Flight Safety Information March 5, 2018 - No. 046 In This Issue Accident: Serve Cargo B733 at Lubumbashi on Mar 4th 2018, nose gear collapse and runway excursion Incident: Avior B734 at Guayaquil on Mar 3rd 2018, overran runway on landing Incident: TUI B738 at Hurghada and Munich on Mar 2nd 2018, burst tyres on departure Incident: Indigo A320N at Mumbai on Mar 1st 2018, engine shut down in flight Beechcraft 200 Super King Air suffered a runway excursion and undercarriage collapse (Venezuela) Wings Air Plane Hits Bird in Manado`s Sam Ratulangi Airport Jakarta aircraft grounded for an hour over fuel spill Aviation investigators report plane hit terrain near power lines, killing four Malaysia says new search for flight MH370 to end mid-June Flight Safety Foundation calls for renewed focus on quality for pilot training and proficiency Air Manas passes IATA safety audit Outdated medical gear is putting airplane passengers at risk Global aviation safety improved in 2017 Grand Canyon crash helicopter firm Airbus 'increase crash-resistant fuel tanks' FAA READIES ANNUAL GA SURVEY How's $100,000 for starting pay? That's what one company will offer some new pilots Peach to start training its pilots in-house China is recruiting a new wave of astronauts from its civilians ERAU - Aviation English for Flight Training ATR Flight Safety Conference RESEARCH SURVEY POSITION:...AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTOR Position: Manager, Maintenance School Support ESASI Regional Seminar -Jurmala/Riga, Latvia on 23-24 May 2018 New HFACS workshop - Daytona Beach, FL - April 16th & 17th, 2018 Accident: Serve Cargo B733 at Lubumbashi on Mar 4th 2018, nose gear collapse and runway excursion A Serve Air Cargo Boeing 737-300 freighter, registration 9S-ASG performing a freight flight from an unknown origin to Lubumbashi (DR Congo), landed on Lubumbashi's runway 07 but veered left off the runway and came to a stop with a collapsed nose gear, both nose and left main gear on soft ground, the right main gear remained on the paved surface of the runway beyond the edge of the runway. The aircraft resting at the side of the runway: http://avherald.com/h?article=4b5a6e6b&opt=256 Back to Top Incident: Avior B734 at Guayaquil on Mar 3rd 2018, overran runway on landing An Avior Airlines Boeing 737-400, registration YV3158 performing flight 9V-1260 from Barcelona (Venezuela) to Guayaquil (Ecuador), landed on Guayaquil's runway 21 at 21:47L (02:47Z Mar 4th) but overran the end of the runway by about 20 meters before coming to a stop with all gear on soft ground. There were no injuries, the aircraft sustained minor if any damage. Ecuador's DGAC reported the aircraft overran the end of the runway by about 20 meters. The airport was closed for about 3 hours as result. Related NOTAM: A0382/18 NOTAMN Q) SEFG/QMRLC/IV/NBO/A/000/999/0209S07953W005 A) SEGU B) 1803040315 C) 1803040515 EST E) RWY 03/21 CLSD. Metars: SEGU 040500Z 32006KT 9999 -DZ FEW020 OVC080 23/22 Q1011 NOSIG RMK A2987= SEGU 040400Z 34007KT 8000 -RA FEW010 BKN016 OVC090 23/22 Q1011 NOSIG RMK A287= SEGU 040302Z 02007KT 6000 -RA FEW010 BKN016 OVC090 24/23 Q1011 NOSIG RMK A2986= SEGU 040300Z 02007KT 6000 -RA FEW010 BKN016 OVC090 24/23 Q1011 NOSIG RMK A2986= SEGU 040200Z 03006KT 6000 -RA FEW010 BKN016 OVC090 24/23 Q1010 NOSIG RMK A2984= SEGU 040100Z 33003KT 290V350 8000 -RA FEW010 BKN016 OVC090 25/23 Q1009 RERA TEMPO 6000 RMK A2980= SEGU 040000Z 30006KT 4000 RA FEW010 SCT016 BKN090 25/23 Q1008 NOSIG RMK A2978= SEGU 032306Z 03003KT 270V330 2000N 4000S +RA FEW010 SCT016 BKN090 26/24 Q1007 NOSIG RMK A2976= SEGU 032300Z 30006KT 270V330 9999 RA FEW016 SCT020 BKN100 27/24 Q1007 TEMPO 8000 RMK A2974= SEGU 032200Z 08003KT 050V120 9999 SCT023 SCT030 BKN100 29/23 Q1007 NOSIG RMK A2973= SEGU 032100Z 07007KT 030V110 9999 SCT023 SCT030 BKN100 29/23 Q1007 NOSIG RMK A2974= YV3158 past the end of the runway (Photo: DGAC Ecuador): http://avherald.com/h?article=4b5a5e23&opt=256 Back to Top Incident: TUI B738 at Hurghada and Munich on Mar 2nd 2018, burst tyres on departure A TUIFly Boeing 737-800, registration D-ASUN performing flight X3-6315 from Hurghada (Egypt) to Stuttgart (Germany), burst a number of tyres on departure from Hurghada. The crew was later informed about the debris being found on the departure runway and decided to divert to Munich (Germany), where the aircraft landed on runway 26L and became disabled on the runway. The passengers disembarked onto the runway and were bussed to the terminal. The tyres were being replaced on the runway before the aircraft was towed off the runway. Passengers on other aircraft reported their flight crew told them the southern runway (08R/26L) was blocked due to a disabled aircraft. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b594455&opt=256 Back to Top Incident: Indigo A320N at Mumbai on Mar 1st 2018, engine shut down in flight An Indigo Airbus A320-200N, registration VT-ITJ performing flight 6E-395 from Mumbai to Kolkata (India) with 166 passengers, was in the initial climb out of Mumbai's runway 27 when the crew received indication of high vibration of the left hand engine (PW1127G ) followed by engine stall as well as a metallic chip detector indication. The crew stopped the climb at about 7500 feet MSL, shut the engine down and returned to Mumbai for a safe landing on runway 27 about 20 minutes after departure. A replacement A320-200 registration VT-IFV reached Kolkata with a delay of 3 hours. It is unclear whether the affected engine is affected by the current EAD issued by EASA, see News: EASA issues EAD regarding A320 Neo and A321 Neo engines, withdraws ETOPS with immediate effect. http://avherald.com/h?article=4b592af3&opt=256 Back to Top Beechcraft 200 Super King Air suffered a runway excursion and undercarriage collapse (Venezuela) Status: Preliminary Date: Thursday 1 March 2018 Type: Beechcraft 200 Super King Air Operator: Unknown Registration: YV1909 C/n / msn: BB-195 First flight: 1977 Crew: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Total: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: