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Jamaica Vows to Adopt International Standards for Aviation Safety and Security

The Jamaican Government plans to spend US$ 22 Million to upgrade its aviation safety and security infrastructure to bring it up to par with the international standards.

In an interview, Director General Jamaican Civil Aviation Authority Leroy Lindsay said that Jamaica is fully complying with the best practices and standards set by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

He further said that Jamaica has improved by 10 percent from its ranking which was 30 percent in 2007, in terms of compliance requirements. Jamaican authorities are taking serious steps to comply with the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation. He hoped that Jamaica will top in the Caribbean countries in maintaining high standards of performance in aviation.

He disclosed that Jamaica will replace all outdated technology in two to three years in the air navigation services and they are planning to have Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) equipment to monitor satellite surveillance of aircraft by 2017.

He hoped to have Controller Pilot Data Link Communications in place by 2017. This technology is used for automatic communication between the aircraft and the air traffic control systems.

Lindsay further mentioned that they have already called bids for replacement of outdated radar at 26 sites.

Jamaican authorities are adopting environment-friendly measures for airspace in line with the Priority Based Navigation in the ICAO Global Navigation Plan, including Continuous Descent Approach (CDA), and Continuous Climb Operations (CCO).

In George’s Point of View

This announcement of Jamaica’s update is, in my opinion, a timely gesture, especially considered in terms of the recent events concerning Malaysia Airlines flight 370, the instant recognition code for which across the internet has been #MH370. The tragic and mysterious disappearance of Flight 370 is one many people believe would not have happened if there had been streaming data technology in place that would have relayed the plane’s details even when the transponder was shut off. Jamaica’s move toward “Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast” equipment in 2017 is one that that should be in development universally and internationally. We believe that one day the ICAO will have revised standards of online data streaming, perhaps even by 2017; and that this upgrade of Jamaica, while in compliance with current not future standards, is a step in the right direction.

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    Boeing Fabricará 3 Satélites para el Gobierno de México

    EL SEGUNDO, California, 20 de diciembre de 2010 — Boeing [NYSE: BA] anunció hoy la adjudicación de un contrato por aproximadamente US$1,000 millones de parte del gobierno mexicano para la entrega de un sistema integral de comunicaciones satelitales. El sistema, denominado MEXSAT, consta de tres satélites, dos estaciones terrenas, los sistemas de operaciones de red correspondientes y terminales de usuario de referencia. MEXSAT proveerá comunicaciones seguras para las necesidades de seguridad nacional de México, así como una cobertura mejorada para las telecomunicaciones civiles.

    “MEXSAT es la cuarta generación de satélites que Boeing ha suministrado a México para comunicaciones satelitales gubernamentales y civiles,” dijo Craig Cooning, director general ejecutivo (CEO) de Boeing Satellite Systems International. “MEXSAT ha sido desarrollado con base en 13 años de experiencia de parte de Boeing en el diseño y la fabricación de avanzados sistemas de satélites geoestacionarios para servicios móviles.”

    Conforme a los términos del contrato, Boeing entregará un sistema llave en mano completo que se compone de dos satélites geoestacionarios para servicios móviles (o “GEO-Mobile”) Boeing 702HP denominados MEXSAT 1 y MEXSAT 2, así como un satélite para banda C extendida y banda Ku, llamado MEXSAT 3, que proveerá servicios satelitales fijos (FSS) desde una órbita geosíncrona. El primer lanzamiento programado es el de MEXSAT 3, a finales de 2012.

    Cada satélite Boeing suministrará 14 kilowatts de potencia mediante alas de arreglos de cinco paneles solares dotadas de celdas fotovoltaicas de arseniuro de galio de triple unión de alta eficiencia. Cada una de las naves transportará un reflector de banda L de 22 metros para servicios satelitales móviles (MSS), complementado por una antena de banda Ku de 2 metros.
    Boeing subcontratará la fabricación del satélite MEXSAT 3 y de un centro de operaciones a su empresa asociada Orbital Sciences Corporation [NYSE: ORB]. MEXSAT 3, un satélite Orbital Star 2.4, brindará cobertura total al territorio mexicano y sus aguas patrimoniales, y transmitirá comunicaciones civiles a fin de coadyuvar al desarrollo socioeconómico del país.

