Public Statement

  • | |

    Fourth Investigative Update on Boeing 787 Battery Fire


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

    January 27, 2013
    WASHINGTON – The National Transportation Safety Board today released a fourth update on its investigation into the Jan. 7 fire aboard a Japan Airlines Boeing 787 at Logan International Airport in Boston. The fire occurred after the airplane had landed and no passengers or crew were onboard.

    The event airplane, JA829J was delivered to JAL on December 20, 2012. At the time of the battery fire, the aircraft had logged 169 flight hours with 22 cycles. The auxiliary power unit battery was manufactured by GS Yuasa in September 2012.

    NTSB investigators have continued disassembling the internal components of the APU battery in its Materials Laboratory in Washington, and disassembly of the last of eight cells has begun. Examinations of the cell elements with a scanning-electron microscope and energy-dispersive spectroscopy are ongoing.

    A cursory comparative exam has been conducted on the undamaged main battery. No obvious anomalies were found. More detailed examination will be conducted as the main battery undergoes a thorough tear down and test sequence series of non-destructive examinations.

    In addition to the activities at the NTSB lab, members of the investigative team continue working in Seattle and Japan and have completed work in Arizona. Their activities are detailed below.

    ARIZONA
    The airworthiness group completed testing of the APU start power unit at Securaplane in Tucson and the APU controller at UTC Aerospace Systems in Phoenix. Both units operated normally with no significant findings.

    SEATTLE
    Two additional NTSB investigators were sent to Seattle to take part in FAA’s comprehensive review. One of the investigators will focus on testing efforts associated with Boeing’s root cause corrective action efforts, which FAA is helping to lead. The other will take part in the FAA’s ongoing review of the battery and battery system special conditions compliance documentation.

    JAPAN
    The NTSB-led team completed component examination of the JAL APU battery monitoring unit at Kanto Aircraft Instrument Company, Ltd., in Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan. The team cleaned and examined both battery monitoring unit circuit boards, which were housed in the APU battery case. The circuit boards were damaged, which limited the information that could be obtained from tests, however the team found no significant discoveries.

  • | |

    NEVADA AIR TOUR HELICOPTER ACCIDENT

    January 25, 2013
    WASHINGTON – The National Transportation Safety Board will hold a Board meeting to determine the probable cause of the crash of an air tour helicopter near Las Vegas.

    On December 7, 2011, at about 4:30 pm PST, a Eurocopter AS350-B2 helicopter, operated by Sundance Helicopters, Inc., on a sightseeing trip, crashed in mountainous terrain about 14 miles east of Las Vegas, Nevada. The pilot and four passengers were killed, and the helicopter was destroyed by impact forces and postimpact fire.
    Event: Board Meeting
    Date/Time: Tuesday, January 29, 2013, 9:30 am EST
    Location: NTSB Board Room and Conference Center
    429 L’Enfant Plaza, SW
    Washington, DC 20594
    Participants: NTSB Board Members
    Live Webcast: A link to the webcast will be available on the following page shortly before the start of the meeting: http://www.capitolconnection.net/capcon/ntsb/ntsb.htm
    ###

  • |

    INVESTIGATION OF BOEING 787 BATTERY FIRE IN BOSTON

    NTSB CHAIRMAN SAYS ‘WE HAVE NOT RULED ANYTHING OUT’ IN INVESTIGATION OF BOEING 787 BATTERY FIRE IN BOSTON
    WASHINGTON – In a press conference today, National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman released preliminary findings from the NTSB’s ongoing investigation into the Jan. 7, 2013, Boeing 787 battery fire in Boston. “We have not ruled anything out as a potential factor in the battery fire; there are still many questions to be answered,” Hersman said.

    Noting that there was a B-787 battery incident in Japan on Jan. 16, 2013, which is being investigated by the Japan Transport Safety Board, Hersman said, “One of these events alone is serious; two of them in close proximity, especially in an airplane model with only about 100,000 flight hours, underscores the importance of getting to the root cause of these incidents.”

    The investigation revealed that the battery in the B-787 fire in Boston showed signs of short circuiting, and had indications of thermal runaway, a situation in which a significant temperature increase can initiate a destructive chain reaction.

