Australia issued an airworthiness directive requiring mandatory inspections of flight control cables fitted to a range of Beechcraft aircraft.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has issued an airworthiness directive requiring mandatory inspections of flight control cables fitted to a range of Beechcraft aircraft.

The new requirements cover certain Beechcraft aircraft known as the Debonair and Bonanza.

Owners and operators of these aircraft must replace any damaged forward elevator control cables before further flights.

The directive allows one flight to be undertaken with only the pilot on board where that is necessary to move the aircraft to a location where the inspection can take place.

CASA is also requiring owners and operators of these aircraft to replace any control cables that have been in service for more than 15 years. This must be done within 60 days.

CASA decided to issue this directive after damaged and frayed flight control cables were recently discovered on two aircraft.

The directives are listed here: http://www.casa.gov.au/scripts/nc.dll?WCMS:STANDARD::pc=PC_90823

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SAFO: Embraer ERJ-190 Series Thrust Reverser Cowling Safety

http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/safo
A SAFO contains important safety information and may include recommended action. SAFO content should be especially valuable to air carriers in meeting their statutory duty to provide service with the highest possible degree of safety in the public interest. Besides the specific action recommended in a SAFO, an alternative action may be as effective in addressing the safety issue named in the SAFO.

Subject: Embraer ERJ-190 Series Thrust Reverser Cowling Safety Purpose: This SAFO notifies maintenance personnel of a potentially hazardous situation which
can cause serious injury while working on or around the EMB 190 thrust reversers.

Background: During a visit to Embraer Aircraft Maintenance Service (EAMS), a Maintenance Repair Organization (MRO), technicians reported that instances have occurred where the thrust reverser power door opening (PDO) actuator failed. Also, during high wind conditions, with the thrust reverser cowl open, the cowling can flex sufficiently enough to displace the locking feature of the PDO actuator. The failure of the PDO actuator can cause the thrust reverser cowl- door to come down on personnel, causing serious injury. As a precautionary safety means, and an interim option, EAMS installed the trust reverser hold-open-jib which is part of the engine- change boot-strap-kit. The jib is utilized to provide additional support to the PDO thrust reverser cowling-door in the event of a PDO failure. Embraer is evaluating the development of a tool to support the thrust reverser cowling while opened. However, until this tool is available, extreme caution is recommended during maintenance of the thrust reverser.

Recommended Action: It is recommended that air carriers who operate this type of equipment, immediately alert maintenance to exercise extreme caution working around the area with the thrust reverser cowling opened, especially during high wind conditions. In addition, it is recommended that maintenance personnel utilize the thrust reverser hold-open-jib which is part of the engine change boot-strap-kit, to secure the door. The jib is utilized to provide additional support to the PDO thrust reverser cowling door in the event of a PDO failure.

Contact: Questions or comments regarding this SAFO should be directed to Aircraft Maintenance Division, AFS-300, at (202) 385-6422.
Distributed by: AFS-200 OPR: AFS-300

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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).
GIP, a $5.64 billion independent investment fund, invests worldwide in infrastructure assets. It targets investments in air transport infrastructure, ports, freight rail, power and utilities, natural resources infrastructure, water distribution and treatment, and waste management. GIP has offices in London, New York, Hong Kong and Sydney and an operations team in Stamford, Connecticut.
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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Boeing Director William M. Daley Resigns Board Seat

CHICAGO, Jan. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The Boeing (NYSE: BA) board of directors today accepted the resignation of director William M. Daley who, on Jan. 7, submitted his request to resign following his appointment as U.S. President Barack Obama’s chief of staff.

“All of us at Boeing thank Bill for his contributions to our company and wish him well as he tackles this next phase of his exemplary public service career,” said Chairman, President and Chief Executive Jim McNerney.

The resignation is effective as of Jan. 7. Daley, 62, joined the board in 2006. His public career includes serving as President Bill Clinton’s Commerce secretary from Jan. 1997, to July, 2000.

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NTSB TO HOLD SYMPOSIUM ON AIRLINE CODE-SHARING ARRANGEMENTS AND THEIR ROLE IN AVIATION SAFETY

National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594
August 16, 2010

The National Transportation Safety Board will hold a two-day symposium on the role that airline code-sharing arrangements play in aviation safety. The event, chaired by NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman, will be held on October 26-27, 2010, in Washington, DC.

