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1 Introduction
With the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) researchers can shed light on how competencies are acquired, how its use helps us maintain and further develop skills, and whether adults are prepared for the challenges of modern knowledge societies (OECD 2013a). The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) initiated PIAAC in more than 30 countries to assess competencies of the adult population. Similar to the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), PIAAC is planned to be repeated in regular intervals. Therefore, the next cycle of PIAAC is planned for 2022.
The OECD published the PIAAC international public use file of the first cycle of PIAAC (OECD 2015) in 2013. Due to German confidentiality rules, GESIS published a scientific use file (Rammstedt et al. 2015) that includes information that could not be released in the public use file. Further national data and para data for PIAAC can shed light on further research questions as well as methodological aspects of PIAAC. This data is currently and will be made available in the Research Data Center PIAAC (RDC PIAAC) at GESIS. In addition to this, various add-on studies were and are currently being conducted in Germany, such as Competencies in Later Life (CiLL) and the longitudinal study PIAAC-L.
However, the PIAAC data presents challenges due to imputed competency scores (plausible values) and country-specific complex sample techniques. The RDC PIAAC provides information on analytic methods and the available analysis tools. It also offers workshops to familiarize users with the data and to teach them how to analyze the PIAAC data.
Given the brevity of the PIAAC data release, an impressive number of research papers were published that use PIAAC data. Research with PIAAC focuses, for example, on the returns to skills (e. g., Hanushek et al. 2015), skill and wage inequality (Paccagnella 2015), skill mismatch (Allen et al. 2013a; Perry et al. 2014), non-monetary outcomes, such as trust (Borgonovi/Burns 2015), and also methodological aspects, such as incentives in large-scale assessments (Martin et al. 2014).
This paper aims to present central aspects of PIAAC, analytical procedures for the competence measures and the complex sample design, as well as data, information and services provided through the RDC PIAAC at GESIS.
2 Assessing adult competencies around the world – The PIAAC sample and country coverage
PIAAC aims to assess adult competencies. To do so, a sample of 16 to 65 year old individuals in private households, irrespective of their nationality and legal status, was drawn in each participating country. Depending on what is available in each country, either a household survey or a registry-based survey was drawn. The target response rate in each country was 70 %, the minimum response rate was 50 % with at least 5,000 respondents. In Germany, a two-stage stratified and clustered random sample was drawn based on municipality registries. The final German sample comprised 5,465 adults thus representing a response rate of 55 % (Mohadjer et al. 2013a; Zabal et al. 2014).
Twenty-four countries participated in the first round of PIAAC. The data for this round was published in 2013. In order to extend the scope of PIAAC, the OECD initiated further rounds to include additional countries. Table 1 gives an overview of participating countries in each round. Data from round 2 will be published in 2016.
|PIAAC Round I:
|Australia, Austria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, England/N. Ireland (UK), Estonia, Finland, Flanders (Belgium), France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russian Federation, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, United States
|PIAAC Round II:
|Chile, Greece, Indonesia, Israel, Lithuania, New Zealand, Singapore, Slovenia, Turkey
|PIAAC Round III (preliminary):
|Kazakhstan, Mexico, Peru, Hungary, Ecuador
3 Background information and proficiency measured with PIAAC
3.1 The PIAAC background questionnaire
Prior to the cognitive assessment in PIAAC, respondents were administered a detailed background interview. This was a computer-assisted personal interview (CAPI) and took 30 to 40 min (Kirsch/Yamamoto 2013).
In addition to the assessment of socio-demographic and socio-economic information, the background questionnaire was intended to shed light on various research questions (OECD 2011). These research questions concerned the acquisition and loss of skills, skill use, skill inequality, human capital theory, signaling theory, and skills outcomes (Allen et al. 2013b).
The CAPI mode allows for complex routings during the interview, which decreases the burden for the respondent because questions can be easily skipped if they do not apply. Figure 1 shows a simplified routing scheme by background questionnaire sections. More complex routing rules apply within some sections of the questionnaire.
3.2 The cognitive assessment in PIAAC
The central part of the PIAAC study was the cognitive assessment, which followed the background interview. At this stage of the interview process, the interviewer handed the laptop to the respondent for him or her to conduct the self-directed assessment. In case the respondent was routed to the paper branch, he or she received paper booklets with the tasks to be solved. The interviewer was not allowed to help the respondent in any way. Only an electronic calculator and ruler were provided.
Three independent expert groups developed the theoretical frameworks of the proficiency domains tested in PIAAC: literacy (Jones et al. 2009), numeracy (Gal et al. 2009), and problem-solving in technology-rich environments (Rouet et al. 2009). Findings and experience from the previous large-scale assessments International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS), the Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey (ALL) as well as the Programme for the International Student Assessment (PISA) were taken into account during framework development.
By default, the assessment of these domains was administered on the computer. However, when respondents lacked computer experience, failed a simple ICT test, or refused to take the test on the computer, they could also do a paper-based assessment. In this case, only literacy and numeracy were assessed. In the paper branch, respondents randomly received either literacy or numeracy tasks. Problem-solving in technology-rich environments are, by definition, computer-based, so that this domain is not covered by the paper branch. Assuming that mostly respondents with low skills are selected into the paper branch, a short assessment of the respondents' reading components, a test of basic reading skills (Sabatini/Bruce 2009), was added to the paper-based assessment.
4 Item response theory and replicate approach – The challenges of the data analysis with PIAAC
Respondents in PIAAC were administered only a subset of the pool of available assessment tasks and only one or two out of the three competency domains. This reduction was necessary to decrease the burden for the respondents and increase the motivation to participate in PIAAC.
In order to draw meaningful conclusions on the populations' proficiency, the missing values were imputed. Item Response Theory and a latent regression model (Mislevy 1984; Mislevy 1985) were then applied to estimate consistent proficiency measures on the population level. Doing so, all information from the background questionnaire was combined with the information from the respondent's cognitive assessment to derive a posterior distribution that represents the individual's proficiency (Yamamoto et al. 2014).
To account for the uncertainty added by multiple imputation, 10 so called plausible values are drawn from the posterior distribution instead of one single proficiency score. These 10 plausible values have to be accounted for using Rubin's Rule (Rubin 1987). According to this rule, each estimate is calculated with each plausible value individually. The average of the resulting estimates produces an estimate and confidence interval that accounts for the uncertainty due to missing data. Rutkowski et al. (2010) provide a detailed description on how to handle multiple imputations in large-scale assessment data.
To account for the complex sample design applied in PIAAC (e. g., stratification and clustering, Mohadjer et al. 2013b), subsamples (replicate samples) were drawn from the total sample and weights were assigned to each subsample. The number of subsamples and replicate weights differ across countries, yielding up to 80 in most countries. These replicate weights must be taken into account in order to draw meaningful conclusions for the population, using the PIAAC data. Mohadjer et al. (2013b) provide detailed information about the replicate approach used in PIAAC.
In sum, to account for the complex sample design one needs to calculate each statistic 80 times (in some countries fewer times) while taking the different replicate weights into consideration. Together with one additional calculation using the final sample weight, this results in 81 calculations when all weights are taken into account and 810 calculations when all plausible values (proficiency) are taken into account also. Further information on the use of plausible values and replicate weights when analyzing the PIAAC data can be found in the User Guide for the German PIAAC Scientific Use File (Perry/Helmschrott 2014).
5 Data, information, and service at the research data center PIAAC
Along with the PIAAC results and two extensive reports (OECD 2013a, 2013b) the OECD published the international public use file for 22 countries (OECD 2015). [1] The public use file is an extensive data base that offers cross-country analyses on a detailed level. As it is freely available for everyone, it is also a very extensive source for, for example, teaching environments. However, because of different data protection rules in the participating countries, not all information collected in PIAAC is available in the public use file. GESIS therefore published a scientific use file for Germany to allow detailed analyses for these countries.
With the RDC PIAAC we aim to provide extensive German data in addition to the public use file and further international data collected during the PIAAC project. Figure 2 shows current and planned data available at the RDC PIAAC. The data sets in white indicate data currently available at the RDC PIAAC in March 2016. The data sets displayed in grey are planned to be published in the future. This includes extensive survey and para data useful for methodological research. Further information on the available data at the RDC PIAAC can be found on the German PIAAC website www.gesis.org/piaac.
5.1 Data currently available at the RDC PIAAC
The following data is currently available at the RDC PIAAC:
The German PIAAC Scientific Use File (SUF) was published in March 2014 and is available for researchers after signing a data user agreement (see below). The German PIAAC SUF can be easily merged with the public use files of other countries available at the OECD homepage (OECD 2015). In the PIAAC SUF User Guide we provide a merge syntax (Perry/Helmschrott 2014).
The PUF for Cyprus is freely available at the RDC PIAAC. It is not provided by the OECD.
Data on prime age workers (26 and 55 years old) in Germany is available in the RDC PIAAC as SUF. This data results from a German PIAAC supplement study by the Research Center Berlin (WZB), which investigates labor market success of 26 to 55 year old adults who are low educated. The data file includes all PIAAC respondents between 26 and 55 years of age, including an oversample of 560 adults of the same age group in East Germany.
The supplement study "Competencies in later life" (CiLL), [2] conducted by the German Institute for Adult Education – Leibniz Centre for Lifelong Learning (DIE) and Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich (LMU), surveyed adults from 66 to 80 years old and assessed their competencies. The CiLL SUF is available at the RDC PIAAC.
In Germany, the PIAAC sample was transferred into the panel PIAAC-L. This is a joint project of GESIS, the Leibniz Institute for Educational Trajectories (LIfBi) and the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), financed by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. PIAAC-L offers a wide scope of analyses regarding the longitudinal development of skills, additional background information and relationships between partners and household members. Data from the first PIAAC-L wave is currently available at the RDC PIAAC as a SUF. In the following years, the data of the two remaining waves of PIAAC-L will be published for scientific use.
5.2 Regional information accessible at the GESIS secure-data-center
PIAAC data on a very detailed regional level can provide further insights into cognitive skills, such as returns to ICT skills (Falck et al. 2016). For data confidentiality reasons, however, this information is available in the GESIS Secure-Data-Center (SDC) in Cologne. [3] Researchers can access this data on-site at GESIS and analyze the data in a secure environment. Only aggregated results are then provided to the researcher. Regional information, such as municipality size and type of agglomeration (BIK) is available for the place of residence of the PIAAC respondents. This type of data can be used for spatial analyses as well as for non-response analyses.
5.3 Additional PIAAC data to be published
Data from Microm Consumer Marketing [4] was used to tailor notifications to certain target groups, such as the low-educated, and for non-response-bias analyses (Helmschrott/Martin 2014; Zabal et al. 2014). Microm provides geomarketing data at the street level and was added to the PIAAC data based on respondents' addresses. This data allows for further analyses, especially regarding respondents' neighborhoods, environments, as well as sampling analyses.
Interviewer assessments and contact documentations can be used for analyses of contact histories and the respondents' living environments or can be used as additional (control) variables when analyzing PIAAC.
Log File Data from the computer-based competency assessment in PIAAC offer important insights in strategies used when solving the assessment tasks. In a joint project of GESIS and the German Institute for International Educational Research (DIPF) and financed by the OECD, a tool is developed to extract data from the log files into a flat data file. Along with the log file data, the cognitive assessment tasks of PIAAC will be documented and made available for the users.
Each country was able to add country-specific adaptations and extensions. This country specific data is often not available to researchers, as they were not included in the international PUF. GESIS plans to combine all country specific data in order to make it available to the users through the RDC.
An extensive field test for PIAAC took place in 2010 and its data will be made available for researchers. In addition to further background variables, the selection into the paper based branch was random. This allows research on mode effects and improved analyses of the reading components.
Employment biography data of the PIAAC respondents will be linked to the PIAAC data. The linking of the PIAAC data with the employment biography data is executed by the IAB and will be accessible at any on-site use location of the IAB across Germany and the USA. [5] The RDC PIAAC can be contacted for consultation and for establishing contact with the IAB.
Furthermore, PIAAC will be repeated in a 10-year rhythm. We plan to also provide data from future PIAAC waves through the RDC PIAAC.
5.4 Documentation
Besides the large amount of data that will be made available for the scientific community, the RDC offers a comprehensive documentation of the available data, such as codebooks, questionnaires, and technical reports (Zabal et al. 2014). In addition, the variables of each PIAAC survey will be entered into ZACAT, an online study catalogue. This social science data portal allows users to search for, browse, analyze, and download social science survey data. It also provides documentation of full question and answer texts, on the variable level. In addition, the RDC PIAAC provides information on the correct usage of plausible values and replicate weights when analyzing PIAAC and on the available analysis tools for different analytic problems (Perry/Helmschrott 2014).
5.5 Data training
Data workshops will be offered to familiarize current and potential users with the PIAAC data and teach them how to competently analyze the data. A first workshop in October 2015, financed by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, focused on data access, the handling of complex sampling design and multiple imputation, and the analyses of PIAAC in a multilevel design. Further workshops with different methodological foci will take place in the future and will be announced on the PIAAC website at GESIS (www.gesis.org/piaac).
5.6 Consultation
Users interested in the PIAAC data, having questions regarding data access or regarding data analyses with PIAAC can contact the RDC PIAAC via email (firstname.lastname@example.com).
6 Data access at the research data center PIAAC
Users who wish to have access to the PIAAC data need to register with the GESIS data archive at https://dbk.gesis.org/register/index.asp?db=D
They will then be able to access all RDC PIAAC data from there. For most data sets users need to sign a data user agreement in order to verify their status as a researcher. This user agreement must be sent to the number or address stated on the agreement via fax or mail. The data can then be accessed through a secure link that will be provided usually within one working day. The public use file for Cyprus is available for all users and no user agreement needs to be signed. This data can be downloaded directly after registration.
Currently, a fee of 20€ is charged whenever data is requested that is restricted to scientific users and requires a signed user agreement. This fee includes the processing of a total of five restricted data sets and can be used for any other data provided by the GESIS data archive. Data freely available for all user groups, f.ex., the PIAAC Public Use File for Cyprus, is free of charge.
Users who wish to access data in the SDC can contact the GESIS SDC by email ( firstname.lastname@example.com). The GESIS SDC will then schedule a time slot in order to facilitate data access at GESIS Cologne and the availability of user support by the RDC PIAAC. Users can bring their own material and data to the GESIS SDC. However, all incoming material will be checked beforehand to ensure that no re-identification of respondents is possible. After the users completed their analyses, outgoing data will be checked again for potential re-identification threats and then sent to the users.
7 Summary
PIAAC provides recent data on cognitive skills and allows investigating the role they play in various aspects, such as in education and on the labor market as well as regarding non-monetary outcomes. As presented, a number of data sets are available in the RDC PIAAC. Along with para data collected during the field process, the PIAAC scientific use file can open up a wide scope of research avenues in both methodological and topical research fields.
The application of item response theory and the replicate approach imply certain challenges when analyzing the PIAAC data. Therefore the RDC PIAAC provides extensive documentation on the PIAAC data and offers workshops in which data users learn how to competently analyze the data. The RDC PIAAC can also be contacted for questions regarding data analysis and data access.
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©2016 by Anja Perry, published by De Gruyter Mouton
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.