    Chairman Hersman also expressed concerns about the adequacy of the systems to prevent such a fire from occurring. “The investigation will include an evaluation of how a fault that resulted in a battery fire could have defeated the safeguards in place to guard against that,” said Hersman. “As we learn more in this investigation, we will make recommendations for needed improvements to prevent a recurrence.”

    Investigators developed the following timeline of the events on Jan. 7, which was released at today’s briefing:

    10:06 am EST – Aircraft arrived at gate in Boston from Narita, Japan
    10:32 am – Cleaning and maintenance crew noticed smoke in cabin
    10:35 am – Mechanic noted flames coming from APU battery in aft electronics bay
    10:37 am – Airport Rescue & Fire Fighting notified
    10:40 am – Fire and rescue personnel arrive on scene
    12:19 pm – Fire and rescue personnel report event was “controlled”

    The batteries were manufactured by GS Yuasa for the Thales electrical installation and are unique to the Boeing 787. The same battery model is used for the main airplane battery and for the battery that is used to start the auxiliary power unit, which is the one that caught fire in Boston.

    Radiographic examinations of the incident battery and an exemplar battery were conducted at an independent test facility. The digital radiographs, or computed tomography (CT) scans, generated from these examinations allowed NTSB investigators to document the internal condition of the battery prior to disassembling it.

    Ongoing lab work includes an examination of the battery elements with a scanning-electron microscope and energy-dispersive spectroscopy to analyze the elemental constituents of the electrodes to identify contaminants or defects.
    NTSB INVESTIGATIVE TEAMS

    In addition to the activities at the NTSB lab in Washington, members of the investigative team have been conducting work in Arizona, Seattle and Japan. Their activities are detailed below.

    ARIZONA
    – The acceptance test procedure of the APU battery charging unit was conducted at Securaplane in Tucson, Ariz., on Jan. 21.
    – The battery charging unit passed all significant tests and no anomalies were detected.
    – Members of the airworthiness group examined the APU start power unit at Securaplane in Tucson. The same team traveled to Phoenix to conduct an examination of the APU controller at UTC Aerospace Systems.

    SEATTLE
    – NTSB investigators are working with Boeing teams as part of root cause analysis activities related to the design and manufacturing of the electrical battery system.
    – The two JAL B-787 general purpose module units, which record airplane maintenance data are being downloaded at Boeing to obtain information that was recorded after the airplane’s electrical power was interrupted.

    JAPAN
    – The NTSB-led team conducted component examination of the JAL B-787 APU battery monitoring unit at Kanto Aircraft Instrument Company, Ltd., in Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan.
    – The team cleaned and examined both battery monitoring unit circuit boards, which were housed in the APU battery case. The circuit boards were damaged, which limited the information that could be obtained from tests.

  • |

    NTSB PROVIDES INVESTIGATIVE UPDATE AND PHOTO OPPORTUNITY OF LAB WORK RELATED TO BOEING 787 BATTERY FIRE IN BOSTON


    January 23, 2013
    WASHINGTON – Tomorrow, National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman will provide an update on the NTSB’s investigation of the Jan. 7 fire aboard a Japan Airlines (JAL) Boeing 787 at Logan International Airport in Boston.

    Chairman Hersman will brief credentialed members of the news media on the progress of the investigation, after which she and senior staff will take questions. Those unable to attend in person can call in to a teleconference line.

    Reporters will then be invited to view the materials laboratory where the battery is being examined. Photography will be allowed but no “stand-ups” or taped reporting from the lab will be permitted.

    For planning purposes, RSVP is required for those planning to either attend in person or call in.

    Location: NTSB Boardroom and Conference Center, 429 L’Enfant Plaza East, SW, Washington, DC

    Date: Thursday, January 24, 2013

    Time: 2:30 p.m.

    Participants: Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman; John DeLisi, Director of NTSB Office of Aviation Safety; and Dr.
    Joseph Kolly, Director, NTSB Office of Research and Engineering.

    The following factual information has been developed about the battery: It consists of eight cells of 3.7 volts each. All eight cells had varying degrees of thermal damage. Six of eight cells have been CT scanned and have been disassembled to expose their electrodes. All electrode windings in the battery are in the process of being photo-documented and are undergoing microscopic examination. In the coming days, the remaining two cells will undergo the same examination. Additional information will be provided tomorrow.

