Pay attention to signs of potential mechanical problems
The problem
Some pilots do not pay adequate attention to indications of aircraft mechanical problems, which can lead to in-flight emergencies and accidents.
Powerplant system or component failure is the third-most common defining event for fatal accidents in the personal flying sector of general aviation (GA). Nonpowerplant system or component failure also ranks high on the list.
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- Air France | Air Safety | Airbus | lightning | Lost | weather
Air France Press Releases
Flight Air France 447 Rio de Janeiro – Paris-Charles de Gaulle
Paris, 01 June 2009 – 16:44 local time
Press release N° 4
Air France expresses its deepest sympathy to the relatives and friends of the passengers and crew who were on board AF flight 447 on 31 May 2009, which disappeared somewhere between Rio de Janeiro and Paris-Charles de Gaulle.Air France is doing its utmost to provide support to relatives and friends: counselling with physicians and psychologists as well as specially trained Air France volunteers has been set up at the airports of Paris-Charles de Gaulle 2 and Rio de Janeiro.
Air France has also established a special toll-free number for the attention of relatives and friends of passengers who may have been on board. They can use this number to obtain information on whether or not a member of their family or friends was on board.
Phone number reserved for relatives and friends
0800 800 812 in France,
0800 881 20 20 in Brazil,
and + 33 1 57 02 10 55 for calls from all other countries.Air France will release further information as soon as it is available.
NB: We ask journalists not to call this number, which is reserved for relatives and close friends.
Português
Air France dirige suas sinceras condolências às famílias e amigos dos passageiros e membros da tripulação que se encontravam a bordo do voo AF 447 do dia 31 de maio, desaparecido entre o Rio de Janeiro e Paris Charles de Gaulle.A Air France está concentrando todos os seus esforços em dar suporte às famílias e parentes: uma assistência psicológica foi instalada no aeroporto de Paris Charles de Gaulle 2 e no aeroporto do Rio de Janeiro. Ela é composta de médicos e psicólogos, assim como voluntários da empresa, especialmente treinados para estas situações.
A empresa também colocou à disposição um número de telefone toll free especial de atendimento às famílias dos passageiros. Ela informa, conforme solicitação, de uma eventual presença a bordo de um familiar.
Números de telefone reservados às famílias
0800 881 20 20 para o Brasil,
0800 800 812 para a França,
e 33 1 57 02 10 55 para outros paísesAir France comunicará outras informações assim que elas estiverem disponíveis.
NB : Solicitamos aos jornalistas que NÃO liguem para este número, reservado às famílias.
Paris, 01 June 2009 – 15:59 local time
Press release N° 3
Air France has sent all the information in its possession on the disappearance of flight AF 447 operating the Rio de Janeiro – Paris-Charles de Gaulle route to the French Accident Investigation Bureau for civil aviation (BEA), the French organization in charge of technical investigations into civil aviation incidents and accidents, and to the aircraft manufacturer Airbus. Air France is in permanent contact with the BEA and Airbus.The Airbus A330-200 aircraft, registration F-GZCP, left Rio on 31 May at 7:03pm local time (12:03am in Paris). The aircraft hit a zone of stormy weather with strong turbulence at 2am this morning (universal time), i.e. 4am in Paris. An automatic message was received from the aircraft at 2:14am (4:14am in Paris) indicating a failure in the electric circuit in an area a long way off the coast.
The aircraft was powered with General Electric CF6-80E engines.
The aircraft had totalled 18,870 flight hours and went into service on 18 April 2005.
Its last maintenance check in the hangar took place on 16 April 2009.Air France shares the anxiety and distress of the families concerned. The families are being taken care of in a specially reserved area of Paris-Charles de Gaulle Terminal 2.
A toll-free number has been opened at 0800 800 812 in France,
at 0800 881 20 20 in Brazil
and + 33 1 57 02 10 55 for calls from outside France.
NB: We ask journalists not to call this number, which is reserved for families and close relatives.Português
Air France informou ao Bureau de Investigação e Análises para a Segurança de Aviação civil, organismo responsavél na França pelas investigações técnicas sobre acidentes e incidentes da aviação civil, e para a Airbus, fabricante do avião, as informações que tem em seu poder após o desaparecimento do voo AF 447, fazendo a ligação Rio de Janeiro – Paris-Charles de Gaulle : a companhia está em contato permanente com o Bureau e com a Airbus.
A aeronave, do tipo Airbus A330-200, matrícula F-GZCP, deixou o Rio dia 31 de maio às 19h03 (hora local).
