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Canadian Fowl Responsible for US Airways Incursion

George’s Point of View

Not much turns slower than the wheels of time during a plane investigation.

Thorough research of every factor extends for years, even when the causes appear to be obvious. But it is a mark of how obvious the cause is that the Hudson River crash in which “Sully” Sullenberger became a household name has already been officially attributed to “Migratory Canada geese.” At this juncture, I should probably say something clever about
1) green cards,
2) carding migratory birds or
3) Canadian Customs, but I am sure that Jay Leno already said it before he left the tonight show.

Read the June 4, 2009 NTSB announcement below:

NTSB Advisory
National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594
June 4, 2009

UPDATE ON NTSB PUBLIC HEARING ON THE US AIRWAYS A-320 HUDSON RIVER DITCHING ACCIDENT

The National Transportation Safety Board today released additional information about the Board’s scheduled public hearing on the January 2009 ditching of the US Airways A-320 into the Hudson River.

The hearing, originally scheduled for two days, has been expanded to three. It will convene at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 9, 2009, and is expected to conclude mid-day on Thursday, June 11. It will be held at the NTSB’s Board Room and Conference Center, 429 L’Enfant Plaza, S.W., Washington, D.C. The room is lighted for television and a mult box is provided for sound.

On January 15, 2009, at approximately 3:27 p.m. EST, US Airways flight 1549, an Airbus Industrie A320 bound for Charlotte, North Carolina, incurred multiple bird strikes during its initial departure climb from New York’s La Guardia Airport (LGA). The airplane subsequently lost thrust to its engines and ditched in the Hudson River approximately three and a half minutes after striking the birds and about five minutes after leaving LGA. To date, of the five crewmembers and 150 passengers on board, five serious injuries have been reported.

The Safety Board will also open the public docket at the start of the hearing. The public may view and download the docket contents on the web under the “FOIA Reading Room” at http://www.ntsb.gov/Info/foia_fri-dockets.htm at that time.

The information being released is factual in nature and does not provide analysis or the probable cause of the accident. The docket will include investigative group factual reports, interview transcripts, Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) transcripts, Flight Data Recorder (FDR) data and other documents from the investigation. In addition, docket items that will be used as exhibits during the public hearing will be available on the website under “Public Hearings”

The hearing, which is part of the Safety Board’s efforts to develop all appropriate facts for the investigation, will cover a wide range of safety issues including:

Pilot training regarding ditching and forced landings on water.
Bird detection and mitigation efforts. \ Certification standards regarding ditching and forced landings on water for transport-category airplanes.
Cabin safety training, emergency procedures and equipment.
Certification standards for bird ingestion into transport- category airplane engines.
An agenda is posted on the Board’s website at http://www2.ntsb.gov/Weehawken-NJ/agenda.htm. A live webcast of the proceedings will be available on the Board’s website at http://www.ntsb.gov/events/hearing_sched.htm. Technical support details are available under “Board Meetings.” To report any problems, please call 703-993-3100 and ask for Webcast Technical Support.

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    Flyers Rights Joins with Legendary Consumer Advocate Ralph Nader and Aviation Consumer Action Project to Demand ‘Voice’ in On-going Security Debate

    Group also refutes certain “Poll” data as being inaccurate and/or out of date

    NAPA, Calif., Nov. 21, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Flyers Rights (www.flyersrights.org) the largest non-profit Airline passenger rights group in the world, has joined Consumer Advocate Ralph Nader and Paul Hudson from the Aviation Consumer Action Project (ACAP) (acapaviation@yahoo.com) to demand meetings with DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano, DOT Secretary Ray LaHood and Administrator John Pistole (TSA) to discuss the continuing issues regarding Whole Body Scanners & “Enhanced” Pat Downs by TSA Personal. That letter is shown here: http://strandedpassengers.blogspot.com/2010/11/letter-to-dhs-secretary.html

    “Airline Passengers have so far been ignored in this process,” said Kate Hanni, Director of Flyers Rights. “Thus far, Secretary Napolitano and Administrator Pistole have taken meetings with Airline Executives, Hotels, Pilots Unions, and Flight Attendant Unions- but Not a Single Meeting with the people who pay the money to Fly. How is that possible or right?”

    “Mr. Nader, Mr. Hudson and Flyers Rights represent the passengers that DHS and TSA claim to be trying to protect. DHS or TSA needs to listen to what those passengers have to say,” continued Hanni.

    The groups also want to ensure that the public understands the illogic of current polls being used to defend these security measures.

    “Some Polling Data that has been reprinted in the media is either out of date, was improperly administered, or has been taken out of context,” said Kate.

    Specifically:

    • A Poll recently published by USA Today was from January 2010 BEFORE any scanners and “Enhanced” Pat Downs were enabled.
    • A Poll by CBS only offered people the choices of Yes/No on Body Scanners, and did not give people another choice except “I don’t understand.”

