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Press Release – FAA Proposes $664,000 Civil Penalty

Press Release – FAA Proposes $664,000 Civil Penalty Against Parachute Center

For Immediate Release
October 12, 2010

LOS ANGELES – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a $664,000 civil penalty against William C. Dause, doing business as The Parachute Center of Acampo, Calif., for allegedly failing to perform required aircraft parts replacements and failing to comply with safety directives.

“Putting parachutists at risk by neglecting to follow safety procedures is unacceptable,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood. “We expect aircraft operators to comply with our safety rules and will take enforcement action when they do not.”

The FAA alleges that The Parachute Center operated a DeHavilland DHC-6 Twin Otter when critical parts were well past their life limits and without inspecting portions of the wings for corrosion.

In all, the FAA alleges that The Parachute Center operated the aircraft on approximately 2,121 flights between March 21, 2008 and Nov. 4, 2009 with elevator control cables that were overdue for replacement and when the plane was not in compliance with Airworthiness Directives requiring visual inspections of the wing main spar, lower spar cap extensions and wing support strut for possible corrosion.

The FAA also alleges that the company operated the aircraft on at least 500 flights between April 16, 2009 and Nov. 4, 2009 with aileron control cables that were overdue for replacement.

“Passengers and crew have to be able to trust that an operator has done the right thing and has complied with all the rules,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. “Safety and compliance are the right choices, every time.”

The Parachute Center has 30 days from receipt of the FAA’s enforcement letter to respond to the agency.

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    SAFO: Maintenance of Night Vision Imaging Systems (NVIS)

    Purpose: This SAFO alerts operators of aircraft equipped with a Night Vision Imaging System (NVIS) of
    potential deficiencies in the configuration and condition of installed NVIS equipment.

    Background: Recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) assessments of NVIS-equipped aircraft have shown that the likelihood of configuration and maintenance problems increases as aircraft continue in service after NVIS modifications. This means that operators of NVIS-equipped aircraft may not be adequately meeting the inspection and maintenance requirements of NVISs.

    The assessment also concluded that operators are installing light-emitting or light-reflecting equipment, which affects the NVIS compatibility of the aircraft, without ensuring that the equipment is properly evaluated.

    Discussion: The FAA’s Aviation Safety (AVS) organization recently directed a nation-wide sampling of NVIS- equipped aircraft. FAA teams, made up of Flight Standards Service (AFS) inspectors and Aircraft Certification Service (AIR) inspectors/engineers, conducted the sampling and discovered that NVIS-equipped aircraft were frequently out of compliance with NVIS requirements for three primary reasons:
    ? Operators installed light-emitting or light-reflecting equipment that caused the aircraft to no longer be properly configured for use with Night Vision Goggles (NVG);
    ? Operators failed to properly maintain the installed NVIS equipment; and
    ? Flightcrews were aware of conditions that reduced the ability to see necessary instruments/equipment during day, night, NVG-aided, or NVG-unaided flights. Another common problem was improperly filtered light-emitting equipment. Flightcrews did not communicate these discrepancies to the maintenance department or maintenance personnel.

    After assessing and analyzing the data collected, the FAA has determined it is likely that other NVIS-equipped aircraft may not be properly configured or maintained for NVG operations. The term night vision device was intended to include all necessary equipment that is installed or modified as part of the entire NVIS, which includes NVGs. Failure to properly maintain an aircraft’s NVIS configuration and equipment can degrade NVG acuity (i.e., blind spots for flight crewmembers using NVG) and prevent the flightcrew from clearly seeing aircraft instrumentation.
    Distributed by: AFS-200 OPR: AFS-300

