Pilot's Post - GAC UPDATE-ISSUE 50

1. Message from the Editor
2. A small matter of knowledge
3. Africa's 2015's Hazards, Incidents, Accidents and Safety Occurrences
4. Emergency Response Planning
5. Henley Global Safety and Quality Training
6. Pilots' mental health to be investigated
7. Old and new issues inundate IATA safety agenda
8. News from the Johannesburg Airports
9. News from the Regulatory Authorities
10. Safety and Security
11. SAAFA donations
12. Finale

Congratulations on the 50th Issue of our GAC Update Safety Bulletin, Vivienne!
I appreciate and thank you for your fantastic effort, time, research and dedication to ensure that every issue is of great value, up to date and full of important aviation information.
It is a privilege to work with you.
Rethea Mitchell
Managing Director
Global Aviation Consultants

1. MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR

A number of Accidents and Serious Incidents have cast a long shadow on May. The French BEA are investigating the incident where a commercial airliner nearly came to grief on the Mount Cameroun Volcano. Luckily the GPWS saved the day calling out Pull Up thereby alerting the Crew to the danger they were in. Read a small matter of knowledge for more on distractions likely to cause spatial disorientation - I appreciate that the article is based on flying in the USA but the occurrences could so easily have happened on our continent.
Vivienne

2. A SMALL MATTER OF KNOWLEDGE

U.S. safety officials on Wednesday reminded pilots to look out for other planes and make their own aircraft known during flights, saying air collisions can occur if pilots are distracted by cell phones, tablets or other wireless devices.

After four small-plane collisions that caused eight deaths, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued an official "safety alert" advising pilots to maintain fundamental "see and avoid" vigilance by scanning for traffic throughout a flight, using lights and clearly communicating their intentions.

"Accidents have occurred in which pilots operating near one another did not maintain adequate visual lookout," the federal safety agency said. "The presence of technology has introduced challenges to the see-and-avoid concept. Aviation applications on portable electronic devices such as cell phones, tablets, and handheld GPS units, while useful, can lead to more head-down time."

NTSB pointed to four collisions involving Piper or Cessna aircraft that have occurred over the past four years. Three of the mishaps proved fatal. In the deadliest accident, a pilot and three passengers were killed in 2011 near Talkeetna, Alaska, when their Cessna 180 collided with a Cessna 206 about 900 feet (274 meters) above ground. NTSB said the pilots of the two single-engine aircraft were monitoring different radio frequencies and failed to see each other. The airline-rated pilot of the Cessna 206 was not injured.

Commercial airline pilots increasingly are using tablet computers in the cockpit in place of paper flight plans and navigation charts. But, under Federal Aviation Administration rules, the devices are not allowed for personal communications or activities. The devices are allowed for general aviation, including small planes, but the pilot is responsible for determining whether a device's electronics will interfere with flight instruments. Software makers have produced a host of pilot applications for phones and tablets that offer radar and navigation services, approach charts, terrain awareness and weather graphics.

2. AFRICA'S 2015 HAZARDS, INCIDENTS, ACCIDENTS AND SAFETY OCCURENCES

ACCIDENTS INVOLVING FIXED WING AIRCRAFT IN AFRICA DURING 2015
DATE-A/C TYPE-FATALITIES-LOCATION
8 Jan Bantam B22J 2 Hoedspruit, RSA
14 Feb Lancair 360 2 Close to R59 near Parys, RSA
12 Mar Experimental Aircraft 2 Near the army base, close to Potchefstroom Aerodrome, RSA
24 Apr Karakorum-8 (K-8) 0 Gweru, Zimbabwe
15 May RV7 0 The Coves, Hartebeesport, NW, RSA
24 May Light A/C TBA 1 Ditlou, Limpopo Province, RSA
28 May C206 0 Maun, Botswana
Source, amongst others, PlaneCrash info.com; News24, Aviation Herald, Flight Safety Information

ACCIDENTS INVOLVING ROTOR WING AIRCRAFT IN AFRICA DURING 2015

DATE-A/C TYPE-FATALITIES-LOCATION
28 Feb MI17 0 Khartoum Airport, Sudan
08 Mar Bell UH1H 1 Cape Point, Cape Town, RSA
17 Mar Apache 2 Nr Gao, Northern Mali.
10 Apr Eurocopter B3 Squirrel 1 Mazabuka, Zambia
10 Apr RH44 0 Verulam, KZN, RSA
19 Apr MIL Mi24 2 Illizi, Algiers
22 Apr Bell UH1H 2 Bainskloof, Cape Town, RSA
30 Apr RH22 0 Rand Airport, GP, RSA
30 May RH44 1 Delareyville. NW, RSA