Airplane damage: Substantial Location: Charallave-Óscar Machado Zuloaga Airport ( Venezuela) Phase: Unknown (UNK) Nature: Unknown Departure airport: ? Destination airport: ? Narrative: A Beechcraft 200 Super King Air suffered a runway excursion and undercarriage collapse at Charallave-Óscar Machado Zuloaga Airport in Venezuela. Back to Top Wings Air Plane Hits Bird in Manado`s Sam Ratulangi Airport TEMPO.CO, Manado - A Wings Air plane hit a bird when it was about to take off from Sam Ratulangi International Airport in the North Sulawesi provincial capital of Manado on Sunday. The incident caused the airline to delay its flight. The incident caused damage to the ATR 72-500/60 plane's structure, disruption to its machine and direct threat to its flight safety, the corporate communication section of Lion Air Group to which Wings Air is affiliated said in a press statement released on Sunday. "The company is committed to meeting and implementing all existing rules related to safety, security and convenience," he said. Because of the incident, Wings Air delayed its flight from Sam Ratulangi Airport to Melonguane Airport in Talaud Islands and Miangas Airport in North Sulawesi for 120 minutes. The incident forced the Wings Air plane to return to the apron for convenience and security reasons. All the 67 passengers including adults, children descended from the plane and were ordered to await in the departure terminal. It took two hours to repair the plane. The ATR 72-500/60 is a 72-seater plane which operates with twin propeller. https://en.tempo.co/read/news/2018/03/05/056916290/Wings-Air-Plane-Hits-Bird-in-Manados- Sam-Ratulangi-Airport Back to Top Jakarta aircraft grounded for an hour over fuel spill The Jakarta-bound flight at the RGIA on Saturday evening. A Jakarta-bound fight from Jeddah was held up at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Shamshabad here for over an hour on Saturday evening following a mechanical snag during refuelling. Sources said the problem was on account of fuel spilling over on the parking bay due to a leak in the aviation turbine fuel dispenser. "The staff involved in the operation pressed emergency button to stop the supply of fuel from the dispenser," an airport official said. Personnel of the airport fire safety wing were rushed to the spot to give chemical treatment to the spilled fuel. The aircraft landed at the RGIA at 7.22 p.m. and was allowed to take off only at 8.40 p.m. after the parking bay was cleared of fuel "The flight belonged to Jakarta-based Citilink Airways," sources said. No injuries were reported. http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/jakarta-aircraft-grounded-for-an-hour-over-fuel- spill/article22926199.ece Back to Top Aviation investigators report plane hit terrain near power lines, killing four Federal investigators looking into last month's plane crash in Agua Dulce that claimed the lives of four people said the plane crashed in terrain next to a series of power transmission lines, according to a preliminary report released by the National Transportation Safety Board Monday. Investigators concluded their preliminary report noting: "Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted terrain adjacent to a series of power transmission lines about 2.5 miles southeast of Agua Dulce." On Feb. 11, just before 11 a.m., an experimental amateur built Cirrus VK-30, airplane hit the ground while maneuvering in the vicinity of Agua Dulce. The crash killed the pilot Thomas "Tom" Gordon Hastings, 65, of Winnetka, and three members of his family including: his 27-year-old daughter Amber Hill; her husband, Jacob Hill, age 25; and the pilot's 9-year-old granddaughter, Madison Hastings-Saxelby. The airplane sustained damage to the fuselage and all the flight control surfaces, according to NTSB investigators. They reported that "visual meteorological conditions existed near the accident site, at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed for the flight." The cross-country flight, they noted, originated from Henderson Executive Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada, about 1000, with an intended destination of Van Nuys Airport. The report states: "A witness, located in the vicinity of the accident site and accustom to hearing/seeing air traffic reported that he observed the airplane flying straight and level, about 2,000 ft to 3,000 ft above the ground. "He stated that as the airplane got closer to the mountains it looked like the wind had pushed the right wing up. "The airplane pitched downward into a near vertical attitude. "The witness added that, when the right wing lifted, it sounded like the pilot "maxed the engine out". He further stated there was a distinct difference in engine sound from the first time he saw the airplane when it went vertical, according to the NTSB, noting also that he did not see any smoke, or anything fall from the airplane as it descended towards the ground. The plane's wreckage was taken to a "secure facility" for further examination, the investigators reported. The NTSB investigation is ongoing. https://signalscv.com/2018/03/aviation-investigators-report-plane-hit-terrain-near-power-lines- killing-four/ Back to Top Malaysia says new search for flight MH370 to end mid-June KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - A search by a U.S. firm for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 is expected to complete its survey by mid-June, the Southeast Asian nation said on Saturday, as families marked the fourth anniversary of one of aviation's greatest mysteries. Flight MH370, carrying 239 people, disappeared on its way from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014. Australia, China and Malaysia ended an unsuccessful A$200-million ($159.38 million) search across a 120,000 square-kilometer area in the Indian Ocean in January 2017, despite investigators urging authorities to extend the operation 25,000 sq km north of the search area. Earlier this