    Recommended Action: Directors of Maintenance, Directors of Safety, Directors of Operations, Chief Pilots, mechanics, and pilots operating or maintaining NVIS-equipped aircraft should take appropriate action to confirm the following:
    1. Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA) are current, correct, applicable by serial number, and are being properly applied by maintenance departments and personnel. If the ICA has been incorporated into an inspection program, confirm that all the additional ICA requirements are being met;
    2. Installed NVIS equipment are properly maintained;
    3. Maintenance personnel are appropriately trained on the maintenance and inspection of NVIS installations;
    4. Flightcrews fully understand the importance of reporting NVIS-related problems to maintenance personnel;
    5. Aircraft configuration/conformity is periodically checked to ensure that installed NVIS equipment complies with the Supplemental Type Certificate (STC); and
    6. Current and complete data is available to maintenance personnel to support the NVIS equipment.
    NOTE: An aircraft that does not comply with the STC and/or ICA requirements, or that has inoperative or improperly maintained equipment, should not be operated until corrective action has been taken. Operators may use or apply for Minimum Equipment List (MEL) relief as applicable. MEL information is contained in FAA Order 8900.1, Flight Standards Information Management System (FSIMS), Volume 4, Chapter 4, Minimum Equipment Lists (MEL) and Configuration Deviation Lists (CDL), as well as MMEL Policy Letter 127.

    Please visit http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/air_cert/design_approvals/rotorcraft/nvis/ for additional information on NVIS-equipped aircraft.
    Contact: Questions or comments concerning this SAFO can be directed to your Certificate Holding District Office (CHDO).

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  • Global Aviation Holdings and World Airways Establish Sales Offices in Asia Pacific and Europe

    PEACHTREE CITY, Ga., Feb. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Global Aviation Holdings Inc. and its subsidiary, World Airways, have established sales offices in Hong Kong and in Leipzig, Germany, expanding sales and service capabilities to better serve the company’s international customers in Asia Pacific and Europe.

    Todd R. Hildreth is Director Cargo Sales for the Asia Pacific region, based in Hong Kong, and Brita Forrest-Hampson, based in Germany, is Director Cargo Sales & Service for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Steve Dix, an 11-year veteran of Global Aviation, has been named Senior Director Cargo Sales The Americas and Global Charter Sales. The team is led by Hendrik Falk, Vice President Cargo Sales, who joined the organization in 2009 after holding various global management positions at Lufthansa Cargo and Polar Air Cargo.

    “By expanding the team with these experienced professionals in the field, we will be closer to our present and future customers in key markets around the world, while fueling our opportunities for growth in the global air transport industry,” said Brian Bauer, Chief Commercial Officer.

    Mr. Hildreth has more than 25 years of experience in the air transportation industry. Before joining Global Aviation, he was Director Sales & Marketing for Jade Cargo International, (a Lufthansa Cargo subsidiary), based in Shenzhen, China. He also served at Lufthansa Cargo’s headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany as Manager Global Key Accounts, and held sales, marketing and operation management positions for Lufthansa Cargo in various U.S. locations.
    Ms. Forrest-Hampson has worked in the air cargo industry for more than 13 years, serving most recently as Director of Marketing and Sales for Europe at EasternAirCargo (EAC), a subsidiary of the Leipzig/Halle Airport. Prior to joining EAC, she worked as a regional commercial manager with Cargolux Airlines.

    Global Aviation Holdings Inc., based in Peachtree City, Ga., is the parent company of North American Airlines and World Airways. North American Airlines, founded in 1989 and based in Jamaica, N.Y., operates B757-200ER and B767-300ER aircraft. World Airways, founded in 1948 and based in Peachtree City, Ga., specializes in providing ACMI solutions using B747-400 and MD-11 aircraft.

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  • Flight 447: Press release N° 11

    Paris, 03 June 2009 – 13:21 local time
    Archbishop Of Paris Press Release
    INTER-RELIGIOUS PRAYER CEREMONY FOR THE 228 VICTIMS OF FLIGHT AF 447 OF 1ST JUNE 2009, AND FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS – NOTRE-DAME DE PARIS – WEDNESDAY, 3 JUNE 2009 AT 4PM
    Versão brasileira abaixo

    The ceremony will be attended by ~~~~inal André Vingt-Trois, Archbishop of Paris and President of the Bishops Conference of France, Grand Rabbi Haïm Korsia, the Jewish Chaplain for Air Personnel, Mr. Mohammed Moussaoui, President of the French Council of Muslim Faith, Metropolite Emmanuel, President of the Assembly of Orthodox Bishops of France and Pastor Claude Baty, President of the Protestant Federation of France.