  • |

    Third NTSB Investigative Update on Boeing 787 Battery Fire in Boston


    January 20, 2013
    WASHINGTON – The National Transportation Safety Board today released a third 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 has been examined in the NTSB Materials Laboratory in Washington. The battery was x-rayed and CT scans were generated of the assembled battery. The investigative team has disassembled the APU battery into its eight individual cells for detailed examination and documentation. Three of the cells were selected for more detailed radiographic examination to view the interior of the cells prior to their disassembly. These cells are in the process now of being disassembled and the cell’s internal components are being examined and documented.

    Investigators have also examined several other components removed from the airplane, including wire bundles and battery management circuit boards. The team has developed test plans for the various components removed from the aircraft, including the battery management unit (for the APU battery), the APU controller, the battery charger and the start power unit. On Tuesday, the group will convene in Arizona to test and examine the battery charger and download nonvolatile memory from the APU controller. Several other components have been sent for download or examination to Boeing’s facility in Seattle and manufacturer’s facilities in Japan.

    Finally, examination of the flight recorder data from the JAL B-787 airplane indicate that the APU battery did not exceed its designed voltage of 32 volts.

    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 this investigation. Similarly, the NTSB has assigned an accredited representative to assist with the JTSB’s investigation of the Jan. 15 battery incident involving an All Nippon Airways B-787. Both investigations remain ongoing.

  • | | | |

    FAA Issues Battery Statement. And Me Too…Attention, Boeing…

    My experts are telling me that it looks like Boeing is all alone on these 787 battery fires. The FAA issued 31 ‘Special Conditions’ (you can read that to mean that the FAA gave Boeing a whole lot of slack) but this battery problem is not getting a free ride, or any favors.

    SAFETY is the top priority. Make no mistake. The sooner the Dreamliner and its battery is grounded, the sooner the fix will be found and it will be safe to fly again. Well. While you’re at it fixing the battery problem, get that team of pilots who fly this thing to go over all areas of failure thus far, including the engines. Look at ALL of these…

    • Nov 6 2010: Boeing flight Texas: electrical problems in the aft electronics bay which disabled the primary flight displays in the cockpit.
    • Nov 6 2011: ANA Flight Okayama forced to deploy the landing gear using the alternate extension backup system, after an active warning light, which said that the wheels were not properly down.
    • July 28 2012: Boeing Flight Charleston: contained engine failure during a taxi test at Charleston International Airport PRE Delivery Taxi test. Debris fell from engine
    • Dec 4, 2012: United over Mississippi: “multiple messages” regarding flight-system errors, and diverted to New Orleans (KMSY). The problems occurred when one of the plane’s generators failed. Power was supplied to the aircraft with the five functioning generators.
    • Jan 7, 2013: JAL Boston: fire was discovered in a battery and electrical compartment of the aircraft.
    • Jan 8, 2013: JAL Boston: 40 gallons of fuel had spilled from one of its wing tanks at the gate. The plane was contacted before takeoff and it returned to the terminal without incident. Probably a case of overfilling the tank.
    • Jan 9, 2013: ANA Yamaguchi: Brake problems
    • Jan 16, 2013: ANA Takamatsu: instrument indications of smoke in the forward electrical compartment. No fire was found.

    Boeing? Are you listening? I fly everywhere, all over the world but at the moment, I’m not comfortable getting on this great plane that I really want to love for future travel. I’m am confident you can do it, even if all of these wrinkles are going to mean you need to bring in the really big iron. We need all the finders and fixers on this! The world has places to go and things to do, and you’re holding their safety in the palm of your hand.

    The Emergency Airworthiness Directive has been issued. Issued Jan 16, 2013
    and here is their announcement:

    As a result of an in-flight, Boeing 787 battery incident earlier today in Japan, the FAA will issue an emergency airworthiness directive (AD) to address a potential battery fire risk in the 787 and require operators to temporarily cease operations. Before further flight, operators of U.S.-registered, Boeing 787 aircraft must demonstrate to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that the batteries are safe.
    The FAA will work with the manufacturer and carriers to develop a corrective action plan to allow the U.S. 787 fleet to resume operations as quickly and safely as possible.
    The in-flight Japanese battery incident followed an earlier 787 battery incident that occurred on the ground in Boston on January 7, 2013. The AD is prompted by this second incident involving a lithium ion battery. The battery failures resulted in release of flammable electrolytes, heat damage, and smoke on two Model 787 airplanes. The root cause of these failures is currently under investigation. These conditions, if not corrected, could result in damage to critical systems and structures, and the potential for fire in the electrical compartment.