    Asimismo, Boeing desarrollará dos estaciones terrenas equipadas con avanzada tecnología de flexibilidad de conformación del haz para dirigir haces puntuales de usuario móvil a dependencias gubernamentales que operan en México y sus aguas patrimoniales, tanto en el litoral del Pacífico como en el Golfo de México.

    Con anterioridad, Boeing suministró cinco satélites para el gobierno mexicano: los satélites Morelos 1 y Morelos 2, ambos puestos en órbita en 1985; los satélites Solidaridad 1 y Solidaridad 2, lanzados en 1993 y 1994; y el Satmex 5, lanzado en 1998. Solidaridad 2, que ya ha rebasado la vida útil estipulada en el contrato, aún continúa en servicio, y se espera que el satélite Satmex 5 deje de operar en 2012.

    Boeing Defense, Space & Security, una unidad de The Boeing Company, es una de las mayores empresas del mundo en el sector de defensa, espacio y seguridad. Se especializa en ofrecer a sus clientes soluciones innovadoras desarrolladas a partir de capacidades operacionales y es el fabricante más grande y versátil de aeronaves militares en el mundo. Con sede en St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security es una empresa de US$34,000 millones con una plantilla de 68,000 trabajadores en todo el mundo.

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    The Delaminating 787: Causing Problems and Recalls


    The Boeing 787’s composite skin is under the eye now, with the carbon fiber structure deconstructing after improperly joined structural stiffeners fail. Longerons are installed on a wound carbon fibre barrel, frames and longerons are secured to the skin to strengthen the structure, and reinforced by shims. Without shims making a tight fit, damage incurs to the carbon fiber.

    The problem has been located on an All Nippon Airways (56), and two Qatar Airways airframes (57 and 58), all of which originate in Everett Washington.

    More 787s are expected to turn up with the same problem.

    The structural stiffeners are failing in the location of the Alenia Aeronotica-built horizontal stabiliser.

    Boeing confirms that the problem is a “straightforward repair that should cause no short-term safety concern.”

    Inspections are already underway, and strategic plans for repairs are on the drawing board. A 2010 problem involved the teardown and reinstallation of some Alenia Aeronautica-built horizontal stabilisers which had been assembled without adequate shims.

    In George’s Point of View

    updated


    According to a Reuters article, Boeing is saying publicly that this will not affect production.

    It SHOULD affect production.

    Boeing needs to slow down and get it right. Thousands of souls will fly in these “things.” Boeing’s got to have it right. Instead of ramping up, slow down production. What good is an ambitious target rate if the planes come out needing SAFOs (Safety Alerts for Operators)?

    Too fast reminds me of Airbus.

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    Press Release – FAA Proposes $168,000 Civil Penalty Against Radiology Corp.

    For Immediate Release

    WASHINGTON – The Federal Aviation Administration is proposing a $168,000 civil penalty against Radiology Corporation of America, Inc., of Delray Beach, Fla., for allegedly violating Department of Transportation hazardous materials regulations.

    The FAA alleges Radiology Corp. offered a fiberboard box to Delta Airlines in Atlanta as checked baggage, Feb. 6, 2010. The box housed a soldering iron containing liquid butane fuel, a flammable gas, which is a hazardous material. The shipment was not declared to contain hazardous materials.

    Radiology Corp. allegedly offered the checked baggage for transportation by air when it was not packaged, marked, classed, described, labeled or in condition for shipment as required by regulations. Delta employees at the Atlanta airport discovered the shipment before it was loaded on an aircraft.

    Radiology Corporation of America Inc., has 30 days from receipt of the FAA’s civil penalty letter to respond to the agency.

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    NTSB Still Investigating

    We should remember this auxiliary battery failed after the passengers had disembarked. As the experts explain it, the battery is an auxiliary. This particular failure wouldn’t be likely to happen in the air, which technically makes it non-life threatening, although a tech or firefighter who was injured when the fire was extinguished might feel differently. I’m not trying to minimize the problem, but passengers’ lives were not threatened.

    Nevertheless, I’m looking forward to Boeing’s solution to this. All the experts tell me this is what happens with new planes. Just a matter of getting the kinks out. While it’s not unexpected that new approaches (replacing the hydraulics with high powered electrics) need some ironing out, we’ll all sleep a lot better, and fly a lot easier when the situation is addressed.

    NTSB Provides Second Investigative Update on Boeing 787 Battery Fire in Boston

    January 14, 2013
    WASHINGTON – The National Transportation Safety Board today released a second update on its investigation into the Jan. 7 fire aboard a Japan Airlines Boeing 787 at Logan International Airport in Boston.

