Air Safety Organization Update
Solar Cosmic Radiation Storms—Guidance for Pilots
In September, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued an S-3 (strong) solar storm alert. Pilots can sign up to receive these alerts and use them as a complement to related company guidance on how to minimize exposure to increased levels of solar cosmic radiation while operating in the affected latitudes.
For further information on this phenomenon, ALPA’s Air Safety Organization and Engineering & Air Safety Department have developed guidance that includes links to NOAA’s solar storm alerts, operational guidance, and other helpful resources and background information. For more information go to www.alpa.org/resources/solar-cosmic-radiation-storms or contact ALPA’s Engineering & Air Safety Department at EAS@alpa.org or 1-800-424-2470.
ALPA Holds Advanced Accident Investigation Course
In October, ALPA conducted its semiannual Advanced Accident Investigation Course in Grand Forks, N.D. The Association continues to receive outstanding support from the University of North Dakota (UND) and the Grand Forks Airport Authority, which again made their donated FedEx B-727 available for the course.
Eighteen ALPA members from seven pilot groups participated in the four-day mock accident investigation, along with four attendees from UND, two from Grand Forks Airport Authority, and two industry stakeholders.
The course replicated various investigative groups assigned to specific areas of an accident. The Aircraft Systems Group documented the cockpit and relevant aircraft systems components, while the Operations Group reviewed flight crew training records, pilot certificates, the medical history of the flight crew, dispatch paperwork, and weather information. Participants also conducted crew interviews and evaluated human performance issues. In addition, a Structures Group documented structural damage, while a Survival Factors Group documented the emergency egress systems. A CVR Group transcribed the voice recording.
F/O Steve Demko (United), the course director, noted, “This course setting allows our ALPA investigators to experience the process of NTSB/Transportation Safety Board of Canada investigations, while also learning how to interact in investigative groups during the field phase.”
The next Advanced Accident Investigation Course will be held in May 2018.
Now Recruiting: Aircraft Design & Operations Reps and Airport Safety Liaisons
The Aircraft Design & Operations (ADO) Group is one of the many technical groups within ALPA’s Air Safety Organization (ASO). This group relies on the expertise of ALPA line pilots to bridge the gaps between design principles and routine flight operations while ensuring that safety remains the top priority. The ADO Group works with industry and regulatory stakeholders in the United States and Canada on topics that span the realm of aircraft design, certification, and operation.
The ASO is looking for pilot volunteers interested in
- wake turbulence,
- aircraft braking friction,
- master minimum equipment list,
- bird ingestion,
- ice crystal icing detection and ingestion,
- enhanced flight vision systems/heads-up displays,
- electronic flight bag,
- certification requirements for fly-by-wire aircraft, and
- unmanned aircraft systems.
The ADO group provides a unique opportunity to incorporate ALPA’s expertise at the ground level while also maintaining a high level of safety through operations.
The Airport Safety Liaison (ASL) program is a long-standing ALPA safety program that uses line pilots’ safety expertise and in-depth local knowledge of airports in the United States and Canada to help facilitate communications with airport authorities with the goal of ensuring the highest levels of safety at each airport to which ALPA members operate. The ASL program offers the ALPA pilot perspective and provides a proactive, consistent, and known resource to airport management.
ASLs are specifically needed at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Honolulu International Airport, and LaGuardia Airport. ALPA’s ASO provides training for pilots who wish to become ASLs to help them develop and maintain a productive working relationship with the management and municipal representatives of the airport to highlight hazards and make recommendations for improvements.
Created and maintained by ALPA’s ASO Airport & Ground Environment Group, the ASL program has been very successful in bringing innumerable safety improvements to airports in both countries, including enhanced visual aids, improved wildlife hazard-mitigation measures, safer taxiway and runway layouts, and even aiding with the development of new airport designs.
To learn more about ASL training, go to www.alpa.org/news-and-events/meetings-training/trainings-details/courses/asl.
If you’d like to volunteer with the ADO Group or become and ASL or have further questions, contact ALPA’s Engineering & Air Safety Department at EAS@alpa.org or 1-800-424-2470.