    Last Friday, the FAA announced a comprehensive review of the 787’s critical systems with the possibility of further action pending new data and information. In addition to the continuing review of the aircraft’s design, manufacture and assembly, the agency also will validate that 787 batteries and the battery system on the aircraft are in compliance with the special condition the agency issued as part of the aircraft’s certification.

    United Airlines is currently the only U.S. airline operating the 787, with six airplanes in service. When the FAA issues an airworthiness directive, it also alerts the international aviation community to the action so other civil aviation authorities can take parallel action to cover the fleets operating in their own countries.

    See Directive:

  • |

    FCC moving on Wireless Connectivity


    The FCC’s “Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Report and Order” establishes procedures for broadband aboard commercial and private aircraft. According to the paperwork, the authorizations allow broadband services to passengers on a non-harmful interference basis, and several airlines are operating under the terms of those authorizations.

    I truly endorse this.

    The item below was adopted by the FFC on Dec 20, 2012, released Dec 28, 2012.

    SEE FCC DOCUMENT

  • | |

    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).

  • | |

    FAA Will Review Boeing 787 Design and Production


    WASHINGTON – In light of a series of recent events, the FAA will conduct a comprehensive review of the Boeing 787 critical systems, including the design, manufacture and assembly. The purpose of the review is to validate the work conducted during the certification process and further ensure that the aircraft meets the FAA’s high level of safety.

    “The safety of the traveling public is our top priority,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “This review will help us look at the root causes and do everything we can to safeguard against similar events in the future.”

    A team of FAA and Boeing engineers and inspectors wi
    ll conduct this joint review, with an emphasis on the aircraft’s electrical power and distribution system. The review will also examine how the electrical and mechanical systems interact with each other.

    “We are confident that the aircraft is safe.
    But we need to have a complete understanding of what is happening,” said FAA Administrator Michael P. Huerta. “We are conducting the review to further ensure that the aircraft meets our high safety standards.”

    The review will be structured to provide a broader view of design, manufacturing and assembly and will not focus exclusively on individual events. The review is expected to begin in Seattle, but may expand to other locations over the course of several months.

    FAA technical experts logged 200,000 hours of work during the 787 type certification and flew on numerous test flights. The FAA reviews 787 in-service events as part of our continued operational safety process.

    United Airlines is currently the only U.S. airline operating the 787, with six airplanes delivered. The worldwide in-service fleet includes 50 aircraft.

  • | | | |

    NTSB sending Team to Peru Crash Investigation


    Jan. 9, 2013
    WASHINGTON – The National Transportation Safety Board is sending a team of investigators to Pucallpa, Peru, to assist the Government of Peru with its investigation of yesterday’s crash involving a Boeing helicopter. According to the U.S. Department of State, the accident claimed the lives of five American citizens.

    On Monday afternoon, in Pucallpa, Peru, a Boeing-Vertol 234 helicopter, operated by the U.S. operator Columbia Helicopters, crashed shortly after takeoff. The helicopter had departed from FAP Captain David Abenzur Rengifo International Airport, Pullcapa, Peru enroute to Tarapoto, Peru. It has been reported that all seven persons aboard the aircraft sustained fatal injuries.

    The NTSB has designated senior air safety investigator, Paul Cox, as the U.S. Accredited Representative. He will be accompanied by two NTSB investigators with expertise in helicopter systems and operations, a representative from the Federal Aviation Administration, and a representative from Columbia Helicopters. The team is expected to arrive in Peru tonight.

  • | |

    Embraer Switching from GE to Pratt & Whitney


    Embraer sent out a press release that it has selected Pratt & Whitney PurePower® Geared Turbofan™ Engines as the “Exclusive Power for Second Generation of E-Jets.”

    The Embraer E-Jets equipped with PurePower PW1700G and PW1900G engines will enter service in 2018, and promise improvements in fuel burn, emissions and noise reduction. The engine which is still in testing stages, and will replace GE engines.