Code-sharing is a marketing arrangement in which one airline places its designator code on a flight operated by another airline, then sells and issues tickets for that flight.

Recent NTSB investigations of accident flights operated under code-sharing arrangements include the February 2009 accident near Buffalo, New York, in which a Colgan Air flight was operated as Continental Connection; a 2007 accident in Traverse City, Michigan, in which a Pinnacle Airlines flight was operated as Northwest Airlink; a 2007 accident in Cleveland, Ohio, in which a Shuttle America flight was operated as Delta Connection; and a 2006 accident in Lexington, Kentucky, in which a Comair flight was operated as Delta Connection.

Today, most airlines participate in some type of code- sharing arrangement, either with domestic or international partners. More than half of passenger enplanements in the U.S. this year are on regional airlines, almost all of which are involved in code-sharing arrangements.

“In the past twenty years, code-sharing arrangements have so proliferated within commercial aviation that today the vast majority of airlines are involved in what are often complex business and operational arrangements.” said NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman. “We have investigated many accidents in which passengers bought tickets on a major carrier and flew all or part of their trip on a different carrier – one that may have been operating to different safety standards than the carrier that issued the ticket. While all carriers are required to meet minimum standards, a clearer picture and deeper understanding of the best safety practices for code-sharing arrangements are the goals of this symposium.”

The symposium will be organized to elicit information on the following three issue areas: (1) structures, practices, and oversight of domestic and international code-sharing arrangements; (2) best practices regarding the sharing of safety information between airlines and their code-sharing partners; and (3) the role that a major airline would have in the family disaster assistance response for an accident involving a code-sharing partner.

These areas will be explored through presentations from major and regional airlines, industry organizations, and representatives of the traveling public.

The symposium, “Airline Code-Sharing Arrangements and Their Role in Aviation Safety” will be held at the NTSB Board Room and Conference Center, located at 429 L’Enfant Plaza, S.W., Washington, DC. A detailed agenda will be released closer to the date of the event.

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Pilots urged to keep Port Lincoln Australia skies safe

CASA Media Release – Friday 11 February 2011
Pilots urged to keep Port Lincoln skies safe

Port Lincoln pilots are being urged to attend an important air safety workshop next week.

The workshop will give local pilots special training to improve their flying and safety skills.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority is holding the workshop to help make the skies over Port Lincoln even safer.

Safety issues to be covered at the workshop include aviation weather and avoiding airspace infringements. There will also be the opportunity for pilots to ask questions and raise issues about local flying.

CASA’s Peter Gibson says the workshop is part of a national regional air safety campaign.

“Giving pilots from Port Lincoln extra training will lift their safety skills to even higher levels,” Mr Gibson says.

“All pilots receive comprehensive training but this workshop means they will be even better equipped to fly safely at all times and deal with emergencies.

“Port Lincoln has a good air safety record but accidents do happen and everyone in aviation must work hard to keep local skies safe.”

The workshop is being held at the Port Lincoln Aero Club on Wednesday 16 February 2011, starting at 6:00pm.

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Federal Aviation Administration 35th Annual Aviation Forecast Conference

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is holding its 35th Annual Aviation Forecast Conference, “Looking Ahead in Aviation: Rational Rebound or Irrational Instability.” The FAA will release its Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2010-2030, which provides the latest data about activity and growth in aviation products and services, as well as future estimates.

WHO: U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood
FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt
WHAT: 35TH Annual Aviation Forecast Conference
WHEN: Tuesday, March 9, 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 10, 8:00 a.m.–12 noon.
WHERE: Walter E. Washington Convention Center
801 Mount Vernon Pl, N.W.
Washington, D.C.

The first day of the conference will begin at 8:30 a.m. and will feature remarks by Secretary LaHood and FAA Administrator Babbitt starting at 12:00 Noon. American Airlines Chairman, President and CEO Gerard J Arpey will keynote the luncheon at 1:00 p.m. The latest agenda including a list of panels cane be found at:http://www.faa.gov/news/conferences_events/aviation_forecast_2010/agenda/

Media wishing to attend the conference should RSVP to Hank Price, hank.price@faa,gov.

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