year, Malaysia agreed to pay U.S. firm Ocean Infinity up to $70 million if it found the plane within 90 days. The search vessel, the Seabed Constructor, began its search on Jan. 23. The 90-day agreement, however, did not include days for the search vessel to travel to a port for refueling, Civil Aviation Authority chairman Azharuddin Abdul Rahman said. "The vessel has a working cycle of 26 days before it needs to refuel and resupply," Azharuddin said at a memorial event marking the fourth year of the plane's disappearance. Plans to recover the Boeing 777's wreckage or its flight recorders, in the event the aircraft is found, will be finalised in two weeks, and will involve several Malaysian and Australian agencies, he said. Malaysia will take custody of any parts recovered from the seabed, he said. The Seabed Constructor has completed the first part of its search, covering 8,200 sq km, and has now moved into a new area, Ocean Infinity said in its weekly update on Tuesday. It has not yet made any significant findings, the firm said. Saturday's memorial event featured talks and musical performances, as families paid tributes to the passengers and crew aboard the aircraft. "We want to remind everyone that MH370 is not history, it's the future," said Grace Nathan, a lawyer whose mother, Anne Daisy, was on the plane. "It's very important in the interests of aviation safety that we find MH370, so that we can prevent something like this from happening again," she said. Investigators are divided on whether the aircraft suffered a mechanical failure or whether it was deliberately diverted over the southern Indian Ocean. Debris has been collected from Indian Ocean islands and Africa's east coast and at least three pieces have been confirmed as coming from the missing plane. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-malaysia-airlines-mh370/malaysia-says-new-search-for-flight- mh370-to-end-mid-june-idUSKCN1GF0AK Back to Top Flight Safety Foundation calls for renewed focus on quality for pilot training and proficiency Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) is urging the global commercial aviation industry to embrace a data- driven approach to pilot training, and says that national civil aviation authorities need to have the flexibility to adopt competency- or evidence-based training methods. In a position paper, the Foundation says, "It cannot be assumed that critical skills and knowledge will be obtained only through hours in the air." Pilot experience, which is an important safety factor, historically has been associated with the number of flight hours accumulated over a pilot's career. What often is overlooked, however, is the quality of flight time and how it is accumulated, FSF says. Was it in single- or multi-engine aircraft? In visual or instrument conditions? In a structured, professional environment, or in an often less intense, general aviation environment? In the position paper, the Foundation says the industry has reached a crossroads in determining how pilots need to be selected, hired, trained and mentored for career growth, and that changes need to be made if the industry is to continue its high level of safety in an era of expected rapid growth in many regions of the world. The Foundation issued several recommendations, including: * An improved screening process and training for basic non-technical competencies that are usually obtained through experience, such as communication, analysis, problem solving, leadership and decision making; * A renewed focus on the competency and quality of training providers to ensure training programs are developed and delivered to meet the safety standards of the industry, and so they can produce qualified, competent pilots; * Training programs that are competency- or evidence-based and not solely hours-based; * Data-driven training programs that are continually updated, based on pilot task-level performance; * Ab initio programs with operator sponsorship/support; * Development and sponsorship of worldwide quality/performance criteria that are universally recognized; * A partnership with the International Civil Aviation Organization and industry to define rules, recommendations, guidelines and the expected quality and performance required of flight academies; and, * Programs that place a high value on the knowledge and experience of instructors. https://news.aviation-safety.net/2018/03/03/flight-safety-foundation-calls-renewed-focus-quality- pilot-training-proficiency/ Back to Top Air Manas passes IATA safety audit Kyrgyz airline Air Manas passed the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA). The airline was founded in 2006 and started low cost operations in December 2009. It currently operates a Boeing 737-400 and a Boeing 737-800. Both aircraft were formerly operated by Turkish airline Pegasus, which owns 49% of Air Manas. The IOSA programme is an evaluation system designed to assess the operational management and control systems of an airline. IOSA uses internationally recognised quality audit principles and is designed to conduct audits in a standardised and consistent manner. It was created in 2003 by IATA. All IATA members are IOSA registered and must remain registered to maintain IATA membership. Despite passing the IOSA audit, the airline remains on the E.U. Air Safety List, a list of airlines which are banned from operating within the European Union. Air Manas is banned, along with all other air carriers certified by the authorities with responsibility for regulatory oversight of the Kyrgyz Republic. https://news.aviation-safety.net/2018/03/02/air-manas-passes-iata-safety-audit/ Back to Top Outdated medical gear is putting airplane passengers at risk Opinion: Medical distress on planes is rising-but what each airline keeps handy, and how flight crews are trained to respond, varies wildly by Blair Bigham A airplane flying over Norfolk, Va., is silhouetted by the full moon on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018. (Todd Spencer/The Virginian-Pilot