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While it may be known for its blazing heat, dangerous wildlife, and crowds of tourists, none of those factors seem to be deterring the thousands of people who move to Florida every year. In fact, the state is the fifth fastest-growing in the nation. A few years ago, it surpassed New York to become the 3rd largest United States population. So what draws people in and convinces them to overlook the state's sometimes negative reputation?
1. It's an Outdoor Enthusiast's Paradise
One of the biggest reasons people move to Florida is for its beautiful beaches. From the Florida Keys' turquoise waters to seashell-laden coastlines and everything in between, they are some of the best in the country–some would say the world. But beaches are far from the only outdoor attraction the state has to offer. You'll also find hidden springs and underwater caves, Everglades National Park, and countless state parks offering hiking, camping, and bird-watching.
2. It Offers Cities and Towns of Every Size
When most people think of Florida, a few cities in particular often come to mind. For most, those cities are either Orlando or Miami, the former with its world-renowned tourist attractions and the latter with its infamous cultural scene. But while these vibrant destinations offer plenty to see and do for both tourists and locals, few people realize that neither is actually the largest in the state. Instead, Jacksonville holds that title. And big cities are far from the only option for those looking to relocate to Florida. From inland suburbs and mid-sized cities to smaller beach communities, the state offers a wide range of options to suit every individual's wants and needs.
3. No State Income Tax
People don't just move to Florida for the atmosphere; many are also looking for a lower tax rate. There's no state income tax here, and sales and property taxes are also meager compared to other states. This makes it an ideal choice for those looking to keep more money in their pockets each tax season.
4. It's a Cultural Melting Pot
Miami may be known for its colorful culture, but few people realize that much of the state share that trait. Florida is an international hub, attracting migrants from across the U.S. and immigrants from around the world. Throughout the state, you'll find international cuisine, cultural festivals and celebrations, and plenty of museums and performances about the many different people who have made their home here.
Protecting Your Personal Information During a Move
Whether you choose to move to sunny Florida or somewhere with a milder climate, it's always important to practice a few safety tips to ensure that you aren't leaving vulnerable personal information behind for the next homeowner or tenant to find. Forward all mail, especially credit card statements and other materials that may contain personal information like your Social Security number, email address, or account numbers. It's also important to make sure that you aren't abandoning digital accounts during your move. For instance, online accounts with your local energy supplier or regional bank should be closed if you no longer need them. Leaving them open when you won't actively monitor them makes it easy for digital thieves to steal your information without you even realizing it, so protect yourself further by investing in an identity theft protection plan. Even with these precautions, your personal information could end up on the dark web. With identity theft protection in place, your personal information will be monitored so that any misuse or theft can be spotted and remedied immediately.
Making a move to the Sunshine State
There's more to Florida than gators and sunny days. Whether you're looking for a place that lets you stay active outdoors year-round, want a lower tax rate, or are dreaming of living in a culturally vibrant area, the state has plenty to offer. No matter where you choose to move through, don't forget to think about your digital safety and keep those tips in mind!