    In addition to the Grand Rabbi Haïm Korsia, the Catholic, Protestant and Muslim Chaplains of Paris-Charles de Gaulle will attend: Father Francis Truptil, Father Gérard Sqarcioni, Father Baudouin Tournemire, Pastor Jean Pierre Dassonville and Imam Hazem El-Shaffei.

    This ceremony has been prepared together with Air France. It will be a moment of contemplation and prayer for the families and friends of the victims, in a spirit of unity among people from every country and religious belief. Readings will therefore be made in French, English and Brazilian. Prayers will be accompanied by hymns in French, Latin and German by the Choirs of Notre-Dame de Paris and Air France.

    At the start of the ceremony, His Eminence ~~~~inal Vingt-Trois will propose that the families and friends of the victims carry 228 lighted candles to the altar, each one symbolizing a victim.

    The families may then take the candle away with them after the ceremony.

    Music and Readings:

    Introit from Requiem op. 9, by Maurice Duruflé (Choir of Notre Dame)
    Psalm 42 Wie der Hirsch, by Felix Mendelssohn (Air France Choir)
    Reading: Lamentations 3, 17-26
    Psalm 129 (Choir of Notre Dame and congregation)
    I have waited for thee O Lord. My soul hath relied on his word
    Reading from the Gospel according to Saint Luke (Luke 23, 33-53)
    Johann Sebastian Bach, Chorale Ich harre des Herrn (from Cantata BWV 131) (Choir of Notre-Dame)
    Felix Mendelssohn, Da nobis Pacem (Air France Choir)
    Kyrie, from Requiem op. 9, by Maurice Duruflé (Choir of Notre-Dame)
    Giuseppe Verdi, Requiem, Libera me Domine – (Air France Choir)
    The poem Footsteps in the Sand by Brazilian poet Ademar de Barros will be read at the end of the ceremony.

    (Extracts)

    One night, I dreamed a dream, I was walking along the beach with my Lord. Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonging to me and one to my Lord. When the last scene of my life shot before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. There was only one set of footprints. I realized that this was at the lowest and saddest times of my life. This always bothered me and I questioned the Lord about my dilemma. “Lord, You told me when I decided to follow You, You would walk and talk with me all the way. But I’m aware that during the most troublesome times of my life there is only one set of footprints. I just don’t understand why, when I need You most, You leave me”.

    He whispered “My precious child, I love you and will never leave you, never, ever, during your trials and testings. When you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”

    Português

    Arcebispado de Paris

    Celebração inter-religiosa de prece
    Para as 228 vítimas do vôo AF 447 de 1° de junho de 2009, para suas famílias e seus entes próximos

    Catedral Notre-Dame de Paris – Quarta-feira 3 de junho de 2009 às 16 horas
    Na presença do ~~~~eal André Vingt-Trois Arcebispo de Paris e presidente da Conferência dos Bispos da França, do Grande Rabino Haïm Korsia, capelão Israelita do ar, do Sr.Mohammed Moussaoui, presidente do Conselho Francês do Culto Musulmano, do Metropolita Emmanuel, presidente da Assembléia dos Bispos Ortodoxos da França e do Pastor Claude Baty, Presidente da Federação Protestante da França.

    Além do Grande Rabino Haïm Korsia, dos capelões católicos, protestantes e musulmanos de Roissy estarão presentes: o Padre Francis Truptil, o Pastor Jean Pierre Dassonville e o Imame Hazem El-Shaffei.

    Esta celebração foi preparada conjuntamente com a Air France. Ela será um tempo de recolhimento e de prece para as famílias e os entes próximos das vítimas, dentro de um espírito de aproximação entre os homens de todos os países e de todas as religiões. Na ocasião serão feitas leituras em francês, inglês e português. A prece será acompanhada por cânticos em francês, latim e alemão da Maîtrise de Notre-Dame de Paris e do Coral da Air France.