      More accurate polling can be found if the Right questions are asked:

    • An MSNBC poll asked “Do you support 1) Body Scanners, 2) Pat Downs or 3) “I won’t fly if these measures are in place.” 48% said they would not fly if Body Scanners or Pat Downs were the option – This poll that had 80,000 respondents.
    • A Reuters Poll that had 90,000 respondents indicated that 96% would find Alternative means of transportation or Not Fly if given the choice of Body Scanners or Pat Downs.

    “What is a fact is that the more the public knows about these processes, the more they don’t want them affecting their lives. There comes a time when More Security isn’t Better Security- More Security is Just More,” added Hanni.

    Noted Paul Hudson, long time advocate for stronger aviation security, “We are requesting the use of Full Body Scanners and Enhanced Pat Down Process be reduced or suspended pending a public comment period, public hearings, and a full review by outside experts. TSA needs to answer serious questions of intrusiveness, safety, and effectiveness, before subjecting hundreds of millions of airline passengers to such extreme measures.”

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  • Bald is Beautiful. Plus it Flies Faster.

    Air New Zealand is going to be paying $666 per head for fifty bald, frequent flying heads willing to temporarily tattoo speedy check-in promotions on their shaved heads. The concept is appropriately called “cranial billboard.

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    EU Banned List updated: Official Press Release

    Commission updates the list of airlines banned from the European airspace
    The European Commission has adopted the thirteenth update of the Community’s list of airlines banned in the European Union to include all air carriers of two additional countries: Sudan and the Philippines, on the basis of safety assessments by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). With this update, restrictions placed on Air Koryo from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and TAAG from Angola are partially lifted under certain conditions, while the operations of Iran Air will be restricted.

    Commission Vice-President Siim Kallas, responsible for Transport, said: “Safety comes first. We are ready to support countries that need to build up technical and administrative capacity to guarantee the necessary standards in civil aviation. But we cannot accept that airlines fly into the EU if they do not fully comply with international safety standards.”

    With this update, the Air Koryo licensed in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, subject to an operating ban since March 2006, is allowed to resume operations into the EU with two aircraft which are fitted with the necessary equipment to comply with mandatory international standards and following appropriate oversight by its authority. The rest of its fleet remains barred from operating into the EU.

    The Commission recognises the improvements in the operations of TAAG Angola Airlines by allowing the air carrier to operate under certain strict conditions with specific aircraft to all destinations in the EU, not only to Lisbon.

    The civil aviation authority of Angola is urged to intensify its oversight in relation to all carriers and continue the recertification of the other Angolan air carriers which remain banned from operating into the EU.

    The Commission imposes an operating ban on all operations of Sudanese air carriers, due to a poor safety performance of the civil aviation authority of Sudan resulting from persistent non-compliance with international standards in the area of oversight.

    The Commission acknowledges the recent efforts launched by the competent authorities to reform the civil aviation system in the Philippines and steps taken to address safety deficiencies reported by the FAA and ICAO and measures taken by two carriers – Philippines Airlines and Cebu Airlines – to ensure safety of operations. It is ready to support the Philippines to overcome serious safety deficiencies.

    In view of the significant safety concerns identified by ICAO in relation to the authorities, the Commission with the unanimous support of the Air Safety Committee is forced to follow the principle of precaution and impose an operating ban on all air carriers licensed in the Philippines. The Commission is ready to support the Philippine authorities and conduct a visit to the country.

    Following an examination of the safety of Iran Air’s operations into the EU through ramp checks of its aircraft in the Community, evidence of serious incidents and accidents suffered by the carrier and insufficient oversight from the authority over the past year, the Air Safety Committee concluded unanimously that the operations of Iran Air to the EU should be restricted. The carrier will only be allowed to use certain aircraft for flights to Europe. The Commission will visit Iran over the next months to verify the oversight of the Iranian civil aviation organisation and the safety situation of Iran Air.

    The results of a recent visit by the European Aviation Safety Agency to Albania indicate that the competent authority needs to strengthen its capabilities to ensure the oversight of the air carriers it licences. The authorities have been urged by the Commission to take prompt action to address these issues. The Commission will closely monitor the situation.

    The Commission follows closely the performance of Egyptian air carriers. A visit to Egypt to verify the oversight functions of the civil aviation authority and the performance of certain air carriers showed that this authority is carrying out its responsibilities correctly. The Commission will continue to cooperate closely with this authority to ensure that proposed improvements can be implemented.

    Today, the Community’s list has three carriers whose operations are fully banned in the European Union – Ariana Afghan Airlines from Afghanistan, Siem reap Airways International from Cambodia and Silverback Cargo Freighters from Rwanda.