text: Jason Lavery is a Partner in our Manhattan office. Mr. Lavery received his Juris Doctor degree from Seton Hall University School of Law in 2000, after receiving his Bachelor of Arts in History from Rutgers University in 1997. From 2000-2001, he served as the Law Clerk to the Honorable Arthur N. D'Italia, Assignment Judge of the New Jersey Superior Court, Hudson County. Mr. Lavery was then associated with a regional defense firm in New Jersey, where he practiced employment law and civil defense litigation in state and federal court. Since joining the firm, Mr. Lavery has engaged in all aspects of civil litigation defense, including professional negligence, construction and labor law, premises liability, medical malpractice, employment law, general insurance defense, negligent security and dram shop law.. He is admitted to practice before the Courts of the States of New York and New Jersey, the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York as well as the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.


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[Greek leptos, slender, and odontos, tooth, alluding to narrow peristome teeth]
Richard H. Zander
Trichostomum sect. Leptodontium Müller Hal., Syn. Musc. Frond. 1: 577. 1849
Plants often robust, in thick mats or short turf, yellow- to orange-brown distally, yellow- to red-brown proximally. Stems commonly elongate, 1-5 cm; hyalodermis absent [present and usually collapsed when mature], sclerodermis of thick-walled cells present, central strand absent; axillary hairs of 6-16 cells, cells often bulging, all clear or proximal 1-2 brownish. Leaves often widely spreading to squarrose, twisted to contorted when dry, spreading to squarrose-recurved when moist; ovate- to long-lanceolate, occasionally lingulate or oblong, adaxial surface keeled or channeled along costa, mostly 2-5 mm, but often longer; base usually rectangular, sheathing, proximal margins sometimes long-decurrent; distal margins recurved in proximal 1/3-3/4, usually dentate in distal 1/3-1/2, apex acute, occasionally rounded or narrowly obtuse; costa shortly excurrent, percurrent or ending 1-6(-15) cells before apex, adaxial outgrowths absent, adaxial cells elongate, in 3-5 rows; transverse section reniform or occasionally elliptic or semicircular, adaxial epidermis absent, adaxial stereid band present, guide cells 2-4 in 1 layer, hydroid strand absent, abaxial stereid band present, crescent-shaped in section, abaxial epidermis absent or seldom present; proximal cells differentiated medially or across base, often sharply demarcated and hyaline, rectangular, slightly wider than distal cells, 2-5:1, walls of proximal cells thin to evenly or laterally thick-walled, occasionally porose distal medial cells subquadrate, mostly 11-15 µm wide, 1:1, 1-stratose; papillae simple, 2-fid, or multifid, often hollow (cup or C-shaped), occasionally. columnar, cell walls thin or evenly to collenchymatously thickened, often trigonous, often strongly bulging. [Specialized asexual reproduction by gemmae, multicellular, clavate to obovate, borne on short stalks in leaf axils, occasionally on leaf apices or branchlets.] Sexual condition usually dioicous, rarely autoicous or possibly rhizautoicous. Perichaetia terminal, interior leaves strongly convolute-sheathing, long-lanceolate, usually much longer than the cauline leaves, laminal cells long-rhomboid, porose or thin-walled. [Seta to 3 cm. Capsule stegocarpous, theca cylindric, 2.0-3.5 mm, annulus often highly differentiated, of 2-7 rows of yellowish or reddish vesiculose cells, irregularly deciduous; operculum conic to conic-rostrate; peristome teeth 16, linear, occasionally rudimentary, straight. Calyptra cucullate. Spores small.] KOH laminal color reaction usually yellow, often orange to yellowish orange, occasionally with red blotches above.
Species 39 (2 in the flora): worldwide; mostly tropical in distribution.
Both species of Leptodontium in the flora area are found in moist, high-elevation sites in the southern Appalachians, while one is also in the Southwest. The major characteristics of the genus are the large annulus, highly differentiated perichaetial leaves, cauline leaves often reflexed or squarrose above a broadened, sheathing base, and the absence of stem central strand and of leaf hydroid strand and adaxial costal epidermis. Stem hyalodermis and sporophytes are absent in the two species of the flora area.
Zander, R. H. 1972. Revision of the genus Leptodontium (Musci) in the New World. Bryologist 75: 213-280. Zander, R. H. 1994p. Leptodontium. In: A. J. Sharp et al., eds. The moss flora of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 69: 260-267.
Plants small, on soil or rock; stems short, 1-3 cm; leaves ligulate to oblong-lanceolate, bordered by 2-3 rows of less papillose, more thick-walled cells.
1 Leptodontium flexifolium
Plants larger, arboreal; stems longer, usually 5-10 cm; leaves long-lanceolate, not bordered
2 Leptodontium viticulosoides
Lower Taxa
Leptodontium flexifolium (Dickson) HampeLeptodontium viticulosoides (P. Beauvois) Wijk & MargadantLeptodontium viticulosoides var. sulphureum (Müller Hal.) R. H. Zander
Lower Taxa
Treatments in Other Floras @ www.efloras.org
Chinese Plant NamesMoss Flora of China
Other Databases
ING Genus Search
Other Databases


text:
tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3935680243668872342023-12-06T20:54:09.293+13:00Aviation Safety Management Systems LtdSafety Management Systems, aviation expositions, occupational health and safety, and provision of audits. Providing clients in the aviation industry with services in regulatory compliance including audits, project management of certification applications, and preparation of company expositions.Andrew Shelleyhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-393568024366887234.post-58377894564056563652020-10-05T13:36:00.008+13:002023-07-08T07:59:46.952+12:00Retrospective Release: Submission on Civil Aviation Bill, July 2019

On 13 May 2019 the Ministry of Transport (MoT) released an exposure draft of the proposed new Civil Aviation Bill, together with a commentary document. This post summarises ASMS' submission on the exposure draft and links to our full submission. Most of the commentary below is from the executive summary of the submission. The full submission contains 28 detailed recommendations for change, some of which are points of detail but others of which go to the heart of the design of the aviation regulatory system.
Andrew Shelleyhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-393568024366887234.post-45437789104214239342020-08-19T11:08:00.002+12:002020-12-24T16:19:33.570+13:00CAA Research may overstate number of drones by 250 percent

19 August 2020
 For immediate release

 Independent analysis of research released by the Civil Aviation Authority indicates that the number of drones and drone users may be significantly overstated.

 On 12 August 2020 the Civil Aviation Authority released a report from market research agency Colmar Brunton claiming that there may be 15,322 drones in New Zealand used for business or scientific purposes, and 156,610 drones used for recreational purposes. In an analysis released today, aviation consulting firm Aviation Safety Management Systems Ltd (ASMS) calls into question the accuracy of these figures. Dr Andrew Shelley, the Managing Director of ASMS, said that the analysis draws on the firm's own private data set of commercial drone operators as well as casting a critical eye over the data and conclusions contained in the survey report.

 Dr Shelley stated that "the number of commercial drone operators claimed by the survey report is not consistent with the survey report's own data." He said that "using the survey report's own data, the number of commercial drone users may be overstated by up to 337 percent. Applying the ASMS data set, we estimate that the number of drones used commercially could be overstated by up to 250 percent."

 Dr Shelley questioned "if this is true of the number of commercial users and commercial drones, does the same level of overstatement apply to the number of recreational drones and recreational drone users?"

 The ASMS analysis also identifies that the survey report classifies airspace as restricted that is not restricted. In the ASMS analysis Dr Shelley suggests that the term restricted "was chosen to get good headlines that would drive a political agenda."