    See Press Release

  • | | |

    NTSB Reports Uncertified Pilot in December Crash

    According to the NtSB Preliminary report of the Beech crash on December 18, 2012, about 0002 mountain standard time (MST), a Beech B100, N499SW, collided with trees at Libby, Montana. Stinger Welding was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The noncertificated pilot and one passenger sustained fatal injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage from impact forces. The cross-country personal flight departed Coolidge, Arizona, about 2025 MST on December 17th, with Libby as the planned destination. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the nearest official reporting station of Sandpoint, Idaho, 264 degrees at 46 miles, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed.

    Read the preliminary report

  • |

    Boeing Statement on Japan Airlines Event in Boston


    SEATTLE, Jan. 8, 2013 – Regarding Monday’s event onboard a Japan Airlines (JAL) 787 at Boston Logan Airport, we are working closely with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), our customer and other government agencies. JAL has reported that smoke detected while a 787 was on the ground after passengers disembarked and during cleaning was traced to the battery used to start the auxiliary power unit (APU).
    As is standard practice within the industry, it would be premature to discuss additional details at this stage as the investigation is ongoing. However, nothing that we’ve seen in this case indicates a relationship to any previous 787 power system events, which involved power panel faults elsewhere in the aft electrical equipment bay. Information about the prior events has been shared with the NTSB and they are aware of the details.

    Boeing is cooperating with the NTSB in the investigation of this incident. Before providing more detail, we will give our technical teams the time they need to do a thorough job and ensure we are dealing with facts, not speculation.

  • |

    NASA Kicks Off 2013 First Robotics Season with Live Broadcast Jan. 5


    WASHINGTON — NASA Television will broadcast the annual FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Kickoff event on Saturday, Jan. 5, starting at 10:30 a.m. EST from Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester. The event also will be streamed live on NASA’s website.

    As in past years, NASA plays a significant role by providing public access to robotics programs to encourage young people to investigate careers in the sciences and engineering. Through the NASA Robotics Alliance Project, the agency provides grants for almost 250 teams and sponsors four regional student competitions, including a FIRST regional competition in Washington that will be held March 28-30.

    Each year, FIRST presents a new robotics competition scenario where each team receives an identical kit of parts and has six weeks to design and build a robot based on the team’s interpretation of the game scenario. Other than dimension and weight restrictions, the look and function of the robots is up to each individual team. This year more than 2,500 teams from 49 states, and 12 countries will participate.

    Engineer Dean Kamen founded FIRST in 1989 to help convince American youth that engineering and technology are exciting and ‘cool’ fields. NASA participation in the FIRST program is provided through the NASA Headquarters Science Mission Directorate in Washington.

  • |

    NASA EVENTS SET FOR AMERICAN ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY MEETING


    WASHINGTON — NASA scientists will present new findings on a wide range of astrophysics topics next week at the annual meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS). The meeting takes place Jan. 6-10 at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd, in Long Beach, Calif. Media registration for the event is open.

    None of the briefings will be carried on NASATelevision, but all will be web-streamed on AAS’s website for registered journalists.

    NASA’s media briefings during the meeting will feature topics such as new video of a rapidly rotating neutron star, the latest images of the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A, and the most detailed “weather map” of a brown dwarf star. In addition, NASA scientists and their colleagues who use NASA research capabilities will present noteworthy findings during several scientific sessions throughout the week.

  • | | | | |

    Sukhoi plane crash Caused by Pilot Error

    The National Commission on Safety Transportation announced that the Russian Sukhoi Superjet 100 that crashed into a mountain in Indonesia seven months did so as a result of pilot error. All 45 Aboard were fatalities.

    Indonesian authorities claimed that the plane functioned adequately and there were no malfunctions of safety gear.

    The fact that the pilot digressed from the route, and that the (foreign) pilots were not well aware of the mountainous terrain may be behind part of the decision. As a demonstration flight, the pilots were probably encouraged to make dramatic maneuvers at a terrible price.

    Thirty-eight seconds prior to the impact, cockpit instruments issued a warning saying “pull up, terrain ahead”. Later the warning “avoid terrain” was issued six times, but the instruments were turned off because the crew assumed there was a problem with the database.

    Officials said that “The crew was not aware of the mountainous area surrounding the flight path,”

    The Jakarta radar service was incapable of informing flight crews of minimum safe altitudes.

