Smart general aviation pilots won’t fly if they are taking a prescription that says Do not drive or operate machinery while taking this medication. But sometimes it’s not that clear cut. Other prescription drugs and even some over-the-counter medicines can affect a pilot’s performance.

That’s why Administrator Huerta and the heads of 11 aviation associations today sent a letter to all U.S.-registered pilots urging them to be more aware of the effect both prescribed medicines and non-prescription drugs containing antihistamines can have on their skills and judgment.

The letter tells pilots to read prescription labels carefully, talk with their doctors, and then decide if the drugs they’re taking could impair their performance in the cockpit. It also advises pilots to use a personal “IM SAFE” checklist to ensure they are not impaired by Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue or Emotion – any of which could affect their flying abilities. The letter counsels pilots who have recovered from an illness and have taken a medication with impairing side effects not to fly until at least five maximum dosage intervals have passed.

While the FAA works closely with many aviation advocacy groups, the letter represents an unprecedented joint effort. “In all of my years of practicing aerospace medicine, I am not aware of any time in which so many aviation organizations have collaborated to get out the same message at the same time,” said Dr. James Fraser, the FAA’s Deputy Federal Air Surgeon. “We hope this collaborative educational effort will put a dent in pilots’ usage of impairing medications and help lower the general aviation fatal accident rate.

Besides Administrator Huerta, signatories to the letter include executives from the Aircraft Electronics Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Experimental Aircraft Association, American Bonanza Association, General Aviation Manufacturers Association, Helicopter Association International, National Association of Flight Instructors, National Air Transport Association, National Business Aviation Association, Society of Aviation Flight Educators and the U.S. Parachute Association.

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Fuss over Nothing Desensitizes: Bomb cries wolf

What: Air Mauritius A340 en route from Melbourne to Perth
Where: Melbourne
When: May 22, 2012, 2.55pm
Who: 181 passengers, 13 crew
Why: While flying north of Millicent, a soft drink can with a spelling similar to BOMB was found on a drink tray. Initially police said the can was wrapped with paper apparently scribed with the word “bomb” and taped with masking tape; but later it was revealed the mixup concerned foreign lettering directly on the can.

Pilots returned to Melbourne and made an emergency landing. Passengers were questioned about the can, then were provided overnight accommodations in Melbourne.

At 11.30am after the aircraft was cleared, the passengers were able to board the plane and continue their flight.

In George’s Point of View


My concern here is that a rash of fake bomb scares could precede an event. Paranoia vs Vigilance. Foolish or not?

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Sky-Diving Plane Makes Emergency Landing on New Jersey Highway

cessnaskylanet182tA sky-diving plane had to make an emergency landing at route 72 in Stafford Township, New Jersey, on the morning of July 12.

The single-engine plane had to be landed in emergency after it apparently lost engine power. The plane was carrying 5 people, including 3 students and an instructor from the Skydive East Coast sky-diving school, at the time.

The plane landed uneventfully. Authorities said the instructor received a minor cut on his arm while everyone else remained unhurt.

The FAA is investigating.

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NTSB TO HOLD PUBLIC FORUM ON CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY IN AUTOMOBILES AND ON AIRPLANES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 13, 2010
SB-10-35

Washington, DC – The National Transportation Safety Board will address the safety of children traveling in airplanes or in cars when it holds a public forum on child passenger safety on Thursday, December 9, 2010.

“American families are on the go, and children today are frequent travelers almost from the time they are born,” said NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman. “Much more should be done to reduce fatalities and injuries of our smallest travelers, whether they are in a jumbo jet or their family’s car.”

The forum will be geared to providing parents and care givers information they can use immediately to protect their children while traveling. The forum will explore current education and other safety advocacy efforts by non-profit groups and government, as well as the continuing problem of nonuse of child seats and seat belts by a significant portion of the traveling public.

Safety experts from the transportation industry, trade associations, unions, advocacy groups, and federal government will be asked to discuss the best approaches for keeping children safe while flying and riding in cars, how to increase the use of child seats and seat belts, and the importance of government data collection on the issue of nonuse.