via AP) Blair Bigham is a multimedia journalist based in Hamilton, Ont. As a flight paramedic and physician, he has responded to more than a dozen in-flight medical emergencies on commercial aircraft. The cabin of the Boeing 777 would have been pitch black were it not for my laptop screen when the familiar "ping" went off. No one stirred from their contorted positions of awkward sleep as a flight attendant hurried past me towards the rear of the plane. "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm sorry to disturb your sleep-but if there is a doctor on board, would you please identify yourself to a flight attendant?" As a resident doctor in the emergency department, calls like that are what I live for. It sounds strange, for sure-but emergencies are what I train for, and I was nothing but eager to put my honed skills to work on board an airplane. But then came the fear. I was at 38,000 feet, somewhere between two continents, and I was alone: no nurses, no CT scanners, no pharmacists. I am, at best, a highly educated first aider in a long, metal tube racing towards the rising sun at 500 miles an hour. And when I arrived at the rear galley, my fears were confirmed when I was handed a "medical kit" the size of a shoebox, containing a handful of medications and a blood-pressure cuff so old it belonged in a museum. Sadly, my situation was far from unique-and that's putting the lives of passengers at risk. As more and more people fly on commercial airlines-an estimated 2.75 billion passengers worldwide flew in 2015, with about 133 million of them Canadian, representing a spike of 27 per cent from six years prior, and the International Air Transport Association predicts 4 billion people will take a flight in 2018-there is more of a chance that a medical issue could occur on the plane. While airlines aren't mandated to record or report emergencies that occur at altitude, there were 60,000 in-flight medical emergencies tracked in 2016-about 16 for every one million passengers-and a doctor was only on board for half of them. About 10 per cent of those flights are diverted, an expensive event for any airline: By the time fuel, landing fees, rebooking passengers who misconnect, and hotels are paid for, it can cost nearly US$1 million to divert a long-haul flight. But emergency landings are never quick. It takes a minimum of 30 minutes to plan an emergency landing, and that assumes you are over land. Further, some aircraft, like the Airbus A380 jumbo jet, can only land at specialized airports. To combat the need to divert, and to meet the requirements of air regulators, airlines stock medical supplies for common ailments, hoping to avoid costly diversions. But what they stock-and how flight crews are trained to respond-varies wildly depending on the airline. A recent publication in the Canadian Medical Association Journal reported that both Air Canada and WestJet carry more than the minimum standard required by Transport Canada, the federal regulator of airlines. Still, the authors note that some medications, like epinephrine, are carried in highly concentrated vials and require dilution-a task that could lead to overdosing patients. The article makes little note of how the kits can be improved. Turns out, the plane I was on was well-stocked by international and Canadian standards. Most regulators follow the recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organization-and it endorses a minimalistic approach to on-board emergency equipment. In fact, the ICAO and most regulators don't require defibrillators to be on board, an inexcusable stance in an age where the current-delivering device is becoming as common as a fire extinguisher. While less than one per cent of in-flight medical emergencies involve a cardiac arrest, they're vital when one does occur; the odds of survival drop 7 to 10 per cent for every minute that passes without an electrical shock from a defibrillator being applied to a patient whose heart has stopped beating. "After ten minutes, there is very little chance of survival," says Andrew Lotto, the resuscitation manager of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. Ireland-based Ryanair bowed to public pressure after the 2015 death of 47-year-old Davina Tavener onboard one of its planes. The discount airline argued that because it flies continentally, it can land at any airport quickly. But coroner Alan Walsh disagreed: "I don't believe there is any difference between short-haul flights and long-haul flights. Cardiac events don't choose whether they are 10 minutes into a flight or 10 hours into a flight, it can happen at any time." Still, Ryanair's regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority, along with Transport Canada and the European Aviation Safety Administration, don't mandate the devices be carried. The Federal Aviation Administration has required U.S.-based airlines to stock defibrillators on all airplanes since 2004. Defibrillators aren't the only piece of medical technology lacking aboard many commercial planes. Other medical technology has also advanced significantly in the last decade, and those innovations can be ported over to airplanes. Heart tracings and blood work can now be done by paramedics in the field and transmitted to the cell phone of an emergency doctor, and the doctor-in-a-box "Tempus" device can be used by in-flight doctors or trained attendants to send vital signs, biometric data and blood results to experts on the ground so that the right decisions can be made about care and diversion. But such tools are expensive and depend on broadband internet or sophisticated satellite uplinks, which most airlines haven't yet invested in. That extra information can save lives, says Dr. T.J. Doyle of U.S.