    The Russian pilots, while experts, were not intimate with the Indonesian topography.
    Six minutes after takeoff, the pilot and co-pilot requested Jakarta ATC for permission to drop from 3,000 meters to 1,800 meters on the scheduled half-hour flight. Six minutes later, the plane struck Mount Salak.

    READ MORE:

    Sukhoi SuperJet-100 Demo Disaster Final Report In October

    Russian Pilots Bail out of Sukhoi Jet

    The Investigation of Sukhoi Superjet’s Crash holds Answers to Many Questions

    Black Boxes Located and in Indonesian Custody

    Continuing Search for Sukhoi Superjet Wreckage Indicates Probable Black Box Location Buried Under Debris

    Joy Flight Steals Joy

    Superjet Wreckage Found

    Sukhoi-Superjet Goes Missing on Demo Flight over Indonesian Mountains

  • | |

    NASA RELEASE: FERMI IMPROVES ITS VISION FOR THUNDERSTORM GAMMA-RAY FLASHES


    WASHINGTON — Thanks to improved data analysis techniques and a new operating mode, the Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM) aboard NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope is now 10 times better at catching the brief outbursts of high-energy light mysteriously produced above thunderstorms.

    The outbursts, known as terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs), last only a few thousandths of a second, but their gamma rays rank among the highest-energy light that naturally occurs on Earth. The enhanced GBM discovery rate helped scientists show most TGFs also generate a strong burst of radio waves, a finding that will change how
    scientists study this poorly understood phenomenon.

    Before being upgraded, the GBM could capture only TGFs that were bright enough to trigger the instrument’s on-board system, which meant many weaker events were missed.

    “In mid-2010, we began testing a mode where the GBM directly downloads full-resolution gamma-ray data even when there is no on-board trigger, and this allowed us to locate many faint TGFs we had been missing,” said lead researcher Valerie Connaughton, a member of the GBM team at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH). She presented the findings Wednesday in an invited talk at the American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco. A paper detailing the results is accepted for publication in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics.

    The results were so spectacular that on Nov. 26 the team uploaded new flight software to operate the GBM in this mode continuously, rather than in selected parts of Fermi’s orbit.

    Connaughton’s team gathered GBM data for 601 TGFs from August 2008 to August 2011, with most of the events, 409 in all, discovered through the new techniques. The scientists then compared the gamma-ray data to radio emissions over the same period.

    Lightning emits a broad range of very low frequency (VLF) radio waves, often heard as pop-and-crackle static when listening to AM radio. The World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN), a research collaboration operated by the University of Washington in Seattle, routinely detects these radio signals and uses them to pinpoint the
    location of lightning discharges anywhere on the globe to within about 12 miles (20 km).

    Scientists have known for a long time TGFs were linked to strong VLF bursts, but they interpreted these signals as originating from lightning strokes somehow associated with the gamma-ray emission.

    “Instead, we’ve found when a strong radio burst occurs almost simultaneously with a TGF, the radio emission is coming from the TGF itself,” said co-author Michael Briggs, a member of the GBM team.

    The researchers identified much weaker radio bursts that occur up to several thousandths of a second before or after a TGF. They interpret these signals as intracloud lightning strokes related to, but not created by, the gamma-ray flash.

    Scientists suspect TGFs arise from the strong electric fields near the tops of thunderstorms. Under certain conditions, the field becomes strong enough that it drives a high-speed upward avalanche of electrons, which give off gamma rays when they are deflected by air molecules.

    “What’s new here is that the same electron avalanche likely responsible for the gamma-ray emission also produces the VLF radio bursts, and this gives us a new window into understanding this phenomenon,” said Joseph Dwyer, a physics professor at the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Fla., and a member of the study team.

    Because the WWLLN radio positions are far more precise than those based on Fermi’s orbit, scientists will develop a much clearer picture of where TGFs occur and perhaps which types of thunderstorms tend to produce them.

    The GBM scientists predict the new operating mode and analysis techniques will allow them to catch about 850 TGFs each year. While this is a great improvement, it remains a small fraction of the roughly 1,100 TGFs that fire up each day somewhere on Earth, according to the team’s latest estimates.