 Dr Shelley also questioned the implicit bias in survey questions that were clearly designed to garner support for the Ministry of Transport's drone regulatory programme. "The questions are worded to imply that the proposed interventions will be effective, when there is actually considerable doubt about their effectiveness."

 "The importance of getting these numbers right goes to the heart of the Ministry of Transport's drone regulatory programme" Dr Shelley said. "With drone users potentially over stated by such a large factor, there is a significant risk that these inflated numbers will be used to justify policy interventions that are not proportionate".

 In addition, Dr Shelley noted that the survey report "lacks basic data and analysis that would be expected from a robust analysis – there are no error bounds and no attempt to identify whether the results are statistically significant. This might not be important to the casual reader, but it is important if policy interventions are to be evidence-based."

 A copy of the ASMS analysis can be downloaded here. Andrew Shelleyhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-393568024366887234.post-89491307935344421512019-08-22T11:36:00.000+12:002020-08-19T11:08:58.900+12:00Job Listing: Agricultural UAV Technical Operator

Pyka is seeking its first full time technical operator for a 250 kg fixed wing agricultural aircraft. In this role, you will be responsible for deploying the first ever commercialized large autonomous aircraft for agricultural operations. In addition to mission planning and chemical handling, you will work closely with our engineering team to identify and address areas for improvement in our system. Your feedback will be critical for defining the technical direction of our development and refining our service for our customers.

 To find out more please read the attached job description.Andrew Shelleyhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-393568024366887234.post-82777157396322774672019-03-25T13:38:00.000+13:002019-08-22T11:37:03.707+12:00SMS In Practice

Click on image to download course brochure.
You have an approved SMS Implementation Plan, but now what?

 New course dates.

 ASMS is pleased to announce two more dates for our popular 2 day practical SMS course. Extensive use is made of case studies and practical exercises to demonstrate how an effective SMS can work in practice.

 You will benefit from experience gained implementing SMS for multiple Group 1 organisations, with trainers that also understand the constraints faced by small organisations.

 Previous attendees have commented:

 "Well worth attending. Some excellent stuff to get our process rolling."

 "Great course, instruction was on point."

 Audience
 This course is intended for Chief Executives, Safety Systems Managers, and other staff involved with implementing and utilising SMS.

Date:	 20-21 May 2019	  	 24-25 July 2019

Location: 	 Ardmore Airport, Auckland	  	 Ardmore Airport, Auckland

Registration link:	 (register)	  	 (register)

Cost:	$1,500+GST

 Places are limited, book now to reserve your place.

 Andrew Shelleyhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-393568024366887234.post-15038992081153903592019-03-03T10:27:00.002+13:002020-10-05T13:58:49.188+13:00ASMS welcomes Pyka to New Zealand

The Pyka Egret.

Aviation Safety Management Systems Ltd (ASMS) is excited to welcome Pyka LLC to New Zealand. Pyka will be test flying their 'Egret 4' unmanned aircraft under a certification programme agreed with the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand. The Egret 4 has a wing span of 7.8m and maximum take-off weight of approximately 270kg, with 100kg being available for payload.

 Once aircraft certification is achieved then Pyka intends to undertake commercial agricultural spray operations.

Simulated spray run (water only)

 Our journey together began back in 2017 when we prepared Pyka's exposition for operation under New Zealand's Civil Aviation Rule Part 102. That journey has continued as we have provided regulatory advice, delivered pilot training and competency assessments, and will continue as we provide training for a UAV Agricultural Rating after aircraft certification and full Part 102 certification is achieved.

 About Pyka
 Based in Palo Alto, California, Pyka LLC (flypyka.com) is an autonomous electric airplane startup aiming to make agricultural chemical application fast, and precise, and easy – even over challenging terrain. Andrew Shelleyhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-393568024366887234.post-80405521740338589292018-11-21T10:33:00.001+13:002019-03-03T10:28:07.880+13:00SMS course receives CAA approval

ASMS is pleased to announce that our SMS course, SMS in Practice, has been approved by the Civil Aviation Authority and added to our Aviation Training Organisation Schedule of Conditions.

 Our next SMS course is on 4 and 5 March 2019. Make the commitment to obtain your CAA-approved SMS training and register today.

 Andrew Shelleyhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-393568024366887234.post-23924498850824746092018-11-07T09:30:00.000+13:002019-03-25T14:01:34.655+13:00Report: Helicopter Safety Seminar with Claude Vuichard

Visualisation of the vortex.
Image source: www.aerialstage.com and www.valair.ch.
At ASMS we believe that you should never stop learning. I've just spent an excellent day at a Helicopter Safety Seminar with Claude Vuichard, organised by The Helicopter Line in Queenstown. The seminar covered a wide range of relevant topics including specific design faults with common helicopter models, human factors issues including decision making under stress, negative transfers (often a combination of human factors and design), CRM, wire strike avoidance, slope landings, auto-rotations, and the "Vuichard Recovery Technique" for vortex ring state recovery.

 The Vuichard Recovery Technique is slightly controversial, primarily because of a lack of understanding of the flight physics involved. The traditional technique for recovery from vortex ring state involves pushing the cyclic forward and diving into the ground. Height loss with the traditional technique may be in the order of 500ft – perfectly acceptable when practiced at 1,000ft AGL as part of flight training, but not so good when close to the ground. The Vuichard Recovery Technique involves increasing the collective, applying the power pedal, and pushing the cyclic in the opposite direction to the power pedal. Height loss with the Vuichard Recovery Technique is just 20-50ft. Details of the Vuichard Recovery Technique are available on the Vuichard Recovery Aviation Safety Foundation website.

 It is understood that the FAA Is revising their handbook to include the Vuichard Recovery Technique, and the forthcoming revised edition of the late Walter Wagtendonk's Principles of Helicopter Flight has a completely revised chapter on vortex ring state which explains the physics and the technique.

 Other tips that particularly resonated were

A negative transfers checklist when introducing a new type or variant to identify every switch or control that looks similar or is in a similar position but has a different function on the new craft.

Always assume wires are present and brief accordingly, both for approach and departure.

Talk to yourself in the third person to slow down the decision making process and ensure you have considered the pertinent information. This will result in more effective decisions.

Slope landings should be nose-in, with the cyclic eased back so that the rotor disk is parallel to the slope rather than horizontal.

 A very good seminar and highly recommended to anyone who has the chance to attend, whether in New Zealand or elsewhere in the world.
       - Andrew
 Andrew Shelleyhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-393568024366887234.post-69907730137953248822018-09-04T21:51:00.001+12:002020-10-05T14:00:50.305+13:00SMS In Practice

Click on image to download course brochure.
You have an approved SMS Implementation Plan, but now what?

 Updated 26/10/2018: First 2019 course date now available.

 ASMS is pleased to announce a 2 day practical SMS course. Extensive use is made of case studies and practical exercises to demonstrate how an effective SMS can work in practice.

 You will benefit from experience gained implementing SMS for multiple Group 1 organisations, with trainers that also understand the constraints faced by small organisations.

 Audience
 This course is intended for Chief Executives, Safety Systems Managers, and other staff involved with implementing and utilising SMS.

Date:	 15-16 November 2018	  	 4-5 March 2019

Location: 	 Dunedin	  	 Ardmore Airport, Auckland

Registration link:	 (register)	  	 (register)

Cost:	$1,500+GST

 Places are limited, book now to reserve your place.

 Andrew Shelleyhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-393568024366887234.post-29471579538105632372018-08-31T16:47:00.000+12:002018-11-21T10:29:45.752+13:00Counter-UAS Regulation

The malicious or negligent use of drones gives rise to significant risks. While the risky behaviours are subject to existing legal sanctions, the apprehension of perpetrators can be difficult.

 Licensing is sometimes proposed as a means of controlling drone operations. However, licensing, even when coupled with surveillance and enforcement, does not prevent unlicensed individuals from engaging in the activity, or licensed individuals from undertaking the activity in an unsafe manner. Notwithstanding the prohibition on using a hand-held cellphone while driving, in the 2017 calendar year the New Zealand Police recorded 23,412 offences of using a hand held device for calling or texting while driving (New Zealand Police, 2018).
 Andrew Shelleyhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-393568024366887234.post-88530449262318702632017-07-01T21:22:00.001+12:002018-08-31T16:50:14.582+12:00Congratulations to Fire & Emergency New Zealand

ASMS congratulates Fire & Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) on the first day of their existence as a new crown entity. FENZ (https://fireandemergency.nz/) has been formed from the amalgamation of the urban-focussed New Zealand Fire Service, the National Rural Fire Authority, and territorial fire authorities.
 Andrew Shelleyhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-393568024366887234.post-3898005346294069012017-04-13T11:41:00.000+12:002018-08-31T16:50:13.980+12:00Life Flight Community Partner

ASMS is proud to be associated with Life Flight as a Community Partner for the 2017-18 year.