-based aviation medical consulting firm STAT MD, which answers real-time calls of distress through uplinks with aircraft flown by some of the biggest airlines in the world. "The problem is, you might have to turn off the WiFi for the 300 people who paid for it" while doctors on the ground receive data, he says. "Airlines care about weight and cost; if there is no law, [airlines] can do what they want." Robust international regulations that force penny-wise airlines out of being pound-foolish are sadly lacking. An aircraft worth $100 million can surely stock modern emergency medical gear, and in the world of in-flight WiFi, developing the networks to get valuable information from the air to medical consultants on the ground could be a reality. And indeed, some airlines, like Emirates, are years ahead of their peers, with such systems up and running. Others, like Lufthansa, have innovative programs that pre-register flying doctors that are willing to assist with medical situations. But many others stick to the bare minimum-and they're putting the lives of their passengers at risk. More than four billion people will step foot on a commercial flight this year, and it's time for Transport Canada and their counterparts around the world to listen to emergency experts rather than the airline industry and modernize lifesaving supplies and technology on commercial aircraft. http://www.macleans.ca/opinion/outdated-medical-gear-is-putting-airplane-passengers-at-risk/ Back to Top Global aviation safety improved in 2017 * Road Warrior: There were six accidents with 19 fatalities last year, says IATA Aviation safety across the world improved during 2017. There were six accidents with 19 fatalities, according to the International Aviation Transport Authority (IATA), compared with an average 10.8 annual accidents in the previous five years. Aviation safety across the world improved last year, according to the latest IATA figures. There were six fatal accidents with 19 fatalities among passengers and crew in 2017, compared with an average of 10.8 fatal accidents and approximately 315 fatalities per year in the previous five-year period. "2017 was a very good year for aviation safety. Some 4.1 billion travellers flew safely on 41.8 million flights. We saw improvements in nearly all key metrics - globally and in most regions," said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA's director general and chief executive. But he said the industry was still determined to make air travel even safer. "In 2017 there were incidents and accidents that we will learn from through the investigation process, just as we will learn from the recent tragedies in Russia and Iran, " he said. "Complementing that knowledge are insights we can gain from the millions of flights that operate safety. Data from these operations is powering the development of predictive analytics that will eventually enable us to eliminate the conditions that can lead to accidents. The industry knows that every fatality is a tragedy. Our common goal is for every flight to take off and land safely." https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/global-aviation-safety-improved-in- 2017-1.3411459 Back to Top Grand Canyon crash helicopter firm Airbus 'increase crash-resistant fuel tanks' The parents of Jonathan Udall sued the manufacturer in a wrongful death lawsuit, arguing the technology could have saved his life. Airbus Helicopters has insisted it is increasing the number of aircraft being built with crash-resistant fuel systems after it was sued over the Grand Canyon crash that killed five Britons. The parents of Jonathan Udall, 31, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the manufacturer and tour operator Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters, claiming their son could have survived if the technology to slow the spread of flames had been installed. Mr Udall, originally from Southampton, and his wife Ellie Milward, 29, died as a result of the burns they sustained during the February 10 crash during their honeymoon. In a statement on Sunday, Airbus Helicopters said it is "taking the necessary steps" to install the fuel systems as standard on its new light and medium-class helicopters. When asked, a spokeswoman clarified that the plans had been in place ahead of the crash and the lawsuit, which is seeking damages from the business. "The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation into the cause of the accident with Airbus's full support. As standard for any such investigation, we cannot comment further," she added. Three of the couple's friends - Becky Dobson, 27, her boyfriend Stuart Hill, 30, and his brother Jason Hill, 32, all from Worthing, West Sussex - died at the scene of the crash. Lawyers for Philip and Marlene Udall, of Southampton, claim in the lawsuit filed in Nevada that their son would not have sustained "severe and catastrophic" burns if the Airbus EC130 B4 had been fitted the fuel system. They are also suing pilot Scott Booth, who was hospitalised in a critical condition, accusing him of negligence for crashing. Also named in the lawsuit are Papillon directors Brenda Halvorson and Elling Halvorson, president Geoff Edlund and chief operating officer John Becker. The family allege they failed to ensure the helicopter was in a "safe and defect free" condition. They also accuse mechanic Matthew Hecker and its inspector Daniel Friedman of negligence over the state of the helicopter, in particular its tail rotor. Ms Halvorson criticised the lawsuit as "extremely premature and misguided" for coming before the completion of the NTSB investigation, which is not expected for at least a year. http://home.bt.com/news/uk-news/grand-canyon-crash-helicopter-firm-airbus-increase-crash- resistant-fuel-tanks-11364255740648 Back to Top FAA READIES ANNUAL GA SURVEY The FAA is preparing to launch its fortieth annual General Aviation and Part 135 Activity Survey. Pilots who receive an emailed or mailed invitation to participate are strongly encouraged to do so because the confidential data the survey collects provides the only source of information on the GA fleet and activity. Pilots who receive an invitation to participate can complete the survey online or receive a survey form in the mail along with a postage-paid