The National Transportation Safety Board will hold a press
briefing on its investigation into last night’s airplane
crash near Dillingham, Alaska.
The briefing will take place today at 4:00 p.m. Alaska
Daylight Time (ADT) at the Signature Flight Support
Building, 2nd floor conference room, 6231 South Airpark
Place, Anchorage, Alaska.
NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman will conduct the
briefing.
FAA Issues Piper AD
Last week, FAA issued an Airworthiness Directive (AD) for certain Piper Aircraft (models PA-32-301T and PA-46-350P). The AD, which becomes effective July 28, 2010, requires the replacement of any V-band exhaust couplings that have been spot-welded, with ones that are riveted. The AD results from reports that indicate the spot-welded couplings are failing and could cause the exhaust pipe to detach from the turbocharger. FAA says the AD affects 596 aircraft in the U.S. registry provided they have the affected exhaust coupling installed. For more information, reference AD 2010-13-07 at http://www.faa.gov/.
Looking for a Few Good Numbers
If you own an aircraft and received a form in the mail in early June for FAA’s 32nd annual GA and Part 135 Activity Survey, please consider taking the time to complete it. The information collected in this survey helps the FAA understand more about GA activities, assess GA’s impact on the National Airspace System (NAS), and determine the need for increased traffic facilities and services. The survey also helps the FAA prepare accurate estimates of aviation safety and uses the data collected to calculate GA fatal accident rates.
In addition to mailing in the survey, selected aircraft owners can also complete it online at http://www.aviationsurvey.org/. Use your aircraft N-number to login. Names and information submitted with the survey are kept strictly confidential and will not be published or released in any format that would reveal specific information of the participant. For more information call 1-800-826-1797 or email infoaviationsurvey@paconsulting.com.
Announcing New FAA Safety Briefing Weather Issue
There is little that is more important to a pilot than being up to speed on weather. This year, FAA Safety Briefing dedicated its July/August issue to this topic that impacts safety for all pilots. Articles address obtaining and interpreting weather data, developing strategies for avoiding marginal or hazardous weather, and what services ATC can and cannot provide in adverse conditions.
In her article, “The Whither and Whether of Flying in Weather,” FAA Safety Briefing editor Susan Parson discusses how to fine tune your weather knowledge and build a framework for sound go, no-go decisions in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).
“Part of being proficient and safe in IMC is knowing and adhering to your individual personal minimums,” says Parson. “One way to approach this is to consider how comfortable you are in each of the different basic weather categories in aviation—VFR, marginal VFR, IFR, and low IFR.”
Check out the July/August issue at www.faa.gov/news/safety_briefing/.
Happy Fourth of July from the FAA Safety Briefing team!
Produced by the editors, FAA Safety Briefing, http://www.faa.gov/news/safety_briefing/
Address questions or comments to: SafetyBriefing@faa.gov.
You can also follow us on Twitter @FAASafetyBrief or www.twitter.com/FAASafetyBrief.
FORT WORTH, Texas, Sept. 3 /PRNewswire/ — American Airlines and its regional affiliate, American Eagle, today announced that the deadline for the special 20 percent discount off of any published fare for customers holding tickets for confirmed bookings on cancelled Mexicana flights has been extended until Sept. 12, 2010.
Under an offer that became effective on Aug. 30, 2010, American and American Eagle will replace a customer’s travel itinerary with a new confirmed ticket to their original destination or to the closest airport served by the carriers. This offer is only valid for travel between the U.S. and Mexico. Changes to the closest airport served by American or American Eagle are permitted only if American or American Eagle do not serve the original destination. Travel must occur within seven days of the original travel dates. Travel must be completed by Oct. 28, 2010.
To take advantage of this special offer, customers may call American Airlines reservations:
U.S.-based Customers
1-800-433-7300 (English)
1-800-633-3711 (Spanish)
Mexico-based Customers
5209-1400 (Mexico City only)
01-800-904-6000 (Rest of Mexico)
Washington Headquarters Press Release
For Immediate Release
June 24, 2010
ANCHORAGE, AK — Air traffic controllers in the Alaska region are now officially using Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) technology to improve safety and efficiency in Alaska’s rugged terrain. The system – Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) – is a core technology under NextGen.
“NextGen technology is already helping make aviation safer and more efficient,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “This innovation is transforming air transportation and every traveler is going to see the benefits.”