 On average, someone in New Zealand requires the help of Life Flight every six hours. In the last half of 2016 Life Flight flew 696 missions, of which 362 were intensive care transfers. Our contribution as a Life Flight Community Partner will pay the cost of at least one emergency flight during the current year.

In addition to our participation in the community partnership programme, Heather also works for the Life Flight's fixed-wing operations as their contracted and CAA-approved Quality Assurance Manager.

 Visit the Life Flight website for more information on their activities.

Andrew Shelleyhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-393568024366887234.post-40061805231393763422017-04-11T10:58:00.001+12:002018-08-31T16:50:14.017+12:00Scion Research Obtains Part 102 Certification

Aviation Safety Management Systems Ltd (ASMS) congratulates Scion on the award of Part 102 certification for their UAV operations. Scion is a New Zealand Crown Research Institute (CRI) that specialises in research, science and technology development for the forestry, wood product and wood-derived materials and other biomaterial sectors.

 Scion utilises its UAVs to capture LiDAR and multi-spectral imagery for a variety of tasks. The technologies can greatly increase forest management efficiencies by allowing companies to track and guide workers on regular forestry maintenance and remediation, and issues such as fire prevention and control.

 ASMS is pleased to have prepared Scion's exposition and application for certification. We integrated Scion's existing health and safety procedures with procedures that we developed to provide a complete exposition. Attaining Part 102 certification is symbolic of Scion's intent to complement their scientific expertise with best practice in their UAV operations.

 About Scion
 Scion's purpose is to drive innovation and growth from the forestry, wood product and wood-derived materials and other biomaterial sectors sector to build economic value and contribute to beneficial environmental and social outcomes for New Zealand. Formerly the NZ Forest Research Institute, Scion employs approximately 340 people and has its head office in Rotorua. For more information, please visit www.scionresearch.com..

 Further Information
 For further information on Scion's UAV operations see:

Scion gets eye-in-the-sky head start, Bay of Plenty Times, 2 September 2016

UAV and remote sensing, Scion website

 Andrew Shelleyhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-393568024366887234.post-45760023159934634402017-02-20T20:06:00.000+13:002018-08-31T16:50:14.077+12:00Fatigue Risk Management

ASMS has provided a submission in response to CAA's discussion paper on fatigue risk management.

 CAA proposes to update the prescriptive fatigue management requirements currently provided in Advisory Circulars, and to also provide the option for an operator to implement an Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS) as an alternative. In theory this would improve the management of fatigue as the prescriptive requirements provide a "backstop" while the optional FRMS enables the operator to adopt a different system if it will better suit its requirements.

 Key points in our submission are:

Get a review of the scientific literature done by a suitably qualified expert, and base the regulated scheme(s) and the principles for FRMS on that review;

Fatigue is a safety risk, ergo no matter how it is managed it is part of the broader safety management system;

Don't make assumptions about what might or might not be reasonably practicable, but instead apply analysis based on the legislative definition of reasonably practicable; and
Support all safety management initiatives, including fatigue risk management, with a genuine commitment to just culture.
 We also noted that any effort to increase reporting will continued to be hampered by enforcement activities, and made reference to the proposal in our Review of Joining Procedures at Unmanned Aerodromes that safety reports should be collected by an organisation independent of the enforcement authority.

 A full copy of our submission can be accessed here.

 Image courtesy of Ktoine. Used under Creative Commons Licence CC BY-SA 2.0.Andrew Shelleyhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-393568024366887234.post-57033959274301090682017-02-18T21:25:00.001+13:002018-08-31T16:50:14.188+12:00Tiro 360 Part 102 Certification

 Aviation Safety Management Systems (ASMS) congratulates Tiro 360 Ltd on the award of Part 102 certification for their UAV operations. Tiro 360's mission is to transform industries with better information, using a range of technologies to deliver information products that are visually powerful, highly accurate and instantly usable.

 Tiro 360 provides a broad range of services backed up by proven expertise, including:

topographic survey and mapping

crop health and precision agriculture

industrial inspection using specialised sensors

applied use of GIS for analysis, asset management, and modelling

data integration across multiple software and hardware platforms

avionics design and electronic engineering

 If specialised equipment is needed for your job they can design, build, and fly it.

 ASMS is pleased to have prepared Tiro 360's exposition and application for certification. Privileges available under the certificate include operating at night, over persons or property, and within low flying zones. Andrew Shelleyhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-393568024366887234.post-50940273325959596312017-01-26T09:00:00.000+13:002018-08-31T16:50:14.114+12:00ASMS Congratulates Fighter Jets NZ

ZK-EJA, the L-39C operated by Fighter Jets.nz.
Aviation Safety Management Systems Ltd (ASMS) congratulates Fighter Jets.nz on the award of their Part 115 Adventure Aviation Operator Certificate. We are proud to have project managed the application process and developed the exposition for the Fighter Jets.nz operation.

 Fighter Jets.nz is based in Tauranga and operates the Aerovodochody L-39C, a tandem 2-seat jet training aircraft. The L-39C has a top speed of Mach 0.8, equating to 910km/h at altitudes up to 3,600ft AMSL. The L-39 is also one of the most popular warbird aircraft: over 220 are registered in the United States, with 118 of those being the L-39C variant. Andrew Shelleyhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-393568024366887234.post-25364427599828485692017-01-17T21:33:00.000+13:002018-08-31T16:50:13.894+12:00Farewell to Strikemasters NZ6362 and NZ6370
 Photo credit: Strikemaster Club Facebook page.

 Brett Nicholls, Chief Executive and owner of Strikemaster Ltd, has announced that NZ6362 and NZ6370 will shortly depart New Zealand's shores. Brett says:

  It is with some sadness that I would like to inform you that both my Strikemasters and all spares have been sold to Blue Air Training based in Las Vegas, USA. I understand Blue Air Training has eight Strikemasters and a significant inventory of spare – with my two, they will have four ex RNZAF Strikemasters.

 The decision to sell was not taken lightly, however it has to be acknowledged that the landscape for Strikemaster operations has changed significantly over the last few months which had the potential to drastically increase the maintenance costs on the aircraft and the length of time each aircraft would be out of the air.

 It came to light in the fourth quarter of last year that this company purchased all Strikemaster and Jet Provost spares from Australia (our main source of spare parts) and they have an extremely close relationship with a company in the UK who has the other significant inventory of Strikemaster spare parts. Obviously, with the reduction in spare part availability it meant that running a Pt 115 operation was going to be increasingly difficult and significantly more costly.

 I would like to thank the Strikemaster team for all their support over the years – Dave, Mark, Dean, Heather, Shooter, Paul and the Pioneer team. It has been fun. The Tauranga airshow on Saturday will be the last time these two aircraft will be displayed in front of a New Zealand – a bittersweet moment for all involved.

 Time seems to have flown by since July 2012 when Strikemaster Ltd first gained Part 115 certification and ordinary New Zealanders were able to experience a flight in these iconic aircraft. Thanks Brett for bringing these two Strikemasters back to New Zealand and giving everyone this opportunity.

 Blue Air Training provides contract Close Air Support (CAS) training to conventional and special operations personnel from all branches of military service. In 2015, their Facebook page included a post noting that they had been awarded a contract to provide 1,000 flight hours per year of CAS training for Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs).

 Andrew Shelleyhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-393568024366887234.post-60406072549958046002016-12-23T12:48:00.000+13:002018-08-31T16:50:14.212+12:00Quadcam Drones Part 102 Certification

Maui A Platform vent stack lightening rod inspection
Photo: Quadcam Drones Ltd
 Aviation Safety Management Systems (ASMS) congratulates Quadcam Drones Ltd on the award of Part 102 certification for their UAV operations. Quadcam's services include detailed inspection in the Oil, Gas, Petrochemical and Utility industries, NDVI vegetation surveys and mapping, farm mapping, and general photography and videography.

 ASMS is pleased to have prepared Quadcam's exposition and application for certification. Privileges available under the certificate include operating at night, over persons or property, and within low flying zones. Andrew Shelleyhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-393568024366887234.post-52326645678847874232016-12-12T20:55:00.000+13:002018-08-31T16:50:14.139+12:00Interpine Part 102 Certification

Footage of a controlled rural fire burn.
Source: Interpine on Youtube.
Aviation Safety Management Systems Ltd (ASMS) congratulates Interpine Group on the award of Part 102 certification for their UAV operations.