HAZARDS & INCIDENTS INVOLVING FIXED WING AIRCRAFT DURING MAY 2015
HAZ INC-DATE-A/C TYPE-LOCATION-FATAL ITIES-CIRCUMSTANCES-OP TYPE-INC
Early May B777 En-route Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, to Douala Cameroon
0 While cruising at about 9,000', the pilots diverted northwards to avoid storm clouds, but their route back towards Douala took the passenger jet very close to the 13,000-foot Mount Cameroun. COM INC
O7 May 15 C152 Rand Airport, RSA 0 Pilot executed a safe emergency landing following a fuel leak INC
10 May 15 YAK Rand Airport, RSA 0 Aircraft experienced brake failure, directional control lost and aircraft collided with a parked aircraft INC
10 May 15 Polaris Rand Airport, RSA 0 Aircraft experienced fuel starvation, fuel would not transfer from tank to engine, other tank was empty INC
15 May 15 DC3 Rand Airport, RSA 0 After landing a serious oil leak was noted. Aircraft was shut down on Main apron and recovered by AMO INC
17 May 15 C172 Rand Airport, RSA 0 Radio failure, aircraft landed safely INC
18 May 15
C172 Rand Airport, RSA 0 Radio failure, aircraft landed safely INC
20 May 15 C172 Rand Airport, RSA 0 Radio failure, aircraft landed safely INC
29 May 15 PA28 Rand Airport, RSA 0 Serious engine oil leak necessitating an emergency landing, Pilot then taxied back to hangar INC
30 May 15 PA28 Rand Airport, RSA 0-Pilot reported fluctuating RPM. Safe landing made and aircraft taken back to AMO.

HAZARDS & INCIDENTS INVOLVING ROTOR WING AIRCRAFT DURING MAY 2015

HAZ INC- DATE-A/C TYPE-LOCATION-FATAL ITIES-CIRCUMSTANCES-OP TYPE-HAZ
12 May B206 B-3 Rand Airport, RSA 0 Pilot flew with jammed door lock. COM INC
16 May Sikorsky S-61- +/- 20 km southeast of the Diori Hamani International Airport, Niamey, Niger 0 A US SAR helicopter was forced to land in the outskirts of the Niger capital, Niamey, the helicopter suffered serious damage during this forced landing, but the six American civilians on board the chopper came out of the accident unharmed SAR

AERODROME HAZARDS

Goma, DRC- Construction Hazards - Aerodrome being fenced and runway is being rehabilitated. Unmanned aircraft. Very poor ATC. Possible volcanic activity.

Libreville, Gabon-Poor ATC coupled with inadequate navaids. Poor Marshalling combined with inappropriate behaviour of drivers on the ramp and taxiways.

Lubumbashi, DRC-Construction Hazards - runway and taxiway lighting rehabilitation taking place Kadugli, Sudan Poor ATC control of aircraft in the area

Juba, Sudan-Very poor ATC with only 1 frequency. Crews must be on the lookout for other aircraft in their vicinity. Vehicular traffic not obeying any regulations in terms of overtaking aircraft on taxiways and weaving in and out of aircraft on the apron

Rand Airport, RSA-Birds

Lanseria Airport, RSA-Birds

Wau, Sudan-Yellow Billed Kytes

3. EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANNING

Blake Emergency Services is the International Crisis Management and Contingency Planning Consultancy who, although based in the UK, have serious experience in Africa having handled accidents, incidents, counselling, repatriation, DNA sampling and confirmation, in amongst others Lagos, Nigeria; Fez, Morocco; Pointe Noire, Congo; Moroni, Comores; Maputo, Mozambique and more recently Ukraine for MH017 and Mali for Air Algerie. Please go to www.blakeemergency.com or contact rethea.mitchell@blakeemergency.com.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for Blake Emergency Services then please do not hesitate to contact Rethea at the address given above.