envelope. Completing the survey takes 10 to 15 minutes. The survey helps determine infrastructure funding and service needs, assess regulatory changes, and measure aviation safety. The survey is also used to prepare safety statistics and calculate the rate of accidents among GA aircraft. Tetra Tech, the independent research firm conducting the GA survey for the FAA, urges invited pilots to respond, even if you did not fly your aircraft during 2017, if you sold it, or if the aircraft was damaged. Responses are confidential, and the information will only be used for statistical purposes. It will not be published or released in any form that would identify an individual participant. Previous years' survey results are available on the FAA's website. For more information contact Tetra Tech toll-free at 800-826-1797 or by email. https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2018/february/26/faa-readies-annual-ga-survey Back to Top How's $100,000 for starting pay? That's what one company will offer some new pilots An Executive AirShare Phenom 100 business jet sits outside the company's facilities at Jabara Airport. Executive AirShare said it's raising its pilot salaries an average of 25 percent to recruit more of them and hold on to existing pilots. Newly hired pilots at Executive AirShare could earn as much as $100,000 a year in starting pay beginning this summer. It's part of a broader salary increase for pilots at the fractional aircraft ownership company, who will see their pay increase between 18 and 30 percent this year. That's based on their time with the company as well as the aircraft they fly. "We're not immune to the pilot shortage that permeates the entire aviation industry," said Harry Mitchel, Executive AirShare's chief operating officer. Mitchel said attracting new and retaining current pilots is important for the company in the background of a broader pilot shortage. Although Executive AirShare doesn't compete with major airlines for pilots, it does with other corporate aircraft operators as well as regional airlines. "It's a pretty big bump just for our recruiting," he said. "We wanted to make sure we're highly competitive on the starting side." The Lenexa-based company with operations in Wichita has a goal to hire 25 more pilots in the next six months. That will help it transition all of its pilots to a schedule in which they would be available to fly for eight consecutive days, followed by six days off, Mitchel said. Its pilots currently work a schedule of 10 consecutive days followed by five days off. "We feel strongly with our compensation package ... we'll have probably one of the best schedules in the industry," Mitchel said. Executive AirShare's 78 pilots are spread across its bases in five states, including in Wichita. The pay increases will roll out to co-pilots in April followed by captains, or pilots-in-command, in July. The company said under the hike, starting co-pilots will make $56,000 a year. And a captain of one of Executive AirShare's Embraer Phenom 300 business jets would start at $100,000, for example. To offer the across-the-board increases, Executive AirShare had to go to the fractional owners of its fleet of Phenom 100 and 300 and Cessna Citation CJ2+ business jets as well as Beechcraft King Air turboprops. Mitchel said it wasn't too hard a sell. To have quality, corporate pilots "you have to have a competitive compensation package," he said. "And our customers understand that." Executive AirShare's fractional owners will see their monthly shared expenses increase to pay for the higher pilot salaries, Mitchel said. It's something the company did a few years ago at its managed aircraft division, Executive Flight Services - in which owners of business aircraft pay to house and maintain their planes and provide them pilots. Mitchel said the company explained to them that to keep the pilots they had, they would have to pay more money. Working with those owners the company found a "sweet spot" in a pilot wage increase and "we had 100 percent buy-in of all our managed owners," he said. Since that increase, the managed aircraft division has seen a zero percent attrition rate over a 12- month period, Mitchel said. http://www.kansas.com/news/business/aviation/article203065654.html Back to Top Peach to start training its pilots in-house Peach Aviation Limited has announced that it will begin training to its own pilots. To date, Peach has been hiring pilots who have graduated from aviation universities or taken pilot courses at private universities and obtained the necessary licenses to fly as pilots at airlines, providing in- house training as copilots. This will be the first time for the company to train pilots from their initial step to obtain their licenses. With expansions of LCCs and other such factors, aviation demand in Asia is rapidly increasing, and a shortage of pilots is becoming a major issue. To post further growth as a bridge between Japan and Asia and to contribute to expansions in aviation demand, Peach believes that it is important to nurture pilots under its own scheme and has decided to take these steps at this time. Peach will make a call for the first pilots to be trained in-house on its company website and through other such methods around the summer of 2018 and is planning to have them join the company as trainee pilots by the end of FY 2019. https://japantoday.com/category/features/travel/peach-to-start-training-its-pilots-in-house Back to Top China is recruiting a new wave of astronauts from its civilians Chinese astronauts Jing Haipeng (L) and Chen Dong wave in front of a Chinese national flag before the launch of Shenzhou-11 manned spacecraft, in Jiuquan, China, October 17, 2016. China is intensifying its push into space, and broadening its astronaut recruiting. The Chinese government, which plans to increase the number of manned missions in its military- backed space program to around two a year, will soon begin recruiting civilian astronauts, Yang Liwei, deputy director of the