 Interpine Group is the first forestry and/or rural fire related UAV provider to obtain Part 102 certification. Privileges available under the certificate include operating at night, above 400ft AGL, over persons or property, and within low flying zones.

 ASMS is pleased to have worked closely with Interpine Group on their certification application. We integrated Interpine Group's existing operating, maintenance, and safety procedures together with procedures that we developed to provide a complete exposition.

 For more information see Interpine's post. To see more about Interpine's use of UAVs in rural fire, see this post, this post and associated Youtube clip of a controlled burn.Andrew Shelleyhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-393568024366887234.post-70039219466504717542016-10-31T15:10:00.001+13:002018-08-31T16:50:14.398+12:00ASMS Silver Sponsor of NZ UAV Industry ConferenceAviation Safety Management Systems is pleased to annouce that it is a silver sponsor of the 2017 NZ UAV Industry Conference. Andrew is also presenting in the late morning session on the second day of the conference, giving a talk on his paper Human Harm from a Falling Unmanned Aircraft.

 The conference will be hosted at the Auckland University of Technology, 13-14 February 2017. Come and see us at our trade stand and hear Andrew's presentation. Further details on the conference are available here, including a draft conference programme. Andrew Shelleyhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-393568024366887234.post-87573271066239968402016-10-26T21:56:00.000+13:002018-08-31T16:50:14.546+12:00We're RebrandingIf you've visited here before you might notice that things look a little different; that's because we're rebranding!

 The typeface is clean, modern, and simple, reflecting our professionalism and the level of clarity we bring to difficult problems. The logo device reflects our aviation heritage, representing a wing (grey) with slats extended (blue).

 We're in the process of rolling out our branding across our website, facebook, business cards and stationery. Keep an eye out for our new branding on the next communications you receive from us.Andrew Shelleyhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-393568024366887234.post-44859344127309340712016-09-29T22:25:00.000+13:002018-08-31T16:50:14.065+12:00Interview with sUAS News

 Andrew Shelley was recently interviewed by Patrick Egan of sUAS News.com. Ostensibly about Andrew's recent paper "Human Harm from a Falling Unmanned Aircraft", the three-part interview covers a wide range of drone-related topics.

 You can listen to the podcast here: Part 1 (16 mins), Part 2 (32 mins), Part 3 (37 mins).

 At the time of writing, the subject paper tops the most popular papers list of the International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace. A brief abstract for the paper is available on the ASMS website, and the full paper is available for download from http://dx.doi.org/10.15394/ijaaa.2016.1120. Andrew Shelleyhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-393568024366887234.post-67570893211108529772016-09-18T19:48:00.000+12:002018-08-31T16:50:14.337+12:00Weed Control by Drone

ASMS' client Flightworks expects to spring in to action with as warm and wet weather delivers ideal growing conditions for weeds. Utilising custom-built unmanned aircraft, Flightworks can precisely map the location of weeds and then precisely deliver spray to just the areas where it is required. This service is ideal when weeds are located in sensitive areas, such as estuaries and beside waterways.

 Flightworks is certified under Civil Aviation Rule Part 102. As part of that certification, Flightworks was required to meet relevant requirements from the Part 137 agricultural operations rules, hold appropriate spray and chemical-handling qualifications, and demonstrate rigorous risk and safety management practices. As an additional assurance of competence, pilots are required to undergo and annual assessment administered by a CAA-approved Part 141 flight training organisation.

 For more information on Flightworks' services and the benefits of utilising unmanned aircraft see the articles on Flightworks' website. Andrew Shelleyhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-393568024366887234.post-31598745760468160292016-07-05T22:00:00.000+12:002018-08-31T16:50:13.955+12:00Human Harm from a Falling Unmanned AircraftASMS Principal Andrew Shelley recently published the paper "A Model of Human Harm from a Falling Unmanned Aircraft: Implications for UAS Regulation", published in the International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace.

 In this paper Andrew quantifies the human harm, in the form of fatalities and skull fractures, which could occur as a result of an unmanned aircraft falling from a height. The analysis is used to establish the maximum height at which an unmanned aircraft can be flown over people to achieve a level of safety consistent with the rate of ground fatalities from General Aviation. The maximum height is dependent on the aircraft mass and the population density of people on the ground below.

 The results are used to inform a critical evaluation of recent recommendations from the FAA-chartered "Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Registration Task Force (RTF) Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC)" and the "Micro Unmanned Aircraft Systems Aviation Rulemaking Committee". The recommendations from these committees derive from assumptions that do not reflect the risks of flying over groups of people, and particularly over crowds.

 The New Zealand CAA's rules allowing flight over people who have granted consent are also considered, and this paper recommends that maximum height limits should be specified even when consent has been granted. The New Zealand CAA, in some instances, grant approvals to fly over people without consent, and parachutes are one factor considered in granting such an approval. Andrew analyses the ability of parachutes to effectively reduce the speed of descent, and show that for lighter aircraft a parachute may allow operation over relatively dispersed groups of people.

 A copy of the full paper may be downloaded from: http://dx.doi.org/10.15394/ijaaa.2016.1120.
 Andrew Shelleyhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-393568024366887234.post-67410121440100117212016-06-27T12:44:00.001+12:002018-08-31T16:50:14.324+12:00SMS is more than just flying!Does your SMS provider promise you a system that primarily addresses Flight Safety, or is focussed primarily on your flying operations? Is your SMS provider focussed solely on Civil Aviation requirements and paying little attention to workplace health and safety regulation?

 If you answered yes to either of these questions then you could be at significant risk of failing to meet your obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. The Health and Safety at Work Act makes it clear that the business has a primary duty of care to ensure that no hazard in the workplace harms any person, worker or otherwise. You must assess all of your hazards, evaluating the likelihood and consequence of harm occuring, and then work through a structured process to ensure that all hazards are appropriately controlled.

 After years of detailed regulation by the CAA, most flight-related risks are adequately controlled. But what about hangar risks, electrical safety, and working from heights? And do you have a culture that encourages effective worker participation and active safety reporting? Talk to us today.Andrew Shelleyhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-393568024366887234.post-78656564201604098262016-05-13T15:07:00.000+12:002018-08-31T16:50:14.460+12:00Application of New Zealand Privacy Law to Drones

 An Australian woman discovered that real estate advertisements,
 including a large billboard, carried an image of her sunbathing in her
 backyard. Would New Zealand privacy law provide adequate
 protection?
 Source: "Mt Martha woman snapped sunbaking in g-string by real
estate drone", Herald Sun, 17 November 2014.

 New Zealand privacy law encompasses the torts of wrongful publication of private facts and intrusion on seclusion, the Privacy Act 1993, and various provisions in the Crimes Act 1961 and the Summary Offences Act 1981. The privacy torts set a high threshold, requiring a privacy violation to be "highly offensive", a test that is highly dependent on the circumstances of the individual case. There is considerable uncertainty over whether the privacy torts provide any effective cause of action against privacy violations by drone.

 The Privacy Act creates an offence of an "interference with privacy". One of the most likely causes of an interference with privacy involving drones is that personal information has been "collected by means that, in the circumstances of the case … intrude to an unreasonable extent upon the personal affairs of the individual concerned".

 The Privacy Act appears to provide an avenue for redress for a person who believes that they have suffered a privacy violation, but there are significant hurdles to overcome. Two particular problems are:

The victim may not be able to see the pilot, and there are unlikely to be any identifying characteristics on the drone, meaning that it will be very difficult to hold a specific individual accountable.

In a test case in 2015, the Privacy Commissioner held that if a drone is not recording then there is no information collected, so no information privacy principle can be violated and there is no interference with privacy.

 There are sufficient uncertainties in the application of the current body of tort and statute that a person upset by unwelcome surveillance cannot be sure of an acceptable resolution, even when that surveillance takes place in a location where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy.

 New Zealand's current privacy framework requires clarification to better accommodate the challenges posed by drones. Some of the modifications could potentially be achieved by way of a code of practice issued under the Privacy Act, which may provide a relatively low-cost means of setting the standard of acceptable behaviour. Challenges will still remain because the characteristics of drone technology make it difficult to identify the operator, which in turn makes it difficult to obtain any legal remedy. Such challenges may mean that in some instances an alternative, more direct means of intervening to protect one's right to privacy would be efficient.

 Source:
 This article summarises key aspects of the recent paper:

Shelley, Andrew (2016) "Application of New Zealand Privacy Law to Drones", Policy Quarterly, 12(2):73-79, May.