    All carriers from 17 countries – 278 companies in total – are banned: Angola, Benin, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, (with the exception of three carriers which operate under restrictions and conditions), Indonesia, Kazakhstan (with the exception of one carrier which operates under restrictions and conditions), the Kyrgyz Republic, Liberia, Philippines, Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Sao Tome and Principe, Sudan, Swaziland and Zambia. 10 air carriers are allowed to operate under restrictions and conditions – Air Koryo from the Democratic People Republic of Korea, TAAG Angola Airlines, Air Astana from Kazakhstan, Iran Air from Iran Gabon Airlines, Afrijet and SN2AG from Gabon, Air Bangladesh, Air Service Comores and Ukrainian Mediterranean Airlines from Ukraine.

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    Press Release: GIP takes control of Gatwick

    04 December 2009
    The new owners of Gatwick Airport, Global Infrastructure Partners, promised to kick-start a new era of competition between London’s airports and pledged more efficient operations and a better passenger experience following completion of the acquisition.

    GIP is bringing a transition team to support Gatwick’s management, to apply modern process management best practice to improve Gatwick’s operations for airlines and deliver better services for passengers.

    Check-in, security and better-focused investment are among the first priorities identified by the new owners, who pledge to make Gatwick the airport of choice for passengers in London and the South East.

    Sir David Rowlands, the newly-appointed Chairman of Gatwick’s Board, said: “Gatwick is now a major independent airport company and from today, for the first time ever, it is competing directly with Heathrow, Stansted and Luton, as well as with our other airport, London City, in a competitive London airports market.
    “Gatwick will be competing vigorously against all London airports for point-to-point, short-haul and long-haul routes and passengers.

    “Our plan is to gain a competitive edge by modernising Gatwick, providing more efficient operations for airlines and a better experience for passengers and to do this as cost effectively as possible.

    “We intend Gatwick to become the airport of choice for airlines and passengers in our target market.”

    GIP also announced the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer for Gatwick, Stewart Wingate, who takes over immediately from managing director Andy Flower, who is leaving the company. Mr Wingate was previously Managing Director at Stansted, Chief Executive Officer at Budapest Airport and a former General Manager at Black & Decker.

    Mr Wingate said: “Our immediate priority is to get Gatwick’s processes right, especially security and check-in. We are also reviewing the investment programme to ensure that every pound Gatwick spends is focused on delivering for airlines and passengers.

    “It will take some time for our changes to take effect, but within months passengers will begin to feel that their journey through Gatwick is getting easier, and in a year or so they will start to notice physical improvements too. Gatwick will become the airport of choice, setting the benchmark for service in London.

    “We will focus on improving efficiency as it is critical that Gatwick improves on its position as one of the most cost-competitive primary airports in Europe.”

    Gatwick Airport Limited (Gatwick) is the company licensed to operate Gatwick Airport by the Civil Aviation Authority. Gatwick is wholly-owned by Ivy Bidco Limited (Ivy), a company formed to undertake the acquisition of Gatwick. Ivy is ultimately controlled by funds managed by Global Infrastructure Management, LLC, part of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP).
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    GIP has a 75% ownership interest in London City Airport. Its other UK investments are Biffa Limited, a waste management company and Great Yarmouth Port Company. GIP also has investments in other infrastructure businesses in the United States, India and Argentina.

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  • Air Travelers Neglect in Canada

    Sunday March 1 is going to be a new day for birds and a bad day for Canadian Air travelers. That’s the day that wildlife control officers go part time. Despite being unable to read this, Vancouver International Airport’s birds will no doubt be extremely grateful, or maybe not– considering that the downsizing/downgrading of personnel is likely to result in more dead birds and more downed planes. So in addition to Canadian Snow, Canadian Ice and Canadian Winter, Canadian air Travelers are also going to be inflicted with Canadian Birds. If I have to fly Canadian, I’m walking. Or I’ll be hitching a jump seat on the next flyby batch of Canadian geese. Heaven help us all.

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  • Channeling the Weather

    George’s Point of View

    So, it took the Air France Airbus Flight 447 flying into the eye of the storm and never coming out for storm alerts to come of age.

    The US FAA has had a system in development which is (as they term it) a “satellite-based upgrade of air-traffic management” which can send climate pictures through satellite access. This is a vast improvement of the current system, apparently. I have to take someone’s word on it since I just use the weather channel on tv, and haven’t spent a whole lot of time checking out cockpit weather access.

    It just seems like such a practical and obvious technology for aviation, I wonder why it has not been in place for years. Maybe it’s the $22 billion bill that is the stopping point, but sometimes you just have to pay the piper. Or in this case, ITT Corp, which is developing “NextGen.” The Next Generation Air Transportation System task force has meetings that are open to the public.

    I wonder if this is the same technology where they’re planning to live-stream aviation black box contents via satellite to air traffic control. That could save billions of dollars in searches such as the current hunt for the Air France Airbus black boxes, where they have a little more than a week to find a needle in the haystack…(black box in the Atlantic Ocean) before the “ping power” runs out.

    Who knows if this technology would have warned

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