    The lithium-ion battery that powered the auxiliary power unit on the airplane was removed and transported back to the NTSB Materials Laboratory in Washington on Jan. 10. The battery is currently being examined by NTSB investigators, who plan to disassemble it this week.

    In advance of that work, under the direction of the NTSB, radiographic examinations of the incident battery and an exemplar battery were conducted this past weekend at an independent test facility. The digital radiographs and computed tomography scans generated from this examination allowed the team to document the internal condition of the battery prior to disassembling it.

    In addition, investigators took possession of burned wire bundles, the APU battery charger, and several memory modules. The maintenance and APU controller memory modules will be downloaded to obtain any available data. Investigators also documented the entire aft electronics bay including the APU battery and the nearby affected structure where components and wire bundles were located.

    The airplane’s two combined flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder units were transported to NTSB headquarters and have been successfully downloaded. The information is currently being analyzed by the investigative team.

    The airport emergency response group documented the airport rescue and firefighting efforts to extinguish the fire, which included interviews with first responders. Fire and rescue personnel were able to contain the fire using a clean agent (Halotron), however, they reported experiencing difficulty accessing the battery for removal during extinguishing efforts. All fire and rescue personnel responding to the incident had previously received aircraft familiarization training on the Boeing 787.

    ntsb_photo
    NTSB photo of the burned auxiliary power unit battery from a JAL Boeing 787 that caught fire on Jan. 7 at Boston’s Logan International Airport. The dimensions are 19×13.2×10.2 inches and it weighs approximately 63 pounds (new).

    In accordance with international investigative treaties, the Japan Transport Safety Board and French Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses pour la sécurité de l’aviation civile have appointed accredited representatives to the investigation. The NTSB-led investigative team is comprised of subject matter groups in the areas of airplane systems, fire, airport emergency response, and data recorders and includes experts from the Federal Aviation Administration, The Boeing Company, US Naval Surface Warfare Center’s Carderock Division, Japan Airlines (aircraft operator), GS Yuasa (battery manufacturer), and Thales Avionics Electrical Systems (APU battery/charger system).

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    CASA Media Release – Monday 13 December 2010

    New maintenance regulations

    Australia’s aviation maintenance industry will reap a wide range of benefits from a new suite of safety regulations.

    The maintenance suite of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations was made by the Governor General last week and formally registered today.

    It covers continuing airworthiness requirements (Part 42), approved maintenance organisations (Part 145), maintenance personnel licensing (Part 66) and maintenance training organisations (Part 147).

    The new regulations will be introduced from 27 June 2011. The rules covering continuing airworthiness and maintenance organisations only apply to regular public transport aircraft and operations, and are being phased in over two years.

    Revised maintenance regulations for other sectors of aviation such as charter, aerial work and private operations will be developed at a later date, after wide consultation with these sectors.

    All licensed aircraft maintenance engineers will have their licenses re-issued under the new regulations, with current privileges retained.

    CASA will begin a comprehensive information and education campaign early in 2011 to make sure the aviation industry is ready for the new regulations well before the commencement date.

    CASA’s Director of Aviation Safety, John McCormick, said the maintenance suite will bring real benefits to Australian aviation.

    “Safety will be enhanced by ensuring regular public transport operators have a continuing airworthiness management system,” Mr McCormick said.

    “Safety systems and human factors training will be introduced for maintenance organisations which support regular public transport operations.

    “In addition, the new rules are more closely aligned with many other leading aviation nations, making it easier for Australia to do business with the rest of the world.

    “The outcome-based approach of the new regulations means there is a clear focus on safety outcomes at all times, while providing the aviation maintenance industry with flexibility.

    “The flexibility will provide Australia with the ability to respond positively to innovation and technological developments in the future.”

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  • United Continental Holdings to Present at the 2010 Hudson Securities U.S. Airlines Conference

    CHICAGO, Dec 01, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) —

    United Continental Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UAL) will be presenting at the 2010 Hudson Securities U.S. Airlines Conference on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010, in New York. The presentation will begin at 8:55 a.m. CT / 9:55 a.m. ET.

    The live audio webcast and accompanying presentation will be available at ir.unitedcontinentalholdings.com. The company will archive the audio webcast on the web site within 24 hours of the presentation for 14 days.

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