5. HENLEY/GLOBAL AVIATION TRAINING

Should you wish to make a booking for any of these courses please contact Candice on 011 024 5446 or by email to candice@gaconsultants.net

DATES-COURSE-LECTURER-COST EXCL. VAT PER DELEGATE
08-09 June 2015-Quality Assurance Auditor Course-Dan Drew-R 2,475-00
17 June 2015-Crew Resource Management - Refresher-Verity Wallace-R 1,050-00
17 June 2015-Dangerous Goods - Refresher-Verity Wallace-R 850-00
22-23 June 2015-Safety Management System Course-Various-R 2,420-00
22-26 June 2015-Integrated Safety Management Course-Various-R 6,050-00
29-30 June-Human Factors Course (CRM Initial And MRM)-Dr. Joel Hughes-R 2,475-00

On request

Part 108 Air Cargo Security Familiarisation-Doug Smit

Note: Cost per delegate includes all training materials, refreshments and lunch.
Note: Attendees paying in cash on the day are eligible for a 10% discount
Note: Both Recurrent CRM and Dangerous Goods Training Courses are available upon request - even at short notice.
First Aid and the Law, please contact candice@gaconsultants.net

Emergency Response, Incident Response, Operations Control, Emergency Response and Family Assistance training together with the writing of Emergency Response Plans and Procedures training is now offered by Global Aviation Consultants. For more information, please contact Rethea on rethea@gaconsultants.com .

6. PILOTS' MENTAL HEALTH TO BE INVESTIGATED

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that it would study the mental and emotional health of pilots, a move that comes more than two months after investigators say a German pilot flew a commercial jet into the French Alps, killing all 150 people aboard.

While pilots are required to undergo medical screenings with agency-approved physicians once or twice a year, the study was recommended in the wake of tragedies like the crash Germanwings Flight 9525 in March and the early 2014 disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 in the Indian Ocean.

The FAA said in a statement that the Pilot Fitness Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC)-to be comprised of government members and aviation experts, as well as medical professionals whose specialty is aerospace medicine-will look into awareness and reporting practices for emotional and mental issues among pilots. The committee, which will also probe the procedures used to evaluate mental health issues and any barriers to reporting them, will provide the FAA with recommendations within six months.

"Based on the group's recommendations," according to the statement, "the FAA may consider changes to medical methods, aircraft design, policies and procedures, pilot training and testing, training for Aerospace Medical Examiners, or potential actions that may be taken by professional, airline, or union groups."

7. OLD AND NEW ISSUES INUNDATE IATA SAFETY AGENDA

In a normal year, trying to mitigate the three persistent and long-standing safety concerns for airlines-loss of control inflight, controlled flight into terrain and runway excursions-would be more than enough to fill the working hours for International Airline Transport Association's (IATA) Kevin Hiatt, senior vice president for safety and flight operations. This year, however, Kevin Hiatt is also addressing three recent high-profile atypical incidents-the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 (MH370) in March 2014, the shoot-down of MH17 in July 2014 and the crash of Germanwings Flight 9525 in March of this year.

IATA, which represents 250 member airlines carrying 84% of the world's passengers, has a large stake in the final analysis of these accidents, which often spawn mandatory upgrades or changes. Another mission that is at least as important is the deployment of proactive measures to prevent future incidents and accidents-typical or atypical.

It is too soon to tell how the recent events might affect the "six-point safety strategy" Hiatt oversees for IATA. The strategy addresses operational risks-including loss of control (LOC), controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) and runway excursions-and emerging safety threats such as lithium-ion batteries and laser attacks. This purview could expand based on the MH370, MH17 and Germanwings events. The strategy also looks to bolster operational efficiency with standardized safety audits while supporting the use of safety management systems and effective recruitment and phasing out of non-precision legacy navigation practices such as non-directional beacon and VOR approaches.

Longer-term projects have to be balanced with unanticipated events, and this past year the "Big 3"-MH370, MH17 and Germanwings-have dominated the agenda.

"Germanwings is a very big topic at the moment," says Kevin Hiatt. At IATA's operations conference in Los Angeles in April, the primary focus of the 20 member airlines that met to discuss "major issues" was the deadly crash in the French Alps in March-a CFIT that the French prosecutor has ruled as purposeful. The co-pilot was later found to have had a history of mental health issues that predated his being hired by Germanwings.

Kevin Hiatt says the response to the crash has been concentrated in three areas: further studies on pilot fitness; global requirements for "four eyes" in the cockpit at all times; and new information and guidance for the protection of safety information. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is taking an early lead in pilot mental health assessments, says Kevin Hiatt, by launching task committees of airlines and other outside experts to examine how airlines might determine the overall soundness of pilots downstream of the initial screening and vetting process. The crash also highlighted the benefits of having two crewmembers on the flight deck at all times, a standard operating procedure in the U.S. since 2001, but one that is not yet universal, in part because of unfamiliarity with the process. Regarding the increasing melding of criminal and civil investigations, Hiatt says the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is working to keep crash-related events from becoming a public spectacle and to guard against rushes to judgment.