A aeronave atravessou uma zona de tempestade com fortes turbulências às 2 horas da manhã (horário TU) – 23 horas horário do Brasil. Uma mensagem automática foi recebida às 2h14 da manhã (horário TU = 23h14 horário do Brasil) indicando uma pane do circuito elétrico numa zona afastada da costa.
A aeronave é equipada de motores General Electric CF6-80E.
O avião tem um total de 18 870 horas de voo e começou a operar em 18 de abril de 2005.
A última visita de manutenção em hangar foi feita em 16 de abril de 2009.
A Air France divide a emoção e a inquietação das famílias envolvidas. Os familiares serão recebidos num local especialmente reservado no aeroporto de Paris Charles de Gaulle 2 assim como no Salão Nobre do Galeão.
Um toll free está disponível :
0800 881 2020 para o Brasil
0800 800 812 para a França,
e + 33 1 57 02 10 55 para outros paísesNB : Solicitamos aos jornalistas que NÃO liguem para este número, reservado às famílias.
Paris, 01 June 2009 – 15:10 local time
Press release N° 2
Air France regrets to confirm the disappearance of flight AF 447 flying from Rio de Janeiro to Paris-Charles de Gaulle, scheduled to arrive at 11:10am local time today, as announced to the press by Air France CEO, Pierre-Henri Gourgeon.The Airbus A330-200, registration F-GZCP, left Rio on 31 May at 7:03pm local time (12:03am in Paris).
The aircraft hit a zone of stormy weather with strong turbulence at 2am this morning (universal time), i.e. 4am in Paris. An automatic message was received from the aircraft at 2:14am (4 :14am in Paris) indicating a failure in the electric circuit a long way from the coast.
The Brazilian, African, Spanish and French air traffic control centres all tried to make contact with flight AF 447 but to no avail. The French military air traffic control centre tried to detect the aircraft but did not succeed.
216 passengers were on board: 126 men, 82 women, 7 children and one infant.
There were 12 flight crew members: 3 pilots and 9 flight attendants.
The flight captain had a record of 11,000 flight hours and had already flown 1,700 hours on Airbus A330/A340s.
Of the two first officers, one had flown 3,000 flight hours (800 of which on the Airbus A330/A340) and the other 6,600 (2,600 on the Airbus A330/A340).
The aircraft was powered by General Electric CF6-80E engines.
The aircraft had totalled 18,870 flight hours and went into service on 18 April 2005.
Its last maintenance check in the hangar took place on 16 April 2009.Air France fully shares the anxiety and distress of the families concerned. The families are being taken care of in a specially reserved area of Paris-Charles de Gaulle Terminal 2.
A toll-free number has been opened at 0800 800 812 for calls from France,
and + 33 1 57 02 10 55 for calls from outside France.
NB: We ask journalists not to call this number, which is reserved for families and close relatives.Português
A Air France lamenta informar o desaparecimento do voo AF 447 que efetuava a ligação entre Rio de Janeiro e Paris-Charles de Gaulle, chegada prevista às 11h10 (hora local), acaba de anunciar o Diretor Geral da Air France, Pierre-Henri Gourgeon.A aeronave, do tipo Airbus A330-200, matrícula F-GZCP, deixou o Rio dia 31 de maio às 19h03 (hora local).
A aeronave atravessou uma zona de tempestade com fortes turbulências às 2 horas da manhã (horário TU) – 23 horas horário do Brasil. Uma mensagem automática foi recebida às 2h14 da manhã (horário TU = 23h14 horário do Brasil) indicando uma pane do circuito elétrico numa zona afastada da costa.
O conjunto dos controles aéreos civis brasileiro, africano, espanhol e francês tentaram em vão estabelecer contato com o voo AF 447. O controle aéreo militar francês tentou detectar o avião, sem sucesso.
216 passageiros estão a bordo : 126 homens, 82 mulheres, 7 crianças e um bebê.
A tripulação é composta por 12 pessoas : 3 tripulantes técnicos e 9 comissários.
O comandante tem 11 mil horas de voo e já tinha efetuado 1700 horas no Airbus A330/A340.
Os dois co-pilotos possuem: um 3000 horas de voo, sendo 800 horas em Airbus A330/A340 e o outro 6600, sendo 2 600 em Airbus A330/A340.
A aeronave é equipada de motores General Electric CF6-80E.
O avião tem um total de 18 870 heures de voo e começou a operar em 18 de abril de 2005.
A última visita de manutenção em hangar foi feita em 16 de abril de 2009.
A Air France divide a emoção e a inquietação das famílias envolvidas. Os familiares serão recebidos num local especialmente reservado no aeroporto de Paris Charles de Gaulle 2 assim como no do Galeão.
