News & Comment

Maintenance Human Factors: The Next Generation

Design & Certification, Human Factors / Performance, Maintenance / Continuing Airworthiness / CAMOs, Safety Management

Maintenance Human Factors: The Next Generation On 12 May 2015 at Cranfield University, the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) discussed Human Factors in Engineering – the Next Generation. Aerossurance is pleased to have sponsored this thought provoking RAeS Human Factors Group: Engineering event. While the seminar was intended to connect the new generation of aerospace professionals and experienced HF practitioners, it posed […]

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UK AAIB Report on Two Ground Collisions

Accidents & Incidents, Airfields / Heliports / Helidecks, Fixed Wing, Human Factors / Performance, Safety Management

UK AAIB Report on Two Ground Collisions In their May 2015 Bulletin the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) published two separate reports of night-time collisions between aircraft and obstacles on the apron / ramp last winter.  Both highlight factors that can increase risk. Collision 1 The AAIB report that after refuelling at Newquay Airport on

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Ready Salted ATR72 and WP-3D

Accidents & Incidents, Fixed Wing, Helicopters, Offshore, Safety Management, Special Mission Aircraft

Ready Salted ATR72 and WP-3D The Irish Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) have reported on a serious incident involving Aer Arann (later Stobart Air) ATR72-212A, EI-REL on 2 January 2014.  The findings are highly relevant not only to fixed wing aircraft operating at moderate altitudes over the sea but also offshore helicopter operators. The ATR72… ….carried out a

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Virgin Atlantic Engineers Trial Sony SmartWear

Human Factors / Performance, Maintenance / Continuing Airworthiness / CAMOs

Virgin Atlantic Engineers Trial Sony SmartWear (AR & VR in Aviation & Aerospace) Virgin Atlantic engineers at London Heathrow have come to the scheduled end of a 2 month trial of Sony SmartWear equipment.  The aim of this wearable technology is to aid communications between line maintenance engineers working remotely on aircraft and engineering support teams. The line engineers were

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Culture + Non Compliance + Mechanical Failures = DC3 Accident

Accidents & Incidents, Fixed Wing, Human Factors / Performance, Maintenance / Continuing Airworthiness / CAMOs, Regulation, Safety Culture, Safety Management

Culture + Non Compliance + Mechanical Failures = DC-3 Accident (Buffalo Airways C-GWIR) The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) recently issued a report on the forced landing of a 1942 Douglas DC-3 C-GWIR after an engine failure on 19 August 2013. The Buffalo Airways aircraft was operating a scheduled passenger flight between Yellowknife and Hay River

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Helideck, Helicopter and Other Specialist Training Facilities

Airfields / Heliports / Helidecks, Crises / Emergency Response / SAR, Fixed Wing, Helicopters, Offshore, Oil & Gas / IOGP / Energy, Resilience, Safety Management, Special Mission Aircraft, Survivability / Ditching

Helideck, Helicopter and Other Specialist Training Facilities Safety training specialists Falck Nutec (now RelyOn Nutec) have installed an ex-Royal Navy AgustaWestland Lynx HAS3 at their Aberdeen training facility on their helideck training mock-up.  This aids the training of Helideck Landing Officers (HLOs) and Helideck Assistants (HDAs) on their OPITIO approved training courses. This replaced a rather more

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Metro III: Propulsion System Malfunction + Inappropriate Crew Response

Accidents & Incidents, Fixed Wing, Human Factors / Performance, Maintenance / Continuing Airworthiness / CAMOs, Safety Management

Metro III: Propulsion System Malfunction + Inappropriate Crew Response (PSM+ICR) The Transportation Board of Canada (TSB) recently issued a report into the fatal loss on 10 November 2013 of a Fairchild SA-227 Metro III at Red Lake, Ontario.  The aircraft, C-FFVN, was operated by Bearskin Airlines.  Both pilots and three of the five passengers were killed in the accident.  The accident

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UK CAA to Review IFR Ops Outside of Controlled Airspace

Accidents & Incidents, Air Traffic Management / Airspace, Business Aviation, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, Regulation, Safety Management

UK CAA to Review IFR Ops Outside of Controlled Airspace The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced it plans an enhanced review of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flying outside of controlled airspace.  This is in response to a UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) recommendation in their final report on a serious incident involving a chartered executive Sikorsky S-76C++ G-WIWI in

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US HEMS “Delays & Oversight Challenges” – IG Report

Helicopters, Regulation, Safety Management, Special Mission Aircraft

US Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) “Delays & Oversight Challenges” – Inspector General Report We recently published an article on two March 2015 night-time US HEMS accidents.  This month the US Department of Transportation’s Inspector General has released a report entitled: Delays in Meeting Statutory Requirements and Oversight Challenges Reduce FAA’s Opportunities To Enhance HEMS Safety The Office

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Human Factors in Engineering – the Next Generation (12 May 2015)

Human Factors / Performance, Maintenance / Continuing Airworthiness / CAMOs, News, Regulation, Safety Management

Human Factors in Engineering – the Next Generation Aerossurance is pleased to be one of the sponsors of a Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) Human Factors Group: Engineering conference on 12 May 2015 at Cranfield University entitled Human Factors in Engineering – the Next Generation: This one day conference aims to bring together industry professionals and a new

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Psychological Screening of Flight Crew

Accidents & Incidents, Human Factors / Performance, Safety Management

Psychological Screening of Flight Crew The circumstances of the recent loss of Germanwings Airbus A320 D-AIPX in the French Alps on 24 March 2015 has thrown attention on how the mental health of pilots and others in safety critical positions is assessed. Tony Tyler, CEO of the airline trade body International Air Transport Association (IATA), said on

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1950’s Aerial Firefighting and Smokey Bear

Crises / Emergency Response / SAR, Fixed Wing, Helicopters, Safety Culture, Special Mission Aircraft

1950’s Aerial Firefighting and Smokey Bear A look at aerial firefighting 60+ years ago: However, as per the background poster: If you really feel the need to sing along to Smokey Bear we are happy to oblige: https://youtu.be/sfgWbhPYFGI But while in the song it is Smokey THE Bear (to scan better), the Smokey Bear Act of 1952 (16 U.S.C.