Operational changes that ICAO has called for since investigations into the disappearance of MH370 are notionally set for action by IATA airlines starting next year, although deliberations continue. During ICAO's high-level safety conference in February, 130 nations agreed to implement a Global Aeronautical Distress and Safety System (Gadss) in phases; the first entails mandatory position-reporting by an aircraft at least every 15 min. during normal operations, and more frequent updates when certain anomalies occur. Airlines are supposed to comply with the tracking plan starting next year.

Individual states and stakeholders are sending comments about Gadss directly to ICAO, where the Air Navigation Commission is processing the input. "Some agree, some agree but with comments, and some disagree with comments," Kevin Hiatt says of the general process for input from states. "Everyone in principle is still on board with what came out of the high-level safety conference," he adds, noting that comments are being weighed. "That's what we're waiting for next." Kevin Hiatt says IATA is "on board" in concept with Gadss, although it wants more specificity about implementation of tracking in oceanic and remote areas.

In parallel with the comment process, an ICAO-led Normal Aircraft Tracking Implementation Initiative (Natii), which includes IATA, is sponsoring a proof-of-concept (POC) study to figure out the nuts and bolts of implementing Gadss. The group is preparing its first "table top" exercise; flight demonstrations will follow. The group is expected to produce a final report from the POC in August. "The POC for the Gadss document will form the tracking initiatives the airlines will set up," says Hiatt. "Some [airlines are already] trying it on their own, and some are already doing what will probably be the result of the Natii." FedEx and Qatar Airways are "already there," he says, but "most airlines are probably waiting to see what needs to be specifically put into place."

Actions following the shoot-down of MH17 in Eastern Ukraine have been more immediate, although perhaps more qualitative than quantitative. After the high level safety conference, ICAO agreed to build a portal on its website where member nations could post information to help airlines evaluate the risks of flying in certain conflict zones. "There have not been a lot of postings," says Kevin Hiatt, "but we anticipate that as some of the bigger players-the U.S. and U.K.-[begin posting], we'll see more use." He says airlines are turning to the nascent site "to see who is posting what and comparing it to what they know through their own intelligence sources."

Will airlines abandon the site if the wealth of information does not expand? There's "always that potential," Kevin Hiatt says, but he notes that carriers are being patient. He believes that as more information is added, the visit rate will go up.

Perhaps the most pressing of the "traditional" safety issues on IATA's agenda is loss of control. IATA, along with its partners, has developed new website materials with accident reports, animations, case studies and some recommendations. "What we're doing now with ICAO is to conduct regional workshops to help mitigate and hopefully [bring] the [LOC accident rate] down," says Kevin Hiatt. "We also created an IATA pilot-training task force with 13 airline representatives and OEMS and put together a practical guide [so operators can develop] their own upset recovery training programs." Upsets typically precede a LOC accident.

IATA is also tracking "emerging" threats in the cabin. At its second cabin safety conference in Paris in early May, Hiatt says the 280 delegates, 91 airlines, four OEMs and six regulators discussed lithium-ion batteries in the cabin, unintended escape slide deployments, child safety seat restraints and updated safety videos designed to hold passengers' attention.

There was no resolution on child safety seat restraints. Because the definition of child sizes differs from country to country, as do opinions on the best type of equipment to use, the debate remains active, Kevin Hiatt says. Discussions on lithium-ion batteries in the cabin focused on guidance for flight attendants on what to do when a passenger laptop or tablet goes into an uncontrolled overheat, and how to handle the emerging problem of tablets being crushed by seat movements, particularly in the lay-flat seats in the premium cabin.

For overheating computers, Kevin Hiatt says, there is no real change in the solution: "Get it on the floor and douse it with as much water as you can." As for the premium-seat tablet problem, he says passengers "may see some airlines getting more aggressive with cabin safety talks on stowing devices."

8. NEWS FROM THE JOHANNESBURG AIRPORTS

Users of the Johannesburg aerodromes must be aware of the fact that they all take Aviation Safety and AVSEC very seriously. If you want to use them as a Pilot or are employed in any way on them then we would recommend that you make yourself very aware of Part 139 in the SACARs and the Rules and Regulations applicable to that particular aerodrome. Be prepared for fines being levied if you breach any of the SARPs.