ADS-B provides benefits to both pilots and air traffic controllers. Pilots flying aircraft equipped with ADS-B know precisely where they are and are able to see other aircraft. ADS-B gives pilots a greater situational awareness when they are near bad weather and also allows them to receive updated flight information including Notices to Airmen and Temporary Flight Restrictions. Air traffic controllers use ADS-B to keep aircraft safely separated in the sky and on the runways.
“Air travel is the primary means of transportation in Alaska so it’s critical to make sure flying is as safe as possible,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. “While the landscape in Alaska is absolutely beautiful, its terrain can be challenging and ADS-B is making a real difference.”
Alaska was the initial test site for ADS-B under a pilot project called Capstone from 1999-2006. Through the Capstone project, the FAA equipped hundreds of general aviation aircraft in Southeast Alaska with ADS-B avionics and installed ground-based infrastructure. Pilots were able to see on their displays where they were in relation to bad weather and terrain and the fatal accident rate was cut nearly in half for equipped aircraft. The success of the Capstone project led to the FAA’s decision in 2005 to deploy ADS-B nationwide.
Controllers at both the Anchorage Air Route Traffic Control Center and at the Juneau Air Traffic Control Tower are using ADS-B, which is critical in Juneau because, like in the Gulf of Mexico, there is no radar coverage. Radar transmissions cannot pass through the mountains in Juneau, making it one of the nation’s most difficult airport approaches.
Another surveillance system in Juneau that began operating in January is the Wide Area Multilateration (WAM) system. WAM is a ground-based system of small sensors that receive aircraft transponder signals and triangulate them to determine precise locations. WAM provides surveillance for the Juneau area for aircraft not yet equipped with ADS-B. The only other area with WAM is Colorado where the system provides surveillance for mountainous destinations.
Alaska is one of four key sites that the FAA selected to test and demonstrate ADS-B services. The other sites include Houston and the Gulf of Mexico, Louisville, KY and Philadelphia. Each key site offers a different airspace environment.
The NextGen plan calls for nationwide deployment of ADS-B by 2013.
GE Aviation of the United States and Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) today announced the signing of the agreement to form their new joint venture company. Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming and the U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke witnessed the public signing by David Joyce, president and CEO of GE Aviation and Zhang Xinguo, vice president of AVIC today in Chicago.
The new AVIC and GE joint venture company will develop and market integrated, open architecture avionics systems to the global commercial aerospace industry for new aircraft platforms. This system will be the central information system and backbone of the airplane’s networks and electronics and will host the airplane’s avionics, maintenance and utility functions. GE and AVIC will continue to service their legacy programs and existing contracts with customers. The agreement is subject to government approvals and the issuance of an operating license.
This 50/50 joint venture represents a significant milestone in the growing aerospace relationship between Chinese aviation industry and GE Aviation since the mid-1980s. Chinese airlines now operate more than 2,500 jet engines produced by GE and CFM International (joint company of GE and Snecma), with an additional 1,000 engines on back order. GE Aviation’s collaboration in China also involves investment in a network of facilities for technical training, manufacturing, spare parts distribution, and engine maintenance and overhaul. Additionally, GE is powering China’s new ARJ21 regional aircraft and CFMI was selected to power the new Chinese C919 aircraft.
The new GE-AVIC joint venture extends the relationship beyond engines into commercial avionics. It will enable GE and AVIC to grow a business together that will create jobs globally, including hundreds of new jobs in the US, the UK and China.
“GE is extremely pleased and excited to be a part of this unique aviation business. The JV will build on the extensive avionics capabilities of both companies and create a technology center of excellence to serve the commercial aviation market,” said David Joyce. “GE’s aviation business in China results in 1,800 high-technology jobs in the U.S. The jobs are involved in producing and supporting jet engines for China, as well as developing the new engine and avionics system for the C919.”
The joint venture company will be headquartered in China and will be the single route-to-market for integrated avionics systems for both GE and AVIC for new commercial aircraft. Also, GE and AVIC will each provide avionics products to the joint venture company as a customer and distributor.
“The combination of AVIC and GE’s aviation experience, technical know-how and people skills will lead to the development of highly competitive commercial avionics products,” said Zhang Xinguo. “AVIC is looking forward to a long and successful partnership.”
The name of the joint venture is GE-AVIC Civil Avionics Systems Company Limited. The joint venture will have its Chairman and General Manager nominated by AVIC and GE respectively with final approval from its board of directors. The company will be initially located at Zizhu Digital Hub Science Park in Shanghai until a permanent location is secured.