    No início da celebração, Mgr Vingt-Trois vai propor aos membros das famílias e entes próximos de levarem 228 velas acesas diante do altar. Elas simbolizam cada um e cada uma dos desaparecidos.
    As famílias serão convidadas a conduzir esta vela no final da celebração.

    Músicas e Textos da celebração:

    Intróito do Requiem de Duruflé (Maîtrise de Notre Dame)
    Salmo 42 Wie der Hirsch de Felix Mendelssohn (Coral da Air France)
    Leitura do Livro das lamentações de Jeremias (Lm 3, 17-26)
    Salmo 129 (Maîtrise de Notre Dame e assembléia)
    Eu deposito minha esperança no Senhor, eu tenho a certeza da sua palavra
    Evangelho de Jesus Cristo segundo São Lucas (Lc 23, 33-53)
    Coral de Johann Sebastian Bach, Ich harre des Herrn (trecho Cantate BWV 131) (Maîtrise Notre-Dame de Paris)
    Felix Mendelssohn, Da nobis Pacem (Coral da Air France)
    Trecho do Requiem de Maurice Duruflé, Kyrie (Maîtrise de Notre-Dame)
    Giuseppe Verdi, Libera me Domine – trechos do Requiem (Coral da Air France)
    Um poema “Passos sobre a areia” de Ademar de Barros, poeta brasileiro, será lido no final da celebração.
    (trechos):

    Uma noite, eu tive um sonho,
    Eu caminhava pela praia, lado a lado com o Senhor, deixando uma dupla pegada na areia, a minha e a do Senhor.
    Veio-me a idéia – era um sonho – de que cada um dos meus passos representava um dia da minha vida. (…) Mas observei que em certos lugares em vez de duas pegadas, havia apenas uma. Então, dirigindo-me ao Senhor, ousei repreendê-Lo:
    “O Senhor nos havia no entanto prometido de estar conosco todos os dias!
    Por que não cumpristes a vossa promessa?
    Por que me deixastes sozinho no pior momento da minha vida?
    Nos dias em que eu mais precisava da vossa presença.”
    Mas o Senhor me respondeu:“Meu amigo, os dias em que tu vês uma única marca de passos sobre a areia, são os dias em que Eu te carreguei.”

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  • |

    FAA PR: Climbing Into Thin Air

    July 21–How does an airport suddenly go from being 2,000 feet to more than a mile high? Barring a “Hollywood-style” seismic event at your airport, the answer is density altitude; in other words, how high an aircraft “thinks” it is. When density altitude is high as a result of temperatures above standard at a given altitude, the air is less dense than normal. This means an aircraft will perform as if at a higher altitude with degraded climb performance and acceleration; two pretty important factors on a hot, humid day with a short runway and 50-foot pine trees looming at the end.

    The article “Climbing into Thin Air,” featured in the July/August issue of FAA Safety Briefing, offers more information on this “hot” topic.

    “Density altitude is not just a concern for flying in the mountains,” says FAA’s Bryan Neville. “Hot temperatures can have an affect at any altitude.” Neville, a former adjunct aviation professor and flight instructor with experience at both high- and low-elevation airports, suggests becoming familiar with the weight-and-balance and the performance and limitations sections of your pilot’s operating handbook (POH) or airplane flight manual.

    One the ways to keep your cool aloft on those hot summer days is to avoid takeoffs and landings at midday when temperatures are usually at their highest. Instead, take advantage of cooler mornings or evenings when the performance-robbing effects of high density altitude are not as pronounced.

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  • Emergency: Honeywell Bendix Navigation Issue


    Emergency Notice
    Notice Number: NOTC2101
    Emergency Notification
    The FAA has been made aware of an issue with an update to a navigation database that became effective on 14 January 2010. To date, the known affected models are: Honeywell Bendix/King KLN 35, KLN 88, KLN 89, KLN 89B, KLN 90, KLN 90B, KLN 94, KLX 100, KLX 135, KLX 135A, KLN 900.