    Likewise, TGFs detectable by the GBM represent just a small fraction of intracloud lightning, with about 2,000 cloud-to-cloud lightning strokes for every TGF.

    The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope is an astrophysics and particle physics partnership and is managed by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. Fermi was developed in collaboration with
    the U.S. Department of Energy, with important contributions from academic institutions and partners in France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Sweden and the United States.

    The GBM Instrument Operations Center is located at the National Space Science Technology Center in Huntsville, Ala. The GBM team includes a collaboration of scientists from UAH, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Germany and other institutions.

  • | |

    FAA Airworthiness Directive Regarding Boeing 787-8

    All Boeing 787 Dreamliners currently in service are being required to confirm that fuel line connectors have been properly installed. Fuel leaks in Dreamliners were traced to a manufacturing flaw at Boeing plants.

    The FAA said “A safety order mandated inspection of fuel line couplings in the engine pylons to verify the couplings are correctly assembled and installed”

  • | |

    Airshow China 2012 is Underway

    Nov.13 – 18, 2012, ZHUHAI, GUANGDONG,CHINA

    China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition (namely Airshow China) is the only international aerospace trade show in China that is endorsed by the Chinese central government. It features the display of real-size products, trade talks, technological exchange and flying display. Since 1996, the show has been successfully held in Zhuhai in every even-number year for eight sessions. Airshow China 2012 will take place from Nov. 13-18, 2012.

    For those interested in more information, the official website is located here:

  • | |

    NTSB 2013 Most Wanted List


    November 13, 2012
    Washington – The National Transportation Safety Board will hold a press conference at the National Press Club to unveil its 2013 Most Wanted List of transportation safety issues.

    Event: Press Conference

    Date/Time: Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012, 10:00 a.m. (EDT)

    Location: National Press Club
    529 14th Street, NW 13th Floor (Zenger Room)
    Washington, DC 20045

    Participants: NTSB Board Members

    NTSB Board Members will be available for interviews following the event.

  • |

    Safety: U.S. Aviation Industry, FAA Share Safety Information with NTSB

    Nov. 8, 2012
    WASHINGTON – The Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), airlines and aviation labor unions today announced a partnership with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to share summarized safety information that could help prevent accidents.

    The information, shared through an initiative called the Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing (ASIAS) Executive Board, will help the NTSB determine if an accident is a unique event or an indication of systemic risks. Under ASIAS, airlines and unions already voluntarily share safety information with FAA to identify trends.

    “The nation’s impressive safety record is in part due to an unwavering commitment by government and industry to work together to monitor data and identify trends to prevent accidents,” said FAA Acting Administrator Michael Huerta. “More than 90 percent of air carriers use voluntary reporting programs and this has led to significant training, operational and maintenance program improvements.”

    “I am grateful to the FAA, industry and labor for their leadership,’’ said Deborah A.P. Hersman, NTSB chairman. “Better information leads to better investigations.”

    “The U.S. aviation industry’s commitment to sharing safety information has already successfully helped us lower the fatality risk on commercial flights,” said Captain Paul Morell, Vice President, Safety, Security and Environmental Programs, US Airways and ASIAS Executive Board co-chair. “Through ASIAS, we know that industry and government are investing in the right safety solutions.”

    ASIAS uses aggregate, protected data from industry and government voluntary reporting programs, without identifying the source of the data, to proactively find safety issues, identify safety enhancements, and measure the effectiveness of solutions. ASIAS began in 2007 and now has 44 members and receives voluntary data representing 95 percent of all commercial air carrier operations. It onnects 131 data and information sources across the industry and is integrated into the Commercial Aviation Safety Team (CAST) process. CAST is a joint government and industry effort that uses a data-driven strategy to reduce the commercial aviation fatality risk in the United States and promote safety initiatives throughout the world. Their work, along with new aircraft, regulations and other activities, reduced the fatality risk for commercial aviation in the United States by 83 percent from 1998 to 2008.

    Seven of CAST’s 76 safety enhancements have been derived from forward-looking data analysis in ASIAS. Additionally, ASIAS stays connected to CAST’s safety enhancements to track the effectiveness of those interventions. The databases used to identify trends include Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) programs, the Aviation Safety Action Partnership (ASAP), the Air Traffic Safety Action Program (ATSAP), FAA surveillance data, and many others.