The NTSB has issued 33 safety recommendations addressing child passenger safety; 12 of these safety recommendations have been or currently are on the NTSB’s Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements.

The forum, titled “Child Passenger Safety in the Air and in Automobiles”, will be held at the NTSB’s Board Room and Conference Center, located at 429 L’Enfant Plaza, S.W., Washington, D.C. Parents, care givers, and others interested in child safety are encouraged to view the forum in person or by webcast on the NTSB’s website, www.ntsb.gov. Additional information about the forum can be found at www.ntsb.gov/children.

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Air Methods Press Release

Air Methods Corporation Confirms Fatal Accident in Arizona
07/28/10
DENVER, Jul 28, 2010
Air Methods Corporation reported that a Eurocopter AS350 helicopter based in Douglas, Arizona crashed Wednesday afternoon at approximately 1:40 p.m. MST in Tucson, Arizona. The paramedic, flight nurse, and pilot on board the aircraft received fatal injuries. No patients were on board the aircraft at the time of the accident. The aircraft was operated in support of the company’s LifeNet Arizona program.

Company officials are en route to the area. Representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the accident with full cooperation and support from the Company.

“This is a sad day for all of us at Air Methods and we extend our heartfelt sympathy to the family and friends of our employees who perished while on duty,” said Aaron Todd, chief executive officer of Air Methods Corporation.
This news release was distributed by GlobeNewswire, www.globenewswire.com
SOURCE: Air Methods Corporation
CONTACT: Air Methods Corporation
Aaron D. Todd, Chief Executive Officer
(303) 792-7413

Medevac Crash

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Body Found on Gulf Air Flight

What: Gulf Air Airbus A330-200 en route from Bahrain to Manila
Where: Manila
When: Oct 20th 2010
Why: Prior to landing in Manila, a Filipino electrician, Marlon Cueva, 36, of Lubang Island, Mindoro Occidental, who had been working in Abu Dhabi for three months was found with a cord around his neck in the lavatory. The news is reporting this alternately as a murder or a suicide. Although news reports say he was found inside the toilet at the rear of the plane by a flight steward after landing, other reports say the discovery was called in thirty minutes before landing. His wife and relatives were waiting at the airport for the plane to arrive, and they say there was no reason for him to commit suicide. Police are investigating if this could be a murder.

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Press Release: New agreements between Canada and Switzerland

Air Transportation Agreement

One of Canada’s top-20 international air travel markets, Switzerland is an important aviation partner for Canada. In this context, Canada and Switzerland have successfully concluded negotiations toward an Open Skies-type air transportation agreement, which modernizes the 1975 agreement (last amended in 2002) to better reflect today’s market realities.

The agreement now contains expanded operating rights for airlines from Canada and Switzerland to operate air transportation between each other’s territory and third countries, in conjunction with scheduled passenger and/or all-cargo air services between the two countries. It also enables airlines to adjust their prices with greater flexibility to meet current market conditions.

Overall, the agreement provides more flexibility for airlines and airports to consider commercial opportunities, facilitates greater economic activity, strengthens ties with Switzerland and ultimately benefits passengers and shippers by allowing more flight options and routings (routes?).

Protocol Amending the Canada-Switzerland Double Taxation Convention

The double taxation convention currently in force between Canada and Switzerland was signed on May 5, 1997.

New Protocol provisions related to the elimination of double taxation, such as exemption from the withholding of tax on dividends paid to pension plans and interest payments between unrelated parties, are expected to further strengthen trade and economic links between the two countries.

The Protocol also implements the latest internationally agreed standard for the exchange of tax information, as developed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, in order to enable Canadian tax authorities to obtain information relevant for the enforcement and administration of Canadian taxation laws and to assist them in preventing international tax evasion. This supports Canada’s commitment as a G-20 member to promote the effective exchange of tax information and to protect its public finances and financial systems.

The Protocol will enter into force once both countries have completed their respective domestic implementation procedures and will apply, generally, for taxation years that begin on or after January 1 of the year following the Protocol’s entry into force.

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