 A copy of the full paper can be downloaded from the Policy Quarterly website or Andrew's author page on SSRN.
 Andrew Shelleyhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com


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TextEEBO-TCP (Phase 1)A continvation of the divrnal occvrrences and proceedings of the English army against the rebels in Ireland from the first of Aprill to this present, 1642 certified by severall letters from Dublin, Duncannon Fort, and Carickfargus Aprill the 15 / and attested by Lieutenant Haward, a commander there, and sent unto a worthy gentleman in Westminster ; with some ioyfull newes from Ireland.Date of publication:
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TextEEBO-TCP (Phase 1)Sacra nemesis, the Levites scourge, or, Mercurius Britan. disciplin'd, [Mercurius] civicvs [disciplin'd] also deverse remarkable disputes and resolvs in the Assembly of Divines related, episcopacy asserted, truth righted, innocency vindicated against detraction.Date of publication:
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TextEEBO-TCP (Phase 1)A just defence of John Bastwick. Doctor in Phisicke, against the calumnies of John Lilburne Leiutenant [sic] Colonell and his false accusations, vvritten in way of a reply to a letter of Master Vicars: in which he desires to be satisfied concerning that reproch. In which reply, there is not onely the vindication of the honour of the Parliament, but also that which is of publike concernment, and behooves all well affected subjects to looke into. Printed and published with license according to order.Date of publication:
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Tag Archives: Something Understood
The men are weeping in the Oval Office…
Lucy Dichmont and I have made a Something Understood for Radio 4 about Weeping. I knew I wanted to talk about the Wailing Women in the Bible and especially that I wanted to talk again to award-winning poet Andrew McMillan … Continue reading
Ice, ash and fury: A meditation on eruptions from Mt St Helens to the Temple of St Paul's Cathedral
Since I made The White North Has Thy Bones a year ago about our obsession with the Arctic and the North West Passage I've realised January has become a favourite time of the year. For this Something Understood the starting … Continue reading
Leaving home: The 60s and getting out
The roots of this Sunday's Something Understood for Radio 4 are in one song – The Beatles' She's Leaving Home and one time: the 1960s. Over the course of the decade young people found greater opportunity through a huge growth … Continue reading
Plankton of the midsummer air
This week's Something Understood takes its title Inebriate of the Air, from an Emily Dickinson poem about the insect heavy honeyed thickness of midsummer light and air. And insect and bird sounds (swifts) dominate this programme. Entomologist Ross Piper helps us … Continue reading
Desert worlds: JG Ballard, Lawrence of Arabia, Dune & the story of Ishmael
My latest Something Understood for Radio 4 on Sunday April 19th was conceived as a sequel to The White North Has Thy Bones, about our fascination with the Arctic and the North West Passage. Together with producer Natalie Steed we … Continue reading
The Bronte heroine who hated bouquets
For this week's Something Understood producer Lucy Dichmont was keen to explore the elaborate Victorian coded language of floral bouquets. Unexpectedly I found myself pulling out memories and stories that I've been carrying around for decades. I've also created a … Continue reading
Get hold of a skull, nutmeg: Leonardo Da Vinci, Bruce Lee and the art of the List
This week's Something Understood for Radio 4 focusses on the human passion for lists. My elder brother, an obsessive list maker, started me off on my first — a film diary with each film dated and rated kept since I … Continue reading
Page 3 and pushy feminists
The weird argument being wheeled out over how feminist campaigners somehow made The Sun keep Page 3 just to spite them reminded me of this Radio 4 programme I made about Procrastination and what Martin Luther King had to say … Continue reading
The White North Has Thy Bones: Ice stations, submarines & the woman who swam the North West Passage
Here's a programme to listen to huddled by the fire, like Jane Eyre with her book of polar wildlife as the wind howls outside. Producer Kevin Dawson came up with the idea of our latest Something Understood programme about the … Continue reading
Crossing the black line: the secret history of Durham Cathedral
BEYOND THE GREY TOWERS: THE MYSTERY OF DURHAM CATHEDRAL from Samira Ahmed on Vimeo. When you walk into Durham Cathedral take a moment to look down at your feet in the nave. You might notice a big black line of … Continue reading


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Montana Winter in the Sunshine
35 comments:
Oh Tammie, it is so beautiful -- the skies, the reflections, even the snow! You make it seem like Narnia!ReplyDeleteReplies
It is so much like Narnia, a deep winter.Delete
We had not seen wonderful things for a long time.ReplyDelete
Marvellous photos !.
Have a good one, Tammie !
I am glad you enjoyed.Delete
Fantastic pictures Tammie!!!!ReplyDelete
Happy weekend CrissiReplies
Thank you for enjoying Crissi.Delete
Those mountains are achingly beautiful.ReplyDeleteReplies
Yes, they do have a good impact on us.Delete
A beautiful praise poem to winter sunshine - the photos are stunning, Tammie. I love that lake full of mountainous reflections. The low, skimming clouds are favorites of mine in wintertime. Enjoy the beauty of white!ReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you for enjoying words as well Barb. Low, skimming clouds, perfectly expressed.Delete
the clarity of your photographs and the majesty of your environment are just stunning.ReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you Sarah.Delete
What truly gorgeous scenery - and great photography too. The world still has spectacular places relatively unsullied by man.ReplyDeleteReplies
Yes, isn't that nice that there are places that are true to their wildness still. I think winter keeps that in check.Delete
The mountains are so beautiful. I feel so at home near mountains. Great photos!ReplyDeleteReplies
So do I feel at home in the mountains.Delete
Spectacular pictures!ReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you Furry Gnome.Delete
... les montagnes avec une écharpe...tout est beau! bizReplyDeleteReplies
that made me smile.Delete
So pretty. Snow is at it's best in sunlight.ReplyDelete
Wonderful photos! You certainly took good advantage of a sunny day!ReplyDelete
Gorgeous sights and photos! The sun just emphasizes the pure beauty of snow. The water under the icicles is so beautiful!ReplyDelete
Stunning photos and the words to match flowed lovely with the images... Thank you for letting us explore with you.ReplyDelete
A beautiful set of photos! The very best of winter.ReplyDelete
Beautiful pictures. The air looks so crisp and clear there. It has been rather grey here in Scotland this winter!ReplyDelete
What an amazing winter world in Montana! There are numerous treasures to experience in your place. I like all of them and particularly the fourth is my favorite.I almost hear those icicles dripping, pichi pichi pichi in Japanese. Pretty music in the small world.
with deep sigh. Wonderful new week to you.
Beautiful images of the lovely area in which you live, Tammie. Always a pleasure to look in here and linger over the loveliness of it all!ReplyDelete
Just beautiful, Tammie Lee. Nature is spectacular and a special gift to us.ReplyDelete
Beautiful! You find the beautiful every time. I adore the reflections in the water!ReplyDelete
Wow - so very beautiful!ReplyDelete
The blue sky, the sun on it and the views are wonderful. :)ReplyDelete
Stunning landscapes. Beauty and chill shines through your lovely images.ReplyDelete
Thank you Tammie - have great week,
Lovely images, Tammie. I especially like that photo with the icicles and those circles on the water and colourful stones below them. Beautiful details.ReplyDelete
Admiration to your beautiful world.ReplyDelete
I wish You all the best.
Greeting and hug.
From Japan, ruma ❃
Warm greetings to you~
Thank you for visiting and also for sharing your thoughts and feelings. Seeing anew through your eyes and heart mean so much to me!


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When I recently traveled to Florida, one of my target birds for the trip was the Black-crowned Night Heron (BCNH). These herons are smaller herons and can be quite shy to photograph. But, like many birds in Florida, they are accustomed to humans and can be much easier to photograph. They seem to be more active at dawn and dusk, which was fine with me and the lighting is typically much better then, than during mid-day.
I was hoping to find some of these herons at the Venice Rookery, and I wasn't disappointed! Several BCNH's were busy flying from and to the rookery as they were int he process of building nests. Here are a few of my favorite images of this colorful little heron:
I was even able to capture a "in your face" image as this little guy flew out, straight at me:
In my next post, I'll share some Black-crowned Night Heron images as they bring nesting materials back to the rookery.
Photographic Equipment Used:
- Canon 5D Mark III body and 7D Mark II body
- Canon 500mm, f/4 IS lens (+ 1.4x TC with some images)
- Bogen 3221 tripod with Wimberly gimbal head
- ISO 250 to ISO 400
- Aperture f/4 to f/13
- Shutter 1/1600 sec. to 1/5000 sec.