    The agreement outlines the procedures, guidelines, and roles and responsibilities for the ASIAS Executive Board to address specific written NTSB requests for ASIAS information. The agreement does not allow any of the parties to use aggregate FOQA, ASAP, ATSAP or other non-publicly available data to measure an individual data contributor’s performance or safety.

    The NTSB will initiate written requests for ASIAS information related to aircraft accidents involving U.S. air carriers that occur in the United States and address safety issues that both the NTSB and the ASIAS board determine are significant and non-routine or reoccurring. The NTSB will not publicly disclose ASIAS information it receives via the process unless the ASIAS Executive Board agrees.

    The NTSB will share with ASIAS its archived air carrier accident and incident flight data recorder information related to a request.

    Peggy Gilligan, Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety, FAA and Captain Paul Morell, Vice President, Safety, Security and Environmental Programs, US Airways signed the agreement for the ASIAS Executive Board. David Mayer, Managing Director, signed for the NTSB.

  • |

    Airbus A318-A321 Hydraulic Power System Airworthiness Bulletin


    This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin advises registered owners and operators, repair stations, and mechanics holding inspection authorizations, of all Airbus Model A318, A319, A320 and A321 series airplanes of an airworthiness concern regarding overheating of the power transfer unit (PTU) of the hydraulic system.

    Hydraulic Power System: Power Transfer Unit
    There have been several reports of loss of a single hydraulic system due to leakage, and subsequent failure of a second hydraulic system from overheating. Airbus determined that overheating of the second hydraulic system is caused when the PTU is not de-activated by the flight crew within two minutes after the fault annunciation (AMBER CAUTION) alert on the electronic centralized aircraft monitoring (ECAM) system. Consequently the airplane is left with only one functional hydraulic system. The subject airplanes require at least one functional hydraulic system for continuous safe flight and landing.
    Read More

  • |

    NTSB Safety Recommendations


    The NTSB issued 10new recommendations, including five to the FederalAviation Administration, three to the Flight Test Safety Committee, and the following two recommendations to Gulfstream
    Aerospace Corporation:

    A-12-62
    Commission an audit by qualified independent safety experts, before the start of the next major certification flight test program, to evaluate the company’s flight test safety management system, with special attention given to the areas of weakness identified in this
    report, and address all areas of concern identified by the audit.

    A-12-63
    Provide information about the lessons learned from the implementation of its flight test safety management system to interested manufacturers, flight test industry groups, and other appropriate parties.

    Safety Recommendations

  • |

    FAA Penalty Against Woodward

    WASHINGTON – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a civil penalty of $246,450 against Woodward, Inc., a Santa Clarita, Calif.-based aircraft repair station, and its subsidiary HRT for allegedly violating FAA drug and alcohol testing regulations.
    The FAA alleges Woodward HRT failed to conduct required drug tests and receive verified negative drug test results before transferring or hiring 12 people to perform safety-sensitive aircraft maintenance work.

    The FAA also alleges the company failed to include six individuals in its random drug and alcohol testing pool.
    Other alleged violations include failing to administer a return-to-duty drug test to one employee after he completed a substance abuse treatment program. The company’s testing firm also allegedly used an expired intoximeter bottle to perform calibration checks on a breath-testing device.
    The FAA discovered the alleged violations during an inspection of Woodward’s required drug and alcohol testing program April 9-13, 2012. The alleged violations took place between August 2010 and March 2012.

  • |

    FAA Penalty against Chem-Tronics


    WASHINGTON – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a civil penalty of $359,350 against GKN Aerospace Chem-Tronics, Inc., an El Cajon, Calif.-based aircraft repair station,for allegedly violating FAA drug and alcohol testing regulations.
    The FAA alleges GKN failed to conduct required pre-employment drug tests and receive verified negative drug test results before hiring 17 people to perform safety-sensitive functions. The alleged violations took place between May and December, 2011.
    The FAA also alleges the company failed to test four randomly-selected individuals for alcohol use in January, April and July, 2011; failed to carry out all the required drug and alcohol testing for two employees as part of the return-to-duty process; and conducted inappropriate post-accident drug testing for two employees.
    The FAA discovered the alleged violations during an inspection of GKN’s testing program, Jan. 23-27, 2012.