China Manned Space Engineering Office, told reporters on the sidelines of a ceremonial parliament session this weekend. That's a departure from China's practice of drawing its astronauts from among air force pilots. Yang-who was China's first man in space in 2003-said the trainees could include private-sector maintenance engineers, payload specialists, pilots, scientists, and people from universities and other research institutions, according to the Associated Press. More women are also being encouraged to apply. The loosening of restrictions comes amid NASA's announcement that it has recruited America's most competitive class of astronauts ever, as well as other initiatives like Canada's Hunger Games-style search for new astronauts on the internet. Since it began recruiting yuhangyuan in the late 1990s, China has sent 11 astronauts, on six missions, into space. It was excluded from the International Space Station mainly due to US concerns over its program's deep military connections-but despite that, China has staged a spacewalk and landed a rover on the moon. It plans to be the first country to soft-land a probe on the far side of the moon, and is also one of the only three countries, alongside Russia and the US, to have conducted crewed missions. "We invite more passionate young people to join the recruitment process to help transform our nation into a space powerhouse," Yang said on March 3. China's space station, currently under construction, is on track to have its 20-ton core module launched later this year. https://qz.com/1221194/china-will-recruit-civilian-astronauts-as-it-intensifies-its-push-into-space/ Back to Top ERAU - Aviation English for Flight Training June 4 - 29, 2018, 30 hours/week ERAU Miami Campus Website: http://proed.embry-riddle.com/courses/aviation-english-for-flight-training/ Course Overview (from the website): Designed for students who do not speak English as their native language, the Aviation English for Flight Training Program is a great way to prepare for the high communicative demands of flight training, including communication with Air Traffic Control during flight operations, with flight instructors both on the ground and in the flight deck, and with instructors and peers in the ground school classroom. With an experienced language teacher, students study foundational topics related to flying, such as aircraft systems, aerodynamics, airport operations, aviation weather, ATIS broadcasts, and more. Students engage with interesting aviation content for two reasons: to build their aviation knowledge and to develop their language proficiency. This four-week, 120-hour intensive English course utilizes authentic flight training materials to focus on the six ICAO language skills: Interaction, Comprehension, Vocabulary, Structure, Pronunciation, and Fluency. https://proed.erau.edu/courses/aviation-english-for-flight-training/ Back to Top Back to Top RESEARCH SURVEY Dear Participants, You are being asked to participate in a research study of your opinions of criminalization in aviation accidents. This study is expected to take approximately 10 minutes of your time. In order to participate, you must be at least 18 years old and a certified pilot. Participation in this study is voluntary, and you may choose to opt out of the study at any time. If you choose to opt out, your data will be immediately destroyed. We appreciate your consideration and time to complete our study. Please click on or copy and paste the URL below: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdJKwrq6VG_2gRwoXEs7PLRIBBVQ48- d9k75CDD_Yyh6wlk0g/viewform?usp=sf_link For more information, please contact: Dr. Scott R. Winter winte25e@erau.edu We appreciate your interest and participation! Back to Top POSITION: AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTOR What does an Aircraft Maintenance Instructor do for Allegiant? The Maintenance Training Instructor is qualified through training and experience on the equipment, systems, policies and procedures taught. They are responsible to the Manager of Maintenance Training for instructing Maintenance Department personnel in maintenance policies and procedures to properly maintain Allegiant Air's aircraft. What are some of the daily duties of an Aircraft Maintenance Instructor? * Develop and provide classes of instruction on aircraft systems * Develop syllabi and provide instruction on Allegiant Air's maintenance policies and procedures to company and contract maintenance personnel * Help maintain training records for company maintenance and contract maintenance personnel * Develop classes on trouble shooting systems identified by CASP as needing better trouble shooting techniques * Develop and provide recurrent training classes for Maintenance and Quality personnel * Develop and provide structured OJT programs for Maintenance and Quality * Provide technical assistance to other departments as directed by the Manager of Maintenance Training * In his absence, the Maintenance Training Instructor's duties will be assumed by the Manager of Maintenance Training or his Designee * Perform other duties as assigned by the Manager of Maintenance Training * Effective communication skills, both verbal and written * Other duties as assigned What are the minimum requirements to be an Aircraft Maintenance Instructor? * Must pass a five (5) year background check and pre-employment drug screen * Must have authorization to work in the U.S. as defined in the Immigrations Act of 1986 * FAA Airframe & Powerplant Certificate (A&P) What other skills, knowledge, and qualifications are needed to be an Aircraft Maintenance Instructor? * ISD (Instructional Systems Design). ATA 104, Training Material Formatting, Training Material Development Software, i.e., Microsoft Suite - PowerPoint/Word/Excel/Access/Visio/Project/Adobe eLearning Suite - Acrobat Pro/Photoshop/Captivate/Soundbooth/Flash/Dreamweaver * Ten (10) Years Airline, Aircraft Maintenance Technician and five (5) years Aircraft Maintenance Technical Training