“The joint venture will work to secure systems and other avionics products on future aircraft adding to the overall economic value and jobs created,” said Lorraine Bolsinger, president and CEO of GE Aviation Systems. “The JV and C919 program will support and maintain at least 300 high-tech jobs locally in each the US and China. This venture will challenge our team to come up with break-through technology. GE and AVIC will together develop a world-class engineering organization and the JV itself will be creating new IP and new technology. This is a 50/50 partnership; you have to be all in and be very committed.”
The initial focus for the joint venture is integrated avionics systems for the C919 aircraft. This selection was formalized in a Letter of Intent with COMAC memorialized in a public signing on July 12, 2010. COMAC anticipates delivering more than 2300 C919 aircraft over the 20-year life of the program. This market potential provides an estimated value for the AVIC GE avionics systems of approximately $2 billion.
Jeff Immelt, Chairman and CEO of GE and Lin Zuoming, president of AVIC, originally signed the framework agreement on November 15, 2009 regarding the formation of the visionary joint venture and the intention of jointly creating a market-leading integrated avionics system supplier.
Since a major restructuring in November 2008, the AVIC Group has been ranked in the Fortune’s Global 500 list with a diversified aviation business portfolio ranging from helicopter-making to plane manufacturing. The company has also developed strong capabilities to supply avionics products to various models of aircrafts, both for military and civil use. AVIC has also been active in extensive international exchange and cooperation, viewing all industrial players in the aviation space globally as potential partners.
China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC) is an ultra large state-owned enterprise and an investment institution, authorized and managed by the Central People’s Government. It is reorganized from AVIC I and AVIC II. The AVIC group oversees a wide range of business units, including defense, transport aircraft, aviation engine, helicopters, avionics, electromechanical systems, general aviation aircraft, aviation research and development, flight test, trade & logistics and asset management. It has nearly 200 subsidiaries (branches) and over 20 listed companies with a total of 400,000 employees. AVIC was ranked 330th in the Global Fortune 500 for 2010. It was the first Chinese aviation industrial company to make it into the rarified league. For more information, please visitwww.avic.com.cn.
GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of jet engines, components and integrated systems for commercial, military, business and general aviation aircraft. GE has a global service network to support these offerings.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a $206,550 civil penalty against Martinaire Aviation, of Addison, Texas, for violating U.S. Department of Transportation Hazardous Materials Regulations.
The FAA conducted a comprehensive hazardous materials inspection at the company’s headquarters on July 8, 2011. As a result of that inspection, the FAA alleges the airline routinely failed to complete documents properly and comply with the requirements for notifying pilots in command about hazardous materials transported as cargo.
The allegations involve 17 shipments of hazardous materials Martinaire accepted for transportation by air on 12 flights between April 1 and June 22, 2011. Martinaire is a scheduled air cargo and cargo charter company. The flights operated between various cities across the country.
Martinaire has 30 days from the receipt of the FAA’s enforcement letter to respond to the Agency.
June 18–The FAA and the European Commission concluded negotiations today on an agreement that will allow the U.S. and Europe to work together on research aimed at providing seamless air traffic services for aircraft flying between the two continents.
“Harmonization is the key to the future of air travel over the North Atlantic,” said FAA Chief Operating Officer Hank Krakowski, who signed a Memorandum of Consultations with Daniel Calleja, European Commission Director for Air Transport in Madrid. “This agreement allows us to work together to give the airlines a seamless transition between our airspaces.”
The goal of the agreement is to provide aircraft flying over the North Atlantic with consistent service in terms of avionics, communication protocols and procedures, and operational methods under NextGen and its European counterpart, the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR).
The agreement calls for 22 specific areas of cooperation. These areas include research on Data Comm, which will improve safety and efficiency by replacing voice communications with data communications, and System Wide Information Management (SWIM), an information platform that will allow FAA systems to speak to one another. Research will also be conducted on systems used by other parts of the aviation community, including the European Commission, the airlines, the military and the Department of Homeland Security. Collaborative research will also be done on emerging technologies such as 4-D Trajectory-Based Operations, which introduce the fourth dimension of time to the existing dimensions of latitude, longitude and altitude in an aircraft’s flight profile, meaning pilots and air traffic controllers will know when an aircraft will be at specific points along its flight path.
Today’s agreement, which was finalized in Madrid because Spain holds the current presidency of the European Union, replaces a Memorandum of Understanding reached between the FAA and the European Commission in 2007. That agreement allowed both sides to collaborate on basic strategies in the move toward NextGen and SESAR. This agreement calls for specific, joint research and development on NextGen/SESAR projects.