Um toll free está disponível :
0800 881 2020 para o Brasil
0800 800 812 para a França,
e + 33 1 57 02 10 55 para outros países
NB : Solicitamos aos jornalistas que NÃO liguem para este número, reservado às famílias
Paris, 01 June 2009 – 13:31 local time
First press release
Air France regrets to announce that it has lost contact with flight AF 447 from Rio de Janeiro to Paris-Charles de Gaulle, expected to arrive this morning at 11:15 local time.The flight left Rio on 31 May at 7pm local time.
216 passengers are on board.
There are 12 crew members on board: 3 pilots and 9 cabin crew.
The following toll-free number is available in France: 0800 800 812,
and + 33 1 57 02 10 55 outside France.Air France fully shares the anxiety and distress of the families of the passengers concerned. The families are been taken care of in a specially reserved area at Paris-Charles de Gaulle 2 airport.
Português
Air France lamenta informar que se encontra sem notícias do voo AF 447 que efetuava a ligação entre Rio de Janeiro e Paris Charles de Gaulle, com chegada prevista às 11h15 da manhã (hora local).
O voo decolou do Rio no dia 31 de maio às 19 horas locais.
216 passageiros estão a bordo.
A tripulação é composta de 12 pessoas : 3 tripulantes técnicos e 9 comissários.
Um toll free está disponível :
0800 800 812 para a França,
e + 33 1 57 02 10 55 para outros paísesA Air France divide a emoção e a inquietação das famílias envolvidas. Os familiares serão recebidos num local especialmente reservado no aeroporto de Paris Charles de Gaulle 2 assim como no do Galeão.
Is the Q400 Safe?
When looking at track records, the biggest question of safety in the Bombardier Q400 seems to be the failure of the landing gear to retract. Airworthiness directives in the archives refer to this issue as “fatigue failure of the nose landing gear electrical harness” although when gear retraction failed in 2007 on a Scandinavian Airlines plane, the cause of the failure was described as “hydraulics actuator top eyebolt was separated from the actuator.”
Of course in the Buffalo Crash, the landing gear issue did not come into play.
Significant icing may have been THE problem. It may have been icing that crippled the plane, period. It may have been a salvageable situation. It may have been a crisis situation that nine out of ten pilots could have handled–or 1 in 100.
Or it may have been one of several factors.
The Buffalo flight apparently slowed enough to lose lift.
When the stall-warning system angled the plane’s nose down to regain speed, instead of following the proper procedure–lowering the nose to get out of a stall–the captain pulled back on the controls and added power.
Pilot training is being discussed as a factor in the crash. Or was it as James Fallows postulates a “tailplane stall?”
However speculation is simply a logical exercise. The NTSB investigation is ongoing as the FBI, NTSB, and FAA examine the flight data and the world waits for an answer.
Recent Crash Timeline
200922 March: A small plane crashes shy of the Butte, Montana, airport killing 17 adults and children.
25 February: Istanbul to Amsterdam crashes shy of the runway at Schiphol international airport. Nine are killed and at least 50 injured. 150 on board.
12 February: Buffalo, New York, killing 49 people on board and one person on the ground.
8 February: Amazonas, Brazil, killing 24 people, most of whom were from the same family.
15 January: A US Airways Hudson River in New York. All 150 passengers, three flight attendants and two pilots are rescued. No loss of life.
200814 September: Boeing-737 crashes on landing near Perm, Russia killing all 88 passengers and crew members
24 August: Passenger plane crashes after take-off from Kyrgyzstan’s capital, Bishkek, killing 68 people.
20 August: Spanair plane veers off the runway on take-off at Madrid’s Barajas airport, killing 154 people, injuring 18.
2 May: Engine trouble crashes a plane carrying a military delegation west of Juba. 22 dead.
15 April: DC-9 skids off the runway on take off in Goma Congo during heavy rain, smashing through a wall and into residential area. 40 die
24 January: Polish Casa C-295M military transport plane crashes killing officials who had attended an air safety conference. Nineteen die.
200730 November: 56 die on Atlasjet flight when it crashes in Isparta province 7.5 miles from Isparta airport near the town of Keciborlu.
16 September: 87 people die in One-Two-Go plane crashed bad weather at Phuket Thailand.
17 July: TAM jet crashes at Congonhas airport in Sao Paulo, in Brazil. All 186 on board die and 13 on the ground.
5 May: Kenya Airways’ Boeing 737-800 crashes in southern Cameroon swamp, killing 114 on board.
200629 September: Boeing 737 kills 154 passengers and crew crashed i Amazon rainforest in Brazil, killing all on board, after midair collision.