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Our house is small, I like it that way. I think everyone in my family likes it that way. Small house means warmer home to us. However, we all agree that it's hard for us to decorate and make more space for everything we need.
I'm not an expert in home decor. I'm just a mom who wants to bring life to our home. I just want to make it a little prettier, a little organized, and is a good place for our instagram worthy photos. Also, it must be a baby-proof house since my daughter oftenly falls and hits everywhere. So it took me awhile (and some headache) to come up with this look, hopefully some of you mamas will find it interesting and helpful.
Everything I use is somewhat affordable, I will link them at the end of this post. Okay, let's take a look at my living room now.
Here is how it was 1 month ago:
The first thing I did is get rid of the couch and the big buffet. My mom loved them, but they are too big for our small space. I had to fight a little while to get her to agree giving them away.
I ordered 2 of the DHP Kebo Futon Couch. I was spending a lot of time choosing the right one. I love the modern sofas with arm rest on both side but I want to keep it simple since it's a very small space, so the couches without arm rests are my choice. Also, the measurements really matter. This couch has the exact sizing I need. The reviews are saying they're a little too small but I knew they would fit us very well since we're petite. And I was right. We love them. Perfect sizing for us.
I put them on top of the nuLOOM Diamond Trellis Shag Area Rug with the Convenience Concepts Graystone Coffee Table in the middle of the couches. The table is a little higher than the seat high of the couches and it annoyed me at first. Honestly it's just because people always suggest to choose coffee table that has the same height as the sofa/couch seating. But my mom actually LOVES it. She said she prefer it's that high over leaning down on a lower table. It makes sense to me and I agree with her. Also, the table with rounded corners gives me peace in mind when my daughter is around.
Anw, the rug was on sale on Amazon for only $68, very good deal isn't it?
In the corner next to the patio door, I put a Brightech Maxwell Drawer Shelf + LED Floor Lamp. It is a unique and convenient item for small house like ours. I put little stuffs in those drawers and it's very helpful in keeping things organized.
However, you all know I hate yellow light, and I always want so switch the light to many colors, so I switched the bulb that comes with the floor lamp. I use a bulb from the Sengled Element Color Plus A19 Multicolor Kit . Now that I can switch to whatever color I want using my phone. How cool is that? Plus, it works over wifi.
Here are some of my favorite colors
There is one thing that does the very big role in this transformation that I never thought it would. That is changing the curtains. We were using vertical white plactic blinds which made the room looks old. I decided to switch to fabric curtains. That decision made me a little stressful because it is the first time I'm installing such a thing like that and it was my first time using a elecrical drill driver. I was afraid that I couldn't make it even when installing the rod.
Thanks to Maytex for sending their Smart Rods and Smart Curtains . I was able to install the rod easily without doing any measurement. Yes I mean NO MEASURING at all. Learn how by watching the instruction video in the link above.
Just install them based on the window frame, then twist, and lock. That's it.
Their smart curtains block 100% sunlight, perfect for nursery room too.
On the wall next to the sitting area, I hang a big Cooper Classics Luna Wall Mirror and I'm so glad I did. It is such a perfect decor for the room.
Under that mirror, I put a side table which matches the coffee table (Convenience Concepts Graystone Side table). I should put a console table instead but I found it's too big for our small space, so a side table is perfect.
Lastly, I started decorating Christmas (I know, it's a little too soon). A 6ft pencil shape Christmas tree is a great choice for our living room. It is from King Of Christmas, a destination for all type of artificial Christmas trees. I love keeping it neutral and simple so I added some rose gold ornaments and mini pine cones.
So this is that corner before and after:
I'm waiting for my husband to come and helps me to paint the wall then change the ceiling fan to a black, white, and light gray tone. So it's pretty much done for now.
I should show you guys the other corner as well but I don't want to make this blog post too long and overwhelmed so I'll cut it into half. Stay tune for another blog post sharing my living room makeover with more details on Misa's play area.
Thank you for reading this far. And here are the links for the items I mentioned:
- DHP Kebo Futon Couch
- Convenience Concepts Graystone Coffee Table
- Convenience Concepts Graystone Side Table
- nuLOOM Shag Area Rug
- Brightech Drawer Shelf + Floor Lamp
- Sengled Smart Bulb Kit
- Maytex Smart Rods & Smart Curtains
- Cooper Classics Luna Wall Decor on Bellacor website
- King Of Christmas 6ft Pencil shape Christmas tree
- Rose gold 1.57″ ornaments
- mini Pine Cones orgaments


text:
Slim Shaper Review {April 2020} Read Article Then Buy -> Read the above article that talks about the Shaper and get all your FAQs answered.
Are you looking for a quick and easy solution to lose weight? We have got you covered. We are introducing the Slim Shaper. For all those of you who are struggling to lose weight as soon as you can.
In the 21st century, almost every one out of ten people are obese. We can blame it on the technology that has made us so lazy that we do not want to step out of our homes to buy what's available in the store next door. Or we can blame it on ourselves for using technology as an excuse not to move our bodies.
The sedentary lifestyle is growing in many countries, which are developed and prosperous. The Slim Shaper is trending in the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Germany, France, and Italy for all the right reasons. The company is offering an exclusive offer of a 50% discount to all its customers.
What is Slim Shaper?
Slim Shaper is a belt for the body that can be wrapped around the abdomen area. It uses the Velcro closure to give you a perfect fit. It comes in different colors and has a comfortable material for the body. It helps in reducing fat by sweating the area.
If you order one for yourself, you will get up to 50% off as the company has limited stock available with free shipping. You will receive a satisfaction guarantee with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Who needs a Slim Shaper?
A Slim Shaper is an excellent tool for people who are stuck with their stubborn belly fat. We all know how demotivating it can be for obese people to live their lives with their heads held high. It not only destroys your self-confidence but makes you the part of all jokes among your friends and families. It keeps you from living a happy and carefree life.
Developing excessive fat can also lead to health problems sooner or later in life. So, people who are extremely busy and are always travelling, it is possible that they will benefit from wearing this Shaper. It will ease their mind and keep them on top of their game all day long.
Advantages of Slim Shaper
- Slim Shaper is comfortable to wear and remove.
- It has a hook and loop closure.
- The soft fabric is gentle on the skin and can be worn for a long time.
- They help you lose belly fat without having to move your body.
- The Shaper gives your body a great shape when you have to go for any special occasion, and you do not have the time to exercise.
- The manufacturer is offering a discount of up to 50% off.
Technical Specifications of Slim Shaper
- Slim Shaper has a Velcro closure.
- The high-quality fabric used for the Shaper is waterproof and will last you a long time.
- It is lightweight and does not feel like a burden to the wearer.
- You can fold it and carry it in your luggage.
How does the Slim Shaper work?
The Slim Shaper uses a beautiful quality fabric and Velcro closure and can be adjusted around the abdomen as per the user's comfort. It creates a lot of heat that makes the area sweat, and eventually, you lose that extra kilo. Besides, wearing it underneath your clothes will make you look thinner and fitter than usual.
How to use Slim Shaper?
It is straightforward to use Slim Shaper, as there are no complicated wires and switches involved. Just wear it like a regular jacket and let the Shaper do its work by sweating the calories out.
How is Slim Shaper different from other weight loss methods?
Slim Shaper uses a natural way to reduce your extra pound from around the belly area. You can also wear it on your thighs and upper arms if you need to. There is no need for batteries or electricity. It is safe and can be carried along with you wherever you go.
On the other hand, different kinds of methods or equipment need back to back expensive batteries or electricity to work. They are risky and have many side effects. Some of them include surgery and eating pills that are not recommended by medical professionals.
Customer Reviews
Richard Webber says, "Well, I am a doctor, and a lot of obese patients come to me to get short cuts to lose weight. I don't have any, but recently a patient showed me the Slim Shaper and how she has already lost five kilos! I was surprised and recommended it to my other patients too. They said they loved it too."
Ellis Grey says, "I have been obese after I had my first child and since then have been struggling to lose weight. However, due to hectic work schedules and long travelling hours, I barely get time for myself. My husband got me the Slim Shaper, which I can wear to work and thereby lost a considerable amount of weight."
Naomi Gill says, "I am a bar attender and cannot afford an expensive gym membership, which makes my tummy stick out with my costume at my workplace. My self-confidence took a dip, and it was getting difficult to get through the day. However, I bought this Slim Shaper at a massive discount of 50% off and am very satisfied with it."
Where can you get Slim Shaper today?
Slim Shaper is available at a 50% discount on the website with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you are unhappy with the product, you can get a refund, so hurry up as they have limited stock available with free shipping.
Final Verdict
To sum up the reviews of Slim Shaper, we recommend you and so do customers who have seen proof of the product. It is a handy and inexpensive way to lose the stubborn belly fat that you have been struggling with day in and day out.