RAND AIRPORT, GERMISTON - www.randairport.co,za

Next Safety Meeting will be held on Tuesday 7th July 2015 at 09.00 in the Old Customs Hall.
? The wearing of high visibility jackets/waistcoats is mandatory for all persons, excepting for passengers under escort, on airside. (SA CAR 139.02.22(6))
? Drivers found to be speeding on airside will have their access remote taken from them.
? Vehicles being driven on airside must carry proper mandatory insurance cover
? All delivery vehicles and visiting vehicles requiring access to airside MUST be escorted from the access gate to the premises and then after closure of their business back to the gate for egress.
All operators are required to report Bird Strikes to the Safety Office even if there has been no structural damage to the aircraft as a result of the strike.
A date for your diary - The Grand Rand Show will be held on 23 August 2015

LANSERIA AIRPORT - www.lanseriaairport.co.za

Next Safety, Security and Stakeholders Meeting will be held on Tuesday 12th May 2015 at 12.00 in the LIA Training School.
? The wearing of high visibility jackets/waistcoats is mandatory for all persons, excepting for passengers under escort, on airside. (SA CAR 139.02.22(6))
? Drivers shall obey the published speed limits which are 30 on airside and 40 on landside - these will be enforceable from 1st May 2015
? The ring road is under repair from the water treatment plant through to the entrance. Check with the Operations Centre for up to date information.

GRAND CENTRAL AIRPORT, MIDRAND

Next Safety Meeting will be held on Tuesday 7th July 2015 at 12.00 in the Boardroom
? The wearing of high visibility jackets/waistcoats is mandatory for all persons, excepting for passengers under escort, on airside. (SA CAR 139.02.22(6))
? Drivers found to be speeding on airside will have their access revoked
There has been a change of Management positions at Grand Central - GAC UPDATE would like to congratulate Sarah Thepa on her promotion to Airport Manager and to Gary Renault who now holds the position of Executive General Manager.

9. NEWS FROM THE REGULATORY AUTHORITIES

Part 101 which covers Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems comes into effect on 1st July 2015.

10. SAFETY AND SECURITY

Director of South Africa's Civil Aviation Authority, Poppy Khoza, has been appointed as the Chairperson of the ICAO Aviation Security Panel.

11. SAAFA DONATIONS

Should you wish to make a donation to this more than worthy cause then please pay it (via EFT or as a deposit) into;

Standard Bank Bedford Gardens; Bank Code 018 305; Account Name: SA Air Force Association (JHB Branch); Account Number: 022 605 568. You may use either your Company or Individual name along with the word donation as the reference.

12. FINALE

SITUATIONS VACANT. If you are interested and qualified please send your CV to global@gaconsultants.net

Part Time Consultant Air Safety Officers required who comply with the requirements of SA CARS Part 135, Part 121, Part 127, Part 140, Part 141 and Part 145 - must have had appropriate SMS training, previous experience and preferably been approved by the South African Air Services Licencing Council.

Part Time Quality Assurance Consultants required who are appropriately qualified a
nd comply with the requirements of Part 135, Part 121, Part 127, Part 140, Part 141 and Part 145.
Part Time Aviation Security Consultant required who is appropriately qualified for RSA and International Operations

GLOBAL AVIATION CONSULTANTS (PTY) LTD

Can we help you with your aviation safety
and / or quality requirements?
Under SA CAR 140.01.2 if you and your organisation hold one of the following
? a category 4 or higher aerodrome licence;
? an ATO approval;
? an aircraft maintenance organisation approval;
? a manufacturing organisation approval ;
? an ATSU approval;
? a design organisation approval;
? an AOC issued in terms of Part 121, 127, 135, 141;
? a procedure design organisation approval; and
? an electronic services organisation approval,
then you shall establish a Safety Management System for the control and supervision of the services rendered or to be rendered by that organisation.
If you do not already have an approved Air Safety Officer and an approved Safety Management System then please contact us for assistance.
We, at Global Aviation Consultants, deliver the following SA CAA Approved training courses for Air Safety Officers at Rand Airport;
? Safety Management Systems
? Integrated Safety Officer Course
? Quality Assurance Auditor
? Crew Resource Management (Initial and Recurrent)
? Dangerous Goods
? Human Factors for AME's

Should your operation be of a size whereby the full time employment of an Air Safety Officer and/or Quality Assurance Officer is not financially viable then we can provide you with Consultants who have previously held Air Services Licensing Council approval. We can also provide you with a tailor made SA CAA approved Safety Management System.

For further information on how we can help you please contact Rethea or Candice in Hanger 6, Rand Airport, Germiston on 011-024--5446/7 or e-mail global@gaconsultants.net

Global Aviation Consultants accepts no liability for the content of this email, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided, unless that information is subsequently confirmed in writing. If you are not the intended recipient you are notified that disclosing, copying, distributing or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited.

GAC News Letters

GAC UPDATE-ISSUE 50 - JUNE 2015

By Vivienne Sandercock