The airline's board has begun a search for a new CEO, to include both external and internal candidates. To ease the transition, Mueller has agreed to stay on as a non-executive director of the board. Chief Operating Officer Peter Bellew has also been appointed to the board as an executive director, effective immediately. Mueller joined Malaysia Airlines on Jan. 1, 2015; became CEO-designate on March 1, 2015; and was named managing director and CEO on May 1, 2015. He oversaw the establishment of a new entity, Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB), which replaced the old company. The Malaysian government had taken over the financially troubled airline to facilitate a reorganization. The board stated that Mueller made a "significant impact in putting the airline on the desired trajectory towards full recovery," and referred to additional "significant strategic decisions already in the pipeline which [he] has made preparations for and will manage through." Before Mueller's arrival in 2015, the airline announced significant staff cuts. He implemented fleet and network cuts to make the carrier more efficient. There have been signs recently that the efforts worked. Mueller has revealed that MAB achieved a net profit in February - its first monthly profit in years. Khazanah, the state-backed fund that owns MAB, stated that, "While we would have wanted Mr. Mueller to continue as planned," it respects his decision to leave. In their statements, Khazanah and the airline board stressed that, in addition to the company turnaround, Mueller was involved in "developing talent for eventual local succession." aviationweek.com Back to Top To Expand Pilot Ranks, JetBlue Pioneers Ab-Initio Class In U.S. JetBlue Airways In recognition of the need for a broader pipeline for new pilots, JetBlue Airways is gearing up to start a program to train pilots with no flying experience, also known as ab initio. Though relatively small-scale and on a trial basis, the carrier's Gateway Select program is an anomaly in the domestic airline sector-it's the first program of its kind for a U.S. airline. JetBlue plans to select the 24 finalists for the ab-initio pilot training program by May or June, with the first class of six cadets to enter the 3.5-year training program by August. Six more students will start every quarter, with all 24 underway within one year. Successful candidates will be offered first-officer positions in the company's Embraer E190 fleet. European and Asian airlines have been training new pilots for decades using the ab-initio approach, which consists of taking a zero-time pilot and teaching him/her how to fly for a particular airline. The concept has not been a priority in the U.S., where the pilot supply pipeline has historically consisted of ex-military, collegiate and general aviation candidates. However, fewer available military pilots and new congressionally mandated FAA rules have thinned the pool of desirable candidates, particularly for regional airlines. These new rules require first officers to have an Air Transport Pilot rating rather than a commercial pilot license, so they need 1,500 flight hours rather than 250. Military pilots qualify for the right seat with 750 hr., and graduates of FAA-approved aviation collegiate programs with 1,000 or 1,250 hr., depending on the program. "Desirable" is a key word in this context: The Regional Airline Association (RAA) says its members are seeing an overall "decline in quality" in potential new hires. Last year, there were 16,675 applications for 5,417 positions; carriers made 3,823 offers but only 2,853 pilots were hired. RAA data show that the gap between the desired number of pilots and those actually hired has been increasing by 3% per year since 2013, when the FAA's first-officer flight-time rules took effect. Industry observers say major airlines are not yet feeling the first-officer hiring crunch, as there are adequate numbers of regional airline captains transitioning up to mainline carriers. However, that supply may be inadequate within 5-10 years due to mandatory Age 65 retirements for approximately 20,000 pilots. Ab-initio programs in general could take on more importance if, as expected, traditional sources of pilots dry up. JetBlue is using Gateway Select as a trial run. The airline plans to hire about 200 pilots per year to fly its 260-aircraft fleet consisting of AirbusA320/A321s and Embraer E190s. Most come through what the carrier calls the first of its seven gateways: applications from former military pilots or pilots from other airlines. Including Gateway Select, there are now seven gateways: a path for aviation students at six universities called University Gateway and an internal referral program called Blue Dart. Warren Christie, JetBlue's senior vice president for safety, security and training, said the company received more than 1,400 applications for 24 slots over a 2.5-week period in March. Cadets must pay $125,000 to enter the program, but Christie noted that JetBlue has been "successful with some lending institutions to help get access to some funding, and is working with others." Once admitted to the program, cadets will spend four weeks in a "foundation" course at JetBlue, followed by basic flight training at CAE's Oxford Academy in Phoenix for more than one year. Then they will undertake E190 simulator training at JetBlue's Orlando, Florida, facilities, and progress to paid jobs as certified flight instructors at CAE to build hours toward the ATP threshold. JetBlue expects that process will take two years. Of the applications, Christie says the demographics revealed "more than double" the industry average for underrepresented groups applying with many discussing "their desire to prove they could be a pilot." Some applicants were looking for second careers that are more challenging and exciting; and others, after establishing themselves on solid financial ground, said they were now ready to commit to careers "they always wanted to pursue." aviation week.com Back to Top PhD Research Request Fellow Helicopter Crewmember, This is a request for you to participate in a research study for my doctoral degree. The purpose is to study the relationship between safety management systems, incidents and accidents, and company performance for small helicopter companies with less than 5 aircraft and in the last 10 years. This research is in conjunction with safety efforts by the US Helicopter Safety Team and the Helicopter Association International. There are series of questions regarding safety management systems, incidents and accidents, and company performance. To participate, you must be between age 21 to 60, had some aircrew experience with a small civil helicopter organization (less than 5 aircraft) and in the United States in last 10 years. Current helicopter student pilots can participate. Please follow the link below and fill but if you start, please finish the survey. It will only take about 12 minutes to complete. The survey does not include any identifiable data about the crewmember, places of employment, or OEM. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5VPCZZ5 Thank you very much for your participation! Principal Investigator Scott Burgess Doctoral student at Northcentral University S.Burgess4793@email.ncu.edu Back to Top Graduate Research: Pilot Laser Study Over the last few years, laser strikes occurring in commercial aviation have significantly increased. As little research has been done in this area, we are interested in conducting research on the impact this is having on pilots. According to the UK Civil Aviation Authority, the number of reported incidents have increased ten-fold in the past decade. This trend looks like it could continue as handheld lasers are rapidly increasing in power and decreasing in price. Pilots who have experienced a laser strike while operating an aircraft have raised concerns ranging from distraction, to not being able to fly the aircraft due to blindness. The reporting requirements currently for laser strikes vary from country to country and data is limited. The objective of this study is to determine what occurred during the incidents and how pilots have been affected by a laser strike(s). The data will be analysed and then shared with airline industry officials, regulatory bodies and various stakeholders. The objective is to provide research that can help us avoid or prepare for these types of incidents. The survey is completely confidential and no personal information will be shared. The survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes and your participation can make a big difference in an area of growing concern. Thank you in advance for taking the time to complete this important survey. https://city.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/pilot-laser-study Balbir.chopra@city.ac.uk Curt Lewis