Instructor and 5 years Aircraft Maintenance Technical Training Material Developer Work Environment for an Aircraft Maintenance Instructor * Must be able to lift 50 lbs. Ability to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (High Visibility clothing, Ear protection, safety glasses) when required * Office Environment with up to 50% travel Physical Demands: * Ability to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (High Visibility clothing, Ear protection, safety glasses) when required * Ability to work 12 hour shifts with rotating regular days off and with the understanding that shift work can be changed from days to nights and vice versa with reasonable advance notice APPLY HERE Allegiant is an equal opportunity employer and will not unlawfully discriminate against qualified applicants or Team Members with respect to any terms or conditions of employment based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, marital status, military service status, union/non-union activity, citizenship status, or other characteristic protected by state or federal law or local ordinance. This includes compliance with all federal, state and local laws providing for nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in all aspects of the employment process and the requirement to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with those laws. Back to Top Department of Aerospace - Manager, Maintenance School Support Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) is seeking qualified applicants to fill a Maintenance School Support Manager position. Responsibilities include maintaining 14 CFR Part 147 maintenance school aircraft, engines, and training aids essential to the Maintenance Management degree; providing facilities management essential to the operation of the Miller Lanier Airway Science building (AWS) located at the Murfreesboro Municipal Airport; coordinating AWS repairs with campus; and maintaining simulation training devices. All applicants must possess two (2) years of aircraft maintenance experience requiring an FAA A&P certificate. Experience includes general aviation maintenance, flight school maintenance, corporate, or Part 121 airline maintenance. One (1) year of maintenance personnel management experience preferred, in addition to required experience. Bachelor's degree and FAA A&P certificate are required. Inspection Authorization (IA) and 30 hour OSHA Outreach Training Program for General Industry are preferred. Must be eligible to work in the U.S. Application review will begin on March 21st and will continue until the position is filled. Proof of U.S. citizenship OR eligibility for U.S. employment will be required prior to employment (Immigration Control Act of 1986). Clery Act crime statistics for MTSU available at http://police.mtsu.edu/crime_statistics.htm or by contacting MTSU Public Safety at 615-898-2424. MTSU, a culturally diverse university, is an equal opportunity, affirmative action educational institution and employer. Women, ethnic minorities, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. To apply, go to https://mtsujobs.mtsu.edu Back to Top ESASI Regional Seminar - Jurmala/Riga, Latvia on 23-24 May 2018 We are pleased to announce that the 9th ESASI Regional Seminar will take place at the Baltic Beach Hotel in Jurmala/Riga, Latvia on 23-24 May 2018. In addition, the meeting of the military investigator group is scheduled to take place on the afternoon of 22nd May 2018. The aim of the seminar is to keep the European air safety investigation community, abreast of current developments and evolving best practice in aircraft safety investigation. As in previous years, the seminar will include presentations on case studies, the European environment, challenges of modern air safety investigations and human factors in aircraft accidents and incidents. Register now for ESASI 2018, as a special early bird price is available before 31st March 2018. Cost of registration is €150 per delegate, which includes the event dinner at the Baltic Beach Hotel on 23rd May 2018. Companions are welcome to attend the dinner at a cost of €50. For further information please go to - https://www.esasi.eu/ Back to Top HFACS, Inc. offers professional development training on our innovative HFACS/HFIX methodologies. Our intensive, two-day workshops teaches updated cutting-edge techniques to help your organization identify the causes of errors and develop preventative measures to lower your risk and improve performance. How to register: To register visit hfacs.comor call 800-320-0833 or email info@hfacs.com Attendees of the workshop will learn how to: * Integrate human factors and system safety concepts into the root cause analysis (RCA) process * Utilize the Human Factors Analysis & Classification System (HFACS®) to identify systemic causes of human error during accidents, incidents, and/or near misses. * Integrate HFACS into traditional RCA tools like the fishbone diagram, fault trees, and link analysis using HFACS * Implement the Human Factors Intervention matriX (HFIX®) to develop innovative corrective action programs Develop a human error database and tracking system for monitoring and evaluating performance improvement efforts All attendees of the workshop will receive: * HFACS Textbook * HFACS-RCA Handbook (including HFACS Interview Guide & HFACS/HFIX Checklists) * Complimentary Associate HFACS Professional (AHP) Certification * Opportunity to join the largest Listserv catering to human factors accident investigation and error management Already attended a 2-day workshop? Don't miss out on our special offers! * Our workshops have been updated to feature the newest information * If you have already attended our 2-day HFACS course, don't miss out on the opportunity to attend another workshop as a "refresher" for a discounted rate of $200 * Or bring a full-paying customer with you and receive free refresher course registration For any additional questions and information, contact info@hfacs.com or call 800-320-0833 Curt Lewis