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More US Night HEMS Accidents

Accidents & Incidents, Helicopters, Regulation, Safety Culture, Safety Management, Special Mission Aircraft

More US Night Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) Accidents At the beginning of March 2015 we published an article on the aftermath of a 2003 fatal night-time US HEMS accident: Life Flight 6 – US HEMS Post Accident Review.  During March 2015 there were two more fatal night-time medical helicopter accidents in the US. Air Methods EC130B4 6

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De-Iced Drama: 737 in Scandinavia

Accidents & Incidents, Airfields / Heliports / Helidecks, Design & Certification, Fixed Wing, Maintenance / Continuing Airworthiness / CAMOs, Safety Management

De-Iced Drama : 737 in Scandinavia During the approach to the Finnish airport of Kittilä on 26 December 2012, Norwegian Air Shuttle‘s Boeing 737-800 LN-DYM came close to stalling as a result of a blocked elevator.  The elevator system worked at only 1/250th of the expected effectiveness according to investigators. The Investigation The Accident Investigation Board

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Loss of the Alexander Kielland

Accidents & Incidents, Offshore, Oil & Gas / IOGP / Energy, Safety Management, Survivability / Ditching

Loss of the Alexander Kielland The Norwegian semi-submersible floatel (floating hotel) Alexander L. Kielland capsized on 27 March 1980 when alongside Phillips Ekofisk Edda platform.  The Kielland had lost one of its five legs in a severe, but not extreme, gale. At 18:30, a ‘sharp crack’ was heard followed by ‘some kind of trembling’. The floatel heeled over 30° but stabilised,

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FOD Damages 737 Flying Controls

Accidents & Incidents, Fixed Wing, Human Factors / Performance, Maintenance / Continuing Airworthiness / CAMOs, Safety Management

Foreign Object Debris (FOD) Damages 737 Flying Controls Accident investigators in New Zealand report on damage to the flying controls of a 737 due to a trapped cleaning cloth. The Incident During routine maintenance of a Boeing 737-838, engineers found metal filings next to the stabilizer trim cable drum in the forward electronics and equipment compartment (located

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A320 Unstabilised Approaches: Descent Below MSA and a Runway Excursion at Lyon

Accidents & Incidents, Air Traffic Management / Airspace, Fixed Wing, Human Factors / Performance, Regulation, Safety Culture, Safety Management

A320 Unstabilised Approaches: A Descent Below Minimum Safe Altitude (MSA) and a Runway Excursion at Lyon An airline introducing a new type suffers a serious incident while training a new captain, highlighting the importance of Management of Change, Risk Assessment and good Training.  UPDATE: Then within a year they have a runway excursion after an unstabilised approach at

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North Sea Helicopter Safety – Step Change in Safety Event

Accidents & Incidents, Design & Certification, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, Maintenance / Continuing Airworthiness / CAMOs, Offshore, Oil & Gas / IOGP / Energy, Regulation, Safety Culture, Safety Management, Survivability / Ditching

North Sea Helicopter Safety – Step Change in Safety Event The offshore industry safety initiative, Step Change in Safety, held a workforce engagement seminar on Helicopter Safety in Aberdeen in early March. The presentations are all available to download (click on the presenter’s name below): HSSG Update – Mark Abbey This presentation on behalf of

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IHST Update – March 2015

Accidents & Incidents, Helicopters, Safety Management

International Helicopter Safety Team (IHST) Update – March 2015 At the HAI Heli-Exp0 2015 in Orlando, Aerossurance attended the IHST Regional Partners Panel as one of the European representatives.  The session featured presentations from different national and regional teams supporting the IHST: Introduction IHST Regional Partner Panel Introductory Slides India Rotary Wing Society of India: The RWSI

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Operator & FAA Shortcomings in Alaskan B1900 Accident

Airfields / Heliports / Helidecks, Fixed Wing, Human Factors / Performance, Oil & Gas / IOGP / Energy, Safety Culture, Safety Management

Operator & FAA Shortcomings in Alaskan B1900 Accident UPDATE 10 April 2018: with details below of further NTSB recommendations after a 2016 C208B accident The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has reported on a Beechcraft 1900C accident on the North Slope of Alaska on 23 Nov 2013. The B1900C was being operated by Hageland Aviation Services (doing

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Airbus Helicopter Naming Convention March 2015 on

New Airbus Helicopters Designations: A Guide

Design & Certification, Helicopters

New Airbus Helicopters Designations: A Guide At the same time as revealing their new X4 medium was to be called the H160, Airbus Helicopters unveiled new marketing designations for most of their models at the HAI Heli-Expo in Orlando, March 2015. The rebranding primarily affects the more modern production aircraft (with the exception of military only production types).

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