27 August: Comair CRJ-100 jet goes down in Kentucky, killing 49.
22 August: Russian Tupolev-154 passenger plane with 170 people on board crashes north of Donetsk, Ukraine.
9 July: Russian S7 Airbus A-310 skids off the runway during landing at Irkutsk airport in Siberia 124 on board die. 50 survive.
3 May: Armavia Airbus A-320 crashes in Black Sea near Sochi, killing all 113.
- Air Safety | Brazil | Lawsuit | pilot error
Gol Goes On and On
According to Brazil’s Defense Minister Nelson Jobim, critics are “playing politics” when they disparage the state of Brazil’s aviation industry, in which occured in the past year, the crash of a Gol jetliner over the Amazon in which 154 people died, and July’s disaster when an Airbus crashed into a warehouse in Sao Paulo killing 199 people.
Nevertheless, during a seminar in the United States, the President of the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers, Marc Baumgartner criticized the Brazilian Air Force which oversees Brazil’s air traffic control system for trying to punish the controllers. “The Brazilian Air Force invested lots of energy to arrest and prosecute its own workers but none to fix its (air traffic control) system.” He also said that “it’s a question of time before a new air accident happens again in Brazil.”
So far, a military court has declined to indict five Brazilian air traffic controllers for the GOL crash. Two American pilots face charges in a civilian criminal court in connection with the same crash. A Congressional commission report supports the indictment of pilots Joseph Lepore and Jan Paladino.
Wonder Not Why ATC Sleeps-It’s 2 a.m.
There is a lot of buzz going on right now with so many air traffic controllers caught sleeping on the job. Everyone is lowering the boom on these individuals, and perhaps it is rightly so. And yet it seems to me that it is not a complete coincidence that suddenly in 2011, multiple air traffic controllers are caught sleeping on the job. Has this never happened before? Has no one ever noted it?
This is in addition to an increase in controller errors. However, the increase in controller errors is (supposedly) a statistical glitch–not more errors actually but more reportage due to a new non-punative reporting system.
It makes me wonder what has led to the circumstance of lone air traffic controllers manning all-night shifts. Has this been going on for decades? Or is this a recent development of economic cutbacks and our changing fuel economy, and our highly qualified personnel may be fighting to keep a position even on the swing shift, as job alternatives dwindle.
Why is there an evening shift at all when the airlines have been combining flights and canceling flights, and rearranging flights and consolidating fights for economy’s sake? If the fact that an airport with minimal evening traffic chooses to have a lone overnight ATC shift, the act is practically a lagniappe. And if that is the case, then how sad it is that an act of extended service has turned to bite those offering the service.
We do not put a lifeguard on the beach during the night when there are no swimmers, when swimming in dark waters is foolish. And yet, if we did place a lifeguard on that beach, we would not expect him to sleep. But would we expect him to stare out at the waters all night with no concession to human biorhythm? Is that not somewhat cruel? By the way, FAA’s rules forbid a controller from doing anything not directly related to air traffic control.
When I hear the head of the FAA Air Traffic Organization Hank Krakowski has stepped down, it leads me to suspect that there is some scheduling pattern or policy that is directly attributable to him, something he did to disrupt the culture of air traffic control, that may be behind the significant coincidence of six (or more) sleeping ATControllers. I do not know if his stepping down is typical bureaucratic scapegoating, if he is doing the honorable thing because he’s in charge and the buck stops with him, or if he is truly responsible for some policy change that has led to the sleeping ATC.
There are solutions, but they won’t be solutions today’s citizen of “instant everything” will like. There will be either the hiring more than just two controllers to turn night to day; or there will be (eventually) curtailing night flights and a loss of 24 hour conveniences.
Least safe commercial jets
An Airline Ratings study points out these planes as the least safe commercial jets to fly: LET 410, Ilyushin 72, Antonov AN-12, Twin Otter, CASA. This might be one of those cases where certain facts can’t be separated. How can statistics separate the effect of the planes being flown in third world countries with the least safe airports? How can one separate the fact of the Twin Otter’s heavy usage in Nepal, home of some of the worlds most dangerous airports?
The same study indicates Boeing’s 777, 717, 787 and 767/757, the Airbus A380 and A340, the Embraer 135/145, and CRJ 700/1000 as the safest planes.
While 137 airlines were deemed safest, only these carriers score top marks for both safety and service: Air New Zealand, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Etihad, EVA Air, Korean Air, Qantas, Royal Jordanian, Singapore Airlines and Virgin Atlantic.
British Airways, Flybe, Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa and Aer Lingus were considered safe but had lesser marks for service. The full spectrum of the rated airlines is located here: http://www.airlineratings.com/ratings.php
Nasa Tailplane Stall Video