    *** URGENT SAFETY BULLETIN ***

    January 11, 2010

    Reference: Databases for KLN 35A/KLN 88/KLN 89/KLN 89B/KLN 90/KLN 90A/KLN90B/KLN 94/KLX 100/KLX 135/KLX 135A/KLN 900

    After production and distribution of the Cycle 1001 databases (effective date 14-Jan-2010),Honeywell was informed by our data supplier, Jeppesen, that the data file delivered to Honeywell contained incorrect Dynamic Magnetic Variations for all terminal and en route waypoint records.For that reason, it is imperative that the incorrect databases NOT be used for arrival, departure, or approach operations.

    Any of the following databases contain incorrect data that must be corrected before use:
    1. Cycle 1001 databases downloaded from Wingman Services prior to January 12th, 2010.
    2. Cycle 1001 databases on programmed media and received prior to January 12th, 2010.

    To fix this issue, a corrected database must be installed prior to the next flight. For all units except the KLN 94, refer to the applicable pilot’s guide for database update instructions. For operators using KLN 94 equipment who downloaded the Cycle 1001 database prior to 16 January 2010, please refer to Service Information Letter “Incorrect Dynamic Magnetic Variation Data on database cycle 1001” PN D201001000010.

    To obtain a corrected database:
    1. For customers with web distribution, download the new data file Cycle 1001 and load the new database in the unit.
    2. For customers with all other types of distribution, return the distribution media (except diskettes) to Wingman Services and a new Cycle 1001 will be sent back to be loaded into the unit.

    Note that if it cannot be determined whether the Cycle 1001 database falls within the categories listed above, or if there is any uncertainty about the correctness of the data, a corrected database should be installed.

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  • |

    Press Release – Pilots and Air Traffic Controllers Share Safety Data

    For Immediate Release
    September 22, 2010

    WASHINGTON — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced a safety program that for the first time will integrate voluntary safety information self-reported by pilots and air traffic controllers. This data-sharing program will give the FAA a more complete picture of the national airspace system by collecting, assessing and reviewing safety events from the perspective of both pilots and air traffic controllers.

    United Airlines and its pilots have the first agreement in place to participate in a demonstration program. The FAA expects to sign similar agreements with other carriers in the future.

    “Safety is our number-one priority,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. Having pilots and controllers provide information abut potential air safety problems will help us correct them before they become accidents.”

    “This revolutionary program will give us an incredible amount of data that will help us find problems, make corrections and avoid incidents,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. “I applaud air traffic controllers, pilots and airlines for their dedication to keeping our aviation system as safe as possible.”

    For the first time, information from the Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) and the Air Traffic Safety Action Program (ATSAP) will be merged, so input from both pilots and controllers can help guide safety decisions. The program will develop processes and policies to share and analyze relevant safety information in a non-punitive way, consistent with the basic principles of Safety Management Systems. These systems are widely used within the FAA and the aviation industry.

    ASAP encourages aviation employees to voluntarily report safety information that may help identify potential precursors to accidents. The ASAP process resolves safety issues through corrective action rather than through punishment or discipline. Each program is based on a safety partnership that includes the FAA and the aviation operator, and usually includes a third party, such as the reporting employee’s labor organization. In today’s agreement, the airline’s labor organization is the United chapter of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA). Today, 73 air carriers have 169 ASAP programs for pilots, mechanics, flight attendants, and dispatchers.

    ATSAP is an agreement between the FAA and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) that is designed to foster a voluntary, cooperative, non-punitive environment for FAA air traffic employees to openly report safety concerns As a result of ATSAP, all parties have access to valuable safety information that otherwise might never have been discovered or reported. The FAA analyzes the information to develop skill enhancements or system corrective actions that will help solve safety problems.

    Voluntary reporting programs have significantly contributed to the nation’s impressive aviation safety record, including improvements to training and enhanced operations and maintenance procedures.

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